Chapter 9: Not Giving Her an Inch of Respect

She would find a suitable time to tell the right person later. She did not want to rack her brain for excuses every time something happened.

The two police officers were not suspicious after hearing her explanation. Zhao Quan smiled and said, "So that’s how it is. Miss Yan, your crisis awareness is excellent, but aren't you worried that your guess might be wrong?"

Yan Ningxi suddenly sat up straight and said righteously, "I'm not worried. If I’m wrong, at most I'll be punished or scolded; I don’t mind. But if I’m right, I can catch the murderer in time, remove a threat to society, and keep good people from being harmed!"

The two officers immediately looked at her with respect. This Miss Yan had truly high moral awareness. They proceeded to ask a few more questions, and the statement was completed quickly and smoothly.

"By the way, Miss Yan, there is one thing I must tell you." Zhao Quan shared some good news.

Yan Ningxi’s eyes lit up when she heard him. "You mean I’m getting a reward for my brave act, and the prize money is fifty thousand?"

Seeing her eyes widen instantly, Zhao Quan laughed helplessly. "Yes, it’s absolutely true. Once the documents are submitted, the funds will arrive within half a month. I asked you to come in today to provide your identification and bank account details."

"Additionally, the police station would like to hold a commendation ceremony for you. Reporters will be invited to interview you as well; after all, this is positive social energy that is worth promoting. Of course, you can refuse if you prefer."

"As for today's incident, although the victim has already paid you, the police station can also offer you a reward—a smaller amount of five thousand—which can also be transferred to you in a few days."

She truly had the heart of a young girl, he thought. Yan Ningxi did not hesitate to take her documents and bank card out of her bag and hand them to Zhao Quan. She moved with such speed that it was as if she were afraid he might change his mind.

"I’ll skip the commendation ceremony. My family has a lot going on lately, and I don’t want to be too high-profile."

"Very well, I will inform my superiors." Zhao Quan immediately began submitting her information.

After leaving the police station and saying goodbye to Cao Xiangping, Yan Ningxi decided to stop by a supermarket. Her first task had earned her one hundred thousand, and the second one hundred and twenty thousand. Excluding her savings from before she bound with the system, she should have had two hundred and twenty thousand in hand.

She had spent sixty thousand on her younger brother’s medical fees, leaving her with one hundred and sixty thousand. Adding the fifty-five thousand in pending reward money, she had a total of two hundred and thirty-five thousand. A portion of the medical expenses would only be needed for her brother's surgery after her mother gave birth. Even if she spent some money now, she could earn enough through the system in a few months.

The residential area where she lived, "Above the Hibiscus," had a large supermarket nearby. Yan Ningxi knew that her mother, who was pregnant, was in dire need of nutrition. Previously, to save money, her mother had often given the nutritious food to her brother, eating very poorly herself. If this continued, her health would certainly suffer from malnutrition, and the baby might not be born safely.

Therefore, she spent money generously, buying large quantities of chicken, duck, fish, meat, vegetables, and fruits—anything nutritious. Since the supermarket offered home delivery, Yan Ningxi had no concerns and bought whatever she wanted. Although she had a spatial dimension, they were in the city center where there were many eyes and surveillance cameras everywhere. Transferring the items secretly would have been too much trouble.

Just as she was checking out, she suddenly encountered someone she did not want to see: her aunt, Yan Xiubai’s second sister, Yan Xiuhe.

Yan Xiuhe did not live nearby; she was just passing through and, feeling thirsty, had decided to buy a bottle of water at the mall’s underground supermarket. After much deliberation, she chose a bottle of mineral water that cost two yuan. Thinking about how she used to look down on such cheap water years ago, she felt depressed. It was all Yan Xiubai’s fault for being useless; his perfectly fine company had gone bankrupt for no reason, forcing her to live a hard life now.

Just as she finished paying, she saw that the person queuing at the next register was Yan Ningxi. Remembering how Yan Xiubai had called to borrow money, and fearing that Yan Ningxi might also ask her for money if she saw her, she was about to turn and leave, but her gaze was drawn to the items on the checkout counter.

Yan Xiuhe walked over and glanced at what her niece was buying. Her eyes widened, and she said with a sarcastic tone, "Oh, isn't this Ningxi? Isn't your brother suffering from leukemia? How do you have the money to be so extravagant?"

"These fresh prawns cost dozens per jin, and there's sea bass too. You really don't know how to manage money. If your parents knew, they would be furious."

As soon as she finished speaking, the surrounding customers began to look at Yan Ningxi with strange expressions. Yan Ningxi knew her intent and sighed, her tone very helpless: "One only thinks it's extravagant to buy chicken, duck, fish, and fruit when they have no money. I have graduated from university, I have a job, and I have a salary. What’s wrong with spending a little money on food?"

"My brother has leukemia, and my mother is over forty and pregnant to save him. To save money, she doesn't dare eat anything good."

"If I don't go out and buy them nutritious food, should I wait for you—a person who wouldn't even lend two thousand to your own nephew—to cook for them?"

"When my father was wealthy, every holiday, he would give your children red envelopes starting at fifty thousand."

"My brother has been hospitalized for three months, yet you haven't visited him even once."

Fifty thousand! Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Yan Xiuhe with contempt.

"What is so extravagant about buying food that a family needs?"

"These are necessities, not snacks."

"She’s probably just trying to take advantage of others."

"She’s not an aunt; she’s worse than a stranger."

"Exactly. Her own nephew is seriously ill, and she hasn't visited? She’s not family; she’s an enemy."

"She was definitely trying to use us as tools to help her scold her niece for being a spendthrift."

"Oh? She’s so sinister."

"Calling her sinister is a compliment. Such a vicious person; this girl’s father shouldn't have been so kind to her in the past."

Yan Xiuhe did not expect her goal to be exposed so easily. Her face turned as red as a monkey's bottom, and she scurried away in embarrassment. *That brat, she wasn't this sharp-tongued before?*

To think that she now dared to be so rude to an elder and give her no face at all—it was infuriating!

What she did not know was that Yan Ningxi used to listen to Yan Xiubai and respect her because she was her aunt, hoping that if the family ever fell on hard times, Yan Xiuhe would help them. However, ever since Yan Xiubai asked her for money, not only did she refuse, but she also mocked Yan Qingyu. She even said that if Yan Qingyu died, he died; leukemia was a waste of money that wouldn't save him anyway, and it would be better to give that money to her son for marriage, buying a house, or studying abroad.