《Married to a mechanic, she shocked the world》 Chapter 1 - 1 001 Rebirth as a Wealthy Illegitimate Daughter_1 ?Chapter 1: 001: Rebirth as a Wealthy Illegitimate Daughter_1 Chapter 1: 001: Rebirth as a Wealthy Illegitimate Daughter_1 Qing City. Qing City¡¯s First Prominent Family. Today is the seventeenth birthday banquet of Young Miss Zhang, Zhang Xianxian of the Zhang Family. The Zhang Family¡¯s guests fill the residence. Luxury cars worth millions line the roadside. Not only is Zhang Xianxian beautiful with an ethereal temperament, but at just seventeen, she¡¯s already recognized as Qing City¡¯s number one talented young woman. As such, her birthday banquet has gathered all the influential and powerful figures of Qing City. Dressed in a haute couture gown, Zhang Xianxian, like a princess attended by the stars, is graceful and poised. Without a doubt. Zhang Xianxian is the protagonist of this banquet. But who knew, the Zhang Family¡¯s once hidden illegitimate daughter would choose this moment to show up. An eighteen-year-old girl, crying, kneels before Zhang Xianxian, ¡°Sister, I am your long-lost older sister...¡± Zhang Xianxian looks down at her with nothing but disgust in her eyes, ¡°Miss Lin! Please have some self-respect. My parents are deeply in love, and I only have a younger brother, no older sister! Leave my house immediately and stop making irresponsible remarks here!¡± Zhang Xianxian is the moon in the sky, not tolerating a speck of dust in her eyes, let alone an illegitimate older sister a year her senior! An illegitimate daughter, even as a stepping stone, she would find too filthy. ¡°My last name is not Lin, it¡¯s Zhang! My name is Zhang Wu!¡± The girl looks at Zhang Xianxian, her mother indeed the original wife, yet her demeanor is exceedingly humble, ¡°Sister, please let me stay. From now on, I will do anything you ask!¡± At that moment, an old lady with graying hair walks out of the house. Seeing the old lady, the girl clings to her legs as if she¡¯s seen a savior, ¡°Grandma, I am your long-lost granddaughter! If you don¡¯t believe me, I can take a paternity test!¡± Old Madam Zhang frowns slightly and kicks her away, ¡°I only have one granddaughter named Xianxian! What are you supposed to be?¡± The girl falls to the ground. Bang. Lin Wu is awakened by the pain. As she opens her eyes. She¡¯s been kicked. ??? Who dares to kick her? Surrounded by an unfamiliar environment, Lin Wu furrows her brows slightly. Is she dreaming? But the pain coming from her knees sharply reminds her. This isn¡¯t a dream! With a flood of strange memories rushing in, Lin Wu, who holds multiple powerful identities, quickly understands her current situation. She has been reborn. Reborn as the scorned illegitimate daughter of a wealthy family. The original owner of this body is named Zhang Wu. Her mother Lin Guixiang met Zhang Dalong when she was eighteen. At the time, he was unmarried, and she was unwed. Zhang Dalong got the waitress Lin Guixiang drunk through schemes and had relations with her. It was that very night that Lin Guixiang conceived the original owner of the body. With no other options, Lin Guixiang reluctantly registered for marriage with him. Who could have imagined, after giving birth to a daughter, her husband would suddenly disappear! Lin Guixiang searched for a long time without any word of her husband, and eventually had no choice but to take the child back to her parents¡¯ home in Lin City Town. By chance, Lin Guixiang found out that her husband was actually the head of Qing City¡¯s First Prominent Family. Thus, she took the train to Qing City with her daughter. Once in Qing City, she discovered that her husband already had a new love, with whom he had a son and a daughter. She thought about suing her husband for bigamy, only to be told that their marriage certificate was a fake! Even though her daughter was older than Zhang Xianxian and she was the first to have a marriage certificate with Zhang Dalong, she was now condemned as the despised mistress. She had been deceived so cruelly and completely! Heartbroken, Lin Guixiang had no choice but to return to Lin City Town. But her daughter Zhang Wu refused to go back! The Zhang Family is Qing City¡¯s First Prominent Family¡ªif the Zhang Family acknowledged her as their daughter, she would henceforth be the Young Miss Zhang. Even being a maid at the Zhang Family would be better than following Lin Guixiang! Moreover, she was indeed the Young Miss Zhang! Old Madam Zhang watches Lin Wu with cold eyes, ¡°Your mother is a promiscuous tramp, who knows from where this mongrel sprang! Butler! Have someone chase her out immediately!¡± If it weren¡¯t for the fortune-teller who said Lin Guixiang had the hips of a woman destined to give birth to sons blessed with a life of wealth, she never would have tolerated Lin Guixiang giving birth to the child! Unexpectedly. After a ten-month pregnancy, Lin Guixiang actually gave birth to an unwanted financial burden! This infuriated Old Madam Zhang deeply. A financial burden that couldn¡¯t carry on the Zhang Family¡¯s legacy! So, Old Madam Zhang promptly made Zhang Dalong leave Lin Guixiang to remarry a well-matched heiress from a wealthy family. Unexpectedly, eighteen years later, Lin Guixiang would come knocking on their door with this little financial burden. Such misfortune. Nowadays, Old Madam Zhang¡¯s granddaughter is the number one talented young woman in Qing City, and in the past few years, she also managed to hold her first great-grandson, ensuring there¡¯s an heir to carry on the family line! What is Zhang Wu compared to that? Chapter 2 - 2 001 Rebirth as a Wealthy Illegitimate Daughter_2 ?Chapter 2: 001: Rebirth as a Wealthy Illegitimate Daughter_2 Chapter 2: 001: Rebirth as a Wealthy Illegitimate Daughter_2 Just a village girl who knows nothing. Of no use to anyone. So, she would absolutely never acknowledge that Zhang Wu was a worthless investment! Upon hearing Old Madam Zhang¡¯s words, the guests all echoed: ¡°Old Madam Zhang is right, who knows where this bastard child really came from?¡± ¡°Miss Zhang is Qing City¡¯s number one talented young woman, this little village girl probably can¡¯t even recognize all 26 letters of the alphabet, right?¡± ¡°Shameless!¡± ... Just then, Lin Wu¡¯s strength was gradually returning. She stood up from the ground, lifted her chin slightly, ¡°Listen up, old hag! First, my mom wasn¡¯t a mistress! When she was with Zhang Dalong, Zhang Dalong claimed he was single! She was just another victim designed by a scumbag!¡± ¡°Second, from now on, I¡¯m no longer surnamed Zhang. I, Lin Wu, have nothing to do with the Zhang Family, not even half a cent!¡± Since she had decided to sever ties with the Zhang Family, the very first thing she needed to do was to change her surname! From now on, she is Lin Wu, with no ties whatsoever to the Zhang Family. ¡°Three years, just give me three years! I, Lin Wu, will be beyond the reach of all of you, so, everyone...¡± she said, lifting her chin lightly, her gaze sweeping over everyone¡¯s faces, ¡°remember your faces now, I will give you a night you¡¯ll never forget for the rest of your lives!¡± Her tone was mild, but her words carried weight! ¡°Pfft!¡± A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd. Beyond their reach? This little pity from the countryside. Absolutely hilarious! With that, Lin Wu turned and walked away. Watching her retreating figure, Zhang Xianxian narrowed her eyes, ¡°Really overestimating herself.¡± Three years? This little village girl, Lin Wu, forget three years, even if she were given thirty years, she wouldn¡¯t amount to anything! At that moment, Zhang Xianxian seemed to think of something; a glint flashed in her beautiful eyes. She straightened her skirt, said something to her personal assistant, and then walked out through the back door, quietly following Lin Wu¡¯s figure. Lin Wu walked toward the cheap hostel where her mother used to rent a room, as she remembered it. It was already the second half of the night. Passing through the bustling district, she reached a quiet alley. Suddenly! Lin Wu sharply smelled a strong scent of blood. She frowned slightly, not wanting to meddle, but just then, her ankle was grasped by an attractive hand! Lin Wu was taken aback, and when she looked down, she saw a man leaning against the wall, one hand covering his abdomen, the other grasping her ankle. Bright red blood had already stained his shirt. In the darkness, the man¡¯s features were distinct and sharp, his lips pressed tightly together, indicating danger. Lin Wu just stared at him, her pretty peach blossom eyes showing no panic, ¡°Do you need me to call the police?¡± ¡°No need,¡± perhaps because she seemed too calm, the man looked up at her, ¡°Kid, have you learned any first aid?¡± ¡°Do you have a first aid kit?¡± Lin Wu asked. The man nodded and took out a backpack from beside him and handed it to her. Lin Wu took the backpack, opened it to look inside. It even contained a suture kit. Huh. Quite professional. It seems this man isn¡¯t someone simple. Lin Wu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. The man continued, ¡°Kid, follow my instructions next.¡± Lin Wu bent down and squatted, ¡°I¡¯ll check the wound first.¡± Lifting the man¡¯s shirt. The first thing exposed to the air was his strong and firm abs. An eight or nine centimeter wound. Flesh torn apart, a sight for sore eyes. ¡°It needs suturing. There¡¯s no anesthesia in your first aid kit; can you bear it?¡± Her tone was like that of a seasoned doctor, commanding even more authority than a professional one! The man¡¯s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°You know medicine?¡± ¡°A little,¡± Lin Wu replied. Just a little? The man had an intuition that this kid was not simple. While they spoke, Lin Wu had already taken out a suture needle and quickly disinfected the wound, needle moving swiftly, ¡°Bear with it.¡± The man nodded. He received a total of eight stitches, each one drawing blood. The man didn¡¯t make a sound the entire time. But a layer upon layer of cold sweat appeared on his prominent nose bridge. Lin Wu raised her eyebrows slightly. Such pain would be difficult for a normal person to endure, but this man was quite the man! After the suturing was finished, Lin Wu took out some gauze and bandaged the wound. The entire process was efficient and clean; she didn¡¯t even furrow her brows once. Despite being just seventeen or eighteen, she faced such a situation without a hint of panic, as steady as Mount Tai. The man, with his handsome phoenix eyes slightly squinted, ¡°Kid, what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Lin Wu.¡± ¡°I will repay you.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Lin Wu¡¯s tone was indifferent, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to save you.¡± If the man hadn¡¯t grabbed her ankle and held on, she wouldn¡¯t have bothered! The man¡¯s thin lips curved slightly, ¡°My car is right ahead.¡± Chapter 3 - 3 001 Rebirth as a Wealthy Illegitimate Daughter_3 ?Chapter 3: 001: Rebirth as a Wealthy Illegitimate Daughter_3 Chapter 3: 001: Rebirth as a Wealthy Illegitimate Daughter_3 Lin Wu knew what he meant and, with the thought of ¡®seeing Buddha all the way to the west¡¯, bent down to help the man up and supported him towards the exit. Soon, the pair reached the exit of the alley. A black car was parked at the intersection. The streetlight illuminated their faces. The man could clearly smell the faint fragrance coming from the girl. It wasn¡¯t the scent of synthetic perfume. It smelled good. Zhang Xianxian was hiding around the corner at the entrance of the alley. At this moment, upon seeing the man Lin Wu was supporting, a slight smirk appeared on her lips, her eyes full of scorn. She had thought Lin Wu had encountered some big shot! Turns out the guy was just like Lin Wu, an unwanted bastard. The man supported by Lin Wu was called Lu Ye. Lu Ye¡¯s original name was Su Wenbei, the eldest son of Su Haichao of the Su Family, one of the eight major prestigious families in Qing City. Su Haichao was once the successor of the Su Family. Who would have thought that Su Haichao and his wife would suffer a tragic boat accident twenty-two years ago, disappearing without a trace! As a result, Su Wenbei became the jinx who brought death to his parents, and no one in the Su Family wanted anything to do with him, fearing that they too would be jinxed. Furthermore, an accidental blood test revealed that the blood type of the grandson Su Wenbei didn¡¯t match with that of Old Master Su, with a similarity of zero percent. Enraged, Old Master Su promptly kicked Su Wenbei out of the Su Family! Thus, four-year-old Su Wenbei was taken in by his maternal grandparents to live with them, and his name was changed to Lu Ye. The implication being that even without his parents, he must live as tenaciously as a wild grass. After being taken in by his maternal grandparents, Lu Ye was spoiled rotten, dropping out of junior high at 16 and disappearing without a trace! To protect his reputation, the Lu Family claimed he had gone abroad to study! Yet there was no record of him at any prestigious international school! At the age of 26, Lu Ye returned to City A, now running a repair shop by the roadside. If not for the financial support from the Lu Family¡¯s Old Master and Old Mistress, Lu Ye might have already starved to death! Indeed, Zhang Xianxian was not only a reborn woman but also possessed a System! In her previous life, Zhang Xianxian married Su Haiyue, the youngest son of Old Master Su. Therefore, she was well-acquainted with Lu Ye¡¯s circumstances. With the help of the System, she learned that tonight Lin Wu would encounter a top dog who stood at the pinnacle of the pyramid. It would even directly change Lin Wu¡¯s destiny. Her goal was to steal Lin Wu¡¯s good fortune, making the top dog her devoted subordinate. After receiving the System¡¯s prompt, Zhang Xianxian immediately followed Lin Wu. She did not expect the outcome to be such a disappointment. How could Lu Ye ever be considered a top dog? Pat, pat, pat¡ª Once again, footsteps sounded from nearby. Zhang Xianxian turned her head slightly and saw a blurry figure approaching. As the person drew closer, Zhang Xianxian recognized him, and he was none other than Jiang Shaoyun, the future power player in the Capital Circle! Although Jiang Shaoyun was currently largely unknown, no one knew that he would stand at the summit of the business world in just three years! In her previous life, Zhang Xianxian had only caught a distant glimpse of the much-admired Jiang Shaoyun at a business function. Zhang Xianxian narrowed her eyes slightly. She hadn¡¯t expected that Jiang Shaoyun would appear in City A at this time. Since this was the case, she could take this opportunity to get close to Jiang Shaoyun, share hardships with him, grow together, and make him utterly devoted to her, deeply rooted in affection! She needed to plan this unexpected meeting carefully. Tonight was not the right time, so Zhang Xianxian left without making a sound. As for Lin Wu. She was just a small fry. If in her previous life she could lead to Lin Wu¡¯s body being thrown in the wilderness, then she certainly could do it again in this life. Zhang Xianxian would never tolerate an illegitimate daughter ruining her reputation! On this side. Lin Wu helped Lu Ye into the car. The two were quite close, and Lu Ye looked at her profile just like that. ¡°Kid, my name is Lu Ye.¡± The man¡¯s voice was pleasant, a deep and magnetic tone. Lin Wu didn¡¯t seem to hear him; she simply shut the car door behind her and walked away. Through the window, Lu Ye could see her retreating figure; the young girl walked away decisively without ever looking back once. Lu Ye chuckled softly. She sure was a kid with personality! Click. The front passenger door opened at that moment. A young man settled into the driver¡¯s seat. If Zhang Xianxian were there, she would¡¯ve recognized that this person was the very big shot she¡¯d been talking about. Jiang Shaoyun ¡°Third Brother, I¡¯m late,¡± Lu Ye leaned back in the rear seat, his lips slightly parting, ¡°Head back to Imperial Court Manor.¡± Chapter 4 - 4 002 He is a big shot the universes invincible super ?Chapter 4: 002: He is a big shot, the universe¡¯s invincible super number one beauty_1 Chapter 4: 002: He is a big shot, the universe¡¯s invincible super number one beauty_1 Jiang Shaoyun fastened his seat belt and turned to look at Lu Ye, ¡°Third Brother, your injury?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Lu Ye spoke in a light tone. Jiang Shaoyun continued, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have Old Shi head straight to Imperial Court Manor.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Lu Ye nodded slightly, uttering a single word from deep in his throat. Jiang Shaoyun started the engine and drove away. After a moment, the man sitting in the back seat spoke again, ¡°Did you find out?¡± Jiang Shaoyun nodded, ¡°I did.¡± ¡°From Country P?¡± Lu Ye asked. Jiang Shaoyun was stunned for a moment, ¡°Third Brother, how did you know?¡± Incredible! Lu Ye¡¯s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, the depths of his eyes dark and intimidating. Jiang Shaoyun glanced at Lu Ye through the rearview mirror and continued, ¡°Third Brother, I¡¯ll immediately have someone...¡± He hadn¡¯t finished his sentence when he was interrupted by Lu Ye. ¡°No need.¡± Jiang Shaoyun frowned slightly. Not seeking vengeance didn¡¯t seem like Third Brother¡¯s style. ¡°Third Brother, are you sure we don¡¯t need to?¡± Jiang Shaoyun asked hesitantly. Lu Ye just looked out of the window, his thin lips curving into a dangerous arc, ¡°The game has just begun...¡± Compared to taking direct action. He preferred to trap his prey like a turtle in a jar. A faint statement, yet it sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. Hearing this, Jiang Shaoyun swallowed hard. He knew. Those people from Country P were done for! Not long after. The black car stopped at Imperial Court Manor. Jiang Shaoyun immediately went around to the back seat to open the door. Lu Ye got out of the car. Seeing the blood on the white shirt, Jiang Shaoyun was startled and immediately reached out to support Lu Ye. Lu Ye frowned slightly, ¡°A little injury, not incapacitated.¡± Jiang Shaoyun was quite helpless. His strong-willed Third Brother in this life! Even injured like this, he didn¡¯t need support. As soon as they entered through the gates, a man in a white coat came out from inside. Seeing Lu Ye, his expression changed, ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t die.¡± Lu Ye said indifferently. The man immediately took out a medical kit, ¡°Sit down, let me have a look.¡± After checking the wound on Lu Ye¡¯s abdomen, the man breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Lucky you were stitched up in time! Otherwise, with the depth of the wound, Boss, you¡¯d be lying on the operating table right now!¡± Lu Ye¡¯s expression remained unchanged. The man carefully examined the wound and then said, ¡°Judging by the stitching technique, the other party must not be an ordinary person, right? Boss, did you encounter a master?¡± At this, the man looked up at Lu Ye. Lu Ye¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°Would you believe me if I said it was a kid?¡± A kid? The man laughed out loud, ¡°Boss, don¡¯t tease me! I¡¯ve been practicing medicine for twenty years and haven¡¯t reached that level of suturing yet, how could a child be so capable!¡± Moreover, the person¡¯s suturing technique resembled that of a certain master mentioned by a renowned professor when he was just starting to learn medicine. Jiang Shaoyun spoke in surprise, ¡°Old Shi, even you haven¡¯t reached this level, how amazing must Third Brother¡¯s lifesaver be!¡± Old Shi, full name Shi Wenli. He was a pupil of the well-known medical giant Feng Tianyou, quite skilled in his disciple, known as the Divine Doctor! But now! Shi Wenli actually said the person was even better than him. This made Jiang Shaoyun very curious about who the other person was! ¡°Old Shi, could the person be a giant like your master?¡± Shi Wenli narrowed his eyes, ¡°Perhaps even more formidable than my master.¡± Jiang Shaoyun¡¯s eyes widened. More formidable than the senior Feng Tianyou? That would be divine, wouldn¡¯t it? Lu Ye looked at the two men, ¡°Get ready, we¡¯ll leave for Lin City in a couple of days.¡± Jiang Shaoyun nodded. Shi Wenli looked at Lu Ye, ¡°Boss, should I go too?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see, this time it¡¯s not a mission.¡± Grandma Lu was devout in her Buddhism; she dreamt of Buddha the night before last, who told her to do more good deeds, to help the children in the mountainous regions. Unable to move around much herself, she asked her grandson to go to a mountainous region school and donate on her behalf. She even mysteriously told Lu Ye that this public welfare trip would surely bring him a stroke of peach blossom luck, where he would meet a patron of a lifetime. Although Lu Ye was rebellious and unruly, seen as the wayward youth by everyone, he listened to Grandma Lu very much. ** Lin Wu returned to the hotel. Seeing her back, the landlady called out to her, ¡°Young lady, wait a moment.¡± Lin Wu looked toward the landlady, ¡°Do you need something?¡± The landlady took out an envelope, ¡°Young lady, your mother has already left, and she asked me to give this to you. Also, she paid the room fee for two more days.¡± This mother and daughter had checked in a week ago. Although Lin Guixiang was rather plain and skinny, her daughter, Lin Wu, was very attractive, leaving a deep impression on the landlady. Lin Wu took the envelope and pulled out the letter inside. The content of the letter was roughly to take good care of herself, as her mother had gone back to her hometown! In addition to the letter, Lin Guixiang had also left her three thousand yuan. The love of parents in this world is endless. Even though the original Lin Wu looked down on Lin Guixiang for having nothing and even cursed her as a mistress, going against her mother¡¯s wishes to stay with the Zhang Family, Lin Guixiang still left the best things for her daughter. What a pity. A mother can be good, but the daughter might not be. Now that she was Lin Wu, she naturally had to shoulder the responsibilities of a daughter! Lin Wu took her room card, returned to her room, and prepared to take a hot bath and get a good night¡¯s sleep. Early the next morning, she would take a high-speed train back to her hometown to find her mother and lead her to the pinnacle of life! Make the Zhang Family kneel on the ground, crying out their regrets! After the bath, Lin Wu stood in front of the mirror wrapped in a bath towel, looking at the girl in the mirror. Her skin was very fair, and she had a height of about one meter seventy. Peach blossom eyes, an oval face, dimples appearing when she smiled. She was a classic beauty. To Lin Wu¡¯s surprise, this face was exactly the same as her own in her previous life. Fortunately, her beauty was still there. Lin Wu touched her face and looking at her reflection, she couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°I am simply the universe¡¯s undefeated super number one beauty!¡± In her previous life, Lin Wu was the epitome of the beauty standards assembly! This life was naturally no exception. ** Lin City Town. Under Zhang Xianxian¡¯s manipulation, these past few days, rumors swirled throughout the town, claiming Lin Guixiang shameless, a homewrecker and a mistress, and her daughter was a bastard child. Actually, Zhang Xianxian¡¯s objective was very simple. She wanted to force Lin Guixiang to her death. As long as Lin Guixiang was alive, the plans of her grandmother and mother from those years ago might be exposed. As the number one talented lady, she couldn¡¯t afford to lose this face. Lin Family. Lin Guixiang sat in her room, her once vibrant face now sapped of all life. Zhao Cuinong, the wife of her younger brother, stood at the door looking at her, and after a moment, sighed. Lin Guixiang had been back for two days. In these two days, she had not initiated a single conversation. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong with Great Aunt?¡± Lin Guodong, who was six years old, tugged Zhao Cuinong¡¯s sleeve. Zhao Cuinong lowered her voice, ¡°Your Great Aunt isn¡¯t in a good mood, remember to talk more with her.¡± Her husband, Lin Bingqiang, worked in Qing City and only returned once every few months. He was currently on a business trip and uncontactable due to work confidentiality. As the younger brother¡¯s wife, Zhao Cuinong didn¡¯t know how to communicate with her sister-in-law. ¡°Mom, what does promiscuity mean?¡± Lin Guodong continued, ¡°Why does everyone say Great Aunt is a bad woman who is promiscuous?¡± Zhao Cuinong immediately covered Lin Guodong¡¯s mouth. But it was too late. The child didn¡¯t know what those words meant and didn¡¯t deliberately lower his voice, so Lin Guixiang, with red-rimmed eyes, looked over at them. Zhao Cuinong opened her mouth but didn¡¯t know how to explain, ¡°That, Great Great Sister, don¡¯t misunderstand...¡± Lin Guixiang didn¡¯t speak. Everyone called her a slut and a mistress, accused her of promiscuity, but she had done nothing! The marriage certificate was fake. Zhang Dalong and Wei Nan were the real married couple, and she didn¡¯t even have anyone to tell her grievances to! All these years. She had been deceived terribly. Now even her little nephew was calling her promiscuous. What was the point of living for someone like her? Bang! Just then, a small stone flew in from outside, breaking the window. Glass shattered all over the floor. Before Zhao Cuinong could react, a few children from the village ran over, making faces at them, ¡°Lin Guixiang is a harlot who destroys other people¡¯s families! Shameless! Hahaha!¡± Chapter 5 - 5 003 Give Lin Wu a big gift_1 ?Chapter 5: 003: Give Lin Wu a big gift_1 Chapter 5: 003: Give Lin Wu a big gift_1 When she saw all the windows of the house had been smashed. Zhao Cuinong was beside herself with anger, grabbing a feather duster from the table and chasing after them, ¡°Pah! You untaught dogs born without motherly raising!¡± Seeing this, Lin Guixiang felt wronged, her nose soured, and she burst into tears again. Outside, a group of children scattered in all directions, Zhao Cuinong stood with hands on hips, cursing furiously. Aunt Wang from next door came over to watch the drama, ¡°Guodong¡¯s mom, why are you making such a fuss over a bunch of kids!¡± Zhao Cuinong sighed. Aunt Wang continued, ¡°I heard that your daughter-in-law seduced someone else¡¯s husband, and Xiao Wu is an illegitimate child, is that true?¡± In earlier years, people in town already found Lin Guixiang¡¯s unmarried pregnancy odd. There were whispers then, but they weren¡¯t widespread. But now, the whole town was talking, saying Lin Guixiang seduced a big boss from Qing City, becoming pregnant before marriage. This time, Lin Guixiang suddenly took Lin Wu to Qing City was to find that big boss. Lin Guixiang originally wanted to usurp the position of the principal wife. Who would have thought that they¡¯d be outright denied by the man at their door and sent packing! ¡°Nonsense!¡± Zhao Cuinong said sternly, ¡°Aunt Wang, you saw our eldest grow up, you know better than anyone what kind of person she is!¡± Zhao Cuinong had been married into the family for only eight years, and she wasn¡¯t clear about the old affairs. She only knew that her sister-in-law had not remarried over these past years. Because the topic was sensitive, she usually never asked about it and rarely brought it up with her husband. Aunt Wang squinted her eyes, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t Xiao Wu come back with your sister-in-law?¡± At this point, Aunt Wang paused, then continued, ¡°Is it because Xiao Wu is ashamed of her mother for being a mistress and thus doesn¡¯t want to come back?¡± Who would want a mother that was a mistress? Lin Wu wasn¡¯t a fool! Upon hearing this, Zhao Cuinong frowned slightly. Lin Wu was seventeen this year! She should be sensible by now. She clearly knew Lin Guixiang wasn¡¯t a mistress, yet not only had she failed to stand up to protect her mother, but she also despised Lin Guixiang for bringing shame upon herself, unwilling to return! How utterly heartless! If even her own daughter didn¡¯t believe Lin Guixiang, how could they expect outsiders to believe? ¡°Xiao Wu is busy with her studies! Aunt Wang, I have things to do, I won¡¯t keep you any longer!¡± With that, Zhao Cuinong turned and went back inside, ¡®bang¡¯ closing the front door loudly. Aunt Wang watched the door slam shut, scoffing coldly, thinking to herself, becoming a mistress and yet not allowing others to talk about it? Just after Aunt Wang left, Zhao Cuinong¡¯s mother arrived. Mother Zhao was seventy-eight this year. Her body was very robust, able to crunch broad beans with ease. ¡°Mom, what brings you here?¡± Mother Zhao glanced at her daughter, ¡°If I don¡¯t come now, our family¡¯s reputation will be completely ruined by you!¡± ¡°What did I do?¡± Zhao Cuinong was startled. Mother Zhao, frustrated at the situation, said, ¡°Your sister-in-law went to Qing City to seduce that big boss and got kicked out by his legal wife, right? I heard even her own daughter doesn¡¯t want her.¡± Zhao Cuinong immediately pulled her mother to the side, speaking in a lowered voice, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t go spreading baseless rumors.¡± Mother Zhao intentionally raised her voice, ¡°She even had the audacity to be a mistress! Shameless! Cuinong, your husband is an educated man, the Old Lin Family is a family of scholars, and you can¡¯t let this kind of woman tarnish the family name!¡± Mistresses are despised by society. ¡°Mom!¡± Zhao Cuinong was exasperated, ¡°You¡¯re so loud, your grandniece might hear you.¡± Mother Zhao shouted toward Lin Guixiang¡¯s side, ¡°I am saying it so she can hear it! If I were her, I¡¯d drown myself in the Yellow River and die, to spare the living the shame and avoid dragging others down with me!¡± Hearing the voices outside, Lin Guixiang inside the house was already sobbing uncontrollably. Her life was so bitter. It was truly bitter. She felt aggrieved but had no one to confide in. Lin Guixiang, though uneducated, understood that as a woman, she needed to be aware of shame and not do things against her conscience. Back then, she didn¡¯t understand why, after she gave birth to her daughter, Zhang Dalong ran away! Only now did she understand. It turned out she was the shameful mistress! Ridiculous! It was utterly ridiculous! ¡°Dad, Mom, I miss you so much,¡± Lin Guixiang hugged her parents¡¯ portrait tightly, ¡°wait for me. As soon as Bingqiang returns, I¡¯ll come to meet you.¡± Her parents had passed away early. Her younger sister had married far away. Now, before death, all she wanted was to see her younger brother one last time. ¡°Mom! Can¡¯t you speak less?¡± Zhao Cuinong pulled her mother outside, ¡°I¡¯ve been troubled enough these past few days!¡± Mother Zhao glanced at Zhao Cuinong, ¡°I¡¯m doing this for your own good! A woman who seduces someone else¡¯s husband deserves to die. Thirty years from now, such a person would have been plunged into a pig cage!¡± Zhao Cuinong, pushing Mother Zhao out, said, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s getting late, you should go back! Dad is still waiting at home for you to cook for him!¡± She had also been a bit annoyed these past few days. Everywhere she went, people pointed fingers and made remarks, with some even saying that with such an aunt, she definitely couldn¡¯t be any good either. Mother Zhao lowered her voice, ¡°My silly girl, isn¡¯t it all for your own good? Soon, Bingqiang will take you and your son to Qing City! What about your auntie? She can¡¯t just follow you there, can she?¡± Lin Bingqiang had been performing well at his job, and his salary had increased over the years. He had purchased an apartment in Qing City and had it nicely furnished. With the apartment ready, naturally, he wanted to bring his wife and children to Qing City to live together. If Lin Guixiang were to follow them, wouldn¡¯t she become a burden? As the words fell, Mother Zhao looked up at the sky, ¡°Cuinong, I¡¯ll be going back first, but you must take my words to heart.¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded her head. After Mother Zhao left, Zhao Cuinong entered Lin Guixiang¡¯s room. ¡°Big sister, don¡¯t be offended by my mother¡¯s harsh words. It¡¯s just that there are too many rumors outside,¡± as she said this, Zhao Cuinong looked at Lin Guixiang, ¡°Can you tell me what¡¯s really going on? Why, after you visited Qing City, did everyone start saying you¡¯re the mistress who destroyed someone else¡¯s family?¡± During this time, she only heard the outsiders¡¯ gossip and had never heard Lin Guixiang utter a word in her defense. If this continued, she would start to wonder if Lin Guixiang really had been unfaithful. But Lin Guixiang was like a mute, doing nothing but crying. Even now, she remained silent. Zhao Cuinong was somewhat angry, looking at Lin Guixiang with a gaze filled with speechlessness. Having such an aunt, she felt she was truly unlucky. ¡ª Qing City. Zhang Xianxian stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the view of the backyard. Within the garden. Her mother was holding her three-year-old brother, laughing joyfully. Zhang Xianxian narrowed her eyes. Her mother was impressive, tolerating the illegitimate child of her father and that other woman. Just then, the assistant stepped in from outside: ¡°Miss.¡± Zhang Xianxian turned around, ¡°What is it?¡± The assistant continued, ¡°Lin Wu has returned to Lin City.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhang Xianxian¡¯s lips curved into a smile, ¡°Good, have you contacted Ma Jiaojiao?¡± This time. She was going to send Lin Wu a big gift. Chapter 6 - 6 004 Destined to be brilliant_1 ?Chapter 6: 004: Destined to be brilliant!_1 Chapter 6: 004: Destined to be brilliant!_1 Lin Wu boarded the high-speed train back to Qing City. The seat by the window. The girl was dressed in a simple white T-shirt, jeans, and white sneakers, resting her chin in one hand and holding her phone in the other, logging into her rarely used alternate account. The phone screen was filled with foreign text she couldn¡¯t understand. But her fingers flew swiftly across the phone¡¯s screen. A lock of black hair fell along her cheek, and despite her bare face, she was strikingly beautiful. ¡°Beautiful girl, can I add your WeChat?¡± This was already the Nth person to ask Lin Wu for her WeChat. Lin Wu shook her head and declined. At four o¡¯clock in the afternoon. The high-speed train arrived at Lin City Town. Lin Wu walked towards her uncle¡¯s house, following the memories of her predecessors. As soon as she stepped into the town, she felt the unusual gazes of the people around her, and they whispered: ¡°Have you heard? She¡¯s the illegitimate daughter Lin Guixiang had with another man!¡± ¡°If her mom was the other woman, how can she have the face to come back?¡± ¡°...¡± A normal person might have crumbled under these pointing fingers and whispers. But who was Lin Wu? Her expression unchanged, she approached one of the middle-aged women and hooked her lips into a slight smile, ¡°Aunt Shen, what were you just saying? Could you please speak up?¡± Lin Wu knew the woman who had spoken. It was Shen Jinlan, the town¡¯s biggest gossip. Many idle rumors spread from her. Shen Jinlan didn¡¯t expect Lin Wu to confront her directly, her eyes dodging as she smiled and said, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. Xiao Wu, you must have heard wrong, right?¡± ¡°So you dare to talk behind others¡¯ backs but can¡¯t admit to it?¡± Lin Wu raised her eyebrows slightly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing of the sort!¡± Lin Wu smiled lightly, ¡°Aunt Shen, then I wish that your daughter meets a scumbag in the future who deceives her into getting a fake marriage certificate, abandons her with a child after birth, and unknowingly falls victim to a homewrecker. She won¡¯t only have to raise the child alone but will also be judged by everyone as the other woman!¡± ¡°How can you speak like that?¡± The older lady¡¯s face turned white with anger. Her daughter was a university student! With a bright future ahead, how could she possibly be deceived by a scumbag! Lin Wu¡¯s words were too harsh. Lin Wu offered a faint smile, ¡°I¡¯m merely recounting my mother¡¯s experiences. Are you unable to handle that? A word of kindness is warm for three winters, while malicious words freeze in the June cold! Aunt Shen, do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself. Why needlessly shift a man¡¯s wrongdoing onto a woman? Are you not a woman? Do you not have a mother? Or children?¡± After she finished speaking, the crowd¡¯s expressions varied, none daring to even breathe a word. They could hardly believe that this was really Lin Wu. In the past, Lin Wu was timid and cowardly, and she wouldn¡¯t even dare utter a word of disagreement even when people cursed her to her face, calling her a bastard. But now... How could she have changed so much? With that said, Lin Wu turned and walked away. When she arrived home, the door was locked. Lin Wu reached out and knocked. Soon, the door opened. The person who opened the door was Zhao Cuinong, who was surprised to see Lin Wu, ¡°Xiao Wu, you¡¯re back!¡± Wasn¡¯t Lin Wu supposed to be staying in Qing City? Lin Wu smiled faintly, ¡°Auntie, this is my home. If not here, where else would I return to?¡± Zhao Cuinong responded with a laugh, ¡°Exactly, exactly! Xiao Wu, come on in.¡± At this point, Zhao Cuinong lowered her voice and continued, ¡°If your mom sees you later, she will be very happy. She hasn¡¯t been in a good mood since she came back from Qing City. Remember to give her a good talking-to!¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly. Zhao Cuinong was extremely excited to see Lin Wu; she had thought Lin Wu truly no longer acknowledged Lin Guixiang! Thank goodness. Thank goodness this child wasn¡¯t the ungrateful type! Lin Wu came to her mother¡¯s bedroom and pushed the door open, ¡°Mom.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Guixiang thought she was hallucinating. This... Her daughter was back? This was the first time Lin Wu saw the original owner¡¯s mother. Perhaps due to her hardships, the 37-year-old Lin Guixiang was yellow and skinny, looking a decade older than her peers, like a leafless tree in winter, swaying as if she might faint at any moment. Zhao Cuinong said with a smile, ¡°Big sister, look who¡¯s back!¡± Lin Guixiang looked up at Lin Wu, surprised and delighted, but mostly confused. Isn¡¯t the daughter repelled by her, intending to stay with the Zhang Family as their precious miss? Why has she suddenly come back? Lin Wu saw the confusion in her mother¡¯s eyes, knelt on one knee, and directly before Lin Guixiang. ¡°Mom, I know I was wrong. You gave birth to me and raised me, yet you ended up being deceived by a scumbag, but not only did I fail to stand up for you, I even threw dirty water on you, I¡¯m sorry...¡± She was kneeling on behalf of the original host. If Lin Guixiang really was the other woman, then today¡¯s events were her retribution, but now Lin Guixiang was also a victim! Knowing that her mother was a victim, the original host treated Lin Guixiang this way, truly failing to repay her for the years of upbringing. Lin Guixiang immediately helped Lin Wu up, ¡°Xiao Wu, get up quickly, good child, it¡¯s Mom who let you down!¡± If it weren¡¯t for her poor judgment of character, how could Lin Wu have lost her father at such a young age! And she would not have had to face being pointed at and called an illegitimate daughter. From childhood to adulthood, her daughter had suffered a lot of grievances... In that moment, mother and child embraced each other tightly. It was only then that Zhao Cuinong got a clear understanding from Lin Wu¡¯s mouth of what had happened back then. She sighed inwardly, feeling that her oldest sister had really not had an easy life, ¡°Big sister, when Qiangzi comes back, our family of five will move to Qing City and have a good life! You can¡¯t cry anymore in the future.¡± Move to Qing City? Upon hearing this, Lin Guixiang was stunned for a moment. Qing City was indeed a good place, but her going there would only bring shame to Lin Wu... Zhao Cuinong continued, ¡°Xiao Wu, go to school tomorrow and talk to the teacher about transferring.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly. Going to Qing City was a definite. She had to teach Lin Guixiang to rise from where she fell. In the future, Lin Guixiang would surely shine brilliantly, making everyone take notice! ¡ª The next day was Monday. Lin Wu went to school. She sat in the third row by the window, propping her chin with one hand. The sunlight streamed in from outside the window, illuminating her porcelain white face, causing the male classmates in the room to be dazzled. This scene was also seen by Ma Jiaojiao standing at the classroom door. A fleeting strange light flashed in Ma Jiaojiao¡¯s eyes. Lin Wu was too dazzling. Although just a village girl from a small town, she had a face that drew attention. Everyone said she was the school beauty. Humph! Sooner or later, the school beauty would become a laughingstock. She now had the help of a powerful benefactor, what was Lin Wu but nothing? She was only fit to be the stepping stone under her feet. The next second, Ma Jiaojiao walked up to Lin Wu with a full smile on her face, ¡°Xiao Wu.¡± Lin Wu slightly turned, her face also filled with a smile, ¡°Jiaojiao.¡± In the original host¡¯s memories, Ma Jiaojiao was her best friend. But Lin Wu saw through the fake smile on Ma Jiaojiao¡¯s face at a glance. This ¡°best friend¡± had no good intentions. Ma Jiaojiao sat next to Lin Wu, lowered her voice, ¡°Xiao Wu, are you doing okay now? Don¡¯t worry, you are you, your mom is your mom, I won¡¯t tell anyone else about this.¡± Now, everyone was saying that Lin Guixiang was shameless, the mistress who seduced someone else¡¯s husband, so many people didn¡¯t want to play with the original host. But Ma Jiaojiao, instead of looking down on the original host like the others, actually comforted her! If it were the original host hearing this, wouldn¡¯t she be moved to death? But who is Lin Wu now? However, since Ma Jiaojiao wanted to act, then Lin Wu would play along with her nicely; she was curious to find out what Ma Jiaojiao was planning. Lin Wu embraced Ma Jiaojiao, ¡°Thank you, Jiaojiao.¡± The student in the front turn, Jiang Yue, curious, turned back, ¡°What are you two talking about?¡± Jiang Yue was a bit of a scatterbrain and lived far away, so she didn¡¯t know about Lin Guixiang¡¯s situation. Ma Jiaojiao wore a mysterious look, ¡°This is a secret between Xiao Wu and me.¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly, ¡°Jiaojiao is right.¡± Jiang Yue continued, ¡°Did you hear? Today, some big shot is coming to our school to donate supplies, and I heard they¡¯re also giving scholarships to the top ten students in the grade!¡± Ma Jiaojiao said, ¡°Yes, I heard it from Director Wang.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Wu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Ma Jiaojiao was so familiar with the school director? Chapter 7 - 7 005 The erudite and talented Boss Lin_1 ?Chapter 7: 005: The erudite and talented Boss Lin_1 Chapter 7: 005: The erudite and talented Boss Lin_1 In the original host¡¯s memory, Ma Jiaojiao didn¡¯t start out with a particularly good relationship with her. About half a month ago, Ma Jiaojiao began to approach her deliberately, bringing her tasty food every day and sharing gossip. After a while, the original host naively considered Ma Jiaojiao her best friend. Little did she know. Whenever something is off, there¡¯s always a reason. The third period in the morning. To welcome the big shots from Qing City, the school organized all the teachers and students to stand in the playground to greet them. Students from all grades stood on the field, creating an impressive scene. At that moment, exclamations arose from the crowd. ¡°Look over there!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that our principal carrying the bag?¡± At the school gate, the principal was respectfully holding a thermos and an overcoat for a middle-aged man. Ma Jiaojiao looked over, ¡°The man having the principal carry his bag is Zhang Jiacheng, a well-known big boss in our town with a fortune of tens of millions. He must be one of the donors today.¡± Hearing this, Jiang Yue said, ¡°So that¡¯s Boss Zhang! No wonder our principal is so attentive!¡± At the same time, a sedan slowly drove into the school and stopped. The multimillionaire boss, Zhang Jiacheng, immediately changed his demeanor, bending over to open the car door for the person in the back seat. His manner was like that of a completely different person. A multimillionaire boss showing such reverence to the person in the car fiercely piqued everyone¡¯s curiosity about who could be inside. The car door opened. A figure emerged from the vehicle. The man was dressed in a suit, his features sharp and exquisitely handsome, his skin so pale it seemed untouched by the sun, his eyes holding an air of inaccessibility, not easy to approach. Even Lin Wu, who had seen many handsome men in later generations, had to admit that this man could be described with the term ¡°stunning beauty.¡± Only... Why did she feel he looked familiar? Lin City was just an obscure little town, and Zhang Jiacheng was already considered a big boss in the locals¡¯ eyes. The appearance of such a glamorous figure as the young man was like throwing a boulder into a placid lake, exciting countless students. Even some female teachers couldn¡¯t seem to control themselves. Lin Wu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, recalling the scene from that night, then quickly looked away. At that moment, The young man¡¯s gaze met hers. Eye contact was made. There was no panic in her eyes, no shock, no excitement, only a calm shifting away. The man¡¯s finely shaped phoenix eyes swept over the girl¡¯s clear, handsome side profile, a ripple of emotion passing through his calm gaze. He saw the little friend again. It was rare for someone to be so composed when meeting his eyes. She was the first. Jiang Yue, thrilled to the core, excitedly tugged at Lin Wu and Ma Jiaojiao¡¯s sleeves, exclaiming, ¡°Xiao Wu, Jiaojiao! He looked at me! That big shot looked at me!¡± Look at her? Upon hearing this, a mocking expression flickered in Ma Jiaojiao¡¯s eyes. Has Jiang Yue ever looked in a mirror? How could that big shot possibly be looking at her? He was clearly looking at herself! She wasn¡¯t like Jiang Yue, the uncouth bumpkin who had never seen the world. Even knowing the big shot was watching her, she maintained a demeanor of indifference, not revealing anything. Only the unsophisticated would scream and shout. ¡ª- At the same time, Jiang Shaoyun curiously looked in the direction of Lu Ye¡¯s gaze. What was Third Brother looking at? Lu Ye withdrew his gaze, pulling out a cigarette to put in his mouth, his eyes carrying a hint of roguishness, ¡°Really good-looking!¡± It had been too dark that night, and he hadn¡¯t seen the little friend¡¯s face clearly. He hadn¡¯t expected the little friend to be so attractive. Jiang Shaoyun was baffled, ¡°What¡¯s really good-looking?¡± ¡°Flowers,¡± Lu Ye¡¯s attention fell on the flowers by the roadside, ¡°Good-looking.¡± These flowers are almost dead and they¡¯re still good-looking? The flowers in Qing City were a hundred times more beautiful, yet he had never seen this gentleman spare them a second glance! At this moment, Principal Song spoke up, ¡°Mr. Lu, General Manager Jiang, and Boss Zhang, let¡¯s head to the lounge to rest for a while. This evening, our school¡¯s teachers have also arranged a welcome ceremony for the three of you.¡± Lu Ye casually raised his hand, ¡°No need.¡± Jiang Shaoyun immediately took over, ¡°Principal Song, we¡¯re here to donate books, money, and supplies. There¡¯s no need for all that pomp and circumstance.¡± Zhang Jiacheng immediately said, ¡°Exactly, exactly, Principal Song, let¡¯s keep it as simple as possible.¡± The principal was stunned. These tycoons and young masters seemed different from what he had imagined. ¡ª After lunch, during the break, Lin Wu prepared to talk to her headteacher about her transfer plans. Just as she reached the corner to the office, she saw Ma Jiaojiao¡¯s figure. Lin Wu narrowed her eyes slightly and quietly followed Ma Jiaojiao¡¯s silhouette all the way to an office in the corner. This was Wang Kang¡¯s office. It was rarely visited! Ma Jiaojiao didn¡¯t knock; she just walked in. Then, some indistinct voices came from inside. After some rustling, the sound of conversation followed. ¡°My dear, my name has almost been changed. Can you really help me replace Zhang Wu¡¯s college entrance exam scores?¡± Half a month ago, Ma Jiaojiao met a benefactor who gave her some guidance and assisted her with the renaming process. Now, all she needed was the name change to go through, and after the college entrance exams, Wang Kang would help her switch her scores with Lin Wu¡¯s! By then, She would be Zhang Wu! ¡°Of course, I can.¡± ¡°Thank you, my dear.¡± ¡°.....¡± It wasn¡¯t until Lin Wu heard this that she understood Ma Jiaojiao¡¯s true intention. The original¡¯s grades were very good, always ranking first in the grade. It seemed Ma Jiaojiao planned to use underhanded tactics to replace the original¡¯s college entrance exam scores. So how should she repay her dear friend? However, in the original¡¯s memories, Ma Jiaojiao was just an ordinary person. She couldn¡¯t possibly pull off such a scheme with just Wang Kang¡¯s help. It appeared, Someone else had a bone to pick with her. Lin Wu¡¯s lips curled slightly. This was getting more and more interesting. ¡ª After the break, the first class was PE but the PE teacher had called in sick, so the headteacher brought everyone to the library to read instead. Lin Wu looked at Ma Jiaojiao and asked intentionally, ¡°Jiaojiao, where do you go every day during the break?¡± Hearing this, Jiang Yue also asked curiously, ¡°Yeah, Jiaojiao! Why do you disappear every break time?¡± ¡°I go for tutoring,¡± Ma Jiaojiao replied unflinchingly. ¡°Oh,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly, ¡°So that¡¯s what it is.¡± Suddenly. Ma Jiaojiao spotted the hem of a suit trouser in her line of sight. Glancing up, one could see the figures of several big shots. Only, they weren¡¯t visible from Lin Wu and Jiang Yue¡¯s perspective. Ma Jiaojiao narrowed her eyes slightly and immediately changed the subject to the tycoons visiting the school. Hearing that, Jiang Yue immediately responded with a dreamy expression, ¡°Among them, Mr. Lu is the handsomest!¡± ¡°Handsome?¡± Ma Jiaojiao laughed, ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Men have an innate desire to conquer. They want to conquer what they can¡¯t have. Ma Jiaojiao, wanting to rise from the ashes like a phoenix and catch the attention of the tycoons, knew she had to do the opposite. Jiang Yue widened her eyes, ¡°If you don¡¯t think someone like Mr. Lu is handsome, then who do you find handsome?