Ch 92: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

In this era, making a movie didn’t take long. The films Shen Yunxuan invested in premiered in Jianlin City almost immediately, drawing large crowds of locals who eagerly attended. After the screenings, the streets buzzed with chatter about the movies and Shen Yunxuan, creating a festive atmosphere even livelier than the New Year celebrations.

“Hey, did you see the movie? The one invested in by Director Shen?”

“Of course! How could I miss it? She’s from our city! Director Shen is amazing, even making movies now.”

“They say investing in a movie is even more impressive than being the lead actress. Imagine—just a year ago, she was a village girl. Now, she’s this incredible figure who’s even been to the capital and climbed the Great Wall!”

“Did you notice the Wuyou canned food in the movie? It’s what they brought to the hospital!”

“That just proves how high-class Wuyou products are—they even show up in films!”

People didn’t realize this was product placement; they simply believed anything appearing in a movie had to be of exceptional quality. Just like the Phoenix bicycles and Seagull watches featured, Wuyou canned food became a symbol of excellence.

The movie performed exactly as Shen Yunxuan remembered—a massive hit that captivated audiences nationwide. Orders for Wuyou products flooded in, leading to the factory expanding its operations by twofold and hiring a significant number of new workers. Soon, Wuyou products were stocked in supply cooperatives across most major cities, cementing the brand as a household name.

While Shen Yunxuan hailed from Jianlin City, her rapid rise made her seem almost untouchable, someone revered like the prominent figures often described in news articles or legends. People encountering her were often too nervous to even greet her, unsure of where to place their hands or feet in her presence.

For instance, the village head who once sat beside her collecting eggs now had to book an appointment through her secretary just to discuss selling chickens and eggs from the village to her factory. When he finally met with her, his nervousness was evident as he sat stiffly upright.

Shen Yunxuan, however, greeted him warmly. “Village Chief Lin, you must be tired from traveling so far. Have some tea and relax. What brings you here today?”

Reassured by her familiar kindness, he relaxed slightly and explained, “Director Shen, the villagers know your factory needs chickens, eggs, and chili peppers. They’ve prepared quite a lot, but they’re worried—what if you stop purchasing? They’ll be stuck with all these goods. So, we’re hoping you could sign a contract with us.”

“That’s no problem at all,” Shen Yunxuan replied immediately. “Contracts are the right way to go. Let me have my secretary draft one now.”

The village chief was stunned. He’d rehearsed countless arguments, but the matter was resolved in an instant. “You—you agree just like that?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Shen Yunxuan said with a smile. “The factory needs raw materials, and I’d prefer to support our villagers. But I’ll need your help ensuring quality standards are met. This time, we won’t specify quantities—whatever the village can supply, we’ll purchase for the next three years. After that, we can reassess and decide on fixed quantities.”

A contract to buy whatever they could produce for three years? This was a game-changer for the villagers, guaranteeing their efforts wouldn’t go to waste. Overcome with gratitude, the village chief shook her hand repeatedly, thanking her profusely.

When he returned to the village, beaming with pride and carrying a bag of Wuyou canned goods as a gift, the news spread like wildfire.

“Everyone, listen! Director Shen has agreed to a contract—whatever we produce over the next three years, Wuyou Foods will buy! She’s really looking out for us!”

The villagers were initially stunned but quickly erupted into cheers. To them, this was like a goldmine appearing at their doorstep—a guaranteed path to prosperity. It was like manna from heaven, all thanks to Shen Yunxuan’s hometown roots.

“Truly, she’s a phoenix that soared out of our village. So successful, yet she hasn’t forgotten us. What a kind and generous heart!”

“They say, ‘When one prospers, all benefit.’ Isn’t this exactly that? If only we’d supported her earlier—maybe she’d have helped us even more now.”

“Honestly, the Shen family must be blind! They mistreated such an incredible daughter, forcing her to cut ties with them. If they hadn’t, they’d be living like royalty by now!”

“This just proves that good fortune doesn’t belong to unworthy households. The Xiao family, on the other hand, truly has good fortune. They supported Shen Yunxuan from the start, even quitting their jobs to help her sell goods. Look at them now—all living in those beautiful new houses!”

“And the Shen family? They must be dying of envy. Serves them right! Let’s all keep our distance from them—Director Shen treats us well, so we shouldn’t cozy up to her ungrateful family.”

“If the Shen family hadn’t driven Yunxuan away, she might have thrived right here in our village and led us all to prosperity. It’s the Shen family who delayed everyone from making money. From now on, we shouldn’t buy anything from them,” someone commented.

