Chapter 33

Qian Jianing watched her grandmother blowing on and caressing Qian Guocheng’s head with a bright smile on her face. She pinched Qian Jiafeng’s ear with her fingers and said, laughing, “Last year my little brother cracked his head open, and my mom wasn’t even this dramatic.”

“You still dare to talk!” Grandma Qian turned around angrily, barking, “What’s wrong with you, you little rascal? How could you…” She paused for a second when she saw the fly swatter in Qian Jianing’s hand. “How could you… how could you use a fly swatter to whack the shoe back to him? Look how hard you hit your younger uncle.”

“What was I supposed to do, let it fly through?” Qian Jianing looked back at her with wide, innocent eyes. “If I hadn’t knocked it back, that shoe would’ve hit my dad right in the face. What, my little uncle is your son, but my dad isn’t?” She suddenly looked like she was struck by a horrifying realization. Her expression turned panicked as she looked at Grandma Qian. “Don’t tell me my dad’s actually the child Grandpa had with another woman back when he was young? Is that why you’ve always treated him like an outsider?”

“What kind of nonsense are you spouting, you damn girl!” Grandma Qian sat on the kang fuming. She looked at her second son, who had kept his head down silently this whole time, and roared in exasperation, “Qian Guosheng, look at that daughter you raised!”

Qian Guosheng kept his head down, mumbling under his breath. Anyone nearby could hear him whispering, “I didn’t hear anything, I hear nothing at all.”

Qian Jianing’s lips curved up slightly, clearly very pleased with what Qian Guosheng had done.

Qian Guosheng had an older brother and an older sister. Though the oldest, Qian Guohua, was a girl, she was still rather favored as a child. She had a straightforward disposition and could manage both housework and outside chores neatly from the age of seven or eight. Because she was capable and had a strong personality, Grandma Qian never dared to cross her and would often consult her on various matters. As for the eldest son, Qian Guomao, he went without saying — the pillar of the household, supporting the family and caring for the elderly. He held an irreplaceable status in the home.

Qian Guosheng, though, had always been a quiet and mild-tempered child. Even when he was bullied, he never said a word. There were even gossiping neighbors who wondered if he might be a bit slow. Eventually, the Qian elders realized that although their second son wasn’t mentally challenged, he also wasn’t especially clever. For instance, he would split his cornbread with a hungry neighbor child even when he had only one piece for himself. This angered Grandma Qian so much that she beat him up and from then on only gave him half a cornbread at a time to avoid waste. With such capable older siblings, to his parents, Qian Guosheng was almost invisible—just enough food to keep him alive would do. Any extra care was unthinkable.

Then came Qian Guocheng, born several years after Qian Guosheng. At that time, even Qian Guomao was already working in the fields, and Qian Guosheng was old enough to carry a basket and pick up leftover wheat stalks. So from birth, Qian Guocheng never went hungry. With his parents doting on him and good food and care, he grew up chubby, fair-skinned, and very adorable. No matter how tired Grandma Qian was, the moment she saw her youngest son, she’d break into a smile. And poor Qian Guosheng could only stand on the sidelines, watching his parents laugh and love his younger brother — affections he had never once received himself.

Qian Guosheng grew up honest and dull-looking, but he was hardworking and unafraid of enduring hardship. With no help from anyone, he passed the employment exam for the cotton textile factory. Only then did the family realize their second son wasn’t so dumb after all.

When he first joined the factory, Qian Guosheng enjoyed a few months of his parents’ love and attention. But after he started dating Li Wanzhen through a match arranged by the union, Grandma Qian went cold again — all because he refused to hand over his entire salary to her. At the time, Grandma Qian put on quite a show, crying and throwing tantrums, but this time the previously obedient Qian Guosheng stood firm. He said he was saving money to support his wife and child and couldn’t give it all to the family anymore.

A stubborn honest man is a force to be reckoned with. Even when Grandma Qian threatened to hang herself, he didn’t give in. He’d rather kneel and get beaten to the point of bleeding than hand over the money.

