Ch 98: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

The Lin family, much like the Xiao family, were kind, loyal, and deeply emotional. After losing 20 years of familial connection with Shen Yunxuan, they were determined to make it up to her in every way possible. As part of this effort, the Lin family, under the guise of being businesspeople from Hong Kong, accepted an interview to publicly expose the Shen family’s heinous crimes and the immense harm they had inflicted on Lin Yanwan, Lin Cheng, and Shen Yunxuan.

With this revelation, the Shen family was no longer seen as foster parents but as enemies who had killed her father! Public opinion swiftly turned, as people instinctively felt that one could never reconcile with someone who had killed their father. The focus shifted entirely, and no one accused Shen Yunxuan of being unfilial anymore. Instead, all the condemnation and anger were directed at the Shen family. People praised Shen Weiguo’s execution as just and celebrated the harsh sentences given to the Shen family as well-deserved and satisfying.

A carefully orchestrated public opinion campaign, originally aimed at tarnishing Shen Yunxuan’s reputation, was effectively neutralized. Although Shen Yunxuan could have handled it herself, she felt touched and happy that the Lin family had done so much for her and done it so well. For the first time, she felt the true strength of having a family.

It turned out that family could indeed be relied upon.

While the public was captivated by the tale of Shen Yunxuan’s legendary background, another major story emerged: she had given monetary rewards to the top three scorers in Jianlin City’s college entrance exams. The first-place winner received 2,000 yuan, the second-place 1,000 yuan, and the third-place 500 yuan.

In those days, 500 yuan was enough to secure a marriage in Jianlin City, and 2,000 yuan could buy a house. The news stunned the nation. The initial reaction was disbelief—was Shen Yunxuan so rich that she didn’t know what to do with her money? Why would she care about college entrance exam results? Why spend 3,500 yuan on strangers?

People in other provinces, especially those with high-scoring students, couldn’t help but feel envious. Why wasn’t Shen Yunxuan in their city? Only the top three students in Jianlin City received such a windfall—what incredible luck!

Debate quickly spread nationwide. Some criticized Shen Yunxuan, claiming her actions brought a “mercenary stench” to education, while others praised her for using a clever method to encourage academic excellence. The controversy and heated discussions brought even more attention to Shen Yunxuan and her food company, catapulting her to national fame once again.

This time, the publicity wasn’t just about the company’s name but about its substantial financial success. People across the country began to recognize Wuyou Food Factory as a top-tier national enterprise, and Shen Yunxuan as a highly capable businesswoman.

Business leaders soon noticed the brilliance of her strategy. It was a masterstroke of marketing for the food factory, elevating the Wuyou brand to new heights. As long as the company maintained its growth, it would be cemented in the public’s mind as a prestigious enterprise. Achieving such a profound impact with just 3,500 yuan was nothing short of genius.

Even the Lin family, seasoned in business, admired Shen Yunxuan’s move and took pride in her achievements. After all, she was their family, and she was exceptional.

In the wake of her example, a few other entrepreneurs followed suit, giving rewards to the top three students in their local areas. While they couldn’t replicate the same effect as Shen Yunxuan, it still served as a way to advertise their businesses. Meanwhile, Shen Yunxuan was firmly established in the national business community as a true visionary. No one dismissed her success as mere luck or a product of the times anymore; she had proven herself as a strategic thinker.

From selling eggs to rewarding top exam scorers, her journey had been a series of carefully calculated steps, each building on the last, leading to rapid and remarkable growth.

This initiative also marked the first time people began to see a direct link between education and wealth, especially in Jianlin City. Before this, children would often ask their parents what the point of studying was. Most parents, lacking broader perspective, would reply that it was for becoming a teacher, learning basic literacy, or getting a factory job.

In daily life, skilled laborers often earned more than college-educated workers, leaving children unmotivated to study. But now, students clearly understood that excelling in exams could mean earning enough for a house—an enormous incentive for families crammed into small living spaces.

