SPMT : Chapter 77 – Red-hot Beverage Shop

The Xiao Family.

“Where did this spirit wine come from?” Xiao Linfeng asked casually.

“I went to second brother’s shop. Second brother gave it to me,” Wang Lu said.

“How’s second brother’s business doing?” Xiao Linfeng asked.

“It should be pretty good. Second brother even bought a spatial ring, so it can’t be too bad.”

Xiao Linfeng was full of surprise and said, “Second brother already bought a spatial ring?”

Wang Lu nodded and said, “Yes! However, second brother said the costs aren’t low either, and the profits are limited.”

Xiao Linfeng took a bottle of spirit wine and drank it down, saying, “The taste is good, and the spiritual energy is rich.” However, it had limited benefits for him at the eighth layer of Qi Refining. If eldest brother drank it, it should have good effects.

Wang Lu nodded and said, “Yes! I heard they add expensive spiritual energy powder purchased from outside, so that’s why it has this effect.”

“If that’s the case, then the costs aren’t low either!” Xiao Linfeng said.

“Exactly!” Wang Lu had originally wanted to take over the spirit wine business, but according to Xiao Jinfeng’s explanation, the profits weren’t large, so Wang Lu dismissed the idea.

“Third brother’s two sons are also in the shop. Third brother’s younger son, when he was just born, seemed foolish, but now looking at him, although his reactions are still somewhat slow, he’s not stupid.”

Xiao Linfeng recalled Xiao Xiaofan’s appearance, “That child seems to have reached the first layer of Qi Refining too. Since he can get started with cultivation, even if he’s foolish, he can’t be that bad.”

Wang Lu nodded and said, “Those two children help in the shop and handle things quite orderly. Eldest brother’s family seems to want to help out.”

Xiao Linfeng’s face darkened, and he said, “Zheng Pei’er is from the Zheng family after all. When we two had problems, she was making a fuss about divorcing eldest brother. If it weren’t for the fact that she bore eldest brother two reasonably sensible sons, I would have had eldest brother divorce her long ago. Don’t let her lead you around by the nose.”

Wang Lu nodded and said, “I know. Sons are more important than daughters-in-law after all.” Moreover, Zheng Pei’er was from the Zheng family. The Zheng family and Xiao family had good relations on the surface, but they’d been competing secretly.

At Zheng Pei’er’s place.

“Madam, Lady Wang went to the beverage shop and didn’t say anything when she returned,” Zheng Pei’er’s maid said.

Zheng Pei’er frowned. Wang Lu saying nothing obviously meant she wasn’t planning to target the shop anymore. This wasn’t surprising – Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng were also Wang Lu’s children. Although Wang Lu favored Xiao Qingyan the most, at most she would use her own things to subsidize Xiao Qingyan. Taking things from Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng to subsidize Xiao Qingyan would be more difficult.

The Zheng family had also opened a beverage shop, but whether it was a problem with ingredients or taste, after opening, very few people patronized it.

Zheng Pei’er clutched the handkerchief in her hand. The letter she wrote to Xiao Qingyan had no response at all. It was really maddening.

If the second and third branches continued developing like this, what future would their main branch have?

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

Zheng Pei’er said irritably, “Drink, drink, drink – it won’t kill you.”

Zheng Pei’er originally bought all beverages from Xiao Jingting’s shop, but after the Zheng family’s beverage shop opened, Zheng Pei’er switched to bringing back a few cups from there.

“Mother, the beverage you bought back really doesn’t taste good, and the spiritual energy is low too. Everyone says the beverages in Third Uncle’s shop can assist with cultivation. Although they’re more expensive, they’re worth the price. Mother, help me buy some,” Xiao Yuerong said, tugging at Zheng Pei’er’s sleeve.

“How could that be! Don’t just follow what others say. Drinking beverages and leveling up – as if!” Zheng Pei’er said.

“How is there not! Everyone says Xiao Xiaodong was able to advance to the second layer of Qi Refining so quickly because he drank beverages from the shop. That little fool drinks beverages like water every day. Maybe he’s advanced to the second level while I still haven’t advanced to the second level,” Xiao Yuerong said.

