65: Chapter 65 Relatives Visit

At the entrance of the alley, the Audi came to a stop and the engine was turned off. Qin Jianren was the first to open the car door and step out.

He went around to the back of the car, opened the trunk, and pulled out a handbag containing two bottles of moutai and two cartons of Chunghwa cigarettes, followed by two more gift boxes.

Immediately after, a fashionable but stout middle-aged woman stepped out from the passenger seat.

Her gaze swept toward the alley entrance, and with just one look, she spotted the car with the license plate "Mo D 99999."

"Hey, Jianren, look quickly! Isn't that car a Rolls-Royce?" This middle-aged woman was none other than Qin Yi's second aunt and Qin Jianren's wife—Su Fangfang.

Qin Jianren closed the trunk lid and walked over carrying the gifts, responding with a look of pure astonishment, "My god, five nines—it's the sovereignty of nine-five... and it's a rolls-royce cullinan... It seems that kid from Old Yan's family didn't lie to us; Xiao Yi really has made it big this time!"

"Are you saying that car belongs to that kid Qin Yi?" Su Fangfang widened her eyes and looked at Qin Jianren, seeking confirmation with an expression of disbelief.

Qin Jianren nodded with certainty, "It must be his. Who else in this village has the ability to afford such a car? Besides, didn't you see the Modu license plate? Yesterday, Old Yan's kid said he saw Qin Yi getting out of this very car with his own eyes!"

"Heavens, how much must that cost?" Su Fangfang asked curiously.

"I'd estimate it's at least eight to ten million..." Qin Jianren guessed, muttering to himself.

"That expensive? What kind of business is Qin Yi doing in Modu to have so much money?" Su Fangfang's eyes were wide with shock as she asked in disbelief.

"How should I know... We'll just ask him when we see him. Though, it's also possible the car isn't actually his..." Qin Jianren shook his head, a look of inquiry appearing on his face as well.

"Sigh, do you think if we just head over like this, they won't let us in? After all, when they were in trouble, we didn't exactly help out..." Su Fangfang asked somewhat hesitantly.

Qin Jianren took a deep breath and said, "Probably not. Big brother still values family ties quite a bit. We are biological brothers, after all—blood is thicker than water. He wouldn't go so far as to bar us from entering... When we get there, just follow my lead!"

...

Qin Yi, eavesdropping on their conversation through the Miniature Bionic Tracker, couldn't help but let a playful smile curl at the corners of his mouth. He murmured to himself, "So they've come to test the waters... Fine then, I'll play along with you for a bit!"

Just then, his mother Wu Xiuhua's voice sounded from outside the bathroom: "Xiao Yi, aren't you done yet? Did you eat something that upset your stomach last night?"

Qin Yi's heart tightened. He quickly tucked his phone into his pocket, pushed open the bathroom door, and walked out.

"I'm fine, Mom, I'm already done," Qin Yi said as he went to wash his hands, face, and brush his teeth.

...

At that moment, in the main house, the three members of Qin Yi's family were sitting together enjoying breakfast.

Qin Yi picked up a beef potsticker and looked at his father, Qin Jianye, saying casually, "Dad, after breakfast, give that guy Chen Hu a call and have him come over to settle the debt."

Qin Jianye nodded in response, "Alright, I'll call him in a bit."

Qin Yi then looked at his mother and asked, "By the way, Mom, wasn't that villa we used to live in auctioned off by the court? Should we buy it back?"

Hearing this, Qin Jianye and Wu Xiuhua exchanged a look. Then, Wu Xiuhua smiled and replied, "Let's just... forget it. Your father and I discussed it last night. Didn't you want to start a company in Modu? Your father and I will go to Modu with you; maybe we can be of some help."

Qin Yi felt his parents were likely afraid of becoming a burden to him and were intentionally saying they didn't need it. He persuaded them, "Dad, Mom, if you're worried about money, there's really no need. I have enough money. Even if I buy back our old villa, it won't interfere with me starting a company in Modu."

At this point, Qin Jianye put down his chopsticks and looked at Qin Yi with a solemn expression: "Son, your mother and I know you have good intentions. However, over the past six months or so, we've seen many things clearly and recognized many people for who they are. This place, although it holds many memories and I've spent most of my life here, really doesn't have anything left worth lingering for. The reason your mother and I chose to stay here all this time was partly because of the family debt and partly because of you. Only if we were here would the creditors be able to find us, allowing you to peacefully continue your studies in Modu. But now, since the debt problem can be resolved, your mother and I don't want to stay here anymore. So, yesterday we agreed that once things here are settled, our whole family will move to Modu!"

