Ch 137: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

“Father, I beg you, please don’t sell Erya. I can wash clothes, sew quilts, tend the fire, and cook. I can do all the housework. I will definitely save enough money for Jiayao’s studies.”

“Yes, Father, Xinghua and I only have this one daughter—she is our everything. As long as you don’t sell Erya, I will do whatever you ask of me. I… I’ll carry heavy loads at the dock, help build houses in the city, or hunt in the mountains. I will definitely bring back more money…”

Shen Yunxuan was awakened by the argument outside the window, her head aching. In her grogginess, she heard voices that sounded like her parents’. She was stunned for a moment. Her parents had been dead for decades—why was she dreaming about them now?

“Hmph! What? Are you saying you weren’t already trying your best to earn money? I knew you two were just idling away, raising a useless girl and living day to day without thinking about the family’s future. What life’s root? In two years, she will belong to someone else’s family. Only Jiayao is the true root of the Shen family—he is your future support. When Jiayao becomes a scholar or a government official, your days of enjoying fortune will come.”

Shen Yunxuan was startled awake by the old, stern voice. She frowned, got out of bed, and pushed open the window slightly. What she saw made her eyes fill with loathing and resentment—it was her grandfather. But as her gaze shifted, she saw the backs of a man and woman kneeling before him. Her eyes welled up with tears. She murmured, “Father… Mother…”

Shen family’s second daughter-in-law was standing under the eaves, cracking sunflower seeds. Hearing the movement, she glanced over and immediately spoke, “Oh my, Erya, you’re awake? Look at how careless you are! You fell and hit your head, making the whole family worried. You should come out and talk to your parents. They’re still trying to stop you from enjoying a good life. Working in a wealthy household is something many people would fight for. We’re so lucky that the opportunity came to our family. If I weren’t already too old, I’d want to go myself.”

Old Master Shen looked up at Shen Yunxuan. “Since you’re awake, go do your chores. Drag your parents back inside. They’re embarrassing us, making a spectacle for the neighbors.”

Shen Yunxuan only focused on her parents. She pinched her palm and felt a sharp sting—her heartbeat sped up. Had she been reborn after death?

She stepped out of the room, and her parents immediately took her hands, anxiously asking how she was feeling. Shen Yunxuan held their hands tightly. They were warm! She had really returned to the time when her parents were still alive. Her heart surged with emotions, and she reassured them, “Father, Mother, don’t worry. I’m fine.”

The second daughter-in-law of the Shen family laughed, “See? Erya is perfectly fine. She’s strong and healthy—how could a little fall hurt her? Luckily, her face wasn’t damaged. Otherwise, the Li family wouldn’t want her anymore. Erya, I’m not trying to lecture you, but you’re already fourteen. How can you still be so careless, falling down a hillside just from picking wild vegetables?”

Shen Yunxuan looked at her. This was her second aunt, the mother of the only male child among the younger generation of the Shen family. Because she had given birth to a son, she had the most authority in the family, never did any chores, and loved to boss others around.

Then, she looked around at the simple farmyard, where almost the entire Shen family was gathered. There was the strict, patriarchal grandfather who had the final say in everything, the timid and indecisive grandmother, the eldest uncle and aunt who always kept their heads down because they had only given birth to a daughter, and the second uncle and aunt who acted high and mighty just because they had a son. Finally, there were her own parents, the third son and his wife, who were constantly being ordered around because they, too, had only a daughter.

The Shen family was simple—two elderly parents had three sons: Shen Cai (Wealth), Shen Dong (Pillar), and Shen Fu (Blessing), all named with high hopes of prosperity, success, and fortune. Yet, none of them had achieved anything remarkable. They remained ordinary farmers.

Each son had one child. The eldest, Shen Cai, should have been the main pillar of the family, but after failing to have a son for years, he lost his authority. His family had become nearly invisible, going along with whatever the elders decided, avoiding unnecessary attention.

The second son, Shen Dong, was the craftiest. He had married a strong-willed wife and had a son right away, making them the most respected family members. Meanwhile, the third son, Shen Fu, and his wife, despite working the hardest, were constantly ordered around.

And now, after the grandmother had unknowingly helped a wealthy Li family matriarch in town and received a reward, the family had come up with an idea—they wanted to sell Shen Yunxuan to the Li family.

Old Master Shen thought it was the perfect plan. The Li family clearly had no interest in maintaining a connection with them and had simply given a token reward to end the matter. But if they sold Shen Yunxuan to the Li family, not only would they receive at least five taels of silver—enough to fund Shen Jiayao’s studies for two or three years—but since Shen Yunxuan would earn wages as a servant in the Li household, all that money could also be saved up for Jiayao’s future.

The same thing had happened in her previous life. Her parents had desperately refused to sell her, and in the end, Old Master Shen had relented, fearing that if the matter escalated, it would ruin the family’s reputation and affect Jiayao’s studies. However, after that, he and the second household never showed them any kindness again. Her parents, used to being suppressed, didn’t dare to protest and could only work even harder to earn money.

