While Xiao Jingting and others were eating dumplings at home, the door was kicked open. Everyone in the room simultaneously looked toward the entrance.
“Eldest brother, why are you here?” Xiao Jinfeng asked.
“You’re in quite a good mood!” Xiao Qingyan said coldly and sarcastically.
Xiao Xiaofan bit his chopsticks and said, “Eldest uncle, are you here to eat dumplings too? But we’ve eaten almost everything – there’s none left.”
As Xiao Xiaofan spoke, he clutched his bowl to his chest and frantically shoved the remaining dumplings into his mouth.
Xiao Xiaodong looked at Xiao Xiaofan’s food-guarding behavior and snorted lightly, “Idiot.” Xiao Xiaodong thought privately: This guy Xiao Qingyan thinks he’s superior. Would such a person covet Xiao Xiaofan’s leftover dumplings? Oh dear, Xiao Xiaofan even drooled into his bowl – how pathetic.
Xiao Xiaofan buried his head in eating, not bothering with Xiao Xiaodong’s mockery.
“Eldest brother, please sit,” Xiao Jingting said, bringing over a chair.
“Don’t give me that act. Which one of you two went to our parents to spread gossip?” Xiao Qingyan said aggressively.
Xiao Jingting quickly said, “I didn’t!”
Xiao Qingyan’s gaze swept between Xiao Jinfeng and Xiao Jingting, saying, “You two better be careful. Don’t think your petty tricks will be useful. Don’t think that just because you can earn some money now, you’re so great.”
Xiao Jingting: “…”
Xiao Qingyan came aggressively and left in a huff, leaving everyone in the room looking at each other.
Xiao Jingting looked at Xiao Jinfeng and said, “Second brother, did you go find father and mother?”
“No.” Where would he find the time for such things? Besides, parents loved Xiao Qingyan the most. What was he compared to Xiao Qingyan? If he ran to their parents about this, he’d mostly be accused of sowing discord. Even if Xiao Qingyan remained at the sixth layer of Qi Refining for life, in their parents’ hearts, Xiao Qingyan’s status would probably still be higher than his.
“I thought so,” Xiao Jingting nodded.
“Eldest brother has quite a temper!” Mu Shuyu said somewhat sarcastically.
Xu Mu’an looked at Xiao Jinfeng and said, “Second brother, you argued with Zhou Kangqi today at the beverage shop entrance.”
Xiao Jinfeng nodded and said, “Yes!”
Xu Mu’an smiled and said, “Then it’s not strange at all that the news reached our parents’ ears! It would be stranger if it didn’t spread.” Xiao Jinfeng and Zhou Kangqi arguing at the beverage shop entrance, with people coming and going, naturally the news would spread quickly. This guy Xiao Qingyan immediately assumed his two younger brothers were responsible when something happened – truly absurd.
Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Exactly!” The original host’s parents weren’t pushovers either. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to make the main branch submit so completely upon their return. With such formidable parents, their intelligence network must be quite comprehensive.
Xiao Xiaofan listened to the adults’ conversation, turning his eyes left and right, wanting to speak several times but stopping.
“Xiaofan, what do you want to say?” Mu Shuyu asked.
Xiao Xiaofan held up his bowl and said, “There’s no more food. Can I have another bowl?”
Xiao Jingting: “…”
“Alright, I’ll get you more. There seems to be some left in the pot,” Xiao Jingting said.
Xiao Xiaofan raised his hand and said, “Brother also said there’s not enough. He wants more too.”
Xiao Xiaodong’s face reddened slightly, but he didn’t refute Xiao Xiaofan’s words. Xiao Jingting glanced at Xiao Xiaodong, smiled, and said, “If Xiaodong doesn’t have enough either, let’s add more for both.”
Xiao Xiaofan bit into a dumpling, tilted his head, and said, “Dad, eldest uncle looks very irritable! I heard that people who take drugs are all very irritable!”
Xiao Jingting: “…”
“Your eldest uncle didn’t take drugs. Don’t talk nonsense,” Xu Mu’an warned.
“Father-mother, I heard everything. You’re still lying to me,” Xiao Xiaofan pouted.
Xiao Jingting: “…”
“Just eat. With so much food, it still can’t shut your mouth,” Xu Mu’an said irritably.
…
Xiao Qingyan paced in circles in his room, feeling depressed.
Zheng Pei’er looked at Xiao Qingyan and said, “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Xiao Qingyan replied.