Because of this, even after his marriage, Qian Guosheng still gave up one-fifth of his wages every month to buy things for his parents’ household. But Li Wanzhen never complained. Later on, as Qian Guocheng grew up and started borrowing money frequently — starting with half a yuan, then one yuan, then five or ten — because their combined income was substantial, it didn’t really affect their quality of life. So Li Wanzhen still didn’t say anything. She had seen how crazy Grandma Qian could act when she put on a show and knew she couldn’t win against that drama queen. So she preferred to spend money to avoid trouble and quietly kept a record of every amount — planning to confront Qian Guocheng with it someday.

Qian Jianing knew about how her real father had once refused to turn over his entire paycheck after getting married — that’s why she believed there was still hope for him. At least he wasn’t a brainless mama’s boy. On top of that, over the years, he’d treasured her and her brother, always prioritizing his children over himself — eating and drinking poorly so they could live better. Because of that, she could never harden her heart and leave Qian Guosheng to fend for himself.

Fortunately, Qian Guosheng wasn’t beyond saving. These past weeks, Qian Jianing had spent an hour every night brainwashing him, systematically tearing down his naive worldviews, reshaping his values from the ground up. She taught him the difference between family and extended family, what boundaries should exist in human relationships, and that obedience to elders did not mean blind submission to everything they said.

With her persistent nagging, Qian Guosheng grew increasingly ashamed and red-faced day by day. That’s how Qian Jianing knew she had succeeded. All that remained was the right moment for him to truly see who he had been supporting all these years.

Qian Jianing didn’t expect that moment to come so soon. As they returned to town, they ran straight into Qian Guocheng, who’d racked up a massive gambling debt. He shamelessly demanded Qian Guosheng pay it off and even threatened to sell Qian Jianing to settle the debt. Hearing this, Qian Guosheng’s heart turned cold. He realized everything Qian Jianing had told him was true. It was his own toleration and retreat that had enabled Qian Guocheng’s lawlessness.

But seeing Qian Guocheng lying under a tree with those thugs, his habitual concern began to surface again. However, the moment he voiced the idea of taking Qian Guocheng home, Qian Jianing immediately berated him without mercy. That’s when he finally came to his senses — the man had just threatened to sell his own niece, and yet here he was, still feeling sorry for him? If that wasn’t pathetic, what was?

Qian Guosheng was overwhelmed with guilt and shame. He felt useless — how had he, as a grown man, been blind to what even a teenager could see? He felt he had failed Qian Jianing — that his failure to be a proper father had forced his daughter, a girl, to stand in front of him and clean up the mess he’d created with his weak heart.

He thought of how Qian Jianing got up at 5 a.m. every day to practice martial arts, about that worn-out book titled *Complete Guide to Shaolin Kung Fu*, and felt a pang of heartache. If only he had been stronger back then, his daughter wouldn’t have needed to train in martial arts just to protect her family.

Drowned in self-reproach, Qian Guosheng played dumb and stayed silent as Qian Jianing instructed. Even when Grandma Qian cursed and yelled, he kept his head down. In his heart, he knew he had already done right by Grandma Qian and Qian Guocheng. But the people he had wronged were his wife and children.

Grandma Qian’s scolding continued non-stop, her words sharp and endless. Even the small balls of cotton in his ears couldn’t block out the noise, but Qian Guosheng still hung his head low, pretending he heard nothing at all.

She’d been yelling for quite a while when she noticed her granddaughter watching her with a mocking look, both daughters-in-law leaning against the wall completely indifferent, and her dumb son muttering to himself again. Not a single person in the room seemed to respect her anymore.

Enraged, Grandma Qian took off the other shoe and banged it hard on the kang. “I’m talking here! Didn’t you hear me?”

“We heard you,” Qian Jianing picked her ear lazily. “None of us are deaf.”

Grandma Qian shot her a glare and ignored her. She turned back and shouted at Qian Guosheng, “Number Two, I’m only going to ask you once — are you going to pay your brother’s debt or not?”

Qian Jianing glanced at her father, who still refused to look up. She replied coolly, “Why should he? He’s not my dad’s kid. Why don’t you have him ask my grandpa for the money?”

Grandma Qian’s mouth twisted in anger. “Your grandpa’s been dead for 800 years…” As soon as the words left her mouth, her eyes turned red and brimmed with tears. “If your grandpa were still alive today, we widows and orphans wouldn’t be bullied like this!”

Watching her dramatic sobbing on the kang, Qian Jianing couldn’t help but chuckle. “Grandma, by that logic, you and my dad also count as a widow and orphan pair.”