Shen Yunxuan had already anticipated how the village would react. It was human nature. She wouldn’t go out of her way to seek revenge, but if opportunities to make a statement presented themselves, she wouldn’t miss them. By offering such benefits to the villagers, she knew they would naturally ostracize the Shen family. The past mistreatment she endured would eventually rebound on the Shen family themselves.

The Shen family, ever conscious of their reputation, declared that they didn’t care whether their goods were accepted or not when they overheard plans to boycott their produce. Villagers quickly stepped up to witness the statement, ensuring the Shen family couldn’t take back their words later.

Despite their pride, the Shen family grew anxious about their future income. They had only ever relied on farming, but with the rest of the village prospering under Shen Yunxuan’s influence—selling goods or starting small businesses—they felt left behind and frustrated. To make matters worse, Shen Yunxuan’s fame meant no one wanted to buy from them, effectively blocking any path for them to do business. The family found themselves struggling, as if suffocating from their own decisions to sever ties with Shen Yunxuan.

Meanwhile, Shen Xuewei overheard the Xing family celebrating with joy. They were thrilled that Shen Yunxuan would now purchase chickens, eggs, and even green onions and garlic from them. Mother Xing spoke about planting more to sell.

Shen Xuewei found it laughable. She had been reborn and yet was stuck watching her in-laws depend on someone she had personally thrown into the “fire pit.” She had thought stealing Shen Yunxuan’s supposedly bright future and giving her a ruined life was her triumph. Yet, Shen Yunxuan’s current life was far better than hers.

All Shen Xuewei had gained was a position as a battalion commander’s wife. She ate and dressed worse than she did before her marriage, endured frequent slights, and had none of the benefits she imagined a military wife would enjoy. Life felt unbearably hard.

One day, out of frustration, she told her eldest brother-in-law, “Brother, we’re running a chicken farm to become big merchants, right? The city has so many people. Why not go sell directly there? You can strike deals with factories, supply cooperatives, and state-run restaurants. The prices would surely be better than what Shen Yunxuan offers.”

Xing’s eldest brother, a simple farmer who had rarely even been to the city, felt out of his depth. The mere thought made him shrink back in insecurity. Annoyed by Shen Xuewei’s persistent suggestions, he snapped, “We sell what we can right here. Why complicate things? If the chickens die or the eggs break on the way to town, will you take the loss? You don’t know a thing and still feel the need to meddle!”

Xing’s sister-in-law rolled her eyes. “Why do you always meddle? You always think you’re so smart. Look at your sister—she’s a big shot now. And you? What can you even do?”

Furious, Shen Xuewei retorted, “Wasn’t it my idea to start the chicken farm? And wasn’t it my idea for your second brother to sell electronic watches?”

Xing’s sister-in-law raised her voice. “So what? You think we couldn’t figure that out on our own? Other families raise chickens too. You’re not a genius for thinking of it! And all you did was come up with the idea, yet you demand a share of the profits. You’ve got some nerve, huh? No work, no money—plain and simple!”

“You’re unreasonable! We agreed on a ten-percent share, and now you’re reneging on it?” Shen Xuewei shouted back, her voice rising in frustration. Since Xing Kai wouldn’t let her do business, she thought she could rely on these ideas to make money effortlessly. But now, even this plan was falling apart.

Their argument escalated, with Xing’s second sister-in-law siding against Shen Xuewei. The stress caused Shen Xuewei to clutch her belly in pain, nearly fainting. Alarmed, the family rushed her to the hospital, where she labored for an entire day and night before giving birth to a boy.

The boy weighed five and a half pounds. Xing’s mother, holding the newborn, frowned and complained, “I told you to eat more, but you wouldn’t listen. Look at how skinny my grandson is! Just yesterday, Wang’s daughter-in-law gave birth to an eight-pound boy. What kind of mother starves her own child like this?”

Shen Xuewei gritted her teeth and explained, “A bigger baby is harder to deliver and risks complications. It’s better for the baby to be smaller at birth. He’ll gain weight quickly on formula.”

“What nonsense is this? Deliberately starving a baby to make delivery easier? I’ve never heard of such a thing in the village. We’ve had so many kids here, and not one has ever done something like that!” Xing’s mother, exasperated, grabbed a nurse passing by. “Nurse, is what she’s saying even true?”

The young nurse shook her head. “I’ve never heard of such a thing. Everyone worries about babies lacking nutrition and tries to ensure they’re well-fed. This is the first I’ve heard of keeping a baby small on purpose.”