Who would have thought that the rope always breaks at its weakest point? Not long after this matter was settled, Shen Yunxuan’s father, Shen Fu, was killed by a tiger while hunting in the mountains. Her mother, overwhelmed by grief and in a dazed state, accidentally fell into the river while washing clothes and was already lifeless by the time she was pulled out.

Before Shen Yunxuan even had time to grieve the loss of both her parents, Old Master Shen sold her to the Li family.

The Shen family’s blatant greed left the Li family with great disdain. The only reason they even agreed to take her was because Madam Li had been publicly rescued, and accepting Shen Yunxuan was a way to repay the favor and maintain their reputation. However, the Li family believed that Shen Yunxuan was a bringer of misfortune who had cursed her parents to death, so they assigned her to the kitchen as a firewood maid, saying she needed to be “burned clean” of her bad luck.

Because of the Li family’s attitude, their household servants also ostracized her, treating her with mockery and abuse on a regular basis. To Shen Yunxuan, the Li household was nothing short of a living hell. From that moment on, she severed all ties with the Shen family and never saw them again.

Later, the Li family’s young master took a liking to the dishes she made. Upon seeing her in person, he found her appearance quite beautiful and took her as a concubine. Afterward, he purchased an official position as a county magistrate. His official wife suffered a miscarriage and could no longer bear children, so Shen Yunxuan ended up giving birth to his first son. Her status rose along with his, and people started addressing her as “Madam Li,” a woman of significant status in the county.

As time passed, the Li family’s young master and his wife both passed away, leaving her son to inherit the family fortune. He even passed the imperial exam and traveled to the capital to become an official. Shen Yunxuan followed him and became an esteemed matriarch in the capital. When she left her hometown, it was said that many people came to see her off, but she never paid attention to who they were.

The Shen family sought her out later, claiming that they were struggling to put food on the table. However, she never met with them. She never expected to see them again in such a manner, and for a moment, she found it difficult to process.

Hearing his second daughter-in-law’s words, Old Master Shen’s face darkened further. He scolded, “At a time like this, you go and cause trouble? Did you do it on purpose? Did you listen to your parents and decide you don’t want to go to the Li family?”

Of course, Shen Yunxuan didn’t want to go. She needed to find a way to save her parents’ lives. Just as she was about to speak, someone suddenly rushed into the courtyard.

“Grandfather! If Shen Yunxuan doesn’t want to go, I’ll go instead!”

Shen Yunxuan turned in shock—it was Shen Jiayao!

“Yunxuan” was the name she had chosen for herself after entering the Li household. Since becoming a concubine, she no longer had to cook daily, and with her free time, she had learned to read and write, eventually picking her own name. At this point in time, how could Shen Jiayao possibly know that name? Unless… Shen Jiayao, like her, had also been reborn!

Sure enough, someone noticed the unusual name. Old Master Shen frowned in confusion. “Who did you say? Shen what?”

Shen Jiayao nearly bit his tongue. He quickly corrected himself, “I was thinking of a classmate’s name by mistake! I meant Shen Erya. If she doesn’t want to go to the Li family, I’ll go instead. Grandfather, please let me go!”

Shen Dong and Madam Zhou rushed over to stop him. “Jiayao, have you lost your mind? You’re supposed to study and take the imperial exams to bring honor to the family! How can you go to the Li family as a servant? Did someone put these ideas in your head?” They glared at the other family members as if suspecting some kind of conspiracy to sabotage their son.

The eldest couple quickly waved their hands and stepped back, distancing themselves from the matter. This had nothing to do with them. Their daughter had been engaged six months ago, so she would never be sold. Naturally, they weren’t getting involved in the dispute between the second and third households.

Shen Fu and Wang Xinghua also looked alarmed and quickly denied any involvement. “It wasn’t us! Jiayao has been studying in the county. We haven’t even seen him these past few days.”

Shen Jiayao anxiously explained, “It has nothing to do with them. I don’t want to be a servant at the Li family—I want to be a study companion for the Li family’s young master! Grandfather, Father, Mother, let’s talk inside.”

Old Master Shen immediately rejected the idea, his face stern. “You don’t need to say anything more. It’s impossible! Why are you even here? Did you skip school? Get back there immediately! You only need to focus on your studies. You don’t need to worry about family matters. Second son, take him back right now and bring some meat to apologize to his teacher.”

Shen Jiayao looked around and saw that no one was eavesdropping outside the courtyard. He couldn’t hold back anymore and grabbed Old Master Shen’s arm. “I’m not learning anything useful at the academy! If I continue like this, I’ll never pass the imperial exams in my lifetime. I’ve done my research—the Li family’s young master is incredibly talented. The Li family has high hopes for him and plans to buy him an official position.

“If I can become his study companion now, my status will rise alongside his. I might not even need to take the exams to get a clerical position!