“Hic!” The old lady’s howling cut off abruptly; she had gulped in air too fast and hiccupped from the silence.

Afraid to miss the opportunity to further provoke her, Qian Jianing pointed to Qian Guomao peeking through the door. “And my eldest uncle too, he counts.”

Grandma Qian furiously banged her shoe on the bed: “I won’t argue with you, you damn brat! I’m talking to your father! You shut your mouth!”

“But even if you ask him, it’s pointless.” Qian Jianing suddenly put on an exaggerated regretful voice. “Oh no, I forgot to mention, Grandma — my dad no longer makes those decisions. I run our household now, and what he says doesn’t count.”

Smiling brightly, Qian Jianing yanked Qian Guosheng up and turned out both his pockets — empty, not even a single coin. Li Wanzhen immediately cooperated, turning out her pockets too. Seeing a hole in one of them, she casually said to Zhao Xiu’e, “Hey look, my pocket’s got a tear. Mind if I borrow your needle and thread later?”

Then Qian Jianing took off her backpack, pulled out a fat stack of banknotes — no less than ten by the looks of it — and said, “All the money’s right here with me.”

Old Mrs. Qian’s eyes lit up immediately at the sight and she reached out eagerly. “Give me the money!” she demanded, then gave Qian Guocheng a shove. “What are you sitting there for? Go get the money!”

Qian Guocheng glanced at Qian Jianing and, visibly intimidated, shook his head, remaining still on the heated brick bed.

Qian Jianing put the money back into her backpack and slung it on her back again. She flashed a toothy smile at Old Mrs. Qian. “No can do. This is the money for me and my brother to attend school. Grandma, you see, aside from you, my uncle doesn’t have much to do with the rest of us. If you care about him that much, why don’t you pay for him yourself?”

That sentence struck a nerve. The old woman couldn’t help pounding the bed and crying out in indignation, “If I had money, would I still be counting on you? I’m truly miserable—raising one ungrateful child after another. All these years and I haven’t seen a dime from you. Why am I even alive? I might as well die! None of you are filial!”

“Exactly, unfilial,” Qian Jianing chimed in, shooting a glare at the cowering Qian Guocheng on the bed. “Uncle, how can you still face sitting there? All these years my eldest uncle, my dad, and Big Aunt have been sending food and gifts to grandma every month. During holidays they’ve even bought her clothes. And you? Not only have you never bought a thing, you even sneak her canned food and biscuits. How thick-skinned can you be? Get off the bed! Didn’t you hear grandma scolding you?”

In the past, Qian Guocheng would’ve jumped up and started swearing, maybe even raised a hand against Qian Jianing. But after witnessing her fighting prowess yesterday, now he didn’t even dare to fart, fearful that she’d kick him out the door.

Seeing him not move, Qian Jianing’s face turned cold. “Didn’t you hear me? Get down!”

Startled, Qian Guocheng shivered. One look into her icy eyes and he couldn’t summon the courage to resist. He reluctantly began to scoot down from the bed.

Old Mrs. Qian couldn’t bear to watch her son be bullied. She instinctively grabbed a shoe off the bed and hurled it at Qian Jianing with force. But Qian Jianing, quick as a flash, swung a backhand like she was hitting a fly. The embroidered shoe reversed in mid-air like a shuttlecock and smacked squarely on Qian Guocheng’s forehead just as he was putting on his shoes, knocking him back onto the bed.

Old Mrs. Qian let out a sharp shriek. Qian Jianing casually picked at her ear and looked down at Qian Guosheng. “Dad, seems like grandma’s pretty practiced at throwing shoes. Has she done that to you a lot over the years?”

Qian Guosheng, who had remained silent with his head down, finally looked up and offered his daughter a helpless smile.

Seeing the pitiful smile on her father’s face made a fire light up in Qian Jianing’s eyes. Just then, Qian Guocheng sat up, clutching his head, blood seeping through his fingers.

Old Mrs. Qian’s heart ached as sparks flew from her eyes. She cried out while scolding Zhao Xiu’e and Li Wanzhen. “Why are you still standing there? Go get a doctor for your brother!” She took out a handkerchief and pressed it against Qian Guocheng’s forehead. “How did he start bleeding?”

