“Uncle Qi, is there any way to get my grandparents’ whole family to come over here?” Bao Taozi had been mulling this over. Getting her grandfather and grandmother to come was easy enough, but her eldest uncle’s whole family might not all be able to make it.
The original body’s maternal family came from generations of scholars, but her eldest uncle, Bao Weiguo, had gone into business instead, and had done quite well for himself.
This had infuriated her grandfather, his only son had gone and taken a completely different path! Because of it, Grandfather Bao Shuqian and the eldest uncle had gradually grown distant, which was part of why the family had ended up marrying off their beloved daughter, Bao Xiushui, to a man who’d move into their household instead.
The whole family had poured just about every good resource they had into that son-in-law. When they’d come to the funeral last week, both grandparents had been devastated, and the eldest uncle hadn’t fared much better. Right now, the eldest uncle’s entire family was staying in their hometown of Xiang City, keeping the two elders company.
After the funeral, they’d wanted to take the original Bao Tao with them, but deep down she was terrified of her father, even though she badly wanted to go, she’d still refused.
Qi Heng thought it over and said, “Here’s an idea, I’ll invite them all here in my capacity as your lawyer, saying it’s about arrangements from the will, and ask them to come support you. Given how much they doted on you and your mother, there’s no way they’d let you be wronged, or let your mother’s inheritance fall into that man’s hands.”
Bao Taozi’s eyes lit up, that was a great idea. But it couldn’t be too soon, or they might not be willing to stay.
After thinking it over, she decided to make the call three days before the apocalypse. But before then, she needed to find a way to get them some money to buy supplies with.
After all, this blasted system wouldn’t let her reveal anything about the apocalypse.
She thought about it, then called her eldest uncle.
“Hello? Taotao? What made you think to call your uncle?”
“Uncle… I want to buy a house, but my mom’s inheritance still hasn’t come through. I want to move out, could I borrow some money from you first?”
“Of course you can! With your mother gone, your uncle is your closest family now! No need to talk about borrowing, I’ll transfer it to you right away!”
“Your grandfather should be the one! Don’t listen to your uncle talk nonsense, Grandpa will buy it for you!”
“Dad!”
Bao Taozi could hear the two of them bickering on the other end and couldn’t help laughing happily.
Not long after hanging up, Bao Taozi’s card had an extra 50 million in it. But she had other things to handle, so she left it to Qi Heng to arrange supplies for her grandparents’ and eldest uncle’s family, buy everything, and stack it in the villa next door, she’d sort through it herself once she got home that evening.
Her grandparents could share a room with her, staying in her own place. As for her eldest uncle’s family of three, they’d have to stay in the rented villa next door for now, with Qi Heng going to pick them up. She’d already asked the system, even family moving in would need points, though at a discount, and they’d count as tenants too. As for the points needed for housing, they could be paid with any valuable item, so she’d need Qi Heng to figure out a way to get them to bring along everything of value they owned.
Come the apocalypse, Bao Taozi didn’t expect to collect every valuable thing they owned in exchange for points, whatever she got would already be a bonus. Besides, even without points, she’d never let them go hungry and sleep under a bridge.
Time flew, and it was soon three days before the apocalypse. Qi Heng set off for Xiang City to fetch everyone. Just as they’d expected, the moment he mentioned that Bao Taozi was being bullied and needed her family to back her up, both elders seemed to come alive with sudden energy, furiously ordering the whole household to head out together.
The eldest aunt, Li Qing, had some minor complaints, though she didn’t say much.
Her own son, Bao Li, had just one week left before starting elementary school, and being forced to run around like this while that was going on made her feel like Bao Tao’s side was being a bit much. But it wasn’t like she couldn’t understand a matter this serious, so she only grumbled a little.
“Don’t complain about all this running around. Taotao has no family left now, you’re the only one who can look after her the way her mother would have. Just think of her as your own, haven’t you always wanted a daughter?”
Li Qing thought about it and figured that was true. Taotao was a bit too soft-hearted, but she was well-behaved and adorable, and Li Qing genuinely liked her.
As the family packed up, Qi Heng arrived at the door.
