Ch 146: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

The next morning, in addition to steaming two hundred flower rolls, Shen Yunxuan also made fifty smaller sugar triangles and fifty bean buns. The sugar triangles were made of white flour, shaped into triangles with a small amount of sugar as filling. They had a slightly chewier texture than regular steamed buns, and every bite was sweet. The bean buns were also made with white flour, similar in size to the sugar triangles but half-moon shaped, with a filling made from mashed, steamed beans mixed with a little sugar.

Each of them sold for two copper coins. Since the sugar triangles and bean buns had added sugar, they were made slightly smaller so that the cost remained roughly the same as the flower rolls, making it easier to calculate.

Grandma Wu even stayed up late to sew a pouch for Wang Xinghua, sturdy and slung across the body, making it convenient for her to store and give change.

That morning, Shen Yunxuan prepared a breakfast of lump soup, adding beaten eggs, finely shredded greens, a bit of crushed chili, and sesame oil, making it so fragrant that it seemed one could swallow their tongue! Paired with a few scallion pancakes, the meal left everyone stuffed and satisfied.

Wang Xinghua and Grandma Wu loved the lump soup, while Shen Fu preferred the scallion pancakes. Rubbing his full belly, he praised, “Scallion oil is really amazing. Whether for steaming flower rolls or making pancakes, everything tastes better with it. Yunxuan, we should take scallion pancakes to sell too.”

Shen Yunxuan smiled and said, “One step at a time. At first, not many people will buy from us. Flower rolls are an everyday staple but with a fresh twist. Sugar triangles and bean buns are more appealing to children and women. Scallion pancakes require more oil, and at the size of a palm, they’d have to sell for three copper coins each. Fewer people would be willing to buy them. But once customers get used to us bringing out new things and trust that our food is always delicious, then the scallion pancakes will sell well.”

She pointed to the remaining pancakes on the plate. “There are exactly five left. They’re for you to take as lunch, but you can also try selling them—three copper coins each. If three people buy together, they only need to pay one copper coin each. See how well they sell. I haven’t done business before either, so everything is just my theory. You need to test it out and find out what really works.”

Shen Fu and Wang Xinghua nodded. Listening to her speak felt like hearing a master of business. They had never thought about these things before, but now that she explained it, it made perfect sense. If they saw a new vendor on the street, they, too, would likely buy a simple, safe option like flower rolls first. If it was tasty, then they’d try other items like bean buns. They wouldn’t spend money on something more expensive like scallion pancakes right away—only those with extra cash would do that.

This also explained why Shen Yunxuan hadn’t taken her famous Yangchun noodles to sell. First, there was no place to cook them on the spot. Second, a bowl of noodles would be more expensive, while selling flower rolls from a basket was the easiest and most practical option. There were no extra costs, it was convenient to transport, and transactions were quick and simple—perfect for them to gain experience and practice running a business.

Both of them had always been hardworking; they weren’t unintelligent, just lacking in perspective. But now, with Shen Yunxuan’s guidance, they suddenly saw things in a new light and came up with their own ideas. Seeing them begin to think critically reassured Shen Yunxuan.

She actually wanted to go with them to town, worried that they might face trouble, be unable to handle it, or even get hurt. But she knew that if they were to quickly learn to stand on their own, they had to face the world by themselves. They needed to encounter difficulties, solve problems, and build confidence so that they could think independently. Only then would they be completely free from the influence of Old Man Shen’s family.

Shen Zhong was struggling, but she didn’t believe he would remain loyal to Li Yaosheng forever. Sooner or later, he would fall out of favor, disappointing the Shen family. When that time came, if Shen Fu was already successful, the Shen family would surely try to reconnect and take advantage of him. That was why Shen Yunxuan didn’t want to overprotect her parents—she wanted them to gain experience and knowledge so that, when they saw the Shen family again, they wouldn’t feel inferior.

After Shen Fu and Wang Xinghua set off, the villagers once again brought their children over. Shen Yunxuan patiently taught them to recognize words, recite texts, and learn basic values like courtesy, integrity, and moral principles.