Qian Jianing mockingly said, “Exactly, how did he start bleeding? Grandma, what did you stuff into the sole of that shoe to make it so hard? What if you’d hit me or my dad instead? Good thing it landed on my uncle—he’s unfilial anyway, so he had it coming.”

The old lady wheezed breathlessly from anger. She pulled on both shoes, jumped down from the bed, and rushed at Qian Jianing, arm raised for a slap. Qian Guosheng panicked, and Li Wanzhen nearby also got furious. Just as the two were about to intervene, Qian Jianing grabbed Old Mrs. Qian’s wrist with a firm grip.

Instantly, the woman’s face turned pale from pain.

“You dare lay a hand on me? I’m your grandma!” she shouted, her eyes full of hate staring at Qian Jianing.

Qian Jianing blinked innocently. “I didn’t hit you. I’m just stopping you from hitting me.”

The old woman tugged a few times, but Qian Jianing’s grip was like iron—her arm didn’t budge. Old Mrs. Qian raised her other hand in anger to strike, but Qian Jianing lazily grabbed it too, holding both arms in one hand. With her free hand, she picked up a sunflower seed from the table and tossed it at Qian Guocheng. “Now this is what I call laying hands.”

The tiny seed seemed weightless, but in Qian Jianing’s hand it had the force of a rock. One seed after another struck Qian Guocheng’s forehead, each one raising a painful red bump, accompanied by his howls.

He tried to shield his head and darted around like a rat, but no matter how he moved, the seeds found their target with pinpoint accuracy.

“Stop hitting me, I was wrong!”

“Ah! It hurts! Stop!”

“I’ll pay the money! I’ll go work in the mines! Just stop!”

…

Hearing her son’s cries had Old Mrs. Qian’s face turning green with heartache. Her fearful gaze at Qian Jianing deepened. As her son’s desperate plea grew louder, she couldn’t hold back her sobbing. “Stop… please stop… He’s your uncle…”

Qian Jianing chuckled lightly, popped a seed into her mouth, cracked it, and flicked the white kernel with her agile tongue. “I was just giving you a demonstration of what it means to ‘lay hands’.” She bent down face-to-face with Old Mrs. Qian, her eyes smiling. “Now, do you still think me holding your wrists counts as hitting you?”

Mrs. Qian trembled, shaking her head nervously. “N-no…”

Qian Jianing released her arms and smiled sweetly. “See? I am your granddaughter after all.”

Old Mrs. Qian looked at her with fear and immediately scrambled back onto the bed, anxiously hugging the lump-covered Qian Guocheng, tears falling non-stop.

“It’s all your fault!” Qian Guocheng seemed to have recovered somewhat and suddenly shoved Old Mrs. Qian away. With a choked voice, he shouted, “Why did you provoke her? She’s a jinx! Look what she did to my head—this is all your fault!”

Instead of getting mad, the old lady’s face was full of concern. “Guocheng, don’t be mad. Mom will take you to the clinic right now.” Supporting her son down from the bed, she naturally turned and ordered, “Xiue, hurry up and get the money, we’re going to the clinic.”

Zhao Xiu’e, finally snapping out of the jaw-dropping scene just now, reacted the moment she was told to pay. “Oh no, Guocheng’s really hurt bad. I’ll have Erhai go call his little aunt—she can bring money and go with him to the clinic.”

Old Mrs. Qian’s gaze turned resentful. “Guocheng’s family has no money. You need to pay! How can you all be so heartless? None of you are helping your brother. Listen to me, if you don’t pay for him to see a doctor today, that means you’re being unfilial to me! Stop wasting time, let’s head to the clinic, and we’ll slaughter a chicken to make him a nice soup afterward.”

“Unfilial? How am I unfilial?” Zhao Xiu’e threw her sunflower seeds on the ground, decades of pent-up frustration finally bursting out. “I’ve never heard of a household where the daughter-in-law is expected to be filial toward her husband’s younger brother!”

Seeing the hateful look in the old lady’s eyes, Zhao Xiu’e felt a chill. “Mom, you know how much Guomao and I have done for you all these years. When we got married, the family didn’t give us a dowry. You said the old house was the dowry—fine, I didn’t complain. I married Guomao for who he is, not for things. When Guosheng got married, it was even worse—he didn’t even get a house. You gave your entire life’s savings to your youngest son, fine—that’s your money, give it to whoever you want, we didn’t ask for it. But still, you weren’t satisfied, you demanded that Guosheng and I contribute money to build him a house.”

