Han Tao blocked the doorway after driving Wang Dagui away, his whole frame rigid. “Is this how you approach people when looking for someone? Do you think my home is a place for pigs and dogs to barge into whenever they please? Do you think just because your daughter is sleeping in the same bed as Young Master Gao, she’s above the law?” Han Tao certainly wouldn't afford Wang Dagui any courtesy just because he was Wang Qiqi’s uncle; following Wang Qiqi’s wishes, it was best to sever ties with such an unreasonable elder as soon as possible.

Luo Hongjuan was equally furious. She was a widow; if Wang Dagui forced his way in like this, how would she ever show her face in the neighborhood again? Angrily, Luo Hongjuan recounted the earlier events. “Everyone, please judge this! Is there anyone like Wang Dagui? Knocking on the door like a bandit, refusing to open it even when asked who it was—who does he think he is? Does he think he’s the police?”

The surrounding neighbors murmured amongst themselves, agreeing that Wang Dagui had gone too far. If Luo Hongjuan’s son hadn't returned, the situation of a lone woman sharing a room with a man would have been impossible to explain clearly. In an instant, the narrow hallway became crowded, buzzing with activity.

Wang Dagui, after landing two blows that knocked Han Tao unconscious, was nearly spitting blood from the verbal assault laced with veiled insults. What humiliated him most was the pointing and whispering from the neighbors. He steadied his mind. It’s fine. I have justification. “I’m looking for Wang Qiqi. Tell her to come out. What kind of thing is it, coming straight to a man’s house the moment she returns? I am her elder now that my brother is gone, and I need to educate her. How could she do something so shameless?”

Han Tao knew Wang Dagui was looking for Wang Qiqi, but he hadn't expected such accusations. “You think because your own daughter is fooling around with other men at such a young age, Wang Qiqi is the same? Is that how you act as an uncle? You shouldn’t speak such nonsense.” Han Tao’s understanding of Wang Dagui’s shamelessness deepened. Was this his move? Did he think that by smearing Wang Qiqi’s reputation, he, as her uncle, could easily control her? He always dreamed things would work out so perfectly.

Wang Dagui swept his gaze over Han Tao and stated firmly, “If Qiqi isn't in your house, why won’t you let me look inside?” Don't assume that being aggressive means you are right. If you weren't hiding something, why would you attack me so fiercely and throw me out of the house? “If you have the guts, let me look inside.”

Han Tao refused outright. “I already told you Wang Qiqi isn’t here. Can’t you understand human language?”

“You’re just guilty,” Wang Dagui grew more certain that Wang Qiqi was inside Han Tao’s apartment. “Besides, you took so long to open the door after I knocked for so long.”

The neighbors, entertained by this public drama, began discussing it with even greater fervor. Wang Dagui and Han Tao remained locked in a stalemate at the door—one demanding entry, the other blocking the way.

Wang Qiqi, groggily heading to the restroom, heard the commotion outside. Initially, she paid it no mind, but noticing the crowd gathered at the door of the Han residence, she grew curious. What on earth is happening at the Hans’ place? She stood at the entrance and listened for a moment. The moment she understood the conversation, Wang Qiqi was enraged. She threw open the door. “Wang Dagui, is this how you act as an uncle? How about you explain why your own daughter is sent off like a weekly human cargo package to Shencheng for meals, entertainment, and sleeping around? Why haven’t you said a word to educate your daughter, Wang Rui? If I remember correctly, she’s only in her second year of high school! You neglect your own legitimate daughter but come to lecture me? I’m sorry to disappoint you—I am not living in someone else’s house, as you wished.”

Someone immediately noticed when Wang Qiqi opened the door, but her unrestrained commentary immediately electrified the crowd. Wang Dagui had behaved terribly at the funeral service for Wang Dajun and his wife, yet Wang Qiqi had still called them ‘Uncle’ and ‘Auntie.’ Now, addressing him directly as Wang Dagui showed how furious she was. Though, some whispered that Wang Qiqi was perhaps being a little too harsh on her elder.

Wang Dagui had been quite confident, not expecting Wang Qiqi’s voice to come from behind him. Behind... behind... The realization made Wang Dagui’s face pale. He hadn't even registered her calling him by his name. He spun around angrily, shoving aside the people blocking his view, and saw Wang Qiqi wrapped only in a thick padded coat. “Why didn’t you knock first?” Wang Dagui demanded testily.

“I was sleeping. I just got back from an all-night train ride. Don't I deserve to rest?” Wang Qiqi shot him a scornful glance. “If not for this, how would I know what you were up to? As for your lecture about needing to educate me as my uncle—I think that’s unnecessary. And regarding disgracing the Wang family name, I wouldn't dare accept that charge. Regardless, I am certainly much better behaved than Wang Rui. I think you need to properly manage Wang Rui, Wang Dagui. Getting pregnant before graduating high school—that is what truly shames the Wang family beyond repair.”

