Ch 87: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Xiao Jun hurriedly arrived at the police station and had just found Shen Yunxuan when he overheard Mother Xing blurt out such a question. His expression immediately darkened as he pulled Shen Yunxuan aside, angrily saying, “You can eat recklessly, but you can’t talk recklessly! I don’t even remember what she looks like. What do you mean, ‘how far did things develop’? Why are you spouting nonsense like this in front of my wife?”

Shen Yunxuan was equally taken aback. “Aunt Xing, what do you mean by this? They only met once, and both sets of parents were present.”

Xiao Jun nodded hurriedly. “Exactly! I never thought anything of her. I’ve never even met her in private.”

Under the skeptical gazes of the two younger people, Mother Xing felt uncomfortable. But since she had already brought it up, she was determined to find out the truth. Gritting her teeth, she pressed on, “I saw Shen Xuewei acting pretty familiar with you. She stared at you for a long time. Didn’t you almost marry her? Don’t tell me you’re not familiar—maybe you just don’t dare admit it because your wife is here.”

Xiao Jun laughed out of sheer frustration. “Are you unreasonable? If you’re not afraid of embarrassing yourself, I’ll call my parents and the matchmaker, Aunt Lin, to the hospital right now to confront you. If you can’t explain yourself, then you’re deliberately causing trouble and owe me an explanation!”

Mother Xing had only been testing him to gauge his reaction. Seeing his firm stance and willingness to confront her with witnesses, she believed him and softened her tone. “Oh, I was just asking. Why are you so worked up? I heard you and your wife are doing well with your business. I’m happy for you. When Xing Kai comes back, we’ll invite you both for dinner to thank Yunxuan properly for finding my grandkids. It’s such a huge favor, and my husband and I will come to your house to thank you personally.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Shen Yunxuan said coldly. “I was just doing a good deed, and it was pure chance that I found them. If you want to thank someone, thank the public security officers. They’ve been tirelessly searching the streets all day and are exhausted.” She turned to Xiao Jun. “Let’s go.”

Xiao Jun nodded, then turned back to Mother Xing and added, “Let’s keep our distance from now on. Whether it’s because of past matches or broken ties, there’s no point in maintaining a relationship. Let’s each live our own lives.”

As the two of them left, Mother Xing’s face turned sour. She blamed Shen Xuewei for her embarrassment. If not for Shen Xuewei, the children wouldn’t have run off, and she wouldn’t have ended up questioning Xiao Jun like this.

Previously, when Xiao Jun had been so high-profile in the village, she had heard rumors that Xiao Jun didn’t take a liking to anyone until he met Shen Yunxuan, whom he married immediately. Just now, this had been confirmed. Xiao Jun hadn’t even glanced at Shen Xuewei at the hospital.

So why did Shen Xuewei run out the moment she heard Xiao Jun’s name? And why did she keep staring at him afterward? Could it be that Shen Xuewei had fancied Xiao Jun, but he wasn’t interested? When she couldn’t find a better match, she latched onto Xing Kai the moment he returned to the village. But did she truly care for Xing Kai? He was so much older, had two kids, and was rarely home. What was there to like? Could she still be holding onto feelings for Xiao Jun?

Mother Xing grew more furious as she thought about it. She rounded up the Xing family, took the children home, and informed the Shen family to take care of Shen Xuewei, leaving the rest to themselves. She even canceled the hospital payment.

When Shen Xuewei saw her family arrive, she was surprised. But when it came time for her IV treatment, she found out the bills hadn’t been paid. She was furious. “This is Xing Kai’s child! Xing Kai sends so much money home every month—why can’t I use it?!”

The Shen family had already gone to the Xing family to argue but were met with Mother Xing’s staunch response. She blamed Shen Xuewei for everything, saying her antics had almost caused the loss of their two grandchildren and that they nearly starved outside. “You’re the one who caused all this trouble. If you want to stay in the hospital, ask your own family to pay for it. After all, wasn’t it for them that you stirred up this mess? Let them take responsibility.”

The Shen family was both furious and helpless. Shen Xuewei couldn’t do much against the Xing family either. After all, she was the one who had insisted on staying in the Xing family to become the wife of a military commander. The Xing family hadn’t forced her, and this left her at a disadvantage. She had no choice but to placate her family with promises of future benefits, using her potential as a military commander’s wife to lure them into paying the bill.