She took a deep breath. “We paid it. I thought, as long as he moved out and lived his own life away from me, it was worth it. I thought people had hearts, and if we helped a little with his wedding, we could finally have peace. But no—helping once turned into helping forever. Back then, the family was so poor we barely had food, but we always made sure you ate first. When Big Sister and Guosheng brought over grain and money, you wouldn’t let me use it—you’d send it straight to Guocheng the next day. Later, when life got better and we finally had food, I’d still give you all the sweets and canned goods from Big Sister and Guosheng, even when my kids drooled over them. I brought you the best meals first every day. In my heart, I think I’ve done my duty.”

The old woman replied matter-of-factly, “Isn’t this how elders should be treated? Which family doesn’t serve their elders like this?”

“And Qian Guocheng?” Zhao Xiu’e sneered. “Has he fed you a single bite? Given you a glass of water? All the nice things all ended up in his house, didn’t they? Mom, do you know why Big Sister and Guosheng only give you things instead of money? Because no one wants to see their hard-earned money handed over to Guocheng for nothing.”

Her temper flaring, Zhao Xiu’e glared at the slowly bleeding Qian Guocheng with utter disgust. “He has a wife and kids—let her take him! You want me to fork out money for his medical bills? Let me tell you the truth—no way in hell!”

“I won’t let him take advantage of me for a single cent!” Zhao Xiu’e roared.

Old Mrs. Qian trembled with fury and suddenly shouted, “Qian Guomao! Qian Guosheng! Don’t just stand there pretending to be dumb—get over here! Are you really going to let your wives and kids bully your mother like this? Are you even still filial?”

“Virtue starts with the mother,” Qian Jianing said coolly. “If the mother’s not kind, why should the children be filial? Grandma, you know how you’ve treated my dad. When I was little, I couldn’t do anything. But now I’m eighteen. I won’t let you bully my dad anymore, and I won’t let him clean up my uncle’s messes again.”

Zhao Xiu’e wiped away her tears. “I finally realized—no matter how well we treat you, your heart will never be warm. Mom, if you think we’re unfilial and your youngest son is the best, then move in with him. We’ll keep sending food and clothes as usual, but from now on, let your youngest son take care of you properly.”

Old Madam Qian panicked, looking at Zhao Xiu’e in disbelief. “You’re driving me out? Back then we gave your family the house, with the agreement that you and the eldest would care for me in my old age.”

Zhao Xiu’e chuckled. “Those three shabby thatched huts? Take them back—I don’t care for them.”

Qian Guomao moved in from outside. Old Madam Qian grabbed his hand tightly, her lips trembling. “Son, are you going to make your mother leave too?”

Qian Guomao’s heart ached. He sighed. “Mom, I’m willing to care for you.” Just as Old Madam Qian breathed a sigh of relief, Qian Guomao continued, “But from now on, Qian Guocheng isn’t allowed in this house.”

Old Madam Qian gasped, her fingernails digging deep into Qian Guomao’s flesh. “He’s your brother! Why can’t you just help him out a little?”

Qian Guomao acted as though he didn’t feel any pain, staring blankly at Old Madam Qian. “Mom, that brother of mine isn’t young anymore. He’s already a father. Xiue’s right—I have no obligation to take care of him. Before, he was just greedy and lazy, showing up for a free meal—fine, one more pair of chopsticks. But now? He lost over a hundred yuan gambling? Who dares to plug that hole for him? Who dares get involved with him again? I work hard raising pigs to earn money. I’m not doing it to clean up his mess!”

He exhaled deeply, his expression firm. “If you’re willing to live with me, then from now on, Qian Guocheng can’t set foot in my home. If you can’t bear to part with your younger son, then I’d rather be labeled unfilial and send you off to live with him.”

