Ch 149: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Just past noon, Shen Fu and Wang Xinghua came running back, drenched in sweat, startling Old Madam Wu.

Old Madam Wu dropped what she was doing and rushed forward. “What happened? What’s wrong?”

Shen Fu shut the courtyard door and pulled them all inside before gulping down a whole bowl of water. Old Madam Wu slapped her thigh. “Look at you, still drinking water! Say something! What happened?”

Wang Xinghua patted her chest and exclaimed, “Auntie, Yunxuan, that jar of hawthorn berries—sold! One hundred wen per small jar! Sold out! And they want more! Said they’ll buy as many as we have!”

Shen Fu put down the empty bowl and wiped his mouth. “Really, is this some blessing falling from the sky? How did we get so lucky? Just some wild berries from the mountains, but one whole jar makes at least ten small ones—one jar is worth a tael of silver! A whole tael! They even had people buy up all our flower rolls and snacks, told us to hurry back and pick more hawthorn berries, make more of it.”

Old Madam Wu was even more shocked, her voice trembling. “What? Those hawthorn berries are worth a tael?”

Every year, when hawthorn berries ripened, villagers would casually stuff their pockets with them for a sweet snack. Many didn’t even like them, letting them fall and rot in the mountains—no one thought of them as valuable.

And now a jar of wild berries was selling for a tael of silver? Even with sugar and honey added, it didn’t seem worth that much! Who were they selling to? Wasn’t this just scamming people?

The villagers were honest folk who had never earned much money, let alone understood the value of recipes or labor costs. They only thought: if someone paid that much, weren’t they being tricked? Wasn’t that just being a profiteer?

Shen Yunxuan had them sit down and smiled. “Grandma, don’t worry. I’d never do anything dishonest. This is just like how restaurants sell Mapo tofu. Is tofu worth a lot? It’s such a common thing, and we villagers barely eat it. So why does adding chili make it so expensive? One dish of Mapo tofu in a restaurant costs as much as a regular farmer’s meals for several days.”

“That’s because the chef’s cooking is good, the recipe is special, and the skill is valuable. People can’t find that taste elsewhere, so they’re willing to pay for it. And because a restaurant is a special place—there’s rent, furniture, account clerks, waiters, chefs—all of that costs money and is factored into the price. So what we sell for cheap in a basket, they sell for much more in a restaurant.”

“My hawthorn berries are like that tofu. The ingredient itself is common, but my recipe and craftsmanship make them valuable. Customers can’t buy this anywhere else. And I’m not scamming anyone—this really does help with digestion, nourishes the body, and improves appetite. Wealthy families with poor appetites would find it worthwhile. Business is all about mutual agreement, clear pricing—no need to worry.”

The three of them exchanged looks, silently digesting this logic. But the more they thought about it, the more it made sense. If you tried to sell hawthorn berries in the village, people would probably slap you. It was like making Mapo tofu in the village—people might trade some vegetables for it, but no one would pay big money. But in the county town, it was different. Take the Li family, for example—they had to buy even a single green onion. Scallions and garlic were everywhere in the village, practically going to waste.

Thinking this way, it really was just as Shen Yunxuan said.

Old Madam Wu patted Wang Xinghua’s shoulder. “Quick, tell me, what happened exactly? Who bought it? Some wealthy family?”

Wang Xinghua took a deep breath. “Even better than a wealthy family—it was the county magistrate’s mother!”

Shen Fu added, “This morning in town, we first went to the docks and sold fifty flower rolls, giving out a few samples. Then we moved to the streets, calling out and selling dozens more. When the time seemed right, we wandered near the county office and had barely called out a few times before a bailiff came to ask about the price.”

Wang Xinghua continued, “Right, we hesitated and told him it was a hundred wen per jar, quickly adding that it was made from wild berries but was a special recipe. The bailiff scoffed, ‘That expensive?’ but then asked if it really helped with digestion. Then he paid for it! He even gave us a long look—I broke out in a cold sweat, thinking he was about to arrest us.”

