Ch 144: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Shen Yunxuan and her family finished their lunch, packed two baskets of food, and set off for the county. All four of them went together—since it was their first time selling goods, they were nervous and wanted to support each other.

Coincidentally, the village head was heading to the county to handle the name changes for the children and had arranged for an ox cart. Shen Yunxuan paid four copper coins, and the family smoothly hitched a ride.

The village head curiously glanced at them. “Old sister, are you heading to town to buy supplies?”

Grandma Wu smiled brightly. “Yes, picking up some supplies and also bringing a few small items from home to sell, to see if we can make a little extra money. Now that our family has grown, we need to figure out a way to earn a living. Even when we’re not farming in winter, we should have something to do.”

The ox cart driver, Niu Er, interjected, “Auntie, you don’t have that many people at home. Why go through all that trouble? You’re not marrying anyone off or having more kids—what you’ve got now should be enough.”

Grandma Wu was about to snap back at him, but Shen Yunxuan, thinking about their future need for the ox cart, quickly pressed her hand down and smiled. “Uncle Niu, after we’ve had enough to eat, we still want to enjoy some meat; after fixing up the house, we still want more firewood, more cotton coats, and extra bedding. Everything costs money, right? Working hard for a better life gives us something to look forward to.”

Niu Er chuckled. “That’s right! That’s how it should be. If we can add an extra dish to our New Year’s feast, that’s already a good life!”

The village head gave Shen Yunxuan another look. His previous impression of her was that she was diligent, hardworking, and sharp for a child—never one to be easily bullied. But now he realized she had been suppressed at the Shen household. Her true personality was only emerging now that she was with Grandma Wu.

It was a good thing. This whole family was honest and decent, so they wouldn’t take advantage of Grandma Wu. And this little girl was sharp—her future wouldn’t be bad. The only pity was that she wasn’t a boy; otherwise, she’d have been a strong pillar for the family.

Suddenly, the village head recalled the marriage proposal from the previous night. If Shen Yunxuan were to marry Grandma Wu’s grandson, wouldn’t that be perfect? Then she would rightfully be part of the Wu family, ensuring she could take care of Grandma Wu in her old age. That way, he could also give a proper account to the ancestors.

But this matter still needed further discussion, so he kept his thoughts to himself.

Upon arriving in the county, Shen Fu and Wang Xinghua became tense. They clutched the straps of their baskets tightly, and the thought of setting up a stall and calling out to sell their goods made them so ashamed that they wished they could run back home.

It was Grandma Wu who took the lead, boldly lifting up a flower roll bun and calling out, “Oil and salt flower rolls! Big flower rolls! Made with fine white flour, seasoned with oil, salt, and scallions—fragrant and delicious! Come take a look, a single bun is enough to fill you up!”

Shen Yunxuan felt warmth in her heart and immediately joined in, picking up two flower rolls and adding, “Made with oil, salt, and scallions—ready to eat, no need for side dishes! Soft and fluffy, not dry at all! Eating salt replenishes strength—lots of benefits! Only two copper coins each! Look at the size—it’s bigger than a fist! No loss in buying one to try! Or team up with a friend—each of you can split one, just one coin per person!”

A passerby, intrigued, asked, “If two people share, each pays one coin—so if four of us buy together, would we only pay half a coin each?”

Shen Yunxuan laughed. “Big brother, your math is quick! That’s exactly right. I only charge two copper coins per bun. However many people team up to split it is up to them! Are you interested in buying one? Since you’re the first to speak up, it must be fate—here, try a piece for free!”

She tore off a piece and handed it to the man before he could react. He hesitated, looking a little awkward. “Uh, sister, I was just asking—I wasn’t trying to bargain…”

Shen Yunxuan waved her hand. “You misunderstood! I just think it’s lucky that you spoke up first. It’s our first day selling snacks, and you’re the first person willing to chat with us—we’re happy about that! Please, give it a try. If you like it, maybe you can help spread the word.”

Hearing this, the man was pleased and took a bite. The moment he tasted it, his eyes widened in surprise. “Wait a second—this is just a flower roll, right? How can it be this fragrant? How can something made of flour taste so good? Is this really just a flower roll?”

Shen Yunxuan picked up another one and showed it to him, smiling. “It’s a flower roll, but I used plenty of oil and salt, added scallions, and just a pinch of ground pepper. That’s where the fragrance comes from! You can try making it at home too—it’s much tastier than plain steamed buns.”