Wang Dagui finally noticed that Wang Qiqi was addressing him directly as Wang Dagui. “You, you, you… is this how a niece acts? Not even calling me ‘Uncle’? You truly need educating.” Wang Dagui pointed his finger at Wang Qiqi.

“Only if the uncle acts like an uncle first. How can an uncle relentlessly slander his niece’s reputation? Not to mention running up gambling debts that my parents repeatedly covered. Even after all that, you’re ungrateful, constantly scheming for the compensation money my parents left behind, ransacking my home trying to steal the property deed and savings passbook, and now you stand there acting like an elder? You have absolutely no sense of propriety or shame.” Wang Qiqi struck away his pointing finger. “Don't point at people; don’t you know that’s rude? Furthermore, because you don’t discipline your daughter, I find it shameful to even be related to your family. Many of my high school classmates have told me Wang Rui can barely walk straight, practically clinging to Gao Kai’s leg, taking the weekly human express train to Shencheng only to check into a hotel room. They all find it strange that a high school sophomore has no parental supervision. Wang Dagui, you have the energy to manage Wang Rui, don’t you? Or maybe you feel that having such wealthy in-laws means education isn't necessary—that’s your business. But you have no right to ruin my reputation. You should know that what you are doing is slander. If I hear anything else in this community damaging my name, I won’t hesitate to hire a lawyer and take you to court.”

Hire a lawyer? Go to court? The crowd erupted in shock. My goodness, a lawsuit! In the minds of these people, going to court was a massive, terrible affair. They never expected this young girl, Wang Qiqi, to be so ruthless.

Wang Dagui knew Wang Qiqi was far more hard-hearted than his elder brother, Wang Dajun, but he hadn't anticipated such bluntness. “You, you, you… how did the Wang family produce an unfilial girl like you?”

“It’s far better than having a father who’s a gambler and a daughter who’s sleeping around early on,” Wang Qiqi retorted without restraint. “Oh, and after my brother and sister-in-law passed away, you immediately started finding ways to bully your orphaned niece. It’s better for you than for me, I suppose. When we are all gone, will our grandparents curse you or me? But I am quite curious—once someone commits wicked deeds, aren't they afraid of meeting ghosts on a dark road?”

“As a junior, you show no respect for your elders.”

“Only if the elder acts like an elder,” Wang Qiqi volleyed back at Wang Dagui. “While all these neighbors are watching, I have an announcement to make. Given how Wang Dagui just defamed me, I, Wang Qiqi, hereby sever all ties with Wang Dagui. From now on, do not bother me about any debts belonging to Wang Dagui’s family. Even if we weren't severing ties, Wang Dagui’s family debts have nothing to do with mine. My education expenses are paid for by the money my parents left behind. If Wang Dagui’s family runs into trouble, they shouldn't expect me, an orphan, to pay up.” Wang Qiqi thought this was the perfect opportunity to tear off the pretense completely. “I refuse to remain relatives with someone who slanders me like this. Besides, now that you’ve hooked up with rich connections, you probably look down on my family anyway.”

With that final statement, Wang Qiqi slammed the door shut, dragging her slippers as she walked heavily toward the bedroom, emphasizing her anger. She then firmly closed the door to her parents’ bedroom before quietly moving to the front door again to gauge the situation outside.

Wang Dagui was stunned silent by Wang Qiqi’s explosive outburst. He had assumed the situation favored him, but things had developed in the exact opposite direction. He stood there dumbfounded. Were all his carefully laid plans now ruined?

Wang Dagui kept muttering about how unfilial Wang Qiqi was while trying to knock again, but Han Tao stepped in, grabbing Wang Dagui and demanding an explanation. “I told you Wang Qiqi wasn’t in my house. You forced your way in. Now that you know she wasn't here, are we just going to drop everything that just happened?”

“Didn’t I hit you a few times?” Wang Dagui gestured toward his own bruised eyes.

Hitting you a few times was too light! “How can you just barge into someone’s home just because you’re looking for someone?” Luo Hongjuan refused to let it go. “You didn't just ruin Wang Qiqi’s reputation; you also slandered my son’s name! Do you think this is over just because you raised a daughter with no decency, clinging to a man’s leg at such a young age while skipping school, and then trying to slander Wang Qiqi to deflect attention by dragging my son into it? Tell us, what are your intentions? If you don’t give us a satisfactory explanation, we will go to the police station.”

Luo Hongjuan was mostly bluffing to scare Wang Dagui. She knew that if she didn’t stand firm now and demand an explanation, she and Wang Qiqi would never be able to maintain their footing in this community.

The neighbors started discussing the matter once more, while Wang Qiqi collapsed onto the floor, staring at her parents’ photograph. She felt absolutely no attachment to this house she shared with her uncle’s family, other than the fact that her parents had once lived there. “Mom, Dad, what should I do? What am I going to do?” Wang Qiqi truly dreaded the thought of constantly facing Wang Dagui and his wife suddenly appearing, knowing that more troubles were surely coming. (To be continued)