Shen Fu picked up the story. “After that, we went back to selling buns. We were a little hungry, so we ate a bun too, hoping to attract customers. But barely two quarters of an hour later, that same bailiff returned, this time with a maid, asking if we had more of those berries. We said we had more at home, and the maid told us to hurry back and get them. We said we still had more to sell, and when the maid saw our buns, she had Xinghua break off a piece for her to taste. Next thing we knew, she pulled out money and bought over a hundred of our snacks on the spot! Then she told us to bring the remaining berries directly to the county office.”

Wang Xinghua placed the money pouch on the table and looked at Shen Yunxuan. Shen Fu and Old Madam Wu also turned to her, waiting for her to speak. Their expressions were filled with curiosity—how had Shen Yunxuan known that someone in the county office would buy the berries? And why had she specifically emphasized that they helped with digestion?

Shen Yunxuan smiled. “The last time I was in town, I overheard someone mention that the county magistrate’s mother had a poor appetite and hadn’t been eating much for days. The magistrate is a filial son, and I happened to know this recipe, so I figured I’d give it a try. Shen Zhong went to the Li family, talking big about his ambitions, and last time, that young master Li stopped me and asked a lot of questions. Who knows if Shen Zhong might try to stir up trouble for us in front of the Li family? Or if they might interfere with our business somehow?”

“We have no way to find a powerful backer, but since we happened to learn about the county magistrate’s situation, of course, we had to take the opportunity to approach him. What if the county magistrate becomes our backer?”

The three were startled. Shen Fu suddenly realized, “So you’re selling the goods to the county magistrate to build a connection with him? Can you really establish a relationship just by selling things?”

They had never heard of forging connections this way—selling things at such a high price instead of giving gifts? The three of them were even more puzzled.

To this, Shen Yunxuan simply said, “Pushing oneself onto others isn’t a real deal. The county magistrate is surrounded by people trying to curry favor with him, so he wouldn’t care about just another flatterer. But as a county magistrate responsible for governing this place, if he discovers someone worth nurturing, he will definitely take them seriously.”

They didn’t fully understand her reasoning—how could some simple snacks make the county magistrate take an interest? But seeing Shen Yunxuan’s confidence, they chose to trust her. Their worries eased slightly, and they went to the storage room to bring out the jar of berries.

Wang Xinghua said, “Husband, you go deliver it to the county office. I’ll go to the mountains to gather more berries.”

Old Madam Wu quickly added, “I’ll go with you to the mountains. Yunxuan, you should stay home and rest for a while. Get some sleep, and when we return, we’ll wash the berries and wait for you to prepare them.”

How could Shen Yunxuan let them go alone? In her past life, Shen Fu had met with an accident in the mountains—she definitely couldn’t be at ease. She shook her head, “We’ll go together. Besides, I need to catch a few rabbits for something important.”

Shen Fu immediately responded, “I can hunt. I’ll catch the rabbits when I get back.”

“Just listen to me. If I fail to catch them, then you can go. Now hurry to the county office and remember—these jars are worth several hundred wen each. No discounts. Rare things are precious. This is something no one else has. Others might try to replicate it in the future, but for now, ours is the only one, and it’s already cheap enough.”

“Alright, I got it.” Shen Fu straightened his back, and for a moment, he really felt like the jar of wild berries in his arms was worth a whole tael of silver.

Shen Fu hurried off to town, while Shen Yunxuan led Old Madam Wu and Wang Xinghua up the mountain. She set traps as they picked things along the way, constantly reminding them not to come alone.

The two women found it amusing—weren’t they the adults? Yet here they were, being warned by a fourteen-year-old. It felt completely reversed. But their hearts were warm, and they secretly resolved to contribute more. They couldn’t let a child bear all the burdens—it would be too exhausting. A family should work together for harmony and prosperity.