One hundred yuan wasn’t an impossible sum for the Shen family to gather, but it left them nearly broke. The family was filled with unease—how were they supposed to get by now?

Seeing their despair, Shen Xuewei’s eyes twitched, and she suggested, “Did you know Xiao Jun is making a fortune? Shen Yunxuan has been making all kinds of prepared foods, and Xiao Jun sells them. They’ve become famous in town—lots of people buy from them. They’re doing great! If you really can’t manage, go cry at the Xiao family’s doorstep. Just don’t pick a fight. Do it in front of their neighbors; they won’t want to lose face and will probably give you something. That way, the family ties can be restored.”

“What? They’re making a fortune? What kind of food is Shen Yunxuan making that people in town are willing to pay for? Are they fools?”

“They haven’t even come back to the village to collect eggs. Where are they making money from? Is this even true?”

Shen Xuewei lay back on the hospital bed. “Go see for yourselves if you don’t believe me. I’m just mentioning it—I don’t know the details. Don’t ask me anymore.” She closed her eyes, pretending to sleep.

Shen Jie dragged the Shen family aside, excitedly saying, “This is our chance! Buy some gifts and visit them. Cry a bit about my second sister’s situation. If we make up, I won’t be mocked at school anymore. Plus, if Big Sis is selling food, I’ll never have to worry about lunch at school again. She can just send me food directly, and it’ll save us money too.”

Shen Weiguo and Fang Fang thought the plan was feasible. They exchanged some goods with other hospital families for a bag of brown sugar and headed to the Xiao family home.

On the way, Fang Fang began crying, and by the time they reached the Xiao family’s doorstep, her eyes were red and swollen as if something terrible had happened. Shen Weiguo looked equally dejected, head hanging low. The two standing at the doorway quickly attracted the attention of nearby neighbors.

“Hey, who are you looking for? Did you come to the wrong place? I’ve never seen you before.”

Fang Fang choked up and shook her head. “No, we’re not at the wrong place. We’re looking for the Xiao family. Xiao Jun is my son-in-law, and his wife is my daughter.”

“What? Yunxuan is your daughter?” The neighbors exchanged glances and scrutinized the pair from head to toe.

Seeing they had drawn the neighbors’ attention, Shen Weiguo and Fang Fang were secretly pleased. Shen Weiguo immediately raised his hand and knocked on the door. “Yunxuan! Yunxuan, something’s happened at home. Open the door.”

No response came from inside. Fang Fang raised her voice. “Yunxuan, I know you look down on your family, but we really have no other choice but to come to you. Please, just open the door.”

By now, seven or eight neighbors had gathered, pointing and whispering among themselves. Shen Weiguo and Fang Fang couldn’t make out what was being said, but they felt they were making progress. They believed that even if Shen Yunxuan didn’t care about her own reputation, the Xiao family would. Surely, they would be able to mend the relationship and find out how Xiao Jun was making money so they could benefit from it too.

Suddenly, Xiao Jun flung the door open, startling Shen Weiguo, who had just raised his hand to knock again. Before Shen Weiguo could say a word, Xiao Jun frowned and said with evident disgust, “What are you doing here?”

Shen Yunxuan walked out from the yard, her expression cold. “Something happened at your house? Why are you looking for me? Are you planning to sell me off again? Then let’s go to the police station and let the officers decide if you’re in the right.”

Shen Weiguo and Fang Fang’s faces immediately changed. Shen Weiguo hastily said, “Why are you spreading lies about us? When you got married, we didn’t take a single penny. The whole village knows that. How can you slander us like this?”

Fang Fang’s wailing grew louder. “Your sister was knocked down by those kids, and now she’s lost her baby! The doctor said she needs a month of hospitalization. You’re living a good life now; you can’t just ignore us because we’re from the countryside. Where’s the justice in that?”

Shen Yunxuan cut her off sharply. “What did you say? The wife of Commander Xing Kai was knocked over by his own son and daughter and miscarried?”

Fang Fang’s sobbing halted as she quickly rebuked, “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Xiao Jun chimed in, “Aren’t you the one who just said it? Looks like Commander Xing Kai’s household is quite a mess. What’s the problem? Do the kids not accept their stepmother? Or is the stepmother mistreating the kids? Oh, by the way, didn’t the kids run away from home out of fear? They even said their stepmother wanted to kill them. That’s pretty impressive. She can even fight with her in-laws. Why are you crying here?”

