SPMT : Chapter 79: Sun Miaoyin’s Annoyance

The Zhou Family.

Sun Miaoyin frowned with a dark expression and said, “Miaomiao, how could you do such a thing?”

Just two thousand taels of silver! Losing face for the Sun family and Xiao Muhong over two thousand taels was not worth it! Moreover, Xiao Jingting completely ignored her. Sun Miaomiao had really embarrassed herself badly this time.

“Actually, you can’t really blame Miss Miaomiao for this. It’s because Xiao Muhong is too useless that Miss Miaomiao ended up like this,” Sun Miaoyin’s maid said.

Sun Miaoyin’s face darkened. Xiao Muhong hadn’t been useless before, but recently…

With Xiao Linfeng and Wang Lu still alive, the situation had completely changed, and Xiao Muhong didn’t dare show his head at all.

“Has Miaomiao been tight on money recently?” Sun Miaoyin asked.

“It shouldn’t be particularly abundant. Miss Miaomiao has always been accustomed to spending money lavishly, and cultivation also costs a lot of silver.”

Sun Miaoyin sighed lightly. Cultivation was truly a bottomless pit!

“Recently Xiao Jingting seems quite well-off. When the second miss went shopping, she encountered Xiao Jingting, and Xiao Jingting bought Xu Mu’an a storage bracelet worth nearly ten thousand taels of silver,” the maid said sourly.

Sun Miaoyin clenched her fists, thinking: Miaomiao was provoked by Xu Mu’an. Miaomiao is now so strapped that she can’t bear to buy a two-thousand-tael dress, while Xiao Jingting bought Xu Mu’an a storage bracelet worth nearly ten thousand taels. What is Xu Mu’an anyway! Yet now Xiao Jingting treasures him in his palm. No wonder Miaomiao feels uncomfortable.

“Xiao Jinfeng’s shop is doing very well?” Sun Miaoyin said.

“That’s right! It seems the shop has expanded considerably and is still hiring people. I heard that merchant caravans from other towns come to purchase beverages,” the maid said.

Sun Miaoyin felt an indescribable feeling in her heart – stuffy and sour.

“Miss, no matter how well Xiao Jinfeng’s shop operates, it’s just having some money. Young Master Zhou is at the sixth layer of Qi Refining,” the maid said, looking at Sun Miaoyin’s expression.

Sun Miaoyin nodded and said, “Yes!”

…

The incident of Sun Miaomiao being publicly rejected also reached Zheng Pei’er’s ears.

Hearing about this, Zheng Pei’er was full of schadenfreude.

Zheng Pei’er said mockingly, “Times have changed. This Miss Sun still thinks Xiao Jingting is that same impulsive young man from back then, that she could just crook her finger and have Xiao Jingting completely infatuated with her.”

Previously, when the main branch was in power and Sun Miaomiao married into the family, she had often made sarcastic remarks to Zheng Pei’er. Later, when Xiao Linfeng and Wang Lu returned, Zheng Pei’er would provoke Sun Miaomiao whenever possible. The two had maintained this tacit understanding.

“Exactly! Xiao Jingting looks down on her now. Besides, Miss Sun is too improper. She’s already married to Xiao Muhong but still says such things to Xiao Jingting,” the maid said.

Zheng Pei’er nodded and said, “Isn’t that right? Previously acting all high and mighty, but deep down she’s just a lowly woman.” Sun Miaomiao making such a big joke would give her plenty to laugh about for a while.

“I heard Miss Sun saw Young Master Jingting buying a storage bracelet for Xu Mu’an, so she insisted that Young Master Jingting buy her that silk dress,” the maid said.

The arrogant expression on Zheng Pei’er’s face faded.

Zheng Pei’er knew that Xiao Jingting had previously bought two storage rings – keeping one and giving one to Xiao Jinfeng. How long had it been? Now he was buying Xu Mu’an a storage bracelet again. It seemed he really was making quite a lot. Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng were sticking together.

“The young master will be back soon. It seems he’s attempting to break through to the sixth layer at the academy,” the maid said.

Zheng Pei’er smiled. No matter how successful Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng were, they were just earning some money. Once Xiao Qingyan reached the ninth layer of Qi Refining, getting any amount of money would just be a wave of his hand.

The old master at home did nothing all day but seclude himself to attempt Foundation Establishment breakthrough, yet people still sent him money.

…

Sun Qi sat in the restaurant across from the beverage shop, his eyes occasionally scanning the bustling beverage shop below.

“The beverage shop’s business really is good!” Sun Qi said.

