NOVEL SIMPLE
Chapter 45
Li Lilian slowly adjusted her sitting position, and said proudly: “I don’t know if your eldest sister can get into Peking University, but your second sister said that getting into Peking University is definitely certain, right Lingling?”
If her daughter hadn't repeatedly urged her to keep the guaranteed admission to Peking University a secret, she would have taken this opportunity to talk about it in front of them, to show off and feel proud.
"Really, Lingling? You can get into Peking University?" Qiao's father was excited and looked at his daughter in disbelief.
For Qiao's father, who had been poor for half his life and looked down on even his wife and brothers, his children were his hope, and the grades of his son and second daughter had always been his pride.
For a low-level person like him, having a child who could get into Peking University and become successful in the future was the greatest joy.
"Yes, Dad. I stayed up late doing test papers every day recently. I can do all the questions in this exam. Getting into Peking University is definitely no problem."
Qiao Lingling said, and Li Lilian sat up even straighter, feeling prouder than ever in the years since she married into the Qiao family.
"Great, wonderful. This is fantastic," Qiao's father said with wet eyes, too excited to speak properly.
Qiao Yi glanced at Qiao Lingling.
And Qiao Lingling felt guilty about Qiao Yi's gaze.
"Is that so? Getting into Peking University is no small feat," Third Uncle Qiao Shengxiang said with a laugh when he heard. "When you really get into Peking University, I'll give you a big red envelope."
"Thank you, Third Uncle." Qiao Lingling was secretly delighted to receive Third Uncle's approval and become the focus of attention.
"Humph, big talk is easy when the results are still uncertain. We'll see after the exam results come out - don't hit yourself in the face and become a joke afterward." Second Aunt retorted unpleasantly. She hated seeing Li Lilian so smug, so she immediately fired back: "Oh, how is Little Yi's foot? With today's advanced medicine, going to a big city might provide a chance to cure it. If he ends up lame for life, how will he find work and get married in the future? Even if he gets into a good university, this foot issue will still hold him back."
Qiao Yi, caught completely off guard by the elders' maliciousness, froze and clenched his hands under the table in embarrassment.
With just a few words, Second Aunt had succeeded in attacking Li Lilian's sore spot.
Before Li Lilian could react, a light yet cold voice spoke up first:
"If you're so concerned, put your money where your mouth is instead of just paying lip service. Give me 10 or 80 thousand to get my brother's foot treated - he'll remember your kindness."
"10 or 80 thousand? You've got quite the nerve," Second Aunt exclaimed. "I do have some money, but I still have to support my own family. "
"30 or 50 thousand would work too," Qiao Ying persisted without giving in, putting Second Aunt's family in an awkward position.
Let alone 30 or 50 thousand, she wouldn't even give a thousand to their family. But saying outright that she didn't have the money would be too embarrassing since she was the one who had brought up the topic and offered concern.
Second Aunt was rendered speechless for a while.
"If you can't put up the cash, don't pretend to show concern just to poke at people's weaknesses," Qiao Ying's voice suddenly turned cold. "You're old enough to know better than spout such hurtful words."
Qiao Ying's words shocked everyone at the table.
Qiao's father panicked, "Little Ying, you can't speak to your Second Aunt like that!"
But Li Lilian and Qiao Lingling secretly felt delighted, even though they didn't like Qiao Ying. They still felt a sense of schadenfreude.
"How dare you speak to your Second Aunt like that? You're completely disrespectful!" Second Uncle slammed the table and pointed at Qiao Ying angrily.
"Sister-in-law, your daughter's taught no manners!" Second Aunt was furious.
Second Aunt's son Qiao Mufeng scoffed disdainfully, "Hmph, what else can you expect from such a poor upbringing."
Qiao Ying had one hand resting casually on the table as she leaned back lazily in her chair, expressionless as she looked at the family of three. A dangerous aura permeated her cold eyes. "I'm so sorry, she's just a child who doesn't know any better. Don't take it to heart, calm down now," Qiao's father quickly stood up and apologized profusely.
Just as Qiao Ying was about to do something, Qiao Yi next to her sensed it and hurriedly called out, "Sis!"
"What's there to be nervous about, I'm not going to do anything," Qiao Ying laughed and told Qiao Yi.
"Alright, let's just eat. It's rare for all of us to get together like this," Third Uncle Qiao Shengxiang, who held the most authority, stepped in to smooth things over.
Even if Second Aunt was unhappy, she could only let it go since her family's business still relied on Qiao Shengxiang's support.
More dishes were served one after another.
