Ch 97: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

The letter accused Xing Kai of immoral conduct, failing to provide his wife with financial support, and allowing his unofficial ex-wife to move back into the family home with the intention of rekindling their relationship and living a polygamous life. It also accused him of shielding his father-in-law, a murderer, from justice, using threats and bribes against the victim’s family. Additionally, it stated that when his wife opposed him, he threatened her with “becoming a widow.”

Any single allegation in the letter could spell the end of Xing Kai’s career. The letter contained 30% truth and 70% exaggeration, painting him as utterly despicable. If anyone investigated, they might find traces of these issues, and even if Xing Kai claimed he was merely bluffing, who would believe him?

The most damaging part was the implication that Xing Kai, a soldier, might have acted like his father-in-law by sacrificing comrades as human shields. In the military, such an accusation could tarnish his reputation beyond repair. Forget promotions—he might not even keep his rank as a low-ranking officer.

When Shen Xuewei entered the room, Xing Kai grabbed her by the neck and pinned her against the door.

Shen Xuewei panicked, hitting him in a frenzy. Yet deep inside, a sense of fearless resolve arose. She kneed him hard, forcing him to step back, and coughed while clutching her neck. “I’ve written several copies of that letter and given them to different people. If anything happens to me, they’ll send the letters to major newspapers. Even if your father is a high-ranking officer, no one will be able to protect you!” she choked out.

Xing Kai glared at her with murderous eyes. “What do you gain from this?”

“You think I’ll let your family trample all over me without fighting back? Let me tell you, Xing Kai, kick that woman out immediately and file the papers for me to follow you to your station. I’ll take my son, but that woman’s two brats can stay here with your two-faced mother.” Shen Xuewei caught her breath and laid out her demands.

She had endured too much in her quest to become a military wife. Now she realized that divorce was almost impossible in a military marriage, and her position was secure. Why should she appease them anymore? She had fallen for the illusion of Xing Kai and Shen Yunxuan’s seemingly harmonious marriage from her past life, thinking that by enduring a bit, she could win his love and lead a happy life together.

But in hindsight, how could a man like Xing Kai love anyone? He cared only about his career. He didn’t even show real concern for his three children. Everything about him was a facade! Now that the illusion was shattered, she decided to live boldly. She had been reborn, which was already a bonus. What was there to fear?

Xing Kai hesitated. He wanted to punish Shen Xuewei and sever ties with her, but he couldn’t risk the fallout. Realizing there was no way out, he begrudgingly chose to compromise. Calculating and pragmatic, Xing Kai decided to prioritize his career. Bai Xiaoling’s dependence on him made her the expendable option.

After glaring at Shen Xuewei for a moment, Xing Kai strode out of the room. Moments later, Shen Xuewei heard Bai Xiaoling and the children crying—Xing Kai had sent Bai Xiaoling away.

The children burst into Shen Xuewei’s room and began hitting her. “You wretched woman! You drove our mom away! I’ll kill you! Go die!”

“Your son is a little bastard too! All of you should just die!”

Seeing them try to attack her baby, Shen Xuewei grabbed a stool and slammed it against their backs. “You brats! Since no one taught you manners, I’ll teach you today! Let’s see if you can learn to act like humans!”

Mother Xing rushed in, shouting for her to stop, but Shen Xuewei didn’t care and kept swinging. Mother Xing, scared, didn’t dare intervene and started screaming for help. Soon, the entire Xing family arrived. Shen Xuewei grabbed a pair of scissors and screamed, “Come on! Let’s all die together! If you force me to my death, I’ll haunt you all! I’ll make sure your family is wiped out! You’ll pay for this!”

The Xing family paled. Such curses were considered extremely ominous, especially for people guilty of shameful deeds.

Just then, Xing Kai returned. Mother Xing broke into loud sobs, but Shen Xuewei only yelled louder. “Your brats tried to kill me and my son! Do you want to know why I’m acting like this? It’s because your family pushed me to the brink! If I were weak, I’d already be buried six feet under. Blame your parents, your brothers, and your demon spawns!

“I gave you my loyalty, helped your family make money, and your mother withheld my wages! When I had a difficult childbirth, you left me alone in the hospital! Is your family run by Scrooges? Are you trying to torture me to death? Fine! Let’s see how you like it if I die. Xing Kai, your career will end, and you can go back to farming!”

Mother Xing stopped crying, and the others fell silent. They all turned to Shen Xuewei, asking what she meant. Xing Kai took a deep breath and explained the letter’s contents. This revelation made Xing’s eldest brother curse Shen Xuewei, but she held the scissors to her neck and declared she would drag Xing Kai down with her. They immediately quieted.