¡± Ma Jiaojiao began to share her opinion, ¡°I think appearances aren¡¯t important. It¡¯s inner beauty that matters. Businessmen are greedy; they¡¯re like emotionless money-making machines. There¡¯s also a saying, ¡®there¡¯s no business without deceit,¡¯ showing that businessmen are all sly and cold-hearted. They came to our school to donate money just to label themselves as philanthropists.¡± No business without deceit? Upon hearing this, Lin Wu¡¯s brows arched slightly, ¡°That¡¯s not how ¡®no business without deceit¡¯ is used.¡± ¡°How is it supposed to be used, then?¡± Ma Jiaojiao looked at Lin Wu, curious to see what Lin Wu would come up with. Lin Wu continued, ¡°The ¡®deceit¡¯ in ¡®no business without deceit¡¯ refers to being sharp on both ends, meaning that when a merchant sells rice to customers, they not only have to fill the container but also pile it up sharply. It¡¯s a reminder for merchants to give more to the customers. It¡¯s not accusatory or negative towards businessmen, suggesting them as sly or cold-hearted.¡± Chapter 8 - 8 006 Encounter Again_1 ?Chapter 8: 006: Encounter Again_1 Chapter 8: 006: Encounter Again_1 There is no business without scheming. That is the true meaning of this phrase. Lin Wu, in her previous life, had browsed through numerous books and achieved a little success in various fields. Seeing Ma Jiaojiao make such a mistake, she couldn¡¯t help but want to correct her. Jiang Yue looked at Lin Wu with eyes full of admiration, ¡°Xiao Wu, you¡¯re so amazing! No wonder you¡¯re always the top student in our grade.¡± Ma Jiaojiao was stunned, how did she not know there was such an interpretation to the phrase ¡®there is no business without scheming¡¯? She shifted her gaze to the front. Fortunately. She could no longer see the figures of Jiang Shaoyun and the others in her line of sight. Ma Jiaojiao breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Jiang Yue is right, Xiao Wu, you really are too impressive!¡± Jiang Shaoyun followed behind Lu Ye, ¡°So ¡®there is no business without scheming¡¯ actually refers to the two sharp points, I had always thought it meant the scheming of deceit. My college education seems wasted, not even as good as a high school student!¡± Lu Ye half-squinted his eyes, as he lit the cigarette in his hand, and asked, ¡°When are we arranging to go back?¡± Jiang Shaoyun turned to look at Lu Ye, ¡°This afternoon there¡¯s a cash award for the top ten students of all grades. After the scholarship ceremony, we can set off. Third Brother, if you¡¯re in a hurry, I can speak to the principal and arrange for the school¡¯s teachers to handle it, so we could leave right after.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Lu Ye replied, his thin lips clasping a cigarette, slowly blowing a ring of smoke. Just like his name, he was a touch wild. Not to mention others. If Jiang Shaoyun were a girl, he would be maddened by such a dashing air. ¡ª In the second class of the afternoon, the principal, along with Lu Ye, Jiang Shaoyun, and others, arrived to award the scholarships to the top ten students of each grade. Starting with the senior third years. Lin Wu¡¯s name was first on the list. A scholarship of five thousand yuan. Lin Wu was the first one to go up for the award. The young girl, no more than seventeen or eighteen, facing the big shots from the city, showed not a trace of restraint. Instead, she stood tall and straight, her figure graceful, standing out among her peers. The homeroom teacher came over with the man, ¡°Mr. Lu, this is the top student of the senior third grade, Zhang Wu; her scores are always stably above 720 in every monthly test.¡± Zhang Wu? Lu Ye raised his eyebrows slightly. The kid claimed her surname was Lin, right? Lu Ye narrowed his eyes slightly, his lips parting lightly, ¡°Zhang Wu, I hope you can maintain your current results and strive harder to get into a good university.¡± As he spoke, he handed over an envelope. His hands that passed the envelope were very attractive, with a clear structure and almost glowing under the sunlight, revealing the veins hidden beneath the skin. Lin Wu took the envelope, ¡°Thank you.¡± She was wearing a white school uniform that had been washed until it turned white. Her hair was casually tied up in a bun, revealing a long and elegant neck and a full forehead. Her skin was very white, not like other girls who had been doing farm work all year round. Sometimes, genetics are simply unenviable; Lin Wu was the kind who would get whiter with more sun exposure. Just as Lin Wu was receiving the envelope, she heard the man deliberately lower his voice. ¡°Kid, we meet again.¡± Lin Wu lifted her eyes slightly, and the man instantly returned to a relaxed and carefree demeanor, continuing to award scholarships to other students as if nothing had happened. Ma Jiaojiao, from below the stage, watched Lin Wu with eyes practically spitting fire with jealousy, wishing she could replace Lin Wu immediately and let the big shots know that she was the most outstanding one! She struggled to calm herself, telling herself to lie low! After the college entrance examination, she would make everyone take notice. After the scholarships had been awarded. Lu Ye went back to his seat. Jiang Shaoyun looked at Lu Ye, ¡°That top student is really a great beauty!¡± It was a rare kind of beauty. Very distinctive. Lu Ye glanced at him, ¡°Watch your eyes, this is a school, not your choosing concubines show!¡± Jiang Shaoyun had no choice but to change the subject, ¡°Third Brother, why did you personally come to the awards ceremony?¡± Lu Ye took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, but remembering the setting was inappropriate, stuffed the cigarettes back into his pocket. His tone was very light, ¡°Since Grandmother personally entrusted me with this task, I naturally want to do it thoroughly.¡± Just then, Jiang Shaoyun¡¯s phone rang, ¡°Third Brother, Heizi just sent me a message, saying Dr. M¡¯s alternate account logged in here yesterday afternoon.¡± Lu Ye¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°Yesterday afternoon?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Jiang Shaoyun nodded, ¡°Unexpectedly, Lin City Town is a place with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Third Brother, we¡¯ve been looking for Dr. M for so many days without success, and now he turns out to be in Lin City. What do you think Dr. M is doing here?¡± Lu Ye parted his lips lightly, ¡°Tell Heizi to keep investigating!¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Just at that moment, the principal came over and respectfully said, ¡°Mr. Lu, President Jiang, Boss Zhang, next we¡¯ll go to the second year of high school to hand out the bonuses.¡± Lu Ye pressed his temples and pointed at Jiang Shaoyun, ¡°I¡¯m tired, you take my place.¡± Jiang Shaoyun: ¡°...¡± That¡¯s so unfair! What happened to giving it your all? Is he just passing the buck to me now? ¡ª After school in the evening. Lin Wu noticed that Ma Jiaojiao didn¡¯t go home but went to Wang Kang¡¯s office again. To confirm her suspicions, Lin Wu followed her steps. Just as she reached the door, she heard sounds that were not fit for the ears. These two are really bold. If she didn¡¯t add fuel to the fire, she wouldn¡¯t be doing justice to her good friend. Lin Wu slightly narrowed her eyes, her lips curling into a slight smile. Searching through the original host¡¯s memories, Lin Wu learned that Wang Kang¡¯s wife, Li Moli, also worked at the school. Li Moli¡¯s family had some background, and Wang Kang depended a lot on his father-in-law in many aspects of his life, so Wang Kang was a henpecked husband. Li Moli was the school¡¯s accountant. She would always go home early to prepare dinner and wait for her husband to finish grading homework before eating together. Tonight was no exception. Li Moli, chatting with Teacher Liu, suddenly saw a girl run over in a panic, bumping right into her. Bang! What class is that student from! Are you blind? Li Moli slightly furrowed her brow and was about to scold the girl, but then the girl looked at her as if she had seen a ghost, ¡°Ah! Teacher... Teacher Li?! I... I... I didn¡¯t see anything at Director Wang¡¯s office, really nothing!¡± With that, the girl took off in a dash. Teacher Liu, eyeing the retreating figure of the girl, had curiosity written all over her face, ¡°Is there something in Director Wang¡¯s office?¡± Li Moli was also very curious, and without concern for the fleeing girl, she suggested, ¡°Shall we go take a look?¡± They happened to be free at the moment. Teacher Liu nodded in agreement. As they reached the office door, they heard strange noises coming from inside. Li Moli and Teacher Liu, both married, naturally knew what those sounds were! Teacher Liu looked at Li Moli with a complex expression in her eyes, since it was Wang Kang¡¯s office, could the male lead inside be Wang Kang? Li Moli naturally understood what Teacher Liu meant. But she knew Wang Kang too well! Wang Kang was honest and kind, and usually listened to her very much¡ª if she told him to go east, he wouldn¡¯t dare go west. The man inside couldn¡¯t possibly be Wang Kang! ¡°Our old Wang is definitely not that kind of person!¡± Li Moli lowered her voice, ¡°So, Teacher Liu, you go and get the principal here! Then we¡¯ll catch this shameless pair of wild mandarin ducks together!¡± Today she was determined to clear Wang Kang¡¯s name! Otherwise, how could she clear up a scandal like this? Seeing Li Moli so confident, Teacher Liu nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± After about five or six minutes, Teacher Liu came back with the principal and a few other teachers. Li Moli first greeted the principal, then said, ¡°I¡¯ll open the door!¡± With that, Li Moli kicked open the office door. Bang! The man and woman inside were in a compromising position, without a stitch of clothing, never anticipating someone barging in! When Li Moli recognized the man¡¯s face, she was completely stunned. Rage surged to the top of her head. She would have never imagined that the seemingly honest Wang Kang could do such a thing. Before Wang Kang and Ma Jiaojiao could react, Li Moli strode over and grabbed Ma Jiaojiao¡¯s hair, slapping her several times without hesitation, ¡°You little wretch! You shameless hussy! How dare you seduce my husband! I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡± ¡°Wang Kang! You ungrateful cur! If it weren¡¯t for my father, would you even be where you are? I¡¯m going to kill you both, you adulterous dogs!¡± Chapter 9 - 9 007 Sudden Misfortune Great Maternal Love_1 ?Chapter 9: 007: Sudden Misfortune, Great Maternal Love_1 Chapter 9: 007: Sudden Misfortune, Great Maternal Love_1 Caught red-handed by Li Moli. Ma Jiaojiao was dumbfounded, a sense of shame overwhelming her. She didn¡¯t have a single piece of clothing on her body, and to make matters worse, Li Moli¡¯s beatings were heavy, quickly leaving Ma Jiaojiao¡¯s face swollen like a pig¡¯s head. It was just a single evening. Lin City High School was soon awash with all sorts of rumors. Some said Ma Jiaojiao got pregnant from a love affair and had an abortion at the hospital. Others claimed Ma Jiaojiao wrecked someone¡¯s relationship and was caught in the act of adultery... ¡°Did you hear? Ma Jiaojiao¡¯s face got ripped apart.¡± ¡°I always knew Ma Jiaojiao was no good!¡± ¡°...¡± Lin Wu stood amongst the students enjoying the spectacle, the corners of her mouth curling into a slight smirk. Beep beep beep¨C The sound of a cell phone ringtone pierced the air. Lin Wu took out her phone, only to see a red dot moving swiftly across the screen. They think they can track her with this kind of technology? Lin Wu narrowed her eyes slightly and quickly entered a series of codes. Meanwhile. Elsewhere. Heizi was tracking Dr. M¡¯s burner phone IP address, on the verge of pinpointing an accurate location, when suddenly, the next second. Bang! His computer screen went black. ¡ª Lin Family. As soon as Lin Bingqiang got home, his wife told him about his older sister¡¯s situation. Lin Bingqiang frowned slightly, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about this sooner?¡± Zhao Cuinong said, ¡°How could I tell you? You don¡¯t reply to WeChat, and your phone is off! I called your office twice and your colleagues said you were busy!¡± Lin Bingqiang knew his job was special and couldn¡¯t blame his wife. He sighed, ¡°I¡¯ll go see my sister.¡± ¡°Wait a second,¡± Zhao Cuinong suddenly spoke up. Lin Bingqiang stopped in his tracks. Zhao Cuinong stretched out her hand, ¡°Give it to me!¡± ¡°What?¡± Seeing that Lin Bingqiang was pretending to be clueless, Zhao Cuinong directly reached into his pocket and pulled out a stack of Renminbi. There were three to four thousand yuan in total! This was the private stash Lin Bingqiang had been saving up secretly. Zhao Cuinong was furious, ¡°I knew you were going to give money to your sister! Every day I put up with scrimping and saving, and look at you, only ever thinking about your sister!¡± Lin Bingqiang frowned slightly, ¡°Can you keep it down? She¡¯s my sister! She raised me; without her, there would be no me! What¡¯s wrong with me giving her a little money?¡± ¡°I say it¡¯s wrong then it¡¯s wrong! If you dare give that money to her, then we might as well not bother continuing our life together! Let¡¯s divorce!¡± Zhao Cuinong was very angry. Doesn¡¯t every family need to make ends meet? They had just bought a new house, there were expenses everywhere, and they still had a lot of loans to pay off; three to four thousand yuan wasn¡¯t a trivial amount. Furthermore, Lin Guixiang and her daughter were about to join them in Qing City. Money was needed everywhere! Lin Bingqiang knew that arguing would only make things worse, so he didn¡¯t say anything more and went to his sister¡¯s room. Seeing Lin Bingqiang, Lin Guixiang was happy, ¡°Bingqiang is back.¡± Lin Bingqiang nodded, ¡°Sis, are you alright?¡± Lin Guixiang shook her head, smiling, ¡°I¡¯m fine, I¡¯ve survived all these years.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Bingqiang breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Sis, I¡¯m glad you can see it that way! Xiao Wu is a sensible and good child; she will definitely achieve great things in the future. Once you¡¯re in Qing City, just wait for the good days ahead.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Lin Guixiang nodded. The siblings chatted for a while before Lin Bingqiang left. Watching Lin Bingqiang¡¯s retreating figure, Lin Guixiang¡¯s eyes were filled with bitterness. Her daughter was about to move to Qing City with her brother¡¯s family soon, and her own presence would only tarnish her daughter¡¯s reputation. Her daughter¡¯s future was bright, and she couldn¡¯t become a burden! Lin Guixiang leaned against the door, sobbing uncontrollably. Minutes later, Lin Guixiang picked up the pesticide hidden in the cabinet, quietly opened the door, and walked outside. Her figure soon vanished into the night. ¡ª When Lin Wu returned home, she found her mother wasn¡¯t in the bedroom. ¡°Uncle, have you seen my mom?¡± Lin Wu looked toward Lin Bingqiang. Lin Bingqiang shook his head. ¡°I saw Auntie,¡± Lin Guodong said as he walked in with a toy gun from outside, ¡°I saw Auntie carrying a bottle of pesticide and going out!¡± A pesticide bottle? Upon hearing this, Lin Bingqiang was first stunned, and his face instantly turned pale, ¡°Not good!¡± Lin Wu also realized something was wrong and immediately ran outside to look for Lin Guixiang. In her previous life, she had no mother. Although she had spent only a short time with Lin Guixiang, she had felt a mother¡¯s great love from this ordinary woman. They were about to escape this malicious circle and make a life-changing move to Qing City¡ªLin Wu wouldn¡¯t let anything happen to Lin Guixiang at this time! Elsewhere. Staggering to her parents¡¯ graves, Lin Guixiang ¡®thudded¡¯ to her knees. ¡°Mom and Dad, your unfilial daughter has come to kowtow to you.¡± In the silent night, the only response to Lin Guixiang were a few mournful cawings of crows. Ominous. ¡°Mom and Dad, you both passed away early. To make money for Gui Mei and Bingqiang¡¯s education and living expenses, I¡¯ve had such a hard life over the years. Did you see it from heaven?¡± With the parents gone, the responsibility of taking care of her younger siblings naturally fell on Lin Guixiang. Little did they know, she was only three or four years older than her siblings. Finally seeing her younger siblings grow up, she then felt forced to become the other woman... Thinking back on her life, Lin Guixiang sobbed silently. Now she could only prove her innocence through death. Suddenly, Lin Guixiang slowly twisted off the cap of the Dichlorvos bottle, drank all the pesticide contained within. The pesticide was bitter and hard to swallow. As long as she died. Lin Wu would no longer be called the illegitimate daughter of a mistress. At this thought, Lin Guixiang¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile. For her daughter¡¯s future. She was willing to die. By the time Lin Wu arrived, Lin Guixiang was already slumped on the ground but was still somewhat conscious. ¡°Mom!¡± ¡°Xiao Wu, you¡¯ve come...¡± Lin Guixiang had almost no strength left, felt dizzy and experienced waves of abdominal pain, but seeing her daughter, she mustered her breath, ¡°Promise Mom, you¡¯ll live well from now on... and, your mom was never a mistress... Mom will protect you from heaven...¡± ¡°Mom! I believe you¡¯re not a mistress! You must hold on!¡± While Lin Wu spoke, she forced her fingers into Lin Guixiang¡¯s throat, pressing down firmly. This was to induce vomiting. The immediate priority was to make Lin Guixiang vomit out all the pesticide she had ingested. ¡°Ugh!¡± The next second, Lin Guixiang vomited a yellowish-white fluid. The air was instantly filled with a pungent smell of pesticide. Lin Wu knew that vomiting up these substances was not enough; she continued to press on Lin Guixiang¡¯s throat. Despite vomiting more and more, Lin Guixiang still fell into a coma and lost consciousness. Lin Wu forcefully calmed herself down, then pulled out the emergency acupuncture kit she had bought from the pharmacy in the evening from her pocket¡ªit had unexpectedly come in handy. With a flashlight in one hand and a silver needle in the other, Lin Wu quickly started inserting needles into the various major acupuncture points on Lin Guixiang¡¯s body. These points all have detoxifying effects. But they could only provide temporary relief. To fully recover, Lin Guixiang needed to go to the county hospital for a stomach wash. After the acupuncture was finished, Lin Wu carried her mother on her back and started descending the mountain. Because of years of farm work and malnutrition, Lin Guixiang was almost skin and bones. At one meter sixty-five, she weighed less than ninety pounds. The downhill path was rugged and uneven. Lin Wu, whose body hadn¡¯t fully recovered, didn¡¯t know where she found the strength, but she kept carrying Lin Guixiang. If she stumbled on a stone and fell, she would just get up and keep going forward... Through the bumpy journey and halfway down the mountainside, Lin Wu heard shouting and saw lights from flashlights coming from afar. ¡°Sister! Big sister!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Wu immediately responded, ¡°We¡¯re here! Uncle, we¡¯re over here!¡± Hearing Lin Wu¡¯s voice, Lin Bingqiang didn¡¯t care about the thorny brambles before him and sprinted forward, ¡°Xiao Wu! Don¡¯t be afraid, Uncle is coming!¡± Pushing through the dense brambles, the moment Lin Bingqiang saw Lin Wu, he didn¡¯t know what to feel and felt his eyes begin to sting. The young girl was covered in scrapes. In utter disarray. Although Lin Wu was also just a seventeen or eighteen-year-old child, the slender girl was carrying Lin Guixiang, an adult. Chapter 10 - 10 Bloodline Kinship_1 ?Chapter 10: Bloodline Kinship_1 Chapter 10: Bloodline Kinship_1 Lin Bingqiang could hardly imagine, how Lin Wu had carried Lin Guixiang down from the mountaintop on her back. He immediately took Lin Guixiang off Lin Wu¡¯s back, ¡°Xiao Wu, what happened to your mom?¡± ¡°My mom drank some medicine...¡± Lin Wu said. Drank medicine? Upon hearing these words, Lin Bingqiang almost lost his footing, but he forced himself to remain calm, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Xiao Wu, we¡¯re going to the hospital right now!¡± Lin Bingqiang didn¡¯t come alone. Many other villagers had also followed to look for Lin Guixiang. The people in the village were mostly simple and kind, always ready to lend a helping hand whenever a family was in trouble. Even if there had been past grievances, they would set aside their disputes at times like these. Hearing that Lin Guixiang had taken medicine, everyone was filled with dismay. ¡°Guixiang is such a fool! No matter what, you shouldn¡¯t drink pesticide! Xiao Wu is still so young! The elders began to comfort Lin Wu, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Xiao Wu, if the sky falls, your Third Grand-uncle will be there to hold it up.¡± ¡°Yes, Yes, Yes, we are all here! Don¡¯t be scared, child!¡± ¡°...¡± The night journey was difficult enough, and with the complexity of the mountain paths, many people brought machetes. A few of the younger generation improvised with materials on hand, chopping down some trees and quickly assembling a stretcher to carry Lin Guixiang down the mountain at speed. Fortunately, Lin Bingqiang had driven back. The drive to the town¡¯s hospital took only about half an hour. It was nine-thirty in the evening. Lin Guixiang was taken to Lin City County Hospital for an emergency gastric lavage. Lin Bingqiang stood at the door of the emergency room, chain-smoking one cigarette after another. Zhao Cuinong hurried over, too anxious to scold her husband for smoking, ¡°How is my older sister doing?¡± She could never have imagined the typically weak Lin Guixiang would actually drink pesticide! Lin Bingqiang shook his head, ¡°She hasn¡¯t come out yet.¡± After taking a puff of his cigarette, Lin Bingqiang continued to ask, ¡°How about Guodong?¡± ¡°Sent to my mom¡¯s place.¡± Right after, Zhao Cuinong fished out a bunch of Renminbi from her pocket, stuffing all the scattered cash into Lin Bingqiang¡¯s hand, ¡°This is all the cash we have at home. If it¡¯s not enough, I¡¯ll go to the bank to withdraw more!¡± The most urgent priority was saving a life. Lin Bingqiang looked at his wife, choked up and momentarily speechless. His usually penny-pinching wife had now pulled out all the cash they had at home. Zhao Cuinong moved next to Lin Wu, her eyes full of tender concern. This child must have been terrified tonight. ¡°Xiao Wu, don¡¯t be afraid, your uncle and aunt are here! Your mom is definitely going to be okay! And don¡¯t you worry about the money, your uncle and I have plenty!¡± Such a good child. How could Lin Guixiang be so shortsighted? Slap¡ª Just then, the door to the operating room opened. A doctor in a white coat came out. Lin Bingqiang immediately approached him, ¡°Doctor, doctor, please, you must save my older sister! Money is no object!¡± The doctor pulled down his mask, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the patient is no longer in mortal danger. She has been transferred to a ward for an IV drip, but she¡¯s very weak right now and will need to stay at the hospital for observation for a couple of days.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fortunate that you brought her in on time, and it¡¯s a good thing your family took emergency measures. Without one of these, we doctors would have been powerless.¡± Emergency measures? At this, Lin Bingqiang was a bit puzzled; they hadn¡¯t really taken any emergency measures. However, Lin Bingqiang had no time to dwell on that now, and with a smile, he said, ¡°As long as my sister is okay, that¡¯s all that matters! Doctor, thank you!¡± ¡ª¡ª Elsewhere. Jiang Shaoyun received a call from Heizi. ¡°Young Master Jiang!¡± Jiang Shaoyun was on the school¡¯s rooftop, stargazing, ¡°Did you locate Dr. M¡¯s burner address?¡± As soon as he heard the name Dr. M, Lu Ye extinguished the cigarette in his hand. On the other end of the line, Heizi¡¯s face was downcast, ¡°How easy could it be? The big shot hacked my computer with a reversal!¡± ¡°How did that happen?¡± Jiang Shaoyun furrowed his brow. Heizi, true to his name, was a renowned international hacker and rarely met his match. Heizi continued, ¡°Young Master Jiang, why don¡¯t you and the boss come back first? I will inform you once I have tracked Dr. M¡¯s location.¡± Jiang Shaoyun hung up the phone and turned to Lu Ye, ¡°Third Brother, Heizi says... ¡± Lu Ye, squinting his eyes, gazed into the distance, ¡°I know, get ready, we will go back tomorrow.¡± Dr. M was no ordinary person after all. Learning this outcome did not surprise him. ¡ª The following morning. Lin Guixiang opened her eyes on the hospital bed. Where is this? Hell? Seeing Lin Guixiang awaken, Lin Wu immediately took her hand, ¡°Mom, how do you feel now? Does it hurt?¡± Glancing at Lin Wu, Lin Guixiang was startled. Her? She didn¡¯t die? It turned out that last night¡¯s experiences were all real. She had always thought it was a deathbed hallucination. ¡°Xiao Wu...¡± Looking at Lin Wu, Lin Guixiang suddenly burst into tears, thinking she would never see her daughter again in this life. Fortunately. Fortunately, the heavens had pity on her. ¡°Mom!¡± Lin Wu hugged Lin Guixiang, her eyes brimming with tears, ¡°Please never leave me again, okay?¡± Though it was a very faint sentence, it made Lin Guixiang cry aloud. ¡°Okay, Xiao Wu, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Lin Wu, looking at her mother, continued, ¡°Mom, dying not only proves nothing, but they will also use it as supposed karma to cement your guilt! From now on, you must not only live well but live a life so brilliant that those who bullied us will pay!¡± Hearing this, Lin Guixiang¡¯s face was filled with determination. Having walked through the gate of hell once, Lin Guixiang also understood a lot. Her daughter was right. Death didn¡¯t prove anything. She would live well from now on. Watching mother and daughter embrace each other, Lin Bingqiang¡¯s eyes also reddened. ¡°Sis, Xiao Wu is right! You can¡¯t do anything foolish anymore! Once you recover, we¡¯ll head to Qing City! We must make a name for ourselves in Qing City and make the Zhang family regret!¡± His sister¡¯s life had been too tough. As bitter as bitter medicine. As her brother, Lin Bingqiang hoped his sister¡¯s life would be sweeter from now on. Lin Wu looked at Lin Bingqiang, ¡°Uncle, before we go to Qing City, I want to change my last name.¡± Lin Guixiang was stunned. Change her last name? ¡°What will you change it to?¡± Lin Bingqiang asked in confusion. ¡°Lin,¡± Lin Wu pronounced each word carefully, ¡°from now on, I am Lin Wu.¡± Hearing this, Lin Bingqiang and Zhao Cuinong were very supportive, ¡°Great! Great, Xiao Wu! Your uncle and I both support you!¡± The Zhangs are worth nothing! He had long wanted Lin Wu to change her last name! What Zhang Wu! From now on, Lin Wu has nothing to do with the Zhang family. Zhao Cuinong smiled and said, ¡°What Zhang family¡¯s foremost talented lady? Our Xiao Wu is a hundred times better than her! Just wait for the day they will regret everything after Xiao Wu changes her name.¡± Lin Guixiang also agreed with her daughter¡¯s decision to change her last name. In the afternoon, Lin Wu followed her uncle to the police station to process the name change. The name change required a review, and it would take seven business days to get a new ID card. ¡ª Three days later, Lin Guixiang was cured and discharged from the hospital. Lin Wu came to pick up her mother. Mother and daughter walked down the bustling streets. Lin City County wasn¡¯t very big, and for Lin Wu, who had seen much of the world, it couldn¡¯t be considered prosperous, but for Lin Guixiang, who hadn¡¯t seen much, it was already extremely vibrant. Watching the modern ladies dressed in branded clothes approaching, then looking at her own worn clothes, a feeling of inferiority surged in Lin Guixiang¡¯s heart. Lin Guixiang then turned to look at her daughter by her side. A seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, youthful and beautiful, and though the clothes she wore were not branded, her eyes and eyebrows were full of confident and soaring spirit. Compared to the county¡¯s modern ladies, she did not seem inferior in the least! Lin Guixiang straightened her back as well; with such an outstanding daughter, she as a mother could not let her down. Lin Wu, holding Lin Guixiang¡¯s hand, said, ¡°Mom, once we get our new ID cards, we can set off for Qing City!¡± Chapter 11 - 11 009 Lu Family of Qing City_1 ?Chapter 11: 009: Lu Family of Qing City_1 Chapter 11: 009: Lu Family of Qing City_1 Thinking about how she and her daughter would soon be moving to Qing City, Lin Guixiang couldn¡¯t quite describe her feelings. There was anticipation. There was also panic. She was uneducated and the jobs she could do in Qing City were limited. Lin Guixiang worried whether she could support her daughter. Back in their hometown, at least they could farm the land. Lin Wu continued, ¡°Mom, let¡¯s go to the market, my uncle from the Lu Family will meet us there later.¡± Lin Guixiang was startled, ¡°Xiao Wu, why are we going to the market?¡± ¡°To treat everyone to a meal,¡± Lin Wu added, ¡°The elders from our village have helped us so much, we should properly thank them!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Guixiang nodded, ¡°You¡¯re right, Xiao Wu.¡± Those who were educated really did consider things more thoroughly than she did. At the market, Lin Wu first bought over ten pounds of pork, along with some chicken, duck, and beef and lamb. Everybody had vegetables at home, so they weren¡¯t anything special. Since they were hosting a dinner, it naturally had to be substantial to give everyone a hearty meal. Watching almost a thousand yuan slip away that afternoon, Lin Guixiang couldn¡¯t help but feel a little heartache. Lin Wu comforted her, ¡°Mom, trust me, once we get to Qing City, we¡¯ll be able to earn all this money back very soon.¡± In her previous life, she never lacked money. Naturally, she was not afraid of not being able to earn money. Lin Guixiang furrowed her brows slightly, Lin Wu made earning money sound too simple! Five o¡¯clock in the afternoon. Lin Bingqiang drove into view of the mother and daughter, astonished at the sight of his sister and niece carrying a bunch of stuff, ¡°Big sister, when will you be able to finish eating all these groceries?¡± Lin Guixiang smiled and said, ¡°Xiao Wu wants to treat everyone to a meal.¡± Hearing that, Lin Bingqiang nodded, ¡°Xiao Wu is very thoughtful, it¡¯s right to treat everyone to a meal! Otherwise, they might say our family doesn¡¯t know how to behave!¡± By the time they returned home, it was already evening. Lin Wu took out the candied haws and toy gun she bought for her little cousin Lin Guodong. ¡°Thank you, big sister!¡± Lin Wu patted Lin Guodong on the head, ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± After giving the items to her little cousin, Lin Wu approached Lin Bingqiang, ¡°Uncle, can we talk for a bit?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Lin Bingqiang nodded, curious about what the little girl wanted to talk about, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the study.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure if it was an illusion, but Lin Bingqiang always felt that his niece had changed a lot this time. Her face was still the same. But there was this indescribable feeling. They arrived at the study. Lin Wu was the first to speak, ¡°Uncle, I want to talk to you about the life my mom and I will have after we move to Qing City.¡± Lin Bingqiang smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s a coincidence, I wanted to talk to you about that too. I¡¯ve asked someone to find a dishwashing job for your mom in the city. The salary isn¡¯t very high, but it should be enough for you two to live on.¡± At this, Lin Bingqiang added, ¡°Uncle¡¯s new house is in the same yard as your aunt¡¯s, it will be lively when all our relatives are together.¡± ¡°Uncle, thank you for being so thoughtful, but my mom can¡¯t wash dishes her whole life. We can¡¯t always depend on you for living.¡± Hearing this, Lin Bingqiang frowned slightly. Although Lin Wu was making sense, what else could Lin Guixiang do if not wash dishes? Decent jobs required education. Lin Wu then said, ¡°Uncle, once we¡¯re in Qing City, I want to encourage my mom to go into business and become an entrepreneur.¡± She not only wanted to turn Lin Guixiang into a qualified businesswoman but also to grow the business and stand at the top of the commercial world, to take over Zhang¡¯s. To let them witness Lin Guixiang¡¯s growth! ¡°Go into business?¡± Lin Bingqiang hadn¡¯t expected Lin Wu to have such an idea, ¡°Xiao Wu, your mom has never traveled far, and just the fact that she can¡¯t read means she¡¯s not suited for business!¡± For Lin Guixiang to enrich herself through business was as difficult as reaching the heavens! Lin Wu continued, ¡°Uncle, I¡¯ve thought it over. I¡¯ve already wasted so many days of the first semester of senior year, I might as well take a break from school for now, and after summer vacation, I¡¯ll start senior year again in Qing City, and take the college entrance exam next year. During this time, I can just teach her.¡± Hearing this, Lin Bingqiang frowned deeply. Lin Wu teaching Lin Guixiang? This was absurd! Entrepreneurship wasn¡¯t just about knowing how to read! In fact, Lin Bingqiang himself had tried to start his own business in the past. But it had all ended in failure. This showed that business required not only intelligence and luck but also being well-connected! Lin Wu was not yet eighteen. What did she know? If she herself didn¡¯t know how to do business, how could she teach Lin Guixiang? Lin Wu slightly lifted her eyes to look at Lin Bingqiang, ¡°Uncle, I know what you¡¯re worried about, but if we don¡¯t try, how will we know whether it will work or not?¡± Lin Bingqiang frowned deeply, ¡°Xiao Wu, do you know how many experienced businessmen go bankrupt each year? Good grades in school don¡¯t mean you have the mind for business, and starting a business is not as simple as mere talk!¡± Chapter 12 - 12 009 Lu Family of Qing City_2 ?Chapter 12: 009: Lu Family of Qing City_2 Chapter 12: 009: Lu Family of Qing City_2 There¡¯s only one way for a rural child to rise above others. And that is to put in the effort, study hard, and leap through the dragon¡¯s gate. There¡¯s a right time for everything. At Lin Wu¡¯s age, she shouldn¡¯t be thinking about all those messy, hastily made plans. Lin Wu simply looked at Lin Bingqiang, ¡°Uncle, whether I succeed or fail, I want to try.¡± It was just a light sentence. Yet it carried an indefatigable spirit that could not be argued with. While the person standing in front of him was his niece, Lin Bingqiang felt a pressure as if he were facing a leader. ¡°If my mom fails in her business venture, I¡¯ll focus on my studies and never mention this again.¡± Faced with such a niece, Lin Bingqiang could only compromise, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, then your uncle supports you.¡± After experiencing failure, this child will understand her own well-meant efforts. Lin Wu went on, ¡°You¡¯ll also have to help convince my mom; she¡¯s very traditional in her thinking, unlike you, and will definitely not agree to me taking a break from school.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not one of those traditional thinkers!¡± Lin Bingqiang said with a laugh, ¡°But don¡¯t be too hard on your mom. Back in the day when our family had it tough, your mom helped your auntie and me go to school, she didn¡¯t even finish the first grade of elementary school!¡± Now, Lin Guixiang was no different from an illiterate person. Lin Wu smiled as she took Lin Bingqiang¡¯s arm, ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re so nice! I really envy my little cousin for having a dad like you.¡± Lin Bingqiang was so flattered that he almost lost his bearings. Taking advantage of the moment, Lin Wu pressed on, ¡°So please take care of this matter, Uncle!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Lin Bingqiang pounded his chest, ¡°Leave it to me!¡± ¡°Thank you, Uncle. I¡¯ll go help Aunt wash the vegetables now!¡± With those words, Lin Wu turned and left. Watching Lin Wu¡¯s receding figure, Lin Bingqiang belatedly realized that he seemed to have been outmaneuvered by this young girl. He had been against Lin Wu taking time off from school to start a business, but now, he had become an accomplice! This girl was too good at brainwashing. ¡ª The Lu Family in Qing City. Lu Ye had returned home from Lin City Town, worn and dusty from his travels. Grandma Lu immediately went to greet him, ¡°Sansan is back!¡± ¡°Grandma.¡± Ever since he was cast out of the Su family, Lu Ye had always called his maternal grandparents Grandma and Grandpa. ¡°How was your trip to Lin City? Did you meet anyone special?¡± Grandma Lu¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. Upon hearing this, Lu Ye touched his forehead in resignation, ¡°Grandma, please don¡¯t always listen to He Xianzi¡¯s nonsense.¡± But, no special person. A special little friend, however, he had met one. Grandma Lu frowned slightly. How could he have not met anyone? He Banshen was said to be very spiritual! This grandson of hers had a pitiable background. Since childhood, he had been without a father or a mother. Grandma Lu just wanted to see, with her own eyes, Lu Ye get married and have children before she passed away. Maybe it had to do with his experiences as a child, but Lu Ye had been a man of few words since he was little. In the eyes of others, Lu Ye was just a useless lump of mud that couldn¡¯t stick to the wall. At 15, he dropped out of junior high school to mix with society, and now at 26, he was without accomplishments, family background, or education. Though he bore the Lu surname, he wasn¡¯t a true member of the Lu family! Once Old Master Lu and Grandma Lu were gone, what would become of Lu Ye? He wouldn¡¯t even amount to a dog turd on the roadside. So, in Qing City, nobody gave Lu Ye a second glance. Lu Ye changed his clothes and went downstairs, ¡°Grandma, I need to go out this afternoon, so I might not come back for dinner tonight.¡± Hearing this, Grandma Lu knitted her brows, ¡°Why are you going out again just after coming back?¡± ¡°The repair shop has been closed for several days, so I want to go check on it this afternoon.¡± Grandma Lu gave him a look, ¡°All you ever do is fool around!¡± Everyone thought Lu Ye was useless, like mud that couldn¡¯t stick to the wall. But nobody knew that the then 16-year-old Lu Ye, who had vanished suddenly, was secretly recruited and trained by a prestigious overseas institution. By the age of 19, he already had his own company abroad, and now, at 26, Lu Ye was the founder of a renowned international group! To say he was a big shot standing at the pinnacle of the pyramid was no exaggeration. Yet, this child was eccentric, disliking ostentation. After returning to his country, he kept a low profile. It was bad enough that he rode a bicycle everywhere, but he also opened a bicycle repair shop by the roadside. Lu Ye picked up the newspaper from the coffee table, ¡°Grandma, actually repairing bicycles is quite interesting.¡± ¡°But you can¡¯t spend your whole life with bicycles, can you?¡± Grandma Lu sighed, ¡°All I dream of now is for you to find a girlfriend soon.¡± Before Lu Ye could speak, Grandma Lu continued, ¡°The Ou Family girl is quite pretty. I asked around last week, and she¡¯s still single! Moreover, you were once betrothed to her, which means you two are fated.¡± Back when Lu Ye was Su Wenbei, he had a childhood engagement with Second Miss Ou from Qing City, Ou Tinglan. But when Lu Ye was kicked out of the Su Family, obviously, the engagement was naturally voided. Grandma Lu didn¡¯t know about her character, but she had seen Ou Tinglan from a distance and found that she was very beautiful, just like a movie star. People are naturally attracted to beautiful things. Knowing that Ou Tinglan was still single, Grandma Lu asked a good friend to speak on their behalf to the Ou Family, and they already agreed to meet Lu Ye. Since they agreed to meet, there was hope. ¡°I¡¯m just a bicycle repairman,¡± Lu Ye turned the page of the newspaper, ¡°What would she see in me?¡± Grandma Lu sat down beside him, ¡°Then you can just reveal your true identity to her when you meet.¡± With Lu Ye¡¯s current status. Not just one Ou Family, but even ten or a hundred of them couldn¡¯t compare to him. ¡°No fun,¡± Lu Ye spoke in a lackluster tone. Hearing this, Grandma Lu thought it over and felt that Lu Ye had a point. If Ou Tinglan was with Lu Ye because of his status. Then it would just mean Ou Tinglan was interested in his power and influence. Now, Lu Ye¡¯s identity was like a mirror that revealed demons, making it easier to see people¡¯s true natures. After a moment, Grandma Lu added, ¡°Maybe Second Miss Ou is the kind of good girl who values character over family background? How would you know if you don¡¯t try? I¡¯ve already arranged the match for you, remember to be friendly when you meet her.¡± The Ou Family had a long tradition of scholarship; certainly, their daughters wouldn¡¯t be too shabby! Just then, a figure ran inside and then sat next to Lu Ye, laying her head on his shoulder and sobbing uncontrollably. This was Lu Lingli, the daughter of Lu Ye¡¯s uncle. Lu Ye and Grandma Lu looked at each other and came to a conclusion from each other¡¯s gaze: Miss Lu was heartbroken again! Although Lu Lingli was only twenty-seven this year, her romantic history was quite rich: she fell in love with one after another, loving one, breaking up with the next, and crying for a day with each split... ¡°Miss, it¡¯s just a man, do you need to cry like this?¡± Lu Ye massaged his temples helplessly. He really couldn¡¯t understand those deeply in love, who would easily cry their eyes out. Lu Lingli shot him a glance, ¡°You¡¯ve never been in a relationship, what do you know about love? You have no idea how much I¡¯ve invested in this relationship! You don¡¯t know how much I loved him!¡± Lu Ye scoffed lightly, ¡°Even if I were in a relationship, I wouldn¡¯t be as pathetic as you. Love? Can love be eaten?¡± One can¡¯t live without oxygen, but he can¡¯t live without a girlfriend? Ridiculous! Lu Lingli looked at Lu Ye, ¡°Wait until you meet someone you love but can¡¯t have, you¡¯ll cry even worse than me!¡± Hearing this, Lu Ye slightly furrowed his brows. Love unreciprocated? Impossible. Lu Ye didn¡¯t believe in love, so naturally, he wouldn¡¯t fall in love with anyone. His tone was indifferent, ¡°You think I¡¯m like you? Whoever makes me cry in the future, I¡¯ll make her die!¡± Chapter 13 - 13 010 Lovely Grandma Lu Big Boss mocked_1 ?Chapter 13: 010: Lovely Grandma Lu, Big Boss mocked_1 Chapter 13: 010: Lovely Grandma Lu, Big Boss mocked_1 Lu Ye wasn¡¯t joking at all. In this life, only money is the most real existence. Everything else is fleeting. He would never cry over a woman! Just as Grandma Lu was about to argue with Lu Ye¡¯s words, she was hugged by her eldest granddaughter, ¡°Grandma, do you think what Lu Da is saying makes any sense? I¡¯m so heartbroken, and he doesn¡¯t even comfort me, but instead he makes these insensitive remarks!¡± Although Lu Lingli was crying her eyes out, Grandma Lu remained very calm, ¡°Even though Sansan¡¯s words are not right, you don¡¯t need to cry so exaggeratedly.¡± Lu Lingli said in between sobs, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m really heartbroken. I feel like I¡¯ll never fall in love with someone else again...woo woo woo....¡± Grandma Lu: ¡°You said the same thing the last time you broke up.¡± Lu Lingli: ¡°...¡± Grandma Lu continued to twist the knife: ¡°But the next day you fell in love with that Qi Li Xiang.¡± Because one of Lu Lingli¡¯s previous ex-boyfriends had smelly feet, Grandma Lu had given her this nickname. ¡°What Qi Li Xiang, his name is Song Yaowei!¡± Lu Lingli cried and said, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m already so upset, why do you keep rubbing salt on my wounds? I just want to have a proper relationship, so why do I always meet jerks?¡± ¡°Jerks? Is he even worthy?¡± Grandma Lu tapped her cane, ¡°I ask you, does that guy have a height of 1.9 meters?¡± ¡°No,¡± Lu Lingli shook her head. Grandma Lu then asked, ¡°Does he have six-pack abs? Is he as handsome as Tony Leung? Is he a billionaire?¡± Three successive questions from Grandma Lu. Lu Lingli shook her head each time. Grandma Lu scoffed, ¡°He doesn¡¯t have any of that and you call him a jerk? Listen up, that¡¯s called a short, poor, and sleazy scumbag! Jerks are those who are not only tall and handsome but also rich!¡± Saying this, Grandma Lu looked over at Lu Ye, ¡°Someone like my eldest grandson here is fit to be called a jerk!¡± An innocent Lu Ye who got shot while lying down: ¡°...¡± First of all, I haven¡¯t offended any of you. Grandma Lu turned to Lu Lingli, ¡°How come you only grow older but not wiser? Such a waste of your pretty face! You¡¯re such a worry, I can¡¯t eat or sleep every day worrying about you getting deceived by scumbags! How could there be such a good grandmother like me in this world? I¡¯m not bragging, but you Lu Family are blessed with good fortune because your grandfather was able to marry me! Look at me, I¡¯ve lost several pounds recently because I haven¡¯t been able to eat anything!¡± In the end, Grandma Lu sighed. Loss of appetite? Lu Lingli¡¯s eyes fell on Grandma Lu¡¯s pocket, ¡°Grandma, at least tuck your pocket in before you say that.¡± Oh no! She hadn¡¯t hidden her shaqima well. Upon hearing this, Grandma Lu quickly covered her pocket and stuffed the exposed shaqima back in, while also concocting a perfect excuse, ¡°This, this is for Wanbao to eat.¡± Wanbao is the daughter of Lu Lingli¡¯s cousin, who is just ten months old this year. Her cousin and her husband had things to do far away and couldn¡¯t take the child with them, so they sent her to the Lu Family to stay for a few days. As soon as she finished speaking, a packet of spicy strips fell out of the other pocket of Grandma Lu. Lu Lingli chuckled, ¡°It seems that Wanbao shares your taste, both favoring strong flavors.¡± Grandma Lu: ¡°...¡± She couldn¡¯t stay in this house for another moment. In an attempt to hide her embarrassment, Grandma Lu coughed lightly, directing the topic to Lu Ye, ¡°And you, you¡¯re another one who can¡¯t give me peace of mind!¡± A baffled Lu Ye asked, ¡°What did I do?¡± Grandma Lu said, ¡°You¡¯re already feigning 26, nearing 27, almost 28, approaching 29, heading towards 30, and running towards 40! And yet you still don¡¯t have a girlfriend!¡± Lu Ye: ¡°...¡± He was only 26, but Grandma Lu spoke as if he was about to drop dead on the spot. As soon as Grandma Lu started talking about Lu Ye, Lu Lingli stopped crying and immediately became spirited, ¡°Grandma, didn¡¯t he just say? Anyone who believes in love is a fool, and whoever makes him cry, he will make them die!¡± Grandma Lu looked at Lu Ye, ¡°Young man, don¡¯t speak too confidently!¡± Just wait. He¡¯ll suffer sooner or later. However, Lu Ye was full of confidence, ¡°You think I¡¯m like Lu Lingli? A girlfriend, for me, is not a necessity of life. I can take it or leave it!¡± Seeing Lu Ye like this, Lu Lingli rolled her eyes in frustration. Look at his smugness! Grandma Lu stood with hands on her hips, just watching Lu Ye, ¡°Back in the day, your grandfather was also blindly confident like you!¡± ¡°What happened then?¡± Lu Lingli immediately asked. Grandma Lu, with a face full of pride, said, ¡°After that, he wrote me more than a dozen love letters a day, chasing after me. After he got me, every time we fought, he would cry his eyes out, and then come to me to admit his mistakes!¡± Lu Lingli¡¯s face was full of admiration. ¡°Grandma, you were so amazing!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± Grandma Lu looked at Lu Ye. ¡°This kid will definitely turn out just like his grandpa, a real hard-headed duck.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not like Grandpa.¡± Ever since he could remember, Old Master Lu had been henpecked, and even now, if Grandma Lu told him not to go west, he dared not go west. He didn¡¯t have the henpecked trait of Old Master Lu. A real man. How could he succumb to the will of a woman? Pathetic! Grandma Lu snorted coldly and turned to Lu Lingli, ¡°Your grandpa was even more stubborn than he is before he started chasing me!¡± Lu Lingli stroked her chin. ¡°Then I¡¯ll just wait for Lu Da to take a tumble!¡± Lu Ye stood up calmly, ¡°Then you won¡¯t see it in your lifetime.¡± As he spoke, Lu Ye continued, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m going out now.¡± Grandma Lu immediately stood up as well, ¡°Sansan, wait a moment.¡± ¡°What else do you need, Grandma?¡± Lu Ye asked. Grandma Lu continued, ¡°I¡¯ve arranged with Aunt Yang for you to meet Miss Ou at Zhiyu Cafe near the Mingzhu Building.¡± Lu Ye frowned slightly, ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already arranged it, and if you don¡¯t go, they¡¯ll say the Lu Family has no manners! Regardless of the outcome, you should go and meet her so that no one can gossip about us!¡± Grandma Lu was confident that Ou Tinglan would be the one to make Lu Ye cry. Reluctantly, Lu Ye could only first head to the cafe for the appointment. ¡ª Half an hour later, Lu Ye rode his bike to the entrance of Zhiyu Cafe. He parked the bicycle at the entrance. Ou Tinglan, who was sitting by the window, just happened to see this scene. A look of disgust was clearly visible in her eyes. Ou Tinglan¡¯s pretty brows furrowed slightly; all of her exes were children of the powerful and wealthy. The very least of the men who pursued her started in the tens of millions in terms of wealth. What was Lu Ye? Their statuses were simply not on the same level. Lu Ye wouldn¡¯t even qualify to be a bodyguard in her family. In no time at all, Lu Ye entered the cafe. ¡°Miss Ou, sorry to keep you waiting,¡± he said. Ou Tinglan just watched Lu Ye, the mocking look in her eyes almost spilling out. She was simply passing by and came to the cafe for a coffee with nothing better to do. Lu Ye couldn¡¯t possibly be so vain as to think she liked him, and that¡¯s why she arrived early, could he? Although the two had a marriage arrangement when they were children, it was based on the premise that Lu Ye was a descendant of the Su Family. Now, Lu Ye was nothing more than an illegitimate child of unknown origin. The marriage arrangement, naturally, was null and void! She really couldn¡¯t understand where Grandma Lu got the courage to arrange a blind date with her and Lu Ye. Ou Tinglan initially didn¡¯t want to meet, but her father said that the Ou Family had some connection with the Lu Family, and not showing up would put the middleman, Mrs. Yang, in an awkward position. So she had to come in person, to make everything clear once and for all. To prevent certain people from entertaining false hopes. ¡°Please sit,¡± Ou Tinglan said. Lu Ye leaned forward and sat down opposite Ou Tinglan. Ou Tinglan elegantly took a sip of her coffee, ¡°Mr. Lu, the men I like either wear a military uniform and protect the country, earning great military merits, or wear a suit and masterfully navigate the corporate battlefield, owning billions in assets! Obviously, your current situation doesn¡¯t meet my standards for choosing a partner.