Even the most short-sighted individuals began to realize that education could lead to real financial rewards. Soon, graduates from across the country were flocking to Wuyou Food Factory to apply for jobs. Shen Yunxuan hired a group of top-tier graduates, offering starting salaries of at least 50 yuan per month, compared to 25 yuan for skilled workers. This was the first time in a decade that people truly recognized the value of education and cultural knowledge.

Countless families began urging their children to study, seeing higher education as a path to transforming their lives. Many students found renewed motivation, setting their sights on university admission.

As Shen Yunxuan walked through the streets, elderly women approached her with gifts like eggs, joyfully saying, “Director Shen, my grandchildren have started studying hard thanks to you! They’re so smart, but they never liked school. Now they’ve finally realized the importance of learning—it’s all because of you. Thank you!”

“Director Shen, my son said last month he was done with school and wanted to drive tractors. Now he admires you so much and says he’ll study hard and get into college. Thank you!”

Shen Yunxuan received countless expressions of gratitude, far beyond her expectations. Initially, her intention was to promote her food factory and suppress the negative press surrounding the Shen family. She hadn’t anticipated that this initiative would inspire students and parents so profoundly in this era.

Surrounded by gratitude and warmth from the people, Shen Yunxuan felt deeply touched. At the same time, she reminded herself that as someone reborn with decades of foresight, every action she took could have significant consequences for others. The higher her position, the greater her influence. She resolved to think carefully before making any decisions in the future.

Thankfully, this time the impact was positive, sparking enthusiasm for education. However, she couldn’t help but think about the potential harm if her actions had discouraged people from valuing education. In this era, studying was truly the easiest way to change one’s destiny.

This newfound fame not only boosted Shen Yunxuan’s reputation but also brought Jianlin City into the spotlight. For a small city to gain national recognition was exceedingly rare. In return, the city fully supported her, granting her every possible convenience. Wuyou Food Factory became the city’s leading enterprise, ensuring that Shen Yunxuan’s endeavors proceeded smoothly.

It could be said that every step she took brought about significant benefits, with no effort ever wasted.

The Lin family, seeing how well Shen Yunxuan was doing, realized she wouldn’t return to Hong Kong with them. Their business headquarters remained in Hong Kong, so they couldn’t all stay in Jianlin City. After discussion, it was decided that Lin Yanwan would stay while the others returned, maintaining frequent visits for business purposes.

Lin Yanwan decided to build a house next to Shen Yunxuan’s. Xiao Jun eagerly volunteered to help, rallying his brothers to build it according to Lin Yanwan’s preferences. Teasingly, Shen Yunxuan remarked, “You’re quite the charmer. No wonder they say ‘the more a mother-in-law looks at her son-in-law, the more satisfied she becomes.’”

Xiao Jun gently pinched her cheek. “And who am I doing this for? Isn’t it to make you happy?”

Xiao Jun understood Shen Yunxuan better than anyone, knowing that deep down, she longed for familial love. While the Xiao family had always treated her well, the pure motherly love from Lin Yanwan was different. Seeing how genuine Lin Yanwan’s affection was, Xiao Jun was more than willing to bridge the gap between mother and daughter.

Lin Yanwan, a successful businesswoman, conducted a market survey in Jianlin City and decided to open a factory. She brought in a few trusted assistants from Hong Kong to help her. This marked the first time an outside investor established a factory in Jianlin City, significantly boosting the local economy and demonstrating the city’s potential for development.

Despite her business ventures, Lin Yanwan devoted much of her time to preparing nutritious meals for Shen Yunxuan, putting her whole heart into caring for her daughter like the best mothers would.

When Shen Yunxuan went into labor, the last faces she saw before entering the delivery room were those of a worried Xiao Jun and Lin Yanwan. After a strenuous effort, she gave birth to a daughter. The moment Lin Yanwan saw the baby, she burst into tears, her hands trembling as she held Shen Yunxuan’s. “You’re safe, and that’s all that matters. Thank goodness you’re safe…”

The familial love Shen Yunxuan had always hesitated to embrace surged within her. She grasped Lin Yanwan’s hand tightly, her eyes moist. “Mom, don’t worry. I’m fine.”

