The Xiao family.

“Where did you get this spiritual wine?” Xiao Linfeng asked casually.

“I went to the store and second gave it to me.” Wang Lu said.

{edit: second as in 2nd son, Jinfeng} 

“How’s the business of second?” Xiao Linfeng asked.

“It should be pretty good, the second one even bought a space ring so I don’t think it is too bad.”

Xiao Lingeng was filled with surprise as he said “Second even bought a space ring?”

Wang Lu nodded and said “Yes! However, the second said that the cost is not low and the benefits are limited.”

Xiao Linfeng took a bottle of spiritual wine and drank saying “It tastes good and the aura is also strong.” However, it was of limited benefit to him as an eight level Qi Practitioner, but if it was given to the eldest to drink, it should have a good effect.

Wang Lu nodded and said “Yes! He said that there is added high-priced spiritual elixir purchased from outside, that’s why it is so effective.”

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

“Yes!” Wang Lu was originally thinking about taking over the spiritual wine business, but according to Xiao Jinfeng, the profit wasn’t much, so Wang Lu dropped this idea.

“The third’s two sons were also at store and third’s youngest son, when he was first born, he was a fool but now although his reactions are a bit slow, he is not stupid.”

Xiao Linfeng recalled Xiao Xiaofan’s appearance “That child seems to be at the first level of Qi Practice. Since he was able to enter the cultivation world, he is not as stupid as we thought.”

Wang Lu nodded and said “The two kids are helping out in the shop, but things are handled in an orderly manner. Eldest’s family also seems to want to help.”

Xiao Linfeng’s face sank as he said ” Zheng Pei’er is a member of the Zheng family after all. When we had an accident, she quarreled with the eldest and left. If she hadn’t given birth to two sensible sons for the eldest, I would have asked the eldest to leave her a long time ago, so don’t let her lead you around by the nose.”

Wang Lu nodded and said “I know. My son is more important than my daughter-in-law in the end.” What’s more, Zheng Pei’er was still a member of the Zheng family, the Zheng family and the Xiao family had a good relationship on the surface, but they had been competing with each other in secret.

Zheng Peier’s side.

“Madam, Madam Wang had gone to the beverage shop and has not said anything since she came back.” Zheng Peier’s maid said.

Zheng Pei’er frowned. Wang Lu didn’t say anything, so apparently she didn’t take over the store. This was not surprising. Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng were also Wang Lu’s children. Although Wang Lu favored Xiao Qingyan the most, however, she subsidized Xiao Qingyan with her own things. It would be difficult for her to take things from Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng to subsidize Xiao Qingyan.

The Zheng family also opened a beverage shop, but she didn’t know if it was raw material or the taste, but after opening it, very few people patronized it.

Zheng Pei’er grabbed the handkerchief in her hand. She didn’t receive any response to the letter she wrote to Xiao Qingyan which made her really worried.

If the second and third continue to develop like this, what will happen to them?

“Mother, the drink you brought back is not good at all.” Xiao Yuerong said, coming out.

Zheng Pei’er didn’t have a good temper “Drink, drink it, it won’t kill you.”

Zheng Pei’er originally bought all the drinks from Xiao Jingting store, but after the Zheng family’s beverage shop opened, Zheng Pei’er bought a few cups and brought them back.

“Mother, the drinks you bought are not good. Moreover their aura is low. Everyone says that drinks from third uncle store’s can assist in cultivation. Although they are more expensive, they are worth the money. Mother, you need to help me buy them.” Xiao Yuerong said, grabbing Zheng Pei’er by the sleeve.

“There is no such thing! He knows what other people say so he followed it to charge more for a drink.” Zheng Peier said.

“Why not? They all say that Xiao Xiaodong could advance to the second level of Qi Practice so quickly because he drank the beverages from this shop. The little fool drinks these beverages like water everyday. Maybe he has already advanced to the second level, when I haven’t advanced yet.” Xiao Yuerong said.