Xiao Qingyan’s face was dark. He had originally thought taking pills was nothing serious. Even if it left some hidden problems, he had advanced after all! Even if his parents knew, it wouldn’t matter. But Xiao Qingyan discovered that things hadn’t developed as he imagined. His parents’ attitude toward him had become much colder.
Those in the family who had originally flattered him for advancing to the sixth layer of Qi Refining were now hiding behind his back, saying he was short-sighted and had wasted his great future.
Xiao Qingyan gritted his teeth. Although he felt he had done nothing wrong, looking at the current situation, he couldn’t help feeling worried.
“Are Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng’s shop really doing that well?” Xiao Qingyan asked.
Zheng Pei’er nodded and said, “Yes!”
Before Xiao Qingyan returned to the academy, he had declared that Xiao Jingting’s shop would definitely fail. Later, when Zheng Pei’er wrote saying the shop’s business was very good, extremely good, Xiao Qingyan became somewhat embarrassed and angry. Zheng Pei’er’s consecutive letters all described how capable Xiao Jinfeng and Xiao Jingting were and how profitable the shop was. In a fit of anger, Xiao Qingyan stopped reading Zheng Pei’er’s letters.
“I’ll go take a look at that shop.” Times had changed, his parents’ attitude toward him had changed considerably, and his two younger brothers had become much more capable than before. He needed to probe his two brothers’ depths.
“Why don’t you apologize to father and mother first?” Zheng Pei’er suggested carefully.
Zheng Pei’er could see that since Xiao Qingyan’s unpleasant parting with Xiao Linfeng and Wang Lu a few days ago, his parents’ attitude toward Xiao Qingyan had become much colder. With Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng’s careers flourishing, if he lost his parents’ favor at this time, the consequences would be unthinkable.
“Apologize? What should I apologize for? That’s ridiculous,” Xiao Qingyan said dismissively.
Zheng Pei’er looked at Xiao Qingyan’s stubborn appearance and sighed inwardly. Xiao Qingyan had been smooth sailing since childhood and spoiled by Xiao Linfeng and Wang Lu. To make him bow his head was really…
Xiao Qingyan actually somewhat regretted being stubborn with Xiao Linfeng last time, but since it was done, Xiao Qingyan couldn’t bring himself to back down, so he could only remain stiff.
…
At the Dessert Shop.
Xiao Xiaodong stood in front of the counter and said dejectedly, “Business isn’t very good today!”
Xiao Jinfeng said helplessly, “It’s raining today, so business being a bit slow isn’t strange.”
Xiao Xiaodong tilted his head and said, “Second uncle, after we close up, let’s go shopping!”
“You want to go shopping?” Xiao Jinfeng asked.
Xiao Xiaodong nodded and said, “Yes! I have lots of profit shares. I want to buy some things as gifts for father and father-mother. Father-mother’s birthday is coming up.”
Xiao Jinfeng rubbed Xiao Xiaodong’s head and said, “How thoughtful. Do you have enough money? If not, second uncle has some.”
Xiao Xiaodong shook his head and said, “No need. I have money.”
Xiao Xiaofan lay by the window, constantly looking outside.
“Xiaofan, what are you looking at?” Xiao Jinfeng asked.
“I think I just saw eldest uncle. Eldest uncle and eldest aunt are really alike – they both like to stand outside and peek secretly. So strange. No wonder people say birds of a feather flock together,” Xiao Xiaofan said.
Xiao Xiaodong looked at Xiao Xiaofan and said, “Are you sure you didn’t see wrong? I didn’t see anything.”
Xiao Xiaofan shook his head and said, “Brother, all you see is money. How could you see eldest uncle?”
Xiao Xiaodong: “…” What did Xiao Xiaofan mean by that? Was he saying he was money-obsessed?
Xiao Jinfeng smiled and said, “Alright, alright. I’ll let you off early today. Clean up and we’ll go browse the market.”
Xiao Xiaodong nodded eagerly and said, “Great! Great!”
…
Xiao Jingting entered the door and looked at Xu Mu’an, saying, “Where did this pillow come from?”
“Xiaodong bought it. It’s a birthday gift for me. It’s filled with heavenly floss cotton, which has a calming and mind-focusing effect. He also bought you one,” Xu Mu’an said.
“Xiaodong is so thoughtful. Did Xiaofan give anything?” Xiao Jingting said.
Xu Mu’an nodded and said, “He did. He gave me lots of stones.”
