"Grandpa, to be honest, don’t get too optimistic about making Uncle cough up too much money. He’ll definitely make every excuse imaginable," Qiao Rui had a clear understanding about this situation.
Elder Qiao chuckled lightly and said, "I’m prepared for that. Even without you telling , I already figured as much."
"Well, you certainly know your son," Qiao Rui sneered softly.
"No need for sarcastic comnts," Elder Qiao shot her a look. "I used to think having more children would bring more blessings, but turns out it’s just trouble."
"That’s why, Grandpa, you should work on yourself," Qiao Rui said. "Improve your character, accumulate so blessings, or else your descendants will all turn out to be wastrels."
"You just want to roast your grandpa, don’t you?" Elder Qiao was long used to this. "But from another perspective, the fact that I’ve neglected you all these years has actually shaped you into who you are."
"That’s why I thank you!" Qiao Rui said, though her tone sounded unmistakably like she was cursing him.
Elder Qiao let out a faint snort. "Don’t be so relentless when you’ve got the upper hand."
"Grandpa, you’re the one who provokes , knowing full well I’ve got a short fuse. Why do you keep coming for ?"
Elder Qiao opened his mouth as if to speak, but in the end, he closed it again.
Seeing his puffed-up, disgruntled expression, Qiao Rui felt imnsely satisfied.
Unable to suppress it, she broke into laughter, her grin especially radiant, leaving Elder Qiao utterly speechless.
"Seeing soone else frustrated makes you this happy?"
"I’m genuinely happy," Qiao Rui nodded seriously. "Not just happy—ecstatically, exceedingly happy."
"Alright, let’s talk about your plan now," Elder Qiao said, hoping to steer the conversation back to business before they got too distracted. "I’ll help you fine-tune it."
"The plan is simple—start with Uncle, make him cough up what he owes, stabilize the situation with the other uncles without stirring the pot, and once Uncle’s done for, move on to the next stage." Qiao Rui’s tone was casual, clearly indicating she already had it all mapped out.
"You’re afraid if you take them all on, they’ll band together against you," Elder Qiao quickly grasped her logic.
"Haha, Grandpa truly is a piece of old ginger—sharp as ever!"
"That’s a viable strategy," Elder Qiao agreed, "but don’t underestimate your uncles. Years in the marketplace have steeped them in all sorts of tricks, not all of them above board."
"Thanks for the reminder, Grandpa," Qiao Rui’s tone was genuinely sincere this ti.
Elder Qiao raised an eyebrow, sowhat surprised. "You’re actually worried about them?"
"Not exactly scared, it’s just if they all pounce like wild hyenas, it’s such a hassle," Qiao Rui replied. "Handling them one by one is more manageable."
"You really are a little fox," Elder Qiao chuckled at last.
Qiao Rui grinned. "Well, I’m just borrowing Grandpa’s ferocity to take care of Uncle first, then relying on Pei Liyan to keep the scene under control—it’s perfect."
"And yet you used their money," Elder Qiao reminded her. "Don’t forget who lent you a hand when it mattered most."
Qiao Rui suddenly found his remark sowhat ironic coming from their family’s Elder.
She stared at him in bewildernt.
Elder Qiao frowned. "What’s with that look?"
"I just find it odd hearing such words from Grandpa," she said.
"You cheeky brat, what’s so strange about saying that? Am I really that awful in your eyes?"
Qiao Rui nodded earnestly. "Yes, very awful."
The Elder Qiao closed his eyes in exasperation, as though resigning himself to her constant jibes.
Qiao Rui found his expression even more amusing.
Ignoring whether Elder Qiao was angry or not, she reached out and tugged at his beard.
Elder Qiao’s eyes snapped open. "Stop ssing around!"
"Grandpa, you’re so funny—you know soone’s about to say sothing unpleasant, yet you insist on listening. You’re just asking for it!"