“That’s right! Now the young ones at home clamor every day to drink beverages from the shop. They don’t even look at the one-tael silver ones – they want to drink the three-tael silver ones. Each one relies on being young to act cute and please the elders, who spoil them,” Zheng Liming said resentfully.

Sun Qi’s eyes turned red. “I heard Xiao Jinfeng is just helping Xiao Jingting. Xiao Jingting is the real boss behind this beverage shop!”

“I heard that. Xiao Jingting is quite arrogant now – he doesn’t even acknowledge Miss Sun Miaomiao,” Zheng Liming said.

Sun Qi frowned. Sun Miaomiao saying such things in public had gotten Sun Miaomiao’s father severely scolded by other family elders.

That guy Sun Hao was ridiculous. Because Sun Miaomiao lost face with Xiao Jingting, and because of his previous good relationship with Xiao Jingting, he was actually causing trouble for him everywhere.

He used to follow Xiao Jingting around, but now that Xiao Jingting had made it big, he no longer cared about him.

“Xiao Jingting has a very good relationship with that Xu Mu’an now. He even bought Xu Mu’an a ten-thousand-tael storage bracelet,” Zheng Liming said.

“I heard.” Sun Miaomiao had said those words because of that bracelet.

That guy Xiao Jingting was really strange. Before, when he saw Miss Sun, he immediately became a tail-wagging dog, but now he kept Miss Sun at a respectful distance. A person’s change could actually be this dramatic. However, this wasn’t strange either – before, Sun Miaomiao was a pure and innocent young lady, but now she was a married woman.

Sun Qi sighed lightly, thinking: If only Xiao Jingting were still as easy to fool as before.

…

“The spiritual spring water has been upgrading quite quickly recently.” After the shop’s business picked up, Xiao Jingting had exchanged all his surplus silver for medium and high-grade spirit jade. High-grade spirit jade indeed had effects on the spiritual spring water again.

“If you have money, don’t spend it recklessly. Try to use it all to upgrade the spiritual spring,” Xu Mu’an said.

Strength was fundamental. They were all using the spiritual spring to cultivate now. If the spiritual spring’s quality improved, their cultivation progress would accelerate.

“I know, but necessary expenses still need to be made. By the way, recently it seems someone has been stealing things from my land. They must have discovered that what I grow is special,” Xiao Jingting said.

Xu Mu’an nodded and said, “That’s expected.”

The beverage shop’s business made people envious. Those people couldn’t possibly give up easily. Fortunately, this was still the Xiao family’s territory, so those people didn’t dare go too far.

“Mu’an, you really have foresight.” Xiao Jingting had been boasting about the spirit tower to people recently, so those people’s attention was all focused on the spirit tower.

Xu Mu’an’s face slightly reddened as he said, “That’s nothing much.”

Xiao Jingting looked at Xu Mu’an’s cute appearance and lightly pecked him on the lips, causing Xu Mu’an to become flustered.

Xiao Jingting thought privately: The original host really didn’t know how to appreciate his blessings. Having such an ice-smart wife but not liking him, instead preferring someone willful and crazy like Sun Miaomiao who didn’t even regard him as important.

Xiao Jingting touched Xu Mu’an’s belly and said, “I wonder if it’s a boy, girl, or ger in there.”

“What kind do you prefer?” Xu Mu’an asked tentatively.

“I like them all,” Xiao Jingting said.

Xu Mu’an looked at Xiao Jingting’s expression and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. In this world, many parents looked down on gers. He was despised by his father everywhere because of his ger identity. However, Xiao Jingting wasn’t like that. Between Xiaofan and Xiaodong, Xiao Jingting seemed to prefer the silly younger son more.

“Have you noticed that Xiaofan seems much smarter?” Xu Mu’an asked.

“Our son was never stupid!” Xiao Jingting said matter-of-factly.

“He had brain damage from a high fever before, and his spiritual sea had some problems. But recently, he seems much better,” Xu Mu’an said.

Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Yes! Second brother even praises Xiaofan for being capable.”

As Xiao Jingting and Xu Mu’an were talking, Xiao Xiaofan bounced in.

“Father, father-mother, second uncle is here,” Xiao Xiaofan said.

Hearing this, Xiao Jingting and Xu Mu’an got up and walked out.

“Parents want us to go back?” Xiao Jingting asked with some surprise.

Xiao Jinfeng nodded and said, “Yes.”

Xiao Jingting rubbed his chin and said, “Why did they suddenly think of having us return?”