Lin Yanwan froze for a moment, then broke into joyful sobs as she hugged Shen Yunxuan. “Good, good, that’s wonderful!”

Xiao Jun gently stroked Shen Yunxuan’s hair and smiled at her, finally exhaling in relief. During her hours in the delivery room, countless terrifying scenarios had crossed his mind. He realized then that Shen Yunxuan had become an indispensable part of his life. With the state advocating family planning, he decided to undergo a vasectomy, not wanting her to endure such pain again.

After hearing Shen Yunxuan call her “Mom,” Lin Yanwan joyfully visited Shen Cheng’s grave in Lushan Village, tearfully telling him that their daughter had finally accepted her. Her tears flowed as she lamented the unfairness of fate—her husband had been murdered, and while she had been reunited with her daughter, he had never even seen her. The thought broke her heart.

She didn’t say much about this, but Shen Yunxuan understood. She too often reflected on her father, who seemed to have been an outstanding man. If he hadn’t been killed, he would still be in his early forties and could have achieved great things. Sadly, he had died young, and even in two lifetimes, she never had the chance to meet him.

Believing in reincarnation since her rebirth, Shen Yunxuan decided to make frequent offerings for her father. If he had been reincarnated, that would be good; if not, at least he would have funds to use in the afterlife.

After her recovery period, Shen Yunxuan, Xiao Jun, and Lin Yanwan formally paid their respects at Shen Cheng’s newly renovated grave. The village chief and many villagers came to help, promising to maintain the grave regularly. Grateful for their support of Shen Cheng and Lin Yanwan during their struggles, Shen Yunxuan donated funds to the village as thanks.

This gesture deepened the villagers’ admiration for Shen Yunxuan. They spoke of her and her family only with praise.

While many value their legacy after death, Shen Cheng’s reputation had been beautifully restored in his hometown. The villagers mourned his untimely death and regretted that the family could never reunite. Even Xiao Jun shared this sentiment.

Back home, holding their adorable baby girl, Xiao Jun looked at her for a long time before saying to Shen Yunxuan, “Let’s give our daughter your last name.”

Shen Yunxuan froze for a moment and looked up at Xiao Jun. He smiled warmly and said, “We’re only having this one daughter. Let her take your last name, Shen. How about it?”

This was Xiao Jun’s way of giving Shen Yunxuan a sense of security and showing his desire for her to have even more love and happiness. Shen Yunxuan’s eyes turned slightly red as she smiled and teased her daughter, “Alright, she’s our precious gem. Let’s call her Shen Mingzhu (Pearl).”

When Shen Mingzhu turned one year old, Shen Yunxuan launched Mingzhu Food Company, specializing in children’s food products, from milk powder to snacks, focusing on delicious, healthy, clean, and safe options.

That same year, Xiao Jun established Mingzhu Real Estate Company, transitioning from a housing construction team to the real estate industry.

Their actions silenced those who mocked them for having only one daughter. It became clear that they were building these businesses for their daughter’s future. People began to realize that their daughter was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, destined to inherit a vast family fortune. From birth, she was already at the finish line for many.

Their example prompted many to rethink traditional values. Despite the promotion of family planning, many still secretly sought to have sons, often hiding to evade detection. However, Xiao Jun and Shen Yunxuan made people realize that daughters could also be outstanding, capable of becoming heirs, and worthy of love and investment. This change in perspective led some to shed their preference for sons.

At this stage, Shen Mingzhu was still just a toddler, learning to walk and eat, but her adorable and doll-like appearance made her a favorite among all. Xiao Jun’s mother, Yu Hong, loved making little outfits for her, dressing her up beautifully. Seeing this, Shen Yunxuan suggested, “Mom, why don’t you start selling children’s clothes? As people’s living standards improve, they’ll want the best for their children. Especially this generation, who grew up neglected by their elders—they’ll have a psychological need to compensate, showering their children with love through clothes, food, and everything else. Kids’ clothing will be a great business. Look at how well my children’s food products are selling.”