The man was full of praise. “This is amazing! I’ve never had one like this before. But it must take more ingredients—two copper coins really isn’t expensive. Regular steamed buns cost the same, and they’re plain!”

Feeling bad about eating for free, he immediately pulled out four copper coins and took another flower roll from the basket. “I’ll take two. Here’s four coins, little sister.”

Shen Yunxuan took the money and handed it to Wang Xinghua with a bright smile. “Thank you, big brother!”

The man laughed heartily. “Since we’re fated, I had to help you make your first sale! And let me tell you all—this isn’t a scam. It’s really delicious! If you don’t believe me, team up and buy one together—you won’t regret it. This is way better than a plain steamed bun! It even has oil, salt, and scallions! That stuff is expensive these days—this is a great deal! If you want one, buy it fast before they sell out!”

As he shouted, more people started gathering around, curiously inspecting the flower rolls. The enticing fragrance in the air made them all eager to try.

Shen Yunxuan beamed—this was the first step toward their new life.

Shen Yunxuan thanked him again. This big brother was really something—he had managed to attract a whole crowd in an instant. If she weren’t the one selling, she might have suspected he was a plant.

The second customer was a six-year-old boy. His clothes were pristine, not a single patch in sight, and they looked new. The elderly lady holding his hand wore a silver hairpin, indicating a well-off family. Seeing the man eating the bun, the little boy became fixated on it. He squeezed forward, took a deep breath of the fragrant aroma, and eagerly shook his grandmother’s hand, demanding to buy one.

The old lady hesitated for a moment but, seeing that the basket was filled with clean, neatly arranged flower rolls that looked quite delicious, she decided to buy one.

Everyone watched as the little boy took a bite. His eyes widened in surprise. “It’s not like the steamed buns we have at home! It’s salty, savory—so good!” He began devouring it, stuffing his cheeks until they were puffed up like a little squirrel.

His grandmother quickly patted his back. “Slow down! No one’s taking it from you—what’s the rush?”

The boy pointed at the basket, speaking with a full mouth, “Buy! More! I want more!”

His grandmother shot him a glare. “Fine, I’ll get you another, but swallow first! You’re going to choke!”

Wang Xinghua handed him a water bottle, and the boy finally managed to swallow the bun, though he looked regretful. “I shouldn’t drink water—it ruins the taste! The flower roll is best eaten by itself.” Then he shouted, “I want ten! Grandma, buy me ten! I want to eat them today, tomorrow, and the day after!”

Ten buns would be twenty coins. The old lady hesitated, but the boy was making such a fuss that her head hurt. She sighed, opened her handkerchief, counted out twenty coins, and bought ten flower rolls.

The boy, however, was not selfish. He immediately pulled one out and handed it to his grandmother. “Grandma, try it! It’s really good! We should bring some home for Dad, Mom, and Grandpa too.”

The old lady took a bite to humor him and was instantly surprised. She chuckled, “It really is delicious. You kids sure are clever—why has no one thought of this before? Just adding some oil and salt makes such a difference.”

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Yunxuan promoted her food. “I love eating, so I tinker with recipes all the time. I also read travelogues and cookbooks, so I’ve figured out a lot over time. I’ll be making more things in the future—come by and try them when I do!”

The boy was the first to ask excitedly, “What else can you make? What else are you going to sell, big sister?”

Shen Yunxuan replied, “Candied hawthorn made with kumquats, oranges, and seedless hawthorn, green bean cakes, Beijing’s ‘Rolling Donkey’ sticky rice cake, Shandong’s honey-glazed ‘San Dao’ pastries, Jiangnan’s Yangchun noodles and fried rice, as well as small crispy twists, deep-fried stinky tofu, rice puff candy, and more. Right now, I don’t have a permanent stall, but once I do, I’ll be selling all of these.”

It wasn’t just the kids who started salivating—many adults listening nearby were intrigued. Someone asked, puzzled, “What are all these? Food from other places? What’s ‘Rolling Donkey’? Do donkeys roll on the ground, and you eat them? How big is it?”

Shen Yunxuan laughed and made a small gesture with her fingers. “Each piece is just the size of a thumb pad—it’s a soft cake rolled in powdered soybean flour. It’s delicious! I don’t know why it’s called that—I just read about it in a book.”