“Eldest brother is back on leave,” Xiao Jinfeng said.

Xiao Jingting: “…” No wonder they thought of them. Was Xiao Qingyan trying to show off?

“Eldest brother advanced to the sixth layer of Qi Refining,” Xiao Jinfeng said.

Xiao Jingting was surprised and said, “So fast?”

Xiao Jinfeng nodded and said, “Yes! Coming from Emerald Peak Academy really makes a difference.”

Xiao Jingting: “…”

…

“Big brother, you’re up,” Zhou Kangqi said, surrounding Zhou Kanghe.

Zhou Kanghe straightened his clothes, glanced at Zhou Kangqi, and asked indifferently, “What’s the matter?”

Zhou Kangqi said with a serious expression, “Big brother, that Xiao Qingyan from the Xiao family has advanced to the sixth layer of Qi Refining.”

Zhou Kanghe nodded unconcernedly and said, “I know.”

Zhou Kangqi looked at Zhou Kanghe and said, “Big brother, why aren’t you worried?”

Zhou Kanghe said calmly, “What’s there to worry about? I’m also a student at Emerald Peak Academy. I know exactly how he advanced.”

Zhou Kangqi asked with some surprise, “Brother, what do you mean?”

Zhou Kanghe said indifferently, “The academy has several alchemists with exquisite pill-refining skills who can create elixirs. Every student at the academy has one chance to purchase Spirit-Breaking Pills. This medicine is effective for people at the fifth, sixth, and seventh layers of Qi Refining to break through, but generally only works the first time. I estimate Xiao Qingyan took that pill.”

The academy was quite strict with students below the fifth layer of Qi Refining, but much more lenient with those at the sixth layer. Sixth-layer cultivators who wanted to go out and adventure only needed to report to the academy once every three months.

Zhou Kangqi looked at Zhou Kanghe with envy and said, “The academy has such good things!”

Zhou Kanghe nodded and said, “Yes! Otherwise, why do you think so many people fight to get into the academy, but only a rare few can enter?”

Zhou Kangqi smiled sheepishly and said, “Yes, yes!”

“Xiao Qingyan was probably forced by his two brothers and had no choice but to buy and consume that pill early. Most who can enter the academy are heaven’s favored children. Only those with the worst talent choose to consume pills to break through at the fifth layer of Qi Refining. Many senior students wait until the seventh layer to take pills for advancement,” Zhou Kanghe said.

Zhou Kangqi looked at Zhou Kanghe with admiration and said, “So that’s how it is! But Xiao Qingyan has still advanced to the sixth layer of Qi Refining.”

“He’s seeking his own destruction. Taking such high-level pills so early will greatly impact his future cultivation,” Zhou Kanghe said disdainfully.

Zhou Kangqi narrowed his eyes and said, “So Xiao Qingyan will have trouble advancing in the future.”

Zhou Kanghe nodded and said, “Exactly. Being so eager for quick success, I think this guy Xiao Qingyan will at most stop at the seventh layer of Qi Refining. His parents are still hoping he’ll rise to prominence and successfully build his foundation.”

Hearing Zhou Kanghe’s words, Zhou Kangqi couldn’t help feeling schadenfreude. “That’s right.”

“Rather than worrying about Xiao Qingyan, we should worry about his two brothers. I think those two guys Xiao Jinfeng and Xiao Jingting seem somewhat complicated,” Zhou Kanghe said, tapping the table lightly with his finger.

“Brother, exactly! Those two brothers have been very ostentatious recently!” Sun Miaomiao seemed to regret marrying Xiao Muhong and wanted to cuckold him. Who knows about Sun Miaoyin…

Zhou Kangqi smiled inwardly. His big brother was different from that coward Xiao Muhong. As long as Sun Miaoyin wasn’t stupid, she would definitely choose his big brother.

Thinking of Xiao Jinfeng, Zhou Kangqi unconsciously clenched his fists. He was only at the fourth layer of Qi Refining while Xiao Jinfeng was already at the fifth layer. That poison master who gave him the poison had clearly said that after being poisoned like that, future advancement would be very difficult.

Zhou Kangqi had a grudge against Xiao Jinfeng. Previously, in the wilderness, Xiao Jinfeng had severely beaten Zhou Kangqi. Zhou Kangqi had always held a grudge against Xiao Jinfeng. Zhou Kangqi had originally spared Xiao Jinfeng’s life because he wanted to see Xiao Jinfeng fall into decline. Who knew that guy Xiao Jinfeng would actually make a comeback.