Zheng Pei’er’s face darkened, remembering that Xiao Jingting’s beverages contained faint spiritual energy. So what Xiao Yuerong said was very likely true.

“Enough, making excuses for being greedy,” Zheng Pei’er said irritably.

…

When Xiao Jinfeng returned home, he heard about Xu Fu coming to cause trouble and Xu Mu’an fainting from anger.

“Jingting, how is Mu’an?” Xiao Jinfeng found Xiao Jingting and asked.

“He’s sleeping. We’re having a baby,” Xiao Jingting said happily.

Xiao Jinfeng was stunned and said, “Ah!”

Xiao Jingting scratched his head, full of embarrassment, and said, “I was too busy before and didn’t notice. Mu’an has been too tired recently, so today when his father provoked him, he fainted. Second sister-in-law examined him and said it’s nothing serious, just needs rest.”

Xiao Jinfeng patted Xiao Jingting’s shoulder, full of admiration, and said, “Your efficiency is really high!”

Xiao Jingting smiled and said, “Not bad. Brother, you can work hard too and have another one.”

“What’s the rush? I need to earn more money, save up more for a wife,” Xiao Jinfeng said. “By the way, mother came to the shop today.”

Xiao Jingting tilted his head and said, “Mother, what did she come for?”

“She asked if I was busy with shop matters and whether I still had time to cultivate, and if I needed help,” Xiao Jinfeng said.

Xiao Jingting rolled his eyes. Not saying anything early or late, but only coming to talk when business was already on track.

“I declined for you,” Xiao Jinfeng said.

Xiao Jingting agreed completely and said, “You did right. We only have this little business – we don’t need many people.” Mother loved eldest brother the most. If she saw the shop’s business was good and let eldest brother get involved, there would be endless troubles afterward.

Xiao Xiaodong nodded and said, “Yes! My brother and I can both help.”

Xiao Xiaofan bit his finger, full of curiosity, and said, “Father, is father-mother making a little baby for me to play with?”

Xiao Jingting rolled his eyes and said, “To play with you, not for you to play with.”

“It’s all the same!” Xiao Xiaofan said matter-of-factly.

Xiao Jingting: “…”

“Idiot,” Xiao Xiaodong snorted lightly.

Xiao Jingting: “…”

Xiao Jingting sent Xiao Xiaodong and Xiao Xiaofan to sleep, then sat facing Xiao Jinfeng.

“What did your father-in-law come to say?” Xiao Jinfeng asked.

“He said having the two children handle money at the cold drink shop couldn’t maintain control, and wanted Mu’an’s brother Xu Guanghua to watch the shop. Mu’an naturally disagreed, so they quarreled,” Xiao Jingting said.

Xiao Jinfeng: “…” Being a shop manager wasn’t something just anyone could do. Having Xu Guanghua watch the shop – what difference was there between that and putting a mouse in a rice barrel?

“How do you plan to handle your father-in-law?” Xiao Jinfeng asked.

“When Mu’an entered our family, he signed an indenture contract. And when he married me, to avoid trouble, he severed ties with his family,” Xiao Jingting said.

Xiao Jinfeng nodded and said, “That’s right.”

Xiao Jingting had strongly opposed the marriage back then, constantly making trouble and proposing various excessive demands. To facilitate the marriage, his eldest aunt had agreed to all of Xiao Jingting’s demands. Logically, after severing ties, the two families shouldn’t interact, and Xu Mu’an wouldn’t need to support Xu Fu in his old age.

Xu Mu’an’s status in the Xu family had been very low back then. The Xiao family had easily gotten Xu Mu’an to sever relations with his family for just a few dozen taels of silver.

“But when people are shameless, you can’t do anything about it!” Xiao Jinfeng said.

Xiao Jingting shrugged and said, “To deal with shameless people, you can only be more shameless than them.”

Back then, after the two families’ marriage, Xu Fu had also come to visit, but the original host had beaten him out, which immediately made the old man behave. It was probably because too much time had passed, or possibly because the beverage shop’s business was too good, that the old man’s heart was stirred again.