Yu Hong felt as if a whole new world had opened up. “You’ve got a sharp mind, Yunxuan! I’ll start researching this right away. Children’s clothes not only have to look good but also be easy to clean, durable, and comfortable. There’s a lot to think about. I’ll get on it!”

With her experience, Yu Hong quickly stocked her stores with children’s clothing and even created catalogs to send to business partners in major cities, securing substantial orders and entering the children’s apparel market.

As the country’s economy developed, merchants sprang up like bamboo shoots after the rain, competing to seize opportunities. To better capture the market, Shen Yunxuan opened branches of her company in the provincial capital, the national capital, and Haishi, employing the university graduates she had recruited. This era favored those with experience, capital, and brand recognition. With hard work, profits were virtually guaranteed. Even with multiple branches opening simultaneously, all quickly stabilized, began production, and generated revenue.

The dormitory buildings for her employees were all built by Xiao Jun’s real estate company, providing housing for workers. While some government agencies offered housing to university graduates, Shen Yunxuan didn’t follow suit. Instead, she provided generous bonuses, rewarding employees based on their contributions. The greater the contribution, the higher the bonus. Some employees had already used their bonuses to buy their own homes.

This flexible reward system attracted even more talented individuals. Bonuses weren’t a one-time deal—capable employees could make significant contributions repeatedly, earning substantial bonuses far exceeding the value of a single house. This approach created a virtuous cycle within the company, further fueling its growth.

People were amazed at how generous Shen Yunxuan was, casually giving out money, and often referred to her as a “rich lady.” However, they failed to see how much she benefited in return. The virtuous cycle within her company generated far more profit than the bonuses she handed out. Most people lacked her boldness or willingness to invest so much in their employees.

Following her example, the Xiao family also adopted excellent employee benefits in their businesses, recruiting many university graduates and ensuring robust development across all ventures.

Now, when Jianlin City residents talked about wealthy families, they unanimously named the Shen and Xiao families. Although Xiao Jun hadn’t married into the Shen family, since their daughter carried Shen Yunxuan’s surname, everyone naturally referred to them as the Shen family. No one in the city was wealthier than them.

The emphasis on education also deepened. People recognized that learning not only brought bonuses and housing but also opportunities to join the thriving Shen, Xiao, or Lin family businesses and advance to larger cities. These tangible benefits motivated parents to invest in their children’s education and inspired students to pursue their studies, seeing a clear path to success.

The mayor of Jianlin City repeatedly expressed gratitude to Shen Yunxuan, acknowledging her role in fostering this positive environment. She was considered a blessing for the city.

Meanwhile, Shen Jie, who had failed his high school entrance exams, couldn’t enroll in high school. Sitting outside Shen Yunxuan’s company, he waited for her. When she came out, he approached her pitifully and said, “Sister, have mercy on me. I can’t go on like this.”

Shen Yunxuan glanced at Shen Jie. He was emaciated, his skin tanned from exposure, and his hair unkempt and uncut. His appearance reminded her of herself when she had first been reborn—miserable and pitiful. But Shen Jie was already sixteen, an adult by the standards of the time. Coming to her to gain sympathy didn’t seem very appropriate.

Shen Yunxuan knew that Shen Jie had been spoiled and corrupted. He was a lost cause, a piece of rotten wood, who had bullied her countless times growing up. She felt no sympathy for him. She simply said, “If you can’t survive, join the army. They’ll feed and house you for free, and even if you leave the service later, they’ll provide you with a job. Plus, your brother-in-law can help look out for you. Go for it.”

Shen Jie panicked. “Sister, my second sister doesn’t care about me anymore! Please, I’m begging you! Just twenty yuan… no, five yuan will do! Please!”

“If your real sister won’t help you, and we’re enemies, why would I?” Shen Yunxuan replied with a faint smile before turning to leave.