¡± Did Lu Ye even stand a chance with her? It was simply wishful thinking! As she spoke, Ou Tinglan placed the cup down and smiled, ¡°Mr. Lu, it¡¯s important to know your own worth, not every toad can eat swan meat! Don¡¯t you agree?¡± Chapter 14 - 14 011 Cant even recognize all 26 letters of the ?Chapter 14: 011: Can¡¯t even recognize all 26 letters of the alphabet!_1 Chapter 14: 011: Can¡¯t even recognize all 26 letters of the alphabet!_1 Ou Tinglan truly looked down on Lu Ye. She also believed that it would be difficult for Lu Ye to make a comeback, which is why she dared to mock him so undisguisedly. In modern times, young people who wish to make it in the world must rely either on family background or on connections and education. Unfortunately, Lu Ye had neither. Moreover, in Ou Tinglan¡¯s view, being liked by someone as disgusting as Lu Ye was a disgrace to her. She came from a prominent family. Having attended various professional courses for young ladies since childhood, she was familiar with all sorts of tea ceremonies and etiquette, spoke four languages, and could dance dozens of styles¡ªall to marry a big shot at the top of the pyramid someday. What was Lu Ye in comparison? Ou Tinglan had someone she liked. Although they had never met, she always followed her idol¡¯s footsteps. Her idol was a famous French tycoon, Mr. K. This Mr. K often ranked in the top three of the global rich list. He was just too low-key! He rarely made public appearances. Information about him was even scarcer. The only well-known fact was that, Mr. K was from Hua Country. And his ancestral home was in Qing City. Ou Tinglan was born in Qing City, so she always felt that she had a deep connection with Mr. K. If she had the chance to meet Mr. K, she was sure she could make him fall in love with her. In the face of Ou Tinglan¡¯s teasing, Lu Ye¡¯s expression remained indifferent, accepting everything as it was. The bicycle repairman¡¯s mirror was indeed useful. In less than ten minutes, it had revealed the true nature of the granddaughter-in-law Old Madam Lu fancied. Suddenly, Lu Ye looked up nonchalantly and picked up his coffee, ¡°Then I wish Miss Ou all the best in finding someone who matches you well!¡± No sooner had he spoken, than An Ya, Ou Tinglan¡¯s good friend, stood up from the next table and pointed at Lu Ye: ¡°Lu Ye, you should take a look at yourself in the mirror! I don¡¯t know when Lan Lan will find her lifelong partner, but I do know, you¡¯re definitely not worthy of her!¡± Having said that, An Ya grabbed Ou Tinglan¡¯s hand, ¡°Lan Lan, let¡¯s go.¡± Ou Tinglan took a hundred-dollar bill out of her wallet, ¡°I¡¯ll pay for the coffee today.¡± As for Lu Ye, the unwanted wretch, he probably couldn¡¯t even afford coffee. If Old Master Lu and Grandma Lu truly regarded him as their own grandson, they wouldn¡¯t have let him spend his days fixing bicycles on the street! Lu Ye watched their departing figures with a faint smile on his lips. Human nature, it just can¡¯t stand the test. ¡ª As soon as they stepped out of the cafe?, An Ya couldn¡¯t help but complain, ¡°Have the Lu Family gone mad? To set you up with Lu Ye for a blind date! They should weigh their own status.¡± What was Lu Ye, anyway? Nothing but a lump of mud. It wasn¡¯t just Ou Tinglan who looked down on someone like him; even she couldn¡¯t stand him. Ou Tinglan smiled lightly, ¡°Alright, alright, don¡¯t be angry. It was Grandma Lu who arranged for Mrs. Yang to come to my house with the proposal. My dad didn¡¯t want to refuse Mrs. Yang outright, so he let me go through the motions.¡± The Yang Family was also one of Qing City¡¯s wealthy clans. Since the Ou Family and the Yang Family had business dealings, and it was Mrs. Yang who personally asked, Ou Shizhen naturally couldn¡¯t refuse. Hearing this, An Ya was even more speechless, ¡°Doesn¡¯t Mrs. Yang know Lu Ye¡¯s status? Isn¡¯t this the same as insulting someone?¡± Two people of unequal status shouldn¡¯t be set up on a blind date together. It¡¯s too demeaning! Ou Tinglan continued, ¡°Mrs. Yang is using me to repay a favor!¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked An Ya. Ou Tinglan narrowed her eyes, ¡°When Mr. Yang was in trouble back then, it was Old Master Lu who helped him out. Now that Grandma Lu needs a favor from Mrs. Yang, she certainly can¡¯t refuse.¡± An Ya snorted coldly, ¡°Mrs. Yang is really lowering herself!¡± Using Ou Tinglan to repay a favor. At that moment, An Ya added, ¡°Oh right, Lan Lan, have you heard?¡± ¡°Heard what?¡± ¡°About the Zhang Family!¡± An Ya said excitedly, ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡± ¡°Are you talking about that illegitimate daughter of the Zhang Family?¡± These days, the entire circle of the wealthy was abuzz with the news. The first talented Miss Zhang Xianxian actually had a little village girl as a sister! Isn¡¯t that a huge joke? An Ya nodded repeatedly. After a moment, she continued, ¡°What was the head of the Zhang Family thinking? To actually fancy a rural woman and even have an illegitimate daughter! On Miss Zhang¡¯s birthday banquet, my mom was also there, and she said that the illegitimate daughter even insisted on taking Old Madam Zhang for a paternity test!¡± ¡°And I also heard that the illegitimate daughter is just a village girl who can¡¯t even recognize all 26 letters of the alphabet, she¡¯s simply incomparable to Miss Zhang!¡± Can¡¯t even recognize all 26 letters of the alphabet? Upon hearing this, Ou Tinglan widened her eyes, ¡°Is it really that exaggerated?¡± ¡°How can it not be?¡± An Ya went on, ¡°You¡¯re not unaware of how backward the countryside is! Unlike us, who¡¯ve been attending various classes since we were young, with access to famous teachers! Not to mention 26 letters of the alphabet, I bet she can¡¯t even read ¡®The Difficulty of the Shu Road¡¯ fluently!¡± With so many obscure words in ¡°The Difficulty of the Shu Road,¡± it¡¯d be odd if a mere village girl could recognize them all. Ou Tinglan laughed and said, ¡°No wonder she¡¯d rather kneel on the ground and lose her dignity than leave.¡± The Zhang Family is Qing City¡¯s First Prominent Family. Who wouldn¡¯t want such boundless wealth? ¡°But in the end, she was driven out by the Zhang Family. I heard that when the village girl was driven out, she even declared that in three years, she would make everyone unable to climb up to her level!¡± At these words, Ou Tinglan laughed lightly. ¡ª Lu Ye also left the cafe, put on his wireless earphones, mounted his bicycle, and headed for the repair shop. What a coincidence. The repair shop and the route of Ou Tinglan and her friends were the same. Seeing Lu Ye¡¯s back, Ou Tinglan frowned slightly. How disgusting. An Ya was speechless as well, ¡°How did he follow us here? Lan Lan, let¡¯s take another road!¡± Ou Tinglan nodded, turning with An Ya to walk in another direction. After a few steps, she couldn¡¯t help but look back to check if Lu Ye had started to follow them again. This kind of stalker is really terrifying! Ten minutes later. Lu Ye arrived at the repair shop. The door of the repair shop was open. Shi Wenchen leaned against the door out of boredom. As soon as Shi Wenchen saw Lu Ye, he immediately spit out his chewing gum, ¡°Boss, you¡¯re finally here!¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Lu Ye asked with his lips barely parted. Shi Wenchen continued, ¡°There¡¯s trouble from Country P.¡± Hearing this, Lu Ye was not surprised and calmly locked up his bike, ¡°Find time to take a trip over there.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Shi Wenchen then asked, ¡°Boss, where did you just go?¡± ¡°Blind date.¡± Shi Wenchen¡¯s eyes flashed with a gossiping look, ¡°Really? Who¡¯s our future sister-in-law?¡± He had not expected their boss would need to go on blind dates. Lu Ye spoke indifferently, ¡°She wasn¡¯t interested in me.¡± Shi Wenchen¡¯s eyes widened even more! Like brass bells! Who was it? To actually not be interested in their boss. Just wait, she¡¯ll have days of regret in the future! ¡ª The next day. It was the day Lin Guixiang and her daughter were to treat guests to express their gratitude to everyone. Early in the morning, Lin Guixiang got up to cook. She thought she had got up very early, but to her surprise, Lin Wu was already up when she got up. She was under the desk lamp, taking apart a cellphone. On the table was a heap of broken parts. Next to it was an old green-covered book, and although Lin Guixiang was illiterate, she still made out that it was a foreign book. Lin Guixiang looked at her with a puzzled expression on her face, ¡°Xiao Wu, why did you take apart the phone like this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s broken, I¡¯m fixing it,¡± Lin Wu said. Lin Wu spoke casually, but Lin Guixiang swallowed hard, wondering if it could still be fixed after being disassembled to this extent. Chapter 15 - 15 012 Questioned_1 ?Chapter 15: 012: Questioned_1 Chapter 15: 012: Questioned_1 Lin Guixiang didn¡¯t understand much about fixing phones either, so she didn¡¯t ask much more. Instead, she said, ¡°Xiao Wu, you keep on with the repairs. I¡¯m going to cook.¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly. As the words fell, Lin Guixiang went to the kitchen to get busy. Before long, Zhao Cuinong also got up to help. By eleven in the morning, nearly all the guests the Lin Family had invited had arrived. Each family in the village sent one or two representatives. One family brought some eggs, another brought some fruit... The villagers were simple and enthusiastic, never visiting empty-handed, no matter when they came over. Everyone had thought that Lin Guixiang and her daughter were just inviting everyone over for a simple meal, but to their surprise, there was not only chicken, duck, fish, and meat but also beef, lamb, and seafood! This clearly showed that the Lin Family was genuinely grateful and was not just going through the motions. Shen Jinlan came too, and looking at Lin Guixiang and her daughter, she felt somewhat embarrassed. Although she was a bit of a gossip, she wasn¡¯t so bad as to wish death upon someone. Having learned that Lin Guixiang attempted suicide by taking medicine, Shen Jinlan was terrified. If Lin Guixiang had died, she would never have been able to live with herself! Hesitating for a moment, Shen Jinlan approached Lin Guixiang, ¡°Mother Xiao Wu, I¡¯m sorry, I misunderstood you before. I promise I won¡¯t speak ill of you ever again!¡± With Shen Jinlan taking the initiative to apologize, Lin Guixiang naturally gave her a way to step down, ¡°Jinlan, it¡¯s all in the past.¡± Hearing Lin Guixiang¡¯s words, Shen Jinlan was overjoyed, ¡°Guixiang, I knew you were magnanimous and wouldn¡¯t hold a grudge against me.¡± The meal went down with everyone in high spirits. Evening. The whole family sat together chatting. Lin Bingqiang said, ¡°Big sister, once we get to Qing City, you should start a business, do some small trade.¡± Start a business? Do some trade? Lin Guixiang frowned slightly, ¡°How would I know how to do business!¡± Lin Bingqiang said with a smile, ¡°Start with a small business and then expand slowly.¡± Lin Guixiang still shook her head; she didn¡¯t know a single character, how was she supposed to do business? Finding a job washing dishes or sweeping floors in the city would be more like it. Lin Bingqiang looked at Lin Guixiang and continued, ¡°Big sister, although you may not know how to do business, you have Xiao Wu! Xiao Wu is young; she knows what young people like these days! Plus, Xiao Wu has missed too many classes in the third year of high school. It might be better for her to take half a year off, help you with the business during the first half of the year, and then continue with her final year after the summer break ends.¡± Lin Bingqiang was a bona fide university graduate, now a key member of his workplace with a high salary, and he had both a car and a house to his name. For his age, he was considered highly educated. After all, many people his age had only finished elementary or middle school. Therefore, Lin Guixiang trusted her brother a lot. If this had come from Lin Wu¡¯s mouth, Lin Guixiang would have opposed it strongly. But coming from her brother, she didn¡¯t object immediately, instead she said, ¡°Won¡¯t this affect her studies? And besides, what does a child know about doing business?¡± ¡°Young people these days catch on to new things quickly, not like back in our day.¡± ¡°What kind of business would we do, then?¡± Lin Guixiang continued to ask. ¡°Sell skincare products.¡± Lin Bingqiang said with a smile: ¡°The skincare industry is so hot right now. As long as the product is effective, it will definitely be popular! And if it¡¯s popular, making money won¡¯t be a problem!¡± Skincare products? Lin Guixiang paused, ¡°But we have no idea about the channels for sourcing skincare products.¡± And mass-produced skincare products were essentially the same in terms of effects. Whether they could be sold was another matter. ¡°No need to source products, we have Xiao Wu, right? Let her teach you.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Guixiang¡¯s eyes widened. Zhao Cuinong also looked completely baffled. Lin Wu teaching Lin Guixiang skincare products? How come she didn¡¯t know that Lin Wu could make skincare products? Has Lin Bingqiang lost his mind? Skincare products can go wrong and ruin someone¡¯s face, and there could be legal consequences. Lin Bingqiang spoke calmly, ¡°Didn¡¯t Xiao Wu learn traditional Chinese medicine from Old Master Zhou for a while? The principles of plant-based skincare overlap with pharmacology. We¡¯ll just go to Qing City to register a trademark, and then apply for a business license, a health permit, and a production license, and that should do it.¡± Applying for these certificates wasn¡¯t hard. What was difficult was the skincare product¡¯s manufacturing process and its effectiveness. Who would buy a skincare product with no effects whatsoever? Lin Bingqiang didn¡¯t really believe that Lin Wu could pull this off, but now that he had promised her, he had to persuade his sister and couldn¡¯t go back on his word. Saying this, Lin Bingqiang continued, ¡°Big sister, you can¡¯t stay in the village forever!¡± Lin Guixiang looked at Lin Wu, her uncertainty evident as she asked, ¡°Xiao Wu, can you make skincare products?¡± Her daughter had studied traditional medicine with a local TCM practitioner for some time. But traditional medicine and skincare products were supposed to be two different things, right? ¡°I can,¡± Lin Wu replied with a smile. ¡°Anyone who has studied chemistry knows that the principle of skincare products is very simple. As long as we understand the effects of plants, we can make good products. Mom, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not reckless. Look, uncle supports me so much, please just trust me this once!¡± Lin Bingqiang nodded in agreement. After much persuasion from the two of them, Lin Guixiang reluctantly agreed to give it a try. The conversation ended. When they returned to their room, Zhao Cuinong berated Lin Bingqiang angrily, ¡°You¡¯re as foolish as Xiao Wu! She¡¯s so young. What if she loses money in the business? Then she will have neither a good education nor any money left! There would be nowhere to cry!¡± Out of respect for her husband, Zhao Cuinong had been holding back until now. Lin Bingqiang hadn¡¯t come to his senses when his wife started scolding him fiercely. Zhao Cuinong was genuinely furious. Starting a business? Making skincare products? What did Lin Wu, a child, know about starting a business? Yet Lin Bingqiang, her uncle, was supporting Lin Wu all the way. What made Zhao Cuinong even angrier was that her husband hadn¡¯t discussed it with her beforehand. ¡°Do you even have a brain?¡± Zhao Cuinong pointed at Lin Bingqiang. Lin Bingqiang was silent, letting his wife vent her anger. After she had calmed down, he looked at her with a smile, ¡°Cui Nong, you¡¯ve said what I understand, and I know why you¡¯re angry. But have you thought about why I would support Xiao Wu in dropping out to start a business?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re an idiot!¡± Zhao Cuinong retorted mercilessly. Anyone with a bit of intelligence wouldn¡¯t do this kind of thing! In a way, by agreeing to Lin Wu¡¯s business venture into skincare products, Lin Bingqiang acted as her guarantor. If the business failed, he would be held responsible! But they had their own family to care for, their own lives to live! Who would be responsible if things went wrong? Lin Bingqiang wasn¡¯t angry either and continued, ¡°Cui Nong, after so many years of marriage, don¡¯t you understand what kind of person I am? If I had no confidence whatsoever, would I support Xiao Wu?¡± Although Lin Bingqiang had his doubts about Lin Wu, at times like this, he could only focus on getting his wife on his side. Zhao Cuinong glared, her fists knocking on the table so hard that it made a loud sound, ¡°Then tell me, what confidence do you have?¡± Lin Bingqiang looked at his wife, ¡°Cui Nong, Xiao Wu is actually a very thoughtful child. Her thinking ability and vision may even surpass those of us adults. I believe in her.¡± Chapter 16 - 16 013 Arrival at Qing City Sisters Reunite_1 ?Chapter 16: 013: Arrival at Qing City, Sisters Reunite_1 Chapter 16: 013: Arrival at Qing City, Sisters Reunite_1 It is precisely because Lin Bingqiang believed that Lin Wu was different from ordinary kids that he supported her in making skincare products. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have dared to take the risk. As he finished speaking, Lin Bingqiang continued, ¡°If Xiao Wu hadn¡¯t discovered my older sister in time that night and performed emergency treatment, we might not have been able to see my sister now. Xiao Wu is really a very smart child! So, let¡¯s trust Xiao Wu this time! Moreover, she promised me that if this entrepreneurial attempt fails, she will concentrate on her studies thereafter and never bring up this matter again!¡± Zhao Cuinong frowned slightly, Zhao Cuinong went on to say, ¡°I know Xiao Wu is smart! She¡¯s not an ordinary girl, but that doesn¡¯t mean she can make skincare products! After we move to our new home, we will have to spend money on everything, and who will bear the consequences if their business fails?¡± People are practical. In such situations, Zhao Cuinong¡¯s first thoughts were certainly for her own family. She did not have the devotion to sacrifice herself for the benefit of others. Moreover, At Lin Wu¡¯s age, she should be focusing on her education. She already has good academic performance. It would be a waste if she ended up neglecting her studies and failing in business. It wouldn¡¯t be worth it! ¡°Cui Nong, I understand your point of view. Don¡¯t worry, I have thought of a backup plan. The main ingredients for the skincare products are some plants, and since Qing City is a tropical city with spring-like weather all year round, the cost of raw materials is not high. Currently, the mother and daughter have about ten thousand yuan on them. If they really lose it all, then my older sister can find work cooking or washing dishes, earning four to five thousand yuan a month, which is enough to cover Xiao Wu¡¯s education!¡± Having said that, Lin Bingqiang sighed, ¡°That child takes after me, she¡¯s stubborn. If we don¡¯t let her try, she won¡¯t be satisfied.¡± Zhao Cuinong looked at Lin Bingqiang, ¡°I¡¯m not worried about the money, I just think that it¡¯s unnecessary to try a business that is likely to lose money. Xiao Wu is only seventeen, what does she know? At her age, she should be studying hard. If the skincare products cause damage to someone¡¯s face, who will be responsible for that!¡± Skincare products are used on the face; can they be experimented with so casually? It¡¯s simply foolishness! Lin Bingqiang put his arm around his wife¡¯s shoulders, ¡°Cui Nong, I know you care about my sister and Xiao Wu. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve talked about all this with Xiao Wu, and she understands. Moreover, the skincare products will be tested on the face before being sold. Rest assured, she definitely won¡¯t sell anything harmful.¡± Zhao Cuinong didn¡¯t have much else to say, ¡°As long as you¡¯re aware of the risks, don¡¯t blame me if I didn¡¯t warn you later.¡± Lin Bingqiang nodded his head. Seven days quickly passed by. After getting her brand-new ID card and household registration from the police station, Lin Wu boarded a high-speed train to Qing City with her uncle¡¯s family of three. Qing City is located in the south. A train ride takes 24 hours, while a high-speed train takes 10 hours. Lin Wu and her mother¡¯s seats were not in the same carriage as her uncle¡¯s family of three. Lin Guixiang had only ever ridden on the slower green trains and had never taken a high-speed train before. She found everything novel, remarking to Lin Wu, ¡°Xiao Wu, so a high-speed train is this clean and doesn¡¯t have any smell! It¡¯s just like what I saw on TV!¡± This comment, not too loud or too soft, drew the attention of other passengers in the carriage, who gave Lin Guixiang a variety of looks. Such a country bumpkin! It must be her first time on a high-speed train, right? Lin Wu, as if she hadn¡¯t seen these glances, smiled and said, ¡°Mom, one day I¡¯ll take you on a plane ride to Capital City where we can climb the Great Wall and visit the Forbidden City.¡± ¡°That sounds great!¡± Lin Guixiang then voiced her curiosity, ¡°Xiao Wu, can airplanes really fly in the sky?¡± She was uneducated and did not understand the principles of airplanes flying in the sky, so naturally, she was very curious. What kind of silly question is that? Upon hearing the question, a stylish middle-aged woman with long curly hair sitting opposite the mother and daughter nearly laughed out loud. With that poor and shabby appearance, they still dream of traveling to Capital City? In your dreams! Just then, a middle-aged man approached the woman with a smile, ¡°Xiang Hong, there are no lunch boxes left, so I bought you some steamed buns.¡± ¡°The buns will do!¡± Sun Xianghong replied, ¡°We¡¯ll have a nice meal after we arrive in Qing City.¡± The man nodded. Taking a bite of the steamed bun, Sun Xiang Hong spoke to her husband in a lowered voice, ¡°Look at that mother and daughter.¡± ¡°What about them?¡± Wang Haitao asked. Sun Xiang Hong could hardly contain the derision in her eyes, ¡°That woman can¡¯t even tell the difference between the men¡¯s and women¡¯s restroom.¡± It had just happened. Lin Guixiang had asked Lin Wu to take her to the bathroom. Little did she know, the restrooms on high-speed trains don¡¯t separate genders. Can¡¯t recognize a single character but still wants to ride the high-speed train. It¡¯s a public embarrassment. Wang Haitao also found it unbelievable that someone couldn¡¯t differentiate between the men¡¯s and women¡¯s restrooms these days, ¡°Xiang Hong, keep your voice down, don¡¯t let others hear.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Sun Xiang Hong nodded. ¡ª After experiencing a 10-hour high-speed train ride, the group finally arrived at Lin Bingqiang¡¯s new home. It was an old residential area. Very similar to a housing complex for families. In front of the apartment building was an extremely large courtyard, and at four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, every household was by the tap in the courtyard, washing vegetables and dishes. Children were gathered in groups under the trees, playing with marbles. As the newcomers entered the small courtyard, everyone curiously looked their way. At that moment, a middle-aged woman in the season¡¯s trendiest red dress walked out from the stairwell, smiling,¡±Qiangzi, Cui Nong, you¡¯re here!¡± Her gaze fell on Lin Guixiang and Lin Wu. With some uncertainty, the woman said, ¡°Is this... Big Sister?¡± The speaker was Lin Guixiang¡¯s younger sister, Lin Guimei. Lin Guimei had married into Qing City at the age of eighteen. Her husband worked for the railway, and she now ran a small supermarket, which did a rather good business and led to a prosperous life. Once a person has climbed out of the abyss, they seldom willingly go back. Therefore, Lin Guimei had returned to her childhood home only once since her marriage. Back then, Lin Guixiang had just received her marriage certificate and was pregnant with Lin Wu. At that time, Lin Guixiang was considered one of the top beauties in town. But now... If the two stood side by side, everyone would suspect they were mother and daughter, not sisters. So, upon seeing the dark and thin woman before her, Lin Guimei could hardly dare to recognize her. Lin Guixiang, seeing her sister after all this time, was stunned too. In the blink of an eye, more than a decade had passed; the little girl had grown up, matured, and become more beautiful. If the two had merely passed by each other on the street, she wouldn¡¯t have believed this was her own younger sister. Lin Bingqiang immediately nodded, ¡°Yes, this is Big Sister.¡± Lin Guixiang¡¯s voice trembled, ¡°Gui, Gui Mei.¡± ¡°Big Sister...¡± Lin Guixiang turned to Lin Wu, ¡°Hurry, call her ¡®Little Aunt.¡¯ ¡°Little Aunt,¡± Lin Wu said politely. Lin Guimei smiled, ¡°So this is Xiao Wu, isn¡¯t she? She¡¯s so pretty. Last time I saw your mom, you were still in her belly.¡± Chapter 17 - 17 014 Despise her country bumpkin_1 ?Chapter 17: 014: Despise her, country bumpkin_1 Chapter 17: 014: Despise her, country bumpkin_1 Lin Wu nodded slightly, ¡°I am Xiao Wu.¡± Lin Guimei examined her niece, whom she had never met before. Although raised in the countryside from a young age, Lin Wu didn¡¯t exude the slightest air of pettiness, instead, she possessed an indescribable quality. However, beauty wasn¡¯t very useful, Lin Guixiang had been beautiful when she was young, but she ended up being deceived so badly in the end. Lin Guimei hoped her niece would be sensible, not overambitious, and avoid following her sister¡¯s unfortunate path. After the pleasantries, Lin Guimei introduced everyone in the yard to her family, ¡°Sister Liu, Aunt Zheng, Aunt Yang, Xiao Sun... this is my younger brother and his wife, they¡¯re the ones who bought the apartment on the third floor; it¡¯s already renovated. From now on, we¡¯re all neighbors.¡± ¡°This is my eldest sister and her daughter.¡± After the greetings were over, the group went upstairs together. Lin Bingqiang¡¯s new apartment was on the third floor, a 120 square meters three-bedroom that was spacious and beautifully decorated. Once Lin Guodong entered the apartment, he was very excited, looking around each room, ¡°Mom, mom, mom, where is my room?¡± Zhao Cuinong smiled and said, ¡°That small room is yours.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Guodong immediately ran into his room. The children¡¯s room was decorated beautifully, and Lin Guodong rolled around on the bed several times. Zhao Cuinong looked at Lin Guixiang and continued, ¡°Sister, you and Xiao Wu can sleep in this second bedroom.¡± The second bedroom was very spacious and had a small private balcony. Standing in such a gorgeous new apartment, Lin Guixiang felt quite uncomfortable, ¡°Cuinong, we¡¯re causing you trouble.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all family, what¡¯s this talk of trouble?¡± Zhao Cuinong took Lin Guixiang¡¯s arm, ¡°Sister, you and Xiao Wu should treat this place like your own home from now on.¡± After visiting Lin Bingqiang¡¯s new apartment, Lin Guimei led everyone to her house for a meal, ¡°My husband has been on a business trip and is not at home recently, and Shan Shan is at a boarding school so she isn¡¯t home either, it¡¯s just me and my in-laws at home.¡± Lin Guimei¡¯s father-in-law was already retired and spent his days gardening and playing cards. The mother-in-law worked at a factory and was still a few years away from retirement. Since her husband¡¯s family was local, the house was very large and lavishly decorated. As soon as they entered the house, Lin Guimei brought out slippers for everyone to change into. After changing shoes and entering the living room, Lin Guimei took the initiative to introduce her parents-in-law, ¡°Mom and Dad, this is my eldest sister Lin Guixiang, and this is her daughter Xiao Wu.¡± Although Lin Guixiang was somewhat restrained, she still smiled and greeted the two elders, ¡°Hello Uncle Sun, Aunt Sun.¡± She knew they were going to her sister¡¯s for a meal and should have bought some gifts to bring along in advance. Showing up empty-handed now felt slightly inappropriate. Lin Wu politely addressed them, ¡°Grandpa Sun, Grandma Sun.¡± Seeing Lin Guixiang, the Sun Family Parents were somewhat taken aback; they had assumed that since Lin Guimei was so beautiful, and Lin Bingqiang was also a technician in a factory and had bought a house in the city, their eldest daughter would certainly not be any less impressive. But Lin Guixiang turned out to be a genuine rural woman. She even spoke Mandarin with an accent! The elderly couple had always maintained their dignity, and suddenly facing such a country bumpkin relative made them uncomfortable. They had strongly opposed their son¡¯s marriage to Lin Guimei! Who could have imagined their son was so besotted, and now they had an impoverished relative visiting, what were they to do in the future? While they had many thoughts swirling in their minds, the Sun Family Parents still smiled and said, ¡°Come, come, today it¡¯s just family, no need for formalities. Please sit down and have a meal!¡± At the dining table, Lin Guimei looked at Lin Wu, ¡°Is Xiao Wu planning to find a job in Qing City in the future?¡± Lin Wu was so beautiful, it was clear her mind was not on studying. Lin Guixiang¡¯s beauty had attracted so much trouble back in the day! Lin Wu put down her chopsticks and shared her plans, ¡°In the first half of the year, I plan to start a small business with my mother, and after the summer vacation, I¡¯ll continue with my last year of high school.¡± A seventeen-year-old girl planning to start a business with her mother?! How unusual! Hearing this, Mother Sun frowned slightly; she felt as if Lin Guixiang and her daughter were eyeing their family¡¯s supermarket for their plans. ¡°Business isn¡¯t so good these days,¡± Lin Guixiang said. ¡°Our family¡¯s supermarket might look alright, but it¡¯s just barely covering living expenses. Plus, the high school admission criteria here are very harsh, especially for transfer students. You¡¯re thinking about advancing directly to the third year of high school in the second half of the year¡ªit might not be easy.¡± There was a double meaning in her words. She was reminding Lin Guixiang and her daughter not to set their sights on their family¡¯s supermarket, let alone entertain the idea of Lin Guimei getting them involved in the business. At the same time, she was telling Lin Wu that Qing City was a tough place to settle down, especially for people like them from smaller places. If they were wise to the ways of the world, they would know that Qing City was not suitable for them. ¡°I heard that transfer students at Qing City First High School can be admitted through examination,¡± Lin Wu said. Qing City First High School? At the sound of that, Mother Sun¡¯s expression changed again and again. To be sure, Qing City First High School was the best high school in Qing City, with the highest graduation rate year after year. Who would have thought that Lin Wu, young as she was, had such lofty ambitions? ¡°My granddaughter is in her second year of high school at Qingzhong. My son-in-law is a class advisor at First High School, and indeed there is an exam for transfer students,¡± said Mother Sun, her tone shifting. ¡°However, according to my son-in-law, for out-of-town registrations like yours, you¡¯d need to rank at least in the top ten, or else you can¡¯t get into Qingzhong.¡± Lin Wu thinking of getting into First High School with her qualifications? She was truly overestimating herself! When she heard this, Lin Guixiang said with a smile, ¡°Our Xiao Wu has always been the top student in her high school back home, and this year she even won a 5,000 yuan scholarship.¡± Mother Sun didn¡¯t speak, only scoffing quietly to herself. Do they really think this is their countryside? Each year, several hundred students register to take the transfer student examination. For Lin Wu to stand out among these hundreds of students would be as difficult as reaching the blue sky! ¡ª¡ª After dinner. Mother Sun went to speak with Lin Guimei. ¡°Your older sister is going to live at your younger brother¡¯s place from now on?¡± Lin Guimei nodded, ¡°That seems to be the plan.¡± Mother Sun frowned subtly, implying that although Lin Guixiang seemed to be staying at Lin Bingqiang¡¯s, in reality, the pressure was on Lin Guimei. After all, the two were sisters. Could Lin Guimei really ignore her if there was trouble? ¡°Your elder sister doesn¡¯t seem like the easygoing type!¡± Mother Sun continued, ¡°She hasn¡¯t visited you in Qing City for over a decade, and now she¡¯s talking about starting a business as soon as she arrives. She¡¯s probably noticed that her younger sister has married into prosperity here in Qing City and has come to rely on you! Considering we also run a small supermarket, she might be thinking of starting her own too!¡± Could a woman who had a child out of wedlock be good news? Even though the Lin Family claimed Lin Guixiang was deceived. But who knows whether she was truly tricked? The face of a mistress is not engraved with the word ¡®mistress¡¯! Upon hearing this, Lin Guimei narrowed her eyes. No wonder Lin Guixiang suddenly wanted to go into business. It turned out she had her sights set on her younger sister. Mother Sun picked up an orange, ¡°Guimei, you know I always speak my mind. There¡¯s an old saying, ¡®A disciple¡¯s success starves the master.¡¯ If your sister mentions wanting to follow in your footsteps and open a supermarket, you better think thrice.¡± The wisest individuals know when to protect their own interests. Sometimes, sisters need to keep their guard up too. Lin Guimei turned to look at Mother Sun, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not confused.¡± Chapter 18 - 18 015 Bankrupt_1 ?Chapter 18: 015: Bankrupt_1 Chapter 18: 015: Bankrupt_1 Lin Guimei was no fool, and naturally she wouldn¡¯t bring Lin Guixiang with her to open a supermarket! Mother Sun slowly peeled an orange from the fruit plate and said, ¡°Gui Mei, it¡¯s good that you understand this principle. Although you are sisters, there are no father and son on the business field. Countless relatives end up in court over money disputes!¡± Lin Guimei sighed, ¡°I never expected my eldest sister to suddenly come to Qing City. When I received the call from my brother, I thought he was joking!¡± Unexpectedly, she really came. As she finished speaking, Lin Guimei added, ¡°Once my elder sister hits a snag in Qing City, she¡¯ll go back on her own.¡± She had been married to Qing City for so many years, and had only just barely managed to learn the local dialect and integrate. Lin Guixiang, who couldn¡¯t recognize a single character, how could she survive here? Mother Sun shook her head, ¡°Go back on her own? Impossible!¡± ¡°Why?¡± Mother Sun continued, ¡°Not to mention your elder sister, what about that niece of yours? Is she an easy person to deal with? And with her pretty face, do you think she¡¯d resign herself to returning to the countryside?¡± After all, the Lin Family had a successful example before them. Lin Guimei became a phoenix perched on high branches, transforming from a country girl into a city resident. Could Lin Wu, her niece, not be envious? Mother Sun could tell at a glance that Lin Wu wanted to follow in Lin Guimei¡¯s footsteps. At this point, Mother Sun added, ¡°I reckon that even your elder sister is harboring this idea! Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have gotten divorced.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Guimei furrowed her brows slightly. Her family always thought that marrying into Qing City was her rise to success, not knowing how hard the first few years had been for her. Her in-laws never really respected her, a daughter-in-law from the countryside. After finally living comfortably for a few years, Lin Guixiang came to stir up trouble. With someone like Lin Guixiang, did she even think of marrying someone from Qing City? Forget about Lin Guixiang! Even Lin Wu might not necessarily be able to marry someone with a local Qing City hukou. What on earth were this mother-daughter pair thinking! Meanwhile... Lin Wu and her mother lay on the bed. The city¡¯s night was very quiet, the absence of frogs croaking and insects chirping made Lin Guixiang feel somewhat uneasy, ¡°Xiao Wu, are you asleep yet?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± Lin Guixiang turned to Lin Wu and asked, ¡°Xiao Wu, do you think we can make a success of our skincare product business?¡± She was feeling very nervous now. If they couldn¡¯t make money, what would they do for a living in the future? They couldn¡¯t always bother her brother and his wife. ¡°We can,¡± Lin Wu spoke with conviction in the darkness, ¡°we definitely can.¡± Lin Wu continued, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll go check out the large flower and bird markets nearby for raw materials tomorrow.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Lin Guixiang nodded. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry. Once we get our business up and running, we¡¯ll buy a house in Qing City. How about we buy a first-floor place with a small garden?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Listening to her daughter¡¯s description, Lin Guixiang felt very hopeful. She eagerly anticipated that day. The next morning, Lin Wu got ready and prepared to leave the house. Zhao Cuinong was somewhat worried, ¡°Xiao Wu, are you sure you¡¯ll be okay on your own?¡± ¡°Of course, Auntie Zhao, I have my phone! If anything happens, I¡¯ll call you!¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded. Lin Wu rode Lin Bingqiang¡¯s old bicycle. Although it looked a bit old, it was still rideable. Qing City was bustling with excitement, especially in the city center. There was a constant stream of vehicles on the road. Lin Wu rode through the lively streets until, after many inquiries, she found a flower and bird market. It was now half-past ten in the morning. The flower and bird market was buzzing with people. Lin Wu parked her bike and took a leisurely walk around the market. There was everything one might need in the flower and bird market. Lin Wu was aiming to find fresh lotus flowers and rhodiola. Lotus flowers have the effect of purifying the stratum corneum, helping the skin avoid environmental pollution and computer radiation damage. Nowadays, people face computers every day and need to apply radiation-protection skincare to prevent the formation of spots. Rhodiola contains salidroside and tyrosol esters, which have the effects of anti-aging, anti-hypoxia, and promoting metabolism. Soon, Lin Wu found a vendor selling both items. ¡°Boss, how much for the lotus flowers?¡± ¡°5 yuan a bunch,¡± the boss replied. This kind of happiness can be found only in Qing City, which is also known as the ¡°City of Spring¡± and ¡°City of Flowers,¡± due to its favorable climate. Fresh flowers bloom all year round, and elsewhere, such lotus flowers could cost at least 5 yuan per flower. In Qing City, however, it was 5 yuan for a big bunch! ¡°How about the rhodiola?¡± Lin Wu continued to ask. ¡°Thirty yuan per jin,¡± the boss replied. Lin Wu picked some lotus flowers and rhodiola, ¡°Boss, if I come to buy in large quantities every day in the future, could you give me a discount?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The owner smiled and packed up the flowers Lin Wu had picked, ¡°Young lady, that¡¯ll be 100 yuan in total.¡± Lin Wu, carrying a bunch of lotus flowers and red stonecrop, arrived at the parking lot, where she tied the lotus flowers to the front of the bike, and placed the red stonecrop bag on the rear seat. After leaving the flower and bird market, Lin Wu planned to buy some chemistry equipment. She wasn¡¯t in a hurry and rode her bike leisurely. Lush parasol trees grew on both sides of the road, and the gentle breeze was particularly enjoyable. Just then. Bang! A loud noise suddenly filled the air. Lin Wu immediately got off to check. Sure enough. The tire had burst. Lin Wu frowned slightly and looked around, just in time to see a bicycle repair shop by the roadside. Salvation! Lin Wu pushed her bike to the front of the repair shop, ¡°Is the owner here?¡± There was no response from inside. Lin Wu called out again. Just then, a figure emerged from inside. It was a young man. About twenty-five or twenty-six years old, standing at 1.83 meters tall, with handsome features and a bit of a roguish air. This person was Xue Jinghao. A bona fide wealthy idler from Qing City. Xue Jinghao crossed his arms, ¡°The boss isn¡¯t here at the moment. Little sister, did your bike also get a flat tire?¡± The word ¡®also¡¯ was cleverly used. Lin Wu was taken aback. How did he know her bike had a flat tire? ¡°Yes.¡± Xue Jinghao glanced at the bicycle, then back at Lin Wu. Tsk! This little sister was quite pretty... Lu Ye¡¯s charms were not small! Xue Jinghao continued, ¡°Little sister, why don¡¯t you wait a bit? The owner should be back soon.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly. She wasn¡¯t in a hurry and pointed to a nearby stool, looking at Xue Jinghao, ¡°Can I sit on this stool?¡± ¡°You can.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Xue Jinghao touched his chin, the little sister was quite polite. Taking advantage of the time, Lin Wu took out her mobile phone, logged onto her alternate account, and sent out a message, ¡°Need a favor.¡± She wasn¡¯t running a no-license, no-report, no-certification workshop. Her account hadn¡¯t been logged into for a long time. Seeing the familiar icon light up, the man on the other side of the screen was extremely excited. ¡°Boss! You finally came back! What kind of help? Just say the word, and I, Ma Liu, will go through fire and water for you.¡± Lin Wu sent over a few pictures. Ma Liu, looking at the photos of skincare product certificates sent by the boss, was stunned. After a moment, he sent several question marks, ¡°Boss, has your account been hacked?¡± The next second, Ma Liu¡¯s phone screen went completely black and displayed a line of text: [It¡¯s me, no hacking!] Ma Liu swallowed hard. The boss was truly the boss, even proving his identity in such a unique way. After a few seconds, the phone returned to normal, and Ma Liu immediately replied, ¡°Give me one day!¡± Ordinary people might need to wait for various procedures to process these documents. But the boss didn¡¯t need to wait. Lin Wu didn¡¯t reply again and signed out of her alternate account. Just then, footsteps were heard from outside. Xue Jinghao, half-leaning against the door, chuckled, ¡°Third Lu, you¡¯re finally back!¡± Lu Ye raised his eyes slightly. ¡°Here, this young lady¡¯s bike has a flat tire,¡± Xue Jinghao said, looking towards Lin Wu. Lin Wu, with her eyes lowered to her phone, could only see a crisp side profile. Lu Ye pressed his forehead. Recently, with an explosion of orders and working late into the night every day, the customers were all young, beautiful girls, which put him under a lot of pressure. At that moment, Lin Wu also looked up and saw Lu Ye, pausing in surprise. Lu Ye was slightly astonished as well. He didn¡¯t expect to run into the kid again so soon! ¡°Zhang Wu?¡± Lin Wu raised her eyebrows slightly, ¡°I said, my name is Lin Wu! Mr. Lu, how come you are here?¡± Here to fix a bike as well? Lu Ye shrugged helplessly, ¡°As you see, I¡¯m bankrupt now, just getting by fixing bikes.¡± Chapter 19 - 19 016 Simply a genius_1 ?Chapter 19: 016: Simply a genius!_1 Chapter 19: 016: Simply a genius!_1 Upon hearing this, Lin Wu was momentarily stunned. Bankrupt? Tsk. This man really is quite miserable! First he nearly lost half his life, and now he¡¯s bankrupt, reduced to making a living by repairing bicycles! Lin Wu slightly lifted her eyes, smiling to console, ¡°No more lotus to hold back the rain, yet the chrysanthemums still proudly hold their frost-laden branches¡ªbicycle repair is also quite good, excellence can be found in every trade. Mr. Lu, as long as you persevere, I believe you will rise again.¡± Her tone was light, like a clear April breeze, carrying the power to soothe the soul, and the curve of her lips carried not a trace of mockery. This was absolutely the most sincere smile Lu Ye had seen in many days. No more lotus to hold back the rain, yet the chrysanthemums still proudly hold their frost-laden branches? Rise again? Xue Jinghao stroked his chin from the side. This girl is quite interesting. Since Lu Ye¡¯s return to the country, he had encountered classmates and friends from his time studying abroad. Those people, upon hearing that Lu Ye had gone bankrupt and was living by repairing bicycles, left without looking back. Lin Wu was the first to console Lu Ye that he could rise again. ¡°Thank you.¡± Never one for many words, Lu Ye continued, ¡°Is it the rear tire that¡¯s out of air?¡± ¡°Right,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly. Lu Ye rolled up his sleeves, revealing a section of strong, pale arms; he turned the bicycle upside down on the ground, removed the inner tube, and after checking it, he said, ¡°There are two leak spots on the rear tire.¡± ¡°How much would that be?¡± Lin Wu asked. ¡°A patch costs five yuan, two patches ten yuan,¡± Lu Ye replied. ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Wu said, ¡°Please fix it for me.¡± Lu Ye took out his tools and sanded down the tire a bit, ¡°Bring over two patches.¡± He was speaking to Xue Jinghao. ¡°Right away.¡± In no time, Xue Jinghao came over with two patches, ¡°Sister, please move aside.¡± Lin Wu stepped aside for him. Xue Jinghao handed the patches to Lu Ye. Quickly, the tire was repaired. Lu Ye stood the bicycle up, ¡°Try riding it.¡± Lin Wu took the bicycle from his hands. After riding a loop, Lin Wu said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s fixed, thank you, Mr. Lu.¡± With that, she handed the money to Lu Ye. The brand-new ten yuan note still retained the warmth of her palm. Lu Ye accepted the money and smoothly pocketed it. Watching Lin Wu¡¯s retreating figure as she rode away, Xue Jinghao, whistling, came over with a mischievous air, ¡°That girl just now was really pretty! I¡¯m kind of interested in chasing her. ¡°Keep your third leg in check,¡± Lu Ye glanced at him, ¡°Don¡¯t bother her!¡± The last sentence carried a warning tone. Xue Jinghao squinted his eyes, ¡°Third Lu, you¡¯re not falling for her, are you?¡± So... Was that just now a potential future sister-in-law? Lu Ye took a cigarette from his pocket, and with indifferent lips, clamped it in his mouth, staring at Xue Jinghao, ¡°You think I¡¯m like you? Fall for everyone you see?¡± Xue Jinghao¡¯s gaze was fixed on Lu Ye, ¡°Then why are you protecting her? If you don¡¯t like her, why can¡¯t I chase her?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not like those companions of yours,¡± Lu Ye said as he took out a lighter and lit his cigarette. Snap. The flame that burst forth not only set the cigarette ablaze, but it also ignited the hearts of the girls walking by. The sexy Adam¡¯s apple slid up and down as he exhaled a thin plume of smoke, blurring the features of his face. Two young girls exchanged a glance and then pushed their bicycle over, looking at Lu Ye shyly, ¡°Boss, the bike needs fixing...¡± Lu Ye snuffed out the cigarette in his hand, ¡°What¡¯s broken?¡± ¡°The tire burst,¡± the girl replied. Lu Ye took off his gloves and threw them to an onlooking Xue Jinghao, ¡°You fix it.¡± Xue Jinghao, with a dumbfounded look, ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I have other things to take care of.¡± With that, Lu Ye turned and walked away. ¡°Dammit!¡± Xue Jinghao threw the gloves at Lu Ye¡¯s retreating back, ¡°Why weren¡¯t you busy just now?¡± When fixing Lin Wu¡¯s tire, he was attentive indeed! Xue Jinghao¡¯s face was full of resentment, but when he turned his head to look at the young girl fixing cars again, he still squeezed out a radiant smile, ¡°Beautiful girl, please wait a moment.¡± He considered himself a true gentleman, never showing a bad face in front of women. ** After fixing the car, Lin Wu arrived at a department store. She wanted to buy some chemical containers to make skincare products. After purchasing the containers, Lin Wu went to an electronics mall, planning to buy a sterilizer. It wasn¡¯t long before Lin Wu set her sights on a sterilizer that looked quite decent. ¡°Boss, how much for this one?¡± The boss smiled, ¡°Young lady, this one is 10,000 yuan.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Wu frowned slightly, ¡°That expensive?¡± The boss was the type to size people up. He scrutinized Lin Wu carefully. The young girl seemed to be about seventeen or eighteen, around the age to be in high school, yet here she was shopping on a Monday instead of attending class, leading to a reasonable assumption that she had dropped out. These kinds of girls typically can¡¯t recognize many characters and hardly differ from being illiterate; they¡¯re easy to fool. Besides, his shop was about to close down, so fooling even one more person would be a plus! ¡°Although it¡¯s a bit pricey, this sterilizer is imported from abroad, and the quality can¡¯t be compared with domestic sterilizers!¡± ¡°Imported?¡± Lin Wu¡¯s eyebrows arched slightly. The boss pointed to the label on the sterilizer, ¡°You see, isn¡¯t this written in English?¡± Lin Wu smiled faintly and asked, ¡°Does this string of English mean ¡®imported¡¯?¡± The boss nodded repeatedly, ¡°Of course, this is originally imported from the United Kingdom!¡± Lin Wu¡¯s cheeks dimpled lightly, ¡°Made, in, China. If I¡¯m not mistaken, this English phrase translates to ¡®Made in Hua Country¡¯ in Chinese, right?¡± ¡°Boss, you should conduct business with integrity, that¡¯s the only way it¡¯ll last!¡± Her last remark was neither light nor heavy, but it resounded clearly. How could the boss have expected that not only would he fail to deceive someone today, but he would also encounter a tough nut to crack, his face flushing red then turning pale, ¡°Ah, young lady, I¡¯m really sorry, I remembered wrong, misremembered!¡± Lin Wu didn¡¯t bother arguing with him and went on to say, ¡°4,500 yuan, then I¡¯ll take it.¡± 4,500 yuan? ¡°Young lady, are you joking? My cost price is even higher than that!¡± ¡°If you¡¯re willing to sell it, then it¡¯s 4,500 yuan. I¡¯m not haggling unreasonably, but if you¡¯re unwilling to sell, then I¡¯ll just find another store,¡± Lin Wu said with an indifferent tone. The boss, with a wave of his hand, ¡°Then go ahead and ask at another store!¡± Lin Wu didn¡¯t indulge him and turned to leave. With Lin Wu already at the store entrance and showing no signs of turning back, the boss became anxious and quickly said, ¡°Forget it, forget it, young lady, I¡¯ll sell it to you! I¡¯m really not making any profit on this!¡± This young girl was truly shrewd! Not only could she understand English. Her asking price was exactly at the point where he wouldn¡¯t make a loss but still make a small profit. Selling it was begrudging; not selling it was vexing. Lin Wu turned back into the store, ¡°I¡¯ll pay half the price now, and once you deliver the sterilizer to my place, I¡¯ll pay the other half.¡± The sterilizer was too big to take home on a bicycle. The boss nodded, ¡°That can be done, young lady, leave your address.