Once they were all gone, Qin Zhonghui stood at the door and sighed. "Was that going a bit too far? Ah, but he’s my brother, after all."
Qin Jiao said, "Dad, you treat him like a brother, but he just treats you like an ATM! I know it seems harsh, but that’s only if you ignore the history here. If Uncle’s family hadn’t treated us so badly in the past, we’d be welcoming them with open arms right now. We’d cook a huge feast and have a happy family reunion. You might have even helped find so work for Uncle and Auntie so our whole family could work hard and build a better life together."
"But too bad Uncle and Auntie are the type who wouldn’t lift a finger to help themselves. It doesn’t matter what kind of work you found them; they wouldn’t do it. They’re just lazy freeloaders who want everything handed to them."
"Besides, they definitely didn’t co just to stay one night and eat so good food. Let’s not even get started on that little monster, Xiao Tao. He can’t sit still for a second, and who knows what trouble he would have caused. As for Uncle and Auntie, they only ca because they heard from Eldest Uncle that we’re doing well. They think we have money now, and they were hoping we’d go back to our old ways—sending money to Grandma and Grandpa, who would then just turn around and give it all to them."
"So, it’s better to just scare them off. Now they’ll have so resentnt and won’t dare co back so easily to freeload. It might seem cold, but we don’t have to keep letting ourselves be bullied just for the sake of so-called warmth."
Qin Jiao looked at her father and said aningfully, "Dad, if you’re too kind, people will walk all over you."
Qin Zhonghui gave a bitter smile. "I know you’re right. It just doesn’t sit right with ... He’s my own brother, after all. But I don’t regret kicking his family out today. If we hadn’t been firm, I’m afraid they would have tried to take over the house."
Qin Jiao nodded. "Right, that’s the heart of the matter."
Su Yun ca over and snorted. "That Xiao Tao wasn’t sick at all, if you ask . They just made that up as an excuse to co over. Zhong Hui, you can’t go soft now. If you do, the three of us will have to suffer right along with you!"
Qin Zhonghui nodded quickly. "I know, I know."
Feeling a bit more relieved, Qin Jiao turned and went upstairs. She went to her aunt Qin Na’s room first and said, "Auntie, let see your watch. I’ll try to fix it for you."
"Can it still be fixed?"
"I’ll give it a try."
Qin Na, trusting Qin Jiao completely, handed the watch over. It seed Feng Lan and the others, feeling a little guilty after paying up, had forgotten to take the broken watch with them.
Qin Jiao took the battery from her pocket, slid it into place, and then set the minute and second hands to the correct ti.
Qin Na’s eyes widened. "Xiao Jiao, you just..."
"The battery was just knocked loose. The watch wasn’t actually broken. But this was a good lesson for Xiao Tao, to teach him not to take other people’s things. Auntie, you were great back there. From now on, as long as you know you’re in the right, you never have to be timid."
Qin Na was taken aback. She felt as if her niece standing before her was older and wiser than herself, soone who understood everything. Filled with admiration, she murmured, "Xiao Jiao, you’re so amazing. You know so much!"
Qin Jiao thought for a mont before replying, "Maybe it’s the power of knowledge."
’After all, she couldn’t just say it was because she had been reborn.’
Qin Na nodded. Looking down at the money in her hand, she remarked, "In my entire life, this is the first ti I’ve ever gotten money back from my third brother."
Qin Jiao smiled and nodded. "That’s huge progress!"
Qin Na smiled too.
After leaving her aunt’s room, Qin Jiao returned to her own to find Xiao Shi’s eyes shining.
The little girl said happily, "Sis, does this an Uncle and his family won’t be coming to our house anymore?"
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