The Xiao Family.
“Where did the spirit wine come from?” Xiao Linfeng asked casually.
“I went to Second Son’s shop, and he gave it to me,” Wang Lu replied.
“How’s the business over at Second Son’s place?” Xiao Linfeng inquired.
“It should be doing quite well. Second Son even bought a spatial ring, so it shouldn’t be bad,” Wang Lu remarked.
Xiao Linfeng was surprised. “Second Son bought a spatial ring already?”
Wang Lu nodded. “Yes! But Second Son mentioned that the cost is not low, and the profits are limited.”
Xiao Linfeng took a sip of the spirit wine and commented, “It tastes good, and the spiritual energy is rich.” However, its benefits were limited for him at the eighth level of Qi cultivation. “If it were given to Eldest Son, it might have a better effect.”
Wang Lu nodded in agreement. “Yes! It’s said that they added high-priced spiritual essence powder from outside, so that’s why it has such an effect.”
“If that’s the case, then the cost must be quite high,” Xiao Linfeng remarked.
“Yes,” Wang Lu agreed. He had initially considered taking over the business of selling spirit wine, but according to Xiao Jinfeng, the profit margin wasn’t large, so he abandoned the idea.
“Third Son’s two sons are also helping out at the shop. Third’s youngest son, who was quite foolish when he was born, seems to have grown up quite a bit. Although he’s still a bit slow, he’s not stupid,” Xiao Linfeng observed. “That child seems to have reached the first level of Qi cultivation. Since he’s able to cultivate now, even if he’s a bit foolish, he shouldn’t be too bad.”
Wang Lu nodded. “Those two kids are helping out at the shop, and they seem to be handling things quite well. Eldest Son seems to want to help out too.”
Xiao Linfeng’s expression darkened. “Zheng Peier is from the Zheng family. When we were in trouble, she insisted on divorcing Eldest. If it weren’t for the fact that she gave birth to two somewhat sensible sons for him, I would have asked him to divorce her long ago. Don’t let her manipulate you.”
Wang Lu nodded. “I understand. Sons are more important than daughters-in-law, after all.” Moreover, Zheng Peier was still from the Zheng family. Although the relationship between the Zheng family and the Xiao family seemed good on the surface, there had always been tension behind the scenes.
At Zheng Peier’s Residence.
“Madam, Madame Wang visited the beverage shop and didn’t say anything when she came back,” Zheng Peier’s maid reported.
Zheng Peier frowned. Madame Wang’s silence meant she wasn’t interested in investing in the shop, which wasn’t surprising. Although Madame Wang favored Xiao Qingyan the most, she would only provide subsidies from her own resources. Using resources from Xiao Jinfeng and Xiao Jingting to support Xiao Qingyan would be more difficult.
The Zheng family had also opened a beverage shop, but whether it was due to the quality of the ingredients or the taste, there were very few customers.
Clenching her handkerchief, Zheng Peier muttered to herself, “If the second and third branches continue to develop like this, what will become of our main branch?”
“Mother, the beverages you brought back aren’t good at all,” Xiao Yuerong said as she walked into the room.
“Drink them. They won’t kill you,” Zheng Peier retorted impatiently.
Originally, she had bought beverages from Xiao Jinfeng’s shop. However, after the Zheng family’s beverage shop opened, she had started buying from there instead.
“Mother, the beverages you brought back aren’t good, and the spiritual energy content is low. They say that Third Uncle’s beverages can assist in cultivation. Although they’re more expensive, they’re worth it. Mother, can you buy some for me?” Xiao Yuerong tugged at her sleeve.
“What nonsense. Just because they say something, you believe it? Drinking a beverage won’t enhance your cultivation,” Zheng Peier said irritably.
“How can that be? They all say that Xiao Dong was able to advance to the second level of Qi cultivation so quickly because he drank beverages from the shop every day. Maybe he’s reached the second level, and I haven’t,” Xiao Yuerong argued.
Hearing this, Zheng Peier’s expression darkened as she recalled the faint spiritual energy contained in Xiao Jinfeng’s beverages. Perhaps what Yuerong said was true.