“Stones?” Xiao Jingting said with surprise. This guy Xiao Xiaofan loved eating the most! He had thought the little guy would give snacks, but instead he gave a pile of stones. When did this guy start liking stones?
“They’re all over there,” Xu Mu’an said, pointing to the corner where large and small stones of various shapes were piled.
“These are raw stones?” Xiao Jingting asked.
Xu Mu’an nodded and said, “Yes! Xiaofan saw a stone gambling shop and saw people going in to gamble on stones, so he followed them in.”
Xiao Jingting: “…” Who would have thought that his silly son would have such a high-class hobby as stone gambling!
“Wasn’t second brother watching from the side?” Xiao Jingting asked. Xiao Jinfeng should be most opposed to gambling.
Xu Mu’an nodded and said, “Yes! Second brother said originally when Xiaofan wanted to enter the shop, he thought the child just wanted to see the world, so he took him in. After entering, Xiaofan picked a bunch of stones, and he didn’t think much of it. Finally, when Xiaofan said he wanted to buy them, he realized Xiaofan was serious.”
“Second brother originally wanted to refuse, but Xiaofan threw a tantrum on the ground, hugging second brother’s leg and crying, so second brother was helpless.”
Xiao Jingting: “…” Hmph, he thought Xiao Jinfeng was so capable, but he couldn’t even handle a small child.
Xiao Jinfeng wasn’t so polite to the original host! In his memory, when he learned the original host was gambling, that guy Xiao Jinfeng scolded him bloody. If Xiao Jinfeng had shown the same resolve against Xiaofan as he did against the original host, Xiaofan would definitely have been scared off.
“Let me cut them open and see,” Xiao Jingting said.
Xu Mu’an nodded and said, “Alright.”
…
In the main hall.
Xiao Xiaofan sat on a high chair, swinging his feet and munching on a steamed bun with relish.
“Brother, why are you staring at me like that? Do you want some too?” Xiao Xiaofan asked, holding up his bun.
Xiao Xiaodong shook his head and said, “Of course not. I’m just wondering why you gave father-mother a pile of stones.”
Xiao Xiaofan puffed out his cheeks and said, “Those stones feel very comfortable to touch.”
Xiao Xiaodong asked in confusion, “How are they comfortable?”
“They just are! But father-mother didn’t even praise me,” Xiao Xiaofan said somewhat aggrievedly.
“You bought a pile of broken stones and expect father-mother to praise you?” Xiao Xiaodong said irritably.
Xiao Xiaofan’s face darkened and he said, “What’s wrong with my stones? My stones cost much more than your pillow.”
Xiao Xiaodong nodded – indeed they were much more expensive. “Money shouldn’t be spent so recklessly.”
Xiao Xiaofan turned his face away and said, “I don’t want to talk to you anymore, and I won’t share my bun with you either.”
Xiao Xiaodong: “… You still owe me three thousand taels. Remember to add interest.”
Xiao Xiaofan looked at Xiao Xiaodong somewhat aggrievedly and said, “I know. When I make big money, I’ll definitely pay you back.”
…
In the room, Xiao Jingting looked at the stones that had been cut open piece by piece and swallowed hard. My god! What kind of luck did his son have! Every single stone that was opened actually contained something, with the least valuable being medium-grade spirit jade.
“This seems to be a spirit pearl,” Xu Mu’an said, holding a perfectly round, translucent orb. The spiritual energy in this one pearl was equivalent to hundreds of high-grade spirit jade pieces. What kind of luck did their son have?
“If we had known our son had this ability, why would we need to work so hard at business!” Xiao Jingting said somewhat dazedly.
Xu Mu’an handed the spirit pearl to Xiao Jingting: “Put it in the spiritual spring.”
Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Alright.”
As soon as the spirit pearl was dropped into the spiritual spring, the spring began bubbling vigorously. After a long while, it finally calmed down. Xiao Jingting scooped up a spoonful of spring water and drank it. He immediately felt rich spiritual energy flooding into his body. Xiao Jingting immediately sat cross-legged and began absorbing spiritual power.
Xu Mu’an looked at Xiao Jingting and asked, “How is it?”
“Very good. Cultivating like this for one day is equivalent to ten days of previous work. I watered the bird orchid nearby with the transformed spring water, and that orchid is growing much faster. It looks like it should mature soon,” Xiao Jingting said.
Xu Mu’an nodded and said, “That’s good.”
Xiao Jingting rubbed his nose. Cultivation was all about competing for resources! If they had several more spirit pearls like this, why worry about being unable to advance!