¡± ¡ª The Lin Family. After handling the supermarket business, Lin Guimei went to her brother¡¯s place. Lin Bingqiang had gone to work. At home, Zhao Cuinong was sitting at the table wrapping dumplings. Hearing the footsteps, Zhao Cuinong smiled, ¡°Second sister¡¯s here.¡± Lin Guimei nodded. Seeing that there was no third person in the house, she then asked, ¡°Where are big sister and Xiao Wu?¡± ¡°Big sister took Guodong out to play, Xiao Wu went to the flower and bird market!¡± Zhao Cuinong said. Lin Guimei frowned slightly, ¡°Is big sister really going into business?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded. ¡°What business is big sister getting into?¡± Surely she¡¯s not doing as Mother-in-law said, thinking of opening a supermarket, is she? Zhao Cuinong put down the dumplings, ¡°Xiao Wu is teaching big sister to make skincare products; big sister¡¯s going to work on the skincare business.¡± Making skincare products? Upon hearing this, Lin Guimei first breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned, ¡°Xiao Wu is teaching big sister how to make skincare products? Are you sure?¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded her head. Lin Guimei, with a furrowed brow, ¡°Isn¡¯t big sister just causing trouble? If Xiao Wu doesn¡¯t want to study, then find her a job. What¡¯s the point of making skincare products? Are they even cut out for that sort of thing?¡± They should take a good look at themselves in the mirror, even if they managed to make the products, they wouldn¡¯t be able to sell them! They would just end up dragging down everyone else. Speaking of which, Lin Guimei snorted coldly, ¡°They¡¯re so restless, no wonder big sister got conned when she was young!¡± Chapter 20 - 20 017 Bet check everything once_1 ?Chapter 20: 017: Bet, check everything once_1 Chapter 20: 017: Bet, check everything once_1 In Lin Guimei¡¯s eyes, it was her sister¡¯s own fault that she got scammed all those years ago. Who told her to foolishly dream of rising above her station. In the end, she failed to climb the high branch and instead ended up with the reputation of a mistress. Now, even in middle age, she¡¯s still so restless! Upon hearing this, Zhao Cuinong frowned slightly. Although she also disapproved of Lin Wu dropping out of school to teach Lin Guixiang business, Lin Guimei shouldn¡¯t have spoken in such an ugly manner. What does she mean by restless? What does she mean by ¡®asking for it¡¯? In the past, to support her younger brother and sister¡¯s education, Lin Guixiang tasted the bitterness of life at a very young age. At that time, right after she had paid Lin Bingqiang¡¯s school fees, Lin Guimei was admitted to junior college. Having no other choice, Lin Guixiang had to work as a waitress in Qing City to scrape together Lin Guimei¡¯s tuition fees. It was during this period that Lin Guixiang met Zhang Dalong. But after graduating from junior college, Lin Guimei never returned home. Everyone said Lin Guixiang had raised an ingrate. Yet Lin Guixiang was overjoyed that her sister could leave the small mountain village. She worked hard to support her siblings¡¯ education so they wouldn¡¯t have to walk the same path she did. She was relieved to know that Lin Guimei married a Qing City local, and even though her sister despised her low status and didn¡¯t invite her to the wedding, Lin Guixiang didn¡¯t mind. Even though Zhao Cuinong could be stingy at times, she knew the hardships her elder sister-in-law had gone through over the years. ¡°Second sister, elder sister was already pitiful enough to be cheated by that scumbag! If even we look down on her, how will outsiders view her?¡± Lin Guimei was stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected her sister-in-law to speak up for Lin Guixiang. Pitiful? What was so pitiful about Lin Guixiang? Who told her to not even be able to distinguish a fake marriage certificate? A semi-literate person who couldn¡¯t recognize a single character dared to come to Qing City, and she wonders why men would swindle her? Although that¡¯s what she thought, Lin Guimei didn¡¯t show it, ¡°Cuinong, I don¡¯t look down on her! I blame her for acting impulsively! Does doing business not require capital? The skincare industry is almost saturated now, who would risk their face to buy products without certification? Besides, you and Qiangzi also need to live, the elder sister can¡¯t always rely on you!¡± Lin Guimei¡¯s words were skillfully put. She was very afraid Lin Guixiang would follow her into the supermarket business. Even more fearful was the thought of Lin Guixiang asking to borrow money. She was warning Zhao Cuinong not to lend money to Lin Guixiang, so that she, as her sister, would also have an excuse not to lend. Zhao Cuinong could tell what she was implying. ¡°Elder sister still has some money left on her. According to Xiao Wu, the skincare products won¡¯t cost much, so just let them mother and daughter try! Once they¡¯ve run through their money, they¡¯ll come to terms with it! Qiangzi said, by that time, he can find elder sister a job cooking or washing dishes that can earn four or five thousand a month. With Xiao Wu going to school, that should be enough for both mother and daughter¡¯s expenses.¡± Towards the end, Zhao Cuinong sighed, ¡°Once Xiao Wu gets into university, elder sister will have weathered her hardships.¡± Fortunately, Lin Wu was a promising girl. Not only was she beautiful, but her academic performance was good as well. Once she gets into university, she will definitely have a bright future. Get into university? Lin Guimei was speechless: ¡°Whether Xiao Wu can even get into Qingzhong School is still up in the air!¡± Talking about university at this point seems too premature. From her observation, Lin Wu was not cut out for academic pursuits. She¡¯s incomparable to her own daughter, Sun Shanshan! Zhao Cuinong said, ¡°Xiao Wu is so smart, she will definitely make it into Qingzhong. And if she doesn¡¯t, aren¡¯t there other high schools in Qing City?¡± Lin Guimei felt Zhao Cuinong was oversimplifying things. ¡°Qing City is not like the countryside. Kids here start learning English in kindergarten, while those in the countryside don¡¯t start until the first grade of middle school. Honestly, it¡¯s not a little hard for Xiao Wu to catch up with the pace of Qing City students! Do you know how many tutoring classes Shan Shan took in order to get into Qingzhong School?¡± In the countryside, they were still learning ABC, while kids in Qing City were already studying grammar and phonetics. It was simply incomparable! Sun Shanshan had spent her entire middle school holidays at cram schools, and only then did she get into Qingzhong School. Zhao Cuinong couldn¡¯t stand to hear Lin Guimei looking down on Lin Wu. ¡°Xiao Wu has always been top of her class back home. Has Shan Shan ever been in the top few of her grade?¡± Lin Guimei felt it was impossible to communicate with Zhao Cuinong. Despite explaining that education in Qing City and the countryside was different, Zhao Cuinong still didn¡¯t seem to understand. Rural women truly have long hair but short sight. I still don¡¯t understand how my brother ever fell for such an uneducated woman. Lin Guimei said with a smile, ¡°Our Shan Shan always ranks in the top twenty in her grade as well.¡± Sun Shanshan being in the top twenty of her grade carried much more weight than Lin Wu being number one! Zhao Cuinong said, ¡°If she can rank in the top twenty, Xiao Wu can definitely make it too!¡± Lin Guimei was not angry, just looked at Zhao Cuinong, ¡°How about we make a bet?¡± ¡°What kind of bet?¡± asked Zhao Cuinong. ¡°A bet on whether Xiao Wu can get into Qingzhong School,¡± Lin Guimei replied. ¡°Alright,¡± Zhao Cuinong continued, ¡°Let¡¯s bet a thousand yuan!¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Lin Guimei looked around, ¡°Do you have a pen at home? Let¡¯s draft a written agreement!¡± Zhao Cuinong was bound to lose this bet! Zhao Cuinong immediately found a pen. They drafted two copies of the bet, and both women signed their names on the agreement. Zhao Cuinong put away the note, looking at Lin Guimei, ¡°Sister-in-law, we both signed, so you can¡¯t back out when the time comes.¡± Lin Guimei chuckled softly, ¡°As long as you don¡¯t back out, it¡¯s fine!¡± ¡°I definitely won¡¯t go back on my word!¡± At this time, the bet wasn¡¯t just simply about a thousand yuan anymore. It was also about pride! Lin Guimei would certainly make Zhao Cuinong lose convincingly. How could a child from the countryside ever compare to a child from Qing City? ¡ª Not long after Lin Wu left Lu Ye¡¯s repair shop on her bike, a young man came running over, gasping for breath. Xue Jinghao had just finished patching a tire and, seeing the young man almost out of breath, couldn¡¯t help but tease, ¡°Heizi, you ran so fast, did your girlfriend catch you cheating?¡± Heizi was not in the mood for jokes, ¡°Just, just, just now, did anyone special come by here?¡± Seeing his troubled expression, Lu Ye walked out, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Heizi continued, ¡°I discovered Dr. M¡¯s alt account logged in over here.¡± Hearing this, Xue Jinghao immediately stood up from his chair, ¡°Damn! Really? Did my idol just come by?¡± Lu Ye¡¯s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, handing Heizi a bottle of water, ¡°Around what time?¡± ¡°Around three o¡¯clock.¡± After drinking some water, Heizi felt much better. The boss is too impressive. It took him two hours later to track the information. Xue Jinghao scratched his head, ¡°Heizi, are you sure you didn¡¯t make a mistake? Someone came around three o¡¯clock, but it was just a girl.¡± Being a guy who appreciated beauty, Xue Jinghao had a deep impression of Lin Wu. The reason he remembered it was three o¡¯clock was because Lin Wu had come at the time he was playing on his phone. ¡°A little girl?¡± Heizi¡¯s face was filled with question marks. Xue Jinghao nodded, ¡°About seventeen or eighteen years old. Do you think she could have logged into Dr. M¡¯s alt account?¡± Heizi didn¡¯t speak. How could Dr. M, who is so capable, possibly be a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl? Heizi looked at Lu Ye, ¡°Boss, is there surveillance on that road?¡± Anyone who passed by the repair shop could be the big shot. Lu Ye took out a cigarette and lit it, ¡°There is.¡± The group went to the computer to pull up the surveillance from three o¡¯clock. Many people and several cars had passed by the roadside at three o¡¯clock. With a cigarette between his thin lips, Lu Ye said, ¡°Heizi, check the identities of all these people.¡± Xue Jinghao looked at the girl on the computer holding a lotus flower, ¡°Boss, we don¡¯t have to check her, do we?¡± To him, Lin Wu seemed like a simple girl-next-door. Dr. M had been famous for years; how could he possibly be a young girl?! Chapter 21 - 21 018 Magical Effect_1 ?Chapter 21: 018: Magical Effect_1 Chapter 21: 018: Magical Effect_1 Heizi also felt that investigating Lin Wu was an unnecessary move. The girl on the surveillance footage looked very young, with fair and beautiful skin, innocently harmless. She posed no threat at all. Dr. M, on the other hand, was a big shot who had caused a stir overseas. How could these two possibly be connected? Lu Ye¡¯s eyes were deep. He spoke just two words, ¡°Check first.¡± Although he didn¡¯t know if the child was M or not, He knew that the child was definitely not as simple as she appeared. ¡°Okay,¡± Heizi nodded. ¡ª At five-thirty in the afternoon. Lin Wu finished buying things and went home. Lin Guixiang was already standing at the gate of the courtyard waiting for her. Seeing her return, Lin Guixiang smiled and said, ¡°Xiao Wu is back.¡± Lin Wu was unfamiliar with Qing City and hadn¡¯t returned for such a long time; what if something happened to a girl like her? Her eyes fell on the lotus flowers in the car, and Lin Guixiang asked curiously, ¡°Xiao Wu, why did you buy so many lotus flowers?¡± ¡°Mom, lotus flowers are raw materials for skincare products, as are the Rhodiola behind them,¡± said Lin Wu in a light tone. Lin Guixiang was taken aback, ¡°Lotus flowers can be used for skincare products?¡± ¡°Mm, plants are the most natural and harmless raw materials for skincare, with no side effects on the skin,¡± Lin Wu nodded her head. Lin Guixiang took the Rhodiola from the back seat of the car, ¡°So, should these be washed?¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly. Lin Guixiang was a diligent person, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go wash them now.¡± ¡°Mom, thank you for your hard work. I¡¯ll take the lotus flowers up first,¡± said Lin Wu. Lin Guixiang nodded and then said, ¡°Your sterilizer has arrived; it¡¯s on the balcony.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± With this, Lin Wu, carrying the lotus flowers, walked upstairs. Just as she reached the third floor, she heard footsteps behind her, followed by Lin Guimei¡¯s voice, ¡°Xiao Wu?¡± Lin Wu, holding lotus flowers, looked back slightly. ¡°Auntie.¡± The pink lotus flowers set against the girl¡¯s fair face made her look exceptionally delicate; a smile was like a hundred blooms coming to life, like a beautiful and vivid oil painting. Qin Fengyang followed Lin Guimei and, as he looked up, saw this scene. Seventeen-year-old boys in the throes of puberty, coupled with the busy and monotonous life of a senior year student, were inevitably quickened in their heartbeat by such a stunning sight. Lin Guimei smiled and said, ¡°Xiao Wu, let me introduce you, this is Aunt Feng¡¯s son, Qin Fengyang, eighteen years old this year.¡± Having said that, Lin Guimei added, ¡°This is my niece Lin Wu.¡± Qin Fengyang nodded. Lin Wu was rather straightforward, ¡°Hello, Feng classmate.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Seeing Lin Wu¡¯s initiative, Lin Guimei frowned slightly. Surely she¡¯s not setting her sights on Qin Fengyang, right? Ha! Her aspirations are certainly high! The Qin Family, like the Sun Family, was a local Qing City family. Qin Fengyang was a very outstanding boy. Although he repeated a year before getting into Qingzhong School, his grades had always been good, consistently ranking in the top ten of his class. If Lin Wu could capture Qin Fengyang¡¯s heart, making him want no one but her, it would indeed be a way to change her fortunes. It was just unclear whether Feng Qiaozhen would take a liking to Lin Wu, a little village girl from the countryside! After all, Feng Qiaozhen was known for being snobbish. Lin Guimei continued to ask, ¡°Xiao Wu, what are you going to do with so many lotus flowers?¡± ¡°I¡¯m making skincare products,¡± Lin Wu replied. Using lotus flowers for skincare products? Wasn¡¯t that a joke? Lin Guimei frowned slightly. Looking at Lin Wu, it was debatable whether she had ever even used skincare products, let alone make them. It was simply an international joke. Just wait. She would suffer the consequences sooner or later. Her sister was quite a character too, letting Lin Wu make such a fuss! Since her sister didn¡¯t care, it wasn¡¯t her place as an auntie to interfere, and so Lin Guimei continued, ¡°Oh, well, you go ahead and do a good job, Xiao Wu.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly, ¡°Auntie, I¡¯m heading home first.¡± The Qin Family lived right across from the Lin Family, so Qin Fengyang looked at Lin Guimei, ¡°Auntie Guimei, I¡¯m going home too.¡± Lin Guimei smiled and said, ¡°Mm, go ahead.¡± Home. Seeing Lin Wu bring back so many lotus flowers, Zhao Cuinong also asked the same question. While Lin Wu explained, she put the chemical utensils in the sterilizer to disinfect. Zhao Cuinong continued, ¡°Xiao Wu, your uncle said that from now on, our family¡¯s balcony will be your studio, and you can do whatever you want with it.¡± Every room in the house came with a small balcony, and the living room balcony wasn¡¯t very useful. Lin Wu looked up slightly, ¡°Auntie, can I turn the balcony into a sterile room too?¡± ¡°Of course, you can,¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded. ¡°Thank you, Auntie.¡± Creating a simple sterile room wasn¡¯t difficult, and with Lin Wu¡¯s background from a past life, it took her less than two days to set up a small sterile room. Looking at Lin Wu¡¯s achievement, Zhao Cuinong turned to Lin Guixiang, ¡°Big sister, I didn¡¯t expect Xiao Wu to make the sterile room look so professional!¡± At first, she thought Lin Wu was joking. Lin Guixiang said, ¡°This child always takes things seriously.¡± Inside the sterile room. Lin Wu made skincare products while recording videos. Lin Guixiang couldn¡¯t read, so she could only record videos to capture every detail, which would then be used for Lin Guixiang to replicate step by step by watching them. Two hours later. Looking at the milky cream in the bottle, Lin Wu stretched lazily. It was finally done! She hadn¡¯t personally made these things for many years. Luckily, her scientific research skills were still there. Lin Wu brought the finished skincare products to the living room, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m done.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhao Cuinong was even more excited than Lin Guixiang, ¡°Let me have a look quickly!¡± Lin Wu handed Zhao Cuinong two small jars and started introducing the product names and effects, ¡°Auntie, this is Lotus Dew, which can remove acne and whiten skin. This is Immortal Phoenix, which has antioxidant properties to delay aging, lighten spots, and reduce lines.¡± The skincare jars were beautiful, designed by Lin Wu herself. The white porcelain jars were adorned with a few plum blossoms, exuding a striking classical beauty. Three characters were written on the lid of the jars. Beauty Chant. This was the brand name. Zhao Cuinong¡¯s eyes widened in curiosity, staring at the Lotus Dew, ¡°Can this really remove acne?¡± ¡°Of course, I never lie,¡± Lin Wu said. Zhao Cuinong immediately opened the lid, took out a bit of Lotus Dew, and applied it to her face, ¡°I just happened to get a few pimples from eating spicy food these past few days, it looks terrible, so let me be the first one to try it out!¡± The Lotus Dew had a curry-like consistency with a light fragrance, feeling very refreshing on the face. It was just a question of whether the effect was as miraculous as Lin Wu had described. Zhao Cuinong was looking forward to it. Lin Wu handed the Immortal Phoenix to Lin Guixiang, ¡°Mom, this one is suitable for you.¡± Actually, Lin Guixiang¡¯s facial features were very good, she just had a bit of yellowish skin and many dark spots on her face. Immortal Phoenix was perfect for its antioxidant properties and for lightening spots and wrinkles. Lin Guixiang took the jar, ¡°Xiao Wu, do you think we can really sell this?¡± Lin Wu reassured her with a smile, ¡°Good wine needs no bush, and I believe not only can our products sell, they will be in high demand. Your most important task now is to learn how to make them.¡± Only by mastering the production method could they mass produce for sale. Although Lin Guixiang had some doubts about Lin Wu, now that things had progressed to this stage, she had no choice but to keep moving forward. If the business venture failed, she could always go back to sweeping floors and carrying platters. With this thought in mind, Lin Guixiang became more open-minded. Before going to sleep at night, Zhao Cuinong scrutinized her face in the mirror carefully. Lin Bingqiang was speechless, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you sleeping? What are you looking at?¡± Zhao Cuinong said, ¡°I have eight pimples on my face. Xiao Wu said they would all disappear after I wake up from a night¡¯s sleep. Do you think that¡¯s really possible?¡± ¡°What are you thinking about? It¡¯s not a magic pill!¡± Lin Bingqiang rolled his eyes. Even so-called magic pills weren¡¯t that amazing, right? Zhao Cuinong seriously applied the Lotus Dew to her face, ¡°Whether it works or not, this is Xiao Wu¡¯s hard work.¡± She couldn¡¯t waste it, nor could she be superficial with Lin Wu. The next morning, the first thing Zhao Cuinong did upon waking up was to look in the mirror. Seeing her reflection in the mirror, Zhao Cuinong couldn¡¯t help but let out a scream. ¡°Ah!¡± Lin Bingqiang was startled awake by her voice, ¡°What are you screaming about so early in the morning?¡± Zhao Cuinong immediately went over to Lin Bingqiang, pointing at her face, ¡°Look! Look at my face! The pimples are really gone!¡± Chapter 22 - 22 019 Decision to cooperate_1 ?Chapter 22: 019: Decision to cooperate!_1 Chapter 22: 019: Decision to cooperate!_1 Lin Bingqiang was sleeping in a daze, ¡°So what if it¡¯s gone! It¡¯s not like I won the five million jackpot!¡± But Zhao Cuinong was incredibly excited, scared that she had just experienced an illusion. She sat back down at the vanity and scrutinized her face carefully. It was really gone! The red, large pimples that were there last night had miraculously disappeared overnight. Zhao Cuinong touched where the pimples had been, ¡°This is just too miraculous!¡± She even suspected that she was dreaming. Moreover, she wasn¡¯t sure if it was her imagination, but she found that not only had the pimples disappeared, but her facial skin had also become much smoother. Lin Wu was really amazing! Zhao Cuinong, a beauty aficionado, had tried many acne products in the past, but the results were always very average. Even the high-end skincare products that cost thousands per bottle couldn¡¯t completely eliminate them! If she hadn¡¯t experienced it herself, she would never have believed it! With an excited heart, Zhao Cuinong went to Lin Guixiang¡¯s bedroom door, ¡°Big sister, are you awake?¡± Lin Guixiang was getting dressed. Upon hearing this, she glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. Six in the morning. Why was Zhao Cuinong up so early? Today was Saturday. Normally, Zhao Cuinong wouldn¡¯t wake up until after seven. Thinking of her sister-in-law having applied Lin Wu¡¯s skincare product last night, Lin Guixiang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. What if something was wrong with the skincare product, like it messed up her face? Oh my God! What should she do? Lin Guixiang immediately ran to open the door. ¡°Coming, coming!¡± Having opened the door, Lin Guixiang asked with a tense face, ¡°Cuinong, are you alright?¡± ¡°It¡¯s big news! Huge news!¡± Zhao Cuinong continued, ¡°Big sister, look at my face!¡± Hearing this, Lin Guixiang grew even more nervous. Zhao Cuinong immediately added, ¡°Big sister, do you see? The pimples on my face are gone, all gone! Xiao Wu is truly incredible!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Guixiang let out a sigh of relief. This early in the morning, her emotions had roller-coastered like crazy. At once, Lin Guixiang looked up at Zhao Cuinong, surprised, ¡°They really are gone!¡± Zhao Cuinong continued, ¡°Big sister, let me look at your face. Didn¡¯t you also use that what¡¯s-its-name last night?¡± She suddenly found herself struggling to remember the name. ¡°That spot-removing and antioxidizing product is called Immortal Phoenix,¡± Lin Wu said as she walked out. ¡°Yes, yes, Immortal Phoenix!¡± Zhao Cuinong turned to Lin Guixiang, ¡°Big sister, how do you feel about the Immortal Phoenix you used?¡± Lin Wu said with a smile, ¡°Auntie, the effects of the Immortal Phoenix aren¡¯t as immediate as Lotus Dew. It will probably take two to three days before showing results.¡± But after a night¡¯s repair, Lin Guixiang¡¯s face was noticeably more radiant than before. ¡°I see,¡± Zhao Cuinong, holding Lin Wu¡¯s hand, ¡°Xiao Wu, can I invest and join you in this business?¡± Zhao Cuinong was a person with vision. If Lin Wu really had this skill, then she certainly wanted to invest. She wanted to be a discoverer of talent, too! What if it made her rich? ¡°Of course you can,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly. Just as Lin Guixiang was currently lacking help and also needed capital. If Zhao Cuinong wanted to invest, Lin Wu was naturally willing. Zhao Cuinong continued, ¡°Then I¡¯ll invest 100,000 yuan, and we can rent a storefront! If we¡¯re going to do this, let¡¯s do it big and properly!¡± Although 100,000 yuan was a huge sum for Zhao Cuinong, who still had a mortgage to pay off, her intuition told her that this business would definitely not make a loss! In the future, Lin Wu would surely impress everyone. 100,000 yuan? Hearing this, Lin Guixiang¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Cuinong! You can¡¯t be impulsive about this!¡± She was worried her sister-in-law would regret it. And even more afraid that the business might fail. 100,000 yuan was not a small number. My sister-in-law and her husband still have a mortgage to pay. What will they do if the business fails? ¡°Big sister, I am not being impulsive at all,¡± Zhao Cuinong took Lin Wu¡¯s hand, ¡°Xiao Wu, then it¡¯s settled. I will invest one hundred thousand yuan, and you provide the expertise. As for shares, an eighty-twenty split in your favor will do!¡± It seemed like Lin Wu was at a disadvantage with her eighty to Zhao¡¯s twenty, but in reality, she wasn¡¯t at a loss at all. After all, one couldn¡¯t do business with merely one hundred thousand yuan. And with Lin Wu¡¯s expertise, even without one hundred thousand yuan, she could still start the business! Zhao Cuinong wasn¡¯t the type to take advantage of others. ¡°Alright,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly, ¡°Auntie, since you have decided to invest, I will draft the contract this afternoon.¡± Clear accounts make for good friends, even among siblings. Even though they were family, they needed to follow legal procedures. It was to protect Zhao Cuinong¡¯s rights as well as hers, to prevent any future disputes. ¡°Good,¡± Zhao Cuinong wholeheartedly agreed with Lin Wu, smiling, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go and tell my supervisor about my resignation today!¡± Despite just having secured a decent new job, Zhao Cuinong decided to quit. To focus on her business! Working a month for just a few thousand yuan¡ªfollowing Lin Wu in entrepreneurship would earn more than that. Upon hearing this, Lin Guixiang looked at Zhao Cuinong, ¡°Cui Nong, aren¡¯t you going to discuss it with Qiangzi first?¡± Whether investing or resigning, neither was a trifling matter. From her sister¡¯s perspective, Lin Guixiang thought that Zhao Cuinong was being too hasty! Smiling, Zhao Cuinong said, ¡°Big sister, no need to discuss. Qiangzi will definitely support me!¡± Lin Guixiang was still worried and pushed Zhao Cuinong towards the room, ¡°You should still talk it over with Qiangzi.¡± After saying this, Lin Guixiang closed the room door. Lin Bingqiang looked at his wife, puzzled, ¡°What were you telling big sister?¡± Zhao Cuinong continued, ¡°I want to go into business with Xiao Wu!¡± ¡°What?¡± Lin Bingqiang¡¯s eyes widened. What was this all about? If he remembered correctly, Zhao Cuinong had never been optimistic about Lin Wu running a business. But now! Zhao Cuinong actually wanted to partner with Lin Wu! Sitting on the edge of the bed, Zhao Cuinong said, ¡°Qiangzi, you were right, Xiao Wu is a very promising child. Look at my face, after using her skincare products, all my acne vanished! So, I¡¯ve decided to resign from my job to do business with her, and I¡¯ll invest one hundred thousand yuan to help her open a store!¡± One hundred thousand yuan? Lin Bingqiang frowned subtly, ¡°Cui Nong, aren¡¯t you being a bit impulsive?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not impulsive at all, Qiangzi. You don¡¯t even know how amazing Xiao Wu is!¡± ¡°But our current situation...¡± He was earning twenty thousand a month, paying eight thousand on mortgage, plus living expenses... if they took out another one hundred thousand, the financial pressure would become enormous! ¡°No pain, no gain!¡± Zhao Cuinong narrowed her eyes, ¡°It¡¯s decided! Qiangzi, just wait for our family to strike it rich!¡± Hearing this, Lin Bingqiang wanted to say something but ended up saying nothing. If his wife wanted to try it out, then he¡¯d let her gamble. He was raised by his sister. If they lost money, he would consider it spending one hundred thousand yuan for Lin Wu to practice her hand. Zhao Cuinong immediately went to the living room to share the good news with Lin Guixiang, ¡°Big sister, Qiangzi agreed!¡± Just then, a knock on the door could be heard. Lin Wu went to open the door. Lin Guimei stood outside. With a smile, Lin Wu said, ¡°Auntie, come in.¡± Lin Guimei nodded slightly and walked into the living room, looking at Zhao Cuinong who was laughing and asked curiously, ¡°Cui Nong, why are you so happy?¡± Zhao Cuinong immediately shared about Lin Wu¡¯s skincare products, ¡°Big sister, after using Xiao Wu¡¯s skincare, all the acne on my face cleared up. This kid is really amazing!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Guimei frowned slightly. Had Zhao Cuinong gone mad? What skincare product could clear acne overnight? Lin Guixiang immediately brought over two small porcelain bottles, ¡°Gui Mei, this Lotus Dew can whiten and remove acne, and this Immortal Phoenix can lighten spots and antioxidant. You should try them, they¡¯re really effective.¡± Lin Guimei wouldn¡¯t dare to use such an unbranded product. If it ruined her face, there would be nowhere to cry! ¡°Big sister, I¡¯ve still got a set of Mystery of the Blue Sea from abroad at home, so I won¡¯t need these,¡± Lin Guimei declined gracefully, ¡°You better keep them.¡± How could Lin Wu¡¯s unbranded products compare with imported goods? Chapter 23 - 23 020 Vulgar and Elegant_1 ?Chapter 23: 020: Vulgar and Elegant_1 Chapter 23: 020: Vulgar and Elegant_1 Lin Guixiang didn¡¯t know what the Hainan Mystery was, but Zhao Cuinong did. The Hainan Mystery is an international big brand. Since a set of skincare products can cost tens of thousands of yuan, it is also known as a luxury skincare line. Zhao Cuinong had only used it once, and it was a gift from Lin Bingqiang on their wedding anniversary. However, although it is positioned as high-end, anyone who has used it knows that the actual effects are just average and not as exaggerated as advertised! Hearing this, Zhao Cuinong looked at Lin Guimei, ¡°Second sister, I¡¯ve used the Hainan Mystery too. But there¡¯s no comparison between the Hainan Mystery and Xiao Wu¡¯s Beauty Chant! After I used Beauty Chant once, the acne on my face cleared up. The Hainan Mystery doesn¡¯t have that effect!¡± If Lin Guimei were to refuse Lin Wu¡¯s skincare product, she would definitely regret it! Upon hearing this, Lin Guimei almost burst out laughing. It¡¯s understandable that Lin Guixiang, an illiterate, would not know, but she didn¡¯t expect Zhao Cuinong to be so foolish either. But upon reflection, it seemed normal. After all, Zhao Cuinong was just someone from a rural household registration. How could she compare with a city person like her? Just looking at Zhao Cuinong, it was clear she must have never used high-end skincare products, let alone the Hainan Mystery! They were simply not on the same level; how could they communicate? It was like talking to a summer bug about ice! Zhao Cuinong might have been a college graduate, but she really should get out more. The world outside is vast! Lin Guixiang hadn¡¯t even noticed the disdain in Lin Guimei¡¯s eyes and nodded along, ¡°Cuinong is right, Xiao Wu¡¯s skincare product is really effective. Guimei, I see you also have a couple of pimples on your face. You should take it back and try it, I guarantee by tomorrow morning they¡¯ll be all gone!¡± Lin Guimei was speechless. All gone by tomorrow morning? Did Lin Guixiang think this was some kind of miracle cure? Even the Hainan Mystery, a big-name skincare product, couldn¡¯t achieve such an effect! The Hainan Mystery has a scientific research team. What about Lin Wu? What could a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl possibly know about skincare compared to the Hainan Mystery¡¯s scientific research team? Even though Lin Guimei was full of contempt, she didn¡¯t show it and reluctantly accepted the skincare product from Lin Guixiang¡¯s hand, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go back and give it a try.¡± Lin Guixiang nodded, ¡°You try it. If you run out, just come over and grab more!¡± Run out and then grab more? Don¡¯t even think about it. Even if they paid her, she wouldn¡¯t dare to use this stuff! Just then, Zhao Cuinong spoke up, ¡°Second sister, I¡¯m planning to invest in Xiao Wu¡¯s business. Do you want to join in the investment?¡± Lin Wu¡¯s skincare business was just starting, so the more startup capital, the better. And it just so happened that Lin Guimei wasn¡¯t short on money. ¡°You want to invest?¡± Zhao Cuinong widened her eyes, almost thinking she heard wrong. ¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Cuinong smiled and said, ¡°Xiao Wu is a clever girl, I believe she will definitely achieve great things in the future!¡± ¡°How much are you planning to invest?¡± Lin Guimei continued to ask. ¡°A hundred thousand,¡± Zhao Cuinong replied. ¡°You¡¯re investing a hundred thousand?¡± Lin Guimei asked uncertainly. Zhao Cuinong nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± Lin Guimei was speechless. Crazy! Truly crazy! Investing this hundred thousand in Lin Wu was practically no different from throwing it into water. Zhao Cuinong continued, ¡°Second sister, just join in the investment! I guarantee you¡¯ll make a hefty profit!¡± Earn a hefty profit? Upon hearing this, Lin Guimei¡¯s eyes were full of mocking laughter, ¡°You go ahead and invest, I don¡¯t have much money on hand right now.¡± She would have to be insane to follow this investment! Her brother is also a fool! To let a woman meddle with such matters recklessly. A hundred thousand is not a small amount! Zhao Cuinong poured a cup of water for Lin Guimei, ¡°Second sister, you really should think this over. By the time Xiao Wu¡¯s business takes off and you want to invest, it will be too late!¡± Her words served as both a knock and a warning. To prevent Lin Guimei from becoming jealous when she sees Lin Wu becoming wealthy! Lin Wu had given Lin Guimei a chance. If she couldn¡¯t grasp it herself, then she had no one else to blame! ¡°There¡¯s no need to consider,¡± Lin Guimei declined gracefully, ¡°I, for one, was simply never meant to strike it rich.¡± Zhao Cuinong sensed the subtext in Lin Guimei¡¯s words, ¡°Second sister, you¡¯ll have nowhere to cry when you regret it later!¡± Regret? A joke! Would she regret? If anyone should have regrets, it would be Zhao Cuinong! That was a hundred thousand yuan. Lin Guimei smiled as she took a sip of water, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t regret it.¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded, ¡°Alright, as long as you, Second Sister, don¡¯t regret it, that¡¯s fine. By the way, Second Sister, you came early this morning, is there something you want to tell us?¡± Lin Guimei put down her glass, ¡°Our Shan Shan came home from school last night since they¡¯re on holiday, and she hasn¡¯t even met Older Sister and Xiao Wu yet! I came to tell you that we should all have dinner at my place tonight, and let the kids meet each other. We don¡¯t want relatives not to recognize each other if they bump into one on the street!¡± The Sun Family could trace back three generations of intellectuals and truly came from a lineage of scholars. Moreover, their daughter, Sun Shanshan had always been the pride of Lin Guimei¡¯s heart, as she excelled in both character and learning, and would surely set a good example for Lin Wu. It would show Lin Wu what a real child from the city was like. So that Lin Wu wouldn¡¯t spend all day dreaming only about getting rich! Upon hearing this, Lin Guixiang nodded, ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll come over this evening!¡± Last time she visited without bringing a gift, this time, she had to buy some gifts to bring along. Lin Guimei stood up from her stool, ¡°Then I¡¯ll head back first!¡± Lin Guixiang escorted her sister to the door. Once she got home, Lin Guimei immediately tossed the small porcelain bottle in her hand into the trash can. On this side. Zhao Cuinong looked at Lin Wu, ¡°Xiao Wu, I¡¯m going to the company this morning to discuss my resignation. How about we go look at a storefront tomorrow morning?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly. ** At half-past five in the evening, Lin Guixiang and Lin Wu went to visit the Sun Family together. Accompanying them was the family of three from Lin Bingqiang. The Sun Family lived on the fifth floor. Lin Guixiang brought many gifts, including a fruit basket, a box of milk powder for the middle-aged and elderly, and two bottles of white liquor. Knowing that the Sun Family was reputable, Lin Guixiang specifically chose expensive items to buy. The four gifts had cost her a total of a thousand yuan. Although it was a bit pricey, for the sake of her sister¡¯s face, it was worth it! The door was closed. Zhao Cuinong stood at the front and knocked on the door. Soon, the door opened. The one who opened the door was Mother Sun. Mother Sun¡¯s face was all smiles, ¡°Look who¡¯s here, your little uncle and aunt, and your great aunt, come in quickly.¡± Lin Guixiang handed the gifts to Mother Sun, ¡°Aunt Sun, this is a small token of my regard, please don¡¯t disdain it.¡± Mother Sun took them in her hands, ¡°You came all this way, why bring anything at all! We¡¯re family after all!¡± Who would care about these things? And besides. Lin Guixiang suddenly bringing gifts over, she must have other motives. Lin Guixiang then asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Shan Shan?¡± ¡°She¡¯s practicing the piano in the study,¡± Mother Sun said with a smile, ¡°I will call her. You should sit down, make yourselves at home.¡± As soon as the door to the study opened, a wave of beautiful piano music came drifting out. Being somewhat rustic, Lin Guixiang didn¡¯t understand the piano, but she still found the sound pleasing to the ear and said instinctively, ¡°That sounds wonderful! Even better than the erhu that our village¡¯s Ma Teacher plays.¡± The erhu? Just as she walked out of the room, Sun Shanshan heard this remark and couldn¡¯t help but smile sarcastically. How could the vulgar sound of the erhu be compared to the elegance of the piano? Country folks probably haven¡¯t even seen a piano before, right? Mother Sun went on to introduce, ¡°Shan Shan, this is your great aunt, and this is your cousin, Lin Wu.¡± Sun Shanshan looked at Lin Guixiang and frowned imperceptibly. My goodness! She was way too rustic. She absolutely couldn¡¯t let her classmates know she had such relatives. With an effort, Sun Shanshan greeted, ¡°Hello, Great Aunt.¡± After speaking, she turned to look at Lin Wu, her face filled with a sense of superiority, ¡°Cousin, I¡¯m a junior at Qing City First High School. I heard from my mom that you also want to attend Qing City First High School. If you encounter any knowledge points in your studies that you don¡¯t understand, you can ask me.¡± Chapter 24 - 24 021 Not fellow travelers_1 ?Chapter 24: 021: Not fellow travelers_1 Chapter 24: 021: Not fellow travelers_1 Upon seeing Lin Wu in that instant, Sun Shanshan was slightly taken aback. After all, Lin Guimei was sallow and thin, not appealing, and Sun Shanshan had assumed Lin Wu would just be a common, unsophisticated village girl. She didn¡¯t expect Lin Wu to be so attractive. A standard oval face, extremely pale skin, and a pair of delicately captivating peach blossom eyes. Although Sun Shanshan really didn¡¯t want to admit it, Lin Wu truly was beautiful, unlike the trendy online beauties, hers was a distinctive and refreshingly beautiful visage. Such a person, no matter where they go, would always be the center of attention. Luckily, luckily Lin Wu¡¯s studies were mediocre, she was from the countryside, and had no talents at all, probably tone-deaf even when singing. With this thought, Sun Shanshan breathed a sigh of relief; although she wasn¡¯t as pretty as Lin Wu, her own conditions were far better than Lin Wu¡¯s. If Lin Wu was beauty of face, then she was the beauty of bone structure! Lin Wu looked at her cousin one year younger than herself, imperceptibly raising an eyebrow. She was a senior, while Sun Shanshan was a freshman. A freshman cousin tutoring a senior cousin in her studies? Interesting. Mother Sun continued, ¡°Xiao Wu, don¡¯t look down on our Shan Shan just because she¡¯s only a freshman. This child has been very clever from a young age and has already self-studied all the courses for sophomore and junior year. There are a total of 30 classes in their freshman year, but Shan Shan has always been among the top fifty or sixty in her grade!¡± With 30 classes, making up 1800 students, consistently maintaining a top fifty or sixty rank in the grade, especially at Qing City First High School, which is a key school in the city, bears testament to Sun Shanshan¡¯s formidable strength! Because of this, Sun Shanshan has always been a pride and joy for Mother Sun. Three generations up in the Sun Family were all scholars. Father Sun was in the public sector. Mother Sun herself was in education. Her son had a secured job, her daughter was a psychology expert, and her son-in-law was an outstanding teacher at Qingzhong School. Even though her grandson was quite average in his studies, he was currently studying abroad. Once he gets a gold plating from overseas and comes back, he would have surpassed most people in the country. At this point, Mother Sun narrowed her eyes slightly, turning her head to look at Lin Wu, she continued, ¡°So, Xiao Wu! We are all one family; if there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand, don¡¯t feel embarrassed to ask just because you¡¯re older than Shan Shan. You two, after all, come from different environments. Our Shan Shan loves to help others. While tutoring you, she is also consolidating her own knowledge points.¡± Zhao Cuinong was forthright and could not stand such talk, the idea of Sun Shanshan, who ranked within the top fifty, tutoring someone ranked first in their grade? Looking down on who? Thinking this, Zhao Cuinong stepped directly in front of Lin Wu, protective as a mother hen, ¡°Aunt Sun, speaking of the Old Lin Family¡¯s genes, they are excellent. Xiao Wu and Shan Shan, these two cousins are both exceptional, one ranking first in the grade, the other consistently among the top fifty or sixty! Shan Shan, your cousin Xiao Wu won¡¯t be needing your tutoring for now, but if you encounter any problems, you can actually come to her for help!¡± What does ranking in the fifties or sixties mean in the face of number one? Hearing this, Sun Shanshan imperceptibly frowned. The number one from some small place dares to compare with her? Not to mention a top class. Even an average student from Qing City First High School could easily outperform Lin Wu. The educational resources were not even comparable! Take English, for instance. In Qing City, they start learning English from the third grade of elementary school, while in the countryside they only recognize the 26 English letters in middle school. And Lin Wu dares to be so proud! Mother Sun also frowned slightly. What do they mean the Lin Family¡¯s genes are good? Aren¡¯t Sun Family¡¯s genes excellent? Everyone knows, the Sun Family is an esteemed scholarly family, and apart from Lin Guimei, everyone has been respectable and five and six above the average. The descendants they educated were even more outstanding. However, Mother Sun didn¡¯t dare to retort Zhao Cuinong directly, since Lin Bingqiang was a man with real abilities. She had to force a smile and said, ¡°My dear sister-in-law, look at my memory, I totally forgot Xiao Wu is the top student in her grade! With Xiao Wu¡¯s grades, getting into Qingzhong School should be no problem at all. Shan Shan, you should learn more from your cousin and not just focus on practicing piano and dancing all day. Studying is the most important after all!¡± Her granddaughter could play the piano, dance ballet, perform tea ceremonies, and so much more. What could Lin Wu do? She was full of herself just for having a bit of cleverness. And she even dares to dream about getting into Qingzhong School. Keep dreaming. Sun Shanshan nodded, ¡°I understand, Grandma.¡± Mother Sun looked towards Sun Shanshan and continued, ¡°Shanshan, go pour some drinks for your uncle and your eldest aunt.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Sun Shanshan said with a smile on her face, picking up a cup to pour the drinks. While pouring, she seemed to think of something and looked at Lin Wu, ¡°Cousin Xiao Wu, we still have some imported coffee beans at home. Would you like Americano, or would you prefer orange juice?¡± Rural folks probably don¡¯t even know what Americano is! She was waiting for Lin Wu to ask her about it. Lin Wu slightly lifted her gaze, ¡°Thank you, but Americano is better suited for the morning on an empty stomach, for both refreshing the mind and reducing swelling. I might have trouble sleeping if I drink it at night, so orange juice will be fine.¡± Upon hearing this, Sun Shanshan was startled. Tsk. This country girl actually knew that Americano could reduce swelling and perk you up! It seemed that Lin Wu had done quite a bit of homework to adapt to life in Qing City. But all of these were superficial things, Lin Wu couldn¡¯t learn the substance. After pouring Lin Wu a glass of orange juice, Sun Shanshan couldn¡¯t be bothered anymore with these rural relatives under the same roof, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m going to practice the piano. I have a grading test tomorrow.¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± nodded Mother Sun. Before long, Lin Guimei and Sun Dingbang, the couple, returned. Lin Guimei smiled as she introduced her husband, ¡°Dingbang, this is my eldest sister. And this is her daughter, Xiao Wu.¡± Learning that the dark and thin, and distinctly rustic woman was his wife¡¯s sister, Sun Dingbang¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Perhaps feeling that his behavior was a bit impolite, he immediately coughed to mask his embarrassment, ¡°Eldest sister, nice to meet you, I am Sun Dingbang.¡± Lin Guixiang turned to Lin Wu, ¡°Xiao Wu, call him your Uncle.¡± ¡°Uncle.¡± Sun Dingbang nodded and smiled, ¡°Xiao Wu, come over to our house for a visit on weekends! Come keep your cousin Shan Shan company, she¡¯s always saying how lonely she is by herself.¡± ¡°Okay, Uncle,¡± said Lin Wu. Lin Wu politely nodded. Seeing her nod, Mother Sun frowned slightly, thinking that Lin Wu really had no clue. Couldn¡¯t she tell that Sun Dingbang was just making polite conversation? And she still had the nerve to nod in agreement! Her son was also too straightforward, always speaking his mind. Just wait and see! Lin Wu would definitely be showing up at their house every weekend. Aggravated as she felt, Mother Sun maintained a smile, ¡°Now that everyone is back, let¡¯s start the meal!¡± ¡ª¡ª After the meal. Once everyone had left, Mother Sun sought out Lin Guimei alone, ¡°Your sister brought some things over today, send them back to her later. It¡¯s not easy for her to earn a bit of money.¡± Sending things back was just a pretense. The real intention was to distance themselves. Mother Sun wanted Lin Guixiang to understand that they should visit their home less frequently in the future. They were simply not from the same world, so there was no need to be so close! Lin Guimei got the hint from her mother-in-law and nodded, ¡°Alright.¡± Sun Shanshan came out of her room and looked at the items on the floor with complex emotions in her eyes, ¡°Mom, are these the things they brought over?¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Sun Shanshan¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, ¡°Mom, is that middle-aged woman really your biological sister?¡± Although her mother came from a modest background, she was still a well-educated intellectual with a university degree. Up until now, Sun Shanshan was still struggling to come to terms with it and couldn¡¯t believe that she actually had such an aunt. Hearing her, Lin Guimei nodded slightly, though reluctant to admit it, that woman was indeed her biological sister. Mother Sun seemed to think of something, squinting her eyes, she said, ¡°Shanshan, you are not the same kind of person as that Lin Wu, remember to keep your distance from her.¡± Chapter 25 - 25 022 Garbage picker_1 ?Chapter 25: 022: Garbage picker?!_1 Chapter 25: 022: Garbage picker?!_1 Who is Sun Shanshan? She is the pearl of the entire Sun Family, destined to attend a top-tier 985 university. What about Lin Wu? A little country bumpkin who knows nothing. If Sun Shanshan gets too close to her, it will only drag down Shanshan¡¯s class. Hearing this, Sun Shanshan nodded, ¡°Okay, grandma.¡± She certainly knew who to be close with and who to stay away from. Someone like Lin Wu should just be used as a stepping stone when necessary. After all, in this world, excellence is highlighted by the stupidity of others. Seeing her granddaughter understanding so quickly, Mother Sun was very pleased and said smiling, ¡°Aunt Shen on the third floor wants you to come over to help Xiaomei review her lessons, go give her some guidance later.¡± Her granddaughter was so smart, as a grandma, she couldn¡¯t be prouder. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡ª After returning home, Lin Guixiang started studying skincare products. Since she couldn¡¯t read, she could only replicate Lin Wu¡¯s actions exactly as shown in the video. She had never felt the importance of knowledge before, but now, facing the sterile room¡¯s written labels, she realized the value of learning. Coming out of the sterile room, Lin Guixiang removed her mask and looked at Lin Wu, tentatively asking, ¡°Xiao Wu, do you think it¡¯s too late for Mom to learn to read now?¡± Lin Wu put down the green-covered book, ¡°Mom, do you want to learn to read?¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Lin Guixiang sighed, ¡°I do want to, but I don¡¯t know if I can still learn at this age.¡± She was older, her mind didn¡¯t work as fast as a young person¡¯s, and she worried that she wouldn¡¯t be able to learn. Lin Wu smiled faintly, ¡°Mom, if you want to learn, don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself. Knowledge is infinite, and life is a continuous learning process, unrelated to age. As long as you¡¯re determined, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Lin Guixiang¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true,¡± continued Lin Wu. ¡°I¡¯ll download some simple fundamental knowledge videos for you later. Just watch them more. Genetics is magical; I¡¯m so smart, so you¡¯re definitely not dumb either.¡± For beginners like Lin Guixiang with no foundation at all, reading and watching videos is only the first step, they also need to practice writing and copying more. ¡°Okay.¡± Inspired by Lin Wu, Lin Guixiang immediately felt a surge of confidence and said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m going to take out the trash first!¡± Lin Wu took the garbage bag from her, ¡°I was about to go for a run, so I¡¯ll throw it out on my way.¡± The garbage room was outside the courtyard. As Lin Wu stepped out the front door, she saw Lin Guimei coming back from disposing of her trash. ¡°Auntie.¡± Lin Guimei smiled, ¡°Xiao Wu, you¡¯re taking out the trash too?