Ch 142: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Old Master Shen put on a smile and stepped forward to greet them. “Village head, Third Grandfather, what brings you here? Is there something you need? Please, come inside and have a seat.”

The village head frowned as he walked into the courtyard, glancing at Shen Jiayao. “We did come to discuss something, but as soon as we arrived, we heard you were trying to marry off Erya. She’s only fourteen, isn’t she? Is your family really that desperate to get rid of her?”

The Shen family immediately sensed that something was off. Shen Cai hurriedly explained, “It’s not like that! Just some angry words, nothing serious. Erya has been misbehaving lately, talking back to her elders. And today, she even slaughtered our chickens on her own and wasted a bunch of eggs and white flour. We just scolded her a little.”

He shouldn’t have mentioned food. The moment he did, the rich aroma drifting from the kitchen caught everyone’s attention. It smelled amazing—was it really just chicken stew? Everyone in the village had eaten chicken before, but they had never smelled anything this fragrant.

Just then, Shen Yunxuan carried out a large bowl of stewed chicken, placing it on the table. She smiled and invited them warmly, “Village head, Third Grandfather, Grandma Wu, you came at the perfect time! Try my cooking and see if my skills are any good.” Then she turned to Shen Cai and countered, “I don’t accept what you just said, Uncle. I didn’t waste anything—I made delicious food to nourish my cousin. He’s about to—”

“Shen Yunxuan!” Shen Jiayao, tense with anxiety, cut her off before she could finish. He shot her a warning glare. “The village head is here for serious matters. Don’t cause trouble. Fine, fine, you’re not at fault. Now go get the bowls and chopsticks.”

The matter of going to the Li family wasn’t finalized yet, and he hadn’t secured his position there. He absolutely couldn’t let word slip out, and he especially feared that Shen Yunxuan might say something she shouldn’t.

Rolling her eyes at him, Shen Yunxuan turned and went to fetch the dishes, with Shen Fu and Bai Xinghua following to help.

The village head observed the silent battle of expressions between the Shen family members but said nothing. Meanwhile, Old Master Shen quickly tried to smooth things over, serving chicken to the village head and Third Grandfather. “Please, have a taste. Erya might not be good at much, but she sure knows how to cook.”

Third Grandfather had been suffering from a toothache and hadn’t had much appetite, but the aroma was too tempting. He took a bite and his eyes lit up. “Mmm! This chicken is tender and falls apart easily—perfectly stewed! And the flavor—so rich and fragrant!”

The village head took a bite as well and was equally surprised. “Erya has such a skill? This is quite impressive. Why haven’t you ever mentioned it before? Keeping all the good food to yourselves?”

Shen Dong blurted out defensively, “It’s not like that! It’s just that the food has been particularly good these past few days.”

Just then, Shen Yunxuan returned, carrying a tray of freshly steamed buns. She chimed in with a bright smile, “That’s right. My cousin is doing great things, so now that our days will be better, I finally feel like I can afford to use oil and salt properly in my cooking.”

Shen Jiayao’s expression changed instantly, but he wasn’t fast enough to stop her.

The village head was intrigued. “Oh? Jiayao is doing great things? In what way?”

Shen Yunxuan beamed. “It’s about that young master—”

Shen Jiayao’s face turned ashen. In a panic, he raised his hand and smacked her lightly on the head. “You talk too much! How can you discuss other people’s affairs so casually?” He then turned to the village head and laughed nervously. “Please don’t mind her. It’s just that I have a good friend from school who’s willing to help me out.”

Old Master Shen quickly caught on and nodded. “Yes, yes, that’s right! Jiayao has been improving in his studies, that’s why we’re saying he’s doing well.”

Their words didn’t quite add up, and both grandfather and grandson were visibly tense, sweat beginning to form on their brows. After all, what Shen Yunxuan was about to reveal was that Young Master Li’s position was bought with money—a detail Shen Jiayao had secretly gathered. If that information got out, it could cause a lot of trouble.

