QTIMP -Chapter 48 Character Persona – Greedy (Part 48)

Wasn’t it perfect that the push to send people to the countryside had become urgent? Her family had quite a few siblings. With just a slight leak of information, someone had already been unable to hold back. Si Qiu remembered that on the day she came to register, there had still been a handprint on her face.

She had been dragged there by her parents, older brother, and sister-in-law. Naturally, her job was taken over by her eldest sister-in-law, and the sister-in-law’s job was then passed on to her younger brother.

While processing the paperwork, Si Qiu reminded the family, “They’ll be calling names at the train station. If no one shows up, your whole family will be sent to the farm.”

The Shi family exchanged glances immediately. When they got home, they locked Shi Meifeng in the woodshed, afraid the wretched girl might try to run off and drag the whole family down with her.

When she was dragged away after registering, Shi Meifeng glared at Si Qiu resentfully. “You must be very pleased with yourself, huh? Don’t be so smug. You’re just an orphan not even acknowledged by your own family. You’ll suffer sooner or later.”

Hearing this, Si Qiu kept that gentle smile on her face and nodded. “Yes, I am quite happy seeing you like this. As for the kind of life I’ll live in the future—just stay alive and watch.”

In truth, if Shi Meifeng had been bold enough to go to the Women’s Federation and file a complaint, the Shi family wouldn’t have been able to do much to her. At worst, she would end up like Si Qiu—without family. But there were very few people capable of being that resolute.

Si Qiu could already imagine what Shi Meifeng’s future would look like. Still, because of that one accusation, to ensure there would be no lingering trouble, she returned to her old trade for a moment—after all, medicine and poison were closely related.

In the blink of an eye, the New Year had passed. The atmosphere in the city grew even tenser. Si Qiu felt that even the factory’s end-of-shift bell seemed much softer.

On the contrary, the subdistrict office where they worked became busier. People were being reported one after another; conflicts were building and erupting. They were constantly mediating and handling disputes.

What’s more, Li Qingxue was now pregnant, so the rest of them had to shoulder more of the workload.

After work, Si Qiu strolled home and sat on a chair, watching Qin Bei busy himself.

“Brother Qin, I need a delicious meal to comfort my exhausted body.”

Qin Bei broke into a wide grin. Whenever Qiuqiu acted coquettish toward him, she would call him “Brother Qin” or “Brother Bei.” In bed, she would call him “Brother.” In normal conversation, it was “A-Bei.” And when she was angry, she would call him by his full name.

So he never needed to judge her tone. The moment she used a particular form of address, he knew her mood and attitude.

If you asked Si Qiu, she would say he was hopelessly love-struck—often spinning entire romantic scenarios in his head over one small gesture or subtle change in her tone.

Qin Bei glanced back at her with a smile. “Almost done. One of the cows down there broke its leg today, so I kept quite a bit of meat. Afraid the smell would spread, I made steamed dumplings. I sent the rest to Chef Qiao. I’ll pick it up tonight so you can try a different way of cooking it. You’re this tired, and I said I’d come pick you up, but you wouldn’t agree.”

The moment Si Qiu heard it was beef steamed dumplings, she hurried to wash her hands. Just hearing the name made her feel three parts lighter. When the lid of the pot was lifted and that faint, lingering aroma spread out, it was even better.

“Pick me up for what? It’s only a six or seven-minute walk.” Rarely diligent, she set out the bowls and chopsticks.

Qin Bei placed two plates of dumplings on the table. “I made some soup. I’ll serve you a bowl.”

“Later, pack a few dumplings into a lunchbox for me. I’ll bring them to Li Qingxue. She’s pregnant—she should eat more to nourish herself.”

Setting the soup in front of her, Qin Bei said, “Alright. I’ll get it ready. Eat quickly, then lie down on the kang and rest for a while.”

After the lunch break, she carried the lunchbox back to the office, but neither Li Qingxue nor Aunt Li was there. Accountant Wang said both had taken leave.

The weather was hot; steamed dumplings wouldn’t keep long. After thinking it over, Si Qiu took an outside assignment, went home to fetch her bicycle, and headed straight to Aunt Li’s house.

She knocked for quite a while before Qin Nan opened the door. His expression didn’t look good.

“Qiuqiu, what brings you here? Is something wrong at work?”

He thought that since both of them had taken leave, perhaps the unit needed his mother-in-law to make a decision about something, which was why Si Qiu had come.

Si Qiu curved her lips into a smile. “Third Brother, Qin Bei got some beef and made steamed dumplings. I brought some over for Xiaoxue so she can build up her strength.”

Qin Nan forced a smile. “Qiuqiu, thank you. You’re always thinking of our Xiaoxue. Come in. She hasn’t eaten yet today.”

“Is she having pregnancy reactions again? Why hasn’t she eaten?”

Qin Nan only sighed and said nothing. When they entered, they saw Li Qingxue looking listless. Si Qiu paused, then walked over and placed the lunchbox on the kang table.

“Xiaoxue, what’s wrong?”

At her question, Li Qingxue’s tears began to fall.

Aunt Li hurried to console her. “Xiaoxue, don’t cry. Even if not for yourself, think of the child in your belly. As for your father, not only can we not reach out to help—we have to cut ties immediately.”

“Mom!” Li Qingxue cried out, her tears flowing even harder.

Aunt Li looked at her son-in-law wiping her daughter’s tears, helpless.

“What exactly happened?” Si Qiu glanced at Li Qingxue’s slightly rounded belly, worry flickering in her eyes.

Aunt Li sighed. “Xiaoxue’s father was reported and falsely accused. His second wife and her two daughters stabbed him in the back. He’s been detained now. Even two older brothers are under investigation. Xiaoxue is less affected only because she married A-Nan. But she can’t bear to see that old man suffer. Ever since she heard the news, she’s been crying at the slightest thing.”

Si Qiu nodded in understanding. She didn’t know much about Xiaoxue’s father, but he must have treated her well. Though they didn’t see each other often, perhaps out of guilt, he always made sure to provide whatever Xiaoxue lacked.

Every month he sent pocket money and parcels. That was also why, whenever Xiaoxue returned to the compound, her two younger half-sisters ostracized her.

“Those two ungrateful wretches eat my dad’s food and drink his money, yet they betrayed him! If not for their groundless accusations, my dad wouldn’t be in such serious trouble.”