A woman gasped, “You can read? You know how to read characters?” That was even more shocking than her ability to cook—rural girls rarely knew how to read.

Shen Yunxuan nodded. “I learned by listening to others read and recognizing the characters over time.”

“That’s possible? That’s amazing! My uncle’s son has been studying in a school for years and still can’t read much. But you learned on your own? You’re incredible!”

In the countryside, common folk wouldn’t dare offend scholars, so reading ability was highly respected. Shen Yunxuan smiled. “School teaches subjects for the imperial exams—it’s deep knowledge, so of course it’s hard. I just learned to read and picked up some cooking techniques—it’s nothing compared to them. Sister, would you like to try a flower roll? They’re really delicious.”

The woman, already married and in her thirties, blushed when Shen Yunxuan called her “sister.” Flustered, she quickly said, “Give me two—I’ll bring them home.”

“Sure.” Shen Yunxuan glanced around. Fortunately, most people carried baskets when shopping, otherwise, if they bought more, they wouldn’t have a way to carry them.

Whether it was the novelty of the oil-salted flower rolls or the curiosity of a literate village girl, both drew a lot of attention. Under the pull of their intrigue, many people pulled out coins to buy some flower rolls. Shen Fu and Wang Xinghua, who had been nervous at first, gradually became more comfortable and even started calling out to potential customers.

Seeing that things were running smoothly, Shen Yunxuan and Grandma Wu slipped away to buy supplies. As they walked away from the crowd, Grandma Wu was still brimming with excitement. “We must’ve sold at least fifty flower rolls already—that’s one hundred coins! If we sell all two hundred, that’s four hundred coins! After taking out the cost of ingredients, we’ll be making…” She leaned in close and whispered in Shen Yunxuan’s ear, “Nearly one tael in just four days! Heavens! How is this even possible?!”

Shen Yunxuan chuckled. “Business has always been the most profitable trade. It sounds easy, but the key is to sell every day. We also have to account for weather—some days it might rain, or the wind might be too strong. Some days we’ll earn more, some days less. But overall, it’s much better than carrying heavy loads, washing clothes, or building houses. Now my parents can relax and focus on selling food.”

She then added, “You and I will stay home and prepare everything. Next time, we won’t come along—let’s use this as a chance for my parents to get used to it.”

“Training them?” Grandma Wu immediately understood and sighed. “Good child, it should have been them raising and teaching you, yet now it’s you guiding them. You’ve had it tough.”

Shen Yunxuan held her hand and smiled. “Grandma, I don’t feel it’s tough at all. I think life now is very happy—three elders in the family truly care for me. When my heart is content, nothing feels hard. My parents might have soft personalities, but how many parents truly dote on their daughters like they do?”

Indeed, in the village, labor was needed, and men were valued. The preference for sons over daughters was deeply ingrained because once daughters married, they rarely returned to their maternal home. If they tried to help their birth family, they would be criticized. Families needed sons—the more sons, the more farmhands, the more money they could earn through labor. This was just how things were.

By comparison, Shen Fu and Wang Xinghua truly loved their daughter. Take Eldest Shen and Shen Cai, for example—they seemed to treat Shen Yunlian well, but that was only to ensure the first branch of the family didn’t suffer any losses, not out of genuine fatherly love. Since Liu Shi had suffered complications during childbirth and couldn’t have more children, sometimes they even vented their frustrations on Shen Yunlian, scolding her when upset.

Most children valued their elders based on the benefits they provided or how much they could help, rather than how much love they received. If Shen Yunxuan were another child, she might have resented her parents for being unable to protect her.

But Shen Yunxuan cherished them instead. Seeing this small family of three, Grandma Wu felt warm inside. It truly felt like fate had brought them together. Being sentimental herself, she was certain she had made the right decision—this adoption was meant to be.

Shen Yunxuan took Grandma Wu to buy a lot of sugar, salt, and various seasonings that rural people rarely purchased. Grandma Wu didn’t recognize many of them, guessing that Shen Yunxuan must have read about them in books. She didn’t question much but reminded her, “Just be careful—make sure nothing harms anyone.”

That was the most important thing when selling food. While new things were exciting, if they caused any harm due to inexperience, it would be a huge problem.

As they were heading back with their goods, they unexpectedly ran into Shen Zhong, who was following closely behind Li Yaosheng with a slightly hunched posture, wearing a flattering smile while speaking to him.