Meanwhile, Madam Wu stood up and pulled Shen Yunxuan over, inspecting her carefully. “Does it hurt?” Then she turned and sternly scolded Shen Jiayao, “What kind of man hits a young girl? What if you injured her? Erya is such a good child, and this is how your family treats her?”

The Shen family was stunned. Where did Madam Wu’s anger come from? Zhou Shi hurriedly stepped in. “Aunt Wu, don’t misunderstand! Who’s mistreating her? Erya, tell them—has our family mistreated you? Your cousin was just joking with you.”

Shen Yunxuan lowered her head, eyes reddening. “I don’t know if it counts as mistreatment. My parents and I do all the hardest and most exhausting work in this house. These past few days, they’ve been scolding me constantly. My parents even had to kneel and beg just so I wouldn’t be sold. If my cousin hadn’t said—”

“Enough! What nonsense are you spouting?!” Old Master Shen cut her off sharply.

But the village head frowned. “Selling? Selling where? Jiayao still has to take his imperial exams and establish his name. Do you not care about the family’s reputation?”

Old Master Shen quickly denied it. “That’s not true at all—”

But before he could finish, one of the onlooking neighbors chimed in, “So that’s what that big commotion was about the other day! I was wondering why Shen Fu and Bai Xinghua were crying and pleading for so long—it turns out they were begging you not to sell Erya!”

Old Master Shen’s face darkened. He was about to explain further when Madam Wu suddenly pulled Shen Yunxuan behind her and declared, “Such a good girl—if you don’t want her, I will.”

Old Master Shen was momentarily stunned, instinctively exchanging a glance with Shen Jiayao. Both immediately thought of the Wu family’s need for a bride to bring good fortune. So, that was why they had come here?

Shen Jiayao quickly weighed his options. Shen Yunxuan was sharp-tongued and had no filter, which was already annoying. But what was worse was the possibility that she might scheme her way into Young Master Li’s good graces. Tomorrow, he would be heading to the Li family. If he wasn’t home, who knew what she might do? She might even convince the elders to send her to the Li household, and then she would rise in status just like in his past life—stepping all over him in the process.

Comparing the two outcomes, the best choice was to marry her off immediately. Shen Jiayao spoke up eagerly, “Grandma Wu, are you here to propose a marriage?”

Madam Wu beckoned Shen Fu and Wang Xinghua over and said, “I’ve lived in this village for so many years, and I know these two better than anyone. They are honest, upright, and filial. Everyone in the village knows about my situation these past few days. At my age, my only grandson has gone missing. From my maternal family to my husband’s family, I am the only one left—a lonely old widow. I truly have no other choice…”

She couldn’t finish speaking, choking up with tears. The village head cleared his throat and continued, “Everyone knows what happened back then. Madam Wu’s relatives suffered because of the village’s troubles. For so many years, she raised her grandson alone and never once asked the village for anything. Now that she has no other options, she wants to adopt a child to continue the Shen family’s lineage.”

The Shen family was dumbfounded. This wasn’t about warding off bad luck; it was about adoption? Who was she adopting? And why were they involved? In their household, only Jiayao was supposed to carry on the family line.

A small crowd had gathered outside the courtyard, curious about the situation. Someone asked, “Madam Wu, who do you want to adopt? Are you choosing Erya? But she’s a girl!”

The village head pointed to Shen Fu. “Madam Wu wants to adopt Shen Fu. Since they both share the Shen surname, she wishes to adopt him as her brother’s son to continue the Shen family’s lineage.”

Grandmother Shen was the first to oppose it. “What? Shen Fu is my third son! How can he be adopted by someone else? He’s already over thirty, has a wife and daughter—how can you adopt someone like that?”

Old Master Shen’s face also darkened. “Village head, Third Grandfather, how can you support something so absurd? My family is doing just fine. We have no plans to adopt our son out. This matter is not up for discussion. You can leave now.” He turned to Shen Fu and slammed the table. “You ungrateful wretch! Why are you just standing there? Do you really want to be adopted? Disobedient fool!”

