Even though Celine and Eleanor knew that Grandpa Yu had other intentions, they had no plans to return the fifty thousand yuan.
And honestly, why should they?
Over the years, that old hag Grandma Wang and Aunt Yu had come to their home constantly mooching off them—what they took easily added up to more than that amount.
Let's talk about what happened back then.
Celine's father had died on duty. The compensation from his workplace and the payment from the suspect added up to over two million yuan.
Back in those days, two million yuan was enough to completely change a family's life.
But what happened?
As soon as the money arrived, Grandpa Yu showed up, hands in his pockets, pretending to be concerned.
He looked at their heartbroken, devastated mother, Mother Zhou, and said something like this:
"Layla, you're just a woman with six half-grown kids. Holding that much money isn't safe. People might target you."
"I'm your father-in-law, the children's grandfather. Let me keep it safe for you. When the kids grow up and need money for marriage or to build a house, I'll give it back."
He sounded so righteous, so sincere!
Mother Zhou, overwhelmed by grief and shaped by traditional beliefs about obeying elders, actually believed his nonsense.
And then?
Nothing. That was it. The money vanished.
Her oldest son Shenan had excellent grades and should've stayed in school. But the family was so poor, he had to drop out and work. He even broke his leg because of it.
Did Grandpa Yu or Grandma Wang ever give them a single cent?
No. Not one.
Mother Zhou had tried to ask.
With her back nearly bent from life's burdens, she went to the old house again and again, speaking humbly and begging, hoping her in-laws would give them a little money to get through hard times.
One time, things got so bad that she dropped to her knees in front of the whole village. She knelt down with a loud thud and begged Grandpa Yu and Grandma Wang.
She cried as she kowtowed—her forehead was bleeding. All she asked was that they give her some of the money so Shenan could keep studying, at least finish high school.
And how did Grandpa Yu respond?
He puffed on his dry tobacco, didn't even lift his eyes, and slowly said,
"The money? Oh, that money is in the bank. It's in a fixed deposit. I can't take it out."
And Grandma Wang?
She crossed her arms, spit flying as she shouted at Mother Zhou:
"Money? What money? That money is for me and your grandpa to retire on!"
"He died too young, didn't even take care of us in our old age. You think raising him was easy?"
"That money is his way of honoring us! Paying us back for raising him! And you think you can take it back? Keep dreaming!"
Payback? Retirement fund?
That two million yuan in compensation and insurance just turned into their so-called "retirement pay."
How shameless.
Even more shameless was that he actually thought giving five thousand yuan could fix everything and even let him get a share of the profit.
Celine felt that Grandpa Yu was completely dreaming.
But this could also be an opportunity.
A chance to take back the money that rightfully belonged to her family.
As the thought flashed in her mind, a plan against Grandpa Yu formed quickly.
Celine turned her head to look at her older brother Eleanor, who was driving. She shared the plan she had just come up with.
She didn't speak fast, but every word she said was filled with determination.
She explained how she would use the antiques in her hands to lure Grandpa Yu and Grandma Wang into spending all their money, and then secretly take everything back, leaving them with nothing.
Eleanor, the smartest and most experienced among the siblings, was amazed as soon as he heard it.
He turned the steering wheel and stopped the car by the roadside. Then he turned to look at Celine, his eyes shining.
"Why didn't I think of that"
Eleanor slapped his thigh in excitement, his voice shaking a little.
"Use those antiques to trick Grandpa Yu, that old fox, into spending everything to buy them, and then secretly take them back using your space"
"Brilliant. He'll lose both the money and the antiques. He wanted to take advantage, but in the end he'll lose everything"
"This plan is ruthless and smart. I like it"
When dealing with those two old people, this was the only way to handle them.
Celine nodded slightly. She didn't look proud. Her face was calm and cold.
Actually, this plan came to her suddenly.
She had returned this time mainly to deal with the antiques she brought back from the Qin dynasty.
When she thought of those antiques, and then thought of Grandpa Yu's greedy and cunning face, and the five thousand yuan he brought, this plan to trap him came naturally to her.
It was like feeling sleepy and suddenly finding a pillow. The perfect chance.
Of course, even though the plan was good, it couldn't be rushed.
Celine knew this clearly.
Grandpa Yu had lived a long life.
He had more experience with lies and tricks than they had ever seen. He was smart. Getting him to fall into such an obvious trap wouldn't be easy.
If she directly showed up with something like Qin dynasty coins or other antiques, it might make him suspicious.
So this plan had to move slowly.
They had to tease him a little at a time. Wake up his deepest greed without making him feel anything was wrong.
They had to make him believe that Celine and her siblings got lucky and found some treasure.
And since he was their real grandfather, he had the right to get a share of it. Maybe even think he could buy it cheap and get rich.
He had to walk in step by step, willingly and excitedly, into the trap that Celine had carefully prepared.
That would be true payback.