After listening to his father, Qin Yi felt somewhat moved. Only after silently finishing a beef potsticker did he nod and reply, "Mm, that's fine too. Since you and Mom have made your decision, then once everything is resolved, we'll go to Modu together. Once we're there, everything can start fresh. It's just a bit of a shame; after all, our family lived in that house for so many years. Not buying it back makes me feel like something is missing."

"Heh, it's no big deal. It's just a house. As long as the three of us are together, wherever we are is home!" Wu Xiuhua smiled and comforted him.

...

Just then, several sudden knocks sounded on the door. Qin Jianye and Wu Xiuhua looked at each other, a trace of confusion flashing in their eyes.

Qin Jianye put down his chopsticks and stood up to open the door, muttering curiously, "That's rare. Who would come over this early?"

However, before he could answer the door, he heard a loud voice that was both familiar and strange: "Big brother, sister-in-law, are you home? It's Jianren! I've come with my wife to see you. Big brother, sister-in-law, can you hear me?"

Hearing this voice, Qin Jianye, who was about to stand up, immediately froze in place. He looked at Wu Xiuhua in shock and confirmed, "Wife, I'm not hallucinating, am I? Was that Jianren's voice just now?"

Wu Xiuhua sighed, put down her chopsticks, and stood up to walk toward the door. As she walked, she said indifferently, "You didn't hear wrong. It's that 'good' brother of yours!"

Qin Jianye also stood up and followed quickly. The two of them exchanged low-voiced comments as they walked: "Why did he suddenly come?"

Wu Xiuhua frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "Husband, this brother of yours is the type who won't get out of bed unless there's a profit to be made. It's been over half a year since our family had trouble, and he never once thought about coming to see you, his elder brother. Could it be that you told them the news about our son being back?"

Qin Jianye quickly shook his head in denial: "No! Jianren and I haven't been in contact for a long time, you know that." As he spoke, he spread his hands in an innocent gesture.

"Alright, alright, let's just open the door first," Wu Xiuhua said, waving her hand with a hint of impatience, clearly not wanting to dwell on the issue too much.

As they spoke, the two of them quickly reached the main gate and pulled back the bolt. Then, with a creaking sound, the large iron gate was pulled open.

...

Outside the door, Qin Jianren and Su Fangfang stood holding gifts, looking at Qin Jianye and Wu Xiuhua with smiles on their faces as they engaged in a forced, warm greeting: "Big brother, sister-in-law, long time no see. How is your health?"

Qin Jianye looked at his brother Qin Jianren and his sister-in-law Su Fangfang, who had arrived with gifts, his face full of surprise.

Qin Jianye dithered for a moment before asking, "Jianren, why did you two come over?"

"Heh, big brother, it's just that I missed you and sister-in-law. So Fangfang and I rushed over early this morning. Knowing you love to drink, I specifically bought two bottles of good wine and two cartons of good cigarettes to come see you," Qin Jianren said with a beaming smile, appearing full of enthusiasm as he handed the gifts to Qin Jianye.

"That's right, big brother and sister-in-law. Jianren has been saying he wanted to see you for a long time but just couldn't find the time. Today being the weekend and him having nothing to do, I came along with him," Su Fangfang said, shaking the gifts she was carrying. She looked at Wu Xiuhua and continued, "I didn't know what to buy, so I just brought a box of bird's nest and donkey-hide gelatin to help sister-in-law replenish her blood and Qi."

Though their words were pretty, their eyes frequently darted to the faces of Qin Jianye and Wu Xiuhua, seemingly testing their reactions.

Seeing this, Wu Xiuhua gave a faint smile and said politely, "Heh, look at you two. You could have just come; why bring things? Come in quickly, don't just stand at the door. Old Qin, stop dazing and move aside."

As Wu Xiuhua spoke, she took the gifts from Su Fangfang's hands, though the smile on her face appeared very forced.

Seeing this, Qin Jianye followed Wu Xiuhua's lead and invited them, "Oh, right, right, come in, everyone."

...

"My, sister-in-law has really kept this little courtyard of our Qin Family well..." Qin Jianren said as he walked in, asking tentatively, "Big brother, I heard that Xiao Yi is back from Modu, right?"

Qin Jianye's body stiffened slightly as he asked nonchalantly, "Mm, he came back last night. But who did you hear that from?"

