"How could it be impossible? Have you forgotten? When you needed hand surgery, they wouldn’t even give you the money for it. And remember, *we* were the ones who earned most of that money! Later, when we started selling steamed buns on the street, they still had the gall to come over and freeload off us for food, drink, and a place to stay. I remember it perfectly. The last time one of them came over from your third brother’s family, their eyes were darting all over the place. It was obvious they were looking for anything valuable."

Su Yun seethed whenever she mentioned that couple.

If that pair hadn’t been scared off last time, they probably would have made off with armfuls of our things before they left!

Qin Zhonghui sighed. He knew his wife was telling the truth, and no matter what, he couldn’t let his wife and daughter suffer.

But that was his own brother, after all, which made him feel awful.

He said, "I’m going to step out for a smoke."

After Qin Zhonghui stepped out, Su Yun said with a sigh of resignation, "That’s your dad for you. He knows exactly what kind of people your third uncle’s family are, and he knows his parents always side with them, but he just can’t get over that hurdle in his heart. At the same time, he doesn’t want to see us suffer, so he just ends up torturing himself over the conflict."

Qin Jiao nodded. She said, "That’s why I’m saying we shouldn’t open our shop here yet. Once I get into a university in the provincial capital, our whole family can move there. Dad can be away from Uncle and his family, and he won’t have to feel so torn anymore."

Su Yun was silent for a moment, then finally nodded. "Xiao Jiao is right!"

Qin Jiao knew that in a few years, the time would be ripe for people to start moving for work. Opening a restaurant then, as long as they were diligent and worked hard, was sure to do well.

She said earnestly, "Mom, we can open the restaurant near my university then. That way, I can help you out whenever I’m free. Plus, we’ll be far away from Grandpa, Grandma, and Uncle, so Dad won’t feel so conflicted, and our family won’t have to be separated."

Hearing her daughter paint a picture of their future, Su Yun’s heart warmed. She playfully tapped Qin Jiao on the nose and said with a helpless smile, "Oh, you. You haven’t even gotten into college yet, and you’re already calling it ’my university’?"

"I’ll definitely get in!" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Then you’d better get back to studying. I don’t need your help with this."

Shooed away by her mom, Qin Jiao suddenly spotted a notebook on the table. Lately, she had been entering her space at night to study, and she had taken the opportunity to organize her notes for every subject.

What she needed to do now was cram with practice problems for the final push, but Shen Yi’s fundamentals were very weak and needed some work.

Just then, Su Yun called from downstairs, "Xiao Jiao, could you take some of these dumplings over to Mr. Du later? It’s a holiday today, and I’m sure the two of them won’t be making any themselves."

"Okay, I will," Qin Jiao called back. She then packed the notes she’d prepared into her schoolbag and carried it downstairs with her.

Su Yun asked, "What are you carrying your schoolbag for?"

"I accidentally packed one of Shen Yi’s books. This is a good chance to return it."

With that, Qin Jiao picked up the dumplings her mother had packed and headed out the door.

The two houses weren’t far apart, and it was only a short walk. The October air had already turned cool, and a gentle breeze blew in fits and starts, feeling wonderfully pleasant.

When Qin Jiao arrived at Mr. Du’s home, she found him sitting in a lounge chair in his small courtyard, contentedly listening to a storytelling program.

The storyteller, Shan Tianfang, had just reached a cliffhanger, and Mr. Du was on the edge of his seat.

It took him a moment to notice Qin Jiao. When he did, he smiled and said, "Ah, Xiao Jiao, you’re here."

"My mom made celery and pork dumplings and asked me to bring some over for you to try."