QTIMP -Chapter 247 Character Persona – Vicious (Part 10)

Father Si understood what Si Qiu meant. Although the family had treated the third child a little better in recent years, their living conditions were no longer what they used to be.

“Better treatment” only meant she was made to do a bit less work and was spoken to a little more kindly. In reality, they hadn’t spent anything meaningful on her.

Those pretty clothes the third daughter was wearing, and the occasional rare snacks she brought home, were of course given by her male classmates. Father Si felt that in this regard, the third child was actually better than the others.

But warnings still had to be given. After all, every one of his children had a rebellious streak. He couldn’t afford to suffer another loss like before.

“Third child, you’re only decent in looks. No job, no background. Finding you someone like this already relied on my connections. Don’t aim too high every day. After a woman gets married, she still has to rely on her natal family. As long as you support your family after marriage, then if you’re bullied in your husband’s family in the future, your father and your brothers will back you up.”

Si Qiu sneered inwardly. The Qing Dynasty had already ended long ago, yet this man was still preaching feudal leftovers.

But on the surface, she still smiled and nodded. “It’s getting late, I’m going back to rest.” Then she turned and returned to her room.

Father Si’s gaze then fell on Si Xi’s face.

“You’re still not old enough, and you can’t even get into high school. Once you get your graduation certificate in a couple of days, have your mother sign you up to go down to the countryside. Go to your older brother’s place. That way you can take care of each other.”

Father Si’s thinking was that the older son really did need someone to take care of him. After all, he had been raised as the heir since childhood, so it wasn’t like there was no affection at all.

Another reason was that the subsidies for educated youth there were higher. If there was less money in the house, it made him anxious—he could save a bit wherever possible. It was like marrying this daughter off, just in another form.

Si Qiu locked her things in her cabinet, then pulled a washbasin from under the desk, took her cup, toothbrush, and toothpaste, and went to wash up.

Si Xi, hearing this, couldn’t help but ask, “What about Si Bei?”

Father Si glanced at the youngest son’s bedroom door.

“Your younger brother is the one who will support us in old age. Once he gets his graduation certificate, your mother will transfer her job to the logistics department, and then let your brother take over her position.”

Si Xi walked into her room in a daze. The air still carried the sweet scent of dried fruit, but she knew it must be locked inside the cabinet.

She took a hairpin from under her pillow, and tears began falling uncontrollably. She knew she would be sent down to the countryside after finishing junior high school, but she hadn’t expected her parents to be this cruel.

Her older brother was already living there under harsh conditions, yet they still wanted to send her down too.

If only she had a job—otherwise that family would never agree to marry her.

At this moment, her hatred reached a tangible peak. Why—why did no one consider her?

Si Qiu returned and saw that useless girl still crying over that hairpin. Truly disgusting—she had even developed real feelings over someone like that.

The next morning, when she got up, it was already late. Father Si and Mother Si had gone to work, Si Bei had gone out to play, and Si Xi, that hopeless girl, had once again gone off to work as someone else’s servant.

Si Qiu felt that she hadn’t oppressed her enough—otherwise how could she still have energy left to work herself to exhaustion for a man?

She washed her face, brushed her teeth, ate something, changed clothes, then sat in front of the mirror and let her hair down. Because she had braided it overnight, it naturally had a slight curl.

She tied it into a half-up “princess” style, fastening it with a handkerchief into a butterfly bow over the hair tie.

Smoothing the loose strands at her temples, she looked at herself in the small mirror.

She felt that today’s Wen Luo was truly going to benefit.

She wore a peach-pink dress with white polka dots, paired with black velvet strap shoes. On her shoulder hung a small brown leather bag.

Just as she was about to leave, Si Bei rushed back home. The moment he opened the door, he nearly bumped into her. Si Qiu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

What an annoying little brat—she was just thinking of giving him a beating.

But Si Bei, as if sensing danger, quickly pressed himself against the wall and stood at attention.

“Third sister.”

“Hmm? What are you doing? So rushed.”

“I was just too thirsty, so I came back to drink some water. Someone is waiting outside, so I’m a bit in a hurry.”

He was genuinely nervous, and also a little afraid of this third sister. So in front of her, he had always been very obedient.

“You’re going out again later?”

“Yeah, I made plans with them to go out and have some fun.”

After thinking for a moment, Si Qiu said, “Can you help me deliver a message later?”

“Okay, I’ll go right away.”

Si Qiu went back inside, took out a piece of paper, wrote a sentence on it, tore it into a note, and handed it to Si Bei.

“Take this note to the government compound and give it to Gu Jingnian. Make sure you personally hand it to him. Don’t mess this up for me.”

Si Bei took the note and nodded, then cautiously asked, “Is Gu Jingnian the one who picks you up and drops you off at school every day?”

“Yes, that’s him. The one who looks quite clean and fair. Don’t get it wrong.”

Hearing Si Qiu’s warning, he immediately straightened his back. “Third sister, don’t worry, I’ll handle it perfectly.”

“Alright, go drink your water. Don’t forget to lock the door when you leave.”

After giving the instructions, Si Qiu left the house. Along the way, she attracted countless gazes. As soon as she turned the corner, the person waiting from afar spotted her.

Wen Luo felt that she was like the other half carefully molded by Nüwa herself—everything about her matched his taste, a flawless existence.

Soon, he also noticed the looks from passersby. His expression turned sharp, and he quickly walked over, standing sideways to block most of their view.

Then he shot a warning glance at the others.

Seeing them back off, he quickly laid a handkerchief on a stone for Si Qiu to sit on, then brought out the lunch box he had prepared.

When he opened it, it turned out to be chicken soup wontons.

Si Qiu tasted a bite—the fragrance was rich and appetizing, and it improved her mood quite a bit. However, she didn’t eat much; she had a small appetite, and only one-third of the box was finished.

Wen Luo took the remaining wontons without any hesitation and finished them all.

Then he packed up the empty lunch box.

“Over there, the snacks should be ready. Shall we go?”

“Let’s go.”

“What’s wrong? You seem a bit down today.”

Si Qiu sat on the back seat of the bicycle and poked his back with her finger. “It’s nothing. I’m about to graduate, and if I don’t get a job, I’ll have to register for going down to the countryside within a month after getting my diploma.”

The sound of the bicycle braking rang out. Wen Luo put one foot on the ground. “Qiuqiu, don’t worry. I’ll find a way for you.”

In fact, he had already been helping the girl look into it. How could he bear to let Qiuqiu suffer by going to the countryside?

He had even gone early yesterday morning to find Lan Qing of the Lan family, but today he hadn’t yet had time to go get a reply.

Hearing his words, Si Qiu felt a little more at ease, but she didn’t intend to place all her hopes on just one person.