Shen Fu dropped to his knees, his voice trembling. “Father, I heard everything you and Mother said in the house today.”

He deliberately left out Shen Jiayao’s name because he knew how important a scholar’s reputation was. Shen Jiayao was the family’s hope, spanning three generations. He couldn’t destroy that.

Shen Jiayao’s face changed slightly. He hadn’t officially entered the Li family yet. If his reputation were ruined now, he would be finished! He couldn’t let Shen Fu or Shen Yunxuan reveal what they knew. Immediately, he took control of the conversation, saying, “Grandfather, as a junior, I shouldn’t interrupt, but this is actually a good thing! Third Uncle has always been filial to you. Even if he’s adopted, it only means gaining another relative. There’s nothing bad about it. He can even take care of Grandma Wu. We would all still see each other like before, wouldn’t we?”

Someone in the crowd outside chimed in, “Jiayao, let your third uncle finish speaking first. What exactly did he hear your grandfather and grandmother say?”

“Yeah, let’s hear it! That way, we can all help judge the matter fairly.”

Old Master Shen let out a cold snort. Was he not allowed to arrange his granddaughter’s marriage now? That wretch of a third son dared to rebel against him? His wings had hardened, and now he wasn’t listening anymore! But with the village head, Third Grandfather, and so many villagers present, he couldn’t let them find out he had planned to send Shen Yunxuan to the mountains. Otherwise, Jiayao’s reputation would be ruined.

Now that their family was about to rise, he couldn’t let these useless third-household members drag down his “heirloom.” But he was also unwilling to let the third branch be adopted elsewhere. He glared at Shen Fu and questioned him sternly, “Is this your idea? Do you no longer want to acknowledge me as your father? Jiayao is excelling in his studies and has a bright future ahead. He even plans to support you in the future. Do you really want to be adopted and sever ties with our family?”

He deliberately framed the situation in the harshest terms, using threats and enticements to put extreme pressure on Shen Fu. But Madam Wu wasn’t having it. “What are you doing? If you have a problem, take it up with me! Why are you bullying Shen Fu? There’s no outsider here—who are you putting on a show for? Everyone in the village has seen how you’ve treated Shen Fu like a workhorse all these years! And Xinghua—she was brought into this family in exchange for a bowl of food, and from the day she entered your household, she’s been laboring nonstop for years. And Erya—working from childhood to now! Is there anyone else in this village who’s been worked to the bone like them?

If you don’t value them, I do! And I’m not taking them for free. Twenty taels of silver—it’s their parting gift to you for your old age. From now on, let Shen Fu be my elder brother’s son. Do we have a deal?”

The entire crowd gasped in shock. Twenty taels! That was enough for a family to live on for ten years! Enough to build a fine house! Even the Shen family members were stunned—was Shen Fu really worth that much? He could never earn that much carrying heavy loads for a living. The first and second branches of the Shen family turned to Old Master Shen, thinking this was quite a profitable deal.

But Old Master Shen felt humiliated. Furious, he roared, “Do you take the Shen family for greedy people? We are a scholarly family that values propriety, integrity, and honor—we don’t sell our children!”

Third Grandfather knocked his cane on the ground. “Why are you shouting? Trying to win by volume? Who said you were selling anyone? That’s money for your old age—it’s a gift from Shen Fu, a final act of filial piety. What’s wrong? Do you actually care about your third son? If you do, then you should agree! The Wu family is better off than yours. Your third son would live a much better life with them. Why are you angry? If she wanted to adopt one of my boys, I’d agree without hesitation.”

The villagers all chimed in.

“He’s right! This is a blessing falling from the heavens! Madam Wu, how about considering my son? He’s a good worker!”

“Sister Wu, my second son is hardworking and filial, and he knows how to talk. Why not adopt him instead?”

Wang Xinghua lowered her head, clutching at her clothes. Suddenly, she broke down in tears, crying out, “Father! If you won’t allow this, then at least let Erya be adopted. Just don’t send her to the mountains—”

“Third daughter-in-law! What nonsense are you spouting?!” Old Master Shen grabbed a bowl and hurled it at Wang Xinghua’s head, striking her forehead and drawing blood!