It looked like they’d have to find someone to beat the old man up again. Beating the old man might not be very useful – beating his younger son might be more effective. Xiao Jingting didn’t believe that arranging for Xu Guanghua to be manager didn’t have Xu Guanghua’s involvement behind it.

“I heard the shop’s business hasn’t been very good recently,” Xiao Jingting asked.

Xiao Jinfeng nodded and said, “Yes, but it’s not too bad either.”

“It’s good that business is a bit slower. Mu’an can’t be too tired recently anyway,” Xiao Jingting said.

Xiao Jinfeng nodded and said, “Yes! Mu’an needs rest.”

…

The beverage shop’s business had been slow for a few days, then suddenly picked up.

As soon as the shop opened, people came to queue up. No matter what kind of beverage it was, everything was sold out immediately.

Xiao Jinfeng inquired around and finally learned the reason.

It turned out that a five-year-old wealthy young master had recently come to Desert City. The young master was five years old but still hadn’t entered Qi Refining. For ordinary children, not entering Qi Refining at five wasn’t strange, but this young master had a father at the ninth layer of Qi Refining. He was a late-born son with very high status in the family and had never lacked spiritual medicines since childhood. Not entering Qi Refining at five was somewhat unreasonable.

That young master had backing and was wealthy. After coming to Desert City, he heard the shop’s beverages were delicious, so he spent money to buy over ten cups of the most expensive new products. After drinking them, he actually naturally entered Qi Refining.

The young master who finally managed to enter Qi Refining was very happy. Every day he ran to the shop early, buying spirit wine and the most expensive ingredients.

Somehow the news spread, and the shop’s beverages were talked about as if they were miraculous. The expensive new products that hadn’t been selling well suddenly had explosive sales.

The beverages Xiao Jinfeng brought were often sold out completely.

Since Xu Mu’an was pregnant and it wasn’t convenient for him to work, Xiao Jingting suggested having Mu Shuyu rent out some of the farmland and come help Xu Mu’an.

The beverage shop’s business was excellent, so making beverages was naturally much more profitable than farming. Mu Shuyu readily agreed.

With the beverage shop’s business booming, Xiao Jinfeng also took over the two adjacent shops.

The several beverage shops that opened later in Desert City had poor business. Some opened quietly and closed quietly.

…

Xiao Jingting paced back and forth around Xu Mu’an, looking like he wanted to approach but didn’t dare.

“Are you hungry? Should I make you something to eat?” Xiao Jingting said.

Xu Mu’an looked at Xiao Jingting spinning around and smiled helplessly, saying, “No need. I ate just an hour ago and I’m not hungry at all now.”

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

Xu Mu’an looked at Xiao Jingting’s embarrassed appearance, smiled sweetly, and felt warm in his heart.

Although Xiao Jingting’s body was still the original one, the core had already changed. Xiaodong and Xiaofan could be said to be his children, but could also be said to belong to the original person. Xiao Jingting probably still hoped to have a child that completely belonged to him.

“Sit down. I’m just pregnant with a child, not a bomb. You don’t need to be so nervous,” Xu Mu’an said, touching his belly.

Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Alright. Are you tired? If you feel tired, just leave everything to second sister-in-law. I’ll have second sister-in-law rent out all the farmland.”

“I’m not tired. I’m a cultivator at the fifth layer of Qi Refining after all. I’m pregnant, not disabled,” Xu Mu’an said.

Before, when he was pregnant with Xiaodong and Xiaofan, he couldn’t eat well or sleep well, had to work, and the original Xiao Jingting would scold him whenever he saw him. When he was pregnant with Xiaofan, Xiao Jingting always said, “Getting pregnant again so quickly, you’re really fertile. Could it be that it’s not mine at all, but someone else’s bastard?”

Xiao Jingting looked down on him, so the servants naturally followed suit. The meals sent to him were leftovers, some even spoiled.

He had still gotten through those difficult days. This time, after his pregnancy was discovered, he was almost worshipped by Xiao Jingting. Xu Mu’an was actually not used to it.

“What’s wrong? What are you thinking about? You look like you’re not very happy,” Xiao Jingting said.

Xu Mu’an raised his head, smiled, and said, “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 suddenly felt much more secure.