Shen Weiguo’s face darkened, and he snapped, “Shut up! What do you know?”

The neighbors’ murmuring grew louder.

“A commander? His house sounds like chaos. How does he even manage his troops?”

“These two are shameless, coming here to cause a scene. Are they jealous that Yunxuan is doing well?”

“Weren’t those missing kids the commander’s? That stepmother must be something else, bullying the kids. A miscarriage might just be karma… or deserved!”

One neighbor even pointed at them and cursed. “You two are disgraceful. Didn’t you try to marry Yunxuan off to a fool? Dare you deny it? You treated her worse than human traffickers!”

“You’re the ones who announced the estrangement in the newspaper, right? Why are you here claiming she’s your daughter? Yunxuan has nothing to do with your Shen family!”

“You enslaved Yunxuan as a child! You’re like landlords exploiting a servant. Better be careful someone doesn’t paste a denunciation poster on your door!”

“When Yunxuan first came here, she was so dark and skinny we felt sorry for her. You’re heartless and now have the audacity to show up here acting all pitiful? Disgusting!”

Shen Weiguo and Fang Fang were dumbfounded. They thought the village gossip wouldn’t reach the town and that family matters wouldn’t be aired publicly. They didn’t believe Shen Yunxuan would openly declare she had severed ties with them, nor that the Xiao family would let it be known their daughter-in-law had disowned her parents. Weren’t they worried about gossip?

But what was happening now? How did these neighbors know everything? And why wouldn’t they listen to them? Instead, they started berating them as soon as they opened their mouths!

“It’s not like that!” Fang Fang stammered. “It’s all a misunderstanding. Yunxuan just doesn’t want to acknowledge us because she’s living well in town—”

A neighbor spat at her. “Nonsense! My relatives are from your village. They told me themselves you tried to marry Yunxuan off to boost Shen Jie’s prospects. Who are you fooling? And when you found out Yunxuan was selling eggs, you cursed her and cut ties. Now you’re jealous because she’s successful? Shameless!”

“You! This is our family matter! What does it have to do with you? Mind your own business, you nosy fools!” Fang Fang, furious, started shouting back.

Several neighbors laughed.

“Look at her true colors showing! And she thinks she deserves to be Yunxuan’s mother? Get lost already!”

“Scram! You think you can come here and cause trouble? Try us!”

“Get out!”

A few neighbors went back to their homes and returned with rotten vegetables and spoiled eggs, pelting them at Shen Weiguo and Fang Fang. Fang Fang screamed, and Shen Weiguo shouted angrily as they retreated step by step under the onslaught.

Suddenly, someone appeared with a bucket of dirty water and splashed it over the two!

“Ah—!” Fang Fang shrieked in humiliation and fury. She couldn’t take it any longer and turned to run, her cries echoing even as she fled into the distance.

Shen Weiguo pointed a trembling finger at Shen Yunxuan and shouted, “You’re something else! Let’s see if you ever dare to come back to your family again!”

Shen Yunxuan sneered. “Family? Didn’t you publicly sever ties with me? Stop trying to pretend you have any dignity. If you had even a shred of it, you wouldn’t show your face here to embarrass yourselves!”

The neighbors, emboldened, prepared to throw more eggs. Shen Weiguo hastily raised his hands in defense and ran off. He had never felt so humiliated in his life. The tables had turned—where once they used to scold Shen Yunxuan for being a disgrace, now she was openly berating them.

The two of them, drenched and reeking of filth, slunk away as passersby avoided them in disgust. With their heads bowed to avoid being recognized, they made their way back to the village. Yet, even there, they were met with ridicule. Shen Weiguo and Fang Fang were utterly humiliated and, for the first time, began to resent Shen Xuewei.

“If it weren’t for Shen Xuewei’s suggestion to come to the Xiao family, would we have ended up like this? It was her idea to sever ties back then too. She even convinced us to marry Yunxuan off to the Xiao family! That troublemaker is hated by her in-laws and now has dragged her own family into a mess!” they muttered.