Qian Guosheng slowly raised his head and took out the cotton stuffed in his ears, his eyes red as he looked at Old Madam Qian. “Mom, I know you don’t like me. You think I’m dumb, slow. But even someone like me knows not to gamble. That’s a bottomless pit. You want me to pay Guocheng’s gambling debts? If I pay it this time, what about the next? Am I supposed to stop supporting my wife and children just to feed him? Mom, I’m not stupid. I listened to you before because I thought you’d had a hard life, and I wanted to make things easier for you. You’re getting old—why make you upset? But I have my limits too. I can’t abandon my own wife and kids just to be obedient to you. That would be truly foolish.”

This time, Old Madam Qian cried. She held Qian Guosheng’s hand—never before had she been this gentle. “Guosheng, Mom knows she was wrong. Just help Guocheng pay off this debt and cover his medical bills. I promise there won’t be a next time. If you hand over the money, from now on, I’ll treat you well, okay?”

Qian Guosheng shook his head. “Gambling is a bottomless pit. Any family that gets involved ends up ruined. I absolutely won’t help him—not even once.”

Seeing everyone turning against Qian Guocheng, Old Madam Qian panicked and burst into tears. “He’s your younger brother! He can’t make money like you can. What’s so wrong with helping him? Why are you all ganging up on us?”

“Grandma, isn’t there work he can do?” Qian Jianing interrupted coldly. “Didn’t Sun Lao’er say he’d send him to the coal mine to dig coal? Perfect—he can work for a few years, pay back the gambling debt, and then repay the money he owes our family too.” Qian Jianing pulled out a small notebook. “A little over a thousand. I’ll be generous and waive the change—just pay back a thousand.”

“You dare keep an account!” Old Madam Qian lunged forward to grab the notebook. Qian Jianing picked up a sunflower seed and made a throwing gesture toward Qian Guocheng. Old Madam Qian halted sharply, looking at her in alarm.

Just as the tension peaked, Qian Guohua came in for lunch and was shocked when she saw Qian Guocheng sitting bloodied on the kang. “What happened? Who hit you?”

Qian Guocheng didn’t dare speak. Qian Jianing cut in, “He got beat up by thugs—racked up a gambling debt of 120 yuan.”

“120 yuan?” Qian Guohua’s voice rose several decibels. “Qian Guocheng, you’ve got some nerve!”

Qian Jianing grabbed another handful of sunflower seeds. “The creditor said find him a job—send him to the coal mine so he can repay the debt. Grandma can’t bear to see my uncle work and wants my dad to be the sucker. At the same time, she’s pressuring my eldest uncle and aunt for being unfilial.”

Qian Guohua understood the scene from just a few words. She was angry too. Over the years, everyone had shown great forbearance towards the old lady and Qian Guocheng. But patience has limits. When resentment builds up, it has to explode eventually, and this significant gambling debt ended up being the last straw.

“Daughter…” Old Madam Qian grabbed Qian Guohua’s hand, eyes pleading.

Qian Guohua said, “Actually, it’s just as well—let him get a proper job. Once he realizes how tough it is to make money, he won’t have the guts to gamble again.”

Old Madam Qian was speechless. Seeing her son-in-law outside, she was too embarrassed to ask for money from her married daughter and quietly sobbed.

“You came just in time, big sis,” said Qian Guomao, lighting a cigarette and taking a couple puffs. “I just told mom—Guocheng’s not allowed in my house anymore. If mom won’t accept that, she can go live with him. The house we got in the division—I’m even willing to give it to Guocheng.”

Qian Guohua nodded, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the old lady’s tears. “Mom, what are you thinking?”

The old lady opened her mouth and pitifully asked, “Can’t we go back to how it was?”

Zhao Xiu’e let out a dry laugh. “Before, I turned a blind eye. Now, I don’t want to tolerate it anymore.”

The old lady turned to Qian Guosheng. “Guosheng…”

“Mom, we’re all your sons. There’s nothing wrong with any of us supporting you. If you want to live with me, that’s fine. But my condition’s the same as big brother’s—Guocheng can’t come into my house.” This time, Qian Guosheng’s face showed no trace of softness. His tone was calm, as if he’d rehearsed it dozens of times. “Also, in my house, my daughter handles the money now. Whatever she says goes. If you need anything, just talk to Jianing.”

Old Madam Qian was dumbfounded. She had only wanted the second son’s family to help pay off Guocheng’s debts—how did it end up with even the eldest son banning Guocheng from their home?