The Xing family depended on Xing Kai. They couldn’t afford to let anything happen to him. They tried to rationalize their behavior, arguing that their treatment of Shen Xuewei was just venting frustration. They claimed they hadn’t mistreated her, merely made her stay in the hospital because they didn’t want the Shen family interfering. How could she call that abuse?

Xing Kai listened to his family’s chaotic explanations, feeling utterly drained. He had fought on the battlefield and risked his life to earn the rank of battalion commander, with the potential to become a regimental commander within ten years. Most of his salary had been sent back home, yet all his family ever did was drag him down. For a fleeting moment, he wished he were alone.

In a commanding voice, Xing Kai ordered everyone to live in harmony moving forward. He announced his decision to take Shen Xuewei and their youngest son with him to the base, leaving the two older children in the care of their grandparents. From now on, he would send back 50 yuan monthly as financial support for his parents and children.

The family wanted to object, but Shen Xuewei refused to budge, and Xing Kai was too exasperated to argue further. This arrangement was final. The biggest losers were the two older children, who had just seen their biological mother return, only to be driven away. Branded as “vicious” by Shen Xuewei, they couldn’t understand why their father had beaten them so harshly after the incident, despite already suffering from Shen Xuewei’s earlier blows. Did their father no longer want them because he had a new wife and another son?

The entire family was upset, and no one comforted the children, leaving them crying in their room, resentment brewing toward everyone in the house.

Meanwhile, Shen Xuewei was victorious and had one of her best nights of sleep. The “complaint letters” were her ultimate safeguard. She knew Xing Kai wouldn’t dare provoke her. She wasn’t worried about Xing Kai destroying the letters either because she had never actually sent them to anyone. The one she had taken outside was torn up and thrown into the river.

Even she couldn’t say where the supposed letters were stored, so how could Xing Kai find them? Shen Xuewei wasn’t naive. If the letters ever made it into circulation, they’d become ticking time bombs, jeopardizing her position as a military wife. Her strategy was a classic “empty city ploy.” Xing Kai loved scaring people, so she decided to scare him in return—and it worked beautifully.

After smoking an entire pack of cigarettes to calm down, Xing Kai resigned himself to the situation. As long as he took Shen Xuewei and their youngest son to the base, things should stabilize. As for Bai Xiaoling, he decided to give her 30 yuan monthly out of his recent pay raise, which he hadn’t disclosed to his family. It would serve as compensation for her and their two children.

However, the peace lasted only a single night. Early the next morning, Xing’s eldest brother and sister-in-law went to feed the chickens and discovered that all the birds were dead.

Xing’s sister-in-law let out a scream and fainted. Xing’s brother inspected several chickens, confirming they were all dead, then fell to his knees, sobbing. When the rest of the family arrived, Xing’s second sister-in-law found that all the pigs had also died. Pale with fear, she couldn’t help but glance at Shen Xuewei.

The memory of Shen Xuewei’s curses from the night before lingered. Could this really be retribution? But surely withholding her share of profits didn’t warrant such a disaster, right?

When Xing’s sister-in-law regained consciousness, she immediately accused Shen Xuewei. “Was this you?”

Shen Xuewei smirked. “Maybe the heavens couldn’t stand watching you hoard all the profits, bullying me because I have no backing. You swallowed my share and treated me like dirt. Consider this a warning.”

Her gaze flicked to the frightened second sister-in-law, and she inwardly sneered. Xing’s second brother had made several trips to procure goods for resale but still lacked basic experience. She didn’t need to lift a finger; it was only a matter of time before he fell victim to train thieves, scammers, or unsellable inventory. With the fast pace of product turnover in this era, his lack of foresight meant he’d eventually lose money. She couldn’t wait to watch it all unfold.

Xing Kai inspected the livestock and concluded they had been poisoned with rat poison. The family wanted to confront Shen Xuewei, but she denied any involvement, and they had no evidence. Fearful of her complaint letters, they didn’t dare press the issue. The house was filled with cries of anguish, and the animosity within the family reached its peak. Living under the same roof was no longer feasible.

Xing Kai secretly gave Bai Xiaoling 100 yuan and urged her to take care of the two children. He then left for the base with Shen Xuewei and their youngest son. He planned to finalize the transfer paperwork once there, hoping to escape the chaos at home. He also quietly compensated his eldest brother and parents with 100 yuan each, keeping this from Shen Xuewei.

However, this left him broke, which further soured his mood. His resentment toward Shen Xuewei deepened, extending even to their child. To him, this was the grandchild of a murderer and the offspring of a woman like Shen Xuewei. The mere thought snuffed out any paternal affection he might have felt.

What Xing Kai didn’t know was that Bai Xiaoling was on the same train as them. To her, Xing Kai was the best man she could ever have, and she wasn’t about to let him go. Especially now that guilt had driven him to offer compensation, Bai Xiaoling saw this as an opportunity to gain more. She had learned her lesson: the only things that truly mattered were what she could hold onto herself.

