Quan Jiu initially thought Quan Zhiwei and his sister Quan Xiaotang were coming to demand their grandmother's inheritance. To her surprise, the moment they saw her, they burst into tears and begged for help.
Quan Xiaotang's eyes were swollen red, indicating she had been crying profusely. She choked out, "We're not asking you to repay our kindness or acknowledge the upbringing we gave you. We just hope that, as relatives, you'll lend a hand. From now on, we'll be quits."
Quan Jiu smiled faintly. "Quits," indeed.
She leaned back in her chair, composed, and asked, "Go on, what is it?"
Quan Zhiwei immediately replied, "Yesterday, a group of people suddenly appeared and arrested your uncle and aunt, accusing them of loan sharking. How could our family possibly engage in such activities? This must be a deliberate setup; they're being framed."
Quan Jiu raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised by the turn of events.
She feigned concern, "What exactly happened? Tell me the details."
Quan Zhiwei and Quan Xiaotang were both delighted, thinking they had a chance. They eagerly recounted the entire story.
It turned out that the app Quan Xingfa had used for loans was run by a loan sharking organization. Everything had been fine initially; they had made over twenty million in half a month, making the whole family ecstatic.
However, just yesterday, Quan Xingfa planned to borrow a large sum from the bank to invest in the lending platform. Before he could even complete the procedures, he was arrested.
What made it impossible for him to defend himself was that the person in charge of the lending platform was none other than himself.
It was then that Quan Xingfa realized he had fallen into a trap. But no matter how he explained, it was useless. The evidence was conclusive, and he was arrested. His family's assets were confiscated, and all their bank accounts were frozen. In an instant, they were penniless.
Quan Zhiwei and Quan Xiaotang had cried all night. They also tried to find Old Zhang, the neighbor who had introduced them to the app. However, Old Zhang had sold his house and disappeared without a trace.
With no other recourse, the siblings thought of Quan Jiu. In their minds, this minor issue would be a simple task for the Chu family, hence their current predicament.
After hearing the entire story, Quan Jiu looked at Quan Zhiwei and Quan Xiaotang with a half-smile.
They looked back at her, unable to gauge her intentions.
Finally, Quan Xiaotang couldn't hold back and urged, "Call your husband now and have him intervene. My parents are his aunt and uncle, after all. If he's cold-blooded and heartless and abandons them, your family will surely face divine retribution and go to hell."
Quan Jiu chuckled, "Whether we face divine retribution or not, I can give you an answer about whether I'll help. How should I put it? I was a little worried earlier, but after hearing what you said and knowing your family is completely finished, sigh... I truly feel relieved."
Quan Xiaotang's face darkened, and she angrily asked, "Quan Jiu, what do you mean by that?"
Quan Jiu stood up and showed them the door, "Don't let the door hit you on the way out."
Quan Zhiwei grew anxious and retorted angrily, "We came to you nicely for help, and you're acting so arrogant. If it weren't for our family, would you be where you are today?"
Quan Jiu's lips curled into a cold smile, "You keep saying 'if it weren't for our family, you wouldn't be...' Did I eat your food? Did I live in your house? Did you raise me? Did you provide me with food, shelter, clothing, and education?
Everything I have, I earned myself. I've been earning money since I was fifteen. The only reason your father and mother included me in your household registration was to trick me into giving you my grandmother's inheritance password.
Your family is greedy, shameless, and inhumane. And now you have the audacity to beg me for help. The only value in your visit today is letting me know your fate. I'm grateful to you for letting me know this. I'm truly happy, thank you for bringing me this joy."
"Quan Jiu," Quan Xiaotang roared in anger, "You shameless animal, are you going to help or not?"
"If you kneel down and beg me, I might consider it," Quan Jiu said with a smile.
Quan Zhiwei's eyes widened, "Don't push your luck. The fact that we came to you for help is already giving you face. Be sensible and call your husband immediately to rescue my parents, and return our money too."
Quan Jiu sighed, "Having unfilial children like you, I truly pity your uncle and aunt. What, you're not even willing to endure this small hardship to save your parents?"
Quan Xiaotang's eyes turned red with hatred. Gritting her teeth, after a long pause, she knelt down with a thud in front of Quan Jiu and said hatefully, "Are you satisfied? Can you make the call now?"
Quan Jiu looked at Quan Zhiwei and said with great emotion, "It's a pity that throughout your lives, all the good things were reserved for you, the son. In the end, the son is not as filial as the daughter. What a shame."
Quan Xiaotang glared at Quan Zhiwei. Seeing that he wasn't moving, she simply pulled him down to kneel.
A deep hatred flickered in both their eyes, as if they wanted to devour her alive.
"Is that enough now? Are you satisfied?" Quan Xiaotang asked again.
Quan Jiu giggled lazily, "Quite satisfied. You can kneel there. When you get tired, you can go back."
Quan Zhiwei angrily said, "What do you mean? Call Chu Rong right now!"
Quan Jiu tilted her head, "Why?"
Quan Zhiwei and Quan Xiaotang's expressions darkened. Quan Xiaotang reprimanded, "You said if we knelt down and begged you..."
"I'd consider it," Quan Jiu clicked her tongue. "My consideration result is that this matter has nothing to do with me. Why should I help? Is it my obligation? No, I'm not that kind-hearted."
"However..." she changed her tone, seeing Quan Zhiwei and Quan Xiaotang look expectant, and then smiled faintly, "Your kneeling does prove you are somewhat filial. If I'm in the mood later, I'll visit your uncle and aunt in prison and tell them about your filial piety today."
"Quan Jiu," Quan Xiaotang was furious. She stood up and lunged at Quan Jiu, intending to hit her.
But Quan Jiu was faster. Before Quan Xiaotang could get close, she swept out a leg, stopping just short of Quan Xiaotang's face.
Quan Xiaotang flinched back, remembering the dozens of slaps she had received before, and dared not advance further.
Quan Jiu retracted her leg, her gaze cold. "If I see you again, I'll hit you again. I'm someone who likes to pick on the weak. You've now become orphans without parents, with no one to back you up. If you don't want to suffer physical pain, then never appear before me again."
"Quan Jiu, you're ruthless. Your heart is harder than stone. A person like you deserves to bring misfortune to your parents, then your grandmother, and now you've caused my parents to go to prison. You'll die young..."
"Slap~" Quan Jiu picked up the metal ruler from the table and unceremoniously struck Quan Xiaotang across the face.
Quan Xiaotang screamed in pain, the fear of being slapped again surging back.
Quan Jiu said calmly, "I told you, if I see you again, I'll hit you again. I'll give you thirty seconds to leave my sight, or else..."
She tapped the ruler lightly on the table, but it sounded like a death knell to Quan Zhiwei and Quan Xiaotang.
The siblings finally realized that Quan Jiu was no longer the person they could bully as children. This woman, without them realizing it, had become cold-hearted. Most importantly, they no longer had the ability to bully her.
Quan Xiaotang left first, not daring to argue about being slapped, knowing that staying would only result in more pain.
Quan Zhiwei seemed to still be dwelling on the kneeling, his eyes wide with hatred. But he couldn't fight back. In the end, he could only leave, grumbling threats, his heart filled with resentment.
After the two left, Quan Jiu's expression turned serious.
She glanced at a message on her phone: "What do you want to eat tonight?"