QTIMP -Chapter 10 Character Persona – Greedy (Part 10)

“It’s not too bad, just that the weather is way too hot.”

Chen An went so far as to splash some water on his face from the nearby basin.

“How’s it going? Did the move go smoothly?”

“Smooth? Ha! If the eldest son’s wife didn’t throw a tantrum or act up, that would be the real surprise!” Even the usually taciturn Chen An started complaining—so one can only imagine what kind of person the eldest son’s wife was.

“And? Did you two manage to keep her in check?” Aunt Wang asked curiously.

“Not really. We didn’t even have to get involved. Their fourth brother just jumped in and beat her. But it’s true, you need someone like that; otherwise, this family would never have an easy life,” Sister Zhao said as she began rummaging through the lunchboxes.

“But I feel that if anyone is really formidable, it’s still the head of the Qin family,”

Sister Zhang Hongying nodded after thinking for a moment. “Indeed, if he wasn’t capable, how could he have arranged jobs for both his sons in just three years?”

“The third son doesn’t have a job?” Si Qiu asked, knowing that the fourth son was still in college, so the third must be unemployed.

“The third has none. He’s been doing odd jobs since graduating last year.” Chen An washed his face again—just going outside in this heat made him sweat all over.

Si Qiu pulled out some dried sweet potatoes, handed two pieces to each person, and started munching herself. There hadn’t been much at the state-run restaurants these past few days that she found edible.

Her support system kept giving her raw ingredients, nothing ready-to-eat. Eating her own cooking was starting to fray her nerves.

She dreamed constantly of good food, even thinking about going back to the Feng family just for a proper meal. Her biological mother’s cooking there had always been genuinely good.

Thinking about the hassles ahead, she decided to soothe herself with the small snacks she had stockpiled. She wondered if she could take some ingredients and ask Qiao Shengnan’s father to help cook them.

Yesterday, they’d just issued a pig’s trotter, and combined with the ones she’d stored previously, she had six or seven. If cooked, she could just hold and gnaw on them; raw, she’d need to find someone to prepare them.

After finishing her shift in the evening, she stepped out and saw a man in a yellow-green military uniform chatting with Captain Su from the police station.

Si Qiu didn’t pay much attention at first—her mind was still on the trotter in her space, wondering if she could marinate more food together.

But as soon as she stepped outside, she heard Captain Su say, “Hey, that’s Xiao Qiu, little Feng’s sister.”

Before he could explain, Feng Fan also recognized her. Being a twin to the third brother, the resemblance was around eighty percent. Captain Su had a loud voice, and Si Qiu’s attention snapped back.

She looked up and met Feng Fan’s gaze, confirming his identity. But that was all the acknowledgment she gave; she quickly turned her attention back to Captain Su.

“Captain Su, you just got off work too.” She ignored her so-called elder brother entirely.

“Yes! And it just so happens this soldier came looking for you.”

He glanced at his watch. “Ah, it’s getting late. I’ll leave first; Xiao Qiu is over there! I’m heading back—if anything comes up, just call. There’s someone on duty here in the yard.”

He had realized that this man claiming to be Xiao Qiu’s elder brother didn’t seem very close to her, so he couldn’t help but remind him.

“All right, Captain Su, you go back first. Otherwise, your little Miaomiao will start worrying again.”

Si Qiu was referring to his youngest daughter, six years old this year, who spoke like a little adult, always coming to find Si Qiu to play—but that entirely depended on the endless snacks she brought.

As Captain Su left, Feng Fan intended to say a few words to his sister, but Si Qiu brushed past him without a glance.

Just as Si Qiu was about to step out of the main gate, he realized a few long strides were coming toward her. “Qiu Qiu, what’s the matter? Seeing your own big brother and not even saying hello?”

Si Qiu crossed her arms, blocking him. “Teaching me? What qualifications do you have? Am I eating you or drinking you?”

Before he could respond, she raised her hand to stop him. “Don’t talk to me about blood relations. How long have you been back? Have you even visited Grandma’s grave? No, right? So what? The old lady had no blood relation with you, and you yourself are a cold-hearted person. Why are you trying to find your sense of existence on me?”

Her words were sharp and cutting, making Feng Fan’s forehead wrinkles tighten even more. He took a deep breath and softened his tone:

“Qiu Qiu, I know you have grievances, but we really haven’t reached that point. Can’t we just sit down and talk properly?”

Si Qiu also wanted to resolve this family once and for all. After all, she was used to being alone and really didn’t want these clueless people around her.

Exactly, clueless. That couple in the Feng family handled matters between the two daughters terribly, and the so-called older brothers weren’t necessarily any good to her in the past.

Now that everyone had grown up and lived their own lives, why force ties of kinship?

“Fine, then you come with me.”

Si Qiu led him to a state-run restaurant. Feng Fan had originally wanted to take her home, but seeing how assertive the youngest sister was, he said nothing and followed her there.

He even offered to order dishes, but these past few days had been light on meat, so he requested two orders of dumplings filled with chives and eggs.

Shengnan, who was collecting payment there, winked at Si Qiu and gestured playfully.

“You go sit over there first! Shengnan and I have a few things to discuss.”

With that, Si Qiu moved aside, and Feng Fan nodded, walking toward a table in the corner.

Si Qiu leaned by the window and said, “Shengnan, I got a few pig’s trotters and some other good stuff. When will your father have time? Hehe, I want to ask him to process them for me a bit more.”

Shengnan grabbed a handful of popcorn—the kind fried in an iron pan—and placed it by the window, raising her chin as if to say: have some?

“Heh, these days he has time every day, but even at the state-run restaurant, getting a bit of meat these past two days has been tough. He’s not keen on cooking, so today’s dumpling filling was mixed by me.”

Si Qiu laughed upon hearing this, then lowered her voice a little. “I got quite a lot. Can we have uncle make a whole pot of braised stuff? It would be convenient and save trouble.”

“Hehe! I’ll tell my dad. When can you deliver the stuff?”

Shengnan moved quickly; if Si Qiu hadn’t grabbed her sleeve, she might have dashed into the kitchen already.

“Why rush? I’ll go get it after finishing the matter here. Should I pick it up here or deliver it home?”

Shengnan had assumed she already had a deal with someone, and once she agreed, she would fetch it. But Si Qiu was careful and never interfered; she occasionally reminded her to be cautious.

“I’ll check with my dad first. You two go discuss your matters. Once you’re done, I’ll let you know.”

“Okay.”

With the arrangement settled, Si Qiu’s tone even softened slightly toward Feng Fan. “Alright, then just tell me what you wanted to see me about.”