But children had short attention spans. On the first day, they were excited because it was new and interesting, but by the second day, they started getting restless. After half an hour of lessons, Shen Yunxuan smiled and asked, “Now that you’ve grown up a little, who do you admire the most? Who do you want to be like?”

The question intrigued them, and suddenly, they were paying full attention again.

Zhang Lishan raised his hand and said, “Teacher, I admire Shen Jiayao the most. He got to study from a young age, and his whole family supports his education. He’s going to become a scholar, pass the imperial exams, and become an official one day. I want to be like him!”

Shen Yunxuan corrected him, “So, you admire scholars and want to become an official through the imperial exam?”

Zhang Lishan nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! I want to be a scholar!”

Another child said, “Teacher, I admire my father the most because he’s the strongest man in our village! He works the fastest in the fields, earns the most when doing labor, and if troublemakers come, he punches them away with one hit. I want to be like my father!”

Shen Yunxuan smiled. “So, you admire your father because he is healthy, strong, and able to protect you. You want to be fearless like him and protect others, while also earning more money through hard work, right?”

“Yes! That’s exactly why!”

The other children eagerly chimed in.

“I admire the butcher because he always gets to eat meat…”

“I admire the shopkeepers in town—they make a lot of money and are amazing at using an abacus…”

“I want to be a constable, carrying a sword, catching thieves, and protecting the people…”

“I’ll say this in secret—I admire the village head. He manages the entire village and has the most power here…”

“I admire you, Master! Your cooking smells amazing, you’re hardworking and smart, and you can read and write…”

“I admire my cousin—she’s amazing at embroidery, and the pouches she makes sell for money…”

Shen Yunxuan asked, “Have you noticed that all the people you admire have one thing in common? They are all healthy. Not one of them is weak or sickly.”

The children looked at each other in surprise. “That’s right! Master, you’re so smart!”

Shen Yunxuan said, “Since that’s the case, aside from studying and learning to read, shouldn’t we also train our bodies? We’ve already learned a lot today, so now it’s time for our practical lesson. My great-aunt wove some small back baskets—each of you take one, and let’s go up the mountain.”

“Wow! We’re going to the mountains!”

“Master, what are we going to learn in the mountains? Are we going to play?”

“Master, Master, I’ll climb a tree and pick some wild fruit for you!”

The children were overjoyed, slinging on their baskets and chattering excitedly around Shen Yunxuan. She laid out the rules for them: they were not allowed to wander away from her, and they were not to eat anything they found without permission.

To her surprise, the children listened obediently. They truly regarded Shen Yunxuan as a teacher, someone they would respect for a lifetime. But since she wasn’t an official scholar, they couldn’t call her “Teacher” and instead addressed her as “Master.”

Carrying her own basket, Shen Yunxuan led the children up the mountain. Along the way, she taught them a poem that matched the surrounding scenery. The poem was short and catchy, and after repeating it a few times, the children had memorized it.

As they walked, she explained the meaning of each verse, pointing to the scenery described in the poem. The children were full of admiration—they felt that both Shen Yunxuan and the poet were amazing, able to capture so many details in such beautiful words. The landscape they had seen every day suddenly seemed more picturesque than ever before.

The children had all dressed in their cleanest, least-patched clothes for lessons, but Shen Yunxuan led them to dig wild vegetables and pick wild fruits.

Zhang Lishan asked, “Master, I noticed that Shen Jiayao is always spotless and looks down on us. I thought all scholars were like that. Why are we out here digging for wild vegetables? Is it because we’re not real scholars yet?”

“Not at all,” Shen Yunxuan replied. “Some scholars pretend to be noble and look down on others. But even the emperor himself has royal farms and occasionally goes to the fields to experience farming firsthand.”

The children were stunned. “Really? The emperor goes to the fields?”

“Of course, he doesn’t farm the way we do,” Shen Yunxuan explained with a smile. “The emperor has to manage the affairs of the entire country. When he visits the fields, it’s to understand how crops are grown and what life is like for farmers. If he doesn’t understand these things, how can he comprehend the struggles of farmers and the risks of relying on the weather for a harvest?”

