Chapter 10: Let's Split Up

Qin Ju felt a mix of sadness and helplessness. Despite just having reached a small milestone, the joy she felt from seeing her sister no longer bullied and enjoying meat was a comfort.

"What a silly child," she thought, "so easily satisfied."

She gently patted the small tuft of hair on her sister's head and said, "Little Shi, things will get better for us. We'll all be happier in the future—our family of four will be happy."

"Yes!" Qin Shi responded eagerly. "I want us all to be happy!"

The two sisters finished their foraging and made their way back to the village. Qin Shi went to the foot of the mountain to wait for Qin Ju, who had decided to hide their finds to avoid drawing attention. Qin Ju carefully stored all their gathered vegetables, mushrooms, and nuts in their hidden space.

With the space now filled with a bounty of wild produce, she knew it could fetch a good price. This was just the beginning—she needed more capital to pursue her plans.

As they returned home, someone shouted, "Your parents are back, but it seems one of them is injured."

Panic surged through Qin Ju. She grabbed her sister's hand and hurried home.

In her past life, her parents had returned while she was staying away due to the Shen Yi incident. Embarrassed, she had stayed with a classmate for a long time. She later learned that her father, Qin Zhonghui, had burned his hand. Overwhelmed by worries about his daughter and neglecting proper treatment, the burn had become infected and festering, leaving him unable to work.

This time, she was determined to convince her father to get proper medical care.

Upon arriving home, Qin Ju overheard her father saying, "It's nothing serious. It'll heal with time."

Mr. Qin retorted coldly, "You're being too careless."

Qin Zhonghui, with a naïve smile, tried to downplay the situation.

Old Mrs. Qin, with concern in her voice, added, "With your hand injured, we can't earn money right now."

Su Yun, sensing underlying tension, remained silent despite her reservations, noticing that her husband, Qin Zhonghui, was shaking his head.

Qin Ju, refusing to remain silent, entered with her sister and said loudly, "Aunt, you really care about us. If Dad can't work for a while, it's okay. He's contributed so much to Grandpa and the others. He deserves a break."

Her comment immediately changed the mood in the room.

It was well-known that Old Man Qin had diverted most of the money Qin Zhonghui and his wife gave him to his third son and his wife. No wonder they could afford to play cards and eat meat daily.

Old Master Qin, catching on, said, "Second brother, you've just returned. Rest in the house."

With a patriarch's authority, he downplayed the issue and promptly exited, leaving no room for further discussion.

Feng Lan, eyeing the empty baskets Qin Ju and her sister carried, asked sharply, "What do you two do up in the mountains? You never bring anything back?"

Though she was not against wild vegetables, her dislike for Qin Ju was apparent.

Qin Ju placed the basket down and replied calmly, "We didn't find anything today. It was all for nothing. If I'd known, I would have just watched people play cards like Aunt does."

Feng Lan shot her a glare and turned away.

Su Yun, overhearing, seemed deep in thought.

Once in the west room of the backyard, Qin Ju addressed her father with concern, "Dad, you need to go to the hospital. You can't delay treating your injury."

"It's just a burn," Qin Zhonghui replied, "It'll be fine with some rest."

"If you really become disabled, what will happen to the three of us in the future?"

Qin Zhonghui was taken aback. It was the first time his daughter had spoken so bluntly to him. He hadn't considered the situation to be that severe.

Beside him, Su Yun chimed in, "I've been telling your dad to get treated, but he's stubborn and says it's a waste of money. He just wants to manage it himself."

Qin Ju pressed on, "Dad, you're worried about spending money now, but if you delay treatment, your hand could become permanently disabled. You might end up spending even more—much more than if you treated it right away. Plus, you'll lose valuable time and won't be able to work properly. And... Dad, the money you save is eventually going to your uncle and aunt's family. What's the point of saving it?"

Qin Zhonghui was taken aback by his daughter's words. When he heard the last part, he quickly retorted, "Where did you hear such things? Don't talk nonsense! I gave all my money to your grandparents, not to your uncle and others."

Su Yun's patience wore thin. "Look, the children understand, but you don't! We spent half the money building the big house in the front yard, and now your daughter is still squeezed into the west room with us! Every time we gave money to the old man, he just turned around and gave it all to the third son's family!"

Qin Zhonghui lowered his gaze, fumbling in his pocket for a cigarette, but then remembered it wasn't appropriate to smoke in front of his daughter. He put it away.

Seeing an opportunity to make her point, Qin Ju pulled her sister from the corner and rolled up her sleeves.

"Dad, Mom, look at this. When you weren't around, your uncle and aunt spent the money you earned and let Xiao Tao bully my sister. I was away at school most of the time, but poor Xiao Shi had to endure this at home. Not to mention that Grandpa and Grandma always favored Xiao Tao and wouldn't help Xiao Shi. On the day I came home for the holiday, Xiao Tao even pinned Xiao Shi to the ground and beat her!"

As Qin Ju spoke, her eyes welled up with tears. Xiao Shi glanced at her sister, but the memory of the bullying remained painful.

Su Yun, seeing the bruises on her daughter's body, pulled her into a hug, tears streaming down her face.

Qin Zhonghui hesitated. "Isn't it just kids fighting?"

"Kids don't push each other into the water!" Su Yun snapped. "And Xiao Shi is nine years old, not even in school yet, and she's being bullied at home!"

Overwhelmed, Su Yun declared, "Separate the family! I can't stand this anymore. I work so hard, only to support people who bully my daughter. We can't let this continue!"

Seeing his wife and daughter's distress, Qin Zhonghui stood up to leave. "I'm going to talk to my third brother."

"Dad, wait!" Qin Ju grabbed him. "They won't admit to anything if you just talk to them. It'll be useless. We need to separate. That way, our family of four can have a better life. We can still honor our grandparents when we have the means, but we won't have to be entangled with Uncle's family!"

"But your mother and I are always working, and you're still in school. If we separate, what will happen to your sister? If she goes to work with us, she'll fall behind in her studies."

(End of this chapter)