“Fatty Qiao, open the door, do you hear me, open the door.”
“Now you know fear, I told you hiding inside is useless, open the door, do you hear me, if you don’t come out soon mom will beat you to death.”
Qiao Lingling banged on the door and shouted incessantly in a sharp voice.
Unexpectedly, the person inside suddenly opened the door. Qiao Lingling had her toes tipped against the door in an aggressive stance and was caught off guard, nearly taking a huge tumble.
She steadied herself, furious to the point of breathing fire, and secretly cursed at Qiao in her heart, but didn’t say it aloud because there were more important matters at hand.
The instant Qiao Ying opened the door, she nearly couldn’t stop herself from twisting Qiao Lingling’s delicate neck. Seeing the Qiao family gathered outside, she barely held back her hand. Her icy eyes glanced over them.
She made impatience and irritation evident on her face, as if to remind and warn these people to be sensible and careful.
Yet they were completely oblivious to the gravity of the situation.
As soon as Qiao’s mother Li Lilian saw Qiao Ying come out, her mean face immediately launched into scolding: “You damn girl, you finally dare to come out.”
Her manner and expression made it seem like she wanted to devour Qiao Ying.
She held the new clothes Qiao Ying had bought for Qiao Yi. If it wasn’t for Qiao Lingling telling her these clothes were expensively priced at four to five thousand each, she would have certainly flung the clothes into Qiao Ying’s face.
“From the day you were born I knew you were an ominous star that brings disaster, but I didn’t think you would be so audacious as to learn to commit crimes. Stealing and pilfering on your own is one thing, but you even brought your brother into it!”
Qiao’s mother glared with a pair of man-eating eyes: “Speak, where did you steal this money from? Whose money did you steal? If you don’t make it clear I’ll beat you to death today.”
Qiao’s mother looked around for a stick to beat Qiao Ying with.
Luckily Qiao's father held her back: “Don’t use your hands yet, Little Yi already said this money wasn’t stolen, listen properly to what the child has to say.”
“If it wasn’t stolen then where else could it be from, given to her as a gift? How come I don’t know you have such wealthy relatives?” Qiao’s mother excitedly pointed to the brand new clothes, shoes and cellphone sitting on the living room table.
“If they’re so rich why don’t they give me some to use, give you some to use? Ah, Qiao Shengquan? You're protecting this damn girl but harming my son, don’t think I won’t go all out against you two!”
“Added together these things are worth at least forty to fifty thousand. How many years do you think you’ll be sentenced?” Qiao Lingling added fuel to the side.
Qiao's father was so frightened his heart lurched, at a loss for what to do.
He had just gotten back from the construction site and hadn’t figured out what was going on yet. Those clothes looked expensive at a glance, but he thought however expensive they were it would be at most a few hundred yuan. He knew about that cellphone though. The foreman at the construction site had the exact same one, worth nearly 10,000 yuan, more than his salary for two months.
Now hearing Qiao Lingling say these things together were worth forty to fifty thousand, Qiao’s father felt they were done for.
“I already said big sister didn’t steal money.” Qiao Yi stood firm with reddened eyes in the back.
He wanted to help Qiao Ying but he also didn’t know where she had gotten so much money from, he couldn’t even help explain.
He had just been doing homework in his room when Qiao Lingling came back from shopping with classmates. She came over to show off her newly bought skirt to him, then discovered his new clothes and shoes.
Qiao Lingling: “If it wasn’t stolen then where did it come from? Or could she have gone to sell herself?”
“Lingling, watch your mouth, she's your big sister!” Qiao’s father glared at Qiao Lingling.
Qiao Lingling shrugged and keenly noticed something: “Oh, you even bought a computer.” She had been peeking into Qiao Ying’s room ever since she opened the door.
She thought that Qiao Ying had bought so many things for Qiao Yi, she must have bought even more for herself. Sure enough her suspicions were confirmed.
“You think you can hide it? Move aside for me.” Qiao Lingling said as she tried to push Qiao Ying aside and barge in to take out the computer.
But as soon as her hand touched Qiao Ying, Qiao Ying grabbed her wrist and twisted back. She cried out in pain.