Zhang Lishan was the first to react. “So Shen Jiayao is just pretending to be noble? He doesn’t understand any of this. Even if he becomes an official, he won’t know anything. Isn’t that what they call ‘talking about war on paper’?”

Shen Yunxuan raised a finger to her lips. “Let’s keep this between us. If word gets out, his family will come looking for trouble.”

The children quickly covered their mouths and giggled.

At the same time, they gained a new understanding—being a scholar didn’t mean one should act superior, nor did it mean fearing dirt or labor. Their families were all farmers—what right did they have to look down on their own people? Even the emperor had the heart to care for his people and humble himself to learn about farming. What was so special about a mere scholar?

Before, they had simply accepted what their elders said and developed certain biases. But after listening to Shen Yunxuan, they suddenly realized that the old scholar in their village was a prime example of what not to be. That old scholar had spent his whole life refusing to work, only reading in his study. He called himself “talented but unrecognized,” yet in reality, he was just a burden to his family. His relatives had to work themselves to exhaustion to support him, and they still had to endure his bad temper, all because he was a “scholar.”

Children were quick learners. After listening to Shen Yunxuan, they no longer had blind admiration for scholars. They would still respect them, but only those who deserved respect. A person should first have integrity and good character before considering their profession—whether they were a scholar, merchant, or farmer. Someone like Shen Jiayao, who lacked morals, wouldn’t make a good official even if he passed the exams.

And now, in their young hearts, the most impressive scholar wasn’t Shen Jiayao—it was Shen Yunxuan.

She was only fourteen years old, yet she knew so much! She was smarter than anyone they had ever met. She could read and write, cook delicious meals, work diligently, recognize everything in the mountains, and even identify medicinal herbs. They were completely in awe!

At that moment, the person they all wanted to become the most was Shen Yunxuan. In their small world, she was the most remarkable person they had ever encountered.

Shen Yunxuan took them up the mountain not just for exercise, but also to gather hawthorns, sand pears, and trilobed crabapples, as well as to dig up wild vegetables and medicinal herbs.

Apart from medicinal herbs, which were a bit rare, the other things were familiar to the children, so they eagerly followed Shen Yunxuan’s lead, picking them and filling their baskets. However, she also taught them something new—the uses of each wild vegetable and fruit, which ones could cause stomach pain if eaten too much, which were too cooling for some people, and which combinations could be poisonous.

The children had never imagined that the things they saw every day had so much knowledge behind them. They listened intently, completely absorbed in what she was teaching.

Just as Shen Yunxuan’s basket was nearly full, she suddenly spotted two rabbits—a male and a female.

She gestured for the children to stay silent. They immediately realized she wanted to catch the rabbits. Although they didn’t believe she would succeed, they obediently kept quiet, their eyes wide as they watched the two rabbits.

To their amazement, Shen Yunxuan quickly set up a simple trap, and within moments, she had caught both rabbits!

“Master! What is this? How did you do that?!”

The children jumped excitedly around her, unable to believe that she had just caught two rabbits so effortlessly. Even skilled hunters in the village often returned empty-handed, yet their master had simply set something up and captured them so easily! She was truly incredible!

Shen Yunxuan smiled and said, “This is called a trap. I learned it from books and figured it was worth trying. I wanted to teach my father in case he ever went hunting again, but since he’s in town selling food, I ended up using it myself. I’ll teach you all how to do it. These two rabbits will be taken back to my great-aunt to raise. Once they have baby rabbits, I’ll give each of you one and see if you can take care of them.”

“Yes!” the children shouted in unison.

One of them patted his chest confidently. “Master, don’t worry! Raising a little rabbit will be easy. We’ll definitely take care of them!”

Shen Yunxuan shook her finger and said, “Not necessarily! Raising chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, cows—even raising children—all comes with many challenges. It could get too cold or too hot, they might not eat enough or eat too much, they could get sick, or they might run away. There are always problems. That’s why you’ll need to be attentive, take care of them carefully, learn from each other’s experiences, and develop responsibility. Through this, you’ll gain a sense of duty, attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and the ability to seek help from others. You must take this task seriously.”

