Jiang Xiuqing was stunned. “Share the losses?”

The fire wasn’t started by them, so why should they share the losses?

She looked at her husband, her eyes filled with dissatisfaction and worry.

Gu Yimin coughed lightly. “Let’s go over and hear what they have to say first.”

By now, the elderly Gu couple was growing increasingly anxious.

The fire had burned through their life savings, leaving the old couple so distraught that they hadn’t even eaten dinner.

Once all three sons and two daughters had gathered, Old Man Gu spoke up.

“This fire has destroyed your mother’s and my life’s work. Now, we don’t have a single penny left.

“Your mother and I have discussed it. The two daughters will buy new quilts and bedding. As for the sons, each household will contribute fifty yuan so we can rebuild the house.”

As soon as Old Man Gu finished speaking, Old Lady Gu began to protest.

“No, the second son’s family has three people earning wages, so they should contribute more. At least two hundred yuan. The eldest son’s family will contribute fifty. Yilan’s in-laws are well-off, so besides buying quilts, she should contribute two hundred yuan. As for the youngest daughter, she can buy clothes for us two old folks.”

Gu Yilan, standing beside Gu Yimin, suddenly burst into tears upon hearing her mother’s words.

Her in-laws were indeed better off, but her mother-in-law was the one in charge, and she was a tough woman who didn’t get along with Gu Yilan.

Her mother was practically pushing her to her death!

She didn’t expect her mother to treat everyone equally, but she shouldn’t be singled out and exploited like this!

Gu Yimin patted his older sister’s back, silently comforting her.

Gu Xiaoxi couldn’t stand it any longer and spoke up. “The person who started the fire should be the one to compensate for the losses. If they refuse, we should report it to the authorities.”

At this, Liu Chunhua sneered sarcastically. “Xiaoxi is right! But did you know that it was your third uncle who started the fire?”

Gu Xiaoxi pretended to be shocked. “That can’t be! Grandma has always favored Third Uncle. He couldn’t possibly be so heartless as to bite the hand that feeds him, could he? Auntie, are you sure you’re not mistaken?”

Liu Chunhua snorted. “I wish I were wrong.”

Who wanted to contribute an extra hundred yuan? She wasn’t crazy!

“It’s just some quilts that were burned. Why do we need to contribute so much money? Buying some clothes and quilts should be enough, right?” Gu Xiaoxi asked proactively.

In her past two lives, this line had been spoken by her mother, who was then berated mercilessly by her grandmother.

This time, she spoke up before her mother could.

Liu Chunhua, who had never liked Gu Xiaoxi, surprisingly agreed with a smile. “Yes, yes! Our families can pool together to buy one quilt and two sets of clothes. That should keep Mom and Dad warm.”

Old Lady Gu snapped angrily, “Without a single penny, how am I supposed to live? Do we not need to eat or drink?”

“Wasn’t the kitchen spared? The rice and flour are still there, right?” Gu Xiaoxi glanced toward the kitchen.

Old Lady Gu glared at her fiercely. “Without money on hand, I can’t sleep well. If I don’t sleep well, I’ll feel unwell and get sick. Are you hoping I’ll fall ill and die early, you wretched girl?”

Hearing this twisted logic, Gu Xiaoxi couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “If my family gives money, I’ll also feel uncomfortable and won’t sleep well. I’ve been frail and sickly since I was a child, prone to illness. Is Grandma hoping I’ll die early? And is Grandma also hoping for my aunt’s early death? My aunt’s mother-in-law manages the household, and she doesn’t work, so she has no money.”

At this point, she paused and muttered, “Even though Third Uncle started the fire, he doesn’t have to contribute a single penny.”

Hearing this, Liu Chunhua quickly chimed in. “Yes, it was Third Uncle who started the fire, yet we’re the ones being asked to pay. If we pay, I’ll also feel uncomfortable and won’t sleep well. Mom, don’t wish for me to fall ill and die early—I still have four children to raise!”