Grandma Wu was taken aback. “Huh? Isn’t that Shen Jiayao? What’s he doing? Why does he look like a servant? I thought he was supposed to be a scholar’s attendant?”

Her voice was too loud in shock, and Shen Zhong’s head snapped up. Seeing Shen Yunxuan, his pupils contracted. He immediately turned to observe Li Yaosheng’s reaction, only to see that Li Yaosheng had already noticed them and was watching.

Shen Zhong’s mind went blank for a moment, then he quickly said, “Master, are you tired? Would you like to rest at a teahouse? You can listen to storytellers—their recent tales have been quite interesting.”

Li Yaosheng turned to glance at him, his relaxed expression suddenly turning cold. “Are you giving me orders? What do you think you are?”

Shen Zhong froze. He hadn’t meant that at all—why was Li Yaosheng suddenly angry? Being reprimanded at Li Manor was one thing, but to be scolded in front of the villagers and Shen Yunxuan made him feel utterly humiliated. His face burned red with embarrassment, but he had no choice but to bow and admit his mistake. “Forgive me, Master. I meant no offense. I was merely concerned for your well-being.”

The bodyguard beside them spoke coldly. “Slap yourself.”

Shen Zhong’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What?”

“Slap yourself,” the guard repeated, his gaze sharp. “You have no sense of proper conduct. When you make a mistake, you acknowledge it with a slap. You may stop once the master is appeased.”

Shen Zhong clenched his fists inside his sleeves. Even in his past life, when he had starved in the village, he had never suffered such humiliation.

But the guard simply stared at him. Li Yaosheng stood still, clearly waiting for him to comply. If he refused, he could forget about his position as an attendant. If he was sent back to the village, wouldn’t he have to spend his life there in mediocrity?

If he could endure this, he could become one of Li Yaosheng’s trusted confidants. This was his only chance at wealth and success. Holding onto that belief, Shen Zhong gritted his teeth and slapped himself. “I was wrong! I shouldn’t have spoken out of turn. Please forgive me, Master!”

Li Yaosheng smirked and said indifferently, “Fine, as long as you know your place. I’m not someone who enjoys punishing servants.”

Shen Zhong corrected him silently in his heart—I am a scholar’s attendant, not a servant. But he didn’t dare say a word. Keeping his head down, he maintained a submissive posture.

Grandma Wu gasped sharply, utterly shocked.

Shen Jiayao had always been well-known in the village. From the moment he was born, he was Old Man Shen’s treasure, treated as the sole heir. He was cradled for fear of falling, doted on endlessly. He had never done a day of work—since he could walk, he had only studied, always holding his head high and standing tall, unlike any of the other villagers.

Even though the villagers knew Shen Jiayao looked down on them, no one minded. After all, he was a scholar, meant to take the imperial exams. People naturally revered scholars and had no grievances about his arrogance. For years, they had waited for Shen Jiayao to grow up, take the county-level exams, and eventually the imperial exams. When that happened, the entire village would celebrate.

But now, Grandma Wu was witnessing Shen Jiayao slapping himself, bowing and scraping before the young master of the Li family.

Weren’t scholars supposed to be noble, fearless in the face of power, and uphold their integrity?

Where was Shen Jiayao’s backbone?

Li Yaosheng noticed Shen Zhong and Grandma Wu’s reactions and could roughly guess that Grandma Wu recognized Shen Zhong as a fellow villager. However, Shen Yunxuan’s expression was too composed—seeing them was no different from seeing any other stranger. She showed neither surprise nor fear, not even the slightest bit of nervousness.

Now, this was interesting. How could a village girl carry herself with such poise? She had the air of a fallen phoenix, even surpassing some of his own sisters in composure.

Li Yaosheng took a few steps closer and asked directly, “Are you two acquainted with my attendant? Why not greet him?”

Shen Yunxuan, upon seeing her past life’s husband, felt nothing. Instead, after witnessing how Li Yaosheng had just humiliated Shen Zhong, she was simply grateful that she had no ties to this man in this life. Hearing his question, she responded politely, “We are not familiar with him. He seems to be attending to his duties, and we did not wish to intrude. My lord, our family is waiting for us to return to the village. We take our leave.”

Li Yaosheng, having found someone interesting, wasn’t about to let her leave so easily. He moved a step to block her path. Grandma Wu’s expression darkened immediately as she pulled Shen Yunxuan behind her. “My lord, what is the meaning of this?”

