Li Xiuqin suspiciously asked, "Are you refusing my money because you think it's tainted?"
A Lai firmly replied, "Don't overthink it, that's not what I meant."
Li Xiuqin softened her tone, saying, "Your grandfather's salary is barely enough, most of it goes to the repairs at the village school. Take the money; there's no need to be so formal with me. Even though I live in the city now, we used to be neighbors."
A Lai thought to himself, "Ever since that incident at the hospital, your words and actions have left me cold. I'll never use your money again. Where was this generosity before? It seems like there's more to your intentions than meets the eye."
He glanced at Fang Fang before politely declining, "Thank you, but I can't take your money. I can go up the mountain to collect honey and sell it at the market. I can earn over 500 yuan a month."
Li Xiuqin, irritated by his refusal, snapped, "Stop showing off! Lying without even blushing. Do you think I don't know what you're up to? You're out there pulling tricks on the streets, setting up a stall, learning to scam people like a street hustler. Where's your focus on studying?"
"What?" A Lai was shocked. "You've been following me?"
He realized that Li Xiuqin's investigation wasn't just about holding him accountable—there might be other motives behind it. He decided to play along, defending himself and letting her reveal her true intentions before he struck back.
Li Xiuqin, adjusting her emotions, said coldly, "I don't have time for that. I just happened to see it. A young girl often visits your stall. You conjure up little trinkets for her, ask her to buy them, then you make a flower appear and give it to her. You even ate together at the stall. Am I wrong?"
A Lai held back his response, thinking, "If you weren't following me, how do you know so much? Damn! Lying through your teeth. No wonder Grandpa got angry and secretly burned my magic books—it was you who ratted me out, pretending to be righteous while stirring up trouble..."
Seeing that A Lai remained silent, Li Xiuqin continued coldly, "I'll be honest with you. I found out by accident. That girl, Hanh Hanh, is a top student at an elite high school."
"And you! With your current grades at a regular high school, it's hard enough to get into a third-rate college. Do you really think she'd be interested in you? If you're going to try and impress a girl, at least know your place. You're delusional!"
"And now you've set your sights on my daughter, Fang Fang? Don't you know that rabbits don't eat the grass near their burrow? You're two-timing, you little scoundrel!"
What nonsense is she spouting? A Lai couldn't hold back any longer and angrily retorted, "I'm self-reliant, selling things at a street stall, learning a few tricks to attract business, making some money to support myself. Who am I bothering? I'm studying in the city, and the expenses are huge. Is it easy for me?"
Fang Fang watched A Lai intently.
A Lai suddenly realized that Li Xiuqin was trying to drive a wedge between him and Fang Fang, so he quickly added, "Aunt Li, don't make baseless accusations and try to humiliate me in different ways."
"Heh heh..."
Li Xiuqin let out a few cold laughs, "I'm just kindly warning my Fang Fang not to waste her time on someone who two-times and is a total loser."
"Haha..."
A Lai laughed wildly, "Thank you for your concern. Thank you for the warning."
Then, shifting his tone, he said, "Life is long; we'll see who comes out on top."
"Cough, cough..."
Li Xiuqin laughed so hard her chest shook, "Big talk! Next, you'll say you plan to start a school, become the CEO of a conglomerate, or even marry a rich and beautiful woman..."
"Heh heh..."
A Lai slyly smiled and showed her an empty bowl, "See this? Nothing inside."
After she inspected it, he took a blank sheet of paper, covered the bowl, and with a dramatic gesture in the air, shouted, "In!" He asked Fang Fang to lift the paper.
The empty bowl now held half a cup of water.
A Lai coldly said, "This is called making something out of nothing. Dare you take a sip?"
"Why not?" Li Xiuqin said, surprised, as she took a small sip, "It's just plain water. What's the big deal?"
A Lai then twisted and crumpled the blank paper in his hands, revealing a thin strand of cotton thread.
Li Xiuqin blinked in surprise as she saw the paper transform into thread.
"This is called the wheel of fortune."
He carefully placed one end of the thread in the bowl and the other on the edge of the table. He then made a gesture as if grabbing fire from the air and instantly lit the thread.
A Lai proudly said, "This is called the cycle of life."
Li Xiuqin and Fang Fang, watching the flame dance on the thread, felt as if they were in a dream. Li Xiuqin coldly remarked, "Soon, the thread will burn out, and the flame will die. How long can it last?"
A Lai replied sternly, "Unless the water runs dry and the wick burns out!"
Amazingly, after a long wait, the flame in the water didn't go out, just like a prayer lamp in a temple, burning steadily.
Seeing her still skeptical, A Lai moved everything off the stone table and poured the water from the bowl onto the table. Instantly, a fiery dragon appeared, blue flames rapidly consuming the water until not a trace was left on the stone.
A Lai, pleased with himself, said, "This is called witnessing a miracle."
It took a while for the mother and daughter to snap out of their daze.
Li Xiuqin thought, "This is nothing but a street trick to deceive people, and he's using it to fool girls—and now, he's trying to fool me too!" She stared at A Lai, not daring to confront him directly, and started thinking of a strategy.
"Sigh."
Li Xiuqin sighed deeply, "If you're so stubborn and obsessed with this, there's nothing more I can say. Just take care of yourself."
Fainting from frustration, A Lai thought, "Who is she talking to? I have many talents and a rich extracurricular life. What's wrong with that?"
He then said, "The Dharma is boundless. Rest assured! As long as I don't starve, there's hope. Please take your money back; I don't need your pity."
"Cough, cough..."
Fang Fang, realizing the relationship between them had become irreparably strained, quickly tried to mediate, "Mom, A Lai is really working hard now. Not only have his grades improved significantly, but he's also earning money to support himself."
Li Xiuqin erupted in anger, "Shut up! Your actions have disappointed me greatly. I'll deal with you when we get home."
At that moment, Grandpa Lei returned. Hearing the loud argument from outside the courtyard, he walked in to find all three of them with tense expressions, the atmosphere thick with hostility. Confused, he quickly approached the stone table and asked, "Fang Fang's mother, why are you back?"
Li Xiuqin, barely able to contain her anger, snapped, "Don't ask me, ask your A Lai!"
Grandpa Lei's face darkened as he sternly asked, "A Lai! What have you done to upset Aunt Li?"
"I, I, I..."
A Lai, his mind in turmoil, couldn't find the words to explain. He thought, "I don't care if you sneak around, but I'm openly spending time with Fang Fang, and you think you can stop me?"
That murder case—I haven't had time to deal with it yet, so it's on hold.
You tried to cover up for the one who tried to kill me, and I haven't even started holding you accountable. Yet here you are, storming in to accuse me."
"Hmph!"
"This is my turf, and I call the shots. If you came here to cause trouble and take Fang Fang away, I'm not going to let you!"