Jiang Xiuqing, seeing Liu Chunhua and her daughter tag-teaming like this, felt a bit out of place.

She and Liu Chunhua were sworn enemies, and Xiaoxi had never liked Liu Chunhua either.

However, she really didn’t want to contribute the money.

Xiaoxi was getting engaged tomorrow, and there were many expenses coming up.

Old Man Gu, seeing that only Gu Xiaoxi and Liu Chunhua were speaking while everyone else remained silent, stiffened his neck and said, “Each household will contribute fifty yuan, and you don’t need to buy anything else.”

Gu Xiaoxi did a quick calculation. “Five households, fifty each, that’s two hundred and fifty yuan. Yes, two hundred and fifty is fine!”

Old Man Gu: “…”

Even though the math was correct, why did he feel there was something off about the way the girl said it?

Old Lady Gu, however, was extremely dissatisfied. “No, each household must contribute two hundred.”

The money she had lost in the fire added up to over a thousand yuan!

Gu Xiaoxi ignored her and turned to her parents. “Each household will contribute fifty. Grandpa is the pillar and head of the family. We can’t disrespect him. Besides, we’re all Gu family members, so we should listen to the head of the Gu family.”

Gu Yimin nodded. “Alright, we’ll listen to your grandfather.”

Liu Chunhua was a bit frustrated. She didn’t want to contribute a single penny.

But now, she nudged her husband.

The eldest uncle also nodded. “Fine, we’ll listen to Dad. Each household will contribute fifty.”

This way, at least they saved fifty yuan.

Gu Yilan also nodded, reluctantly accepting the arrangement.

The youngest daughter, however, was unwilling. “I came in a hurry and didn’t bring any money. How about I make up for it at the end of the year?”

Liu Chunhua’s eyes lit up at this. “Then we’ll also wait until the end of the year to contribute.”

Gu Xiaoxi paid no attention to their excuses. She picked up a broom and started helping the elderly couple clean up the burned-down room.

Old Man Gu was surprised by his granddaughter’s initiative. The girl had always been sickly and distant from them.

But now, seeing her help with the cleaning, she seemed much more likable than before.

What he didn’t see was Gu Xiaoxi bending down and slipping a broken inkstone, which had been used to prop up a table leg, into her Old Goods storage.

When she turned back and saw that no one else could see the storage, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

Seeing the brand-new inkstone appear in the new product display hall, she felt a surge of motivation.

She put down the broom and started moving the fire-damaged furniture and debris out of the room.

Seeing her so active, Gu Yimin quickly stepped in to help. “Xiaoxi, you sweep the floor. I’ll handle the heavy stuff.”

Gu Xiaoxi smiled faintly. “It’s fine. Let’s move all this burned stuff out and throw it away. Once the room is cleaned up, Grandpa and Grandma can buy new furniture and have a place to live.”

In her past life, these biased elders had used the fire as an excuse to stay at her uncle’s house for a night and then lingered at her house for a week.

During that time, her grandmother had constantly scolded her mother, treating her like a servant and demanding good food all the time.

This time, she wouldn’t let them have their way!

Seeing her daughter and husband helping, Jiang Xiuqing had no choice but to join in.

Then came Gu Yilan, followed by the reluctant eldest uncle, and finally Liu Chunhua and the youngest daughter, both with dark expressions.

With so many people helping, the room was quickly cleared and cleaned.

Afterward, Gu Xiaoxi made an excuse to go home and fetch some old newspapers to help her grandparents patch up the walls. She took a detour and collected all the debris they had just thrown out into her Old goods storage.

When she returned home with a bundle of old newspapers, she glanced at the items in the new product display hall. Among the neatly arranged items, she noticed a stack of brand-new bills and two small gold bars. She was momentarily stunned.

Counting the money, she suddenly smiled.

Seventeen hundred yuan!

Those stingy and biased old folks really had money!