Chapter 43: Was it because she contributed less money?

Just fifteen years old.
Such a pity she was led astray by the eldest branch.
Grandma Qin felt a bit of regret, her tone softening as she said, "Your uncle and aunt’s money doesn’t grow on trees." Though the request was obviously meant to vent some anger, the money offered was real and tangible, so she had tacitly agreed.
Qin Hongfei understood. She was grateful that someone was willing to lend them money to pay off their debts, but the fifth branch’s motives were impure, and she felt uneasy instead of grateful. "Aunt’s offer to lend us money is just a pretense; what she really wants is for my mother to bow her head. I won’t let my sister suffer such humiliation. Grandma, your kindness is appreciated, but we’ll handle this debt ourselves."
"Don’t say such childish things," Grandma Qin rebuked, her mood souring. "You’re only fifteen. Do you know how hard it is to earn money? How are you going to pay it back? In the end, you’ll still rely on us to clean up your mess."
"It’s good that you care for your sister, but Hongfei! Only those with ability are qualified to negotiate. If you lack ability, you must learn to compromise, understand?"
No matter how much Grandma Qin wanted to look after the eldest branch, there were five branches in total. She couldn’t ignore the others for the sake of one!
If the loan sharks were truly provoked, none of the five branches would have peace.
Qin Hongfei understood the old woman’s position. To be honest, Grandma had already done more than enough, yet she insisted, "Grandma, I’ll clear the debt within three months. I’m confident—I’ll prove it to you."
She met Grandma Qin’s gaze.
Grandma Qin clearly didn’t believe her bold words, meeting her eyes with some anger. "Fine, fine, if you have the backbone to pay it yourself, I’ll wait and see how you do it." One hundred and fifty thousand—among the Qin family’s branches, only the fifth could afford it, because Qin Wanwan was good at making money.
Old Madam Qin left in a huff, and the house fell into a sudden silence.
Qin’s mother seemed to have been stirred as well. She declared, "I’ll go borrow the money. No matter what, I won’t let Ah Fei be a maid for that little wretch in the fifth branch." With that, she hurried out with determination.
Qin Fei, on the other hand, was more philosophical. "Grandma seems angry, but, Feifei, if being a maid could pay off the debt, I’d do it. I have no future anyway, but you’re different—you still have a chance to save things." She thought, since the fifth branch was willing to pay one hundred and fifty thousand, she might as well go.
Qin Hongfei spoke up, "Don’t be foolish. The fifth branch never said how long you’d have to work. You might end up spending half your life there. Besides, once you go, the initiative shifts to them. If you displease them, they could marry you off to a random household. You’d owe them a favor and have no way to refuse; if you did, you’d be branded ungrateful."
Qin Fei hadn’t realized her sister was thinking of her, and she was deeply moved.
Qin Hongfei continued, "Besides, it’s nothing but a temporary fix. Even if you pay off this one hundred and fifty thousand, there’s still several hundred thousand left. If being a maid could clear a million in one go, then maybe I’d consider it."
Qin Fei: "..."
So it was just that the sum wasn’t enough?
Qin Hongfei quietly pondered where she could earn over a million—whether she should manufacture a batch of night vision goggles, or bulletproof vests, or perhaps dabble in some chip business. But these thoughts were quickly dismissed; selling such items would require high-end buyers, and the origins would be hard to explain.
As she mused, she found herself at the repair shop, where she saw someone lingering outside Old Zhang’s store next door, holding a device in their arms. Suddenly, inspiration struck.
A computer!