Shen Yunxuan also used this trip to strengthen her body. In her previous life, by the time she was in her thirties and forties, she had gained much freedom and had actively learned many skills, including horseback riding and archery. She was quite accurate with a bow. Now, although she had no horse, she carried Shen Fu’s bow and could practice hunting.

Her untrained body struggled to control the bow, perfectly mimicking a beginner’s awkwardness. But as she gradually got the hang of it, Old Madam Wu and Wang Xinghua marveled at her talent.

Shen Yunxuan didn’t deny it. She knew she would inevitably reveal more of her past life’s abilities, which would be hard to explain. Letting people assume she was naturally gifted was a good cover. She needed to regain all her skills to live a better life and avoid being manipulated like an insignificant commoner.

With the bow, she ventured deeper into the mountains, gathering a variety of medicinal herbs. Though her knowledge of prescriptions was limited, she had memorized a few for self-care and health. She had also learned how to identify and process medicinal plants. It was thanks to her past-life habit of lifelong learning—otherwise, being reborn in this village would have left her powerless in many ways.

They spent the entire afternoon in the mountains, collecting hawthorn berries, wild vegetables, medicinal herbs, and hunting rabbits. On their way back, Shen Yunxuan led them to the river to catch fish.

Meanwhile, Shen Zhong hurried back to the village after leaving Li Yaosheng. His mind was preoccupied, so he didn’t change clothes or carry anything. With his head lowered, he rushed home. As he entered the village, the locals gave him curious looks, some even mistaking him for a stranger.

One villager called out, “Hey, young man, which family are you looking for?”

Shen Zhong froze for a moment before raising his head. Instantly, the villagers were shocked.

“Shen Jiayao? Isn’t that Shen Jiayao? Why is he dressed like a servant?”

Shen Zhong’s face stiffened slightly, and he hurried his pace. But before he could escape, the villagers surrounded him, inspecting him like a rare sight.

“Didn’t you go study with the young master? Are you actually a servant now?”

“A study attendant is basically a servant, right? I heard they have to serve tea, fetch water, and give massages. Is that true?”

“Jiayao, are you still planning to take the scholar exam? Or is being a study attendant more profitable?”

“Probably not! How can a servant earn more than a scholar? And look—he didn’t even bring anything home.”

“Jiayao, what were you thinking? Isn’t this just willingly degrading yourself?”

Since changing his name, Shen Zhong had grown to resent hearing “Jiayao”—it felt ironic now. Being called a servant only made him feel even more humiliated. He covered his face with his hand and squeezed his way out. “I have urgent business with my grandfather—don’t block my way.”

The villagers didn’t stop him, but their curiosity was overwhelming, and they all followed behind him.

With the weight of their stares on him, Shen Zhong finally reached home. He pushed the door open, only to find the house empty. A neighbor, hearing the noise, peeked out and said, “The whole Shen family is out working the fields. They said if they don’t finish, they’ll never catch up. Hey? Isn’t this Jiayao? Why are you back? And what’s with your outfit? Aren’t you supposed to be studying?”

Shen Zhong didn’t want to continue this conversation, so he turned and walked toward the fields. The neighbor rolled his eyes and muttered, “Look at that attitude! My son was right—just because someone studies doesn’t mean they have good character. He can’t even say hello or a simple ‘thank you.’ What a disgrace!”

Someone else chimed in, “Exactly! Walking around all high and mighty like a proud rooster.”

“Hahaha, a rooster! That’s a good one. He’s just like that old scholar from years ago—got himself a xiucai title and acted smug his whole life. But when it came to real skills, he was useless and ended up dragging his whole family down.”

“Not all xiucai are the same, though. My uncle’s family in the neighboring village has a xiucai who owns land, teaches, and even sells calligraphy and paintings. His family lives quite comfortably.”

“You know, I once brought this up to Old Man Shen. He cursed me out, said I was insulting his grandson. Bah!”