“What gives you the right to interrogate me?” Qiao Ying's eyes were icy cold, her whole body cold and irritable.
She suppressed the churning murderous impulse within her.
If it wasn't for the original owner, Qiao Ying would not have let Qiao’s mother have a chance to speak out the instant she opened her mouth.
“Mom hurry save me, she’s going to break my hand.”
“You damn girl, let Lingling go right now.”
Qiao Ying twisted Qiao Lingling’s arm and flung her towards Qiao’s mother who was rushing up to hit her. The two collided and fell sitting on the ground, causing quite a commotion.
“You damn girl, you dare to hit your mother, heaven’s punishment will befall you.” Qiao’s mother hadn’t fallen lightly. Usually she was the one bullying others at the factory. When had she ever been bullied before, and by her own daughter at that?
She sat right on the ground throwing a tantrum. “Qiao Shengquan, what a good daughter you’ve raised. She dares to hit me today, tomorrow she’ll dare to hit you.”
Qiao Ying walked out from her room. She bent down and snatched the clothes from Qiao’s mother’s hand, then handed them to Qiao Yi without even glancing up.
She looked coldly down at the mother and daughter sitting on the ground, expressionless.
“I’ve endured you two only because of dad and Qiao Yi. Don’t continue challenging my patience. From today onwards, it’s best to keep your mouths shut when you see me, otherwise I don’t mind helping you close your mouths personally.”
Then looking towards Qiao Lingling: “Since you’re so curious where I got this money from, then go to the police.”
“But I can warn you, if I don’t get caught, I will definitely sue you for slander and get you locked up.”
“Trust me, I have that capability.”
Having said that, she also ignored the others who were stunned silly and turned to go back to her room.
Qiao’s mother sat foolishly on the ground, Qiao Ying’s horrifying bloodthirsty eyes flashing through her mind. She couldn’t help shivering violently.
Only Qiao Yi was still relatively calm.
He already knew about Qiao Ying’s change, but her attitude towards her own mother was still somewhat unexpected to him.
Qiao Lingling had heard rumors at school about how the school belle cornered Qiao Ying in the bathroom last time but got beaten instead. But she didn’t believe it one bit.
Not until just now, and recalling Qiao Ying’s recent eccentric behavior.
This useless loser really has changed.
Qiao Yi picked up his own things from the table to take back to his room. After walking a few steps, he stopped and said: “Big sister didn’t steal money or do anything indecent. That money was earned by herself programming on the computer.”
This was the first time Qiao Yi had lied. He knew Qiao Ying didn't need it, but still didn't want her to bear these unjustified suspicions and malice.
Qiao Ying's ears had barely a half hour's peace when Li Lilian started making a fuss again. She threw a tantrum and scolded Qiao Ying for being an ungrateful beast in her room. If it wasn't for Qiao's father blocking her, she probably would have foolishly come to find Qiao Ying.
Qiao Lingling pretended to comfort her mother while following along and stirring things up. She didn't believe this useless loser Qiao Ying could earn so much money.
But Qiao Ying had confidently told her to go to the police. Though she wouldn't admit it with her mouth, her heart had already shifted from initial gloating schadenfreude to jealousy.
Suddenly, Qiao Ying's door opened. Mother and daughter instantly quieted down when they heard the movement.
Qiao’s father went out and saw Qiao Ying leaving.
He wanted to call out to her, but in the end put his raised hand back down.
At that moment, at the foot of a mountain in the suburbs of Yuncheng, a bunch of young men and women were gathered. They seemed exceptionally excited, their noisy clamor accompanied by the roaring sounds of engines, one louder than the last. The entire mountainside was bustling and lively.
Qiao Ying got out of a taxi, hands in her pockets, and leisurely joined these young men and women.
"Young Master Huo, Young Master Huo, Young Master Huo..."
The young men and women called out in loud, resounding voices.
They consciously stood separated on both sides of the road. The finish line even had a banner strung up. Some convertible sports cars were parked at the side.
A newly built mountain pass road had become a racetrack for these wealthy scions to fool around on.