The children immediately straightened up, their expressions turning serious. “Master, we promise to do our best!”

Zhang Lishan, full of curiosity, asked, “Master, it seems like every ordinary thing becomes a lesson when you explain it. Does that mean we can learn something from every small task?”

“Of course,” Shen Yunxuan replied. “As the saying goes, ‘When three people walk together, one of them must be my teacher.’ For example, today, you asked some great questions. Everyone should learn from you—always think, ask questions, and analyze things. That way, you’ll always gain new knowledge. That’s what makes you someone worth learning from.”

She pointed at other children. “Xiao Lin, you climb trees quickly and steadily; Xiao Yue, you dig up herbs perfectly intact without damaging them; Xiao Fang, you learned how to set traps the fastest. These are all things others can learn from. Each of you has your own strengths and talents. You’re all amazing. So, grow up well, because I believe in you.”

Hearing this, the children’s faces turned red, and they mumbled, “Master, stop praising us… We’re getting embarrassed.”

Shen Yunxuan chuckled. “If you do well, of course I should praise you! You should know your strengths and recognize your abilities. That way, you’ll feel happy and realize that what you do has value. So, here’s your homework for today—go home and praise your family for something they are good at. Of course, if there’s someone you don’t get along with, you don’t have to.”

The children burst into laughter, knowing she was talking about the Shen family. Everyone knew that she had suffered in that household and naturally wouldn’t want to praise them.

By noon, the villagers were returning home from the fields. Many of them had taken a detour to pick up their children. When they saw the baskets filled with wild vegetables and fruits, they were surprised.

Before they could ask, the children excitedly began talking about everything they had learned that day.

To be honest, none of the villagers had ever heard of lessons being taught this way. They wanted to question it, but it was clear that the children had learned a lot, so they took them home, still puzzled.

On the way back, Zhang Lishan proudly recited the poem they had learned. Seeing this, the other children also began reciting the poem to their families. Some even explained the meaning behind the verses, telling their parents that the poem described the scenery behind the mountain. Others recited passages from books, showing off the words they had learned and the principles they had been taught. One child pulled out a wild fruit and explained that it should not be eaten in excess or mixed with certain foods to avoid poisoning. Xiao Yue even pulled out a medicinal herb and told her mother it could be sold for money.

The scene was spectacular—children’s excited voices filled the village, and their enthusiasm was contagious. Many villagers were stunned.

Had the children really learned this much in just two days?

Wasn’t learning supposed to be incredibly difficult?

Yet, here their children were, confidently recognizing characters, reciting poetry, and even identifying useful herbs! The villagers couldn’t help but feel proud.

When they heard that Shen Yunxuan had taken the children up the mountain to train their bodies—because good health was necessary for a bright future—they suddenly understood and wholeheartedly agreed.

“She’s right. If your body isn’t strong, you won’t be able to do anything in the future.”

“Last time I was in town, I saw a scholar who was so thin he looked like a stick. That day was windy, and it seemed like he was about to be blown away. He kept coughing—imagine if he entered the exam hall, he might not even finish before being carried out.”

“Exactly! I never really thought about this before. We always heard about frail scholars and thought it was normal for them to be weak because they studied all the time. But now that I think about it, it doesn’t make sense. If our children do well in their studies, they’ll have to travel long distances for the exams. If they’re too weak, won’t they just fall sick along the way?”

“Yunxuan really has foresight. Whether it’s studying or farming, having a strong body is a must. We should pay more attention to this in the future and not raise our kids to be weak.”

The villagers were deeply impressed by Shen Yunxuan’s unique perspective. Then, as they discussed the poem and medicinal herbs, they were amazed that she knew so much—far more than they had ever expected. When they heard she even knew how to set traps to catch rabbits, their admiration only grew. The children were definitely learning from the right person.

After everyone returned home, Zhang Lishan went straight to the kitchen to help his mother, Qin Shi, start the fire.