Meanwhile, Shen Xuewei began inquiring about Xing Kai’s salary. Seeing his reluctance to disclose it, she threatened to ask around at the base, even approaching his superiors if necessary. She insisted that as his wife, she should manage the household finances, citing her sharp business sense and ability to invest wisely without direct involvement to secure profits.

The two argued for a while, but Shen Xuewei, riding a wave of newfound confidence, managed to overpower Xing Kai’s attempts to assert himself, leaving him in an even fouler mood.

Shen Yunxuan learned about the Xing family’s recent troubles through the village chief. It began when Xing’s eldest brother tried to cover up the issue with the chickens, slaughtering all of them and attempting to sell them to the village chief.

The village chief found it odd. Xing’s eldest brother owned the largest poultry farm in the village, with over a hundred chickens, many of which were laying hens. Why would he suddenly sell them all? Moreover, his nervous demeanor made the chief suspicious. While the chief was questioning him, a neighbor from the Xing household arrived, mentioning the chaos at the Xing home the previous night and that morning. The neighbor overheard mentions of Bai Xiaoling’s return, rat poison, complaints, and threats of mutual destruction.

Alarmed, the village chief went to the Xing family to investigate. Naturally, the family denied everything, claiming it was just some arguments among the kids. But when the two children stepped forward and spilled the whole story to the chief, the truth came out.

Father Xing grabbed a broom and started beating the children, but they cried out with hatred, “Mom and Dad don’t want us anymore! You only listen to that stepmother. We’re bullied to death, and we can’t even tell the truth? The village chief is the most respected person in the village! Do you want us to lie to him?”

The children had learned not to fear confrontation from Shen Xuewei. Their boldness infuriated Mother Xing, who fainted on the spot. The village chief harshly reprimanded the Xing family and removed them from the supply chain of the Wuyou Food Factory. Xing’s eldest brother and sister-in-law immediately apologized and admitted their mistakes, but it was too late.

If the village chief hadn’t been cautious, the poisoned chickens could have caused a major scandal for the factory, potentially cutting off the village’s entire source of income. Hearing the severity of the situation, the villagers turned on Xing’s eldest brother, beating and berating him. It was unanimously decided that both the Xing family and Shen family would no longer supply the factory.

Xing’s sister-in-law sat on the ground wailing, “It’s over, it’s all over! If I’d known, I would’ve shared the profits with Shen Xuewei. How could she be so ruthless?”

She failed to consider that if they hadn’t been greedy and tried to pass off poisoned chickens, none of this would have happened. Xing Kai had already compensated them with some money, giving them a chance to start over. Now, they had lost everything.

Shen Yunxuan hadn’t anticipated the Xing family turning on one another. In her previous life, the family had been united, as she had taken all the children with her to the base, sent money home regularly, and maintained a harmonious relationship on the surface. Her act of catching a child trafficker had even earned her respect both inside and outside the family.

Back then, Xing’s eldest and second brothers were simple farmers. It wasn’t until a few years later, seeing the rise of wealthy urbanites, that they ventured into small businesses. However, lacking the aptitude for it, they barely made ends meet. Later, Xing Kai had supported them financially, helping their children study, learn skills, and find jobs, earning their gratitude—or at least superficial harmony.

This time, both Shen Yunxuan and Shen Xuewei’s rebirth had altered the course of events, impacting their in-laws and birth families the most. Shen Yunxuan hadn’t expected the Xing family to descend into such chaos, with everything spiraling downward. While the village chief didn’t uncover the complaints, Shen Yunxuan surmised that Shen Xuewei had gained the upper hand, forcing Xing Kai to take her and their youngest child while leaving the two older ones behind.

However, Shen Yunxuan didn’t approve of Shen Xuewei’s approach. For all her scheming, Shen Xuewei remained wholly dependent on Xing Kai, lacking any achievements of her own to command respect or recognition. It seemed a waste of her second chance. In such a promising era, hard work and perseverance could have paved the way for a successful life.

Shen Xuewei, however, was fixated on shortcuts, as if taking them was the only way to justify her rebirth. Their paths were fundamentally different, and Shen Yunxuan doubted they would cross again. She bore no grudge against Shen Xuewei; every attempt to harm her had backfired spectacularly, leaving her unscathed. But she had no intention of offering advice either—everyone had their fate. Respecting and wishing her well was enough.

With no interference from Xing Kai, Lin Yanwan’s case against the Shen family proceeded smoothly and caused a nationwide sensation. The 20-year-old murder case involved the death of the renowned factory director Shen.

