My Life with Narration

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Old Su, his mom, and his aunt pulled him aside to sit and chat. Before long, led by Old Su's intentional or unintentional guidance, the conversation turned to today's main topic.

"Xiao Qing, I heard from your mom that you work at the Jiangcheng Public Security Bureau?"

"It's not really working; I'm just there in name. Sometimes, I might not even go once in ten days or half a month. I'm not even officially there—I'm considered a contract worker!" Su Qing said with a smile.

He wasn't making this up. Given his current identity, it would be impossible for him to become a legitimate civil servant. Otherwise, the legitimacy of the properties under his name would be questionable. If investigated, wouldn't they easily find out everything?

Moreover, he really hasn't entered the system yet. He hasn't even nabbed himself a police uniform. If he isn't a contract worker, then what is he?

Even auxiliary police have uniforms, but he doesn't. By relationship standards, what he said was absolutely correct.

Though he had quite the network within the bureau, knowing several team captains, and could even ask Old Zhao, Old Lin, and others to appeal to Director Liu if necessary, outsiders weren't aware of this.

He said this to emphasize that he was just a small fry, insignificant, without any authority. If you were seeking his help, you'd be looking for the wrong person.

Indeed, upon hearing this, his aunt's face showed some embarrassment, but she still smiled and said, "Ah, that's already impressive. I heard from your mom that you joined last year. Stick it out for a few years, and maybe you'll become official. Besides, Xiao Qing, you're already a big boss now. Even if you can't become official, it's good to know more people there."

Obviously, his identity had already been exposed now, especially to his relatives, who nearly all knew his family had struck it rich.

Before he could respond, his aunt continued, "Xiao Su, to be honest, this time I came to ask you for a favor. Your uncle's nephew got arrested for something, and do you remember that Tiger from your cousin's family? The one you used to play with a lot as a kid? Earlier, I came over with your cousin to ask if there's any way you could help."

[The somewhat cunning aunt felt a bit let down hearing what you said, though also a little secretly pleased. Turns out, you're just a contract worker, not even an official. But then thinking of how rich you are now, her tiny bit of secret pleasure vanished without a trace.]

Yes, understandably. Nowadays, even taking civil service exams is merely for a good job, with good benefits and treatment. Essentially, it boils down to money.

"My cousin came by just now too?" Su Qing asked, somewhat surprised.

Because ever since he came in, aside from his aunt, he hadn't seen any other outsiders in the house.

"Yeah, your cousin left just before you arrived, saying the bureau called with something."

"Ah... Your cousin is quite pitiful. How did their family get tangled up in such a mess?" Zhou Hui sighed.

Upon hearing this, Old Su chimed in, "Your cousin's family is in trouble, and our family gave 10,000, but who knows if it'll help them over this hurdle."

[The cleverly scheming aunt scoffed upon hearing this. Your family is so wealthy, reaching into the hundreds of millions, yet you only gave 10,000? Isn't that just insulting?]

Prompted by the aside, Su Qing turned to his aunt and said, "Aunt, you must be referring to the recent online fraud case they cracked back in our hometown, right? I heard they caught 13 people in total."

"Yes, yes, that's the one. Xiao Qing, you heard about it too?"

"Hmm, I heard it's quite a big case this time, and the situation is pretty serious. But since the case didn't pass through me, I don't know the specifics. Does my cousin's family want to pay money to get Tiger out? To be honest, I feel that's quite impossible. Even at the lightest, even if they compensate, they might still face a few months' sentence. Besides, Aunt, I really can't help much with this. I'm not even an official staff member, and with my short duration of work, at most, I can just try to get some inside information." Su Qing chuckled bitterly.

It's not that he wasn't willing to help, but he simply didn't have that much power. Who knew what level these people were at? If they were core personnel, even Director Liu wouldn't be able to easily sort it out, unless he heavily pushed for it.

At this, Old Su awkwardly interrupted, stating that the loan was for another matter in his cousin's family.

Su Qing: ???

"A family matter?"

For some reason, an ominous feeling welled up in him. With the son already in, how could this not be considered a major issue for a family? What degree has it reached!

Then Old Su, his mom, and his aunt briefly explained the situation with the cousin's family back in his hometown.

After hearing it, Su Qing was completely stunned and at a loss.