Qin Shi quickly said, “Lishan, don’t bother with this. Let me do it—you should go read and practice writing.”

Zhang Lishan replied, “Mother, for the past two days, you haven’t let me do any work, and I’ve felt uncomfortable about it. Today, I asked my teacher, and as expected, this isn’t right. I am your son, and we rely on each other—how can I just sit back and watch you work while I relax? Even if I pass the exam, I’d only be someone with average character. A good official must love the people like their own children, not look down on them for doing hard or dirty work. If they do, they’re already wrong from the very foundation.”

Qin Shi was taken aback. “Huh? Is that what your teacher said? I just don’t want to delay your studies. Even after ten years of hard studying, there’s no guarantee you’ll pass. If you don’t put in all your effort…”

Zhang Lishan smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Mother. I’ve learned everything my teacher has taught me, and I can even recite while tending the fire. When the time comes for me to study day and night, I will know how to manage my time wisely and study hard without wasting your efforts. But I shouldn’t use studying as an excuse to be lazy—just look at Shen Jiayao. He’s been studying for years with the whole family supporting him, yet he holds his head high, looking down on everyone. If he becomes an official—no, forget that—just imagine if he became the village head. Do you think our village would have a good future?”

Qin Shi frowned. In the past, she had always respected Shen Jiayao as a scholar, believing he was above everyone else and that no one should say a bad word about him. But now, picturing him as the village head… that was absolutely unacceptable! The village would surely suffer under his rule.

At that moment, Qin Shi understood the wisdom behind Shen Yunxuan’s teachings. She patted Zhang Lishan’s head and said, “My son is growing up and learning so much—this is wonderful.”

Zhang Lishan grinned. “Mother, my teacher said that everyone has something they’re good at. I’m good at studying and learning from my teacher, but you’re especially good at cooking. Your food is always delicious—I never get enough of it. Even our neighbors want to sneak a bite sometimes, which means your cooking is better than theirs.

And the clothes you make for me—the stitching is so fine and comfortable. Last time, Xiaofeng complained that his shirt felt tight at the shoulders when he lifted his arms, but mine doesn’t. That means you’re better at making clothes than others. We’re both amazing! If we work hard at what we’re good at, we’ll definitely have a good life in the future.”

Qin Shi had never been praised like this before—especially in such a well-reasoned way. It made her truly feel valued. Knowing that Shen Yunxuan had taught her son to think this way, she couldn’t help but smile. Sending her son to study under Shen Yunxuan was the best decision she had ever made.

The Shen family was truly ridiculous. How could they have had such a talented girl in their home and not treasure her? Instead, they drove her away and severed ties with her.

Before, no one in the village had even heard that Shen Yunxuan could read and write. Clearly, the Shen family had never paid her any attention. They were utterly blind! And as for Shen Jiayao—so full of himself—if he really succeeded in life, would he even acknowledge his family? He wasn’t filial now, so how could anyone expect him to suddenly become filial after passing the imperial exams?

Similar conversations were happening in many households. The children were influencing their parents’ way of thinking. Some thought deeply about it, others less so, but everyone was reflecting in their own way.

At the very least, there was now a general consensus: the Shen family was blind.

The villagers’ awe and respect for the Shen family faded even further.

After all, comparisons bring clarity. Since Shen Yunxuan’s family had been adopted by Grandma Wu, their lives had visibly improved. Plus, everyone now realized that Shen Yunxuan was extremely knowledgeable, making her the most outstanding girl in the village. Before this, the Shen family had kept her hidden in the background.

Wasn’t this proof that they had mistreated her?

Thinking back, all she did at the Shen household was work, work, and work. It was obvious now—the Shen family had treated Shen Fu’s branch like servants just to fund Shen Jiayao’s education.

Well, let’s see if this Shen Jiayao ever actually achieves anything. Meanwhile, everyone was secretly rooting for Shen Yunxuan, hoping she would thrive and utterly humiliate Old Man Shen!

The next morning, when the Shen family members went out to work, they suddenly noticed something strange—why was everyone looking at them differently?

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