Volume Four: Renowned Far and Wide Chapter 126: So-Called Relatives

At dawn, a rich, savory aroma drifted through the courtyard, waking everyone. Ye Mei’er and Zhang Mengqi, who had fallen asleep in the small hours of the morning, felt no drowsiness at all; instead, they felt invigorated, as if they had suddenly grown several years younger.

Their feelings were not mistaken. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth had been extremely dense the night before, and even without active cultivation, their breathing had naturally drawn some of it in. For ordinary people, absorbing such energy naturally leads to a heightened state of spirit and a sense of being reborn, with their vitality flowing freely.

He Wen woke from his meditation and looked at Qin Yang, who was busy in the kitchen, with profound respect. In just one night, he felt his cultivation had advanced significantly; if he could experience such an environment once or twice more, he was certain he would reach a breakthrough.

Qin Yang prepared steamed buns, fried dough sticks, and a pot of soup for breakfast. In another pot, he stewed an old hen for his father. He sprinkled in some life-force powder, knowing that once his father drank it, his leg injury would surely heal.

"Master Qin," He Wen said respectfully.

"He Wen, there's no need to be so formal. Just call me Qin Yang from now on. Go wash your hands and eat," Qin Yang said with a smile.

"Then I'll call you Brother Yang!"

"As you wish, call me whatever makes you happy."

The house was bustling, and outside, it was even more so. Five luxury cars were parked along the road, several of which were the kind usually seen only on television. Neighbors whispered to one another.

"Did the Qin family come into some good fortune?"

"It seems so. I bet that boy Qin Yang has made something of himself; otherwise, why would so many luxury cars show up the moment he returned?"

One middle-aged woman, after eyeing the expensive cars, quietly slipped away.

Lured by the extraordinary aroma, Ye Mei’er and Zhang Mengqi stepped out of their rooms. Seeing Qin Yang cooking, they covered their mouths in surprise. "Qin Yang, you can cook?"

"Well, what man doesn't cook these days? If you can't cook, how can you take care of your wife?"

Qin’s mother rose, equally astonished, though she enjoyed the meal immensely. After drinking the soup, she felt a warmth spreading through her body. After breakfast, she carried the hen soup toward the door. Wang Qiang volunteered to take her, and Qin Yang did not object, as the trip to the county hospital was quite a distance.

As Qin’s mother stepped outside, she didn't recognize the car brands or their value, only thinking they looked quite grand.

"Oh, is Mother Qin heading out to see Old Qin?"

"Yes, why is everyone gathered here?" She was startled by the crowd and asked with a smile.

"Nothing much, Mother Qin. Has your family received some distinguished guests?"

Qin’s mother thought about it and decided it was true—the two girls were very likable, so they were surely distinguished guests. "That's right, they are all distinguished guests, and two of them are particularly important!"

The onlookers watched as she got into a car and drove away, their faces filled with envy for the Qin family’s sudden change in luck.

Back inside, after Zhang Mengqi finished clearing the table and brewed a pot of tea, a large group of people suddenly burst in. Qin Yang frowned, his eyes showing clear displeasure. He wondered what they wanted by showing up so early.

Looking at the group, he realized they were his relatives: his second uncle and aunt, third uncle and aunt, and his elder aunts, all followed by five or six children. Qin Yang gave the others a look, and no one rose. He said with a chuckle, "My mother isn't home, and my father is still in the hospital. If you have anything to say, you can just tell me."

His second aunt, her face round and beaming, smiled. "Oh, nothing much. We just heard you had guests and came over to take a look."

The relatives eyed the two beauties, finding them easy on the eyes, though they assumed the women were connected to the two young men rather than Qin Yang.

"They aren't distinguished guests, just some friends of mine."

His reply was blunt, leaving them at a loss for how to continue. They couldn't very well admit they were there to see if the family had struck it rich so they could borrow money.

His third aunt cleared her throat. "Well, Qin Yang, you’ve become more successful. I knew it when you were little. Your younger cousin is getting married soon, and the bride’s side is insisting on a house. We were wondering if you could lend us some money?"

Seeing his third aunt speak up, his second aunt didn't want to be left behind. "Yes, Qin Yang, your second uncle’s truck is ten years old now. We were hoping to trade it in—could you lend us some money too?"

"Oh, borrowing money, are we?"

Ye Mei’er started to speak, but Qin Yang cut her off. He felt a flash of disdain. When his father was sick in the hospital, not one of these relatives had bothered to visit. "Well, my friends here are quite wealthy. Let me introduce you."

"This gentleman is the Chief of the Beihai High-Tech District Police Station; he’s saved quite a bit over the years. How much did you want to borrow?"

"And this one beside him is quite famous in Beihai, worth hundreds of millions, and his family runs a chain of martial arts schools. Feel free to ask; I guarantee He Wen will be happy to lend it to you."

The relatives beamed at this. "Oh, look at you, Qin Yang, you’ve really done well for yourself."

"Yes, Qin Yang, I was thinking of borrowing 100,000... no, 200,000, is that alright?"

"Right, our family would like to borrow 200,000 as well."

Qin Yang watched them, his smile widening. "Of course! Just write an IOU. Be sure to state when you’ll pay it back, and don't try to cheat. After all, one is a martial arts school owner and the other is a police chief. They have plenty of ways to handle people who don't pay their debts!"

Qin Yang sat back down and sipped his tea with a faint smile.

The relatives froze. How could they possibly borrow money now? They had thought Qin Yang had gotten rich and that they could borrow money without ever paying it back. But if they borrowed from a police chief, would they dare default? And as for He Wen, they had heard he owned over twenty martial arts schools in Beihai—not paying him back would be a death wish.

Their expressions stiffened, and they stood there, at a loss for what to do.

"Ahem, well, Qin Yang, I just remembered, I have something to take care of at home. I'll be going."

"Yes, yes, we have food on the stove, I need to get back."

Soon, they had all vanished. He Wen shrugged. "Brother Yang, why go through all that? A few hundred thousand is nothing to us."

"I know it's nothing to you, but I wasn't about to give it to them for nothing. My father was in the hospital for a week, and none of them went to see him. Why should I lend them money?"

"Anyway, you all go about your business; I have things to attend to."

Qin Yang looked at Ye Mei’er and Zhang Mengqi, who had stayed behind. "My little sister will be taking her college entrance exams soon. When you have time, go keep her company and take her out for some good food."