121: Daqiang forces his way into hiring an expensive caregiver, and the three men's scheme is once again crushed by everyone.

At two o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, in the living room of the Su Family Old Residence, Su Daqiang leaned back on the sofa, playing with a gold-rimmed thermos cup. In front of him was a flyer from a caregiver agency, with the words "Special-grade caregiver, 8,000 yuan per month, 24-hour care" particularly glaring. Su Mingzhe sat beside him, his suit jacket draped over the back of the chair, while Mingcheng sat with his legs crossed, holding an unlit cigarette. Calculation was hidden in the eyes of all three men.

"Mingyu, Zhu Li, Wu Fei, you've come at just the right time." Su Daqiang saw the three women enter and immediately sat up straight, pushing the flyer to the center of the coffee table. "My old arms and legs have been hurting badly lately, so I need to hire a Special-grade caregiver. It's 8,000 yuan a month, and you three can split it—Mingyu is a director, so she pays 4,000; Zhu Li is now a supervisor, so she pays 3,000; Wu Fei has a house, so she pays 1,000. That makes exactly 8,000."

As soon as he said this, Zhu Li frowned first: "Dad, Mingcheng and I are already divorced, so the caregiver fee has nothing to do with me! Besides, 8,000 is too expensive. A regular caregiver can be hired for 3,000; there's no need for a special-grade one."

Wu Fei also nodded: "Yes, Dad, my house is for Xiao Mi's schooling and can't be touched casually. Su Mingzhe has a stable job in the United States, and Mingcheng should also bear some of the cost. How can you expect us to pay for everything?"

Mingyu looked at the flyer, knowing clearly that Su Daqiang was causing trouble again: "Dad, a regular caregiver can completely take care of you; 8,000 is too wasteful. And I already give you 2,000 yuan in alimony every month. Su Mingzhe and Mingcheng should also contribute; you can't just target the three of us."

"They both have difficulties!" Su Daqiang slapped the coffee table, his voice rising, "Mingzhe's rent in the United States has increased, so he's under a lot of pressure; Mingcheng is unemployed and still in debt, so how can he pay? You three are well-off, so what's wrong with taking on more? Otherwise, it's unfilial!"

Su Mingzhe quickly agreed: "Yes, Mingyu, I'm really tight on money lately, so please bear with me. Zhu Li, Wu Fei, we're all family, don't be so stingy. Dad's health is the most important thing."

Mingcheng also chimed in: "Exactly! If you don't hire one, I'll go to Mingyu's company and Zhu Li's firm to make a scene, so you won't be able to work properly!"

The three men echoed each other, putting the three women in a dilemma. Xiao Mi hid behind Wu Fei, whispering, "Mom, is Grandpa going to make the aunties pay again? Uncle said Grandpa has a lot of money."

Su Daqiang's face turned pale when he heard this, and he quickly glared at Xiao Mi: "Children shouldn't talk nonsense! How do I have a lot of money?"

Just then, Xie Hui's voice came from the doorway: "Whether you have money or not, we'll know by looking at the evidence."

He walked in quickly, carrying a briefcase, followed by a young man in a suit—a staff member from the caregiver agency, holding a contract. Xie Hui placed the briefcase on the coffee table and first said to the agent, "Manager Wang, please tell Mr. Su that the 'Special-grade caregiver' he inquired about yesterday is actually just a regular caregiver repackaged, and the real monthly salary is only 3,500 yuan."

Manager Wang nodded and opened the contract: "Mr. Su, when you came to inquire yesterday, we told you that 'special-grade' is a promotional gimmick, and the actual service content is the same as a regular caregiver, with a monthly salary of 3,500 yuan. You said at the time, 'I just want the title; my daughters have money,' and you also asked us not to tell others the real price."

As soon as this was said, Su Daqiang's face instantly turned red, and he quickly snatched the contract: "Don't talk nonsense! When did I ever say that?"

"Whether you said it or not, we'll know by listening to the recording." Xie Hui took out his mobile phone from his briefcase and played a recording—it was recorded yesterday using Time Stop, a conversation between Su Daqiang and Manager Wang at the caregiver agency: "I just want the 8,000 yuan title. My daughter is a director, Zhu Li is a supervisor, and Wu Fei has a house. I can definitely force them to pay, and I can secretly save the extra money..."