When Qiao Shengxiang's daughter saw Qiao Lingling sneakily taking photos of the dishes with her phone, she snorted contemptuously.
Hearing this, Second Aunt noticed Qiao Lingling's actions and quickly moved the dishes in front of her closer to Qiao Lingling. "Here Lingling, take photos of this dish, it looks prettier."
"Don't eat first, let our future Peking University student take pictures first."
Qiao Lingling's face turned red as she awkwardly put her phone down.
"Keep taking pictures, don't mind. Second Aunt understands your family's circumstances and your feelings. Being able to eat a meal like this must be a rare treat for you all, no need to feel embarrassed," Second Aunt said.
"No need, Second Aunt, I was just taking random pictures for fun," Qiao Lingling forced herself to say insincerely, suppressing her embarrassment.
She thought: Just endure their snide remarks for now. Once she steadily enters Peking University, let's see if they still dare look down on her.
"It's nothing I haven't eaten before. Just the other day, I was at..." Li Lilian was about to say she ate at an even fancier restaurant with the president of Peking University in Beijing just the other day.
But before she could finish speaking, her daughter Qiao Lingling nudged her knee under the table.
Li Lilian didn't understand why she had to hide something that wasn't shameful at all but a cause for celebration. However, since her daughter had repeatedly urged discretion, the unsophisticated Li Lilian could only keep quiet.
"The other day what? Stop pretending to be something you're not - don't you know your own station?" Second Aunt rolled her eyes and turned to Qiao Shengxiang, "Third Brother, a table like this must have cost a pretty penny, right?"
"This table's about 70-80 thousand, not bad," Qiao Shengxiang lolled back lazily in his chair, big belly sticking out, exuding an air of wealth.
"70-80 thousand?" Second Aunt gasped.
When Li Lilian heard the figure, she was also shocked.
"The wine is expensive, 10 thousand a bottle. Big brother, have a drink too," Qiao Shengxiang had the waiter pour wine for Qiao's father.
As soon as the waiter came over, Qiao's father immediately stood up nervously, "I, I can't drink this stuff, no need, no need. You all go ahead."
"Have a drink, it's not that expensive. Drinking cheap bulk liquor everyday, you should try what fine wine tastes like too," Qiao Shengxiang said after downing a few cups himself, still putting on an act. He turned to Qiao's father, "Your Little Ying is pretty capable. If she can't make it to university in the future, let her come to my company. I'll arrange for her to learn computers for a few days and give her a clerk position, 3500 a month."
"Thank you, Third Brother. Let me toast you," Qiao's father picked up his wine glass and glanced at Qiao Ying, sighing in resignation.
Qiao Lingling secretly smiled gleefully to herself.
Before Qiao Ying could respond, Qiao Yi stood up first, "My sister can get in."
Learn computers and become a clerk? 3500 monthly salary? Qiao Yi really wanted to prove his sister's ability and slap these people hard in the face.
What was so impressive about a 70-80 thousand dinner? His sister had treated him in luxury private rooms much nicer than this, with dishes costing around 100 thousand each time, more than once.
10 thousand for a bottle of wine? What's unaffordable about that? His sister had tried 50 thousand bottles and still found them subpar. The second time she didn't even finish a few sips of an even more expensive bottle.
Seeing his father and eldest sister bullied, Qiao Yi was furious.
Qiao Shengxiang just laughed without bothering to argue with a child.
"Qiao miss, I see your table's wine is finished. We've been keeping the unfinished wine you left last time - would you like it opened for you?"
The table of people eating with relish looked up in unison at the sound, only to see a waiter holding a bottle of red wine bent down next to Qiao Ying, speaking to her softly.
Everyone stared confused at the scene unfolding before them.
Before they could react, another waiter came over with a plate of exquisite pastries and set it in front of Qiao Yi.
He then said to Qiao Yi, "Mr. Qiao, last time you were here you seemed to quite like this pastry our hotel offers complimentary to VIP guests. Please enjoy."
Feeling awkward at being addressed as Mr., Qiao Yi responded, "...Thank you."
"Miss Qiao, shall I open this wine for you?" The waiter beside Qiao Ying asked again holding up the wine bottle.
"You didn't throw it away?" Qiao Ying was surprised that they had kept it for her.
The handsome waiter in his stylish uniform smiled and said, "This wine cost 87,000 yuan, we certainly wouldn't dare throw it away casually for a customer."
"But the 50,000 yuan red wine you ordered the first time, it's already oxidized and can't be stored anymore, so we could only dispose of it for you."