The news spread like wildfire, covered extensively by major media outlets. Some writers published essays reflecting on how the Shen family’s mistreatment of Shen Yunxuan stemmed from such a sinister secret. They marveled at her resilience, likening her to a flower blooming beautifully despite harsh conditions—a symbol of inspiration.

The case added a legendary aura to Shen Yunxuan’s story, making her an admired figure. Many sympathized with her plight, rallied behind her, and supported Wuyou Food Factory, resulting in a surge of orders.

The Shen family’s crimes, now a national scandal, drew severe repercussions. Shen Weiguo received the death penalty, Shen’s grandmother was sentenced to 25 years in prison, and Fang Fang was given a 10-year sentence.

Public shaming of criminals no longer happened, but when the police transferred the Shen family members, angry citizens threw rotten vegetables at them. Along the route, countless people pointed at them, cursing them for their heinous deeds and for tarnishing the reputation of Jianlin City. The Shen family had once thought that being criticized because of Shen Yunxuan was the worst thing, likening themselves to rats crossing the street. Now they realized that was nothing compared to their current situation—they were the true rats.

They regretted it. If they had known this day would come, they would have treated Shen Yunxuan well, raising her like a precious gem. Then they could have enjoyed a life of comfort and prosperity. They truly shouldn’t have mistreated her.

As the Shen family looked through the crowd, they saw Shen Jie. Tears welled up, and just as they were about to call out, Shen Jie disdainfully threw a newspaper at them and shouted, “Shen Yunxuan and Shen Xuewei have already cut ties with you. Now, I’m announcing publicly that I’m severing ties too. I don’t have criminal relatives like you. From now on, I’m an orphan. Orphans are honorable. I have nothing to do with you anymore!”

The Shen family was shocked and heartbroken. No matter what, they had always genuinely loved Shen Jie. He was the only male in the Shen family, their hope and future. But now, with their heavy sentences—Fang Fang’s being the lightest at ten years, with no guarantee she’d even survive to see Shen Jie again—how could Shen Jie treat them like this?

They felt like a joke. The child they had loved most turned out to be ungrateful, while the one they had mistreated became the most successful and honorable. They had truly misjudged everything.

From the Xiao Family Restaurant, Xiao Jun and Shen Yunxuan observed the crying Shen family. Xiao Jun asked quietly, “Does it stir any emotions? They must be regretting their blindness.”

Shen Yunxuan smiled faintly. “Shen Jie and Shen Xuewei are exactly what they raised them to be. Any child they valued would have turned out the same. Thankfully, they didn’t teach me anything. I learned by being cautious, observing others, and figuring things out myself. What’s happening to them now is justice. I feel… relieved. They’re not my family, and that’s a good thing.”

In her previous life, she often wondered if she was the “good bamboo that grew from bad roots.” Why were the Shen family so despicable? This life revealed the truth: they weren’t her family at all. Over time, she had come to know the Lin family, who treated her with warmth and kindness. From Lin Yanwan’s stories, even her father, Shen Cheng, had been a good man. They were her real family—and she was grateful.

Xiao Jun took her hand, smiling. “I’m your family too, along with our child, my parents, my brother, sister-in-law, nephews, and nieces. You have so many who love you.”

“Yes, and that’s all thanks to you,” Shen Yunxuan replied, unable to help but smile.

Xiao Jun raised an eyebrow. “Why is it my doing?”

“Because you come with such a wonderful family. Isn’t that your greatest achievement?” she teased.

Xiao Jun gently squeezed her hand. “Oh, I see! You’re making fun of me! I have plenty of good qualities—let’s go home, and I’ll make sure you understand them all!”

Laughing and chatting, they left through the back door. Outside, many people were heading to witness Shen Weiguo’s execution, but they had no interest. For them, the Shen family was part of a closed chapter. Their current life was so beautiful that there was no need to dwell on unhappy memories.

Xiao Jun felt deeply grateful for his good family, which had given him an edge over others, including Xing Kai. That had led Shen Yunxuan to initially choose him for a fake marriage, which eventually became real. If his family had been a liability, he might never have had the chance to grow close to her.

Reflecting on everything from their first meeting to now, Xiao Jun realized that life often came down to decisions made at crossroads. Sometimes, without even realizing it, one might choose the right or wrong path, leading to completely different outcomes. Fortunately, he had chosen Shen Yunxuan—and the future looked bright.

At home, Shen Yunxuan and Xiao Jun discussed taking some money to reward the top three students in the city’s college entrance exams.

This was unprecedented—offering money as a gift? Students who placed in the top three would get money just for studying, before even starting work? Xiao Jun was surprised but didn’t object. He simply asked, “What gave you the idea to reward the top three?”

Shen Yunxuan chuckled. “It was originally part of my ‘reputation-clearing plan’ to counter the narrative that I was unfilial. But plans changed when the Lin family came into my life and turned everything around.”

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