¡± ¡°Yes, auntie,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly. Holding the trash, Lin Wu reached the garbage bin and was about to throw it away when she saw two familiar little porcelain bottles in the trash bag. One red, one white. Seeing this, Lin Wu frowned slightly and took a tissue from her pocket to pick up the small porcelain bottles from the trash bag. Three words were written on the lids of both small porcelain bottles. Beauty Chant. Beauty Chant was given to only three people: one was her mother, another Zhao Cuinong, and the last Lin Guimei. Without a doubt, these were thrown away by Lin Guimei. She disposed of not just any skincare products. The sincere heart that Lin Guixiang threw away, as an elder sister, Guixiang only wanted to give the best to her younger sister, only to be met with disdain. Lin Wu wiped the bottle clean and placed it in the bag, her delicate peach blossom eyes showing no discernible emotion. Under the night sky, the girl¡¯s clear, sharp profile was so pale it seemed to glow. ¡°Shanshan, is that person picking up trash ahead your cousin?¡± Sun Shanshan had just finished tutoring Liu Xiaomei¡¯s homework when she saw this scene. She never expected Lin Wu to be standing next to a trash can, picking up garbage. It was truly disgusting. Looking at Lin Wu standing by the trash can, disdain was apparent in the depths of Sun Shanshan¡¯s eyes, ¡°It looks like it! She¡¯s from a small place and hasn¡¯t seen much of the world. Let¡¯s go that way and go around!¡± She had no desire to speak with Lin Wu. Liu Xiaomei nodded, her curiosity piqued as she looked back at Lin Wu, ¡°Is your cousin¡¯s family very poor? Have they fallen to the point of having to pick up trash to make a living?¡± She had just witnessed Lin Wu putting the items she picked from the trash can into a bag. ¡°Very poor, I heard her mom is illiterate,¡± said Sun Shanshan. Liu Xiaomei¡¯s eyes widened in shock, ¡°But I remember your mom graduated from A University!¡± One illiterate, one a knowledgeable college graduate. The educational levels of these two sisters were shockingly diverse! ¡°My mom is my mom. Even though they are sisters, everyone¡¯s intelligence is different,¡± Sun Shanshan continued, ¡°My mom was one of the few college students from their village back in the day.¡± Liu Xiaomei exclaimed, ¡°Like begets like, the son of a mouse knows how to dig holes! Your parents are both impressive, that¡¯s why you¡¯re top of your class in college! Your cousin¡¯s mom has low intelligence and can¡¯t recognize words, so your cousin can only make a living picking up trash!¡± Genetics is indeed a mysterious study, you really turn out like who raises you. Sun Shanshan squinted, ¡°But she doesn¡¯t think that way. My cousin still wants to take the exam to transfer into Qingzhong School, saying she would drop out if she doesn¡¯t get in!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Liu Xiaomei was incredibly shocked. Lin Wu, like this, still hoping to get into Qingzhong School? Wasn¡¯t that a fool¡¯s dream? Sun Shanshan nodded slightly, ¡°Why would I lie to you? It¡¯s precious to have self-awareness, but sadly, she doesn¡¯t.¡± If Lin Wu had a clearer understanding of herself, she wouldn¡¯t make such grandiose statements. Liu Xiaomei was speechless, surprised that there actually existed someone like Lin Wu in the world, ¡°Your cousin is pitiable and hateful, but above all, ignorant!¡± To put it simply, she¡¯s suffering from a lack of education. ¡ª Elsewhere. Lin Guimei arrived at the Lin Family¡¯s home with some items, ¡°Big sister, my mother-in-law told me to bring these over. Don¡¯t waste money in the future, our family lacks nothing.¡± Seeing the items that Lin Guimei had brought back, Lin Guixiang seemed somewhat at a loss. Could it be the Sun Family Parents found the gifts too cheap? To avoid embarrassing Lin Guimei, she specifically chose expensive items to buy, only to end up with this result... ¡°Guimei, these items were specially bought for Uncle Sun, Auntie Sun, and Shan Shan...¡± Lin Guimei looked at Lin Guixiang and said with a smile, ¡°Big sister, you¡¯re not in a good place financially right now. Save where you can. We don¡¯t need these items; we¡¯re all family, so there¡¯s no need for formalities in the future.¡± Her words were nobly put, extremely eloquent, leaving no room for criticism. After speaking, Lin Guimei stood up from the chair, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, I should head back. Big sister, you should rest early too.¡± ¡°...Okay.¡± Lin Guixiang had just sent Lin Guimei out the door when Lin Wu returned home. Seeing the items on the ground, Lin Wu quickly grasped the situation, turning to look at Lin Guixiang, ¡°Mom, did Auntie send these back?¡± Lin Guixiang sighed, looking up at Lin Wu with a complex expression in her eyes, ¡°Xiao Wu, do you think I¡¯ve embarrassed your aunt?¡± ¡°Embarrassed?¡± Lin Wu frowned slightly and countered, ¡°When she was dependent on you for support, why wasn¡¯t she embarrassed by you then? Could she have successfully graduated from junior college without you? Don¡¯t always put the blame on yourself. As the eldest sister, you¡¯ve done enough! Since they are ungrateful, there¡¯s no need for you to keep trying to win them over. Just maintain a superficial relationship, get too close and they¡¯ll think you want to take advantage of them.¡± Chapter 26 - 26 023 Bosss Pattern_1 ?Chapter 26: 023: Boss¡¯s Pattern_1 Chapter 26: 023: Boss¡¯s Pattern_1 Lin Wu had to correct Lin Guixiang¡¯s mistaken beliefs. As a mother, as a qualified businesswoman, Lin Guixiang must learn to grow, to be self-reliant and independent, so that she could stand on her own in the future! Upon hearing this, Lin Guixiang was stunned for a moment. Lin Wu knew that some things were best left unsaid; one couldn¡¯t become fat with just one bite. It was up to Lin Guixiang to digest this slowly on her own. With that said, Lin Wu took out her cell phone, ¡°I¡¯ve downloaded a few videos for beginners to learn characters and sent them to your WeChat. Take a look.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Guixiang nodded. ¡°Also, you must remember to use Immortal Phoenix every morning and evening,¡± Lin Wu continued. Only regular use would yield results. Although Lin Guimei had only been using it for a few days, her skin had already improved, even if it wasn¡¯t obvious yet. ¡°Hmm.¡± After washing up, Lin Guixiang sat in front of the vanity mirror and took her skincare very seriously. After finishing her skincare routine, she started studying the character recognition videos. Lin Wu idly flipped through her phone. Just then, she saw a piece of news pop up on her phone screen. The renowned game company LY Company had launched a global game development contest on their official website. LY Company offered creators a free platform, and the first prize was $200,000 plus a direct recruitment by LY Company, landing the position of creative director with an annual salary of $500,000, a 1% share of the stock, and a house car in Country P! It was known that LY Company normally required a doctoral degree just to recruit an ordinary assistant. This competition, however, had no restrictions on participants or educational backgrounds. Winning first place would propel one to great heights! Lin Wu wasn¡¯t interested in the creative director position or the shares; she just wanted to test whether her keen sense of gaming was still intact and incidentally win some prize money. Although her phone somewhat limited her capabilities. It would still suffice. She clicked into the event page to see nearly two hundred thousand contestants had signed up. All competition entries were ranked based on download volume, so only 100 contestants actually made it to the preliminary round. The contest would last for one month. Today was the tenth day. The current leader was a sailing game named ¡°all, bule.¡± The download count was 1,500. A maze game with 1,490 downloads ranked second. In this kind of contest, winning wasn¡¯t about how early one participated, but about the content. The content of the first and second-ranked games was very similar. Lin Wu raised her eyebrows slightly; she decided to create something different. Lin Wu switched apps on her phone, her pale fingertips dancing across the screen. Soon, the colorful display turned into strings of code. About two hours later... Ding! The software was generating, progress bar at 10%. Lin Wu put down her phone and yawned. She looked up at the clock on the wall; it was 12 o¡¯clock. It was time for a beautiful girl to sleep. Staying up late would age one. Lin Wu turned off her phone and started her beauty sleep. Tomorrow, she would have to go rent a shopfront with Zhao Cuinong. Once the progress bar reached 100%, the upload would commence automatically. There was no need to worry that turning off the phone would interrupt the progress. ¡ª Elsewhere. The repair shop. After fixing the last bicycle, Lu Ye took off his gloves and fished out a cigarette from his pocket to light up. Crack. The blue flame illuminated his chiseled profile. Jiang Shaoyun walked in from outside. ¡°Third Brother.¡± ¡°Speak,¡± Lu Ye exhaled a puff of smoke leisurely. Jiang Shaoyun glanced at him and then said, ¡°The game development contest has been going on for ten days, but we haven¡¯t seen any standout talents yet.¡± The contest was really meant to identify exceptional individuals. LY Company had been famous for many years and was the biggest player in the gaming industry. But the ability of who¡¯s at the top of the leaderboard was just average. They were not fit for the position of creative director. Lu Ye¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°How many participants are joining each day now?¡± Jiang Shaoyun answered, ¡°The number of people registered is more than twenty thousand, but only a few dozen meet the standards.¡± The content of all games developed by participants lacked innovation and were cliche?. In Jiang Shaoyun¡¯s opinion, those people were no different from straw bags! The chance of his Third Brother finding a genius in this contest was zero. Lu Ye¡¯s expression remained unreadable as he pinched the cigarette between his fingers and asked, ¡°Is there any news from Heizi about Dr. M?¡± Jiang Shaoyun shook his head, ¡°Nothing yet, probably in another two or three days.¡± After all, the person who passed by the repair shop that day was not just one or two. Lu Ye half-closed his eyes, ¡°Then you keep an eye on the contest.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Although Jiang Shaoyun had no expectations for the competition, he didn¡¯t dare to refute anything Lu Ye ordered. ¡ª The following morning. At 8 o¡¯clock. Lin Wu and Zhao Cuinong left their home together. As soon as they stepped out of the apartment building, they ran into Lin Guimei, who was on her way to open her supermarket for business. Lin Guimei greeted them with a smile, ¡°Cuinong, Xiao Wu, where are the two of you going so early?¡± Zhao Cuinong replied, ¡°Second sister, Xiaowu and I are going to South Street to see if there¡¯s a suitable store for rent.¡± Looking for a storefront? Lin Guimei suddenly recalled Zhao Cuinong¡¯s investment in Lin Wu¡¯s startup, ¡°Cuinong, did you really resign?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded and said with a smile, ¡°Starting from today, I am Xiaowu¡¯s partner!¡± Quitting her job to start a business and even dumping in a hundred thousand yuan. Lin Guimei was speechless. Zhao Cuinong could still smile? Just wait. The happier she is laughing now, the more tragic she will cry later. She must have problems with her brain. Lin Guimei smiled insincerely, ¡°Then I wish you both smooth sailing!¡± ¡°Thank you, Auntie,¡± Lin Wu met Lin Guimei¡¯s gaze, ¡°I definitely won¡¯t let you down.¡± Hearing this, Lin Guimei snorted coldly in her heart. Lin Wu is just a dreamer! A sparrow also dreams of becoming a phoenix. Watching Lin Guimei¡¯s departing figure, Zhao Cuinong frowned slightly, ¡°Ever since your aunt married into Qing City, she¡¯s changed. We must show her some real results!¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Wu said with a smile in her eyes, ¡°We will.¡± Soon, they arrived at South Street. South Street hadn¡¯t developed yet, with a moderate flow of people. The monthly rent for a two-story shop of 200 square meters was around ten thousand yuan, with a three-month minimum lease period. Zhao Cuinong noticed a shop at the corner that was up for lease transfer, ¡°Xiao Wu, that place seems not bad, should we go check it out?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly and followed Zhao Cuinong¡¯s steps. The owner was a local. Because the location in South Street wasn¡¯t good, the shop hadn¡¯t been leased for even a year and had already changed four or five tenants. Learning that Lin Wu sold skincare products, he asked with a smile, ¡°Which skincare brand are you the distributor for?¡± Nowadays, girls all love beauty, selling skincare products would definitely make money! That way, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about the shop being continuously vacated. Lin Wu replied, ¡°It¡¯s our own brand.¡± Hearing that, the owner became very excited, ¡°That¡¯s impressive! What¡¯s the name of your brand? I¡¯ll search it online.¡± ¡°Beauty Chant,¡± Zhao Cuinong introduced enthusiastically to the owner, ¡°Brother, let me tell you, my niece is really amazing. She handles all the business herself...¡± After hearing Zhao Cuinong¡¯s words, the owner¡¯s excited look faded as he turned his gaze to Lin Wu. Lin Wu appeared to be no more than seventeen or eighteen years old. What good skincare products could a kid make? Without even thinking about it, you¡¯d know this business wouldn¡¯t last long before failing! Sigh. He thought he could find a reliable long-term tenant. But it turned out... he had found another unreliable one. Lin Wu took out her phone and looked at the surrounding landscape using the map, discovering that although this area was only moderately developed, it was close to a famous ancient town and just over twenty minutes from bustling Shanghai City, which held great potential for development! Maybe it was already under development, only kept under wraps to prevent certain developers from intentionally inflating property prices. Intuition told Lin Wu that once the development news was out, the rent here would shoot up like bamboo shoots after rain, and by then, you couldn¡¯t rent at ten thousand yuan anymore! Lin Wu spoke calmly, ¡°Could you give a discount if we rent directly for five years?¡± Rent for five years? Upon hearing this, not only the owner, but also Zhao Cuinong was shocked! The owner hadn¡¯t encountered such an easy mark in a long time and immediately said, ¡°Young lady, if you are sure about renting for five years, I¡¯d charge you 600 thousand yuan in total, but I¡¯ll take 580 thousand from you! It¡¯s a win-win!¡± Lin Wu didn¡¯t bargain further, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s draft a contract. I¡¯ll pay a thirty thousand yuan deposit first, and the rest will be paid monthly.¡± ¡°Good, good, good!¡± The owner was overjoyed, clutching Lin Wu¡¯s hand as though afraid she would back out, ¡°Let¡¯s go print the contract now!¡± Once the contract was in hand, it would have legal effect, and then Lin Wu wouldn¡¯t be able to refuse to rent! The printing shop was right next door. Soon, the contract was printed. As Lin Wu picked up the pen, ready to sign, Zhao Cuinong spoke up at that moment, ¡°Xiao Wu, are we really signing for five years? Maybe we should sign for just one year to try it out?¡± The location was not that great, and many shops were vacant and hard to lease out. If Lin Wu leases for five years and the business does poorly after opening, wouldn¡¯t it become an unwanted burden? Chapter 27 - 27 024 Outsider Big Shot_1 ?Chapter 27: 024: Outsider Big Shot_1 Chapter 27: 024: Outsider Big Shot_1 Zhao Cuinong was now somewhat worried. A five-year lease totaled 580,000 yuan! If their subsequent business failed and they wanted to lease another storefront, then the 580,000 yuan would be akin to throwing money into the water. For their working-class family, 580,000 yuan was an astronomical sum. Upon hearing this, Lin Wu slightly turned her gaze toward Zhao Cuinong, her lips curling into a faint smile, ¡°Auntie, rest assured, I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± Those ten light words held a resounding force, tinted with a magic that could stabilize the heart. The store owner, fearing that Lin Wu would have a sudden realization under Zhao Cuinong¡¯s influence and decide not to rent, spoke up, ¡°Big sister, your niece is not a simple person at all! She¡¯s looking far into the future! Although the five-year long-term lease seems to cost a lot, I can¡¯t raise the rent for five years no matter how South Street develops! What if next year the rent here goes up to 20,000 yuan a month? By then, even if you don¡¯t do business and sublease the store, you won¡¯t lose money!¡± In fact, the store owner knew very well that a place like South Street was unlikely to suddenly have its rent skyrocket. There was no subway here. No commerce either! Although there was an ancient town nearby, it had not been developed to this day. He himself had been fooled into buying this storefront by the estate agent¡¯s smooth talk, and now he regretted he couldn¡¯t lease it out. Finally encountering such a simpleton, he naturally wanted to grasp the opportunity tightly. Lin Wu nodded slightly, ¡°I think the landlord makes a very good point, Auntie, we shouldn¡¯t just look at the immediate future, but also farther ahead. What if the rent really goes up to 20,000 yuan a month next year?¡± Inside, the store owner mockingly thought Lin Wu was stupid. Young girls are easy to deceive! Fighting back his inner excitement, the store owner continued to sweet-talk, ¡°Not to mention 20,000, I think it could even go up to 30,000!¡± Zhao Cuinong didn¡¯t speak but just looked at Lin Wu with deep contemplation in her eyes. Although Lin Wu was only eighteen years old, she was much more mature than her peers, and even seemed further-sighted than this elder of hers. Since Lin Wu was so confident, then Zhao was willing to wager on it. The decision to resign and start a business with Lin Wu was, in itself, a huge gamble from the start! So might as well gamble all the way to the end. With this thought in mind, Zhao Cuinong smiled and nodded, ¡°Okay! Then let¡¯s rent for five years.¡± Hearing this, the store owner breathed a sigh of relief. Lucky, lucky! Fortunately, Zhao Cuinong wasn¡¯t too bright either; otherwise, he might not have been able to lease out the shop today. Lin Wu neatly signed the contract. Seeing Lin Wu finalizing the contract smoothly, the store owner quickly signed his name on the line for Party A Zhou Zhongquan. He put down the pen, looked at Lin Wu with a smile, ¡°Young lady, I wish you a thriving business and a wealth of income.¡± ¡°Thank you, landlord,¡± Lin Wu replied. Zhou Zhongquan took out a key from his pocket and handed it to Lin Wu, ¡°Here is the front door key.¡± Even after obtaining the contract and key, Zhao Cuinong still felt a sense of unreality, ¡°Xiao Wu, have we really leased the storefront so quickly?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lin Wu nodded her head, taking Zhao Cuinong by the hand, ¡°Auntie, now we just need to find some workers to do a simple renovation, and then we can open for business.¡± The previous tenants had been in the clothing business, and the interior decoration was still quite decent. They just needed to repaint the walls and buy some shelves and cabinets for skincare products. Zhao Cuinong said with a smile, ¡°My younger brother does decoration work in Qing City, so leave this to me! We can finish a simple renovation in a week!¡± ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± Zhao Cuinong continued, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go to my brother¡¯s place right now. Xiao Wu, can you get back on your own?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly, ¡°I have my bike.¡± ¡°Good, call me if you need anything.¡± After Zhao Cuinong left, Lin Wu cycled to the bookstore and bought some tracing books and pens. By the time she got home, two hours had passed. Lin Guixiang was sitting in the living room chatting with Lin Guimei. ¡°Mom, Auntie.¡± Lin Wu greeted them politely. Lin Guimei glanced at her, ¡°Xiao Wu, have you and your auntie secured the lease for the shop?¡± ¡°We have,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly. ¡°In South Street?¡± Lin Guimei inquired. ¡°Yes.¡± South Street was seen by the locals as a place where not even birds would defecate. This business wouldn¡¯t last many days before closing down. Lin Guixiang followed up, ¡°You leased a store so quickly? How much is it? When can you open? Oh, and where is your auntie? Why didn¡¯t she come back with you?¡± ¡°Ten thousand a month, leased for five years,¡± Lin Wu continued, ¡°Auntie went to see about the renovation, we should be able to open in about a week.¡± Lin Wu¡¯s tone was nonchalant, but Lin Guimei caught the critical information from it. The rent was ten thousand, leased for five years. That¡¯s a few hundred thousand! Crazy, crazy! Just wait. Zhao Cuinong is bound to jump off a building sooner or later. Lin Guixiang was full of confidence in her skincare product business. When she heard that the shop could open in a week, she was thrilled and immediately said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll continue making skincare products later, hoping to sell more on the opening day.¡± She could now make about 500 grams of Lotus Dew and Immortal Phoenix each day. Besides, she could also make 500-600 milliliters of toner. ¡°Mmm.¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly and handed the practice book and pen to Lin Guixiang, ¡°Mom, this is a practice book. It¡¯s very helpful for beginners learning to read and write. You can combine it with videos and practice writing whenever you have time.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Learning to read and write? Lin Guimei thought she had heard wrong. ¡°Big sister, you want to learn to read and write?¡± Lin Guixiang nodded, ¡°Xiao Wu said that learning to read and write isn¡¯t difficult, so I want to give it a try.¡± Hearing this, Lin Guimei¡¯s expression changed. How could a foolish village woman like Lin Guixiang possibly learn to read and write? No wonder Lin Wu lacked self-awareness. She was just like Lin Guixiang! Lin Guimei continued, ¡°Well, big sister, all the best. I¡¯m going back now. Come visit at home when you have time.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lin Guixiang saw Lin Guimei out the door. Lin Wu went back to her room to attend to her own business. She turned on her cell phone. The progress bar of the software she developed on a whim last night had reached 100%, and it was now time to name it. Lin Wu slowly typed in two characters: Ghost Path. Without a doubt. This was a horror survival game. After settling on a name, Lin Wu clicked to upload it to the LY official website. Ten minutes later. Ding! Upload successful! Seeing the successful upload, Lin Wu turned off her phone and picked up the green-covered book on the nightstand to flip through under the light. LY official website. After Ghost Path was successfully uploaded, it immediately attracted a lot of male gamers to download it. In less than an hour. The download count had gone from 0 to 200. Hailun, the head of the development department, quickly noticed this anomaly and immediately called Jiang Shaoyun to report it. ¡°President Lin, a creator named W uploaded a game, and within less than an hour, it has been downloaded by two hundred people,¡± she said. You should know, the top-ranked game had only over a thousand downloads on the tenth day. What did two hundred downloads in half an hour imply? Intuition told Hailun. This W must be a dark horse in the industry! With this in mind, Hailun continued, ¡°President Jiang, such talent will be targeted by multiple online gaming companies once they emerge. Should we contact him ahead of others?¡± Upon hearing this, Jiang Shaoyun immediately opened his laptop, logged onto the internal website, and checked the download rankings of the past hour. The first-ranked game was called Ghost Path. But Jiang Shaoyun quickly realized that the game¡¯s introduction was mediocre, the content was very average, just a common horror escape game with nothing outstanding. It was clear to the discerning eye that all those download numbers were fake, pumped up by the developer themselves, and not as exaggerated as Hailun had said. Jiang Shaoyun didn¡¯t even deign to register for a game account to try it out, directly rejecting Hailun¡¯s suggestion, ¡°It¡¯s just faking it, no need to contact.¡± LY had already taken measures against false data. Once the system detected something amiss, it would immediately take down the work. Hailun frowned slightly, ¡°President Jiang, but I feel that W¡¯s Ghost Path doesn¡¯t seem like false data.¡± On the contrary. The way W constructed the game was very much like a certain industry outsider tycoon. ¡°Hailun, you¡¯re still too young,¡± Jiang Shaoyun said with a smile: ¡°Just give it three days, and the system will detect the malicious pumping of numbers resulting in false data for this game!¡± Chapter 28 - 28 025 Direct Rolling_1 ?Chapter 28: 025: Direct Rolling_1 Chapter 28: 025: Direct Rolling_1 When LY released the competition details, all sorts of people emerged out of nowhere. Everyone had their eyes on the creative director role and that one percent of LY Company¡¯s equity! Jiang Shaoyun had seen such tricks many times before. W was not the first person to fabricate the truth, and certainly wouldn¡¯t be the last. Hailun squinted his eyes, ¡°Mr. Jiang, W might not be what you think...¡± Before he could finish, Jiang Shaoyun cut him off directly, ¡°Hailun, there¡¯s no need to waste time on this kind of person.¡± No matter how clever such a person¡¯s methods are, they will eventually be detected and removed by the system! Hearing this, Hailun had no choice but to drop the subject. After hanging up the call, Hailun discovered that the download count for Ghost Path, which had just been at 200, had now shot up to over 700! It soared directly from the 500th rank to the top 10! Hailun narrowed his eyes. LY¡¯s detection system was very powerful, employing the world¡¯s top-end technology. If there were indeed issues with W, they should have been flagged for inspection long ago. But until now, W¡¯s name wasn¡¯t listed in the detection list. This meant that W had not manipulated any data, and all of these were genuine statistics! Thinking this, Hailun immediately took out his phone, downloaded Ghost Path, and registered for the game. But who knew, after playing for only half an hour, he became completely engrossed, unable to tear himself away. ¡ª After hanging up the phone, Jiang Shaoyun also opened the official website page to browse through the shortlisted games. It was at that moment that he suddenly saw a game named Fei Xian, which had shot up from 500th place to the top five within just two days. Jiang Shaoyun slightly narrowed his eyes. His intuition told him that there was something special about Fei Xian. Jiang Shaoyun clicked to see the game¡¯s description and discovered that the creator¡¯s name was ZXX. Hailun had actually missed ZXX. Compared to ZXX, W was far behind. W¡¯s introduction of the game was just a single sentence. But ZXX had written more than two hundred words, even detailing the construction of the game¡¯s world. Perhaps, this ZXX was the global top talent they were looking for! W¡¯s data looked fake at a glance. But ZXX was different. She had an average daily increase of over 400 downloads; within two days, there were already 890 download counts, and although the comments were mixed, most of them were positive. W¡¯s comments were almost uniformly five stars, without a single negative review. Fake beyond belief. It¡¯s impossible to please everyone; who can create a game that satisfies all players! Considering this, Jiang Shaoyun squinted his eyes and immediately dialed his assistant¡¯s phone number, ¡°Hey, send me the contact details for the creator ZXX of Fei Xian from the backend.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Meanwhile, at the international technology forum. A topic titled #LY Game Creation Competition Reveals the Dark Horse of the Year!# suddenly rose to the top trending spot. Xinxinxiangrong yeah: [This ZXX is truly a dark horse! I guess she¡¯ll soon overtake the first place ¨C all, bule!] Annajiro: [ZXX is a dark horse? Isn¡¯t W the real dark horse? W surpassed ZXX¡¯s download numbers within two hours of uploading the game and is about to break into the top three of the rankings.] *Summer.Tipsy*: [I also think W is the dark horse.] Between Mountains and Seas 001: [Who knows if W is just manipulating the numbers! I looked at the game description, it¡¯s just a very ordinary survival horror game, nowhere near comparable to ZXX¡¯s Fei Xian!] Cx3333-Valorant: [I heard that ZXX, who developed Fei Xian, is the number one genius girl of Qing City.] Azure Coast: [So ZXX is the initials of Young Miss Zhang¡¯s name? No wonder Fei Xian has such strong momentum! The top genius girl is really different!] Ji Mo Ji Mo: [Can¡¯t believe that there are even tricksters at an LY competition! Fake products, please get lost, okay? It¡¯s a disgrace for him to be on the same list as ZXX.] *Summer.Tipsy*: [As a new player of Ghost Path! I can attest that W did not fabricate anything! This game is really fun to play, with very realistic game layouts; it¡¯s almost like being there in person. Most importantly, the NPCs have their own thoughts, and they give different answers to different questions. Ghost Path might look unremarkable, but its content is extraordinary! You¡¯ll know if I¡¯m lying once you download it!] Annajiro: [I can vouch for the sister above, I downloaded it too! I can¡¯t stop playing! I declare, from now on, W is my idol!] Old Uncle One Meter Eight 666: [Even girls play games? Aren¡¯t you just a plant by W, hired to deceive us into boosting the download count?] Clueless Xiaoying: [Bro, stay calm, don¡¯t give our male compatriots a bad name. I¡¯m going to download it and play for a bit; after all, deleting it right away doesn¡¯t count as data. I¡¯ll report back on it after I play for a while.] Running Snail 2000: ¡°If these stats are real, this person would be a god, okay? Faking stuff is really disgusting, and why wait for the system to check? Can¡¯t you just leave on your own? Even the IP address is from Qing City of Hua Country, can¡¯t you leave some dignity for Qing City?¡± Handsome and Cool: ¡°Cheaters, get lost! Support Miss Zhang!¡± ¡ª Qing City. Zhang Xianxian sat in front of the computer desk in her study, watching her game, Fei Xian, get crushed to third place by a game called Ghost Path. According to Zhang Xianxian¡¯s plan, she should have reached first place in just five days. But now... LY was an internationally renowned gaming company, and Zhang Xianxian remembered that Jiang Shaoyun had attended a gathering representing the LY Group in her past life. So. She suspected that Jiang Shaoyun was the famous Mr. K. This time LY Company was hosting a gaming competition, and of course, she couldn¡¯t miss out; she wanted Jiang Shaoyun to see her talent. She thought that with the System¡¯s help, she could easily secure first place with Fei Xian. However, Cheng Yaojin appeared out of nowhere. The System¡¯s voice sounded: ¡°Host, don¡¯t worry, the game technology I¡¯ve provided you is currently the most advanced internationally and almost invincible. Anyone surpassing you is basically fabricating data, which won¡¯t stand up to scrutiny. You just need to wait for it to be taken down.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhang Xianxian breathed a sigh of relief. The System was the most advanced technology in the universe, unbeatable by anyone. How could W, a mere ordinary person, compare with her System? ¡°Miss.¡± At that moment, her assistant walked in from outside. ¡°What is it?¡± Zhang Xianxian turned to look at the assistant. The assistant continued: ¡°Zhang Wu, oh no, Lin Wu has come to Qing City and is currently preparing to start a business with Lin Guixiang, dealing in skincare products.¡± Hearing this, Zhang Xianxian laughed out loud. Going into the skincare business? Did Lin Wu, this little country girl, really think she was the protagonist of a novel? Just make something and sell it as a skincare product? Just wait. Sooner or later, there would be trouble. ¡°Don¡¯t bother with her,¡± Zhang Xianxian narrowed her eyes, ¡°she¡¯s just a pitiful worm.¡± After she dealt with the matters of the LY Company competition, it wouldn¡¯t be too late to clean up this little country girl. ¡ª Lu Family. This was Lu Ye¡¯s first time coming home since his blind date with Ou Tinglan. Grandma Lu grabbed his hand and asked, ¡°Sansan, how did the blind date with Second Miss Ou go?¡± Hearing this, Bai Lu, Lu Ye¡¯s aunt by marriage, also asked curiously: ¡°Yeah, Sansan, didn¡¯t you go on a blind date? Have you added Second Miss Ou on WeChat?¡± The reason the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo were confident about this matter was their belief in the good reputation of the Ou Family. Lu Ye shook his head. Bai Lu narrowed her eyes slightly, ¡°Second Miss Ou wasn¡¯t interested in you? That shouldn¡¯t be! Sansan, you have such great looks and temperament!¡± Lu Ye had even been followed by talent scouts before. But he wasn¡¯t interested in the entertainment industry or in becoming an idol star; otherwise, he would already be a superstar by now. ¡°Looks can¡¯t be eaten as food,¡± Lu Ye said with a light tone. Bai Lu then comforted him: ¡°Don¡¯t be discouraged, Sansan, your aunt will definitely find you a good girl who isn¡¯t vain. Young Miss Zhang from the Zhang family is not bad; I am good friends with her aunt, and I¡¯ll ask for you if she has a boyfriend.¡± Upon hearing this, Grandma Lu immediately asked, ¡°Lulu, are you talking about that Zhang family girl who claims to be the number one talented lady in Qing City?¡± Bai Lu replied with a smile, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s not a self-proclaimed number one, Miss Zhang genuinely is the number one talented lady, without question.¡± Grandma Lu harrumphed, ¡°I see that the whole lot of them don¡¯t seem like decent folks! Just take the incident from a while back, for instance. Which family¡¯s illegitimate daughter is older than the legitimate ones? Wang Baochuan is rightfully the wife, yet people are calling her the mistress. Someone who¡¯s legitimately the young lady of a family is being slandered as an illegitimate daughter! Only that old witch from the Zhang family could do something so disgusting!¡± Continuing, she added, ¡°I think that old witch favors boys over girls, despising that the legitimate wife gave birth to a daughter, which is why she made Zhang Dalong marry the suitable daughter from the wealthy Wei Family! And then kicked the legitimate wife to the curb!¡± Although Grandma Lu was advanced in years, she was anything but muddleheaded and was very clear-headed. Bai Lu looked at Grandma Lu with a smile, ¡°Mom, I know you and Old Madam Zhang have been at odds since your youth, but it¡¯s not good to pass on the older generation¡¯s grudges to the younger ones! Miss Zhang is truly outstanding and lives up to her reputation. Once you meet her in person, I guarantee you will like her a lot.¡± Grandma Lu and Old Madam Zhang were high school classmates who couldn¡¯t stand each other; every encounter was full of barbs, and they never gave an inch, a feud that lasted until now, making them very incompatible. Bai Lu liked Zhang Xianxian very much and had interacted with her at salon meetings. She found Zhang Xianxian to be a girl with considerable talent. Chapter 29 - 29 026 Directly exiting the circle_1 ?Chapter 29: 026: Directly exiting the circle_1 Chapter 29: 026: Directly exiting the circle_1 Zhang Xianxian was only seventeen when she was admitted to a key university, and she¡¯s also the image ambassador for Qing City. She embodies both talent and virtue. She is the ideal child in every parent¡¯s heart, and in Bai Lu¡¯s mind, the perfect daughter-in-law. Unfortunately, her son already has a girlfriend. Although Lu Ye is not her biological son, there¡¯s hardly any difference, as this child has been sensible since he was young. Like Grandma Lu, Bai Lu hoped he would find a good girl like Zhang Xianxian soon. Hearing Bai Lu¡¯s praises for Zhang Xianxian, Grandma Lu slightly knitted her brows and questioned, ¡°What good can that old witch teach her granddaughter?!¡± She knew Old Madam Zhang all too well. She hardly did any good deeds in her life, and was greedy, vain, and stubbornly feudalistic. As the beam is crooked, so is the building beneath. Therefore, Zhang Xianxian surely couldn¡¯t be anything good. ¡°Mom,¡± Bai Lu said with a smile, linking arms with Grandma Lu, ¡°You¡¯re too biased against Miss Zhang. How should I describe her for you? She¡¯s really not like what you think, she¡¯s a very excellent, independent, and special girl!¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Grandma Lu was still disdainful, pulling out a bag of spicy strips from her pocket and, while eating them, said, ¡°Then I don¡¯t like her either.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll understand what I mean when you see Miss Zhang,¡± Bai Lu said, noticing the spicy strips in her mother-in-law¡¯s hand, and she continued, ¡°Mom! Health experts say you should eat less greasy and spicy food at your age!¡± Grandma Lu glanced at her and said, ¡°I saw a health expert on the news who advocated for a light diet, and he died at age 52, while I am 92 this year.¡± With that, Grandma Lu had a servant bring a bottle of cola and swiftly guzzled half the bottle in one go. ¡°Mom, cola has too much sugar, you should also drink less of it.¡± ¡°I am 92 years old.¡± Bai Lu: ¡°...¡± She was speechless. Just then, Lu Lingli came downstairs with a plate of fruit, ¡°Grandma, Mom! Are you planning to trick Lu Da into another match-making session again?¡± Bai Lu nodded, ¡°I was saying Miss Zhang isn¡¯t bad, but your grandma doesn¡¯t like her. Lingli, what do you think of Miss Zhang?¡± Lu Lingli squinted her eyes, ¡°Let¡¯s see, I haven¡¯t really interacted with her, so I don¡¯t know her well. It mainly depends on Lu Da, if he thinks it¡¯s fine then it¡¯s fine!¡± Hearing this, Bai Lu immediately turned her head towards Lu Ye. Lu Ye closed the newspaper in his hands, ¡°Auntie, I think being single is also quite good.¡± He didn¡¯t believe in love nor did he hold any expectations. Bai Lu frowned slightly, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Lu Ye put down the newspaper, ¡°Auntie, I have some things to attend to, I need to make a trip to the repair shop.¡± If he didn¡¯t leave now, he would probably be forced into another blind date! Watching Lu Ye¡¯s departing back, Grandma Lu seemed to see the young Old Master Lu. Old Master Lu was even more arrogant than the current Lu Ye back in his day! In the end? Didn¡¯t he have to surrender obediently? Considering this, Grandma Lu crossed her legs cockily, swaying, ¡°Just wait! Sooner or later, that little rascal will have his time to cry!¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Lu Lingli strongly agreed with Grandma Lu¡¯s words. Once Lu Ye had stepped outside, Lu Lingli withdrew her gaze, looking at Grandma Lu with a troubled face, ¡°Grandma, look at my face, I¡¯ve gotten so many spots recently, it¡¯s so annoying! Do you have any effective freckle-removing products to recommend?¡± Although Grandma Lu was old, her love for beauty was no less than that of the young. She always took her skincare seriously before going to bed every night. She also applied face masks three times a week and went to the beauty salon for a SPA treatment once! ¡°Let me see.¡± Grandma Lu turned to look at Lu Lingli¡¯s face, frowning, ¡°I don¡¯t have freckles, why have you gotten them at such a young age?¡± Hearing this, Bai Lu said, ¡°It¡¯s because this child takes after me! Prone to freckles, and frankly, the freckle-removing products on the market today are basically dumb taxes, none of them are effective.¡± At this point, she looked at Lu Lingli, ¡°Lingli, remember to take sunscreen precautions when you go out, direct sunlight can easily cause freckles!¡± Bai Lu had tried many freckle-removing skincare products over the years, big brands and small brands, including high-end personalized ones, but none of them made a difference! They say money is omnipotent. But wealth couldn¡¯t buy a truly effective skincare product. Bai Lu was very distressed. Lu Lingli frowned, ¡°Every time I go out, I apply sunscreen, but I still get freckles. This shows that the effects of these imported sunscreens are just mediocre! I wonder when we¡¯ll have our own effective freckle-removing product, something to give our domestic products a boost.¡± At that, Bai Lu shook her head, ¡°If even imported skincare products don¡¯t work, let alone the domestic ones!¡± Lu Lingli sighed lightly, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Even high-end imported skincare brands have their own research teams, but the results are mediocre. She also wanted to support domestic products, but if even the research teams couldn¡¯t resolve it, what could domestic skincare products do? ¡ª Elsewhere. Since downloading Ghost Path, Hailun had become completely engrossed in it, to the point of skipping dinner. The more you play, the more addicted you become. Just like the reviews said, only those who have played it know its charm! After putting down her phone, Hailun immediately contacted Jiang Shaoyun, her voice filled with excitement, ¡°President Jiang, I¡¯ve downloaded and tried Ghost Path, and it¡¯s definitely a dark horse!¡± ¡°My suggestion is to contact W right away and buy all the copyrights of Ghost Path!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already left a message for W, and he¡¯s willing to sell the rights of the game to us for just 1 million US dollars!¡± Ghost Path was only in a competition on the LY official website. All the copyrights belong to W. We must act first to gain the upper hand. Jiang Shaoyun slightly frowned, ¡°Hailun, have you lost your ability to discern truth from falsehood?¡± Hailun continued, ¡°President Jiang, W really didn¡¯t manipulate the numbers! I can guarantee it with my personal integrity!¡± Jiang Shaoyun chuckled lightly, ¡°Hailun, whether he¡¯s engaged in deception or not, neither you nor I can judge. Let the system monitor it, since only two days out of the three have passed so far.¡± According to his many years of experience in the gaming industry, there was definitely something off about W. No one is perfect. Neither is making games. Too much perfection lacks realism. Hailun is still too young and lacks experience! In just one more day, Hailun will realize how foolish she¡¯s been. Upon hearing this, Hailun was about to say something when Jiang Shaoyun interrupted her directly, ¡°Contact me in a day. I have other important matters to attend to right now.¡± He couldn¡¯t afford to waste his time on such trivial matters! Watching the call end, Hailun¡¯s frown deepened. Jiang Shaoyun is too confident! Little does he know that overconfidence is arrogance. ¡ª Another day passed in the blink of an eye. Not only did the LY System not detect any fraudulent data for Ghost Path, but it also made it to the LY System¡¯s automatic recommendation page. The LY System¡¯s recommendation list automatically filters out games with poor data and deliberate number inflation, showcasing the best games to the global gaming community. The popularity of Ghost Path shot up from the LY gaming official site to various download platforms. At the same time, all major forums and chat bars discussed this small game that entered the competition. [Ah! I¡¯ve never played such a brain-burning horror survival game!] [So addictive!] [So fun!] [Has anyone passed the first level?] [You really can¡¯t play this game without using your brain!] [Compared to Ghost Path, Fei Xian is just trash among trash.] [I¡¯ve recommended this game to everyone I know.] [Only those who¡¯ve played know how much fun this game is.] [W is awesome!] [...] Soon, various trending topics took over all the short video platforms. #GhostPathWalkthrough# #DidYouPassTheFirstLevelToday?# Hailun called Jiang Shaoyun again. Upon receiving Hailun¡¯s call, Jiang Shaoyun said with a smile, ¡°Has Ghost Path been removed?¡± What¡¯s fake cannot become real. What¡¯s real cannot become fake. What humans can¡¯t judge, the LY System can detect. Then came Hailun¡¯s voice over the phone, ¡°President Jiang, Ghost Path is now on the international game recommendation list, and its download numbers on various platforms have already surpassed seven digits.¡± ¡°What?¡± Jiang Shaoyun¡¯s eyes widened. Made it to the international game recommendation list? This! This is impossible! Hailun¡¯s voice continued, ¡°All the major short video platforms are currently full of hot searches about Ghost Path.¡± Chapter 30 - 30 027 Comprehensive Crushing_1 ?Chapter 30: 027: Comprehensive Crushing_1 Chapter 30: 027: Comprehensive Crushing_1 Jiang Shaoyun narrowed his eyes, trying to calm himself, ¡°Hailun, are you sure what you saw was Ghost Path?¡± In Jiang Shaoyun¡¯s view, it was Fei Xian that was the year¡¯s biggest dark horse. So. The person at the top of the game recommendation list must be Fei Xian. The one going viral was also Fei Xian. ¡°Mr. Jiang, I am certain it was Ghost Path! You can turn on the computer and see for yourself.¡± Jiang Shaoyun turned on the computer. As it booted up. A news alert popped up at the bottom of the screen. [LY Game Creation Contest Witnesses a Super Dark Horse!] Jiang Shaoyun manipulated the mouse to click on the news. As soon as he entered the news page, Jiang Shaoyun saw the words ¡®Ghost Path.¡¯ Clearly, Fei Xian had more strength than Ghost Path. But now. The game making waves was not Fei Xian, but Ghost Path! Jiang Shaoyun frowned slightly, clicked into the official competition website, and found that the download count for Ghost Path had jumped to an astonishing three million. Fei Xian was listed second. With a download count of one hundred thousand. All, bule eight thousand. Originally, the data for Fei Xian could dwarf all other works. But now... It was fully crushed by W! This was highly illogical. To personally unravel the mystery, Jiang Shaoyun downloaded Ghost Path. After downloading, he registered an account and started the challenge mode. The first level of the game was quite brain-burning. The developer had laid many foreshadowing elements, along with some horror features and unique NPC settings, drawing players quickly into addiction. Jiang Shaoyun¡¯s expression went from initial skepticism to deep concentration. Eventually, even his gaze changed. With his keen gaming instincts, it took Jiang Shaoyun an hour to finally pass the first level. Concluding the first level. Only then did Jiang Shaoyun feel the charm of Ghost Path. No wonder! No wonder Hailun was so excited before. He immediately made a call to Hailun, ¡°Send me W¡¯s contact information.¡± He wanted to contact W right away. ¡°Mr. Jiang, W didn¡¯t leave any contact information, we can only message him through the company account. However, he hasn¡¯t replied to me for over 24 hours now.¡± Jiang Shaoyun narrowed his eyes, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say before that W was willing to sell the game to us?¡± How come he¡¯s now unreachable? Hailun continued, ¡°According to my deduction, W may not be an industry insider. His definition of games seems to come from someone outside the industry who doesn¡¯t understand it well.¡± The gaming world also has its own set of rules and regulations, and nearly every game creator follows this process to produce games. But not W. He completely broke away from this circle, all the game rules were his own creation, carving out a unique style for himself that is impossible to copy or imitate. Continuing, Hailun paused, ¡°I suspect that Ghost Path might just be a side project the big shot tried his hand at. So, he really doesn¡¯t care how much profit it brings in.¡± Since he doesn¡¯t care about profits, he won¡¯t be constantly checking the backend for messages, which is why he¡¯s unreachable. Perhaps. In real life, W might not even know that his game has already spread like wildfire across the global gaming scene. Upon hearing this, Jiang Shaoyun pinched his temple, regretting his hasty rejection of Hailun¡¯s earlier suggestion. This matter could be a minor issue or a serious one. He must report it to Lu Ye immediately. After hanging up the phone, Jiang Shaoyun immediately drove to Lu Ye¡¯s repair shop. ¡°Third Brother.¡± Lu Ye was fixing a bike. A very old Big Bar Phoenix Brand bicycle. He squatted on the ground, absorbed in his task, his cool white face emotionless, ¡°Speak.¡± Jiang Shaoyun did not dare to conceal anything, candidly recounting the entire incident to him. ¡°Third Brother, this was my dereliction of duty!¡± ¡°When did this happen?¡± Lu Ye took off his gloves, just looking at Jiang Shaoyun. His voice was very calm. But Jiang Shaoyun couldn¡¯t even raise his head, let alone meet Lu Ye¡¯s gaze. Lu Ye fished a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it, ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Three... three days ago.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re only telling me now?¡± Lu Ye took a drag of his cigarette, ¡°Hmm?¡± Lu Ye¡¯s voice was inherently magnetic, and the deliberate slight rise in his tone now made it even deeper. Cold sweat broke out on Jiang Shaoyun¡¯s forehead, and he could barely stand steady. A moment later. Lu Ye¡¯s thin lips parted slightly, ¡°There¡¯s a project on the F Continent that¡¯s short-staffed, you¡¯ll go there tomorrow.¡± The F Continent is the most backward place in the world. Not only are living conditions tough and communication underdeveloped, but Lu Ye¡¯s project site didn¡¯t even have water or electricity. Normally, Jiang Shaoyun would be reluctant to go to such a place, but now! He dared not say no. ¡°I¡¯ll go back and prepare right away.¡± Watching Jiang Shaoyun¡¯s retreating figure, Lu Ye¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. He threw away the cigarette butt and dialed a number. He spoke in pure and fluent English as soon as the call connected. On the other side. Meanwhile, Hailun, who was in a foreign country, received a promotion notification, ascending directly from creative director to deputy general manager of the group. At the same time, he was also tasked with the urgent mission of getting in touch with W. A big shot wanted to meet W. ¡ª Lin Family. The renovation of the store was completed in three days instead of the standard seven, solely because the contractor was Zhao Cuinong¡¯s brother, Zhao Jinbao. After the store was renovated, Zhao Cuinong discussed the opening date with Lin Wu. Today was the fifth day Zhao Cuinong used Beauty Chant, not only were the pimples on her face gone, but the once dull skin tone was slowly turning fair. She was now full of energy! Lin Wu propped her cheeks with her hands, ¡°An auspicious day that¡¯s free of taboos brings boundless prosperity. Aunt, how about tomorrow?