SPMT : Chapter 77 – Red-hot Beverage Shop

 

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 had initially considered taking over the business of selling spirit wine, but according to Xiao Jinfeng, the profit margin wasn’t that large, so Wang Lu abandoned the idea.

 

“Third’s(Son) 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 recalled. “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 after all 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 Eldest, 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 place.

 

“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 Jinfeng 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.

 

Zheng Peier clenched her handkerchief. She had written a letter to Xiao Qingyan, but there had been no response. It was truly frustrating.

 

“If my second and third branches continue to develop like this, what will become of our main branch?” Zheng Peier muttered to herself.

 

“Mother, the beverages you brought back aren’t good at all,” Xiao Yuerong came out and said.

 

Zheng Peier retorted impatiently, “Drink them. They won’t kill you.”

 

Originally, Zheng Peier had bought beverages from Xiao Jinfeng’s shop. However, after the Zheng family’s beverage shop opened, she had bought a few cups 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 Zheng Peier’s 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.

 

Zheng Peier’s expression darkened as she remembered the faint spiritual energy contained in Xiao Jinfeng’s beverages. So what Xiao Yuerong said might be true.

 

“Enough, stop making excuses for being greedy,” Zheng Peier snapped.

 

…

 

When Xiao Jinfeng returned home, he heard that Xu Fu had come to make trouble and that Xu Mu’an had been angered into unconsciousness.

 

“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 pay attention. Mu’an has been overworked lately, so 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, admiringly saying, “You’re really efficient!”

 

Xiao Jingting smiled and said, “Not bad, Brother. You should also work hard 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 business in the shop was doing well, and allowed Eldest Brother to intervene, it would lead to endless trouble in the future.

 

Xiao Dong nodded and said, “Yes! Both Brother and I can help.”

 

Curiously, Xiao Fan 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 Fan replied nonchalantly.

 

Xiao Jingting sighed and said, “You’re such a fool.”

 

Xiao Jingting then sent Xiao Dong and Xiao Fan off to bed and 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 wasn’t something anyone could do. Sending Xu Guanghua to manage it was no different from 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, saying, “That’s right.”

 

Back then, Xiao Jingting had strongly opposed this marriage and had made various demands, but Madam, in order to facilitate this marriage, had agreed to all of Xiao Jingting’s requests.

 

In theory, cutting off ties meant there was no need for 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 also came to their house. As a result, the original owner gave him a beating and made the old man 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 looks like we’ll have to find someone to give the old man another beating. Beating the old man might not be effective, but beating his younger son might be more so. Xiao Jingting couldn’t believe that Xu Guanghua didn’t have a hand in arranging to make him the shopkeeper.

 

“The business in the shop, I heard, hasn’t been doing well lately,” Xiao Jingting asked.

 

Xiao Jinfeng nodded and said, “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, saying, “Yes, Mu’an needs to recuperate.”

 

The business at the beverage shop was slow for a few days but suddenly picked up again.

 

As soon as the shop opened, there were people 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 little five-year-old boy had recently arrived in Mocheng. It wasn’t unusual for a regular child not to have started cultivating at the age of five, but this little boy had a father who was at the ninth level of Qi cultivation and was highly esteemed at home. He had never lacked spiritual medicine since childhood. For him not to have started cultivating at the age of five was a bit suspicious.

 

This little boy had someone backing him financially. When he heard that the drinks in the shop were delicious, he spent money and bought dozens of the most expensive new products. After drinking them, he miraculously started cultivating.

 

The little boy, who could finally cultivate, was very happy and came to the shop early every day, buying the most expensive materials.

 

Word got out somehow, and the drinks in the shop were touted as miraculous. Expensive new products that weren’t selling well before suddenly flew off the shelves.

 

Xiao Jinfeng’s brought-over drinks were often sold out.

 

With Mu’an’s condition, Xiao Jingting suggested that Mu Shuyu rent out some of her land and come to help Mu’an.

 

The beverage shop’s business was booming, and making drinks was much more profitable than farming. Mu Shuyu readily agreed.

 

The beverage shop’s business was thriving, so Xiao Jinfeng bought the two adjacent shops as well.

 

Several other beverage shops that opened later in Mocheng didn’t do well, and some quietly closed down.

 

Xiao Jingting paced back and forth around Mu’an, looking like 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, Mu’an smiled helplessly and said, “No need, I just ate about an hour ago, so I’m not hungry at all now.”

 

“Oh,” Xiao Jingting scratched the back of his head, saying, “I forgot.”

 

Seeing Xiao Jingting’s embarrassed expression, Mu’an smiled sweetly, feeling warm inside.

 

Although Xiao Jingting’s body remains that of the original host, his inner self has changed. Regarding Xiao Dong and Xiao Fan, he can see them as both his own children and as the original host’s children. Xiao Jingting may indeed wish to have a child that is entirely his own.

 

“Have a seat. I’m just pregnant, not carrying a bomb. You don’t need to be so nervous,” Mu’an said, rubbing her belly.

 

Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Okay, are you tired? If you feel tired, just leave everything to Second Sister-in-law. I’ll have her 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,” Mu’an replied.

 

Previously, when he was pregnant with Xiao Dong and Xiao Fan, he couldn’t eat well, sleep well, and had to work. The original Xiao Jingting would see him and scold him, saying things like, “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 looked down on him, and the servants naturally followed suit. They would give him leftovers, and some of the food was even spoiled.

 

Despite those difficult days, he managed to get through them. When his pregnancy was discovered this time, he was almost kicked out by Xiao Jingting. Mu’an was not used to it.

 

“What’s wrong? You seem a bit unhappy,” Xiao Jingting asked.

 

Mu’an lifted her head, smiled, and said, “It’s nothing. Can you lie down with me for a while?”

 

Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Of course.”

 

Mu’an turned his head and looked at the person lying beside him, suddenly feeling much more at ease.