“Mother!” Shen Yunxuan hurried to support Wang Xinghua, her expression darkening as she stared at Old Master Shen. The coldness in her eyes sent a shiver down his spine, making him feel as if he were being strangled. Instantly, he fell silent.

Third Grandfather stood up in anger. “Are you trying to put on airs in front of us?”

The village head was also furious. “If there’s something to say, say it properly. Why resort to hitting and scolding?”

Madam Wu pointed at Old Master Shen and scolded, “Don’t make me expose your dirty little schemes. If I do, your grandson can forget about setting foot in any prestigious family! Heaven watches everything—your family has never prospered in three generations because you’re utterly devoid of virtue!”

The scene descended into chaos. Shen Jiayao saw that Shen Yunxuan was about to speak and quickly shouted, “Enough! Grandfather, just say less! Have you forgotten that your lifelong wish is to bring glory to the Shen family? Your good days are right in front of you—do you really want to ruin everything now?”

No grandson had ever dared to raise his voice at his grandfather in the entire village. The noisy commotion abruptly died down as everyone turned to watch in shock.

Old Master Shen was also furious, but as he met Shen Jiayao’s fierce gaze, it was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him. His anger was momentarily replaced with clarity. If he continued arguing, all their family secrets would be exposed. The fact that Madam Wu even knew about Shen Jiayao going to the Li family meant that the village head probably knew about the plan to sell Shen Yunxuan off to the mountains too.

This could be a minor issue or a major scandal. In any other village household, selling children wasn’t unheard of—it just sounded bad but wasn’t illegal. But they were supposed to be a scholarly family. They weren’t destitute, yet they were selling their granddaughter to pave the way for their grandson’s future? Their reputation would be completely ruined. He absolutely could not let this continue.

He glared at Shen Fu with a vicious look, expecting him to do as he always had—admit fault first, thus ending the matter. But this time, Shen Fu, seeing his wife’s bloodied forehead, finally stood his ground. He knelt down and knocked his forehead against the ground three times, his voice trembling.

“Father, Mother, I am unfilial. I will make it up to you in my next life. Please, I beg you, let me be adopted. I can’t stay in this family for another day!”

The crowd gasped again. This last sentence carried too much weight. Just how bad were things in the Shen household for someone as honest as Shen Fu to say he couldn’t bear it any longer? Looking at Shen Fu kneeling on the ground, Wang Xinghua clutching her bleeding forehead, and their frail daughter standing beside them, the three of them seemed pitiful beyond words.

Someone in the crowd murmured, “Did all the money go to Jiayao’s studies? Did the whole family tighten their belts for him?”

“Doesn’t seem like it—look at the old man and the old lady. They’re doing fine. The eldest branch is doing okay too, and the second branch is actually living pretty well.”

“Yeah, now that I think about it, the third branch really does look the worst off. Standing next to the rest of them, they don’t even seem like they belong to the same family. I never noticed before.”

“This is too much! They’re just bullying the honest ones! And Shen Jiayao doesn’t seem all that decent either…”

The whispers grew louder and louder. Hearing himself being implicated, Shen Jiayao panicked and shoved Old Master Shen lightly, saying, “Grandfather, all these years, I’ve spent a lot on my studies, and Third Uncle’s family has suffered because of it. Now, being adopted into a well-off family is a good thing. Stop being so rigid—learn to adapt!”

Old Master Shen was backed into a corner. Whether he wanted to or not, he had to agree. He clenched his teeth so hard that he tasted blood before finally speaking.

“Fine. The adoption will proceed!”

The village head pulled out the already-prepared adoption document and placed it on the table along with Madam Wu’s twenty taels of silver. The sight of the bright, gleaming silver immediately caught everyone’s attention. Madam Wu stood tall and proud—she had done this on purpose. She wanted everyone to remember that Old Master Shen wasn’t suffering a loss—she was paying a full twenty taels!

