"What kind of talk is that, child? We're family—why are you talking about buying and selling? I also heard you hired that girl from the Li family to help out. With so many people in our family, why would you need to hire someone from outside? Isn't that just wasting money…?"
Sometimes Qin Ke truly had to admire how thick-skinned these people were. When they thought you were a burden, they could kick you out without the slightest hesitation; the moment they felt you were useful, they could turn around and come crawling back as if nothing had ever happened.
He felt that he could never learn such a skill in his lifetime.
"Grandmother, I acknowledge that you are my grandmother—our blood ties cannot be erased. But let me repeat this once again: back then, it was you who insisted on splitting the household. Since the family was divided, everything I own now—my property and my business—belongs to me alone."
Qin Ke took a deep breath. Dealing with these so-called relatives exhausted him even more than farming.
"Qin Ke, how can you speak like that!" his eldest uncle jumped out indignantly, pointing at him and shouting. "Have your wings hardened now? Don't forget how you grew up! The Qin family fed you, clothed you, raised you—this is how you repay us?"
Qin Ke narrowed his eyes, his gaze turning cold. "Of course I haven't forgotten how I grew up. My father tilled the land one hoe at a time, and my mother stayed up late sewing stitch by stitch to raise me."
In the original owner's memories, his father's stooped back and his mother's prematurely white hair were the most vivid images. Those so-called grandparents had barely cared for him at all. If this era did not place such importance on filial piety, Qin Ke would have long since cut ties with these parasites.
Faced with Qin Ke's pointed response, his eldest uncle guiltily turned his head away.
Being publicly rebuked by a junior angered Grandpa Qin, but when he thought of the valuable watermelons in Qin Ke's household, he forcibly pulled the stiff corners of his mouth into a smile.
"Qin Ke, we're only worried that you're young and might be deceived by others. That's why we came to help you. We're close family—family would never cheat family."
Looking at the forced, hypocritical wrinkles on his face, Qin Ke felt nauseated. He pressed a hand to his chest to suppress the urge to vomit.
Family wouldn't cheat family? What a joke. Often, the deepest wounds came from one's own kin.
They were clearly coveting his property, yet they could cloak it in such righteous words.
Lu Youqing watched Qin Ke worriedly and noticed his lowered hand clenched tightly into a fist, as though he might strike someone at any moment. She stepped forward calmly and subtly clasped his hand.
"I should address you as Grandfather and Grandmother as well," she said with a gentle, composed smile. "Please don't worry—my husband and I can manage these matters ourselves. Later, I'll have Nanqiao pick a larger watermelon to send to you as a small token of our appreciation."
"Don't think that just because you're with Qin Ke you can call us Grandfather and Grandmother," Grandma Qin sneered, casting Lu Youqing a sideways glance. "A woman like you, who came from who-knows-where, has no right to enter our Qin family genealogy."
Holding Lu Youqing's hand, Qin Ke slowly loosened his fist. He opened his palm, threaded his fingers through hers, and interlaced their hands tightly.
"She is my wife. Everything in this household is decided by her. We are already registered together with the authorities. Whether you acknowledge it or not, she is my wife."
"Grandfather, Grandmother, this is the watermelon I picked for you," Li Nanqiao hurriedly said, stepping between them with a watermelon in her arms. "I promise—it's really delicious."
Though still angry at Qin Ke's disrespectful words and annoyed that he was being led by a woman of unknown origin, they could not resist the sight of the plump, round watermelon and quickly accepted it.
Watching their undisguised greed only made Qin Ke feel more disgusted.
"I still have things to attend to, so I won't be seeing you out," he said bluntly, issuing a clear dismissal. Without another word, he turned and led Lu Youqing into the courtyard.
"I'm sorry, my lady. I still couldn't control myself," Qin Ke said with a frown as he sat down on a stone stool.
Lu Youqing stood before him, looking at his tightly furrowed brows with quiet tenderness. She carefully raised her hand and smoothed them flat, her voice soft and gentle.
"I like you this way. If you became two-faced and hypocritical like them, then you wouldn't be you anymore."
Qin Ke froze completely. His eyes filled with shock and disbelief, as though he couldn't trust what he had just heard. After a long moment, he slowly lifted his head, staring at her intently.
"My lady… did you just say you like me?"
Realizing what she had said, Lu Youqing turned her face aside in embarrassment, saying nothing.
Qin Ke noticed the tips of her ears glowing red, and a brilliant smile bloomed across his face.
Seeing his grin—brighter than sunlight—Lu Youqing cleared her throat lightly and changed the subject.
"Alright. Let's talk about serious matters."
Qin Ke immediately straightened up, though the smile still lingered in his eyes.
"The Qin family may have left for now, but they definitely won't give up so easily. For the time being, we'll just deal with whatever comes. And since the villagers already know about the watermelons, you should take two over to the village chief's house later and pay a visit."
"Alright," Qin Ke sighed. He had barely had time to catch his breath since returning home—one matter followed another.
"Go on, then. The sooner the better," Lu Youqing urged gently.
Sometimes he really was like a child—prone to sulking—but also very easy to appease. A few soft words were enough to send him obediently out the door.
When Qin Ke arrived at the village chief's house, it was Madam Wu who opened the door this time. Unlike before, she welcomed him in with a smile.
"You're here to see Old Wu, aren't you? He's inside."
"Auntie, these are watermelons grown in my own fields. I brought them over for you to try."
"Oh my, you're too polite," Madam Wu said, beaming. "I've heard about these—aren't they selling like hotcakes in town?"
"Please accept them, Auntie. I came to speak with the village chief as well," Qin Ke said, quickly placing the watermelons into her hands.
"Village Chief."
"I heard your watermelons sell for five hundred coins in town," the village chief said from inside, having overheard their exchange. "And you're giving us two at once?"
Qin Ke sat down across from him and smiled. "Five hundred coins is the price for outsiders. For fellow villagers, I only charge one hundred."
The village chief looked at him in surprise, then nodded with clear approval.
"Very good. You haven't forgotten your roots even after becoming prosperous. You've truly grown more mature."
---
Currently at chapter 166 for advance chapters
https:// ko-fi.com/rabi08