Chapter 22: Family Interests Above All Else

What is the point of returning to such a family? Wang Zi did not think that Ye Ximo and his sister were wrong for being unwilling to return to their family.

He was no stranger to the perils of the safe zones in the fringe star systems. The exiled were often left with nothing but the most basic, low-grade nutritional supplements, and some safe zones would even skim off their meager rations, forcing those without enough food to venture into the jungles outside to survive. To be able to break through to S-rank under such conditions—if Ye Ximo were to approach any other family, he would surely be offered excellent terms.

Conversely, if he returned to his original family, he would likely be exploited without mercy. Especially since he had risen from a "failed awakening" to S-rank, the family would surely try to leverage his achievement for their own gain.

"But they were the ones who abandoned us in the first place. Why should we be forced to return and serve them just because we’ve achieved a little success?"

Ye Ximo remained indignant, and Ye Moxi felt exactly the same; or rather, whatever sense of right and wrong Ye Ximo held was merely a reflection of Ye Moxi’s own.

Wang Zi and Qiu Jie exchanged a look.

Qiu Jie then said, "Before I was adopted by the Wang family, my father abandoned my mother and me because my innate talent was low. Later, my mother remarried into a branch of the Wang family, and I received some resources that helped improve my abilities and mental strength. When the Wang family was choosing a guard for Wang Zi, they selected me, and my biological father immediately demanded that my guardianship be returned to him..."

If it hadn't been for Wang Zi’s insistence on keeping him, he would have been taken back by his father, even though his adoptive father had provided him with far more resources and support.

In the interstellar era, the cohesion of a family is paramount. Family interests are above all else. Those without a family are looked down upon.

"So, they don't care about raising us, but the moment we become successful, we have to pay them back unconditionally?"

"However, since Captain Feng has already worked out a solution for you, you only need to provide your biological parents with a certain amount of alimony."

Alimony?

Ye Moxi and her brother looked at each other. Why was this even a thing?

"I will keep the alimony within a reasonable range..."

*Is there a possibility that I don't want to pay this alimony at all?*

Feng Yanqing gently scratched the palm of Ye Moxi’s hand.

"Sister, have you thought it through? Is he really going to be your partner?"

"Hmm..." In truth, she was still hesitant. Dating was one thing, but marriage was a step further.

"Actually, he seems quite capable. You two should try getting along!" Ye Ximo said. He wasn't blind; with the instructor’s shift from arrogance to obsequiousness, and with Feng’s intervention, he was sure his sister would receive better treatment at the Talent Academy.

"Don't worry your head so much, kid, or you’ll age quickly!" Ye Moxi teased.

"Ye Ximo, go check your room. If everything is fine, let's all go to Guangxian Tower for a meal..."

Although Qiu Jie appeared cold, Wang Zi was poor at socializing and prone to offending others, and Qiu Jie complemented him well.

Ye Ximo shook his head. "My sister said the first meal in a new home must be eaten at home; that way, the days ahead will flourish and prosper!"

Eat at home? But their cooking robots and housekeeping bots hadn't been delivered yet.

Just as Feng Yanqing was about to call his uncle to send over a cooking robot, Ye Moxi waved her hand and produced a pile of pots, bowls, and ladles, along with a large quantity of vegetables and meat.

The dormitory had a large balcony, and next to it was a communal kitchen. As it was a three-person dorm, the stove, sink, refrigerator, and cupboards were all equipped for three. Next to the shared kitchen was a shared dining area, where the long table stood empty.

"Can you guys... handle spice?" Ye Moxi asked between tasks.

"We should be able to." Wang Zi and Qiu Jie exchanged a look; they didn't know what level of spice qualified as "spicy."

"Then we'll have a *yuan-yang* (double-flavor) hot pot!"

"Yuan-yang hot pot?" Wang Zi and Qiu Jie repeated. They had never even heard of it.

As Ye Moxi spoke, she brought out a housekeeping robot. Ye Ximo was busy moving the vegetables into the kitchen. "Sister, you go ahead and set up my room; I’ll wash the vegetables."

Ye Moxi agreed and headed to Ye Ximo's room, followed by Feng Yanqing.

Wang Zi and Qiu Jie didn't know what they were doing, but standing around waiting to be fed wasn't their style.

"It’s fine! It’s just washing vegetables and plating them. You guys go tidy up your rooms. If you feel the cleaning isn't thorough enough, you can have the housekeeping robot go over it again..." Wang Zi’s robot hadn't arrived yet, so Ye Ximo was referring to his own.

Wang Zi became interested. "How does your housekeeping robot know how to cut vegetables and meat?" Shouldn't that be the job of a cooking robot?

Ye Ximo grinned. "My sister only bought me one robot, so I modified its programming. It can handle simple tasks anyway..."

Wang Zi lived in comfort, and Qiu Jie had never suffered, so they didn't understand the struggle of having only one robot, but they didn't pry. After all, they had heard that many students from the fringe star systems had to work to cover their living expenses; let alone buying robots, they could barely afford rent.

"Are you unhappy?" Feng Yanqing asked once they were in the room.

"My thoughts might sound absurd to you, but I truly believe that once they abandoned us, any concept of 'family' or 'parents' ceased to have any connection to us!" Everything they possessed was earned through their own grit. Just because they were biological parents, did they have the right to enjoy the fruits of their labor as a matter of course?

"Take Ye Ximo as an example. Although he would serve his family upon returning, the family must also provide him with corresponding resources. It is unreasonable to demand his service without giving anything back. Furthermore, if the resources provided don't match his strength, he has the freedom to join another family to plan his own future."

This was a form of reassurance for those who had been abandoned, fought their way back, and succeeded. The original family was merely their first choice, not necessarily their only one.

"Also, regarding the alimony: once we are engaged, your guardianship will automatically transfer to me, so I should be the one to pay it. However, the amount won't be tied to my position or assets, but calculated based on the average of your original family's standards.

"As for Ye Ximo, I intend for him to become the foster son of Legion Commander Ye Tianjiao, after which his alimony will be negotiated by the Ye family. However, since you are both minors, Imperial law allows you to refuse payment on those grounds. But that would invite gossip, so I personally suggest we pay it. I will keep the amount at the minimum standard."

Ye Moxi nodded. She didn't really care what others said about her, as her conscience was clear, but since he had considered everything for her, she didn't want him to be the subject of criticism on her account.