“If you don’t get along with them, why are you still here?”

“To watch the show, of course! The Shen family has been flaunting how Shen Jiayao is studying with the young master and is about to make it big. I just want to see if they actually will. Come on, let’s go check it out!”

A few of them chuckled and headed toward the fields, with more neighbors closing their doors and following to watch the drama. By the time they reached the farmland, an even bigger crowd had gathered.

At that moment, Shen Yunxuan and her group were passing by, having just caught two fish. When she saw the scene, she stopped to observe.

As soon as Old Madam Shen spotted Shen Zhong, she ran up to him excitedly. “Jiayao! Jiayao is back! I missed you so much! How have you been? Why are you back so soon?”

Zhou Shi also approached with joy. “He must have done well and was rewarded with a break! Jiayao, I’ll cook a chicken for you later to nourish you. You must be exhausted from all that studying.”

The Shen family had been feeling increasingly stifled these past days, sensing the subtle exclusion from the villagers. They had been eagerly waiting for Shen Jiayao to return and prove them right. Now that he was finally here, they were so thrilled they didn’t even notice his attire or expression. Their first reaction was one of pride.

The most promising member of the Shen family had returned!

Even Old Man Shen stepped forward with a broad smile, clapping Shen Zhong on the shoulder. He deliberately raised his voice for everyone to hear, “Good! Well done! You truly live up to the Shen family name—diligent in your studies, well-mannered, and filial! You even remembered to come home and visit. That’s how a proper grandson should be!”

Then he caught sight of Shen Yunxuan walking by and immediately sneered, “Unlike some people who have forgotten their ancestors! Completely unfilial scoundrels! Always scheming, deceiving, and refusing to do honest work!”

Shen Zhong had just noticed Shen Yunxuan too, and his mind was filled with Li Yaosheng’s words. He couldn’t help but stare at her. He hadn’t been paying attention to what his family was saying, but when he heard Old Man Shen’s words, he was startled.

Li Yaosheng had taken an interest in Shen Yunxuan. Whether he wanted to facilitate or sabotage the match, he couldn’t afford to be on bad terms with her. If Shen Yunxuan made up her mind and went to become Li Yaosheng’s concubine, no one could stop her. If that happened, she would definitely take revenge on him!

Just as Shen Zhong was about to speak, Old Madam Wu stepped forward and snapped, “Old Man Shen, what nonsense are you barking about? Who are you calling unfilial and dishonest? Do you even understand what adoption into another family means? Do we need to get Third Uncle to explain it to you?”

Old Man Shen’s face darkened. “Forget about the unfilial part for now. But isn’t it true that this wretched girl is tricking people under Jiayao’s name?”

Shen Yunxuan raised an eyebrow. “Using his name? Who told you that?”

“Do I need to hear it from someone? You’re just a countryside girl—where would you have learned to read and write? You must have stolen Jiayao’s books to secretly learn! The heavens must be blind to have let you learn a few words, and now you’re going around the village deceiving people for school fees.”

Standing next to his “accomplished” grandson, Old Man Shen felt his confidence swell. After enduring so many days of frustration, he was determined to vent his anger today!

Shen Yunxuan suddenly turned to Shen Zhong. “Shen Zhong, in the phrase ‘There are starved corpses in the wild, yet no relief is given,’ what does ‘relief’ signify?”

Shen Zhong stiffened.

She pressed on, “‘Or shall we trace its signs of success and failure?’—what is the meaning of ‘or’? And how should it be understood in this context?”

Shen Zhong couldn’t answer. Noticing all the eyes on him, he quickly said, “I have no interest in—”

“Shen Zhong! You started reading at the age of three and have studied for thirteen years, yet you can’t even understand such simple words? How do you expect to pass the xiucai exam?”

Shen Yunxuan’s voice wasn’t particularly loud, but every word hit Shen Zhong like a hammer. He felt his spine shrink, his face burning with humiliation, and he wished he could disappear into the ground.