Zheng Peier’s face sank as she remembered the subtle aura contained in Xiao Jingting’s drinks. Therefore, what Xiao Yuerong said was probably true.

“All right, you just make excuses for being greedy.” Zheng Pei’er did not have a good temper.

 

……

 

When Xiao Jinfeng returned home, he heard that father Xu came to find faults with Xu Muan again, making him faint from anger.

“Jingting, how’s Muan?” Xiao Jinfeng asked Xiao Jingting.

“Sleeping, having a baby.” Xiao Jingthing cheerfully said.

Xiao Jinfeng was stunned for a moment “Ah!” sounded.

Xiao Jingting scratched his head and said embarrassedly “I was too busy before and didn’t even pay attention that durning this period, Xu Muan was too tired, so today after the quarrel with his father, he got dizzy. The second sister-in-law already looked at him, it is nothing serious.”

Xiao Jinfeng patted Xiao Jingting on the shoulder, full of admiration “Your efficiency is really high!”

Xiao Jingting laughed and said “It’s all right brother. You can also make an effort to have another one.”

“What’s the hurry? I need to make more money for my wife first.” Xiao Jinfeng said “By the way, mother coame to the shop today.”

Xiao Jingting tilted his head and asked “Mother? What was she doing there?”

“She asked me if I was busy with things in the store and still had time to practice. Then asked if I needed any help.” Xiao Jinfeng said.

Xiao Jingting rolled his eyes, they didn’t come to ask sooner but only later when his business was already on the right track.

“I pushed it off.” Xiao Jinfeng said.

Xiao Jingting was full of approval as he said “You did the right thing. We only have such a small business and we don’t need many people.” Mother favored the eldest brother the most. If the business in the store was good and they let the eldest intervene, there would be endless troubles in the future.

Xiao Xiaodong nodded and said “Yes! Brother and I can help.”

Xiao Xiaofan bit his finger, full of curiosity “Father, is Daddy having a little baby for me to play with?”

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

“It’s all the same!” Xiao Xiaofan took it for granted.

Xiao Jingting “……”

“Idiot.” Xiao Xiaodong snorted lightly.

Xiao Jingting “……”

Xiao Jingting drove Xiao Xiaodong and Xiao Xiaofan to bed. Then, Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng sat opposite each other.

“Your father-in-law, what did he come to say?” Xiao Jinfeng asked.

“He said that the beverage shop allowing two children to collect money is out of place. He wanted Xu Muan’s younger brother Xu Guanghua to work in the store. Xu Muan naturally disagreed, and they quarreled.” Xiao Jingting said.

Xiao Jinfeng “…. ” Not everyone could do the job of a shopkeeper. Letting Xu Guanghua watch the shop, what was the difference between this and putting a mouse in a rice jar?

“What are you going to do with your father-in-law?” Xiao Jinfeng asked.

“When Muan entered our house, he signed a deed of sale. Moreover, when he married me, he was afraid of trouble and cut all contact with him.” Xiao Jingting said.

{edit : deed of sale – most probably means that Man’s father signed a sort of contract and literally sold Muan to the Xiao family, or specifically to Xiao Jingting.} 

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

At that time, Xiao Jingting was very opposed to this marriage, constantly tossing around and putting forward all kinds of excessive demands. In order to facilitate this marriage, the eldest aunt did not refuse to comply with Xiao Jingting’s demands. According to law, the two families wouldn’t have to move around if the marriage was broken, and Xu Muan didn’t have to support father Xu at old age.

At that time, Xu Muan’s position in the Xu family was very low. The Xiao family took a few dozen taels of silver and easily made Xu Muan break ties with their family.

“But people are shameless, there’s nothing you can do about it!” Xiao Jinfeng said.

Xiao Jingting shrugged his shoulders and said “Dealing with shameless people, one can only be more shameless than them.”

That year, after the two of them married, Father Xu came to visit. As a result, the original body owner ordered to beat up the old man. Maybe it was too long ago or maybe the business of the beverage store was too good that made the old man seek benefits again.