But she also didn’t want others coveting her money, so she added, “When my grandson was taken away by an esteemed person, they gave me these twenty taels. I never spent it, thinking I’d save it for his future bride. Using it for this purpose today seems just right.”

The village head spoke sternly. “Everything must be made clear. Madam Wu is giving these twenty taels as an elder’s support for Shen Fu’s old parents. From now on, your family cannot use this as an excuse to meddle with Shen Fu’s affairs. Once the document is signed, Shen Fu will be Madam Wu’s brother’s son, continuing his lineage. If you agree, sign.”

Normally, the village head wouldn’t be so blunt, but Old Master Shen’s previous outburst had irritated him. Now, it almost seemed like they were forcing Old Master Shen to agree. But considering how secretive and shady they had been acting, the village head wasn’t going to give him any leeway.

No one in the crowd was foolish. The way the Shen family had kept cutting off conversations clearly indicated they had something to hide, and they had obviously been caught in their schemes. It served them right. The third branch had been living in misery—this adoption might actually be their escape from hell. Otherwise, why would they willingly sever ties with someone who was about to earn a title and status? Why would they willingly join an old widow’s household instead?

Seeing the villagers’ increasingly hostile gazes toward Shen Jiayao, Old Master Shen didn’t dare stall any longer. He grabbed the document, signed it, and stormed into the house without saying another word.

Grandmother Shen, however, continued to wail at Shen Fu. “Son, how could you be so heartless? How could you turn your back on your own mother?”

Madam Wu scoffed. “Weren’t you the one who first planned to get rid of your granddaughter? That’s what drove them away! I never realized—so soft-spoken all the time, yet you were the one suggesting your granddaughter get beaten into submission. Have you forgotten that when you were beaten before, it was your granddaughter who ran out to get help?”

Grandmother Shen froze in fear, her face turning pale. She stammered, “No, that’s not what I meant…”

Shen Jiayao, his expression ugly, shoved Grandmother Shen toward Zhou Shi and growled, “Enough! Go inside and stop talking!”

Zhou Shi didn’t fully understand what was happening, but she knew it was serious. She quickly pulled the old lady back into the house.

Shen Yunxuan didn’t want to stay in the Shen household for another moment. She urged her parents to pack their belongings, saying, “We’re freeing up a room for the family. In the future, cousin, when you get married and have children, you’ll have more space to use.”

The villagers murmured among themselves. The Shen family really hit the jackpot—no need to split the property when dividing the household, an extra room freed up, and twenty taels of silver in their hands. It was like money falling from the sky. But what exactly had happened to make the third branch take such a huge loss and cry to leave? The biggest event in the Shen family was Shen Jiayao’s studies—was there something wrong with that?

The village head and Madam Wu prepared to escort the third granduncle home, and the onlookers gradually dispersed. Shen Jiayao quickly shut the courtyard door. When he turned around, he saw Shen Yunxuan scooping a large bowl full of chicken. His anger exploded. “You still have the nerve to eat? Was this your idea?”

“Yes,” Shen Yunxuan admitted openly.

Shen Daya was stunned. “What’s in it for you? Are you insane? That family’s all dead. Aren’t you afraid of bad luck? Our family’s about to have good days ahead, and you don’t want to arrange a good marriage for yourself?”

Shen Yunxuan scoffed. “You didn’t hear them plotting to sell me to the mountains for money!”

Her words shocked the entire first and second branches. They had no idea. Seeing Shen Jiayao’s expression, they realized it was true. They were at a loss for words. Even if Shen Yunxuan had been causing trouble recently, selling her off to the mountains was too much.

Shen Yunxuan scooped two large bowls of meat and turned to the eldest branch. “Uncle, Auntie, in the future, when cousin has a child, you should bring one back to raise. After all, a child you raise yourself will always be closer than a nephew from another branch. Who knows, that nephew might sell you off one day.”

Old Master Shen stormed out in rage. “You wretched brat! Still trying to sow discord? I’ll beat you to death!”