Shen Yunxuan then turned to Old Man Shen. “Well? Do you still think I learned from him? Why would I use his name? To ruin my own reputation? The heavens are not blind—the only one who is blind in both eyes and heart is you.

You think only your precious grandson can bring honor to your family, so you look down on all women. But tell me, did you ever show even the slightest respect to the mother who cared for you tirelessly? I heard she was bedridden before she passed away. Did you ever properly care for her?

As they say, ‘If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked.’ With such a twisted character, you dream of your descendants bringing glory to your family? You have mistaken gravel for pearls and broken tiles for jade.”

She then turned to Old Madam Wu and Wang Xinghua. “There’s no point in arguing with the ignorant and arrogant. Let’s go home. Tonight, I’ll make braised fish with white rice for dinner!”

Old Madam Wu’s face lit up with joy. “Wonderful! I knew you are the most filial! Let’s go, let’s go—time to eat something delicious.”

Wang Xinghua straightened her back as she walked past the Shen family and said with a smile, “Life is truly good now. I feel like I wasted the last ten years.”

Her words were a direct slap to the Shen family’s faces. Old Man Shen flew into a rage, “You—”

“Enough!” Shen Zhong cut him off harshly. “Go home! Haven’t we lost enough face already?”

He turned and strode away quickly, keeping his head down, too ashamed to look up. He felt like a circus monkey, utterly humiliated. The entire village was laughing at him. If it weren’t for Old Man Shen and the rest of the family, how could he have ended up in this embarrassing situation?

Old Man Shen’s curses caught in his throat, his face turning red with anger. The surrounding villagers couldn’t hold back their laughter anymore. The chuckles turned into outright laughter, growing louder and louder. Someone even joked, “Why did Shen Jiayao change his name to Shen Zhong? Who renamed him? Does it mean he’s ‘loyal to his master’?”

The Shen family had never been more humiliated. Heads lowered, they hurried home, eager to question Shen Jiayao—now Shen Zhong. What was going on? Why had he left them to fend for themselves? Could he really not answer Shen Yunxuan’s questions?

Only now did they notice his clothes properly.

Old Madam Shen and Old Man Shen had been to the Li family before, so they immediately recognized the outfit—servant’s attire. Their anger at Shen Yunxuan vanished in an instant, replaced by a desperate need for answers. Their golden grandson… didn’t look so prestigious after all.

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Back home, Shen Yunxuan made braised fish for dinner. In the village, most people didn’t like eating fish because it had too many bones. If one got stuck in the throat, it was unbearably painful—there were even stories of people choking to death. Moreover, since they couldn’t afford to use many seasonings, the fish often turned out overly fishy and unappetizing. Given the choice, villagers preferred to save up and buy pork, especially fatty pork, which was considered more flavorful.

Old Madam Wu and Wang Xinghua had only eaten braised pork twice in their lives. They had never heard of braised fish before. But as the dish simmered, a rich, fragrant aroma filled the air, making their mouths water. Right then, Shen Fu returned home, and Shen Yunxuan added some potatoes and vermicelli into the pot, letting them soften and absorb the flavorful broth. Soon, she served up a large steaming bowl.

They poured fish broth over their rice, mashed some tender potatoes into the grains, and stirred it all together—the taste was unbelievably good. The fish was tender, flavorful, and not inferior to braised pork at all. The vermicelli, soaked in the rich sauce, was so delicious it barely felt like the same food.

Everyone was so busy eating that they hardly spoke. After refilling their bowls twice, Shen Fu finally mentioned that when he had gone to the county office, he had been asked to stay for a while. A steward questioned him about the origins of the hawthorn recipe. He answered truthfully, explaining that Shen Yunxuan loved making food, experimenting, and had adapted the method from travel journals she had read at the bookstore.