In terms of relations, his cousin and their family weren't too far off, though not within the Five Degrees of Kinship. It's just that they rarely interacted, which made them seem distant. But for him, Old Su and his mom were quite familiar with them.

His cousin's family consisted of four members. The Tiger his aunt mentioned is the younger son, 21 this year, two years younger than him. And there's an older sister, 28.

This whole family; the father plays poker, the mother plays mahjong, the sister takes online loans, and the brother gambles online. They really are a family of heroes, each holding up their end, loyally devoted to their ways.

His cousin, after graduating from a technical school, started taking online loans. She went out as a migrant worker for years, taking loans to repay loans, indulging in extravagant consumption, blatantly admitting she ran up debts of more than 200,000 yuan to her family. Think about that — over 200,000 yuan pure expenditure, excluding her salary.

The rhythm was steady, confessing once a year, asking the family to pay off the debts, swearing to reform, become a new person, then confessing again, an endless cycle.

The sister was heroic in her ways, and the brother didn't fall behind either, engaging in little online gambling. The family ended up paying quite a lot for him too. Recently, as his cousin was about to marry, the brother swiped her dowry money and went all-in in a bet, and lost everything.

Chaos erupted in the household. His cousin instantly wanted to perish together with her brother. Fortunately, they were dissuaded. Finally, the brother came to his senses, deciding to make money himself to repay her sister, especially since she still had a loan unpaid. The dowry was meant for that. But then, his cousin stepped into online fraud, a quick way to make money, easily made, earn big without losing. However, before earning much, they were caught in a swoop, and now the whole family is in turmoil.

If his cousin weren't detained, he'd likely be torn apart by his family. His cousin's family was left with no other course and heard about his family's wealth. Seizing a trip to Jiangcheng City, they stopped by his house, hoping to hit the jackpot with some unexpected reward.

Hearing all this, Su Qing felt utterly speechless. Although 10,000 might not be much to him now, it didn't mean that this money could just be handed out without a thought.

Listening to this, he cast a glance at his mom. Zhou Hui looked a bit embarrassed too: "Son, your cousin's family is really in a tough spot now. Help them out a bit, after all, your cousin still needs to get married."

Upon hearing this, Old Su opened his mouth but remained silent. Rationally, he knew this was a situation better not helped. Helping might just get you entangled for life.

But he was also stuck. The family came to their doorstep. If they didn't offer anything, it would be hard to save face. What's more, Su Qing had the aunt backing her. If earlier, their family could have declared bankruptcy, it might work. But now, claiming poverty was a bit far-fetched.

Especially when news had spread online about Su Qing investing 80 million in a film, making a significant profit. Even if he understood inside, he couldn't refuse, and essentially stood helplessly as the 'coins were exploded' away.

"Exactly, Xiao Qing, you're quite accomplished now. If you can, help them out a bit," his aunt sighed helplessly.

Hearing this, the fire in Su Qing's heart flared up instantly. Whether I help or not is my business, but you're persuading me? Isn't this unreasonable?

"My cousin... hasn't contacted our family in years, has she? Did she come along with Aunt?" Su Qing's tone was calm, but the pressure in his words was rising.

Though his tone was light, his aunt felt a pang hearing it.

"Not as such, it's just a matter of course, Xiao Qing. Aunt didn't mean anything by it, don't overthink things!"

There's no choice but to be cautious. Now, though her sister's family is wealthy, it's common knowledge it was her son who made it happen. Also, regardless of kinship, no one wanted to give off the wrong impression, right?

"Son, your aunt didn't mean that. The money was borrowed by your mom, and we need to help a bit!"

"Alright, what your mom said is right. We lent already. Besides, your old man didn't use your money!" Old Su quickly chimed in, sensing something was amiss.

While seeming to chastise his son for being inconsiderate, in reality, he was sending a message to his sister.

Upon hearing this, Su Qing nodded and smiled, "Dad, I wasn't overthinking. I was just asking.

How about this, tomorrow I'll find some time to go to the bureau and inquire about the situation and see what's going on!"

Hearing this, his aunt's face lit up with joy, though before she could revel in it, Su Qing continued,

"However, I can only help ask around for information. As for handling it, I might not be able to do much. I'll do my best!"

They came to my house, exploiting the situation. Given that his aunt was involved, it was no wonder he had a sour face. Even if he could assist, he didn't want to. Honestly, with Tiger in there, it's already like making money for their family; what more could they want?

...