“Enough, stop making excuses for being greedy,” Zheng Peier snapped.
…
When Xiao Jinfeng returned home, he heard that Xu Fu had caused trouble and that Xu Mu’an had fainted from anger.
“Jingting, how is Mu’an?” Xiao Jinfeng asked when he found Xiao Jingting.
“He’s asleep, and we have a new baby,” Xiao Jingting said cheerfully.
Xiao Jinfeng paused for a moment, then exclaimed, “Oh!”
Scratching his head, Xiao Jingting said embarrassedly, “I was too busy before and didn’t notice. Mu’an has been overworked lately, and when his father scolded him today, he fainted. Second Sister-in-law checked on him, and it’s nothing serious, just that he needs some rest.”
Xiao Jinfeng patted Xiao Jingting’s shoulder and said admiringly, “You’re really efficient!”
Xiao Jingting smiled and said, “Not bad, Brother. You should work hard too and have another child.”
“Why the rush? I need to earn more money and build up my wealth,” Xiao Jinfeng replied. “Oh, by the way, Mother came to the shop today.”
Xiao Jingting tilted his head and asked, “Mother? What did she come for?”
“She asked me about the shop’s busy affairs and whether I had time to cultivate. She also asked if I needed help,” Xiao Jinfeng replied.
Rolling his eyes, Xiao Jingting remarked, “She’s too late to ask now that the business is on track.”
“I turned her down,” Xiao Jinfeng said.
Xiao Jingting nodded in agreement, saying, “You did the right thing. We don’t need many people for this small business.” Mother always doted on Eldest Brother the most. If she saw that the shop was doing well and allowed Eldest Brother to intervene, it would lead to endless trouble in the future.
Xiao Xiaodong nodded and said, “Yes! Both Brother and I can help.”
Curiously, Xiao Xiaofan asked, “Father, are you and Mother-Father going to have a baby for me to play with?”
Rolling his eyes, Xiao Jingting said, “It’s to accompany you, not for you to play with.”
“They’re the same thing!” Xiao Xiaofan replied nonchalantly.
Xiao Jingting sighed and said, “You’re such a fool.”
After sending Xiao Xiaodong and Xiao Xiaofan to bed, Xiao Jingting sat down with Xiao Jinfeng.
“What did your father-in-law come to say?” Xiao Jinfeng asked.
“He said that the two kids couldn’t handle the cash at the cold drink shop and wanted to send Mu’an’s younger brother, Xu Guanghua, to help out. Naturally, Mu’an disagreed, and they ended up quarreling,” Xiao Jingting replied.
Xiao Jinfeng sighed. “Managing the shop isn’t something anyone can do. Sending Xu Guanghua to manage it would be inviting trouble.”
“How do you plan to deal with your father-in-law?” Xiao Jinfeng inquired.
“Mu’an signed a contract with our family when he entered our house, and when he married me, he cut off ties with their side to avoid trouble,” Xiao Jingting explained.
Xiao Jinfeng nodded in understanding. “That’s right.”
Back then, Xiao Jingting had strongly opposed the marriage and had made various demands. But Madam, eager to facilitate the marriage, had agreed to all his requests.
In theory, cutting off ties meant no further interaction between the two families, and Xu Mu’an didn’t need to support Xu Fu in his old age.
“But they have no shame. There’s nothing you can do!” Xiao Jinfeng sighed.
Shrugging, Xiao Jingting said, “When dealing with shameless people, you just have to be more shameless than them.”
Back then, after the two families got married, Mr. Xu had come to their house. The original owner had beaten him and made him behave. Maybe it’s been too long, or perhaps it’s because the beverage shop’s business is booming, that old man’s greed has resurfaced.
It seems like someone needs to give the old man another beating. Beating the old man might not be effective, but beating his younger son might work better. Xiao Jingting couldn’t believe that Xu Guanghua didn’t have a hand in arranging to make himself the shopkeeper.
“The business in the shop, I heard, hasn’t been doing well lately,” Xiao Jingting asked.