Shen Yunxuan swiftly dodged a flying shoe and said coldly, “You are ruthless, so don’t expect me to be merciful. Pay me thirty taels of silver, or I’ll go to the Li family tonight and expose Shen Jiayao’s true nature. I’ll also make sure the academy knows how he schemed against his own sister. Let’s see how he ever passes the imperial exams!”

“You—you’re asking for death!” Old Master Shen’s face turned red with fury. He grabbed a stick and raised it high.

Shen Fu rushed in front of Shen Yunxuan to shield her. His voice was firm for the first time in his life. “If you’re going to beat someone, beat me. Kill me, and it’ll all be over!”

Wang Xinghua, holding a rope, ran to the main gate and cried out, “I’ll hang myself right here today! I won’t live anymore! Let our whole family die here!”

Neighbors started peeking over the walls again. Shen Jiayao clenched his teeth and shouted, “Enough! Give it to her!”

He glared at Old Master Shen. “Do you want to see my name ruined? Do you want the Shen family to be disgraced forever?”

The madness in Shen Jiayao’s red eyes frightened Old Master Shen. After a moment, he slumped in defeat, threw away the stick, and handed over thirty taels of silver to Shen Yunxuan. This included the twenty taels just given by Madam Wu. The extra ten taels came from a gift the Li family had once given in gratitude—otherwise, they wouldn’t have had this much silver on hand.

Inside the house, Old Madam Shen sobbed bitterly. Watching their money dwindle from forty taels to just ten, she felt as if her flesh was being carved away. Why had things suddenly turned out like this? Why was the third branch being so ungrateful? She wailed, “Son, you’ll regret this!”

Shen Jiayao was about to achieve great success. Surely Shen Fu would regret leaving when the time came.

Shen Yunxuan, however, was already leading her parents back to their room. She grinned, “The meat is still warm, Mom, Dad—eat while it’s hot. You need strength to move our things. Let’s hurry up and move before dark, or it’ll be inauspicious. Madam Wu is already heartbroken over her grandson. We mustn’t do anything that might bring bad luck.”

Hearing this, Shen Fu and Wang Xinghua, who had been overwhelmed with grief, immediately wiped their tears and ate heartily. Madam Wu was their benefactor, their only elder now. They mustn’t do anything that would sadden her.

Seeing them relax, Shen Yunxuan finally breathed easily. She had always known that breaking ties with the Shen family would be difficult. While she could have lived a carefree life alone, convincing her parents to leave with her was the real challenge. Thankfully, Shen Jiayao had made several foolish moves, giving her the leverage she needed.

Without leverage, the weight of filial piety would have kept them bound. But now, everything was settled. The entanglement with the Shen family was over.

Shen Yunxuan felt genuinely happy. As for Shen Jiayao, she no longer cared. She had no interest in exposing his secrets. He wasn’t a good person, and neither was the rest of the Shen family. The Li family wasn’t any better. Let them all fight among themselves—it had nothing to do with her anymore.

She was ready to start her new life.

Her happiness rubbed off on Shen Fu and Wang Xinghua. Their earlier defiance had been forced—now that everything had settled, their legs felt weak. They had never defied their elders before, never threatened anyone. But they had only one daughter, and seeing her so happy, they felt it was all worth it.

They had worked hard all their lives, all for the sake of giving their child a better future. As long as Shen Yunxuan was happy, they could be at ease.

Most of their belongings were old and worn, so under Shen Yunxuan’s decision, they only took bedding, pillows, two sets of well-fitting clothes, and a few important items.

Before leaving, Shen Yunxuan said, “From now on, we go our separate ways. I won’t bring up anything about your family, and you better not come bothering me either. If things escalate, you might not be the ones benefiting.”

With that, they walked out of the Shen family home under the ugly gazes of the Shen family members. Some curious villagers came out to watch. They saw Shen Fu carrying three thin quilts on his back, Wang Xinghua with a cloth bag over her arm, likely holding just a few clothes, and nothing else.