Shen Xuewei’s face darkened. “Just because you don’t know doesn’t mean I’m wrong. You should read more books and continue your education. If you did, you’d know I’m right.”

Humiliated in front of the entire ward, the young nurse, with tears in her eyes, retorted, “You think you know more than medical professionals? Why don’t you become a nurse yourself?” With that, she stormed off.

The people in the hospital room naturally believed the nurse over Shen Xuewei, pointing fingers at her. Xing’s mother scolded Shen Xuewei again and demanded she breastfeed the baby. However, Shen Xuewei refused, claiming breastfeeding would cause sagging and hinder her body’s recovery. Instead, she insisted on using formula, which infuriated Xing’s mother so much that her face turned blue as she cursed her out.

Shen Xuewei felt utterly aggrieved. She was convinced she was right, but with no evidence to back her claims, her frustration grew.

Mother Xing, still furious, told Shen Xuewei that since she wasn’t breastfeeding, all the good food should be saved for the baby, and there was no need to provide her with nourishing meals. Forced to lower her pride, Shen Xuewei turned to her maternal family for help. Her mother, Fang Fang, took care of her, bringing her meals to replenish her strength.

Having given birth to a son, Shen Xuewei regained her confidence in front of her family. After all, this was the battalion commander’s son and shared blood ties with the Shen family, symbolizing new hope for them. It was as though she had dangled a carrot in front of her family, keeping them hopeful and cooperative.

The Shen family, desperate for a way out, reconciled with Shen Xuewei. They began delivering home-cooked meals to the Xing household and helping her with chores. Fang Fang even stayed overnight at the Xing home to care for the baby. The baby was particularly fussy, leaving Fang Fang looking ten years older by the end of the postpartum month.

One day, while Fang Fang was venting her exhaustion, Shen Xuewei chuckled and said, “They say the youngest son is always the most cherished. Xing Kai’s two older children are already teenagers, and he hardly sees them. But this little one will grow up with him, and Xing Kai will dote on him the most. As the child’s relatives, you can be sure Xing Kai will respect and care for you in the future.”

Fang Fang nodded, her mood lightening. “Well, I’ll be waiting for my son-in-law to honor me. At least you’re sensible, unlike your heartless elder sister. She’s doing well but ignores our plight, spreads rumors about us, and leaves us no way to live.”

Tears welled in Fang Fang’s eyes as she spoke, painting herself as a victim. Shen Xuewei didn’t care much about her family’s complaints but found it unbearable to see Shen Yunxuan thriving—it reminded her of her own poor choices and reinforced that Shen Yunxuan was superior. Holding her son, she said, “Mom, stop crying. Look at her now—successful, sure, but she hasn’t gotten pregnant yet, right? She overshadows Xiao Jun in everything, and I’ve heard he’s unhappy, running around doing construction work and even traveling far from home to avoid her. How can they have a child in such circumstances?

“Just wait. As she ages, she’ll start panicking and realize how important her family is. When she comes back begging for your help, you can hold your ground and make her pay for it. When Shen Jie grows up and has children, we can even have one of them inherit her Wuyou Food Factory.”

Fang Fang’s eyes lit up, finding Shen Xuewei’s words unusually insightful. She could almost see the bright future ahead and hugged Shen Xuewei, laughing as they played with the baby.

Both of them indulged in their fantasies, believing they had finally found a way to surpass Shen Yunxuan. Yet Shen Xuewei failed to realize how pitiful it was to pin her hopes on having a son as her sole achievement in this lifetime.

Coincidentally, Shen Yunxuan, feeling unwell, went to the hospital for a checkup and discovered she was two months pregnant. To add to the joy, her sister-in-law was also three months pregnant. The entire Xiao family was ecstatic, treating the two pregnant women like delicate treasures, ensuring their care and safety. These were the long-awaited grandchildren of the Xiao family, and although they hadn’t been pressuring anyone, their delight was uncontainable now.

Yu Hong happily remarked, “These babies are so considerate. They waited until we had settled down, made money, and built new homes before deciding to arrive. They’ll be born into comfort and happiness.”

Xiao Zhijun nodded. “Double the joy! It’s a great blessing. Just this morning, I saw magpies—a good omen! You both must rest well. If you need anything, just call. We’re all here for you, and there’s no need to tire yourselves out.”