The recording was clear and harsh, and the contract in Su Daqiang's hand fell to the floor with a "smack." Su Mingzhe and Mingcheng also panicked. Su Mingzhe quickly changed the subject: "Mr. Xie, this is our family matter, don't interfere! I really am under a lot of pressure and can't afford the caregiver fee."

"Under a lot of pressure?" Xie Hui pulled out a bank statement from his briefcase and threw it in front of Su Mingzhe, "Your American company just increased your monthly salary by 1,500 US dollars last week, and your account balance is now over 40,000 US dollars. How can you say you're under a lot of pressure? You just want to shift the blame to them!"

The words "Salary Adjustment + 1500USD" and "Balance 42000USD" on the statement were particularly striking, and Su Mingzhe's face turned purplish-red. He opened his mouth but couldn't say a word for a long time.

Seeing this, Mingcheng quickly stood up, wanting to leave: "I have something to do, I'm leaving first!"

"You're not going anywhere." Xie Hui reached out to stop him and pulled out a gambling debt collection notice from his inner universe. "You just received a collection notice from the casino yesterday, owing 70,000 yuan, and you still want the caregiver to do your laundry and cook for you? I also have a recording here of you telling Su Daqiang, 'Once the caregiver is hired, make her take care of me more; anyway, they're paying for it.' Do you want to hear it?"

Mingcheng's legs suddenly went soft, and he almost sat on the ground: "I... I didn't say that! Don't falsely accuse me!"

"Falsely accuse you?" Xie Hui pressed the play button on his mobile phone, and Mingcheng's voice came out: "Dad, just keep pushing them to hire a caregiver. When the caregiver comes, I'll have her wash my socks and cook for me, so I don't have to do it myself..."

As soon as the recording played, Zhu Li was completely disappointed: "Mingcheng, you're still thinking of taking advantage even in this state; you're truly incorrigible!"

Wu Fei also took out her mobile phone and opened the WeChat message Su Mingzhe sent yesterday: "Look, Su Mingzhe even asked me to persuade Mingyu and Zhu Li to pay more, saying 'they're soft-hearted; if you talk to them enough, they'll agree,' and he didn't mention his salary increase at all."

With evidence scattered everywhere, the three Su Family men no longer had their previous arrogance. Su Daqiang hung his head, turning the thermos cup in his hand; Su Mingzhe stared at his shoelaces, not daring to look up; Mingcheng leaned against the wall, his eyes darting away.

"Now, who still thinks we should split the caregiver fee?" Mingyu looked at the three men, her tone firm, "A regular caregiver is 3,500 yuan. I'll pay 1,500, Su Mingzhe pays 1,000, and Mingcheng pays 1,000. That makes exactly 3,500. If you don't agree, I'll only pay alimony according to the regular standard in the future. You can decide what to do."

Su Daqiang still wanted to refute, but seeing Xie Hui's mobile phone in his hand (still recording), he quickly nodded: "Agreed! We'll do as you say!"

Su Mingzhe and Mingcheng dared not refuse anymore and could only repeatedly agree.

Xie Hui put away the evidence and said to the three women, "Let's go. Don't waste time here; Xiao Mi is still waiting downstairs for us to eat ice cream."

Leaving the Su Family Old Residence, Zhu Li breathed a sigh of relief and said to Xie Hui, "Thank you, Mr. Xie. If it weren't for you, we would have definitely been forced to pay again today. How did you know the caregiver was repackaged, and about Su Mingzhe's salary increase?"

"Yesterday, I saw Su Daqiang secretly go to the caregiver agency, so I used Time Stop to record it and also checked Su Mingzhe's bank statement." Xie Hui took out three small porcelain bottles from his inner universe and handed one to each of them. "These are nine flower jade dew pills. You've been upset today; taking one can calm your mind. Xiao Mi is getting impatient in the car, so let's hurry over."

When they got to the car, Xiao Mi saw the three women and immediately rushed over to hug Wu Fei's neck: "Mom, did the bad grandpa and bad dads bully you again? Did Uncle help you?"