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go buy a string of firecrackers now, and we will open at eight o¡¯clock sharp tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Soon after, Zhao Cuinong arrived at Lin Guimei¡¯s supermarket. ¡°Sister, I need a string of big firecrackers and two fireworks.¡± Lin Guimei¡¯s supermarket wasn¡¯t big, about sixty square meters or so, and at this moment she was sitting in front of the cash register watching short videos. Hearing Zhao Cuinong¡¯s voice, she looked up in confusion, ¡°It¡¯s not the New Year or a festival, what do you need these for?¡± Zhao Cuinong¡¯s face was full of smiles, ¡°The skincare store I¡¯m partnering with my sister on opens tomorrow.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Guimei¡¯s face changed. Setting off firecrackers? As if scared others wouldn¡¯t know they were running a losing business? Just wait. The happier Zhao Cuinong was smiling now, the more miserable she would cry later. Lin Guimei suppressed her thoughts, ¡°Sister, we¡¯re a supermarket, we don¡¯t sell those. The fireworks store is right across the street.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go there.¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded. Watching Zhao Cuinong¡¯s back, Lin Guimei purposefully raised her voice, ¡°Cui Nong, I wish you great success on your opening day tomorrow, booming business, and a fortune every day!¡± ¡ª The next morning. With a burst of crackling firecracker sounds and deafening fireworks, the skincare store opened smoothly. However, two hours went by. There were still no customers in the store, not even inquiries. This was somewhat unexpected for Zhao Cuinong and Lin Guixiang. They had thought with Beauty Chant¡¯s great effects, business would definitely be booming on the first day, but it turned out to be surprisingly quiet. Zhao Cuinong and Lin Guixiang anxiously paced back and forth in the store. Lin Wu, unfazed, picked up a megaphone and a hammer, and stepped outside, ¡°Come on, come and see! A secret family recipe for removing spots and acne. If it doesn¡¯t work, you can hammer the owner to death!¡± If it doesn¡¯t work, hammer the owner to death? Perhaps the statement was too shocking. Many passersby stopped in their tracks and looked at Lin Wu, discussing amongst themselves. As females are naturally fond of beauty, many would have some skin problems, with five out of ten people suffering from spots or acne. Skincare products had long become a national necessity. ¡°Young lady, if your skincare product doesn¡¯t work, can we really hammer the owner to death?¡± Seeing the growing crowd, Zhao Cuinong immediately pulled Lin Guixiang forward, her face serious, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true! My sister-in-law and I are the owners, if it doesn¡¯t work, the hammer is right here, and you can hammer whomever you like.¡± ¡°Can it remove the pimples on my face?¡± The speaker was a girl about twenty years old, with delicate features, but her forehead and cheeks were covered with many raised pimples. Even thick foundation couldn¡¯t hide them. Due to the unsightly pimples on her face, she didn¡¯t even dare to go out without makeup. The frequent makeup application, which didn¡¯t let her skin breathe, led to even more pimples, and she felt increasingly insecure. Chapter 31 - 31 028 Stepping Stone_1 ?Chapter 31: 028: Stepping Stone?_1 Chapter 31: 028: Stepping Stone?_1 The young girl standing in front of Lin Wu was called Fang Hui. At twenty-six this year, she had been battling with acne since three years ago. Over these years, she had tried numerous acne treatment products, but some not only failed to help, but her acne seemed to worsen. She had visited many hospitals, big and small. Make-up used to be able to cover her acne, but now, even with heavy make-up, she couldn¡¯t completely hide it. Not long ago, Fang Hui got herself a boyfriend, who really liked her, but she was afraid of him seeing her bare-faced. If it weren¡¯t for being at her wits¡¯ end, Fang Hui certainly wouldn¡¯t trust a street advertisement. Fang Hui looked up at the signboard above the door. Beauty Chant. A skincare brand she had never heard of before, could it really effectively treat acne? Lin Wu looked at Fang Hui with a smile, her tone light and gentle, ¡°Our store has a skincare product called Lotus Dew, which primarily uses natural herbs as ingredients and is very effective for treating acne. I¡¯ll give you a sample first. You can use it for about three days, and if it works well, you can come back and buy it.¡± As she spoke, Lin Wu handed Fang Hui a sample box, then instructed, ¡°Remember to use it every morning and evening. If you¡¯re going to wear make-up before going out, apply it ten minutes in advance, wait for it to form a protective layer on your face, and then put on foundation and other make-up products.¡± Fang Hui was taken aback, ¡°Can I still wear make-up after applying this?¡± The acne treatment products she had used before didn¡¯t allow her to apply anything else afterwards. ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Wu said with a slight nod. ¡°Then it won¡¯t affect the results?¡± Fang Hui asked again. ¡°Applying make-up ten minutes after Lotus Dew won¡¯t affect the results.¡± Fang Hui took the sample, ¡°Then I¡¯ll try it when I get back home.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± After Fang Hui left, Lin Wu picked up the megaphone and continued to stand at the door, calling out to passersby. Her nearly 173-centimeter stature, fair complexion, and beautiful appearance, coupled with shallow dimples when she smiled, made her stand there like the best signboard. Even without doing or saying anything, she attracted attention. Together with an attention-grabbing advertisement and the backing of a supposed ancestral secret recipe, the number of customers entering the store kept increasing. ¡ª Meanwhile. Zhang Family. Bang! Zhang Xianxian directly picked up an antique vase and slammed it hard on the ground. A vase worth a million was now just a pile of fragments. ¡°System, didn¡¯t you say your game was unparalleled?¡± Zhang Xianxian had planned to use the alias ZXX to attract the attention of Immortal Phoenix¡¯s founder, but now someone unknown had outdone her. For Zhang Xianxian, this was a humiliation beyond measure. ¡°Host, please calm down,¡± the System¡¯s voice resonated in Zhang Xianxian¡¯s mind, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect humans on Earth to evolve this fast.¡± ¡°How do you expect me to remain calm?¡± We agreed that I was to be the first. But now, she was suppressed by W to death. ¡°I suspect this W is definitely a gaming industry bigwig in disguise, and moreover, someone over thirty or forty years old with their own understanding of games.¡± ¡°Host, you are only seventeen years old, but being able to achieve second place in the LY game development competition at such a tender age is already unparalleled! Did W achieve what you have when they were seventeen or eighteen? So, there¡¯s no need for you to be so angry.¡± ¡°Currently, your popularity in the gaming world is second only to W, and many people don¡¯t believe you¡¯re the seventeen-year-old Zhang Xianxian. Once your identity is revealed, given W¡¯s age, they can only become a stepping stone for you.¡± Hearing this, Zhang Xianxian narrowed her eyes. Yes. She was only seventeen. For ordinary people at seventeen or eighteen, they are just mundane. Who could be as outstanding as her? Dong dong dong¨C Knocking sounds permeated the air. Zhang Xianxian composed her expression and went to open the door. Creak. The door opened, revealing Mrs. Zhang. Mrs. Zhang looked at Zhang Xianxian, ¡°Xianxian, are you okay? I just heard a loud noise downstairs.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I just accidentally broke a vase, someone will clean it up,¡± Zhang Xianxian replied. Mrs. Zhang nodded, ¡°As long as you¡¯re okay. By the way, Madam Lu is here, she¡¯s downstairs.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go down now.¡± Mrs. Zhang glanced downstairs and whispered, ¡°If Madam Lu asks you if you have a boyfriend or something, just tell her you¡¯re focused on your studies right now and not considering other things.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhang Xianxian sensed something was off, ¡°What does Bai Lu mean by that?¡± Mrs. Zhang slightly furrowed her brows, ¡°I think she¡¯s hinting at wanting you to meet Lu Ye for a matchmaking...¡± Her and Lu Ye? Zhang Xianxian scoffed disdainfully, the corners of her eyes brimming with contempt, ¡°These people really have no self-awareness!¡± A few days ago, she heard that Grandma Lu wanted to set up Ou Tinglan with Lu Ye. Even Ou Tinglan looks down on that worthless mud, why would Bai Lu think she would be interested? Isn¡¯t she aware that she¡¯s the number one talented woman in Qing City? Disgusting, isn¡¯t it? Zhang Xianxian continued, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not going downstairs, so as not to let Bai Lu start daydreaming.¡± Mrs. Zhang nodded, ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll just say you are busy with your studies.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡ª A day passed, and Lin Guixiang and Zhao Cuinong were exhausted from work, yet the sales barely reached five hundred yuan. Zhao Cuinong frowned slightly, ¡°We¡¯ve been busy all day and only sold one jar of Lotus Dew and two jars of Immortal Phoenix, but after deducting the cost of production and labor, we haven¡¯t even earned enough to cover one day¡¯s rent!¡± Lin Guixiang was stunned, ¡°But didn¡¯t we have a lot of customers today?¡± Why are the profits so low? Zhao Cuinong said, ¡°There was a lot of foot traffic, but hardly anybody bought anything. We did give out quite a few samples, though.¡± Which meant that not only did they not make any money today, but they were also operating at a loss. Looking at Lin Wu, far from being discouraged, she was smiling and asked, ¡°Auntie, how many samples did we give out in total today?¡± Zhao Cuinong replied, ¡°Probably a few thousand.¡± Although each sample wasn¡¯t much, the total of a few thousand added up to a considerable amount, the samples given out today used up all of Lin Guixiang¡¯s production for the day. Lin Wu continued, ¡°Auntie, what do you think of the effect of our skincare products?¡± ¡°Of course, they¡¯re great!¡± Zhao Cuinong replied. Ever since she started using Beauty Chant, her skin condition had been getting better. And not just Zhao Cuinong. Even the freckles on Lin Guixiang¡¯s face had faded significantly, and the sallow tone was slowly receding. Lin Wu spoke in a calm tone, ¡°Although not every customer who receives a sample will use it, those who do will definitely become customers of Beauty Chant. Today we gave out several thousand samples, and even if only a hundred or two hundred people give it a try, we won¡¯t have to worry about business in the future. Reputation builds up slowly.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhao Cuinong suddenly realized, ¡°Xiao Wu is right!¡± ¡ª After Fang Hui got home, she shared the events of the day with her roommate Xiao Yu. Hearing this, Xiao Yu exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Really? A skincare product that can treat acne?¡± Fang Hui nodded and took out a sample from her bag, ¡°Look, it¡¯s this.¡± Xiao Yu took the sample, her brow furrowed, ¡°Beauty Chant? I¡¯ve never even heard of this brand! It¡¯s definitely not anything good! Fang Hui, with so many pimples on your face, if you keep using these random things, what if it ruins your skin? You¡¯d better throw it away!¡± Fang Hui nodded, feeling that Xiao Yu made sense, and casually threw the sample into the trash bin. Ding~ Just then. Fang Hui¡¯s phone received a WeChat message. It was from her boyfriend. [Baby, have you thought about that thing we talked about last time? I¡¯m really looking forward to our future home together.] A future home? Seeing this phrase, Fang Hui raised a hand to her face, her expression complex. Her boyfriend was a 1.82-meter-tall athlete from Qing City. With her face full of pimples, she felt like she was wearing a mask. How could she have the courage to move in with her boyfriend? With that in mind, Fang Hui sighed, her gaze falling on the sample in the trash bin. Maybe she should give it a try? Trying might give her a sliver of hope, whereas not trying would leave her with no hope at all. After all, her current situation wasn¡¯t much better than having a ruined face. Having come to this realization, Fang Hui felt a lot more at peace and bent down to pick up the sample from the trash bin. Seeing this, Xiao Yu frowned, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Fang Hui looked up at Xiao Yu, ¡°I want to try it, what if it really can treat acne?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of ruining your face?¡± Fang Hui bit her lip, ¡°So be it!¡± Having said that, she added, ¡°I¡¯m going to go to my room to remove my makeup.¡± Watching Fang Hui¡¯s retreating back, Xiao Yu shook her head, ¡°That¡¯s really reckless.¡± Another roommate, Zhou Die, walked in from outside and curiously looked at Xiao Yu, ¡°What are you mumbling about?¡± Xiao Yu lowered her voice, ¡°I¡¯m talking about Fang Hui! She got some no-name acne skincare product from somewhere. I warned her not to use these uncertified products, but she didn¡¯t appreciate the advice.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Die turned towards the direction of Fang Hui¡¯s bedroom and said with a smile, ¡°I heard she recently got a local boyfriend. She must be dreaming of getting rid of the acne on her face; otherwise, if he sees her without makeup one day, wouldn¡¯t it scare him to death?¡± Chapter 32 - 32 029 Scholar Essence_1 ?Chapter 32: 029: Scholar Essence_1 Chapter 32: 029: Scholar Essence_1 A local boyfriend? Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Zhou Die, is Fang Hui¡¯s boyfriend a local guy?¡± ¡°Yeah, I heard they¡¯ve been dating for over half a year.¡± Xiao Yu frowned slightly, ¡°What taste does her boyfriend have? How could he be attracted to her!¡± Girls drifting in Qing City all want to find a local guy to settle down with. Xiao Yu was no exception. She just couldn¡¯t figure out what Fang Hui had that she didn¡¯t. Zhou Die looked towards Fang Hui¡¯s bedroom, ¡°Actually, Fang Hui looks quite pretty with makeup, and if she didn¡¯t have acne, she would also be a great beauty!¡± ¡°But in this world, there are no ¡®ifs¡¯,¡± Xiao Yu continued, ¡°I have a friend who works in cosmetic medicine, and she said Fang Hui¡¯s acne is very hard to get rid of completely. Fang Hui is still using those messy skincare products, just wait, her face will be ruined sooner or later!¡± ¡°I think her boyfriend is just playing with her.¡± Zhou Die nodded in agreement, ¡°I think what you said makes a lot of sense.¡± Considering Fang Hui¡¯s current state, her boyfriend will definitely dump her, it¡¯s just a matter of time. Although their boyfriends weren¡¯t locals from Qing City, at least they could go bare-faced in front of their boyfriends, unlike Fang Hui! She lives like a rat in the sewers, afraid to come out into the light. Inside the room. After removing her makeup, Fang Hui sat in front of the makeup mirror, carefully tearing open the Lotus Dew packaging and applying the clear ointment to her face. ¡ª Lin Family. Once Lin Guimei heard that the skincare store opened today, she was the first to come and show her concern for her sister Lin Guixiang. It¡¯s not so much concern, as it is coming to watch the commotion. Lin Guimei looked at Lin Guixiang, ¡°Big sister, how¡¯s business today? How much did you make?¡± Lin Guixiang, always honest, replied, ¡°We had a decent turnout today, I think the revenue is around 400 yuan.¡± A decent turnout? Revenue of 400 yuan? It¡¯s probably even less than 400 yuan. But Lin Guixiang might be afraid of being mocked, so she told a white lie. After all, who would buy products with no brand? Suppressing the mockery in her eyes, Lin Guimei said, ¡°Big sister, not to discourage you! I¡¯ve said it before, you¡¯re not cut out for the skincare business! The three of you busied yourselves all day just to make four hundred yuan, which isn¡¯t even enough to cover rent and utilities! I think you better cut your losses quickly, think of a way to transfer the shop, and find a decent job to live a stable life.¡± Lin Guixiang was always the type to think the grass was greener on the other side. She thought she could do anything. In fact. She was good at nothing. And she had no self-awareness about it. Lin Guixiang said, ¡°Gui Mei, even though we didn¡¯t make much today, Xiao Wu said that this is just the beginning, and our business will get better and better.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Guimei slightly furrowed her brow. Lin Wu was just an eighteen-year-old girl. What did she know? In Lin Guimei¡¯s view, Lin Wu couldn¡¯t even compare to her daughter¡¯s pinkie. Lin Guixiang was simply someone who wouldn¡¯t turn back until she hit the wall! People like Lin Guixiang should suffer more; otherwise, she will never realize her true worth! Thinking thus, Lin Guimei said no more and stood up, ¡°Big sister, I¡¯ll be going back now.¡± Watching her sister¡¯s retreating figure, Lin Guixiang also stood up, ¡°Gui Mei, wait a moment.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Lin Guimei turned around. Lin Guixiang continued, ¡°Did you finish the skincare products I gave you last time? If you have, I can get you some more.¡± ¡°No need, big sister, I still have some at home,¡± Lin Guimei declined. She wouldn¡¯t dare to use such things even if somebody paid her! As soon as Lin Guimei left, Zhao Cuinong came into the living room, ¡°Big sister, where is Xiao Wu?¡± ¡°She¡¯s in her room reading,¡± Lin Guixiang replied. Zhao Cuinong nodded and went to the second bedroom, ¡°Is Xiao Wu there?¡± ¡°Yes, auntie, you can come in directly, the door is not closed,¡± replied a voice from inside. Hearing this, Zhao Cuinong pushed the door open. Click¨C Lin Wu was seen sitting at her desk, fiddling with something in her hands attentively. ¡°Xiao Wu, what are you doing?¡± Zhao Cuinong asked curiously. Lin Wu replied in a light tone, ¡°Fixing the computer.¡± Though she had modified her phone, it still wasn¡¯t as convenient to use as a computer, and the computers on the market didn¡¯t meet Lin Wu¡¯s standards. So she had to build one herself. Fixing a computer? Zhao Cuinong looked at the pile of unrecognizable parts on the table, her face full of question marks. Are you sure this can be assembled into a computer? But Zhao Cuinong didn¡¯t ask further, handing Lin Wu the paper bag she held, ¡°Xiao Wu, this is a dress your uncle got for you while he was on a business trip to Guang City, see if you like it.¡± Lin Wu accepted the bag. It was a form-fitting white dress from a well-known brand in Qing City. ¡°Thank you, uncle and auntie, I really like it.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all family, no need for thanks! As long as you like it, Xiao Wu,¡± Zhao Cuinong said, ¡°I won¡¯t disturb you with your computer fixing.¡± ¡ª The following morning. The first thing Fang Hui did after getting up was to look in the mirror. At that moment when she saw the mirror, Fang Hui thought she was hallucinating. But then she saw. The acne, which had been red and swollen just last night, had disappeared by more than half overnight. She could hardly believe it was true! Fang Hui pinched her own thigh hard. Hisss! It hurt! This wasn¡¯t a dream! It was real. For a moment, Fang Hui was extremely excited. After so many years of suffering from acne, she finally saw hope. Luckily, she had picked up the sample from the trash can again last night! Otherwise, she would have regretted it for the rest of her life. After finishing her skincare routine and applying makeup, Fang Hui immediately hurried to South Street, planning to buy several sets of skincare products to stock up. Half-past eight in the morning. As soon as Zhao Cuinong and Lin Guixiang opened their store, Fang Hui arrived. ¡°Boss! This Lotus Dew of yours is simply amazing! I want to buy several more jars to stock up,¡± she said. Lin Guixiang said with a smile, ¡°Young lady, the Lotus Dew works even better when used with the hydrating set.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Fang Hui asked. Zhao Cuinong immediately nodded, ¡°Of course it¡¯s true!¡± Fang Hui continued, ¡°Then I want two sets!¡± What if this effective product became unavailable in the future? Hearing this, Zhao Cuinong immediately brought over two sets of the hydrating acne treatment kit, ¡°Young lady, one set is 666, two sets would be 1332, but since you are our first customer today, we¡¯ll round it down to 1300 for you.¡± ¡°Thank you, boss.¡± Fang Hui had thought that since the Lotus Dew was so effective at treating acne, plus the hydrating products, it certainly wouldn¡¯t be cheap! But two sets were only 1300 yuan. She knew that just any acne treatment set could cost over a thousand yuan. And they weren¡¯t even that effective. Fang Hui efficiently paid and left. Watching Fang Hui¡¯s retreating figure, Zhao Cuinong turned to Lin Guixiang with a smile, ¡°Big sister, it seems that Xiao Wu was right, ¡®A good wine needs no bush!''¡± Lin Guixiang, too, had a beaming smile, ¡°Cuinong, you watch the store downstairs, I¡¯ll go upstairs to make skincare products.¡± The storefront was two stories tall. Lin Wu had transformed the entire second floor into a sterile room. It was fitted with many automated machines. ¡°Alright, big sister.¡± After Fang Hui left, another customer came in right after. Like Fang Hui, she was also returning to purchase after using a sample, buying three sets of the hydrating acne treatment kit totaling nearly two thousand yuan. As the morning passed, although not many customers visited the store, almost everyone made a purchase, with the least being one set. Noon. Lin Wu walked out of her apartment building in the white dress that Lin Bingqiang had bought for her. She planned to buy some raw materials at the flower and bird market and also wanted to check on South Street to see how the business was going that day. The gentle breeze was blowing, causing her white dress hem to flutter incessantly. Her skin was already extremely fair, and now, set off by the white dress, she seemed to glow even more, drawing comments from people cooling off in the courtyard. ¡°Gui Mei¡¯s niece is absolutely beautiful!¡± ¡°Yes! Even better looking than their Shan Shan.¡± ¡°...¡± Sun Shanshan hadn¡¯t even stepped into the courtyard when she heard such comments. She frowned slightly. Sun Shanshan had been a good student since she was a child, the ¡°good child¡± in the mouths of all the parents in the courtyard, and in the past, it was always her they talked about. But now, the focus had shifted to that countryside girl who was inferior to her in every way. How could Sun Shanshan bear this? Narrowing her eyes, she continued to walk in, and the next second, she ran into Lin Wu coming her way. Seeing Lin Wu, Sun Shanshan was taken aback. How was this bumpkin wearing a white dress exactly like the one she had on? There was no need to wonder. Lin Wu was imitating her. This shameless copycat! Did she really think that by wearing the same dress as she was, she could become a city person like her? Wishful thinking. A village girl will always remain a village girl! Sun Shanshan looked at Lin Wu with a smile, ¡°Cousin, the entrance exams for Qingzhong School are next month. How are your preparations?¡± ¡°Almost there,¡± Lin Wu responded indifferently. Sun Shanshan continued, ¡°Cousin, I wish you great success in your exam. I¡¯ll wait for you at Qingzhong School.¡± As she spoke the last sentence, Sun Shanshan lifted her chin, her eyes full of a sense of superiority. ¡°Thank you,¡± Lin Wu simply looked at her, ¡°See you at Qingzhong School.¡± Sun Shanshan was speechless. See you at Qingzhong School? Did Lin Wu really think she was someone special? As if Qingzhong School was just some country high school? Chapter 33 - 33 030 Great Braggart_1 ?Chapter 33: 030: Great Braggart_1 Chapter 33: 030: Great Braggart_1 In Sun Shanshan¡¯s view, Lin Wu was simply deluding herself. People like her should spend their whole lives in the countryside. And she thinks about getting into Qingzhong School? Maybe in her next life. Despite having disparaged Lin Wu in her mind thousands of times, Sun Shanshan still maintained a gentle smile on her face, ¡°Cousin, I have to go back, I still have ballet class later.¡± Not only could she play the piano, but she also had been learning ballet for more than ten years. Lin Wu, this bumpkin, probably doesn¡¯t even know what ballet is, right? Sun Shanshan snorted coldly in her heart and turned to walk inside. Lin Wu also pushed her cart to leave. Sun Shanshan had just reached the yard when the neighbors, taking the cool air, greeted her, ¡°Shan Shan is back.¡± Hearing this, Sun Shanshan politely said, ¡°Grandma Liu, Aunt Wang, Aunt Xiao Zhou, Aunt Feng, good afternoon.¡± Grandma Liu looked up at Sun Shanshan and smiled, ¡°Good afternoon, Shan Shan. I never noticed before, but you and Xiao Wu, you cousins, don¡¯t look alike at all. It seems her skin is a bit whiter than yours.¡± Logically speaking, there should be some resemblance between cousins. But these two looked completely different. Lin Wu possessed a kind of extreme beauty, and compared to her, Sun Shanshan was quite inferior. Sun Shanshan¡¯s brows slightly furrowed. She wasn¡¯t as fair as that village girl? Can this damn old woman even speak properly! Although she was annoyed, Sun Shanshan still smiled and said, ¡°Not only is my cousin beautiful, but she also does well academically, and she was always the top of her class in the village. She¡¯s about to take Qingzhong¡¯s transfer exam, and soon she¡¯ll be able to study there just like me.¡± Sun Shanshan did it on purpose. She wanted everyone to know that Lin Wu was trying to get into Qingzhong. The higher you stand, the harder you fall. As expected, upon hearing this, Feng Qiaoqiao said, ¡°The exam papers of Qingzhong are so difficult, even my son Feng Yang had to retake a year before he got in. The top student from the countryside might not find it so easy to pass the exam, right?¡± Not going to school if she can¡¯t get into Qingzhong? If even a village girl could get in, then her son wouldn¡¯t have needed to retake the year. The village girl is truly full of herself. Ignorance is bliss. Xiao Zhou looked towards Feng Qiaoqiao and continued, ¡°Aunt Feng, your son Feng Yang managed to get into Qingzhong after only repeating a year, which is already quite impressive! My colleague¡¯s niece also transferred from the countryside, and she was always the top of her class there too. She tried the transfer exam for Qingzhong twice already, and both times she ranked outside the top 100. She¡¯s not planning to try for Qingzhong anymore this year.¡± Every year, each grade at Qingzhong has five to six hundred candidates, but they only admit five or six students per grade, which just shows you how tough it is. Hearing this, Sun Shanshan said with a smile, ¡°My cousin is different, I believe she can definitely get into Qingzhong.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about whether you believe she can get in, Qingzhong doesn¡¯t work like that,¡± Feng Qiaoqiao looked at Sun Shanshan, ¡°Shan Shan, don¡¯t tell your mom what I¡¯m about to say.¡± ¡°Sure, Aunt Feng, I promise I won¡¯t tell my mom.¡± Feng Qiaoqiao continued, ¡°Looking at your cousin, she does not seem like the studious type! Which girl who is serious about studying is out and about all day long? Your brother Feng Yang even slept with books in his arms, and that¡¯s how he made it into Qingzhong.¡± ¡°If she can get into Qingzhong, then every kid in our courtyard could.¡± Which one of the kids in this courtyard isn¡¯t stronger than Lin Wu, the village girl? Hearing this, the others all nodded, ¡°Aunt Feng is right, to get into Qingzhong, one needs to work harder and read more.¡± Seeing everyone¡¯s reaction, Sun Shanshan knew the moment was ripe. A touch is enough. To go on would be overdoing it. Sun Shanshan added, ¡°Whether she can get in is not up to us, we¡¯ll know the results after the transfer exam is over. Aunt Liu, Aunt Wang, Aunt Xiao Zhou, Aunt Feng, I¡¯ll be going back now.¡± ¡°Alright, go back.¡± The moment Sun Shanshan¡¯s figure disappeared outside the door, the people started discussing among themselves. ¡°I¡¯ve always known Gui Mei, this niece of mine, is no simple character!¡± ¡°Look at her showing off, she wouldn¡¯t happen to want to, like her aunt, find a local guy from Qing City, would she?¡± ¡°I think so too!¡± ¡°Qiaoqiao, among all the families in our yard, only your son Feng Yang is around the same age as her. You have to be careful,¡± Upon hearing this, Feng Qiaoqiao snorted coldly. Her son¡¯s future was to take the postgraduate entrance exams, earn a Ph.D., and marry a fair-skinned, rich, and beautiful girl. Who was Lin Wu to compare? Even if she offered money, her son wouldn¡¯t consider it! ¡°Don¡¯t worry, our Feng Yang¡¯s taste isn¡¯t that poor.¡± As a mother, no one knew her son better than Feng Qiaoqiao. ¡ª Three minutes later, Sun Shanshan returned home. The first thing she did after coming home was to take off the dress she was wearing, change clothes, and then grab a pair of scissors. Snip snip¨C In just a few seconds, the white dress turned into a pile of scraps. Lin Guimei had just arrived home when she saw this scene and exclaimed in shock, widening her eyes, ¡°Shan Shan, why did you cut your dress into pieces like this?¡± Sun Shanshan looked at Lin Guimei, ¡°Because that bumpkin bought the same one as mine!¡± Just a bumpkin. What right did she have to wear the same style as her? It would only lower her own class. Lin Guimei, of course, knew who her daughter was referring to when she said bumpkin. She hurriedly picked up the dress from the ground, ¡°But you shouldn¡¯t have cut it. If you¡¯re not going to wear it, we could have given it to someone else.¡± Sun Shanshan frowned, ¡°Why should I give my dress to someone else?¡± The things she didn¡¯t want couldn¡¯t be considered a boon for others. Lin Guimei said helplessly, ¡°My little princess, do you realize that dress cost over nine hundred each?¡± Nine hundred was the discounted price. It usually cost thirteen hundred. The girl was far too headstrong! She cut it up without a second thought. Sun Shanshan couldn¡¯t be bothered to deal with Lin Guimei and turned to enter the study to practice piano. Watching Sun Shanshan¡¯s back, Lin Guimei furrowed her brow, ¡°This child¡¯s temper is getting bigger and bigger.¡± ¡°If you ask me, we shouldn¡¯t blame our Shan Shan for this.¡± Mother Sun appeared behind Lin Guimei at some point, ¡°What kind of family are we? And what kind of family is that bumpkin from? How dare she wear the same clothes as Shan Shan? A nine hundred yuan dress is just an ordinary purchase for us, but for them, it¡¯s a significant expense. I wonder where they got the money!¡± For someone like Lin Wu, wearing ten yuan worth of street stall clothes would be sufficient. What right did she have to wear a nine hundred yuan dress? Let alone one that was identical to Sun Shanshan¡¯s. As she spoke, Mother Sun paused, looking at Lin Guimei, ¡°Your sister is clueless too. Doesn¡¯t she know her own worth? Illiterate, yet she insists on squeezing into the city, really thinking she could marry a city man? Like mother, like daughter, both completely lacking self-awareness.¡± To put it nicely, Lin Guixiang had been deceived. To put it unpleasantly, Lin Guixiang was nothing more than second-hand goods. Who in Qing City would want second-hand goods? ¡°You should find some time to properly warn your niece, tell her to behave and stop trying to compare herself with Shan Shan! There aren¡¯t so many Cinderella stories in this world!¡± Mother Sun was very exasperated. Both in their late teens, her granddaughter was sweet, sensible, and a top student who knew it all. Lin Wu, on the other hand, was scheming and ignorant, not only inept but also arrogant. She couldn¡¯t even compare to the little finger of Sun Shanshan. Lin Guimei nodded, ¡°Alright, Mom, I understand.¡± Mother-in-law was right; Lin Wu did need to be taught a lesson. If it weren¡¯t for her, Sun Shanshan wouldn¡¯t have gotten so angry today. And wouldn¡¯t have cut the dress up directly. Mother Sun continued, ¡°Oh, I heard your sister-in-law and your eldest sister opened a skincare store together?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true.¡± Mother Sun narrowed her eyes, ¡°Your eldest sister doesn¡¯t have a brain, but does your sister-in-law, the university graduate, lack one as well? Don¡¯t let them come to us to borrow money when they lose even their pants. I advise you to break ties with your family members early, so they don¡¯t drag our family down.¡± Chapter 34 - 34 031 Just so-so the third in the world_1 ?Chapter 34: 031: Just so-so, the third in the world_1 Chapter 34: 031: Just so-so, the third in the world_1 Wise people always know to preserve themselves. Mother Sun was no exception. Lin Bingqiang¡¯s family of three was already dragged down by Lin Guixiang, and their family couldn¡¯t afford to be burdened by Lin Guixiang anymore! Therefore, they must sever ties with Lin Guixiang and her daughter. No more dealings. Thinking of this, Mother Sun continued, ¡°Your brother¡¯s house still has a mortgage, and now Zhao Cuinong has resigned to invest 100,000 yuan in Lin Wu. There are children in the family who need to go to school. Just wait and see, sooner or later their house will default on the payments and the court will auction it off.¡± ¡°Your eldest sister and her daughter are nothing but troublemakers, like jinxes,¡± Mother Sun said. She turned to look at Lin Guimei, ¡°Some relationships, if not ended when they should be, will only lead to chaos. You need to think about this clearly.¡± Lin Guimei also understood the stakes involved. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve made it clear to my eldest sister and them that I will not lend them money or invest in any business. They should return to wherever they came from.¡± People like Lin Guixiang should spend their entire lives in the countryside. Hearing that, Mother Sun nodded, ¡°As long as you understand your limits, that¡¯s good.¡± ¡ª¡ª Half-past twelve at noon. Lin Wu rode her bike to South Street. Zhao Cuinong and Lin Guixiang were having lunch. Seeing Lin Wu, Lin Guixiang immediately stood up, ¡°Xiao Wu, have you eaten yet?¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve already eaten.¡± Lin Guixiang handed Lin Wu an apple with a smile, ¡°Then have an apple.¡± Lin Wu took the apple and bit into it, ¡°Mom, how was the business this morning?¡± Upon hearing this, Zhao Cuinong quickly swallowed the food in her mouth and excitedly said, ¡°Xiao Wu, we made over 6,000 yuan in sales this morning!¡± This morning a total of 11 customers visited the store. Eight of them bought the hydration and acne removal set. Three others took samples. Zhao Cuinong continued, ¡°Xiao Wu, you are so amazing! The customers who paid this morning were all people who had used the samples.¡± It was only the first day and they already had eight returning customers. Surely there would be more and more coming later. It had to be said. Lin Wu really had a knack for business. If it weren¡¯t for Lin Wu¡¯s idea of giving away samples, they probably still wouldn¡¯t have sold a single thing by now. ¡°Just average,¡± Lin Wu raised her eyebrows slightly, ¡°just the third best in the world.¡± Seeing Lin Wu¡¯s proud and charming little demeanor, Zhao Cuinong didn¡¯t find her arrogant at all, but instead thought that Lin Wu was too modest. Which ordinary family¡¯s child would have a mind like Lin Wu¡¯s? Just then, footsteps were heard outside the door. It must be a customer. Zhao Cuinong immediately put on a smile, ¡°Hello, welcome to Beauty Chant.¡± The visitor was a middle-aged woman in her forties or fifties, who smiled and said, ¡°Hello, big sister, I¡¯m Ma Xiaolan from Zhang Ji Restaurant across the street, selling beef rice. I came to see how your business is doing.¡± Zhao Cuinong looked at Ma Xiaolan and continued, ¡°My name is Zhao Cuinong, this is my aunt Lin Guixiang, and this is my niece Lin Wu. This store is run by the two of them, and I am their investor.¡± Ma Xiaolan looked towards Lin Guixiang and Lin Wu. Her gaze settled on Lin Wu, with a flash of admiration in her eyes. Such a beautiful girl. For a moment, Ma Xiaolan added, ¡°South Street here hasn¡¯t developed much yet, the foot traffic isn¡¯t great, and it seemed like there weren¡¯t many people in your store this morning! My family has always been selling beef rice across the street, and I¡¯ve seen several owners change hands here.¡± She thought this skincare store wouldn¡¯t last long before it had to close. Zhao Cuinong nodded, ¡°It¡¯s true that not many people came this morning, but luckily most of them made purchases, so the sales figures are alright.¡± Skincare products have high unit prices and naturally come with considerable profits. Hearing this, skepticism filled Ma Xiaolan¡¯s eyes. The sales figures are alright? Could a skincare brand that nobody had ever heard of really attract buyers? That¡¯s impossible. Without even thinking, one would know Zhao Cuinong was boasting. Ma Xiaolan didn¡¯t expose her, continuing instead, ¡°By the way, I heard that you rented this shop for a full five years, is that right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded. Ma Xiaolan¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that if business is bad, you won¡¯t be able to transfer the lease?¡± Five years¡¯ rent was six hundred thousand. That was not a small sum. When she first heard about this, she thought it was a hoax, but to her surprise, it was true. There really were such fools! Zhao Cuinong said with a smile, ¡°My niece said there¡¯s a possibility of development around here, and when that happens, you definitely won¡¯t be able to rent a two-story shop like ours for ten thousand a month.¡± Development? What could you possibly develop in this shabby place? Continuing, Ma Xiaolan said, ¡°Really? I have relatives working in the government, and they haven¡¯t heard any news about development here.¡± At that moment, Lin Wu looked back and replied, ¡°Auntie, some work needs to be kept confidential and can¡¯t be disclosed to just anyone.¡± ¡°How did you know about it then?¡± Ma Xiaolan turned to Lin Wu. ¡°I figured it out,¡± Lin Wu continued, ¡°South Street here is connected to the east with the tourist area, and to the southwest is Hucheng. It¡¯s only a matter of time before development happens. If you believe me, go back and discuss a long-term lease with your landlord, I guarantee you won¡¯t regret it.¡± Believe? Ma Xiaolan would be surprised if she did believe! How old was Lin Wu anyway? What could she possibly deduce? Even her own relatives didn¡¯t know about it, yet Lin Wu was quick to claim knowledge. The youth today really don¡¯t fear biting their tongues with their big talk. Ma Xiaolan said with a smile, ¡°Thank you, young lady, but I think it¡¯s pretty good to pay every six months.¡± Since that was the case, Lin Wu said no more. Upon hearing this, Ma Xiaolan turned to Zhao Cuinong and Lin Guixiang, ¡°Sisters, I¡¯m not trying to bring you down, but paying five years¡¯ rent in one go, you¡¯re definitely going to regret it!¡± Zhao Cuinong replied with a smile, ¡°Big Sister Ma, if they really do develop this area, then you¡¯ll be the one with regrets!¡± Ma Xiaolan shook her head, ¡°My relative told me there won¡¯t be any development here for ten years, so if you can¡¯t keep your business open and want to transfer the shop, contact me. My sister is also looking for a shop to rent for business.¡± Her sister wanted to do business, but didn¡¯t want to invest too much in rent, so she had her eye on Lin Guixiang¡¯s shop, which had a five-year lease and sold skincare products with no brand recognition. It was bound to close eventually. Once Lin Guixiang¡¯s shop closed down, they could take over the shop at half the market price. Otherwise, Ma Xiaolan wouldn¡¯t have bothered making the trip. Upon hearing this, Zhao Cuinong frowned slightly. Who would want to hear about transferring their newly opened shop? She unabashedly retorted, ¡°Big Sister Ma, our shop is doing very well, we are not considering transferring! If your sister really wants to do business, advise her to rent a place quickly before the rent here goes up, so she has enough to even afford the lease.¡± Ma Xiaolan scoffed inwardly. Doing very well? What a joke! She was waiting for Beauty Chant to shut down for good. With that thought, Ma Xiaolan stood up with a forced smile, ¡°I wish you prosperous business, I¡¯ll be heading back now. At noon, the customers come one after another, and we¡¯re simply too busy.¡± Their Zhang Ji Restaurant¡¯s business was a thousand times, ten thousand times better than Beauty Chant. ¡ª¡ª Repair shop. Lu Ye, wearing gloves, was fixing a bicycle from the eighties or nineties. Heizi walked in carrying a briefcase. ¡°Boss.¡± Hearing this, Lu Ye did not even lift his head, ¡°Speak.¡± Heizi continued, ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve checked the information on the people who were at the store at noon the other day and those who passed by the door. There are sixty-three in total, but their identities are all very ordinary, nothing noteworthy.¡± Which meant that none of these people could possibly be Dr. M. ¡°What about Lin Wu?¡± Lu Ye asked next. At the mention of Lin Wu¡¯s name, Xue Jinghao, who had been leaning against the door, immediately straightened up. He was very curious about this younger sister. Heizi adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose out of habit, ¡°Lin Wu¡¯s real name is Zhang Wu, eighteen years old, the illegitimate daughter of Zhang Dalong from Qing City¡¯s First Prominent Family. The person who caused a commotion at the Eldest Daughter of the Zhang Family¡¯s birthday party a while back was her.¡± Chapter 35 - 35 032 A Dark Horse that Appears Once Every Thirty ?Chapter 35: 032: A Dark Horse that Appears Once Every Thirty Years_1 Chapter 35: 032: A Dark Horse that Appears Once Every Thirty Years_1 Illegitimate daughter? Upon hearing this, Lu Ye¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, his profound phoenix eyes dark and seemingly bottomless. No wonder her eyes were so red that night she saw the child. No wonder the child kept insisting she was Lin Wu. In that moment. Lu Ye felt as if he saw himself at three years old. On that stormy night, he was cast out by the Su Family... No one knew what a three-year-old child had gone through. ¡°Eldest Daughter of the Zhang Family?¡± Lu Ye looked up at Heizi, his deep voice wrapped in a chill, ¡°If I remember correctly, the Eldest Daughter of the Zhang Family is only seventeen, right?¡± Yet the child is already eighteen. Whose eldest daughter is younger than their illegitimate child? Heizi was taken aback. Could it be that the boss was angry? Why was the boss angry? Because he called Lin Wu an illegitimate daughter? Having followed the boss for so long, this was the first time he saw him so protective of a young girl. Heizi immediately corrected himself, ¡°Actually, Lin Wu¡¯s birth mother Lin Guixiang was the original spouse, but the Zhang Family refuses to acknowledge their marriage... Over time, Lin Guixiang, who stood alone in a ¡®cold kiln¡¯ for eighteen years like Wang Baochuan, became branded as the third party who destroyed another¡¯s marriage.¡± Because Lin Guixiang had no social status, she went from being the victim to the mistress. And the real mistress became the glamorous Mrs. Zhang. History is rewritten by the victors. Xue Jinghao squinted his eyes, ¡°Analyzing it this way, Sister Lin probably isn¡¯t Dr. M either.¡± Heizi nodded, ¡°Mhm.¡± But considering her age, Lin Wu couldn¡¯t possibly be Dr. M. Yet Lu Ye insisted on investigating her. For a brief moment, Lu Ye turned his gaze to Heizi, ¡°Put Dr. M¡¯s matter aside for now, and focus on W from today.¡± They had been searching for Dr. M for a long time. This was a marathon, requiring a steady and gradual approach. W? Heizi asked, ¡°Boss, are you talking about the developer of Ghost Path?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lu Ye nodded slightly. Upon hearing this, Xue Jinghao looked towards Lu Ye, ¡°Third Brother, hasn¡¯t Hailun contacted W yet?¡± Lu Ye shook his head, ¡°W hasn¡¯t been online for almost a week now.¡± Xue Jinghao¡¯s eyes widened. Ghost Path has now swept across the entire international market. The total number of downloads has exceeded 15 million. It even made it to the Global Daily. If it were someone else, they would have probably appeared at various events by now. But there hasn¡¯t been any news from W. Isn¡¯t this person too low-profile? Lu Ye turned to Heizi, ¡°From today onward, you handle W¡¯s affairs. Find a way to set up a meeting between him and me.¡± This person was undoubtedly the gaming industry¡¯s biggest dark horse in the past thirty years. Lu Ye valued talent and was keen to cherish it. Heizi nodded, ¡°Understood, boss.¡± Xue Jinghao curiously asked, ¡°Third Brother, do you think W is a male or a female?¡± Lu Ye¡¯s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°Based on W¡¯s style of action and the meticulousness of their logical thinking, it should be a girl.¡± He had played Ghost Path himself and was so immersed in the story that it took him an entire day to complete it. ¡°A girl?¡± At these words, both Xue Jinghao and Heizi were surprised. In the gaming industry, males tended to have a higher sensitivity than females, which is why the more well-known game developers are male. Without exception. So W must be a male. Xue Jinghao squinted his eyes, ¡°Third Brother, could you be mistaken?¡± Lu Ye¡¯s voice was low, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be.¡± Although males are typically more attuned to gaming, there are always exceptions. Instinct told Lu Ye. W was very likely a girl. Xue Jinghao frowned slightly, not quite agreeing with Lu Ye¡¯s opinion. How could a girl make such an impressive game? He continued, ¡°Third Brother, how old do you think W is then?¡± ¡°Between 30 to 50,¡± Lu Ye replied. Xue Jinghao nodded, the age did match what was analyzed online. Because people with shallow experience simply can¡¯t create such games. Contemporary society. What young person in their teens or twenties has such experience? In a moment, Lu Ye stood up from the stool. ¡°I have to go back for dinner tonight; you stay here in the afternoon.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Xue Jinghao nodded. After all, he had become quite skilled at fixing cars by now. ¡ª¡ª Lin Wu, carrying a bunch of lotuses, rode out of the flower market on her bicycle. A single bunch of lotuses, of course, is not enough to make Lotus Dew; she intended it as a decorative item for her home. For the lotuses and other plants like Rhodiola that were used in skincare products, she had already arranged with the shopkeeper to have them delivered directly to South Street. Lin Wu wore an immaculate white dress, the hem floating in the breeze, making her appear like a deity descending to earth, causing passersby to turn their heads. Qin Fengyang was coming back from cram school when he saw this scene with a slight lift of his eyes. The dry and boring high school curriculum faded into the background as the sight of the girl riding her bike entered his view, injecting vibrant colors into his monochromatic world, and he couldn¡¯t help but become somewhat captivated. Li Cheng, curious, followed Qin Fengyang¡¯s gaze. ¡°Qin Big Shot, do you know her?¡± Qin Fengyang¡¯s thoughts were snapped back to reality in an instant. He was about to say he knew her but then remembered his mother¡¯s warning and remained silent. Lin Wu was no longer attending school. He was a top student at Qingzhong School. He couldn¡¯t afford to get involved with a girl who had dropped out. Birds of a feather flock together. It would impact his image too much. Another female classmate chuckled, ¡°That girl looks like she¡¯s already dropped out of school. How could Qin Big Shot possibly know someone like her!¡± Beautiful girls drop out early. Hearing this, Qin Fengyang nodded, ¡°Indeed, I don¡¯t know her.¡± As they spoke, the girl¡¯s bicycle-riding figure disappeared from view. Click. At that moment. A crisp sound echoed in the air. Then, suddenly, Lin Wu¡¯s bicycle wheel stopped spinning. She frowned slightly and dismounted to check. That¡¯s when she discovered the bicycle chain had snapped. What to do? Nowadays, the streets were full of shops repairing electric bikes; there weren¡¯t many places that fixed bicycles... Lu Ye was just passing Wutong Avenue on his way back from the repair shop. Although it was just a fleeting glance. He still noticed the kid. The girl was squatting on the ground, her beautiful brows lightly furrowed, inviting the urge to smooth them out. Lu Ye squeezed the brakes. Sst¡ª The next second, his bike stopped next to Lin Wu. ¡°Kid.¡± Upon hearing him, Lin Wu looked up slightly. With one foot on the ground, the first thing she saw was his long leg; following the contour upward was a chiseled jawline, a pronounced nose, slightly pursed thin lips, and a pair of exquisite phoenix eyes slightly upturned, their dark depths seemingly drawing one in. ¡°Mr. Lu.¡± ¡°Need help?¡± continued Lu Ye. Lin Wu had just been worrying about how to get her bike back home when this repairman¡¯s arrival was like a timely rainstorm. ¡°I do,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly, ¡°It seems the bike chain is broken.¡± The young miss wasn¡¯t being polite at all. Lu Ye raised his eyebrows slightly, parked his bike on the side of the road, came next to Lin Wu, and observed the chain. After a moment, he parted his thin lips, ¡°No big problem, give me three minutes.¡± There¡¯s a specialist for everything. In less than three minutes, Lu Ye had fixed the broken bike chain. He lifted the rear wheel and spun the pedals with his hand. Whirr¡ª The wheel suspended in air began to spin quickly. ¡°Amazing!¡± Lin Wu broke into a smile. ¡°How much do I owe you?¡± ¡°Just a simple gesture,¡± Lu Ye dusted off his hands, ¡°free of charge.¡± He had just gone bankrupt, he was already in such straits, where could Lin Wu have the heart to take advantage of him? She pulled out ten yuan from her pocket and stuffed it into Lu Ye¡¯s hand, ¡°Mr. Lu, business is business, I insist on paying.¡± Lu Ye didn¡¯t refuse. ¡°I¡¯m Lu Ye, kid you can call me by my name in the future.¡± Whirr. Just then, a car passed loudly by them, nearly drowning out Lu Ye¡¯s words. Lin Wu, not quite hearing clearly, asked, ¡°Lu Tie?¡± Lu Ye was about to clarify when Lin Wu¡¯s eyes curved into a smile, ¡°Then from now on I¡¯ll call you Old Iron, okay?¡± Chapter 36 - 36 033 Arabian Nights_1 ?Chapter 36: 033: Arabian Nights_1 Chapter 36: 033: Arabian Nights_1 Old Iron? Lu Ye had wanted to explain, but when he heard this nickname, he couldn¡¯t help but lift the corners of his lips in amusement. Forget it, forget it, no need to explain! Since the kid likes it. Then let her be. After all, it¡¯s just a nickname. ¡°Okay.¡± Lin Wu¡¯s eyes curved into a smile, ¡°Thank you so much for today¡¯s timely help, I have something else to do, so I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡± Lu Ye nodded slightly, ¡°Take care on your way back.¡± ¡°Okay, Old Iron.