“I can lower the rent,” Song Qiaoan said with a faint smile. “But I’ll need Mr. Zhang to help me with something.”
“What kind of help?”
“I have a few relatives who are refusing to move out of this house. I’m just a girl, I really can’t deal with them. If you can help me drive them out, as payment I can reduce the rent to five yuan a month.”
One must know, this was a two-story Western-style villa. The interior decoration and furnishings were all high-quality, fully equipped with appliances and furniture, all from well-known brands.
It was the kind of deal that fell from the sky how could Zhang Lin possibly not be tempted?
For a young girl to own a small villa like this at such an age naturally attracted envy and covetousness.
Not to mention a villa even the shabby dirt huts in their village were fought over fiercely.
Hearing about those relatives, Zhang Lin frowned, worried there might be a trap, and asked cautiously, “Are those relatives difficult to deal with? Don’t tell me you’re setting me up.”
Song Qiaoan raised an eyebrow. “Mm. A family of four bully the weak and fear the strong, nothing easy to handle. If you’re willing to help, I suggest you bring a few more people.”
Preferably the kind who looked fierce, intimidating, and carried weapons.
Zhang Lin understood her implication, thought for a moment, and finally agreed readily. “Alright, I’ll help you with this. When can I move in?”
“Is next month the 16th okay?”
“No problem!” Zhang Lin had no objections at all.
“Alright then. Once the housing bureau procedures are completed, I’ll bring you the keys along with the contract. We can sign it first.”
Song Qiaoan had clearly prepared in advance she took out the contract, and after both parties signed it properly, she left.
When she returned home, Zhang Meilan glanced at her and said unhappily, “You still know how to come back? The exam is about to start, and you’re still running around like nothing’s going on.”
“Exactly!” Song Jiabao chimed in. “Can you even do this? If not, just return the money. Plenty of people are willing to take the exam for me!”
“You itching for a beating again?” Song Qiaoan looked at him coldly.
Remembering the slap from last time, Song Jiabao’s face stung instantly and his arrogance dropped, though he still refused to back down verbally. “What are you so smug about?! You’ve only read a few extra years of useless books and think you’re something special? Let me tell you, Song Qiaoan! If you mess up my exam, I’ll skin you alive!”
With that, he kicked the chair hard.
Song Qiaoan wasn’t afraid of his bullying at all. She met his gaze directly and sneered, “Fine. I’ll be waiting.”
Then she didn’t even spare him another glance and went straight back to her room.
Completely ignored, Song Jiabao flew into a rage and clenched his fists, about to rush over, but was stopped by Zhang Meilan.
“Mom, why are you stopping me! I’m going to teach her a lesson!”
“Why are you so impatient?” Zhang Meilan lowered her voice, glancing at Song Qiaoan’s door. “If you beat her up now, who’s going to take your exam? After the exam, you can deal with her however you want.”
Song Weiwei, standing nearby, suddenly laughed softly as if thinking of something. “By then, you might not even need to do anything. Isn’t there still your brother-in-law?”
Just thinking about Song Qiaoan ending up in Wang Shichang’s hands filled her with satisfaction.
From the very first day she and her mother entered this house, Song Qiaoan had always acted superior, as if she were the real young lady of the house and everyone else were imposters.
The thought made Song Weiwei grind her teeth.
Did she really think she was that precious? Ridiculous. Her mother was already dead what was she worth now?
If there wasn’t still value to extract from her, they would have kicked her out long ago.
And Wang Shichang’s cousin had blood on his hands she only hoped Wang Shichang would learn from him and preferably make sure Song Qiaoan died by his hand.
Once she was broken and ruined, let’s see how she still acted so superior.
Song Weiwei’s eyes turned cold, eager for that day to come sooner.
“Big sister is right!” Song Jiabao nodded gleefully.
“From now on, you should call me Chief Song,” Song Weiwei said proudly, lifting her chin. After taking over Song Qiaoan’s job, she would be at department head level once she officially started work.
“Hahaha, that’s right! My daughter is really promising!” Zhang Meilan laughed in agreement.
In the following days, Zhang Meilan kept Song Qiaoan locked at home under the pretext of “focused revision” for the upcoming college entrance exam.
But Song Qiaoan didn’t lose out using the excuse that she needed nutrition for studying, she made Zhang Meilan cook her good food every day.
Previously, to “boost” Song Jiabao’s brain, Zhang Meilan had specially prepared extra meals for him sea cucumber, abalone, anything he wanted, plus a bottle of fresh milk every day.
Now all of that was directly taken over by Song Qiaoan.
“Song Jiabao isn’t even studying he’s just wasting good food. I’m the one taking the exam now!” she said confidently.
Zhang Meilan gritted her teeth in anger but couldn’t refute her, since they still needed her.
So she could only watch helplessly as all the good food went into her stomach, heart aching with every bite.
Song Qiaoan, however, had no intention of letting her off easily. She lived like a queen at home food served, clothes handed to her, even ordering expensive dishes every meal.
After several days, Zhang Meilan’s wallet was noticeably thinner and her waist sore. She even regretted locking this “great Buddha” at home.
Now it was impossible to even get her to leave.
The girl constantly threatened them with the fake exam arrangement and treated her like a servant.
Fuming, Zhang Meilan would retreat to her room and stare at the glass medicine bottle given by Wang Shichang.
Only by thinking about drugging Song Qiaoan after the exam could she feel a little better.
That damn girl once she was ruined by Wang Shichang, let’s see how arrogant she still was!
Finally, the day of the college entrance exam arrived.
The exam lasted three days. Song Jianren and Zhang Meilan personally escorted her to the exam hall every day, waited outside, and picked her up immediately after each session.
They didn’t allow her even the slightest chance to slip away.
For these days, they did nothing else but serve her running back and forth several times a day without complaint, more attentive than any nanny.
Song Qiaoan had already expected this. She showed no reaction, calmly took the exams, and filled every paper seriously.
Song Jianren was very satisfied with her performance.
Everything was under his control.
The invigilators, who had taken money, were also cooperative and reported her performance to him immediately each day.
“She’s doing very well. I’ve seen her papers if nothing unexpected happens, she should be this year’s top scorer in the college entrance exam!”
Hearing the words “top scorer,” Song Jianren felt dizzy with excitement.
“Top scorer?!”
“Does that mean Song Qiaoan can go to Beijing University the best university in the country?!” he said, eyes wide.
“I didn’t expect her grades to be this good!” Zhang Meilan exclaimed, eyes lighting up.
“Not ‘Song Qiaoan’ our son! Our Jiabao is the top scorer!” Song Jianren quickly corrected her.
“Not just Beijing University every university in the country will be fighting to admit Jiabao!”
Hearing this, Zhang Meilan was so excited she nearly fainted. Their Jiabao had made it this family was going to be rich!