"Heh, it was a coincidence. Yesterday after dinner, I was taking a walk in the neighborhood and ran into Old Yan's son. Didn't he get a job as a civil servant at the Municipal Tax Bureau? He lives in my neighborhood too. We chatted for a bit, and he just happened to mention it."

Qin Jianren didn't hide anything and directly stated the source of his information, but while saying this, his eyes kept scanning around, seemingly searching for Qin Yi.

At this moment, Qin Yi was standing in front of the main house door, leaning against the doorframe with a half-smile on his face, his eyes coldly watching the two people who had entered.

"Oh, isn't this Xiao Yi? I was just talking about you with your dad..." Qin Jianren said warmly, looking at Qin Yi with a face full of smiles.

However, Qin Yi's tone was flat as he gave a lukewarm greeting: "Heh, I was wondering who would come to visit so early. So it's Second Uncle and Second Aunt. What rare guests! By my count, we haven't seen each other in over half a year, right? How is the health of you two elders?"

"Haha, we're doing great!" Seeing Qin Yi, Qin Jianren immediately responded with a beaming face, then followed up with a compliment, "Xiao Yi has grown even more handsome; you look exactly like your dad when he was young!"

"Yes, I almost didn't recognize you. The change is really too big," Su Fangfang added, though her eyes flickered with a bit of inquiry and calculation. She looked Qin Yi up and down, quickly and silently calculating the value of his outfit in her head.

"Haha, Second Uncle and Second Aunt must be joking. It's likely just because we haven't met in so long that you've forgotten what I look like..." Qin Yi replied with a light laugh, his tone carrying a hint of sarcasm.

Qin Jianren and Su Fangfang gave awkward smiles. Qin Jianye understood that his son had just used his words to provoke them. Although he could understand why his son was doing it, he still said in a low voice, "Hey, son, how can you talk to your Second Uncle like that?"

Qin Yi said nothing, simply shrugged, turned, and went back into the house to continue eating his breakfast on his own.

Seeing this, Wu Xiuhua quickly tried to smooth things over: "Hoho, sorry about that. Xiao Yi just got up and is still a bit groggy..."

"It's fine, it's fine. Young people all have a bit of a morning temper. Our Xiao Yue is the same..." Su Fangfang said with a smile, also trying to ease the atmosphere.

As they spoke, the four of them stepped into the main house, though the atmosphere felt somewhat awkward.

Qin Yi ate his meal as if no one else was there, intentionally making loud chewing sounds and clattering his utensils. A trace of a dissatisfied cold smile hung at the corner of his mouth, clearly using this method to express his displeasure.

Qin Jianren set the handbag he was carrying to one side. His eyes inadvertently swept over the full box of moutai that had been opened last night, and he suddenly felt that his two bottles were somewhat embarrassing to present.

His expression couldn't help but stiffen, and he awkwardly twitched the corner of his mouth, secretly feeling annoyed: If I'd known, I should have prepared more.

On the contrary, Su Fangfang acted as if she were seeing a long-lost relative. She sat on the sofa, smiling at Qin Yi, and said affectionately, "Xiao Yi is graduating this year, right? Time really flies. I remember four years ago when you first got into Modu University, how glorious that was..."

Qin Yi scooped a wonton into his mouth, chewed it slowly, and then looked at Su Fangfang with a hint of craftiness in his eyes as he calmly interrupted her: "Second Aunt forgot, I took a year's leave of absence. I don't graduate until next year."

Su Fangfang's face stiffened. She gave an awkward laugh and tried to smooth it over for herself, saying self-deprecatingly, "Uh, haha, yes, I'm getting older and my brain isn't very sharp; I can't remember things..."

Qin Yi gave a faint, mocking smile and pretended to give a well-meaning reminder: "Is that so? Then Second Aunt really should go see a doctor. I've seen reports online that Alzheimer's disease is starting earlier these days. Frequently forgetting things isn't a good sign. Second Aunt can't just ignore it; you have to take it seriously."

"Is that right? I also think I should go see a doctor," Su Fangfang said, not catching the underlying meaning in Qin Yi's words and thinking he was actually concerned about her.

Su Fangfang didn't understand, but Qin Jianren did. He couldn't help but feel a surge of anger: Damn it, this little brat is actually cursing his wife with senile dementia...

However, since he hadn't yet figured out the extent of Qin Yi's situation, it wasn't wise to lose his temper. He could only endure it patiently, forcing a smile as he changed the subject for his wife: "Haha, Xiao Yi, what are your plans now that you're back?"