“Even if I do still need to take the exams, being by the Li family’s young master’s side will give me access to better books and more prestigious teachers. You have to believe me—I’ve been studying for over ten years. I know more about these things than anyone in the village!”

His last statement was a devastating blow, leaving the entire Shen family uncomfortable and inwardly self-conscious. However, it was also something Old Master Shen frequently said himself—that an educated grandson ought to know more than these illiterate farmers.

They didn’t fully understand what he was saying about the Li family’s purchase of an official title, but Shen Jiayao spoke with such confidence that they started to waver.

Shen Dong and Madam Zhou exchanged glances before speaking to Old Master Shen. “Father, maybe we should let Jiayao go? Worst case scenario… if it doesn’t work out, he can just come back. Being a study companion isn’t the same as being sold—he’ll still be able to return.”

Grandmother Shen hesitated, clutching her hands together and speaking softly. “But… the last time I spoke with Madam Li, she was expecting a maid. If we send a study companion instead, wouldn’t they refuse?”

Shen Jiayao looked at her and said, “Everything depends on effort. This is just a small matter—I’m sure Grandmother can handle it. Just think of it as doing something for your grandson’s future. You just have to sincerely ask for her help. Don’t be afraid, you saved her, so it’s only right that she repays you.”

Shen Jiayao glanced at Shen Yunxuan. But how could someone like her, who had lived in a deep and complex household, not see through his jealousy? He was deeply envious of her—so much so that it was obvious.

Shen Yunxuan found it amusing. What exactly was Shen Jiayao jealous of? Did he really think that in her past life, she had enjoyed luxury the moment she entered the Li family? Did he believe that the Li family had cherished Grandma Shen’s kindness and repaid her through Shen Yunxuan? He should think again. If Madam Li had truly been grateful to Grandmother Shen, why had she never reached out again afterward?

Grandma Shen looked troubled, her hands clenched even tighter. That day, she had simply seen Madam Li feeling dizzy on the street, and she happened to have some common herbs for revitalization in her pouch. She had quickly offered them for Madam Li to smell, but at the time, Madam Li’s servants and maids had scolded her harshly, scaring her into running away.

She never expected that later, the Li family would send someone to fetch her, saying they wanted to express their gratitude. Afraid to go alone, she had taken Old Master Shen with her, making quite a scene as they arrived at the Li residence. Madam Li had given her some money, and she hadn’t dared to say much or look around. Old Master Shen, however, had been dazzled by the Li family’s wealth and, shockingly, had asked her to plead with them to sell Erya (Shen Yunxuan) into their household.

Even back then, she had felt the disdain from the Li family—their servants looked down on her, let alone the masters of the house. Now, she was supposed to go back and make another request, an even more audacious one? How could she dare?

Meanwhile, Shen Jiayao was already flattering Old Master Shen. “Grandfather, don’t worry. Once I enter the Li household, I will dedicate myself to studying with utmost diligence. When Young Master Li becomes an official, I’ll take the imperial exams and surpass him—I’ll become an even higher-ranking official than him! By then, you’ll be honored as a grand patriarch, enjoying a life of luxury, and our Shen family’s name will be renowned far and wide.”

The mere thought of such a future made Old Master Shen smile uncontrollably. But then he saw Grandma Shen looking timid and hesitant, and his face darkened again. “Even a child is braver than you! What are you even good for? Forget it, I’ll go with you. If the Li family refuses, you’ll kneel on the ground and beg them. Do you understand?”

Grandma Shen didn’t want to, but under the harsh stares of Old Master Shen and Shen Jiayao, she lowered her head and agreed.

With that, the matter was settled. Madam Zhou glanced at the third household and said with a smile, “Well, now our third brother and third sister-in-law can finally be happy. Erya doesn’t have to frown anymore or fall down in protest just because she doesn’t want to go. Jiayao is truly kind-hearted—he cares about his younger sister. Seeing that she was unwilling, he chose to go himself. Erya, aren’t you going to thank your cousin?”

Her tone was laced with sarcasm, as if she were deliberately seizing credit for their family. Just like so many times before, they managed to twist things in a way that made it seem like the third household owed the second household a great deal.

A simple “thank you” could quickly smooth things over and bring an end to the matter. Shen Fu and Wang Xinghua were already used to this kind of manipulation and were about to say “thank you” instinctively.

But Shen Yunxuan was done playing their game. She furrowed her brows and said, “Second Aunt says Cousin Jiayao is doing this for me? Then wouldn’t that be unfair to him? I’d better go instead. When I get there, I’ll make sure to plead with the Li family to lend Cousin Jiayao lots of books to read. Or we could send my older cousin instead—she’s good at embroidery. In the Li family, she might learn even more and become a skilled seamstress!”

By dragging more people into the mess, Shen Yunxuan successfully disrupted their plans. Sure enough, Old Master Shen and Grandma Shen hesitated, and Shen Dong and Madam Zhou began considering the new possibility.

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