Xiao Jinfeng nodded. “Yes, but it hasn’t been too bad either.”
“It’s good that the business is slowing down a bit; it’ll give Mu’an a chance to rest,” Xiao Jingting said.
Xiao Jinfeng agreed. “Yes, Mu’an needs to recuperate.”
As soon as the shop opened, people began lining up, and all kinds of beverages were sold out in no time.
Xiao Jinfeng inquired around and found out the reason.
It turned out that a wealthy five-year-old boy had recently arrived in Mocheng. While it wasn’t unusual for a regular child not to start cultivating at the age of five, this boy’s case was different. His father, a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi cultivation and highly esteemed, had provided him with an abundance of spiritual medicine since birth. For him not to have started cultivating at this age was a bit suspicious.
This little boy, who had a strong financial backing, heard that the drinks in the shop were delicious. He spent extravagantly and bought dozens of the most expensive new products. After drinking them, he miraculously began cultivating.
The boy, overjoyed at finally being able to cultivate, started coming to the shop early every day to buy the most expensive beverages. Word quickly spread, and the drinks were touted as miraculous. Expensive products that hadn’t sold well before suddenly flew off the shelves.
Xiao Jinfeng often found that the drinks he brought over were sold out by the time he arrived.
With Xu Mu’an’s condition, Xiao Jingting suggested that Mu Shuyu rent out some of her land and help at the shop instead.
The beverage shop’s booming business made producing drinks far more profitable than farming. Mu Shuyu readily agreed.
With the shop thriving, Xiao Jinfeng bought the two adjacent properties to expand the business.
Several competing beverage shops that opened later in Mocheng couldn’t compete. Some quietly closed down.
Xiao Jingting paced around Xu Mu’an, his demeanor hesitant, as if he wanted to approach but didn’t dare.
“Are you hungry? Shall I make you something to eat?” Xiao Jingting asked.
Seeing Xiao Jingting’s awkwardness, Xu Mu’an smiled helplessly and said, “No need. I ate about an hour ago, so I’m not hungry at all now.”
“Oh,” Xiao Jingting scratched the back of his head, muttering, “I forgot.”
Seeing Xiao Jingting’s embarrassed expression, Xu Mu’an smiled sweetly, warmth spreading in his chest.
Although Xiao Jingting’s body remained that of the original host, his inner self had changed. Regarding Xiao Xiaodong and Xiao Xiaofan, Xiao Jingting could see them as both his own children and as the original host’s. Yet, it was clear that Xiao Jingting wished for a child who was entirely his own.
“Have a seat. I’m just pregnant, not carrying a bomb. You don’t need to be so nervous,” Xu Mu’an said, rubbing his belly.
Xiao Jingting nodded. “Okay. Are you tired? If you feel tired, we can leave everything to Second Sister-in-law. I’ll ask her to rent out the land.”
“I’m not tired. After all, I’m a cultivator at the fifth level of Qi. I’m just pregnant, not disabled,” Xu Mu’an replied.
In the past, when he was pregnant with Xiao Xiaodong and Xiao Xiaofan, life had been much harder. He couldn’t eat or sleep well and had to work constantly. The original Xiao Jingting would often scold him, saying, “You’re pregnant again so soon. You’re really good at giving birth. It wouldn’t surprise me if they weren’t mine but someone else’s illegitimate children.”
Xiao Jingting’s disdain had influenced the servants, who would give Xu Mu’an leftovers—some even spoiled. Despite those challenging days, Xu Mu’an had endured. This time, when his pregnancy was discovered, he had braced himself for rejection. Yet, Xiao Jingting’s care and concern felt so foreign that Xu Mu’an wasn’t used to it.
“What’s wrong? You seem a bit unhappy,” Xiao Jingting asked gently.
Xu Mu’an lifted his head, smiled, and said, “It’s nothing. Can you lie down with me for a while?”
Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Of course.”
Xu Mu’an turned his head to look at the person lying beside him, and for the first time in a long while, he felt at ease.