Grandfather Bao smiled and said, “Sorry to trouble you with the trip over, that was quite the effort!”
Grandmother Bao immediately told Li Qing to bring him a cup of water.
After shaking hands with Grandfather Bao, Qi Heng told everyone, “Miss Bao Taozi’s suggestion is, since we’re going there to back her up, we should all wear our most expensive, best jewelry and belongings.”
The eldest aunt frowned. Why did that sound so vain all of a sudden? Had that man raised the girl to be shallow? That wouldn’t do, she’d better bring some herself to be safe.
Everyone else had no objections and didn’t think much of it. Little Bao Li even dug out his most expensive smartwatch and secretly put on the gold longevity lock his aunt Bao Xiushui had given him at birth, tucking it under his clothes, he wanted to back up his cousin Taozi too! Hmph!
As for the eldest aunt, she also put on her most expensive set of jewelry after some persuading from the eldest uncle.
The eldest uncle brought along his jade-and-diamond watch, along with plenty of gifts for Bao Taozi.
Qi Heng then mentioned to everyone that gold prices had been rising sharply in Hai City lately, and that if the family had any gold bars at home, they could bring them along and he’d help handle them once they got there.
The two elders exchanged a glance and sensed something was off, this sounded like he wanted them to bring their entire family fortune along. Could it be they wanted them to move in with her permanently, but were too shy to say so directly?
Quietly, they took out the gold bars from their safe and packed a few more valuables, along with their household registration booklet and bankbooks.
The eldest uncle, unaware his own parents were already prepared to leave him behind, excitedly ducked into the bathroom, fished three gold bars out of the water tank, and quietly slipped them to Qi Heng, this was the perfect opportunity!
“Help me sell these on the quiet and give me the money, this is my secret stash!”
Qi Heng smiled and nodded, though he felt a bit terrified the whole time, worried he’d be caught, this family really did dote on Taotao.
The eldest aunt didn’t think the price hike was worth the hassle, gold bars were meant to appreciate over time anyway, so selling them once they got back to Xiang City wasn’t too late. She held onto hers.
Qi Heng could only sigh quietly, not daring to say anything. Before leaving, Bao Taozi had told him he absolutely could not mention the apocalypse. He still didn’t know why, but honestly, even if he did mention it, everyone would probably just think he’d lost his mind.
Once everything was packed, Qi Heng led the group toward Hai City. He stayed anxious the whole trip. Bao Taozi had said there were three days left, but what if it came early?
The eldest uncle and Qi Heng took turns driving, going the entire day, and finally arrived in Hai City.
Bao Taozi had already pulled a spread of delicious food out of her space and laid it out as a welcome feast.
The moment everyone walked through the door, Grandmother Bao rushed straight for Bao Taozi and pulled her into a tight hug.
“My darling grandchild! You’ve suffered so much! Grandma’s going to stay and look after you! Waah…”
Bao Taozi, struggling to breathe from the hug, laughed and patted the old woman’s back to comfort her.
“That’s right, don’t leave, Grandma. Even if you wanted to go, I wouldn’t let you!”
“Ahem.”
Bao Taozi looked over and saw it was her grandfather.
“You too, Grandpa! Neither of you is allowed to leave!”
Only then did Grandfather Bao break into a beaming smile, it seemed his darling granddaughter really did want him to move in and stay with her.
Bao Taozi happily called out to the eldest uncle’s family, she was relieved now that everyone had made it.
They all sat together and began enjoying the food Bao Taozi had prepared, and she kept placing food in her grandparents’ and little brother’s bowls without stopping.
After dinner, the eldest aunt and Bao Taozi cleared the dishes together and chatted, it was pleasant, harmonious.
With the apocalypse not yet underway, Bao Taozi arranged for Uncle Qi to sleep in the first-floor staff room on the right, her grandparents to stay in the second-floor room on the left, and the eldest uncle’s family in the second-floor room on the right.
It wasn’t that Bao Taozi didn’t want her grandparents in the master bedroom, the system simply wouldn’t allow it, saying her room was now permanently fixed and only she could stay there, so Bao Taozi just let the matter drop.