Xie Hui smiled and patted Xiao Mi's head: "Uncle helped Mom and the aunties. Now, how about we go eat ice cream and then play on the slide at the park?"

"Okay!" Xiao Mi clapped her hands happily, her earlier tension completely gone.

In the afternoon, Xie Hui took the three women and Xiao Mi to the Amusement Park. Xiao Mi laughed especially happily on the carousel, and Wu Fei sat beside her, watching, a long-lost relaxed smile on her face. Mingyu and Zhu Li sat on a long bench, watching Xie Hui play on the trampoline with Xiao Mi, occasionally chatting about work.

"General Manager Meng told me yesterday that the new energy project will start making a profit next month, and there will be a lot of dividends." Mingyu said with a smile, "This is all thanks to Mr. Xie's investment and help; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to focus on work at all."

"Me too. My firm recently assigned me the Hengtong Electronics audit project, and my boss even praised me for doing a good job." Zhu Li was also very happy. "If Mr. Xie hadn't helped me get rid of Mingcheng's entanglement, I definitely wouldn't have been able to work in peace."

Wu Fei walked over and sat beside them: "I've talked to the lawyer, and the divorce procedures can be completed next week. I won't have to argue with Su Mingzhe anymore."

Xie Hui finished playing on the trampoline with Xiao Mi and walked over, handing each of them a bottle of warm fruit juice: "Hearing you say that makes me happy for you too. From now on, no matter what happens, we'll face it together, and we won't let the Su Family affect our lives again."

In the evening, Xie Hui booked a parent-child restaurant. Xiao Mi sat next to Xie Hui, eating strawberry ice cream with it all over her face. Mingyu put a piece of steak on Xie Hui's plate: "Today, thanks to you, not only did you help us expose Dad and our brothers' schemes, but you also took Xiao Mi to play for a day. Eat more of this steak."

Zhu Li served Xie Hui a bowl of corn chowder: "This soup is very warming. You've been running around all day, so you must be tired. Drink some to replenish yourself."

Wu Fei looked at the scene before her and said with a smile, "Xiao Mi told me today that she wants Uncle to be her 'superhero,' saying Uncle is better than Dad and can protect everyone."

Xie Hui raised his cup and said with a smile, "Come, let's toast! May we never be bothered by the Su Family's annoying affairs again, and may our lives get better and better!"

"Cheers!" Four cups clinked together, and Xiao Mi also raised her juice cup, childishly shouting along: "Cheers! To a good life with Uncle, Mom, and Aunties!"

The warm yellow light spilled onto the dining table, and laughter echoed in the restaurant. When they left, Xie Hui drove them home individually. When he dropped Mingyu off downstairs, she took out a handmade woven key pendant from her bag. It had a small character "Xie" woven on it and was adorned with a small silver bell: "Mr. Xie, this is for you. Hang it on your car keys; it makes a sound when it shakes, so it's not easy to lose. Thank you for always protecting me."

Xie Hui took the pendant and gently shook it; the bell made a crisp sound: "I like it very much, thank you. No matter what happens in the future, I will always be here."

Mingyu's face instantly turned red, and she turned and quickly walked into the apartment building. After a few steps, she looked back and waved to Xie Hui. Xie Hui looked at her retreating figure and then remembered Zhu Li's flushed earlobes when she thanked him, and Wu Fei's trusting eyes. He knew—these three women, once hurt by their original families and failed marriages, had completely come to see him as their most solid support.

On the way home, Xie Hui touched the inner universe in his chest—it stored today's recordings, bank statements, collection notices, and the small pendants given by The female protagonists. Each item was not cold evidence but a mark of his protection for them. He knew that the three Su Family men might still be unwilling, but as long as he was there, no one could disrupt their lives again, and no one could make them suffer any grievances.

As night deepened, the car drove steadily under the streetlights, and Xie Hui's lips always carried a smile—the enjoyable journey in the all is well world was still continuing. He was already looking forward to seeing these three women, who deserved to be treated well, completely break free from the shadow of the Su Family and live truly free and dazzling lives. And he would always be their strongest backing, accompanying them every step of the way, welcoming every hopeful tomorrow.