¡± Lin Wu rode off on her bike. Hearing this, Lu Ye¡¯s face was full of helpless amusement. Old Iron. The kid really did just say it out loud. Just as he turned around, Lin Wu raised her eyebrows slightly. A perfectly handsome guy. Being called what? Lu Tie? Such a blow to the image! After Lin Wu rode off, Lu Ye also got on his bike. Half an hour later. Lu Ye returned home. Grandma Lu and Lu Lingli were sitting on the sofa in the living room, listening to opera. Seeing Lu Ye return, Lu Lingli excitedly said, ¡°Lu Da tricked you into coming over; we have something to tell you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Lu Ye walked over. Lu Lingli continued, ¡°I want to introduce you to a date. She¡¯s my classmate, just returned from studying abroad, and now she¡¯s teaching at A University. She comes from a well-educated family, and she¡¯s beautiful too¡ªI guarantee you¡¯ll like her.¡± Ever since Lu Ye said, ¡®If anyone makes him cry, he¡¯ll make them die,¡¯ she had been looking forward to seeing Lu Da tricked into crying. Her classmate excelled in every aspect. She was confident Lu Ye would fall in love with her classmate at first sight. Then, she wanted to see if Lu Ye could still be as wild as he was now! Imagining the scene of Lu Da being tricked to tears, Lu Lingli couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. Lu Ye tossed a grape into the air and then caught it in his mouth, ¡°I said, I don¡¯t believe in love.¡± ¡°Just meet her! What if you end up believing in love after seeing her?¡± Lu Lingli said. Lu Ye still refused, ¡°I won¡¯t go.¡± ¡°Are you going or not?¡± Just then, Grandma Lu turned back fiercely, glaring at Lu Ye, ¡°I advise you to know what¡¯s good for you, or I might have to bite you to death with my teeth!¡± Lu Lingli folded her arms in agreement, ¡°Grandma¡¯s right, you¡¯d better know what¡¯s good for you!¡± Hearing this, Lu Ye¡¯s face was full of helplessness. The old lady was over ninety and still acting like a child. ¡°Grandma, I really don¡¯t want a girlfriend; I¡¯m quite content being single. Seeing that Lu Ye was unmoved, Lu Lingli turned to Grandma Lu, commanding, ¡°Grandma, bite him!¡± Grandma Lu immediately bared her teeth at Lu Ye. Seeing the fierce old lady, Lu Ye lifted his thin lips slightly, ¡°Grandma, stop baring your teeth.¡± ¡°You scared, little rascal?¡± Grandma Lu stood with hands on her hips, her face full of pride. Lu Ye said each word slowly and seriously, ¡°You¡¯re not wearing your dentures today.¡± Grandma Lu immediately covered her mouth with her hands. Damn. She had forgotten to wear her dentures. MD, how embarrassing. ¡ª- South Street. Lin Guixiang came down from the second floor and curiously looked at Zhao Cuinong, ¡°How was the income today?¡± ¡°Big sister, guess how much our revenue was this afternoon?¡± Lin Guixiang had spent most of the afternoon on the second floor in the sterile room making skincare products and was not sure about the business, so she just made a random guess, ¡°Also six thousand?¡± Zhao Cuinong shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s more than that.¡± More than six thousand? Upon hearing this, Lin Guixiang¡¯s eyes widened, thinking she must have heard wrong. Zhao Cuinong continued, ¡°Our Immortal Phoenix Whitening and Spot-Removing Set is 800 yuan per set, and one auntie, who said she is going abroad tomorrow, directly bought five sets!¡± That auntie had many freckles on her face. Initially, she just wanted to try out the Immortal Phoenix Set, not expecting much. But to her surprise, after only using it for two days, the spots on her face had begun to fade, and she was thrilled. She rushed to buy five sets before heading abroad. ¡°After the auntie left, a few young girls came one after another, selling a total of six Lotus Dew Acne Treatment and Hydration Sets and two Immortal Phoenix Sets. So, our total revenue for the afternoon was 9628 yuan, plus the 6000 yuan from the morning, the day¡¯s total revenue was 14528 yuan!¡± Lin Guixiang¡¯s eyes grew even wider. Had they really made a month¡¯s rent in just one day? ¡°Cuinong, did you calculate that right?¡± Zhao Cuinong replied with a smile, ¡°Big sister, don¡¯t worry, I didn¡¯t miscalculate. The money is all in Alipay.¡± Lin Guixiang then said, ¡°Cuinong, according to the contract you have with Xiao Wu, 3000 yuan of this is yours, plus yesterday¡¯s revenue, that¡¯s 3100 yuan total. I¡¯ll have Xiao Wu transfer the money to you when I get back.¡± Before investing, Lin Wu had already drafted a contract with Zhao Cuinong, stating that future profits would be split with 80% for them and 20% for Zhao Cuinong. ¡°No rush, let¡¯s save the money first and settle it all together at the end of the month.¡± Settling accounts every day was too much of a hassle, and Zhao Cuinong wasn¡¯t in a hurry to use the money. After all, there were records for all sales. ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Guixiang nodded in agreement. Soon after, Zhao Cuinong added, ¡°Big sister, I gave out quite a few free samples today; I believe tomorrow¡¯s revenue will be even higher. Let¡¯s get ready to close up now.¡± ¡°Closing up now?¡± Lin Guixiang was taken aback. They had opened the shop at nearly ten in the morning, and it was only half past six in the evening now. Are you sure we¡¯re closing this early? Zhao Cuinong spoke with a smile, ¡°Xiao Wu said that from now on, we¡¯ll stay open until nine o¡¯clock on weekends, but on weekdays, we close at half-past six. This is called ¡®hunger marketing,¡¯ similar to that milk tea shop ¡ª only available in the southern region.¡± Scarcity commands value. Only by whetting their appetite can they boost customers¡¯ desire to buy. Lin Guixiang had no idea what ¡®hunger marketing¡¯ was, but she would listen to anything Lin Wu said, ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll go upstairs and organize the skincare products.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded, and hung the ¡®Closed¡¯ sign on the door. Half an hour later, the sisters-in-law boarded the bus home. Zhao Cuinong looked at Lin Guixiang, ¡°Big sister, once we make more money, let¡¯s buy a car. It will be more convenient for getting around.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± They arrived home promptly at half-past seven. As Qing City is located in the south, even though it was already half-past seven in the evening, the sky was not completely dark. When the two stepped into the courtyard, the neighbors were at the water pool on the first floor, washing vegetables and chatting. Zhao Cuinong greeted everyone with a smile. At this moment, Feng Qiaoqiao turned around, ¡°Jelly¡¯s mom is back. I heard you and your sister-in-law started a skincare business. How was today¡¯s sales?¡± Lin Guodong¡¯s nickname was Jelly, so everyone called him that. Upon hearing this, everyone else looked at the two with curiosity. Zhao Cuinong said, ¡°The business is pretty good.¡± Pretty good? If it was really that good, would they have closed shop and come home so early? It¡¯s not even eight o¡¯clock yet! Which shop in the city center doesn¡¯t stay open until around ten o¡¯clock? Without a doubt, everyone thought Zhao Cuinong must be bluffing! Xiao Zhou chimed in, ¡°I heard you¡¯re selling skincare products that you made yourselves?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded, ¡°All the skincare products in the store are made by Xiao Wu and my sister-in-law.¡± The crowd was already skeptical of Zhao Cuinong¡¯s bragging, and now they were even more doubtful. Lin Wu and Lin Guixiang. One was just a teenager. The other, a rural woman who had never even used skincare products. Could these two possibly be making skincare products? This was utterly preposterous. That was too outrageous even for boasting. Watching Zhao Cuinong and Lin Guixiang disappear upstairs, Feng Qiaoqiao lowered her voice and said, ¡°Why do you think Cuinong would talk big like that?¡± ¡°Why?¡± everyone asked with great curiosity. Feng Qiaoqiao snorted coldly, ¡°It¡¯s all for show! She¡¯s trying to marry off Lin Guixiang, the second-hand goods, to a local from Qing City.¡± Chapter 37 - 37 034 Prepare in advance_1 ?Chapter 37: 034: Prepare in advance_1 Chapter 37: 034: Prepare in advance_1 In Feng Qiaoqiao¡¯s view, Zhao Cuinong must be bragging just to find a good family for Lin Guixiang to marry into. To let Lin Guixiang be like Lin Guimei, marrying a Qing City local, henceforth possessing a local hukou, and soaring up to become a phoenix! Considering this, Feng Qiaoqiao lowered her voice and continued, ¡°Have you all forgotten how Lin Guimei got married into the Sun Family in the first place?¡± Aunt Li immediately joined in the conversation, ¡°I remember this.¡± Xiao Zhou, who married into the family later, hadn¡¯t heard such gossip and immediately asked, ¡°Quick, tell us.¡± Aunt Li described it vividly, ¡°The Old Sun Family has been a family of scholars for generations; how could they take a fancy to a rustic girl? It was Lin Guimei who seduced Sun Dingbang; she got pregnant before marriage, and only then did the Old Sun Family grudgingly agree to the marriage.¡± Hearing this, Xiao Zhou¡¯s eyes widened. Clicking her tongue. No wonder. Feng Qiaoqiao added, ¡°If the younger sister is morally degenerate, getting pregnant before marriage, the older sister must not be any good either! Otherwise, why do they say birds of a feather flock together?¡± As she finished speaking, Feng Qiaoqiao said further, ¡°And that Lin Wu, at such a young age always thinking that the grass is greener on the other hill, idle all day long, still dreaming of getting into Qingzhong School! Truly a case of the blind leading the blind.¡± ¡ª¡ª Lin Bingqiang finished work at four-thirty. By the time Lin Guixiang and Zhao Cuinong arrived home, he already had the meal prepared. Four dishes and one soup. Both meat and vegetables were present. Seeing his wife and sister-in-law, Lin Bingqiang smiled and said, ¡°The two busy bees are home! Go wash your hands and eat, I¡¯ll go call Xiao Wu.¡± After washing her hands and coming out, Zhao Cuinong looked towards Lin Bingqiang, ¡°Guess how much we earned today?¡± Lin Bingqiang said, ¡°Four hundred yesterday, five hundred today?¡± He had not expected the skincare store to make money. Supporting his wife initially was a gamble, after all, one must do something in life. Success or failure, experiencing it would mean no regrets. ¡°You guessed wrong.¡± ¡°Then how much?¡± Lin Bingqiang asked curiously. Zhao Cuinong mysteriously extended a finger. ¡°A thousand?¡± Lin Bingqiang squinted his eyes, somewhat disbelievingly asking. Zhao Cuinong laughed lightly, ¡°How could it be only a thousand, you¡¯re really underestimating us.¡± Lin Bingqiang also laughed, ¡°It can¡¯t possibly be ten thousand, right?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve actually guessed it right,¡± Zhao Cuinong looked at Lin Bingqiang, ¡°and it¡¯s not just ten thousand, it¡¯s over fourteen thousand.¡± Hearing this, Lin Bingqiang squinted his eyes. Over fourteen thousand? To think, his monthly salary was just a bit over twenty thousand. These two made over ten thousand in one day? Are they dreaming? ¡°Stop joking around.¡± Lin Bingqiang obviously didn¡¯t take Zhao Cuinong¡¯s words to heart. Zhao Cuinong had anticipated this reaction from her husband, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, you can ask your big sister.¡± Lin Bingqiang turned his head to look at Lin Guixiang. Lin Guixiang nodded seriously, ¡°It¡¯s true, Cuinong isn¡¯t joking.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Bingqiang froze in shock! It took him a long while to come back to his senses, ¡°Really over ten thousand?¡± Lin Guixiang nodded again. Lin Bingqiang swallowed hard and served both his wife and sister-in-law a chicken leg, ¡°You two busy people have really worked hard, you must eat more. From now on, I will come home every night to cook for you.¡± As he spoke, Lin Bingqiang also placed a chicken leg for Xiao Wu with the serving chopsticks, ¡°Xiao Wu, you should eat more too. The biggest contributor to your aunt and your mom making the business so successful is you!¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded, ¡°Qiangzi is right, the biggest contributor is Xiao Wu, otherwise, your aunt and your big sister would have been busy for nothing.¡± Just wait, sooner or later the Zhang Family will know what regret means. After dinner, Lin Guixiang sat earnestly in front of the mirror taking care of her skin. She was surprised to find that her skin seemed a lot whiter, and the spots on her face were gradually disappearing. After taking care of her skin, Lin Guixiang opened a literacy video and began to study. ¡ª¡ª The next morning. At nine o¡¯clock, Lin Guixiang and Zhao Cuinong arrived at South Street on time to open the store for business. Within half an hour of opening, they welcomed their first customer, followed by the second and the third... At ten thirty in the morning. Lin Wu rode to the shop on her bike, followed by two workers carrying equipment and machines. Curious, Zhao Cuinong asked, ¡°Xiao Wu, did you buy a new machine?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Lin Wu, while greeting the workers to carry the stuff upstairs, said, ¡°Auntie, I plan to develop a limited edition anti-wrinkle cream.¡± A store must have a limited edition product. Only then can it enhance brand value. After the machines were installed, Lin Wu started to modify them. She intended to convert the semi-automatic machinery into fully automatic ones, so that Lin Guixiang would only need to control the proportion of the raw materials in the future. All afternoon, Lin Wu stayed in the sterile room on the second floor. On the first floor. It was only three in the afternoon, and Zhao Cuinong and Lin Guixiang had already sold ten sets of Immortal Phoenix, fifteen sets of Lotus Dew, and ten boxes of face masks. The sales amounted to 19,915 yuan. They were just a little bit away from breaking twenty thousand. There weren¡¯t many people in the shop at the moment, so Lin Guixiang stood at the door chatting with He Meili, the owner of the neighboring women¡¯s clothing store. ¡°Sister Guixiang, did Xiao Wu not come today?¡± He Meili inquired. With a smile, Lin Guixiang responded, ¡°She¡¯s here. She¡¯s upstairs adjusting the machinery.¡± He Meili, who had also used a sample of Immortal Phoenix, said, ¡°Your daughter, Xiao Wu, is really amazing! So young and so accomplished, she¡¯s bound to do great things in the future.¡± Which family¡¯s seventeen or eighteen-year-old kid could develop skincare products? Lin Wu was the only one. More importantly, the results were so impressive. If He Meili hadn¡¯t seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn¡¯t have believed it was real. Hearing this, Lin Guixiang¡¯s smile grew even wider, ¡°Thank you for your kind words.¡± ¡°By the way, Sister Guixiang, I heard from the owner of Zhang Ji across the street that you guys have rented this shop for a long lease of five years, is that true?¡± asked He Meili. Lin Guixiang nodded, ¡°Yes, Xiao Wu rented it.¡± Just at that moment, Lin Wu came down from upstairs. He Meili looked at her and asked, ¡°Xiao Wu, why did you think to rent it for five years all at once?¡± None of the other shops on the street had leases for five years. Because everyone was afraid the business wouldn¡¯t go well, and they wouldn¡¯t be able to sublet the place, short-term rentals felt more secure. Lin Wu spoke indifferently, ¡°Actually, South Street¡¯s location isn¡¯t bad, it¡¯s just that there¡¯s no news of development yet. Once there is, we wouldn¡¯t be able to rent our shop for a thousand a month. Auntie He, if you have some spare cash, I suggest you also lease for a longer term, or you could even buy a shop.¡± Now, the business of Beauty Chant was getting better and better. Lin Wu was already preparing to buy a shop and open a branch store. Before the news of development came out, they had to seal the deal quickly. He Meili looked at Lin Wu, ¡°There¡¯s not even a subway in South Street, how could it be developed?¡± Lin Wu continued, ¡°The subway project might already be in the planning stages. They¡¯re probably keeping it quiet to avoid market disruption.¡± At these words, He Meili narrowed her eyes, ¡°Xiao Wu, where did you hear about this?¡± He Meili, a local, had never heard of any development plans for South Street. But hearing Lin Wu say this made her somewhat anxious. Could it be that Lin Wu had connections? Lin Wu said, ¡°I analyzed based on the current trend and the geographical location of South Street. Auntie He, Qing City is almost changing every day. If one day they suddenly announce the subway project and the property prices go up, the increase won¡¯t be slight. It¡¯s always better to plan ahead than to sit idle.¡± Chapter 38 - 38 035 Beautiful things all have thorns_1 ?Chapter 38: 035: Beautiful things all have thorns_1 Chapter 38: 035: Beautiful things all have thorns_1 The premise of being prepared for a rainy day is that it will rain. What if it doesn¡¯t rain? He Meili frowned slightly. She had thought Lin Wu knew someone, but after finding out Lin Wu didn¡¯t really know anyone, she became even more skeptical about the truth of that statement. After a moment, He Meili smiled and said, ¡°I can¡¯t make this decision on my own. When your uncle comes back, I¡¯ll discuss it with him.¡± Some things are fine once said, whether to believe them or not depends on the other person. Lin Wu didn¡¯t say anything more. After He Meili left, Lin Wu discussed with her mother and aunt the idea of buying a shop on South Street. ¡°I have already looked at a property through an agent, and after consulting with them, a two-story commercial space of 300 square meters is currently priced at 820,000 per unit.¡± At this point, Lin Wu looked at Zhao Cuinong and continued, ¡°Auntie, I advise you to buy one too. Not only can you use it for investment, but you can also expand your storefront.¡± Once the development news breaks, let alone 820,000, you won¡¯t be able to buy a two-story small shop for even 3,620,000. It¡¯s practically a steal now. If you don¡¯t buy, you will definitely regret it. Zhao Cuinong thought for a while, ¡°There¡¯s still a loan of over 300,000 on our house that has not been paid off. If we buy another one, I¡¯m afraid the pressure will be too much.¡± Although she had made tens of thousands in the past few days and still had some money in hand, Zhao Cuinong was still a bit worried. Lin Wu smiled faintly, ¡°Auntie, our daily turnover is now over 20,000, and you get over 4,000. For an 800,000 property, you only need to pay a 30% down payment, which is 240,000. For the rest, you pay a monthly loan of 30,000. Our business will definitely get better and better. Once we have made enough money, we can pay off the loan early.¡± Zhao Cuinong looked at Lin Guixiang, ¡°Big sister, what do you think?¡± Lin Guixiang said, ¡°I¡¯ll listen to Xiao Wu.¡± Her most important thing was not to cause Lin Wu any trouble or hold her back. When Lin Wu had first rented this shop, everyone was skeptical. But Lin Wu still managed to make business work! This proved Lin Wu had a talent for this. Zhao Cuinong narrowed her eyes, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll listen to Xiao Wu.¡± Lin Wu smiled faintly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go back and prepare, and we¡¯ll go to the agent to sign the contract tomorrow.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded. ¡ª¡ª After leaving South Street, Lin Wu didn¡¯t go straight home. Instead, she went to the clothing city to buy a new outfit for her mother, her uncle and aunt, and her little cousin. Seeing her buy so many clothes for her family, the shop owner smiled and said, ¡°Miss, aren¡¯t you going to buy a set for yourself? Today, this lace dress is on sale, originally over six hundred, now it¡¯s only three hundred.¡± Lin Wu shook her head; one dress was enough. Her uncle had already given her one before. Suddenly, Lin Wu¡¯s gaze fell on a set in the corner. ¡°I¡¯d like to try that on.¡± A very ordinary plain-colored button-up shirt and a pair of black wide-leg pants. The owner smiled and brought the clothing over. By the influence of Western culture, this slightly retro style wasn¡¯t very popular, so this set of clothes had been hanging there for quite a while without being sold. Lin Wu took the clothes and went in front of the changing room. When she came out of the changing room, the owner was stunned. It was just a very ordinary white cotton shirt and wide-leg pants, but now when the girl put it on, it had an indescribable liveliness that was captivating. ¡°A good-looking person even looks good in a sack!¡± the owner exclaimed. ¡°How much is this set?¡± Lin Wu asked while standing in front of the mirror, feeling that the size was quite suitable. ¡°Four hundred and sixty,¡± the owner answered. Just then, a man and a woman walked in from outside. The woman, about forty years old, had fashionably curly hair and was wearing a bright red dress that traced her perfect figure, pointing at Lin Wu she said, ¡°Shopkeeper, how much for the clothes this young lady is wearing?¡± ¡°Four hundred and sixty.¡± ¡°So cheap? I¡¯ll take one too.¡± The woman was used to wearing name brands, how could she spare a glance for these niche brands? But when she passed by outside, she was immediately struck by the clothes Lin Wu wore and so she dragged the man with her into the store. The owner didn¡¯t expect this set of clothes that nobody wanted to sell suddenly became attractive when Lin Wu wore it, bringing in a new customer right away. He immediately started fetching the clothes, ¡°Please wait a moment, I¡¯ll go get it for you.¡± The woman looked toward the man by her side and continued, ¡°Wenchen, what do you think about this one?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± The man was sparing with his words. Lin Wu stood in front of the fitting mirror and just caught a glimpse of a strange reflection in the mirror. The man appeared to be around thirty, wearing an expensive tailor-made suit, with a black overcoat on top and a black hat that concealed his highly recognizable facial features under the brim. His facial lines were very sharp, with his eyebrows tightly knit together, giving off an unapproachable aura. He was the type that would be popular among young girls. She indifferently shifted her gaze, paid the owner and from start to finish, did not glance at the man another time. As a token of gratitude for Lin Wu bringing business to her, the owner gifted her two white T-shirts. ¡°Thank you, boss.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome, do drop by often.¡± Having paid, Lin Wu left with the clothes, exiting the clothing mall. Watching her departure, the middle-aged woman said with a smile, ¡°That young lady is really pretty, but... beautiful things always have thorns.¡± How could one possibly see beautiful things everywhere? Seeing how calm the young lady was, one knew she came prepared. Her brother, Shen Wenchen, was a well-known eligible bachelor in Qing City, wherever he went, he attracted admirers like bees to honey. There wasn¡¯t a woman who could resist her brother¡¯s charm. Unless she was playing hard to get. With this thought, Shen Wenci narrowed her eyes. ¡ª- Elsewhere. The first thing Fang Hui did after getting off work was to remove her makeup and then take care of her skin. Today marked the seventh day. Most of the acne on her face had all but disappeared, leaving only some blemish marks. Looking at herself in the mirror, she felt hopeful about the future. At that moment, she received a WeChat message from her boyfriend. It was still about the topic of living together. In the past, she would have avoided the topic, but this time she didn¡¯t avoid it, instead she replied generously, ¡°It depends on your performance.¡± After finishing her skincare routine, Fang Hui hugged a bag of potato chips and went to watch TV in the living room. Xiao Yu was also in the living room and, seeing Fang Hui with the potato chips, curiously asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you dislike eating these things before?¡± The Fang Hui of the past didn¡¯t abstain from eating, she was afraid to eat. She was worried that eating too much fried food would make her acne worse. As it turned out, Having acne wasn¡¯t really about the food, it was about not using the right products. Fang Hui was about to explain when Xiao Yu¡¯s gaze fell on her face, exclaiming in surprise, ¡°Where are all the pimples on your face?¡± Just a week ago, Xiao Yu had seen the bare-faced Fang Hui. At that time, Fang Hui¡¯s face was covered in pimples, almost unbearable to look at. Xiao Yu thought she was seeing things, rubbed her eyes, but the scene before her remained unchanged. Fang Hui said with a smile, ¡°After I used Beauty Chant, the pimples on my face all cleared up.¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu¡¯s eyes widened! She had been waiting for Fang Hui¡¯s face to get ruined and for her boyfriend to dump her! But now, not only had Fang Hui¡¯s face not been ruined, but the acne had completely disappeared. Xiao Yu narrowed her eyes, feeling a mix of emotions, ¡°Beauty Chant? Is that the sample you threw in the trash can the other time?¡± That brand she had never even heard of? Chapter 39 - 39 036 Will regret sooner or later_1 ?Chapter 39: 036: Will regret sooner or later_1 Chapter 39: 036: Will regret sooner or later_1 Xiao Yu could never have imagined that a brand she had never heard of could actually be effective at clearing acne. And so miraculously at that. She couldn¡¯t even bring herself to believe what she was seeing, staring intently at Fang Hui¡¯s face. But the scene before her remained unchanged. ¡°Are you sure what you¡¯re using is that ¡®Beauty Chant¡¯?¡± Xiao Yu asked uncertainly. ¡°Yes,¡± Fang Hui nodded, her face full of relief. ¡°Thank goodness I picked it back out of the trash can, or I would have regretted it for the rest of my life!¡± Xiao Yu narrowed her eyes, ¡°Do they have any products for removing dark spots?¡± While she didn¡¯t have acne, her face was covered with many dark spots. ¡°I think they do, you can go check it out.¡± ¡°Where is it located?¡± Xiao Yu inquired. Fang Hui replied, ¡°It¡¯s over on South Street, you can find it easily, their place is very noticeable.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xiao Yu nodded. Once the freckles on her face were gone, she¡¯d dump her current boyfriend and find a local man from Qing City. ¡ª¡ª When Zhao Cui Nong got home, she mentioned her idea of buying a commercial property to Lin Bingqiang. Lin Bingqiang hesitated for a moment, ¡°While buying a shop as an investment is pretty good, South Street is still a bit remote.¡± South Street is on the outskirts of town. It¡¯s better now, but it used to be purely rural. Zhao Cui Nong gave him a look, ¡°What do you know, Xiao Wu said that area will definitely be developed! And the subway is going to reach there soon, too.¡± As she spoke, Zhao Cui Nong added, ¡°Plus, with the shop doing so well right now, even if South Street doesn¡¯t develop, we won¡¯t be at a loss.¡± Lin Bingqiang took a puff of his cigarette, ¡°Then fine, let¡¯s buy it.¡± He was about to be promoted soon, and both his sister¡¯s and his wife¡¯s businesses were doing very well, so investing in a shop wasn¡¯t too much of a burden. In a moment, Lin Bingqiang seemed to think of something else, and continued, ¡°Since Xiao Wu says South Street has investment potential, should we mention it to Second Sister?¡± It¡¯s best not to let outsiders benefit from something that could be kept in the family. If the value of the shops there were to rise, Lin Guimei could also make a fortune. ¡°Your second sister?¡± Zhao Cui Nong gave him a glance, her tone meaningful, ¡°Her? Hmph...¡± ¡°What are you scoffing at?¡± Zhao Cui Nong continued, ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed your second sister has changed long ago? Even if you tell her this, she won¡¯t be grateful, and she might even ridicule you!¡± ¡°Second sister has always been like that, but she¡¯s not a bad person at heart.¡± ¡°You go tell her yourself tomorrow.¡± Zhao Cui Nong didn¡¯t want to wade into these waters. The following morning. Lin Bingqiang made a special trip to see Lin Guimei and explained his intentions. Upon hearing, Lin Guimei frowned slightly, ¡°Buying a shop on South Street?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Bingqiang nodded, ¡°Xiao Wu says it has commercial value and will soon be developed. It could potentially surge in value.¡± A mocking smile spread across Lin Guimei¡¯s face, ¡°How old is she?¡± ¡°Age isn¡¯t the issue,¡± Lin Bingqiang persisted. ¡°Second sister, Xiao Wu is really doing great in the skincare business. I think the kid has good insights, won¡¯t you really consider investing?¡± Doing great in the business? Lin Wu? Her brother is foolish. Being scammed without even realizing it. ¡°If South Street, that sorry place, could be developed, I¡¯d write the name ¡®Lin Guimei¡¯ backwards!¡± Having said that, Lin Guimei looked at Lin Bingqiang, ¡°I advise you to stop dreaming of getting rich quick. It¡¯s better to keep your feet on the ground.¡± With that, Lin Guimei added, ¡°Qiangzi, you are the head of the family. You must be cautious in all matters! How can you let Zhao Cui Nong do as she pleases? You should be able to figure out with your toes what¡¯s true and what¡¯s not. Don¡¯t just believe whatever they say, otherwise you won¡¯t even be able to keep the roof over your head.¡± She wasn¡¯t exaggerating at all. If things kept going like this, the money Lin Bingqiang had saved up from years of work would eventually be squandered by them! Lin Bingqiang furrowed his brow slightly, ¡°Second sister, you¡¯re overreacting! Xiao Wu¡¯s skincare shop is doing quite well. If you don¡¯t want to buy the shop, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll be going back now, I still have to work later!¡± With that, Lin Bingqiang immediately turned and left. He had thought his second sister was just being her usual self, but it turns out his wife had hit the nail on the head. Watching her brother¡¯s retreating figure, Lin Guimei frowned slightly. As an older sister, she had given all the warnings she had to give! If Lin Bingqiang was impervious to her advice, what could she do? Just wait and see. Sooner or later, they¡¯ll regret it. Taking advantage of the lunch break, Lin Wu and Zhao Cuinong went to the sales office to sign the contract. Lin Guixiang stayed behind to look after the shop. The saleslady smiled and said, ¡°Here is your contract, please sign it once you¡¯ve confirmed that everything is correct.¡± After signing, the next step was payment. Thanks to the Ghost Path, Lin Wu wasn¡¯t short on cash, so the 800,000 yuan for the house could be paid off easily. However, to avoid arousing Zhao Cuinong¡¯s suspicion she only made the down payment. After the payment, the two left the sales office. As soon as they left, another saleslady curiously asked, ¡°Xiao Feng, did those two just buy two properties outright?¡± Feng Jiaoqian nodded, ¡°Yes, they did.¡± ¡°With property prices on South Street plummeting so severely, why would anyone be so thoughtless as to buy a shop here?¡± The two-story shops on South Street were initially selling for 1.3 million yuan each, then the price dropped to 1.2 million, and now they¡¯re down to 800,000 yuan and still no buyers. This clearly demonstrates that this isn¡¯t a good location at all. Even their own staff wouldn¡¯t consider it. Now they¡¯re bought for 800,000 yuan. In the future, they won¡¯t even sell for 400,000 yuan. Feng Jiaoqian squinted her eyes, ¡°That girl¡¯s household registration address is in the countryside; she probably hasn¡¯t seen much of the world!¡± Would anyone worldly commit such a foolish action? Feng Qiaoqiao¡¯s niece, Feng Jiaoqian worked in the sales office. She was there to bring her niece lunch. When she walked in, she saw the backs of Zhao Cuinong and Lin Wu. Feng Qiaoqiao quickened her pace and entered the sales hall, ¡°Jiaoqian, were people named Lin Wu and Zhao Cuinong just here to buy shops?¡± ¡°Unbelievable, Auntie! How did you know?¡± Feng Jiaoqian exclaimed in surprise. Feng Qiaoqiao narrowed her eyes, ¡°They live in the same courtyard as I do. By the way, did they buy it? Did they pay in full or take out a loan?¡± Feng Jiaoqian said, ¡°With their situation, they would struggle even to make a down payment, let alone pay in full. They must be dreaming!¡± ¡°So, they took out a loan to buy the shops?¡± Feng Qiaoqiao continued. ¡°Hmm,¡± Feng Jiaoqian nodded, ¡°I was the one who signed the contract.¡± Upon learning that Lin Wu and Zhao Cuinong had taken out a loan to buy shops there, Feng Qiaoqiao¡¯s eyes filled with a scornful look, ¡°Lan Lan, if they regret it tomorrow and want to cancel the purchase of the shops, you absolutely must not let them cancel it!¡± What kind of development could there possibly be on South Street? Although Zhao Cuinong, being an outsider, might not fully understand the situation, Lin Guimei was different. Having lived in Qing City for over a decade, Lin Guimei would definitely have Lin Guixiang refund the money once she knew about this. Feng Jiaoqian spoke in an exasperated tone, ¡°We¡¯ve signed a contract, which has legal effect. How can we just cancel it? Do they think they¡¯re still in the countryside where they can just cancel anytime, throw a tantrum, and make a scene to get their way?¡± ¡ª¡ª Lin Guixiang placed the loudspeaker at the entrance of the store, where Lin Wu¡¯s recording played on loop. ¡°Ancestral secret formula, removes spots and acne. If it doesn¡¯t work, you can directly bash the boss¡¯s head in.¡± Grandma Lu, supporting herself with a walking stick, had just arrived at South Street when she heard this recording. An ancestral secret formula? Removes spots and acne? Tsk! This store owner is too arrogant. If it¡¯s not effective, you can bash the boss¡¯s head in? She actually wanted to see if this skincare product for spot and acne removal was as effective as claimed. Her skin hadn¡¯t been in good condition recently, breaking out with several red bumps. Just as she was about to reach the front door, Grandma Lu suddenly felt intense dizziness at the top of her head, and she collapsed on the ground. Although her eyes were still open, she couldn¡¯t move at all. Seeing this, Lin Guixiang immediately hurried out of the shop to help Grandma Lu. She had just reached Grandma Lu when He Meili, who came out of the neighboring shop, stopped her, ¡°Sister Guixiang, you can¡¯t help her. What if it¡¯s a scam?¡± Nowadays, there are so many swindlers. With circumstances so ambiguous, how can one be sure? Besides, just looking at the old lady¡¯s silvery hair, one can tell she must be very old; what if she were to die? Who would be responsible? Chapter 40 - 40 037 Inexplicably Familiar_1 ?Chapter 40: 037: Inexplicably Familiar_1 Chapter 40: 037: Inexplicably Familiar_1 In today¡¯s society, there¡¯s every type of person. News of people faking accidents is also a common occurrence. He Meili had seen it more than once. There have been several such incidents on South Street alone. Without tens of millions in assets, who would dare to help a fallen elderly person on the side of the road? Upon hearing He Meili¡¯s words, Lin Guixiang¡¯s outstretched hand immediately withdrew, looking at the person on the ground, she asked, ¡°Are you okay, ma¡¯am?¡± Looking at the elderly figure sprawled on the ground, Lin Guixiang suddenly remembered the night she herself had ingested pesticides. No one understood better than her what it felt like to be on the brink of death and without help. After hesitating for a bit, Lin Guixiang decided to help the elderly person up, ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯m going to help you up, but please don¡¯t try to scam me.¡± The old lady was still conscious, but her speech was unclear, ¡°Cand...cand...¡± ¡°Candy?¡± Lin Guixiang frowned, ¡°Ma¡¯am, what are you saying?¡± ¡°Cand...cand...¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am, don¡¯t rush, speak slowly.¡± Seeing that Lin Guixiang ignored her advice and helped up the elderly person, He Meili was incredibly anxious. Lin Guixiang was just too naive! Now she was definitely going to be scammed. Seeing Lin Guixiang helping up Grandma Lu who was on the ground, the owner of Zhang Ji¡¯s shop, Ma Xiaolan, also came to watch the excitement, Ma Xiaolan crossed her arms, looked at He Meili, and whispered, ¡°Tsk! Lin Guixiang is so bold to actually help her up!¡± The reason Ma Xiaolan did not immediately advise Lin Guixiang not to help, like He Meili had, was because she wanted to see the commotion unfold. If Lin Guixiang ended up getting scammed, they would face a huge penalty fee. With nowhere to turn, they would definitely opt to transfer their unprofitable shop at a low price. Then her own sister could take over the shop. With this in mind, Ma Xiaolan¡¯s expression grew even more smug. He Meili frowned slightly, ¡°Sister Guixiang is really too impulsive.¡± She had hardly reacted when Lin Guixiang had already helped the person up. Grandma Lu¡¯s voice was very weak, continuously repeating the word ¡®cand¡¯. Lin Guixiang couldn¡¯t figure out what the old lady was trying to say. As she took out her phone to dial 120, a piece of candy fell out of the elderly woman¡¯s pocket. Seeing the chocolate candy that had fallen to the ground, and thinking of the old woman¡¯s slurred speech, Lin Guixiang quickly asked, ¡°Are you trying to say ¡®candy¡¯? If so, please close your eyes tightly.¡± Upon hearing this, the elderly woman squeezed her eyes shut forcefully. Was it truly candy? Lin Guixiang picked up the candy from the ground, puzzled, ¡°Do you want to eat this candy?¡± Eat candy? Ma Xiaolan almost burst out laughing when she heard this. What time was it to be eating candy? Just wait. This old woman would soon be asking Lin Guixiang for money. The next second, Grandma Lu squeezed her eyes even more tightly. Lin Guixiang was taken aback? She really wanted candy! Without a moment to spare, Lin Guixiang quickly unwrapped the candy and stuffed the chocolate into the elderly woman¡¯s mouth. The chocolate melted quickly once it was in her mouth. A sweet taste instantly spread across her taste buds. Grandma Lu¡¯s condition visibly improved. Lin Guixiang continued, ¡°Ma¡¯am, just hang on a bit longer, I¡¯m going to call 120 for you.¡± ¡°No, no need,¡± Grandma Lu, who had initially lacked the strength to move, now managed to grasp Lin Guixiang¡¯s wrist, ¡°I, I... I feel much better now.¡± Seeing the elderly lady¡¯s consciousness gradually becoming clearer and her condition improving, Lin Guixiang also breathed a sigh of relief. She had been very scared just now. What if something had happened to the old lady? How could she have explained it? But she didn¡¯t regret it. Lin Guixiang continued, ¡°Do you need to go to the hospital?¡± Grandma Lu shook her head, smiling and saying, ¡°No need, I have hypoglycemia. When I have an attack, I must eat a piece of sugar to relieve it. Sometimes I pass out before I even have the chance to unwrap the candy. My girl, I was lucky to have you today, really, thank you so much!¡± Although hypoglycemia isn¡¯t a serious illness, it could be life-threatening if everyone ignored her. There were many who saw her faint, and plenty who surrounded her to watch, but no one was willing to lend a hand. Only Lin Guixiang was different. Despite advice to the contrary from others, Lin Guixiang still chose to help her. Hearing this, Lin Guixiang was surprised. There¡¯s such a disease? Eating sugar can cure it? Even Ma Xiaolan, who was watching the commotion from the side, was stunned. This old woman wasn¡¯t trying to scam anyone! How disappointing. Hearing this, Lin Guixiang smiled and said, ¡°Auntie, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re okay. Let me help you to the shop to sit down for a while. Drink a glass of water and rest.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Grandma Lu nodded. Lin Guixiang helped Grandma Lu up and walked her to the store. As she looked at Lin Guixiang¡¯s profile, Grandma Lu was taken aback. Why did she feel that this young woman seemed oddly familiar? Could she have been mistaken? The air conditioning was on in the store, and as soon as they stepped in, they were greeted by a cool breeze. Lin Guixiang poured Grandma Lu a glass of water, ¡°Here, have some water.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Grandma Lu said, accepting the glass with both hands. ¡°Is the owner here?¡± Just then, a few customers entered the store. Lin Guixiang immediately went over to greet them, ¡°Hello.¡± They were four girls, ¡°Hello, we would like three sets of Lotus Dew and one set of Immortal Phoenix.¡± They were all students from a nearby university. Someone in their class had used Beauty Chant, saying it was not only effective but also affordably priced, so they had come straight over. Hearing this, Lin Guixiang said with an apologetic face, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but there are only two sets of Lotus Dew left. We still have a few sets of Immortal Phoenix.¡± The business had been very good these past few days; they were able to sell over thirty sets of Lotus Dew every day, and along with the samples and such, the skincare products produced in the sterile room weren¡¯t enough to meet the demand. Fortunately, Lin Wu was already preparing the full-automatic machines. Once Lin Guixiang learned the blending ratios, they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about running out of products to sell. The four of them exchanged glances, and one of the girls with short hair asked, ¡°When will you have more Lotus Dew in stock?¡± ¡°Tomorrow morning,¡± Lin Guixiang continued, ¡°I can give you some samples to try out the effect first.¡± The girls nodded, ¡°Okay, then we¡¯ll come back tomorrow morning.¡± Lin Guixiang handed them the samples. Just as the girls were leaving, Grandma Lu looked at Lin Guixiang and asked, ¡°Young lady, I¡¯ve recently got a few red spots on my face. Are your acne skincare products really effective?¡± ¡°They are effective,¡± Lin Guixiang nodded slightly, casually picking up a sample of Lotus Dew and handing it to Grandma Lu, ¡°This is called Lotus Dew, and it¡¯s specifically for acne. The full-sized products are sold out at the moment, but you can take a sample home to try.¡± Grandma Lu reached out to take it and then asked, ¡°What about for age spots?¡± It¡¯s inevitable to get age spots as one gets older. Grandma Lu was no exception. Not only Grandma Lu, even her daughter-in-law Bai Lu had some spots on her face. ¡°For age spots, you can use Immortal Phoenix,¡± Lin Guixiang continued, ¡°Let me get you some samples of Immortal Phoenix.¡± Grandma Lu watched Lin Guixiang with a smile, ¡°My dear, don¡¯t bother with samples. I trust you; just get me the full-sized product.¡± Chapter 41 - 41 038 It seems to be an old friend_1 ?Chapter 41: 038: It seems to be an old friend_1 Chapter 41: 038: It seems to be an old friend_1 Lin Guixiang, despite the indifferent stares of many and the huge pressure, helped her up, which was enough to prove that Lin Guixiang wasn¡¯t some unscrupulous merchant. Moreover, for some reason, Grandma Lu always felt a strange sense of familiarity about Lin Guixiang. So, Grandma Lu trusted this honest and straightforward young woman. Upon hearing this, Lin Guixiang nodded with a smile, ¡°All right, Auntie, please wait a moment.¡± Soon, she brought out a full set of Immortal Phoenix and a sample of Lotus Dew. ¡°How much?¡± Grandma Lu asked. ¡°The Immortal Phoenix set is 820 yuan, and the sample is free,¡± Lin Guixiang replied. At this, Grandma Lu was momentarily stunned. A box of Immortal Phoenix set, which includes hydrating toner and emulsion, and a cream for removing spots, was only 820 yuan! That was too cheap. After all, a single facial mask that Grandma Lu usually used cost more than 820 yuan. Could it really have miraculous effects for such a low price? Grandma Lu was very curious. ¡°Can I pay with Alipay?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Guixiang nodded slightly and brought over the QR code for payment. Grandma Lu scanned the code and made the payment. The very next second, the sound of receiving money floated in the air¡ª [Alipay has received 10,000 yuan.] 10,000?! Lin Guixiang turned to Grandma Lu, ¡°Auntie, you¡¯ve paid too much. It¡¯s 820 yuan, not 10,000.¡± Grandma Lu chuckled, ¡°I didn¡¯t pay the wrong amount, no mistake. Young lady, you saved my life today. What¡¯s 10,000 yuan in that regard?¡± Even 100,000 wouldn¡¯t be too much. But Grandma Lu felt that she was fated to meet Lin Guixiang and wanted to make friends with her. She was worried that giving 100,000 at once might startle her, so she transferred only 10,000 yuan. ¡°Auntie, it was just lending a helping hand! I can¡¯t take this money. Leave me your Alipay account, and when my daughter comes back after buying the house, I¡¯ll have her transfer it to you!¡± Lin Guixiang didn¡¯t know how to process a refund, and since everyone used mobile payments, there was not enough cash in the store, so she had to wait until Lin Wu returned. ¡°It¡¯s just a few thousand yuan, consider it me treating you to dinner!¡± Grandma Lu picked up the bag, ¡°My girl, it¡¯s getting late, I should be going now.¡± ¡°Auntie, you really can¡¯t go,¡± Lin Guixiang grabbed Grandma Lu¡¯s arm. It was just a small favor; she couldn¡¯t accept so much money from the elderly woman. Grandma Lu sighed helplessly, ¡°Alright, alright, I won¡¯t go. Young lady, let go of me first, is it okay if I go to the restroom?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Guixiang let go of Grandma Lu¡¯s hand. The instant Lin Guixiang let go, Grandma Lu lifted her leg and sped off into the distance. Her speed was astonishing. Lin Guixiang stood there, gaping at what she¡¯d just witnessed. !!! My goodness! Did this auntie have some superpower? She was even more impressive than an athlete. Having run to the curb and reached her car, Grandma Lu leaned on her cane, panting heavily. She had only run a short distance and was already unable to stand. She really was getting old! Back in her younger days, she had even set a world record. The old lady ran like the wind. Xiao Zheng, sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, thought he was hallucinating. Before long, Grandma Lu got into the car and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go back, Xiao Zheng.¡± ¡°Okay, Grandma Lu.¡± ¡ª- After paying up, Lin Wu and Zhao Cuinong returned to the store. Seeing them, Lin Guixiang immediately approached with a smile, ¡°Cui Nong, Xiao Wu, did you finalize the purchase of the shop?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded, ¡°We¡¯ve got the keys. Xiao Wu said she¡¯ll start arranging the renovation tomorrow. Let¡¯s go have a look after we close up for the day!¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Guixiang seemed to think of something and turned to Lin Wu, ¡°Xiao Wu, can money paid with Alipay be refunded?¡± ¡°Yes, it can,¡± Lin Wu said with confusion, ¡°Mom, who do you want to refund money to?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Guixiang briefly explained the incident that had just occurred. After hearing the entire incident, Lin Wu also felt that they should not have taken the 10,000 yuan and proceeded to refund the elderly person the excess nine thousand plus yuan through the payment history. Zhao Cuinong¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Big sister, you really have guts to reach out in such a situation. Aren¡¯t you afraid of encountering a scammer? Lucky for you, this time you met a good person.¡± Incidents of kindness in helping an elderly person only to be extorted are not uncommon. Some people have even been ruined by such scams. Listening to Lin Guixiang¡¯s description, Zhao Cuinong felt nervous for her. Lin Guixiang smiled and said, ¡°Actually, I was quite hesitant at the time. But seeing the elderly person looking so pitiful, I didn¡¯t think too much.¡± Just then, He Meili walked in from the outside. As soon as she entered, she asked, ¡°Cuinong, I heard that you and Xiao Wu bought the two-story shop across the street, is it true?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded. He Meili was taken aback, ¡°You really bought it?¡± Zhao Cuinong took out the property purchase contract, ¡°Take a look.¡± He Meili took the contract and examined it closely. She had thought that Lin Wu was just talking, but she didn¡¯t expect Lin Wu to act so quickly. ¡°You guys are too impulsive, buying just like that!¡± Lin Wu looked back slightly, ¡°Aunt He, if you have some spare money, I suggest you also buy a set. If not, try to negotiate a long-term lease with the landlord ¨C lease it for as long as you can. We don¡¯t have much time left.¡± Upon hearing this, He Meili narrowed her eyes, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go back and discuss it with your uncle right now!¡± With those words, He Meili turned and left. Back at the store, He Meili immediately discussed the issue with her husband, Wu Qiang. Wu Qiang lit a cigarette, ¡°Our business is doing okay right now, how about we renew the lease for another three years?¡± He Meili nodded, ¡°I think that¡¯s a good idea, especially since Xiao Wu and the others bought two units at once.¡± The couple, both being impulsive, called the landlord to renew the lease right away. The landlord had been worried about being unable to rent out the property. Upon hearing that they wanted to renew, he printed the contract and delivered it that very afternoon. After paying the money, the couple regretted their decision a bit. Especially He Meili, who frowned as she watched the landlord leave, ¡°If only we had known, we would have just renewed for one year! Boss Li is a local with connections. If there were really development plans in the works, he would surely be among the first to hear of it!¡± If the landlord had received news about development, he certainly wouldn¡¯t have agreed to a one-year renewal so readily. Wu Qiang squinted his eyes, ¡°It¡¯s already renewed, so let¡¯s not talk like that. Besides, I always feel that Xiao Wu¡¯s analysis is reasonable.¡± Although Wu Qiang found Lin Wu¡¯s reasoning sound, he didn¡¯t dare bet all their assets on buying a shop there. Eight hundred thousand was not a small amount. What if Lin Wu¡¯s analysis was wrong? Better to wait and see how things unfold. ¡ª The Lu Family. Grandma Lu was sitting in front of a mirror, taking care of her skin. Ding! A message arrived on her phone. Seeing the content of the message, Grandma Lu¡¯s lips curled into a helpless smile, ¡°This girl really is an honest person.¡± Just then, Bai Lu walked in from outside, ¡°Mom, in half a month it¡¯ll be Aunt Fang¡¯s birthday. What are your plans for this year?¡± The ¡°Aunt Fang¡± Bai Lu mentioned was Grandma Lu¡¯s comrade-in-arms from her younger days, Fang Youling. Fang Youling was a rare strong woman, not only beautiful but also from a very good family background. At the age of twenty-five, she married the eldest son of the well-matched Tang Family, Tang Shaowei, and moved with the whole family to Capital City a year after the wedding. In that era, Fang Youling and her husband developed the Tang Family into the number one family in Capital City. At present, the Tang Family stands firm on the international stage! Hearing this, Grandma Lu set down her skincare product and furrowed her brows lightly, ¡°Is it already so close to June 18th?