The steward had also asked a lot about their family, including the circumstances of their adoption and Shen Zhong’s situation in the Li family. When he finished recounting the conversation, Shen Fu turned to Shen Yunxuan and asked, a bit worried, “I told them everything. That won’t be a problem, will it? Did I mess up your plans?”

Shen Yunxuan shook her head. “No, it’s fine, father. I sent you precisely because I knew you’d be honest. That kind of first impression is better.”

Shen Fu breathed a sigh of relief, then hesitated before asking, “On my way back, I heard people saying Jiayao—I mean, Shen Zhong—has returned to the village?”

Wang Xinghua’s smile immediately disappeared. “Don’t mention him! What happened today was outrageous!”

She recounted the entire afternoon’s events, and Shen Fu was so furious that he shot up, ready to storm off and confront them. Shen Yunxuan quickly stopped him.

“Father, I already put them in their place on the spot. If you go looking for trouble now, it will just make it seem like we’re being unreasonable. No matter what, we share blood ties, and making the situation too ugly wouldn’t look good. What happened earlier was just right—now the whole village sees them as a joke.

“As for their snide remarks, they only say those things because they’re bitter about how well we’re doing. The more they complain, the more the villagers laugh at them.

“But the most pressing issue now is my marriage. They will definitely try to interfere with it.”

“What?!” The three of them were shocked.

Shen Yunxuan laid out several possible scenarios. Each would be troublesome in its own way, dragging her back into entanglements with the Shen family, creating disputes that could damage her reputation and business. Worse, there was the possibility of harassment from the Li family. The only way to completely resolve these issues was for her to get married immediately—specifically, to Old Madam Wu’s grandson.

Old Madam Wu was stunned. From the start, Shen Yunxuan had used the excuse of a “fortune-bringing marriage” to persuade her to help with their adoption. Getting adopted into another family was incredibly difficult. If not for Old Madam Wu’s unique standing in the village—respected by both the village head and the senior elders—breaking ties with the Shen family would have been nearly impossible without severe consequences.

In this era, blood ties were nearly unbreakable. If they wanted to shut down gossip and live in peace, they had to strike first and eliminate any loopholes that could be exploited.

Initially, Old Madam Wu had abandoned the idea of a “fortune-bringing marriage,” feeling it was unfair to let a young girl marry someone whose survival was uncertain. She had instead planned to one day ask Shen Yunxuan to adopt a child in her grandson’s name to continue the family line. But now, Shen Yunxuan was the one suggesting that a real marriage was the best solution.

After hearing Shen Yunxuan’s thorough analysis, they finally understood. Even if Shen Zhong hadn’t returned to propose on behalf of the Li family, their growing wealth would eventually attract trouble. Rather than waiting for others to scheme against them, it was better to act decisively and keep their family united.

Old Madam Wu clenched Shen Yunxuan’s hands tightly and said firmly, “Then let’s get you married! Child, don’t worry. From this moment on, I swear—I will treat you as my own! I will never let you suffer!”

Shen Yunxuan smiled and hugged her. “Grandma, we’ve always been family!”

They continued discussing the details, making plans late into the night. Just as everything was settled, a loud knock came at the door.

Shen Fu and Wang Xinghua exchanged a glance. “It’s already dark—who could it be?”

Shen Fu walked over to open the door. As soon as he saw who was standing outside, his face darkened. “Shen Jiayao—no, Shen Zhong? What are you doing here?”

Old Man Shen’s face was grim as he bellowed, “Your father can come whenever he pleases! Now open the door!”

Old Madam Wu stormed forward, and the moment she saw them, her heart sank. Shen Yunxuan had predicted this exactly—Shen Zhong had come for a marriage proposal.

Furious, she grabbed a broom and swung it at them. “Who let these animals bark outside my house? Get lost!”

Before Shen Zhong could even speak, he and Old Man Shen were beaten back, scrambling to flee.

Shen Zhong turned and glared at Old Man Shen, barely able to contain his rage. These people were completely useless! Instead of helping him, all they ever did was drag him down!

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