"Who else dares talk to like this? It’s only you, you cheeky little brat." Elder Qiao’s criticism carried a note of affection that even he wasn’t conscious of.
Qiao Rui giggled happily. "Are you really keeping for dinner?"
"What else?" Elder Qiao replied.
"Then let’s eat already—I’m starving," she said.
"Wait a bit longer," Elder Qiao glanced at the clock.
"Do we have guests arriving?"
Just as she finished asking, the butler entered. "Elder Qiao, Miss Qiao Rui, Elder Pei has arrived."
Elder Pei?
Why would he show up now?
Indeed, Elder Pei walked in.
Upon seeing Qiao Rui, he seed surprised, but his face quickly lit up.
"You’re here too, little girl? When did you return?" Elder Pei asked Qiao Rui.
"Elder Pei, we et again," Qiao Rui smiled, though she didn’t forget about the ti his wife locked her in the Pei Family Ancestral Hall.
"Why are you calling Elder Pei? Call Grandpa," Elder Pei corrected her.
Qiao Rui chuckled softly. "Elder Pei, I wouldn’t dare. Your distinguished wife deed unworthy of your lofty peacock-like grandson. I rember that grudge quite well!"
Elder Pei sighed, evidently helpless. "It’s been so long, and you’re still holding on to that grudge? You really don’t forget anything, do you?"
"Yes, that’s right—I’m thinking that one day when you’re in my hands, I’ll lock you in a pitch-black basent and keep you there for forty-nine days," Qiao Rui rebuffed. "Maybe today’s the day."
She turned to Elder Qiao. "Grandpa, do we have a basent?"
Elder Qiao shot her a sharp look. "Stop fooling around. Your Grandpa Pei is a good man."
"Oh, so Grandpa ans his wife isn’t a good person, then?" Qiao Rui replied with an exaggerated grin. "Got it."
Elder Pei and Elder Qiao exchanged glances of mutual resignation.
It seed this girl held quite the grudge.
"Little girl, you even managed to knock your uncle down today—impressive," Elder Pei, sitting down, showed no intention of arguing.
"That’s true—nothing escapes your sharp eyes," Qiao Rui remarked. "It hasn’t been that long since it happened, how did you find out already?"
"The afternoon’s video has already made the rounds," Elder Pei said with a faint smile. "To tell you privately, even my wife saw it—she was shocked."
Qiao Rui had to hold back the thought: Why didn’t she die of fright?
Suddenly she felt a little evil for thinking such a thing, even scared herself a bit.
She couldn’t be so vicious—even if Elder Madam Pei wasn’t decent, she was still an elderly lady.
"Your wife’s been discharged from the hospital?" Qiao Rui asked. "Seems her recovery’s going well."
"Yes, quite well," Elder Pei replied. "She’s probably been tad by your dashing presence—maybe she’ll behave for a while."
Even though Elder Pei slightly softened his tone, aiming for reconciliation, to Qiao Rui, it still felt irkso.
"Who cares about taming her?" she scoffed. "I’m not marrying anyone. What use is taming an old woman?"
Elder Pei: "...."
"Qiao Rui, don’t provoke your Grandpa Pei," Elder Qiao intervened.
"Grandpa, don’t bother persuading ," Qiao Rui shot a disdainful glance at Elder Pei. "This old guy was awful to before—and now you want not to provoke him? Why should I? I’m already being considerate not to drive him into a rage!"
"Brother Pei, don’t take her too seriously," Elder Qiao said. "She’s sharp with everyone—even I can’t argue with her."
"Why don’t you two old fellows eat together? I’ll take my leave," Qiao Rui said.
"Where do you think you’re going?" Elder Qiao said. "Didn’t I say you’d be staying for dinner?"
"Your ages are so advanced—I’d rather not accidentally rile you up too much. Better if I leave early," she teased, standing up. Then, with a mischievous smile, she turned to Elder Pei and said, "Grandpa Pei, I have a question I want to ask you."
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