Meanwhile, Shen Xuewei, still in the hospital, was anxiously awaiting news. When no one showed up by evening, she had to fetch her own meal. Without money, she had to beg her roommates to lend her some, and by the time she ate, her stomach started cramping again. She was utterly miserable.

Back at the Xiao household, after Shen Yunxuan and Xiao Jun dealt with the commotion, they thanked the neighbors, offering tea eggs in return.

In these times, many households hoarded food until it spoiled, often consuming even rancid eggs to avoid waste. Today, neighbors had thrown plenty of their supplies to defend Shen Yunxuan, and she felt obligated to compensate them.

Though the neighbors initially declined, Shen Yunxuan insisted, and they eventually accepted. They reassured her not to be upset over Shen Weiguo and Fang Fang, saying those two didn’t deserve to be parents.

After chatting with the neighbors for a while, Shen Yunxuan returned to the house, where the family was waiting. They had wanted to intervene earlier but held back at her request, not wanting to risk the Shen family escalating their antics or causing trouble at their workplaces.

When she entered, her sister-in-law, said, “Thank goodness you told the neighbors the truth early on. If they didn’t know the real story, we might’ve spent the whole day trying to explain, and some people might’ve believed their nonsense.”

Xiao Jun laughed. “That’s thanks to all the tea eggs Yunxuan gives out. She’s built goodwill!”

Everyone nodded. While the neighbors’ kindness was genuine, Shen Yunxuan’s thoughtful relationships made them more willing to take her side. Shen Yunxuan had anticipated the Shen family’s visit and prepared accordingly. She felt grateful for the community’s support, which saved her from a prolonged confrontation.

She made some sugar water and invited everyone to sit and chat. “When I first started selling eggs, the Shen family worried I’d drag them down. And now, look how quickly they’ve come crawling back. I’ve even heard from the Xing family that they’re envious of how well we’re doing.

“So, what do you all think? Have you decided whether you want to try selling goods?”

Xiao Jun’s eldest sister-in-law spoke first. “I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to sell daily necessities. I’ve already arranged to hand off my job to my boss’s niece for 600 yuan. Plus, I’ve worked out a deal to buy leftover stock from the supply co-op.”

Shen Yunxuan’s eyes lit up. “That’s brilliant! Selling your position builds goodwill with your boss, and now you’ve secured a supply channel. This sets you up for future opportunities.”

Not used to such direct praise, the eldest sister-in-law blushed. “You’re the capable one, Yunxuan. If you think this will work, I feel even more confident. I’ll start by stocking small quantities and see how it goes.”

Shen Yunxuan nodded in approval. Xiao Zhijun, Xiao Jun’s father, spoke next. “I’ve decided too. I’ll stay home and make food to sell. It’s still cooking, but it earns much more than my job at the state-run restaurant. Plus, I can help with meals here.”

He had been making the baked goods sold at their stall, which were very popular. Everyone readily agreed.

The biggest surprise came from Yu Hong, who announced she was quitting her job to sell clothes. “I’ve already worked it out with my factory. My position will go to the factory manager’s youngest son, and I’ll source surplus fabric from the factory.”

She and Xiao Jun’s sister-in-law had discussed this approach earlier. Smiling, she added, “I’ll turn the fabric into clothes. In a few days, I’m planning to visit the provincial capital to see what styles are selling. I’ll make and sell my own designs. Yunxuan, what do you think?”

“I think it’s fantastic, and it will definitely work!” Shen Yunxuan gave a big thumbs-up, her eyes full of admiration, boosting everyone’s confidence.

Soon after, people noticed something peculiar: among the four Xiao family members with jobs, only the eldest, a teacher, remained employed. The other three had all left their jobs to set up stalls and sell goods!

The first reaction from everyone was shock, quickly followed by gossip about how crazy they were, with people whispering behind their backs:

“Isn’t it just the youngest son and his wife making a bit of money? How could the whole family suddenly quit their stable jobs to sell goods?”

“Exactly! What if the authorities crack down on illegal trading? They’ll all be doomed. What were they thinking? No backup plan at their age—it’s sheer madness.”

“Old Xiao used to worry so much because Xiao Jun was the only one jobless. Now it’s flipped—only the eldest has a job, and it’s not even a high-paying one! They’ve lost their minds!”

