"Dad..." Qin Pengfei was unwilling, what if only Qin Xiangmei could stay here? What about him?
Qin Guohua glared at Qin Pengfei—after all, he wasn’t his biological son, and right now, in his heart, Qin Mei was the most precious. This daughter was like a golden phoenix flying out of Dadao Village, and in the future, they would all need to rely on her to make something of themselves.
Qin Pengfei felt a deep sense of grievance from Qin Guohua’s glare, yet he was unable to voice his complaints, only able to stew in anger. How great was Capital City, only a fool would want to return to that destitute Dadao Village. He was already twenty-four, and in the village, guys his age were already married and having kids. He loathed the thought of marrying a girl who worked the fields, sick of seeing the same thing every day. It would drive him insane. His classmates had either become officials or secured good jobs, and here he was without any connections. Surely he wasn’t expected to go back and farm the land.
Hu Li was somewhat unwilling too, and of course, she was also thinking of her own son. She made a few scenes, but no one paid her any attention, especially that man from the Public Security Bureau who they called Secretary. He had substantial influence, and she didn’t dare make too much of a fuss. Initially, the Public Security Bureau had warned that Qin Pengfei was already implicated in a case, advising him to be cautious in his actions lest he ends up in custody again. Coming from the countryside, he might’ve been a bit brash, but he had also become somewhat fearful.
In the end, whatever they discussed, they still arranged for Qin Xiangmei to stay on her own, and then the family of three returned to Dadao Village.
Of course, when they left, they prepared everything thoroughly, choosing a nice house for Qin Xiangmei. Qin Xiangmei initially wanted Qin Xiangnuan’s room, but Qin Xiangnuan was not one to be trifled with. Thinking she could demand a room from her was pure fantasy, so Qin Xiangmei had no choice but to pick another room for herself. Hu Li even bought some bedding and such, making a home here for Qin Xiangmei.
To say Hu Li was scheming is no overstatement.
She knew fully well that the Siheyuan wasn’t owned by the Qin Family; the three generations of Qins were merely renting here. Yet she never mentioned intending to pay rent, as if she was really taking the Qin Xiangyang’s family for fools, expecting them to subsidize her daughter.
Qin Xiangnuan didn’t argue over these matters. It was just rent, and she simply didn’t want it.
However, if Qin Xiangmei really believed she could live well here, hoping to freeload, then she was being too naive.
She should just go live in the dorms. No one here was going to help her with any day student procedures. She wanted to live outside of school? Not happening. Qin Xiangnuan herself attended Jing University; how could she not know about Jing University’s rules? Back when she didn’t live in the dorms, apart from applying, she had Granny Lu, Qin Xiangyang, and Jian Zhiqing come over before the application was approved. Jing University was an enclosed campus; there were very few day students, mostly for student safety. Without a legitimate reason, they do not allow students to live outside. Apart from local residents, they require three guarantors otherwise, so she might as well honestly stay in the dorms.
Qin Xiangmei apparently didn’t know the situation at Jing University and thought she could just live with Qin Xiangnuan, mooching off her, but when the time came to apply for a day student spot, the school asked for three guarantors and proof of local residency, leaving her dumbfounded.
Guarantors, she had, but as for Qin Xiang, what relationship did that sibling pair have with her? She shamelessly stayed here, but did she really think he was willing to be her patron? As for residency, sorry, but she wasn’t from Capital City, so she was settled in the dorm.
Qin Xiangnuan was very reluctant to stay in the dorm. She arrived late and got stuck with an upper bunk, which was inconvenient to climb up and down. In a dorm that housed six people, some had rooms for four, but she was unlucky to be in a six-person room. It was because she thought about living outside, hoping to freeload, that all the good beds were taken by others, leaving only a spot near the door for her, closest to the light. Needless to say, the task of turning off the light became hers. She wanted to find someone to swap bunks, but only a fool would trade with her, as they were all still strangers to each other.
Of course, she could also find someone to pull some strings.
Jian Zhiqing might have a way, after all, the people from the Public Security Bureau do call him Secretary. But Jian Zhiqing wouldn’t stick his neck out for her. She also considered asking Chun Xiangyang for help; after all, she was his sister. However, before she could even ask, everyone avoided her. As for Qin Xiangnuan, whenever they met, had they ever exchanged a single sentence? So she just had to endure climbing up and down daily, only managing to freeload at the Siheyuan during holidays. Every day she had to spend her own money, and seeing others dressed in shiny, clearly expensive clothes made her feel miserable.
Every time she returned to the Siheyuan, Qin Xiangnuan’s clothes were always new and stylish. In comparison, she was still wearing old clothes brought from home, even though they were already the best she had. Beside the other students, she looked shabby. The household’s situation was such that a few hundred dollars a month in living expenses was all she could expect. There were so many things she dared not buy. Every time she thought of these, she was consumed with hatred.
As for Qin Xiangnuan, having her enemy stay in her house, even though they didn’t see each other every day, initially made her quite uncomfortable. However, every time she saw Qin Xiangmei’s envious expression towards her phone, her clothes, and other belongings, she couldn’t help feeling pleased.
It turned out that even a golden phoenix had such times. Was this what they called karma?
It was the weekend, and Qin Xiangnuan brought her design drafts home to work on. Seeing an empty spot on the stone table, she placed her belongings on it. It had to be said, what she learned in the factory and developed from her own experience was nowhere near as formal as what was taught at school. This time’s assignment was to create an innovative piece. She didn’t plan to excel, nor did she intend to add embroidery, since her hands were already remarkably skilled. She decided to proceed step by step, keeping pace with other students.
She attended university not to show off, but to acquire knowledge.
"Hey, mom, I’m out of money," Qin Xiangmei spoke into the phone, not knowing how long she had been talking; her voice loud and shrill, as if afraid others wouldn’t hear. She must’ve been speaking to Hu Li, or maybe to Qin Xiangnuan.
Qin Xiangnuan tapped her pen on the table. She really felt there was no need for a phone anymore. Last month’s phone bill had already been released, and their family’s usual bill was less than 100 yuan. Last month, it had surged to almost a thousand.