Ignoring Grandma Wu, Li Yaosheng looked at Shen Yunxuan with amusement. “No need to be so hasty, young lady. I see your basket is filled with spices—are you preparing to make some delicacies? I am quite fond of fine cuisine. What do you plan to cook?”

Shen Yunxuan covered the basket with a cloth and replied casually, “These are for offerings. We’re preparing them to pay respects to our ancestors.”

The guard immediately frowned. “How dare you say something so inauspicious in front of our young master?”

Shen Yunxuan said calmly, “I only spoke the truth. Since you dislike it, I’ll say no more. Farewell.”

This time, Li Yaosheng didn’t stop her. Instead, he called out to her back, “I am the third son of the Li family. If your cooking skills are decent, you may come work as a cook in our household.”

Without turning around, Shen Yunxuan replied, “No need, but thank you.”

Li Yaosheng raised an eyebrow and called again, “My mother has had little appetite lately. If you have any light snacks that could whet her appetite, you may send them to the Li residence. You will be compensated well.”

This time, Shen Yunxuan didn’t even acknowledge his words, as if she hadn’t heard them at all. She simply walked away with Grandma Wu.

Shen Zhong didn’t dare to breathe, standing stiffly until Li Yaosheng turned back to him and scrutinized him. “Are you truly not acquainted?”

Shen Zhong shuddered and instinctively looked up at Li Yaosheng. The young master’s sharp gaze carried pressure and suspicion—clearly, he did not believe him.

Lowering his voice, Li Yaosheng said, “I do not tolerate betrayal. Remember your name.”

Loyalty. Complete and utter loyalty.

A sudden wave of humiliation washed over Shen Zhong. Why was this so unbearable? Was working for the Li family truly this painful?

No. In their past life, Shen Yunxuan had been sent to the Li family as a servant. Because of her excellent cooking, she caught Li Yaosheng’s eye and was taken as a concubine. She had never suffered—on the contrary, she had enjoyed a privileged life early on, eventually becoming the honored matron of the household and later moving to the capital, living a life of luxury.

Only he had suffered!

Resentment churned within Shen Zhong, but in this moment, faced with Li Yaosheng’s oppressive presence, he broke out in a cold sweat. He dared not hide anything and, lowering his head, spoke softly, “She is Erya—my third uncle’s daughter, my cousin. In the village, Grandma Wu was alone, so she asked the village head to adopt my third uncle into her family, making Erya part of her household as well. She said we are not familiar because my grandparents opposed the adoption. There was quite an uproar, and we severed ties. They declared they would no longer associate with us, so she said we are not familiar.”

Shen Zhong chose his words carefully. He did not lie, yet he also withheld the full truth.

Li Yaosheng scrutinized him. “Oh? Quite the coincidence.”

The Li family had requested someone, and just then, this girl was adopted out, leading to a family dispute. Li Yaosheng could tell something was amiss. But what puzzled him more was that when he invited Shen Yunxuan to work as a cook in the Li household, she flatly refused. Did she look down on the Li family?

While the Li family might not be the most powerful, they held the highest status and wealth in the county. Yet this village girl seemed entirely indifferent to his identity, his offer, and the money. There had to be a reason. Could it be that she resented the Li family for the switch?

Just a mere village girl, yet she carried such airs.

Li Yaosheng sneered and ordered his guard, “Go investigate this Erya. I want to know exactly what makes her think she can turn down my offer.”

The guard immediately responded, “Yes, my lord.”

Meanwhile, Shen Zhong felt his stomach tighten with unease. He was terrified that this investigation might uncover the lie he had once foolishly spoken about the donation of an official title. Why had he been so careless as to mention it? Now, he was holding a dangerous secret over his head.

Thinking about Shen Yunxuan’s recent actions, Shen Zhong gritted his teeth. He decided to gather all the money he had and bribe Shen Yunxuan into keeping her mouth shut.

Little did Shen Yunxuan know that another unexpected windfall was about to come her way. Grandma Wu hesitated before asking, “Going to the Li household to work is a good opportunity. You really won’t reconsider?”

Shen Yunxuan grinned, her eyes curving as she looked up at the blue sky and white clouds, feeling nothing but peace and freedom.

“No need. Our family should stay together, and we have a street food business to run.”

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