Though she wore a smile, her cold, indifferent eyes froze Shen Jie in his tracks. He didn’t dare follow her. Deep down, he was a little afraid of her. The rest of the Shen family was in prison, and he was desperate. This time, he had come to her out of sheer hopelessness, hoping to test his luck since he hadn’t committed any truly heinous crimes.

But it was clear this path was closed. However, the suggestion she had made about joining the army was very feasible. After all, Shen Xuewei and Xing Kai were still his sister and brother-in-law. If, as Shen Xuewei had said, disowning family through a newspaper announcement had no legal validity, then they were still close relatives. What was wrong with an underage boy seeking shelter with his sister? And what was wrong with him trying to make something of himself in the army? Absolutely nothing!

The more Shen Jie thought about it, the more viable it seemed. He immediately decided to seek out Shen Xuewei.

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Shen Xuewei’s life wasn’t going well. When she first arrived at the military district, she enjoyed a brief period of comfort. Thinking she had Xing Kai firmly under her thumb—and that he would one day become a senior officer—she became smug. Her sense of superiority as a reborn individual came rushing out.

Most of the other military wives came from rural backgrounds and were initially warm and welcoming. But they gradually sensed her underlying disdain for them and began avoiding her.

Meanwhile, Shen Xuewei’s mind was preoccupied with making money. She didn’t notice she was being isolated. Using Xing Kai’s salary, she hired others to run small businesses for her, trying to replicate Shen Yunxuan’s path to success. But with Shen Yunxuan’s story widely reported and her methods imitated nationwide, Shen Xuewei couldn’t break into the market.

With limited funds, she couldn’t open a store or factory and ended up selling clothes at a market stall. She bought unsold, low-cost garments, altered them—adding waistlines or decorative elements—and resold them at a profit. Her keen eye for fashion allowed her to make money for two or three months. But soon, others copied her approach. Unable to buy cheap garments anymore, her profits vanished.

In just two or three months, Shen Yunxuan had already established her business empire. Meanwhile, Shen Xuewei’s small venture collapsed, leaving her frustrated. She kept trying different trades, but the more she struggled, the worse things got. Not only did she fail to make money, but she also squandered Xing Kai’s salary.

When one of Xing Kai’s comrades came asking for financial help due to a family emergency, Xing Kai discovered they had no savings. Worse, he learned that Shen Xuewei had alienated the other military wives. Furious, he told her, “I won’t indulge you anymore. From now on, you’ll get half my salary for household expenses, and I’ll manage the rest. You’re not cut out for business, so stop wasting money. Stay home, take care of the kids, and build good relationships in the unit. Stop dragging me down.

“If you’re not happy with this, fine. I’ll resign from the military, move home, and divorce you. Do whatever you want.”

Xing Kai had seen through her. She was vain and fixated on being an officer’s wife. As for her so-called “complaint letters,” if there was even the slightest chance of continuing her life with him, she wouldn’t dare expose them. Emboldened, Xing Kai used the threat of resignation and divorce to hold her in check.

Realizing her business ventures were failing, Shen Xuewei didn’t dare leave Xing Kai. She reluctantly agreed to his terms. With control of his finances, Xing Kai soon set up a separate home for Bai Xiaoling. Though he didn’t cross physical boundaries, he was effectively leading a double life emotionally.

Meanwhile, Shen Xuewei grew increasingly frustrated with her mundane life of childcare. Sometimes, she even thought her past life had been easier. At least she could do whatever she wanted, even if she had no money. But whenever those thoughts arose, she quickly reminded herself that money and status mattered most. If she wanted to be a regimental commander’s wife, enduring hardship was a small price to pay.

It was during this time that Shen Jie showed up. Seeing him, Shen Xuewei’s face fell. But Shen Jie didn’t bother with pleasantries. Instead, he directly threatened her: “Tell Xing Kai to get me into the army and ensure I’m promoted. If you don’t, I’ll die right here in your house! I’m alone and have nothing to lose. If you don’t want trouble, make it happen!”

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