Everyone who saw them was shocked.
“That’s all they’re taking?”
“They’re a family of three. Just look at how poor they must have been all these years. Even their shoes are falling apart.”
“I never thought about it before, but the Shen family’s favoritism is way too extreme.”
“Well, sending someone to study is like throwing money into a bottomless pit. Who knows how many more years it’ll take?”
“I bet Shen Jiayao and Old Master Shen must have done something shady to make this all settle so quickly. Maybe we should ask Erya about it?”

Although they whispered among themselves, the road was narrow, and Shen Fu’s family could still hear them. Shen Fu and Wang Xinghua lowered their heads, feeling uncomfortable and uncertain. Had they made the right choice? Would they be the subject of gossip for years to come?

But Shen Yunxuan remained composed. She even declared, “I’ve changed my name to Shen Yunxuan. From now on, please call me Yunxuan. ‘Xuan’ comes from the daylily, the worry-free flower. I hope I can live a peaceful, worry-free life.”

The villagers were momentarily stunned before breaking into praise.
“‘Worry-free’ is a great meaning. Don’t worry, you’ll have a good life ahead.”
“How did you come up with the name? It sounds really nice.”

Shen Yunxuan smiled and replied, “I remembered it when I heard people reading. Later, when I went to the market, I heard some scholars talking about learning, and I picked out these two characters.”

The villagers were astonished.
“Erya—no, Yunxuan, your memory is that good? Just hearing people read aloud was enough for you to remember? Recite something for us!”

Shen Yunxuan chuckled as she walked, effortlessly reciting a passage from memory. The villagers unconsciously followed her, forming a crowd of dozens of people trailing behind her. Shen Fu and Wang Xinghua, who had first been surprised and overwhelmed, gradually felt proud. Their postures even straightened.

No one understood what she was reciting, but her fluency and the depth of the words left them awed. A person who could read was respected anywhere. Those closest to her even patted the dust off themselves, afraid of dirtying Shen Yunxuan’s clothes.

The villagers eagerly asked what else she could do. Shen Yunxuan told them about a few skills and then added, “I also secretly learned how to read. I didn’t have the chance to practice before, but now I will. With less work to do, I’ll have time to read more. If anyone wants their children to try learning, just send them to me. I’ll teach them, and in return, you can give me some food from home—just enough to help me make a living.”

“For real? We can send our kids to learn from you?”

Shen Yunxuan nodded. The villagers became excited. Their village had no school, and if they wanted their children to study, they had to send them to the county. The tuition was expensive, and if the child turned out to be untalented, it would be a huge loss. Every family had multiple children—who could afford to send them all? But if they could first try learning with Shen Yunxuan, it would be perfect. If the child was no good at studying, they could just focus on farm work. If they showed potential, then the family could make sacrifices to send them to the county without any disputes. This was an incredible opportunity!

As Shen Yunxuan chatted with the villagers, they followed her from the eastern end of the village to the western end. When they saw Madam Wu standing at her courtyard gate, waiting with eager anticipation, they finally understood why Shen Yunxuan was so determined to support her new household.

This was now a family of orphans and widows. If Shen Yunxuan didn’t rise up, what would they do? Whether out of sympathy or admiration for her knowledge, the villagers showed great goodwill, helping them settle in properly before returning home. Regarding this dramatic family separation, everyone firmly sided with Shen Yunxuan.

After all, how could such a kindhearted family be in the wrong? The real problem had to be with Old Master Shen.

The next day, when Shen Jiayao heard the village rumors, he nearly lost his mind with anger. But he sneered to himself—what did it matter? He wouldn’t waste time arguing with these ignorant peasants. He was about to embark on a completely different path from his past life. This was the golden road he had snatched for himself!

Dressed in new clothes and carrying two taels of silver he had forced out of Old Master Shen, Shen Jiayao proudly left the village, filled with excitement for his new future at the Li family estate.

Meanwhile, Shen Yunxuan woke early and prepared steaming bowls of noodle soup. She called out, “Grandmother, father, mother, come try this and tell me if it’s good. If I sell it in the county, do you think people would buy it?”

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