When the Side Character Gets a System and Travels through Difference Worlds-Chapter 17: Tingting 15

"Of course," Han Cunming was in a good mood now. "I can’t count on any of you. You only listen after you’re pushed into a corner and someone comes knocking on your door."

Han Guangzhi’s head drooped. He knew it—he wasn’t his father’s son anymore. Nowadays, Han Tingting was the one his dad valued most.

As Han Cunming lectured his son, Li’s parents naturally wouldn’t interject. In fact, the more strained things became between Han Cunming and Han Guangzhi, the happier they were. In his current state, Han Guangzhi was truly no different from a live-in son-in-law.

"Alright, I’ll go with you tomorrow. She hasn’t paid any child support since Tingting turned ten. At six thousand a year, that’s forty-eight thousand for eight years." Realizing this was two thousand more than what he just paid, Han Guangzhi suddenly felt at ease.

Han Cunming scoffed. "Tingting, don’t go tomorrow. Your dad and I will take care of this."

Tan You thought for a moment. "Alright, then I’ll wait for you at the guesthouse?"

Mother Li forced a smile. "Why stay in a guesthouse? We have rooms here. What’s the point of staying in a guesthouse?"

Tan You knew how to be diplomatic when she needed to be. "No, thank you. We wouldn’t want to impose. If all goes smoothly, we’ll head back tomorrow afternoon and won’t waste any more of your time."

With the money in hand, Han Cunming didn’t stay to eat at the Li family’s home. They agreed to leave at seven the next morning, and he led Tan You to a guesthouse near the Lis’ residential complex.

The moment Han Cunming and his granddaughter left, the atmosphere in the Li family home turned icy. Li Xiaomei, her face sullen, started toward the bedroom, but her father barked, "Sit down!"

Li Xiaomei said, aggrieved, "Dad! You’re taking it out on me!"

Her father stared at her. "They came for tuition money. Their business was with Guangzhi, so why are you getting so worked up? Paying forty thousand yuan to sever her connection with Guangzhi isn’t that much."

Mother Li was also in a foul mood. "That girl looks quiet, but she’s got a lot going on inside. This whole business with the money must have been her idea. So scheming at such a young age."

Han Guangzhi didn’t dare say a thing. On one side were his own father and daughter, and on the other were his father-in-law and mother-in-law. He couldn’t afford to offend either side.

Father Li closed his eyes. "The money is gone, so let’s just leave it at that. If they don’t come knocking again, we’ll have more peace of mind. Let’s hope they keep their word. Besides, taking a step back, she wasn’t wrong. Guangzhi has a responsibility to raise her."

"She’s still a minor, after all. Abandoning your underage daughter... you wouldn’t have a leg to stand on, legally or otherwise."

Mother Li was unhappy and wanted to kick up an unreasonable fuss, but she didn’t know what to say. In the end, she could only sit to the side and stew in her anger.

Li Xiaomei bit her lip. ’Sure, Han Guangzhi supposedly borrowed the money from my parents,’ she thought, ’but in the end, isn’t that my money? Everything my parents have, everything Han Guangzhi has—doesn’t it all belong to me?’ 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Her father said, "Whatever you’re thinking, you’d better swallow it. I told you before, you’re the one who chose this man. It’s not like you didn’t know he had a daughter, so you have to endure everything that comes with it."

Li Xiaomei felt wronged that her own father wasn’t on her side. But with Han Guangzhi sitting right there, she really couldn’t say much.

Of course, Tan You had no idea about this conversation that took place at the Li family’s home after they left. She and Han Cunming didn’t rush back to the guesthouse after leaving the complex; instead, they first went to a nearby ATM to deposit the forty-six thousand they had just gotten their hands on.

Seeing Tan You’s practiced movements, Han Cunming was surprised. "How do you know how to do all this?"

Tan You thought to herself, ’Later on, Han Tingting would often use ATMs. It was a skill she was bound to learn.’

"There’s a bank near the school, and I’ve seen other people use one before." With this half-truth, Tan You managed to move past the subject.

"Are you sure I don’t need to go with you tomorrow?" she asked again, walking quietly beside Han Cunming.

"No need. You don’t have to get mixed up in this; I’ll take care of it." Han Cunming waved his hand. "You just stay and study at the guesthouse. As soon as we get the money tomorrow, we’ll head back."

"I can’t stand another day in this wretched place."

Tan You said very seriously, "I don’t like it here either. The Li family... they look down on us."

She wasn’t oblivious to Mother Li’s poorly-hidden disdain and contempt, and she could also feel the coldness beneath Li Xiaomei’s superficial warmth. Of all of them, Father Li’s attitude toward them was perhaps the most level, but it was merely the detached politeness one affords a stranger.

Han Cunming was silent for a moment. "Then you have to work hard. Work so hard that they won’t dare to look down on you."

Tan You nodded fiercely. "I know. I’ll make sure Han Guangzhi, Li Xiaomei, and my own mother never dare to look down on me again."

His granddaughter had spirit, and Han Cunming certainly wasn’t going to crush it. He calculated in his head, "If we get the money tomorrow, you won’t have to worry about your tuition fees in the future."

"From now on, you just focus on your studies. I can save up a little money each year from farming. If you get into college later, I’ll support you through it, no matter what."

Tan You wasn’t a particularly emotional person, but hearing Han Cunming say that, she couldn’t help the stinging in her nose. She sniffled. "I’ll definitely work my hardest!"

’Even if not for Han Tingting, I can’t let down Han Cunming’s expectations.’

「The next morning」

Han Cunming and Han Guangzhi left early to lie in wait for Han Tingting’s birth mother. Han Cunming had told Tan You to stay at the guesthouse, so she obediently remained there, quietly doing her homework.

Tan You had already finished her language arts and English homework for winter break. All that remained was math and physics. She liked to finish the easy things first, making it a habit to save the hard parts for last.

Han Cunming returned before lunch. His expression was calm, and Tan You watched him with concern. He began to pack his things. "It’s done. Let’s go."

Tan You let out a sigh of relief. "I bought two ears of corn. We can eat them on the way. Everything here is so expensive."

Han Cunming chuckled. "Our Tingting is very frugal. This is exactly right—be careful with your calculations. We won’t spend a single cent we don’t have to."

Tan You smiled back. "I know. I have to learn to save."

This was something she had learned from her mother, Cheng Wenhui. Back then, Cheng Wenhui had always told her to compare prices, to be meticulous with money, and to be frugal. Tan You remembered all of it.

Only after you’ve experienced the desperation of being broke do you truly understand the importance of money.

Han Cunming looked around the room. "Your dad went to work after he got the money. Let’s go to the station and buy tickets now. Did anyone from the Li family come by?"

Tan You shook her head. "No, and I didn’t want to see them."

"If you don’t see them, you don’t see them. We won’t be coming back here in the future anyway." Han Cunming didn’t care what the Li family thought. All that mattered was that Han Tingting’s future was secure. Why should he waste his time thinking about anything else?

Tan You’s trip to Yun City was a whirlwind, coming and going in a flash. By three o’clock that same afternoon, they were already back in their hometown. Neither of them said a word to anyone about what they had done on the trip.

Even with a "huge sum" sitting in the bank, the two of them remained remarkably calm. Han Cunming knew it was Tan You’s money for school and understood its importance, so naturally, he had no other ideas for it.