These were well-regarded, stable jobs—iron rice bowls that could be passed down to future generations. For the Xiao family to give them up baffled everyone. Even their relatives came by several times to persuade them, but the Xiao family was resolute, and no amount of reasoning could sway them.

While others lamented their “foolishness,” the Xiao family worked tirelessly from dawn to dusk, thriving amidst the hustle and bustle.

Shen Yunxuan accompanied Yu Hong to the provincial capital. Together, they examined clothing styles in shopping malls and observed what well-off office workers were wearing. Some of the styles weren’t even local; they were reportedly sourced from Beijing or Shanghai.

Although Shen Yunxuan didn’t consider herself an expert in fashion, her knowledge of future trends helped her distinguish between long-lasting and short-lived styles. Combining this with her sharp eye, she offered Yu Hong plenty of suggestions. As an experienced seamstress, Yu Hong could replicate many designs at a glance, sketching complex or unique patterns in a notebook to refine later. While they weren’t exact replicas, her versions were close enough.

Once they’d surveyed enough clothing, Shen Yunxuan turned her focus to food supplies. She rented a hotel’s kitchen to prepare several specialty dishes, including five-spice quail eggs, braised pork, and chili meat sauce. Over two days, she pitched these to state-run restaurants, factories, and even the government canteen, leaving samples and her contact information.

By the time they returned home, she had secured a modest order from a state-run restaurant. Although it was small and more of a trial, it was a foothold in the provincial capital market. If successful, it could lead to selling her products citywide.

Upon returning, Yu Hong excitedly shared their experience with the family, her face flushed with enthusiasm. “You wouldn’t believe how bold Yunxuan is! The provincial capital is so big, and while I was worrying about losing things or being dismissed by people, Yunxuan stayed calm, speaking confidently wherever we went. She even sold her food to a state-run restaurant! Can you believe how capable she is?”

Xiao Jun was both surprised and proud. “Yunxuan, you’re incredible! I only managed to sell to our factory, and you’ve already reached the provincial capital!”

Shen Yunxuan laughed. “It’s nothing! Once we were there, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try. Worst case, it doesn’t work out, and we move on. Remember this for our business: be thick-skinned, smile more, and prioritize customer satisfaction. That’s the secret to thriving in business.”

“Customer satisfaction leads to thriving business! We’ll follow your lead!”

Coincidentally, Xiao Jun’s eldest brother had a classmate skilled in packaging. They ordered glass jars with beautifully printed labels to package the products, branding them under the name “Wuyou” (Worry-Free). This elevated the presentation, allowing them to charge higher prices.

After preparations, Xiao Jun delivered the products to the provincial capital himself, staying an extra day to gauge feedback. When he returned, he was elated. The state-run restaurant’s sales went well, and they placed another order. Following Shen Yunxuan’s example, Xiao Jun used the jars to pitch to government offices and factories, securing two more orders.

Determined to solidify these connections, Xiao Jun planned to make frequent trips to the provincial capital. In his absence, Xiao Zhijun temporarily took over the local stall, cycling around town to sell their products.

Some acquaintances teased him. “Chef Xiao, you were a head chef at a state-run restaurant—how prestigious! Why are you out here hawking goods?”

Though Xiao Zhijun initially felt uneasy, he remembered Shen Yunxuan’s advice about prioritizing customers. Smiling, he replied, “Prestige doesn’t fill your stomach. I enjoy cooking, and seeing people love my food makes me happy. Ah, another customer! Excuse me, gotta go.”

He warmly greeted the new customer, helping them pack tea eggs and pastries. By the time he collected payment, his discomfort had evaporated—he earned his money honestly, and others’ opinions didn’t matter.

Yu Hong and Xiao Jun’s sister-in-law faced similar challenges. Both had enviable jobs but now found themselves on the streets selling goods. Yet they quickly adapted, greeting everyone cheerfully. The profits they counted every evening made the judgmental stares insignificant.

Even Xiao Jun’s eldest brother, a teacher, brushed off teasing remarks at school, focusing on teaching and seizing every opportunity to excel. The school principal, seeking to repay Shen Yunxuan’s kindness, proposed creating a new position to the education bureau. When approved, he promoted Xiao Jun’s eldest brother to Grade Leader, a position for which he was well-qualified.

Upon hearing this back in the village, the locals were baffled, while the Xiao family quietly prospered, preparing for their next big move!

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