Shen Yunxuan and sister-in-law Xiao agreed, exchanging smiles. Sister-in-law Xiao felt even closer to Shen Yunxuan, believing her to be a person of great fortune. She thought about how the Shen family had mistreated Shen Yunxuan and now faced worsening fortunes, while the Xiao family had prospered by treating her well. After years of being childless, she was now pregnant soon after growing close to Shen Yunxuan.

To express her gratitude, sister-in-law Xiao gifted Shen Yunxuan a gold bracelet. Though Shen Yunxuan tried to decline, she eventually accepted, amused by sister-in-law Xiao’s belief in her luck. In return, she gave sister-in-law Xiao a gold necklace, which sister-in-law Xiao treated as a protective charm, wearing it every day with joy.

Sister-in-law Xiao, feeling healthy, continued managing the general store but hired an extra hand to ease her workload. Shen Yunxuan, on the other hand, decided to take a break. Over the past year, she had worked tirelessly to seize opportunities, build her brand’s reputation, and expand into untapped markets. With her brand now established nationwide, she knew it was time to slow down, consolidate her gains, and strengthen her foundation. She also planned to use this time to develop new products.

The reputation of a brand increases with its variety of products, leading to better market penetration and dominance.

Another movie featuring Wuyou Food was released, further boosting the brand’s visibility. The provincial military district, impressed by their successful partnership, promptly renewed their supply contract. Additionally, several other military districts selected Wuyou Food Factory as their supplier.

Wuyou Food Factory officially became one of the military’s food suppliers, a significant achievement that elevated the brand’s status. When this news became public, people were astonished and increasingly recognized the brand as top-tier. They reasoned that if the military trusted the factory, its products must be exceptional.

The factory received even more orders, creating a positive feedback loop, just as Shen Yunxuan had envisioned.

A team of reporters from the capital came to interview her. While there were other entrepreneurs in the capital, none had risen from nothing to achieve such rapid success. Shen Yunxuan had become a legend, sparking discussions with every bold move she made, prompting the team to produce a feature story about her.

However, upon arriving at the train station, the reporters were taken aback. The bustling scene before them—lined with street carts and vendors—resembled the capital, far removed from their expectations of a small city.

They recognized one of the tea egg vendors from a previous report and approached him. “Comrade, aren’t you the one who used to sell on the ground? Now you have a cart. This setup with a stall attached looks quite practical.”

The young vendor straightened up proudly. “Yes, that’s me! I saved up some money and followed Brother Xiao’s example by getting a stall cart. A lot of us did—it’s convenient and saves a lot of effort.”

“Brother Xiao? You mean Xiao Jun, Factory Director Shen’s husband?”

“That’s right! Brother Xiao isn’t working at the factory anymore; he’s building houses now. He’s incredible—there’s no house he can’t build.”

The reporters exchanged glances, intrigued by this new information. Why had Xiao Jun left his position as deputy factory director to build houses? These questions would be perfect for their interview with Shen Yunxuan. After buying a few tea eggs, they casually asked, “Are you still working for Wuyou Food Factory?”

The vendor replied proudly, “I used to, but now I run my own business. Sister-in-law Shen said this is a great era, full of opportunities, and if you have the skills, you should try working for yourself. She encouraged me to take the chance, and I’ve been doing really well thanks to her advice!”

“Is that so? Factory Director Shen thinks this way?” The reporters hadn’t expected Shen Yunxuan to encourage her employees to start their own businesses, let alone make such bold statements about opportunity. It was becoming clear why she was the first entrepreneur of her kind in the country.

Eager to meet her, the reporters took photos at the train station and headed for Wuyou Food Factory. Along the way, they spotted more street vendors—some stationary, others mobile—and snapped countless photos.

Despite visiting many cities, they were struck by how this small city, recently upgraded from a town, had a business atmosphere that outshone many larger cities. Street vendors were everywhere, and the people looked vibrant and hopeful, as though the entire city radiated optimism.

Curious, they asked a few locals why they had chosen to run businesses. Were they not afraid of losses or policy changes?

The locals responded confidently:

“What’s there to fear? Factory Director Shen paved the way; we just follow her lead.”

“Exactly. Fortune favors the bold. If you’re afraid of everything, how can you make money?”

“Factory Director Shen said opportunities are everywhere. Not seizing them would be foolish. Back when she started selling eggs, many people laughed at her. And now? The entire Xiao family got rich following her lead. Sticking with Factory Director Shen is the way to go!”

Everyone spoke of Shen Yunxuan with pride and admiration, leaving the reporters astonished by her influence.

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