Even after Xu Keke and Li Wan left, Li Mao and Grandma Li still couldn't figure it out.

"You mean, this child has already become the head of the Chen family just since he came back?"

Weak Li Mao leaned against the white pillows in the hospital, shaking his head repeatedly. How could he know?

"She just said it wasn't a loan and she doesn't need to pay it back. Do you think that's true?"

This is no small sum of money. The Chen family has always been very clear about their finances with the Li family; they wouldn't give them an extra silver dollar.

Grandma Li was a little unsure. That was just a ten-year-old girl, thin and small, clearly someone who had suffered a lot. Would the snobbish Chen family listen to her?

Li Mao sighed, "Judging from the little sister's expression, this child is probably not lying. Let's just believe her for now."

Xu Keke and Li Wan left the hospital. She told the driver the name of a teahouse.

She had been to that place with Master Zhang; it was one of his properties. Not only was it quiet, but most importantly, it was safe; there was no need to worry about anyone eavesdropping.

"Why can't we just borrow money from the Chen family?"

Xu Keke waited for the waiter to bring the tea, and then ordered four kinds of snacks. Only then did she get straight to the point and ask Li Wan.

Li Wan stared at the steaming tea in front of her, remaining silent for a long time.

Sitting across from her, Xu Ke could probably see her inner turmoil.

Xu Keke guessed that perhaps in her eyes, she also had the surname Chen, and now she was getting close to the Chen family.

“I haven’t told Mr. Zhang yet. If you don’t tell me anything, then just consider what I said in the ward just now as mere attempts to make them happy.”

Xu Keke pinched the teacup with her three slender fingers and blew away the steam.

This won't do! If there were no hope at all, that would be one thing, but it's clearly possible to succeed, and now you're saying it won't work.

Li Wan became anxious, "I asked, but your father didn't agree. He said that the family doesn't have any extra cash right now."

Xu Keke sneered, "You actually believe such nonsense?"

They employ servants and support such a large family, yet claim they have no money.

Li Wan didn't dare look at her. Sitting opposite her was her daughter, but she always had this unsettling feeling. She couldn't tell which of the two was the child.

"I don't believe there's anything we can do. The money has always been in your father's hands. Both families have reviewed the accounts. I've seen them myself, and we're indeed losing money on both sides."

Upon hearing her words, Xu Keke knew that she actually understood, otherwise she wouldn't have brought up the accounts. She also felt that Chen Zikang must have tampered with the accounts.

Xu Keke had heard Li Shi mention that when Li Wan married into the Chen family, the two families had agreed that the dowry would be shared and managed jointly by the Chen and Li families.

The Chen family had no business experience, so these transactions were initially all handled by the Li family's connections and sources of goods.

To ensure fairness, each of the Chen and Li families sent one person to each of the merchant guilds. As for who would be the manager, it was said that the most capable person would be chosen, but in reality, it was Chen Zikang who had the final say.

Then, the annual profits are treated as dividends and split equally between the two companies.

At the time, the Li family had their own businesses and didn't take their partnership with the Chen family too seriously. Furthermore, the Li family always felt they were getting a better deal. In their view, once the dowry was taken away, it would ultimately belong to the Chen family's descendants.

So even though the money was taken from the Li family, Chen Zikang had the final say in everything.

The Li family never imagined that after several battles, their entire fortune would be wiped out. In the end, they could only rely on the meager profits from their cooperation with the Chen family to make ends meet.

They never expected that the Chen family would treat them like poor relatives trying to freeload. Aside from official business, they wouldn't give the Li family anything more.

The ledgers of each merchant house were all kept by the managers under Chen Zikang. How they wrote and calculated the accounts, whether they made a profit or a loss, was entirely up to them.

"Are you planning to spend your whole life with him?"

Li Wan immediately recognized who Xu Keke was referring to. She looked up blankly at Xu Keke.

The girl in front of me was sitting comfortably in a chair, her feet barely touching the ground. Someone had to bring her a footstool. But her demeanor and tone were nothing like that of a ten-year-old child.

Yet, it also makes one feel that this is exactly how she should be.

"You don't really intend to spend your whole life with him, do you?" Xu Keke put down her teacup, the aroma of tea still lingering around her nose.

"Don't think the worst of your father. Everything he did was for the Chen family. He had his reasons and his own difficulties."

It's just that times are tough, and there's nothing he can do about it. He wants to take care of both families, but his abilities are limited, and he can't possibly manage everything.

Besides, he hasn't treated me badly; it's just that everyone has their ups and downs. When he's upset, he likes to be alone. It's also because he's afraid he won't be able to control his temper.

Don't listen to those people with new ideas who talk about divorce. Women don't live that easily.

Without your father, are we supposed to go out and make a living? I'm afraid we wouldn't even be able to survive. Besides, what about you and your brother? Without the Chen family, you'll end up like your uncle's children, worrying about money every day with the adults.

And what about the Li family's money? We'll never get it all back.

Xu Keke laughed. Her hasty defense only proved that she had considered divorce. The words this woman was saying now were probably the same ones she used to use to comfort herself.

She lived a life of contradictions and inner turmoil. Caught between two paths, good and evil, she always kept herself living in the gray shadows.

"Do you know that Huihui is Chen Zikang's daughter?"

"Who?" Li Wan looked at her in surprise.

"Who in the Chen family told you this? That's impossible."

Li Wan spoke with certainty. Xu Keke looked at her with suspicion.

"Huihui's background wasn't very good. Her mother used to be a maid in the main house and had served your grandmother. Huihui's mother died in childbirth, and your father took pity on her. He had just lost you, so he brought her back."

The Chen family... they look down on everyone. They felt your father was too good to them, so they deliberately said those things to deceive you.

"What if what they're saying is true?"

"Impossible. Your father and I have always been in the north. This is impossible."

But Aunt Liu's words didn't seem like a lie. Xu Keke didn't believe it; Aunt Liu just didn't like Huihui, so she said that on purpose.

Xu Keke couldn't figure out what the problem was.

However, there was one thing she understood: Li Wan knew everything, and she had too many worries about leaving Chen Zikang.

Xu Keke had the driver take Li Wan back. She then went to find Master Zhang. Now that she had powerful backers, she could rely on them for support and didn't have to do many things herself.

After discussing her matter, she also told Master Zhang about Li Mao's situation.

Mr. Zhang was very decisive and immediately made a phone call to find someone to smooth things over. Doctors don't usually need to be present constantly during treatment. Performing surgery doesn't take up much time either. So the matter was resolved quickly.

As for the cost, Xu Keke munched on the watermelon that Master Zhang had prepared for her.

"As we said, I'll take advantage of you first, and then I'll take the money from you once I've got you."

Old Master Zhang laughed heartily. This little kid, he kept telling her, "Even close brothers should keep clear accounts." But the account he was trying to settle was about swindling money from her own father.

Unfortunately, her own father first plotted to kill her, and now he's trying to use her.

What a mess of accounts.