“Guocheng, go home,” Qian Guomao said wearily. “Go clean yourself up. Sun Lao’er will probably take you to the mine in the next day or two. Work hard and pay the money back. Then live your life properly.”

In the past, Qian Guocheng would have thrown a tantrum before leaving. But today, with Qian Jianing in the room, he was afraid she’d haul him out by the collar. He didn’t used to think much of this niece. She always sat quietly with a book. What changed this time? Sharp-tongued, tough enough to fight—could it be that his second brother had sent her to study martial arts just to deal with him?

Qian Guocheng dawdled, putting on his shoes and looking back with every step. He really didn’t want to work in a coal mine—it was a hellhole. But he was afraid to cry, scared he’d get punched if he opened his mouth.

Seeing her youngest son walk slowly toward the door, Old Madam Qian’s heart felt like it was being pierced by needles. Unable to hold back, she grabbed him and wailed. “Guocheng, I’ll go with you. I’ll take care of you.”

Seeing the old lady’s choice, Zhao Xiu’e let out a cold laugh. “Let me tell you this—once you leave, don’t think I’ll ever take you back.” With that, she slammed the curtain and left.

In her heart, Qian Jianing clicked her tongue in appreciation. Her eldest aunt was sharp—able to seize the moment and drive the old lady out without anyone saying a word in protest. After all, on the surface, it was the old lady’s own biased decision.

Qian Guohua sighed and stepped forward to persuade her. “Mom, think carefully. Once you’re at my brother’s house, who knows what kind of life you’ll have? At your age, why put yourself through this?”

Even Qian Guocheng wasn’t too thrilled. There were already three mouths to feed at home. Now with an old lady added, where’s the money supposed to come from? At least when she lived here, he could come over for free meals. Bringing her back? That’s just another burden.

Old Madam Qian wiped her tears and looked up calmly. “From today on, I’ll live with Guocheng. I won’t take pastries or clothes from you anymore. I want cash. Each of your two families gives me twenty yuan a month for living expenses, and Guohua, you give me ten.”

Qian Guosheng looked at Qian Jianing, unsure whether to agree.

Qian Jianing smiled faintly and tossed the sunflower seed shells aside. “Fine. But it can’t just be verbal. If my aunt agrees too, let’s go to the neighborhood office and sign a contract. Clearly define rights and responsibilities—just in case we give the money and it doesn’t go to you. Then don’t come back and accuse us of being unfilial.”

Qian Guohua looked at Qian Jianing, almost seeing her younger self in her. “Jianing, you’ve changed. You’re not like before.”

“I grew up. Someone in the family has to be tough so we don’t get pushed around.” Qian Jianing smiled. “I’d love to be a soft, sweet, naïve little girl. But my dad’s too honest, my mom too gentle, and my little brother is still young. Only if I become strong can I hold this family together.”

She looked at Qian Guocheng coldly. “I trained for months just for today.” She chuckled and turned to Qian Guohua. “If I didn’t have these fists, would Grandma and Uncle have let my family off so easily? No way! They would’ve skinned my dad alive. We’ve had enough of that kind of lesson.”

“Today, I made sure they know—if they try to treat my dad like a pushover again, they’ll have to deal with my fists first.” With that, Qian Jianing clenched her fist and crashed it into a nearby solid wood cabinet.

With a loud crash, the cabinet held for only a second before collapsing into a pile of splinters, with the clothes and bundles inside scattered all over the ground.

The whole family was stunned. Even Qian Guosheng hadn’t expected his daughter to be this strong and gawked at her in disbelief.

Qian Jianing smiled at Zhao Xiu’e, who had come in after hearing the noise. “Sorry, Auntie. Didn’t control my strength. I’ll buy you a new one.”

Zhao Xiu’e waved her hand briskly. “No need. Since your grandmother’s moving out anyway, this low cabinet won’t be of any use. I’ll just tidy things up later and turn this room into a study for my grandson.”

Qian Jianing smiled, the small dimple on her cheek showing. “That’s a separate matter. Once you’ve finished redecorating the room, I’ll buy the desk.”

The two were politely exchanging words when suddenly, a strong smell of urine filled the air. Qian Jianing pinched her nose and turned her head to look—Qian Guocheng’s pant leg was soaked more than halfway down, and yellow liquid was dripping steadily to the floor.

He had wet himself from fear.