When Luo Xuyuan entered, Old Madam Qian greeted him with a smile on her face: "The grandnephew is here too."
Luo Xuyuan didn’t pay attention to her but went straight to Luo Qiao’s side, seeing her organizing her teaching materials: "Are you alright?"
Luo Qiao gestured for her second brother to sit down: "I’m fine, you sit first, I’ll just finish up what I’m doing."
Luo Qiao put away her pen, and the door was opened again, this time by Teacher Gao and Qiu Ping.
As soon as Qiu Ping came in, he saw Old Madam Qian, his maternal great-aunt, and hurried over: "Great-aunt, what are you doing here?"
Upon seeing her own nephew, Old Madam Qian said: "Qiu Ping, your timing is perfect, help me talk to your stepchildren, tell them to help me out. Your cousin has already set his wedding date, but the girl said she won’t marry him without a house."
Teacher Gao was not at school before, as he was out handling affairs for the department and had just returned.
Hearing his mother-in-law’s words, he was somewhat irritated: "Mom, please stop thinking about that house. There’s no logic in my brother-in-law needing to provide a house if he isn’t getting married."
Seeing her son-in-law speak without sparing her feelings, Old Madam Qian turned her attention to Luo Qiao. She had heard at Qiu Ping’s wedding that the nephews and nieces were extremely talented, which made her take a closer look and remember them.
A few days ago, she went back to her nephew’s place to borrow money and heard that her nephew’s wife’s biological daughter had returned from abroad, the youngest associate professor ever. She remembered the university’s name sounded familiar, but couldn’t place it until she realized today that she is from the same university as her son-in-law.
By this time, Luo Qiao had gathered her things and stood up: "Since your nephew is here, we’ll be leaving first. Remember, don’t randomly claim relatives and think we’re easy-going."
Then she coldly looked at Qiu Ping: "We will not acknowledge this kinship, and we hope you inform all your relatives not to randomly claim kinship either. It’s best if everyone stays peaceful and minds their own business."
After saying that, she left the small conference room, leaving them to whatever drama they wanted to stir up; it was no longer her concern.
Today, she had intentionally had Xuyuan call Qiu Ping here to clear things up, to prevent him from feigning ignorance.
Luo Xuyuan brought his second brother to his office: "Big Brother, sorry to have you run this errand. Take a seat; I’ll make you a cup of tea."
Luo Xuyuan looked around the environment and then at his sister, choosing his words carefully: "I looked into that woman."
Luo Qiao placed the tea in front of her brother: "What did you find out?"
Luo Xuyuan said sarcastically: "Her stepdaughter brought home a contract signed with a contractor, which that woman carelessly threw into the washing machine."
At this, Luo Qiao was confused: "A contract, such a big thing, how could it be washed? It seems almost deliberate."
Luo Xuyuan smiled: "I heard He Xiaojing casually placed it on the clothes laid on the armrest of the sofa when she entered, intending to take it to her room after changing shoes. But just then, someone called out to her, saying she had a phone call, and she turned to go out."
"He Xiaojun, her brother, arrived and also ’casually’ threw his jacket on top, saying it was dirty and needed washing, and that woman, wanting to show off, hurriedly threw it into the washing machine."
"When He Xiaoqing came back after the call to get her stuff, she couldn’t find it anywhere. After asking around and no one seeing it, she asked where the clothes that were here before had gone."
He concluded with a shrug: "He Xiaoqing eventually found the contract in the washing machine, already beyond recognition."
Luo Qiao still puzzled: "What does this have to do with us? What are they seeking from us for?"
Luo Xuyuan took a sip of tea: "Your tea is good."
Taking another light sip, he continued: "Because of this incident, He Xiaoqing was severely reprimanded by her superiors and relocated from her original position, disgruntled at work and unhappy at home. That woman then promised to get her a different job."
Listening, Luo Qiao’s face was full of scorn: "So, she approached Big Brother and the fourth brother to get her stepdaughter transferred?"
Luo Xuyuan’s eyes were full of coldness: "Almost certainly. Really makes you wonder what this woman is made of?"