It looked like they could only find someone to beat the old man up again. But beating the old man may be useless, beating his young son may be more effective. Xiao Jingting did not believe that father Xu wanting Xu Guanghua to become the shopkeeper did not Xu Guanghua’s handiwork behind it. 

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

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

“It doesn’t matter if the business is not too bad, Xu Muan can’t be too tired recently.” Xiao Jingting said.

Xiao Jinfeng nodded and said “Yes! Muan needs to rest. “

 

……

 

The business of the beverage shop, after a few days of decline, suddenly recovered.

As soon as the shop opened, people came to line up, and no matter what kind of drink it was, it was sold cleanly very fast.

Xiao Jinfeng inquired about it to find out the reason.

It turned out that a five-year-old young master came to Desert city recently. The young master was five years old and still hadn’t started cultivating. There was nothing strange about ordinary children not starting cultivating at the age of five, but this young master had a ninth level Qi Practitioner as his father. He had a very high status in his family and had no shortage of elixirs since he was a child, so it was a bit unjustifiable why he couldn’t start cultivating at the age of five.

There were people behind the young master and he was rich and wealthy. After coming to Desert city, he heard that the drinks in the shop were delicious so he spent some silver and bought a dozen cups of the most expensive new products. After drinking them, he was actually able to start cultivating.

The young master was very happy to finally be able to start cultivating and he went to the shop early every morning to buy the most expensive products.

No one knew how this matter spread but it was spread fascinatingly, and new and expensive products that not sold very well before were suddenly selling like crazy.

The drinks that Xiao Jinfeng brought over were often sold clean.

Xu Muan was pregnant, so it was not convenient for him to do things, so Xiao Jingting proposed to let Mu Shuyu rent out some fields and come to help Xu Muan.

The business of the beverage shop was very good. Making drinks was much more cost-effective than farming so Mu Shuyu gladly agreed.

The business of the beverage shop was so good that Xiao Jinfeng set up the two shops nearby.

The few beverage shops that opened up later in Desert City had very little business, with a few opening and closing quietly.

 

……

 

Xiao Jingting was walking back and forth around Xu Muan, as if he wanted to step forward but didn’t dare.

“Are you hungry? I’ll make you something to eat?” Xiao Jingting asked.

Xu Muan looked at Xiao Jingting’s regimented appearance and smiled helplessly, saying “No, I just ate an hour ago, so I’m not hungry at all.”

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

Xu Muan looked at Xiao Jingting’s embarrassed appearance and smiled sweetly, his heart warm.

Although Xiao Jingting’s body was still the original one, the core was replaced. Xiaodong and Xiaofan could be considered the children of the original one so Xiao Jingting should still want to have a child that belonged completely to him, right?

“Sit down. I’m just pregnant with a child and not a mine. You don’t have to be so nervous.” Xu Muan touched his stomach.

Xiao Jingting nodded and said “Good, you are tired! If you feel tired, you can leave everything to second sister-in-law. I will ask him to rent out the fields.”

“I’m not tired. I’m a cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Practice. I’m pregnant, not disabled.” Xu Muan said.

Earlier, when he was pregnant with Xiaodong and Xiaofan, he did not eat well or sleep well but still had to work. When the original Xiao Jingting saw him, he always scolded him. When he was pregnant with Xiaofan, Xiao Jingting always said “You got pregnant so soon after giving birth, it’s not mine at all, but someone’s wild seed.”

Xiao Jingting despised him, so naturally servants acted accordingly. All the meals given to him were leftovers, and some of them were even rotten.

He still survived those difficult days. This time after his pregnancy was discovered, Xiao Jingting took care of him, making Xu Muan uncomfortable instead.

“What’s the matter? What are you thinking about? You don’t look very happy.” Xiao Jingting said.

Xu Muan raised his head and smiled saying “Nothing, can you lie with me for a while?”

Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Of course.”

Xu Muan tilted his head and looked at the person lying beside him, suddenly feeling much more secure.

 

Edited by: Tetsu

Proofreader: Taalia

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