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Grandma Lu let out a sigh, ¡°Your sister Qiushui went missing on June 18th. Since Qiushui disappeared, all these years, your Aunt Fang has never celebrated her birthday.¡± Chapter 42 - 42 039 Show-off Crazy Uncle_1 ?Chapter 42: 039: Show-off Crazy Uncle_1 Chapter 42: 039: Show-off Crazy Uncle_1 Tang Qiushui was the only daughter of Fang Youling and Tang Shaowei, as well as the future successor of the Tang Family. Over the years, Fang Youling and her husband Tang Shaowei had never given up on searching for their daughter. But it was like looking for a needle in a haystack. What Grandma Lu dreaded most each year was this old friend¡¯s birthday. To go was not good. Not going was not good either. Thinking of this, Grandma Lu sighed again. Bai Lu knew about the Tang Family¡¯s situation, but she did not know that Tang Qiushui had gone missing on Fang Youling¡¯s birthday. Upon hearing this, she said in surprise, ¡°No wonder Aunt Fang and Uncle Tang have never celebrated a grand birthday.¡± She had thought that they simply did not like such things. As it turned out... There was a hidden reason. After a moment, Bai Lu continued, ¡°Mom, since June 18th is a day of sorrow for Aunt Fang and Uncle Tang, you should go to comfort Aunt Fang even more so; otherwise, they will definitely become sadder the more they think about it.¡± Upon hearing this, Grandma Lu nodded in agreement, ¡°You¡¯re right, let¡¯s book the flight ticket then, I¡¯ll leave on the 17th.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Bai Lu said, and then asked, ¡°Do you want me to accompany you?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Grandma Lu shook her head, ¡°I can go by myself.¡± Bai Lu was of the same generation as Tang Qiushui. On such a special day as a birthday, she was afraid that seeing Bai Lu would make Fang Youling even sadder. ¡°All right then,¡± Bai Lu nodded, her gaze falling on Grandma Lu¡¯s vanity, curiously asking, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen this skincare brand before, what is it?¡± Grandma Lu immediately said, ¡°This is Beauty Chant, a new brand. By the way, the Immortal Phoenix Series can fade spots, Lulu, didn¡¯t you say you¡¯ve recently noticed some spots on your face? You can take this to try.¡± Beauty Chant? Intrigued, Bai Lu picked up the Immortal Phoenix Set and examined it closely, ¡°Mom, how much is this?¡± Products that can fade spots are definitely not cheap. ¡°820,¡± Grandma Lu answered. ¡°How much?¡± Bai Lu said, her eyes widening in surprise. She even thought she might be hallucinating. Grandma Lu continued, ¡°820, yes, you heard it right.¡± Now Bai Lu didn¡¯t just widen her eyes, but her mouth also formed an ¡®O¡¯ shape. 820! As far as she knew, a single face mask used by Grandma Lu was worth more than this price. But now... She had actually spent 820 yuan on a whole set of skincare products. This was terrifying. Bai Lu frowned deeply, ¡°Mom, are you sure this is safe to use?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be?¡± Grandma Lu glanced at her, adding, ¡°Not only is it safe, but the effects are also very good.¡± The cheapest face cream Bai Lu usually used cost 10,000 yuan per jar, ¡°Mom, aren¡¯t you afraid of ruining your face? There are too many unscrupulous businesses out there now!¡± Many small workshops like to add banned substances to their skincare products. These things may produce very good effects when first applied to the face but after using them for more than half a month, side effects can begin to appear. For example, a fluorescent face. Spots, acne... Hearing this, Grandma Lu looked at Bai Lu, ¡°Don¡¯t be so pessimistic about human nature.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m too pessimistic about human nature, it¡¯s just that when something is too cheap, it can¡¯t be good,¡± Bai Lu continued, ¡°A whole set for just 820 yuan, meaning each item only costs 200 yuan, definitely can¡¯t be used!¡± Bai Lu didn¡¯t understand what had gotten into Grandma Lu to bring back such a thing. If something went wrong, crying wouldn¡¯t even begin to cover it. ¡°An item of 200 yuan can¡¯t be used on the face?¡± Grandma Lu furrowed her brows slightly, ¡°I think you¡¯ve been living the good life for too long and have no idea what real hardship is! Let me tell you, not every product has to be expensive. There are plenty of people using items worth mere tens of yuan. Not everyone is born with a silver spoon in their mouth.¡± Grandma Lu herself had come through hard times. She knew the variety of life¡¯s trials. But Bai Lu was different. Bai Lu was born as the young lady of the Bai family, spoiled with love, and everything she used was of the highest quality, not to mention skincare products, even the water she used to wash her face was imported. Soon after, Grandma Lu continued, ¡°Lulu, if you have time, you should go take a trip to the mountainous area.¡± Summer insects cannot speak of ice. Some things can only be understood through personal experience. Otherwise, no matter how much she explained, Bai Lu simply wouldn¡¯t understand. Bai Lu nodded, ¡°Mom, although that is said, you really shouldn¡¯t use this kind of stuff. Some damage is irreversible.¡± Most importantly, the old lady is of such an advanced age; if any problems were to really happen, who could take responsibility? ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± Having said this, Grandma Lu opened the Immortal Phoenix Set and started her skincare routine. The old lady really dared to apply it! Bai Lu¡¯s eyes widened. After completing her skincare routine, Grandma Lu looked at Bai Lu, ¡°Lulu, this product really has a great effect, are you sure you don¡¯t want to try it?¡± ¡°No thanks.¡± Bai Lu shook her head with disdain. Grandma Lu continued, ¡°You might regret it in a few days. This Immortal Phoenix is really in demand, there were only two sets left when I bought it today.¡± Bai Lu narrowed her eyes, ¡°I can¡¯t guarantee anything else, but I am certain I won¡¯t regret it.¡± Regret is something that is bound to happen. But the person who will regret surely will be Grandma Lu. Not her. Grandma Lu glanced at Bai Lu, ¡°Have you ever heard of the True Fragrance Law?¡± Bai Lu burst out laughing, ¡°Mom, only a charlatan could deceive someone like you.¡± The old lady¡¯s advanced age inevitably brings some confusion. ** To celebrate the purchase of the shop, Lin Bingqiang prepared a lavish dinner. Nine dishes and one soup. Lin Bingqiang raised his glass, smiling, ¡°Big sister, Xiao Wu, Cui Nong, and Jelly. Let¡¯s have a toast. From now on, our lives will only get better and more prosperous.¡± ¡°Uncle¡¯s right.¡± Lin Wu was the first to stand up with her glass. Lin Guixiang, along with Zhao Cuinong and Lin Guodong, also stood up. The family of five was happy and harmonious. After dinner, Lin Wu took out the clothes she had bought a few days earlier to give to her uncle, aunt, and younger cousin. Lin Bingqiang took the clothes, his face stern, ¡°Xiao Wu, your aunt and I have more clothes than we can wear, don¡¯t you waste money like this in the future!¡± Lin Wu knew her uncle was worried about her earning money the hard way, and she nodded with a smile, ¡°Okay.¡± The next morning. Lin Bingqiang wore the clothes Lin Wu had bought him to work. As soon as he arrived at the company, people greeted him. ¡°Good morning, Manager Lin.¡± Lin Bingqiang looked at the person, baring his teeth in a smile, ¡°Xiao Li, how did you know this shirt was bought for me by my niece?¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao Li was confused. ??? What was the connection? He wished Manager Lin a good morning, but why did Manager Lin bring up the shirt? It took a moment for Xiao Li to realize Lin Bingqiang was boasting about his niece and smiled, ¡°Manager Lin, your niece is really good to you.¡± ¡°That she is.¡± Lin Bingqiang said with a touch of smugness, ¡°This child, I told her not to buy, but she insisted on buying! Always spending money recklessly.¡± Having said this, Lin Bingqiang looked at Xiao Li and continued, ¡°Xiao Li, do you have a niece?¡± Xiao Li shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m an only child.¡± Hearing this, Lin Bingqiang shook his head, ¡°That¡¯s really a pity! My niece is not only filial and sensible, she is also very intelligent, always ranking first in her grade, and what¡¯s most important is that she¡¯s also beautiful!¡± Xiao Li: ¡°...¡± Alright, alright, we get it! You have a niece who is both beautiful, sensible, and smart. Chapter 43 - 43 040 Earth-shattering Change _1 ?Chapter 43: 040: Earth-shattering Change! _1 Chapter 43: 040: Earth-shattering Change! _1 After showing off that he had an outstanding great-niece, Lin Bingqiang then headed towards the office. Upon arriving at the office. Seeing him so happy, a curious colleague asked, ¡°Lin, did you win the lottery today?¡± You must know that Lin Bingqiang was usually a very serious person, but today he was smiling so brilliantly. Clearly, this was not normal. Lin Bingqiang looked at his colleague, ¡°Old Zhu, look at my new shirt.¡± Old Zhu¡¯s gaze fell on Lin Bingqiang¡¯s shirt, and he squinted, saying, ¡°Your shirt seems a bit small.¡± ¡°Small? What¡¯s small? It¡¯s not small at all, it fits perfectly!¡± Lin Bingqiang said, sticking out his chest. Old Zhu¡¯s eyes widened. The buttons on the front were about to burst, and it¡¯s not small? This man seemed a bit off today. Lin Bingqiang continued, ¡°This was specially bought for me by my great-niece. I said no, but she insisted on getting it for me!¡± Only then did Old Zhu understand Lin Bingqiang¡¯s intention, and said insincerely, ¡°Not small at all, indeed not small, I must have seen it wrong! How could something your great-niece bought be small?¡± For the whole morning. Lin Bingqiang boasted about his new shirt. He even showed it off to the dogs in the unit. ¡ª¡ª On the other side. At the Lu Family. Grandma Lu¡¯s first task after getting up was to look in the mirror. She was surprised to find that the spots on her face seemed to have faded a bit, though it was not very noticeable. After washing up, Grandma Lu carefully applied the Immortal Phoenix once more. She believed that as long as she kept using it, the results would definitely get better and better. During breakfast. Grandma Lu mentioned this to Lu Lingli, ¡°Lingli, didn¡¯t you say you are prone to getting spots? I suggest you also try their Immortal Phoenix, it¡¯s really effective!¡± Lu Lingli frowned slightly, ¡°Grandma, you really shouldn¡¯t use these unheard-of skincare products. If there were any side effects, it would be too late for regrets.¡± It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t believe in domestic products, but domestic products simply didn¡¯t have such skincare giants yet. ¡°But Beauty Chant is indeed effective!¡± Grandma Lu continued, ¡°Lingli, look at my face, haven¡¯t many of my spots faded a lot?¡± Hearing this, Lu Lingli looked up at Grandma Lu¡¯s face. She saw that the old lady¡¯s cheeks still had many spots, which were no different from a few days ago. She knew these domestic skincare products couldn¡¯t have any miraculous effects. After a moment, Lu Lingli shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t see it.¡± Seeing her granddaughter directly negate her words, Grandma Lu anxiously said, ¡°Lingli, take a closer look! Aren¡¯t the spots on the left side of my face much lighter than before?¡± ¡°Grandma, you must be seeing things! It¡¯s probably just a placebo effect.¡± Grandma Lu took a bite of her bun, ¡°Maybe the effects are just not that obvious right now, but you will see in a few days!¡± A helpless expression covered Lu Lingli¡¯s face. Her grandma was nice in every way, but was just too stubborn, the typical kind who doesn¡¯t turn back until hitting the wall. Lu Lingli looked at Grandma Lu, ¡°Grandma, these skincare products contain banned substances. It¡¯s best not to use them if we can avoid it! They¡¯re not only bad for the skin but also for the body, especially for someone of your age?¡± Hearing this, Grandma Lu put down her chopsticks, ¡°Am I that old?¡± She was still a young fairy, okay? Knowing that her mother-in-law was very sensitive about age issues, Bai Lu changed the topic with a smile, looking at Lu Lingli, ¡°Lingli, I heard that you¡¯ve recently got a boyfriend?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Lu Lingli nodded, ¡°I plan to bring him over on Monday for you, my dad, and my grandma to meet.¡± Bringing her boyfriend over? How rare is this! Although Lu Lingli had dated many boyfriends, she had never taken the initiative to bring one home! Since she decided to bring him home, it showed that she really liked him. Grandma Lu asked curiously, ¡°How long have you known each other?¡± Lu Lingli put down her chopsticks, ¡°Although we haven¡¯t known each other for very long, we really have a great understanding between us, and our values align.¡± Bai Lu immediately asked, ¡°Where is the man from? How old is he? What does he do for a living?¡± Upon hearing this, Grandma Lu also put down her chopsticks and listened carefully to her granddaughter¡¯s reply. ¡°He¡¯s from Country R, this year...¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Grandma Lu interrupted her directly, ¡°What did you say his nationality was?¡± ¡°From Country R,¡± Lu Lingli said. Grandma Lu looked at Lu Lingli in disbelief, ¡°Country R? You¡¯ve found yourself a Little Baga?¡± She really couldn¡¯t bring herself to like people from Country R. Little Baga? Lu Lingli frowned slightly, Grandma Lu¡¯s words were simply too disrespectful to her boyfriend, ¡°Grandma, his name is Mr. Gongben, not Little Baga.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what he¡¯s called!¡± Anyway, all the people from Country R were called Little Baga by Grandma Lu. With that, Grandma Lu continued, ¡°Lu Lingli, I don¡¯t care whether or not you are serious about this relationship, but please think about our Huaxia¡¯s history while you are with this Little Baga.¡± ¡°Our Lu Family has a backbone of steel, and we will never associate with Japanese Pirates!¡± After her words, Grandma Lu turned and walked away, leaving Lu Lingli with only her retreating figure. ¡ª¡ª Half past eleven in the morning. South Street. It was the lunchtime rush, and Zhang Ji Restaurant was incredibly busy, with customers coming in one after another. Ma Xiaolan was bustling about in the kitchen when a figure suddenly ran in from outside, ¡°Sis! Sis!¡± It wasn¡¯t anyone else who arrived but Ma Xiaolan¡¯s younger brother, Ma Dawen. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Ma Xiaolan looked up at Ma Dawen. Ma Dawen continued, ¡°Did you hear? They are going to start building a subway here on South Street soon, construction starts the day after tomorrow!¡± Upon hearing this, Ma Xiaolan¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Really? How come it¡¯s so sudden?¡± If there really was going to be a subway, there surely would have been some news about it. Yet they hadn¡¯t heard a whisper. ¡°Absolutely true!¡± Ma Dawen said, ¡°Su Garden Ancient Town at number 258 South Street was rated as a 5A scenic spot just yesterday, sis. Haven¡¯t you noticed the increase in customers coming to eat these days?¡± Ma Xiaolan nodded, there had indeed been more people coming to eat at the restaurant lately, but she thought it was because their food was good, not realizing there was another reason. Ma Xiaolan looked at Ma Dawen, ¡°Who did you hear about this from?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you ever watch the news, sis?¡± Ma Dawen retorted. Su Garden Ancient Town was originally just an obscure little spot, but it caught on fire earlier this year after a web celebrity dressed in Hanfu promoted it and gradually started attracting young women in Hanfu to check in. At that time, the flow of people in South Street wasn¡¯t very big. However, recently, the South Street Cultural and Tourism Bureau keenly seized this topic and, in collaboration with various short video platform influencers, heavily promoted the Hanfu festival at Su Garden Ancient Town, making it known to the entire nation. Hence, South Street, a place where even birds wouldn¡¯t poop, suddenly transformed into a hot check-in spot. The construction of the subway was also to make traveling more convenient for tourists. As a result, the real estate and prices in the South Street area rose along with its popularity. Without waiting for Ma Xiaolan to speak, Ma Dawen continued, ¡°Sis, while we still have time, you should quickly ask the landlord if the shop is still on sale for 800,000.¡± Ma Xiaolan immediately took out her phone and called the landlord to discuss buying the shop. Hearing this, the landlord laughed, ¡°Mrs. Ma, are you taking me for a fool? Now that South Street has become a 5A scenic spot, forget 800,000, I wouldn¡¯t sell it even for 8 million!¡± Chapter 44 - 44 041 Kicking Myself Now_1 ?Chapter 44: 041: Kicking Myself Now_1 Chapter 44: 041: Kicking Myself Now_1 South Street is now a 5A scenic area. The subway is about to be built. A high-speed train station. It has gone from a remote suburb to a bustling scenic area overnight. Starting yesterday, Su Garden Ancient Town received over 6,000 visitors, and experts predict from various ticketing platforms that the daily number of tourists in South Street will range between 15,000 and 25,000. The news had barely been announced when the price of shops in South Street soared from a few thousand per square meter to 36,000 yuan per square meter, and even ordinary residences hit 13,000 yuan per square meter. The 400-plus square meter shops on South Street, which no one cared about at 800,000 yuan per set, now surged to over 8 million yuan almost overnight, making many people rich in their sleep! And. This is just the beginning. The real estate prices in South Street will continue to skyrocket until it becomes difficult to find available properties. As she finished speaking, the landlord added, ¡°Mrs. Ma, our contract is due in a couple of months, right? Do you want to renew the lease? If you do, the rent will definitely have to be adjusted according to the market. Let me know in advance if you don¡¯t want to rent.¡± Based on the current situation, a two-story shop would rent for at least thirty to forty thousand a month. Upon finishing, the landlord hung up the phone. Hearing this, Ma Xiaolan was dumbstruck, her face pale, clutching her phone without being able to react for a long time. She never expected things to turn out exactly as Lin Wu had said! She was even more surprised. That South Street, this little rundown place, could also develop. What to do now? In the past, it was the landlord who pleaded with her to renew the lease for a few more years, and she couldn¡¯t be bothered with the rent. Now tables turned. How the wheel of fortune turns. Now it was her turn to plead with the landlord. Ma Xiaolan¡¯s heart was indescribably uncomfortable. Seeing her sister silent, Ma Dawen anxiously asked, ¡°Sis, what did the landlord say?¡± Ma Xiaolan tried to calm herself down and looked at her brother, ¡°The, the landlord said he won¡¯t sell, not even for eight million. He also mentioned raising the price after the contract expires...¡± No one knew how much Ma Xiaolan regretted. She regretted not listening to Lin Wu. She regretted even more that she had not bought a shop when she learned that Lin Wu was buying one! If she had bought one as well, she wouldn¡¯t be facing the landlord¡¯s scorn now. Ma Dawen frowned slightly, ¡°Sis, don¡¯t worry. Not everyone watches the news. Why don¡¯t we go to an agent now to see if we can find a shop to buy at a low price or to rent long-term?¡± After all, the news had just come out; how could anyone react so quickly? ¡°Okay!¡± Ma Xiaolan immediately dropped the spatula and told her staff, before hurriedly following her brother¡¯s steps. But... The two ran through all the agencies on South Street and could not find a single shop priced below 36,000 yuan per square meter, and even for that price, the developers and secondary landlords were not willing to sell. Wu Qiang also got the news immediately and ran back to inform his wife. He Meili was drinking water when she heard this, and the cup dropped to the ground, ¡°What?¡± How could this be sounding like a dream? Just last night when closing up and heading home, a real estate agent had called her, asking if she wanted to buy a shop for 800,000 yuan a set. Wu Qiang repeated what he had just said. ¡°Now, the two-story small shops all over South Street have risen to 30,000 a month, and the price of buildings soared to 36,000 yuan per square meter!¡± Hearing this, He Meili¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, ¡°Is, is this news reliable?¡± ¡°It¡¯s already on the news, what do you think?¡± Wu Qiang continued, ¡°I also just called Lingling and her friends, Lingling said she just got the news.¡± Lingling is their niece, working in the tourism bureau. Hearing this, He Meili took a deep breath; no wonder she felt that there were more and more tourists on South Street lately, she thought it was an illusion! It wasn¡¯t an illusion. It was real. He Meili struggled to calm herself down and looked at Wu Qiang, ¡°Then let¡¯s hurry to the agency right now, while the prices haven¡¯t completely skyrocketed, and quickly buy a shop!¡± Even if it means borrowing money, we must buy! The current housing price on South Street is only thirty-six thousand per square meter, and who knows, it might be forty-six thousand tomorrow. What booming tourist attraction doesn¡¯t have housing prices in the six figures? ¡°It¡¯s too late,¡± Wu Qiang frowned slightly, ¡°Now every real estate agency is packed with people, but they are all only renting, not selling.¡± Nobody is a fool. With the current daily changes, housing prices will surely get higher in the future. Renting out will definitely earn more than selling. Hearing this, He Meili almost fainted on the spot. Everything was normal just yesterday. How did it turn out like this today? ¡°If only we had listened to Xiao Wu¡¯s advice and bought a shop with them!¡± By the end, He Meili sighed deeply. Now she was full of regret. But this world has everything. The only thing missing is a cure for regret. Wu Qiang also sighed, ¡°Who would have thought the situation would change so abruptly?¡± As he finished speaking, Wu Qiang looked at He Meili and continued, ¡°But we¡¯re already a lot luckier than most people! We at least renewed our lease for three years before the changes took place! You know, nearly all the merchants on this street rent every three months.¡± Based on the current monthly rent of thirty thousand, renting for three years would cost 1.08 million in rent! And they only spent 360 thousand to rent for three years! They saved over seven hundred thousand. In these three years, even if they didn¡¯t do any business and just sublet the shop, they could make a clear profit of seven hundred thousand! Furthermore, this is under the condition that the rent doesn¡¯t increase for the next three years. Given the current situation, a small shop with over four hundred square meters on two floors will definitely cost more than thirty thousand a month. By then, they could earn even more. Thinking of this, He Meili¡¯s heart felt much better, ¡°You¡¯re right, I¡¯m not sure about others, but Ma Xiaolan from Zhang Ji Restaurant was making fun of Xiao Wu¡¯s family at that time!¡± And now, karma has come. Wu Qiang squinted, ¡°It¡¯s Xiao Wu who is far-sighted¡ª not only did she rent for five years, but she also got her aunt to buy a shop!¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± He Meili looked at Wu Qiang and then said, ¡°You go buy some fruit, I¡¯ll go see Xiao Wu later.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Wu Qiang nodded. This matter really does deserve a proper thank you to Lin Wu. Before long, Wu Qiang brought the fruit back, and He Meili carried the fruit to Beauty Chant. Lin Guixiang was upstairs learning how to operate the fully automatic equipment with Lin Wu. Zhao Cuinong was greeting customers on the first floor. ¡°Hello, the Immortal Phoenix is sold out for today, please come earlier tomorrow.¡± ¡°How could it be sold out so fast?¡± the young girl exclaimed in surprise. It was only one in the afternoon! Zhao Cuinong smiled and said, ¡°There have been a bit more customers these past two days, no worries, I¡¯ll give you some samples for now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine then!¡± After sending off the customer, Zhao Cuinong turned to He Meili, ¡°Sister He, how come you have time to come over now?¡± One o¡¯clock was the peak period for the clothing store right after lunch break. He Meili looked at Zhao Cuinong, ¡°Where¡¯s Xiao Wu?¡± ¡°Upstairs.¡± Zhao Cuinong smiled and said, ¡°You looking for her for something important?¡± ¡°Something important! A really big deal!¡± He Meili continued, ¡°I need to properly thank her!¡± ¡°Thank her for what?¡± Zhao Cuinong looked puzzled. Seeing Zhao Cuinong¡¯s calm face, He Meili widened her eyes, ¡°You don¡¯t know yet?¡± Chapter 45 - 45 042 Murderous Intent_1 ?Chapter 45: 042: Murderous Intent_1 Chapter 45: 042: Murderous Intent_1 Hearing this, Zhao Cui Nong became even more bewildered. Know what? Know what? Zhao Cui Nong then said, ¡°Sister He, just tell me straight what it¡¯s about! Stop keeping me in suspense.¡± He Meili put down what she was holding and began to talk about the situation on South Street. Upon hearing this. Zhao Cui Nong¡¯s eyes widened, and a look of astonishment almost spilled from them. ¡°My goodness!¡± Zhao Cui Nong swallowed hard, even stuttering as she spoke, ¡°Is this... this... this really true?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s true! Don¡¯t any of you watch the news?¡± Now, this matter had already hit the hot search lists on all major platforms. Zhao Cui Nong took a deep breath and looked at He Meili, then said, ¡°Sister He, wait a moment, I¡¯ll go call Xiao Wu and my eldest sister.¡± She was too excited. Her heartbeat quickened. If what He Meili said was true, how much money had she made? Eight hundred thousand turned into eight million? Bodhisattva! She had never seen so much money in her life. Zhao Cui Nong ran upstairs in one breath, ¡°Xiao Wu!¡± ¡°Auntie,¡± Lin Wu was busy dividing skincare products into packaging boxes. The second floor had a total of over two hundred square meters; while it was still sufficient for their use, normally Lin Guixiang needed to help downstairs as well as monitor the machines upstairs, which was a bit too much for one person to handle, so they needed to hire two assistants for Lin Guixiang. Zhao Cui Nong continued, ¡°Xiao Wu, come downstairs with your mom quickly.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Guixiang asked with perplexity, ¡°Cui Nong, what has happened?¡± At present, the stock in the store was nearly sold out, and they were not overwhelmed with orders. Zhao Cui Nong then shared He Meili¡¯s information. Upon hearing this, Lin Guixiang¡¯s reaction was exactly like Zhao Cui Nong¡¯s, almost dumbfounded, and she even thought she might be hallucinating. Then look at Lin Wu. Calm, unlike a typical seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl. As if the increase in house prices had nothing to do with her whatsoever. The group descended the stairs together. He Meili grabbed Lin Wu¡¯s hand and thanked her repeatedly, ¡°Xiao Wu, you¡¯re simply our family¡¯s little fortune god! If it wasn¡¯t for you, how could we have suddenly signed on to extend our lease with the landlord for three years!¡± Not to mention little fortune god. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to call Lin Wu their family¡¯s lucky star. If it were anyone else, even if they knew about the development on South Street, they wouldn¡¯t have mentioned it to them. But Lin Wu was different. Lin Wu not only told them to rent for as long as possible but even advised them to buy a shop. What a pity. They only took half of Lin Wu¡¯s advice. ¡°Sister He, I just casually mentioned it, the decision to extend the lease was still yours, so the person you should be thanking is yourself,¡± Lin Wu said. The same advice hadn¡¯t been given only to He Meili; many others heard it as well, but only He Meili acted on it. From this, it could be seen. He Meili was a person with vision. He Meili held Lin Wu¡¯s hand and the more she looked, the more she liked her. This girl. Not only had foresight but also humility; she wasn¡¯t basking in her own glory. If it were anyone else, by now their tails would probably be wagging up to the sky, right? But Lin Wu wasn¡¯t like that. He Meili then, picking up the fruit and gifts her husband had bought, said, ¡°Xiao Wu, these are all for you from me! If you want to change into new clothes in the future, just come directly to my store, okay? Don¡¯t be polite with me at all!¡± For someone like Lin Wu, who could be called a little fortune god, to wear their family¡¯s clothes every day was a blessing in He Meili¡¯s eyes. ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Wu took the fruit He Meili handed her, ¡°Thank you, Sister He.¡± ¡°This child, what¡¯s there to thank! I¡¯ve already said don¡¯t be polite with me!¡± He Meili only wished she had such a daughter. If Lin Wu were her daughter, she would wake up laughing from her dreams. After leaving Beauty Chant, He Meili planned to go for lunch since she was too excited at noon and had skipped eating. He Meili arrived at Zhang Ji. The mealtime had already passed, Zhang Ji was somewhat deserted, He Meili found a spot to sit down, ¡°Sister Ma, give me a bowl of covered rice.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Ma Xiaolan was listless, her face no longer bearing the vitality of the past. ¡°Sister Ma, have you encountered some trouble?¡± He Meili continued to ask. Hearing this, Ma Xiaolan looked up at He Meili, then said, ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen the news?¡± It was a wonder that He Meili could still manage to eat. ¡°You mean the thing about Su Garden Ancient Town on South Street being rated as a 5A tourist spot?¡± He Meili asked. ¡°Yeah,¡± Ma Xiaolan went on, ¡°Our rent is going up from 10,000 to 30,000 starting in June, and the landlord wants to sign a new contract every six months!¡± This meant that after half a year, the rent would continue to rise. He Meili smiled and said, ¡°We¡¯re fine, a few days ago, I and Old Wu went to the landlord to renew our contract for three years.¡± Upon hearing this, Ma Xiaolan¡¯s eyes widened. Three years! Seeing Ma Xiaolan¡¯s reaction, He Meili frowned slightly, ¡°Didn¡¯t Xiao Wu tell you about the development plans here?¡± She thought she remembered Lin Wu saying something about it? ¡°She did,¡± Ma Xiaolan said, so distressed she could hardly breathe, ¡°I just didn¡¯t take it to heart.¡± She thought Lin Wu was young and didn¡¯t know anybody, so she did not take Lin Wu¡¯s words seriously... Unexpectedly. If there were regret medicine for sale in this world, she would be eager to buy a hundred bottles. Seeing this, He Meili consoled, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, actually our family just got a three-year lease as well; we only saved over seven hundred thousand in rent compared to you all, and I regret not taking Xiao Wu¡¯s words to heart. If I had, we wouldn¡¯t need to rent a shop right now...¡± Towards the end, He Meili sighed. Had He Meili not mentioned it, it would have been okay, but now that she did, Ma Xiaolan felt even worse! Zhao Cuinong was still immersed in the joy of impending wealth, watching the news several times, and then sent the good news to Lin Bingqiang. Lin Bingqiang was busy with work and couldn¡¯t check WeChat while on the job, so he hadn¡¯t replied yet. Later, Zhao Cuinong shared the good news in her maternal family¡¯s group chat. After sharing it in her maternal family¡¯s group chat, Zhao Cuinong felt that something was missing, so she shared the good news in her in-laws¡¯ family group chat as well. This group included Lin Guixiang, Lin Wu, Lin Guimei, and the family of three of Sun Dingbang. Zhao Cuinong first forwarded the news about the development of South Street into the group. Ding. Lin Guimei was zoning out at the cash register. Just then, her phone received a WeChat message. It was from the ¡°Close-Knit Family¡± group chat. Lin Guimei slightly furrowed her brows. What did Zhao Cuinong mean by this? Forwarding a piece of news? Didn¡¯t she know there was an illiterate in the group who couldn¡¯t understand the news? Lin Guimei sent a voice message, ¡°Cui Nong, if there¡¯s anything, just send a voice message.¡± One should at least accommodate the illiterate. Zhao Cuinong promptly sent a voice message over, ¡°Second sister, did you see the news I forwarded? Recently, South Street has become a hot spot for internet celebrities, and Su Garden Ancient Town has been rated as a 5A tourist spot!¡± After listening to this voice message, Lin Guimei narrowed her eyes. That small broken place on South Street could be rated as a 5A tourist spot? What a joke! Lin Guimei clicked on the news with skepticism. The next second, she was utterly stunned! What Zhao Cuinong said was all true! The news even featured a video statement by the head of the South Street Cultural and Tourism Bureau, warmly inviting people from across the country to join the Hanfu Festival in Su Garden Ancient Town. Hanfu Festival? Hearing this, Lin Guimei frowned slightly. How had she not known about this Hanfu Festival? After watching the news, Lin Guimei couldn¡¯t describe her feelings¡ªit was a mix of anger and resentment. How could Lin Wu have guessed it right? That countryside girl. Why her? Zhao Cuinong, as if to strike at the heart, sent another voice message, ¡°Second sister, back then Qiangzi even told you to buy a shop as well, but you refused. Now look what¡¯s happened! The price went from 800,000 a shop to 36,000 per square meter! A two-story shop with more than four hundred square meters, you couldn¡¯t afford it now even if you wanted to!¡± Chapter 46 - 46 043 A blind cat runs into a dead mouse_1 ?Chapter 46: 043: A blind cat runs into a dead mouse_1 Chapter 46: 043: A blind cat runs into a dead mouse_1 Hearing the voice message sent by Zhao Cuinong, Lin Guimei grew even angrier and grabbed the calculator from the counter, hurling it out. Bang! The calculator shattered to pieces. Customers stepping into the supermarket, intending to shop, were so frightened that they retracted their feet and turned to leave. As a native of Qing City and having run a supermarket for years, Lin Guimei had a total savings of over two million yuan. While two million seemed like a lot, it wasn¡¯t even enough to buy a large flat in the center of Qing City. But two million could buy several shops on South Street! If she had invested all of that two million in shops back then, she would be a billionaire by now. Over the years, Lin Guimei¡¯s greatest dream had been to buy an apartment in a high-end community in the city center, a dream that once seemed easily attainable. But now it had shattered! Lin Guimei wanted to cry but had no tears, so angry she clenched her teeth. She had worked so hard to graduate from college, becoming a local of Qing City for over a decade, yet she hadn¡¯t been able to amass such wealth. Yet Lin Guixiang, who hadn¡¯t even completed elementary school, could easily obtain all this! Fate really was unfair. On this side. Having sent a voice message, Zhao Cuinong also thought of Lin Guimei¡¯s possible reaction and couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. Seeing her like this, Lin Guixiang asked curiously, ¡°Cui Nong, what are you laughing at?¡± Zhao Cuinong said, ¡°I¡¯m laughing at how some people are probably hiding under their blankets crying right now!¡± If she were Lin Guimei, she would just cry herself to death. What¡¯s the difference between this behavior and winning a billion-yuan lottery prize, only to lose the ticket on the day of the drawing? Lin Guimei was too haughty and arrogant, and it was about time she suffered a little. ¡°Who?¡± Lin Guixiang asked. ¡°Second sister,¡± Zhao Cuinong continued, ¡°We all advised her to buy a shop too, but not only did she not appreciate that, she also advised us against buying. I will never forget the way she pointed and directed us.¡± Zhao Cuinong genuinely disliked Lin Guimei. Despite also being from the countryside, she looked down on her older sister from the same village? People who forget their roots like that deserve not to get rich. At this, Zhao Cuinong looked toward Lin Guixiang, ¡°Big sister, have you felt that second sister has changed a lot?¡± It wasn¡¯t that she was instigating a rift between the two sisters. It was that some of the things Lin Guimei had done were just too much. Upon hearing this, Lin Guixiang sighed, ¡°After living in Qing City for so many years, she has certainly changed a bit.¡± ** In the afternoon. Lin Wu and Zhao Cuinong went with Feng Jiaoqian to pay the deed tax. Although Feng Jiaoqian was smiling, her mood was very sour. If she had known how quickly things would change, she would have taken out loans to buy more shops! If she had bought ten or eight shops, where would she need to work as an underappreciated saleswoman now? Then there was Lin Wu. At such a young age, not even eighteen, she already owned real estate! She was truly a winner in life. Just then, Feng Qiaoqiao happened to run into Feng Jiaoqian upstairs from the supermarket. Following behind Feng Jiaoqian were Lin Wu and Zhao Cuinong. Feng Qiaoqiao narrowed her eyes. Why would Zhao Cuinong and Lin Wu be with Feng Jiaoqian? Could it be they wanted to break the deal? Didn¡¯t want to buy the shops anymore? Yes! That must be it. With this thought, Feng Qiaoqiao immediately stopped her car and called out to Feng Jiaoqian, ¡°Jiaoqian!¡± Feng Jiaoqian saw Feng Qiaoqiao pull over and told Zhao Cuinong and Lin Wu to wait a moment before jogging over to the roadside, ¡°What¡¯s up, Auntie?¡± Feng Qiaoqiao held the steering wheel with one hand and turned her head to look at Feng Jiaoqian, squinting her eyes, ¡°Were those two coming to see you to break the contract? I¡¯m telling you, you must not let them succeed!¡± Since the contract had been signed, of course, the legal rules had to be followed. Upon hearing this, Feng Jiaoqian sighed, ¡°Auntie, it seems you are still not aware of that matter?¡± ¡°What matter?¡± Feng Qiaoqiao asked. Feng Jiaoqian spoke concisely, ¡°Su Garden Ancient Town on South Street has been rated as 5A now, and the price for all the shops in the scenic area has soared to over thirty thousand per square meter! Zhao Cuinong and Lin Wu came over today to pay the deed tax.¡± ¡°What?¡± Feng Qiaoqiao¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Feng Jiaoqian heaved another sigh, ¡°I never expected things to turn out this way.¡± With that said, Feng Jiaoqian followed up, ¡°Auntie, I can¡¯t talk to you anymore, they¡¯re still waiting for me!¡± At that moment, Feng Qiaoqiao grabbed Feng Jiaoqian¡¯s hand, ¡°Jiaoqian! They haven¡¯t paid the deed tax yet, right? Then don¡¯t pay it for them, and don¡¯t sell the shop to them either. There are two shops, how about we each take one?¡± Although Feng Qiaoqiao didn¡¯t have much money, she could still afford eight hundred thousand. Trading eight hundred thousand for eight million was still a great deal! What¡¯s more. A single shop on South Street is now worth even more than eight million. Upon hearing this, Feng Jiaoqian replied in an exasperated tone, ¡°Auntie, what are you talking about? The contract has been signed, and the ownership transferred! The only remaining part is the deed tax, and even if I don¡¯t take them, they can still pay it themselves.¡± If it were still possible to go back on the deal and buy it back herself, she wouldn¡¯t have waited for Feng Qiaoqiao to suggest it. Upon hearing this, Feng Qiaoqiao furrowed her brow slightly and sighed, ¡°How did things suddenly turn out like this?¡± ¡°How would I know!¡± Feng Jiaoqian was even more speechless. She was still an insider employee at the real estate company! Even she had no clue about this. Feng Jiaoqian then said, ¡°Auntie, I really have to go now, see you later.¡± As she finished speaking, she turned and left. Feng Qiaoqiao watched her niece¡¯s back and felt like smashing her head against the steering wheel. If only she had known, she would have bought a house along with Lin Wu and Zhao Cuinong that very day. But now, she could only watch as Zhao Cuinong and Lin Wu got rich. ¡ª¡ª At the end of the workday in the evening, Lin Bingqiang also heard the good news and immediately drove to the nearby fresh market to buy some groceries. He planned to celebrate in style that night. To celebrate, Lin Bingqiang even bought a king crab worth a few thousand yuan and a bunch of seafood. On any other day, Zhao Cuinong would have scolded him for wasting money. But not today. Instead of scolding him, she smiled and said, ¡°This crab is so big, our family can¡¯t finish it. Go and call your second sister over, and Shan Shan is also home for the day off.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lin Bingqiang nodded. The dinner was very lavish. At the dinner table, Zhao Cuinong kept praising Lin Wu, ¡°Xiao Wu is really so farsighted. If not for her, how could my sister and I have each bought a shop?¡± Lin Guimei felt a mix of emotions and forced a smile. Sun Shanshan¡¯s face was even more complicated. So what! Wasn¡¯t it just a blind cat running into a dead mouse? Did Lin Wu really think she was some kind of prodigy who understood how to analyze the situation? What a big joke. Lin Wu might have the luck to come across a windfall, but did she have the ability to hold onto it? Just wait and see! That shabby shop would be seized by the court sooner or later due to problems with the skincare products created by Lin Wu! Not only would the shop be lost, but Lin Wu herself would be sentenced to prison. With this thought, Sun Shanshan¡¯s face brightened a bit. She picked up her drink, turned to Lin Wu, and said, ¡°Cousin, you are so amazing, I¡¯d like to toast to you.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Lin Wu raised her cup. Sun Shanshan squinted her eyes, ¡°In just over twenty days, there will be the entrance exam for transfer students at Qingzhong School. Since you can analyze the situation in Qing City so clearly, I¡¯m sure you will astonish everyone.¡± Chapter 47 - 47 044 Young and vigorous_1 ?Chapter 47: 044: Young and vigorous_1 Chapter 47: 044: Young and vigorous_1 Lin Wu laughed so happily now, but after the transfer student exam, she would cry miserably! She was too arrogant. Little did she know she was but a frog in a well who has never seen the world. Lin Wu accepted Sun Shanshan¡¯s good wishes without hesitation, her lips curving into a faint smile, ¡°Thank you, I also think I will definitely come out on top and dazzle everyone.¡± Just like that. Not humble in the slightest. Yet, it didn¡¯t seem out of place at all, as if she was the proud moon shining brightly in the dark night. As if she was meant to be just like that. Sun Shanshan sneered internally. Disgusting little country bumpkin. Lin Guimei glanced at Lin Wu, her brow furrowing slightly, then she spoke with a smile, ¡°Xiao Wu, when the moon is full, it wanes; when a river is full, it overflows. The results aren¡¯t out yet, and you¡¯re so confident. If the exam results aren¡¯t as good, what will you do? Sometimes, being lucky doesn¡¯t mean you have the ability! As the saying goes, one is never too old to learn. Your aunt was also as spirited as you when she was young, but she suffered quite a bit because of it!¡± She just couldn¡¯t stand Lin Wu¡¯s arrogance. Sun Shanshan had attended various training classes since she was young, not only with excellent grades but also with various special skills. What could Lin Wu do? What was a country girl who knew nothing good for, to step on Sun Shanshan? Moreover, Lin Wu¡¯s good luck was only temporary. Could she be lucky for a lifetime? Only Sun Shanshan¡¯s abilities were things that could stay with her for a lifetime! Hearing this, Lin Wu slightly lifted her gaze, just looking at Lin Guimei. Her eyes were shimmering, and her words were even more powerfully stated, ¡°Auntie, being youthful and spirited is different from being young and ignorant. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll follow in your footsteps because, after all, the strength is right here.¡± Her voice was light, yet it resonated with power. Lin Guimei¡¯s face turned white with anger. This bratty girl dared to mock her for being young and ignorant! Utterly disrespectful. Guixiang really didn¡¯t know how to raise her children. A wild child will always be a wild child! No wonder the Zhang family didn¡¯t want her. Lin Guimei struggled to suppress the fury within her and forced a smile, ¡°Indeed, the new waves push the old ones forward. Then, Auntie will congratulate you in advance on getting into Qingzhong School and being admitted to the priority ¡®985¡¯ program, becoming a female tycoon.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Lin Wu still accepted it without error. ¡ª¡ª The next morning. Guixiang went out to South Street. Zhao Cuinong had gone back to her parents¡¯ home to discuss renovating the shop with her brother, so this morning, it was just Guixiang alone. As soon as she walked out of the apartment building¡¯s entrance, she saw Feng Qiaoqiao and Xiao Zhou also heading out. Guixiang greeted them with a smile, ¡°Sister Feng, Xiao Zhou, good morning.¡± Feng Qiaoqiao also had a smile on her face, ¡°Good morning.¡± As soon as they left the courtyard, Feng Qiaoqiao¡¯s demeanor changed, and she whispered, ¡°Xiao Zhou, do you know?¡± ¡°Know what?¡± Xiao Zhou asked curiously. Feng Qiaoqiao narrowed her eyes, ¡°Guixiang and Zhao Cuinong bought shops on South Street, and each one bought a set!¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhou¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Really? I heard that they¡¯ve started to build the subway on South Street, and it was even rated as 5A. Now the housing prices have skyrocketed by dozens of times!¡± A lot of people regretted not buying properties there. Speaking of this, Feng Qiaoqiao felt extremely pained, ¡°Guixiang really has good luck, managed to buy a two-story shop for 800,000 just before the news broke out!¡± At this, Feng Qiaoqiao narrowed her eyes, ¡°Tell me, where did a recently-divorced woman from the countryside get so much money?¡± Even though Zhao Cuinong said it was Lin Wu who analyzed the situation. But Feng Qiaoqiao didn¡¯t believe it at all. How old is Lin Wu? What does she know? There must be something fishy going on. Hearing this, Xiao Zhou also narrowed his eyes. Feng Qiaoqiao had a point. Guixiang couldn¡¯t read, had no proper job, so where did all the money come from? Feng Qiaoqiao continued, ¡°Although Guixiang opened some skincare shop, do you think young people would dare to use those kinds of unlicensed products? So, I guess...¡± As she spoke, Feng Qiaoqiao deliberately paused, ¡°She must be selling herself out there!¡± What are women most afraid of? It was nothing more than spreading salacious rumors. What could be more important than one¡¯s reputation? Feng Qiaoqiao described it so vividly, as if she had witnessed everything with her own eyes. Xiao Zhou frowned slightly, ¡°But I feel like Mother Xiao Wu doesn¡¯t seem like that kind of person....¡± Although they hadn¡¯t spent much time together, Lin Guixiang was honest and hardworking, and always very warm-hearted. So Xiao Zhou had a rather good impression of her. ¡°Not that kind of person?¡± Feng Qiaoqiao snorted coldly. ¡°If she wasn¡¯t that kind of person, how could she have bought a shop on South Street so quickly? And haven¡¯t you noticed she¡¯s become much prettier recently? What do you think is the reason she got divorced? It must be because she was caught doing shameless things on the side, which is why her man kicked her out!¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhou nodded, feeling that Feng Qiaoqiao might have a point. Logically speaking, since Lin Guixiang was so beautiful and her daughter was also bright and clever, if it wasn¡¯t for improper behavior, her husband wouldn¡¯t have wanted a divorce. Rumors are always the fastest to spread in this world. In less than an afternoon. The whole courtyard was abuzz with Lin Guixiang¡¯s scandalous rumors. ¡ª¡ª Lin Wu pushed her bike along the road. That¡¯s right. Her tire had burst again. It seemed... She would need to change the tire. But after searching the entire street, she couldn¡¯t find a bicycle repair shop. With no other choice, Lin Wu had to push her bike for half an hour to get to Lu Ye¡¯s repair shop. Xue Jinghao leaned against the doorframe, and when he saw Lin Wu pushing her bicycle, he raised an eyebrow, looked at Heizi beside him, and said with a sly smirk, ¡°Bet, Sister Lin¡¯s tire has burst again!¡± Heizi glanced up slightly. Before him stood a girl around seventeen or eighteen, her features delicate and distinct¡ªa contrast to what one would expect from a manipulated image in a video that could render someone unrealistically beautiful. But upon closer inspection. The person was even more stunning than she appeared in the video, by far more than ten times. ¡°Good afternoon, Sister,¡± he greeted. ¡°Hello,¡± Lin Wu replied, looking at Xue Jinghao, then continued, ¡°Is Old Iron not around today?¡± Old Iron? Xue Jinghao wore a puzzled expression. Was there someone named Old Iron at the repair shop? Who was Lin Wu looking for? Before Xue Jinghao could say anything, Lu Ye came from behind, ¡°I¡¯m here, what¡¯s up?¡± Lin Wu sighed softly, ¡°The tire burst again, can you replace it?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xue Jinghao watched the interaction between the two with a face full of question marks. When had his third brother suddenly changed his name to Old Iron? Yet, Lin Wu called him that so naturally. And Lu Ye responded just as naturally. Even Heizi was shocked! Having followed his boss for so long, he had no idea that his boss had a nickname. And... It was so down to earth! Lu Ye¡¯s face was expressionless as he undid the delicate cufflinks of his shirt, revealing a section of his firm, white arm. In a moment, Lu Ye squatted down to check the tire, ¡°Hand me the wrench.¡± This was directed at Xue Jinghao, but since the wrench was right next to Lin Wu, she handed it to him. Lu Ye took the wrench without looking up. The next second, his hand touched hers. Soft and delicate. Smooth as jade. Lu Ye realized something was amiss. Xue Jinghao¡¯s hands were rougher than hammers¡ªhow could it feel like this? He raised his gaze to see Lin Wu¡¯s face and quickly drew back his hand as if shocked by electricity, ¡°Sorry.¡± Chapter 48 - 48 045 Annual Trending List_1 ?Chapter 48: 045: Annual Trending List!_1 Chapter 48: 045: Annual Trending List!_1 Lu Ye was twenty-six years old this year. The women he most often came into contact with were Grandma Lu and his aunt Bai Lu, as well as Lu Da, the lady-killer Lu Lingli. It was his first time touching a girl¡¯s hand. Thump, thump, thump. His heart started to beat uncontrollably. His cheeks were even redder and hotter. Lu Ye tried hard to calm himself down, but the hand holding the wrench was shaking uncontrollably. If he kept shaking like this, Lu Ye even started to wonder if he had Parkinson¡¯s. Looking at Lin Wu, she still had that light and breezy demeanor, as if nothing had happened, her voice even mild, ¡°No worries, why fuss over a small gesture in the jianghu?¡± In fact. Miss Lin¡¯s palm was coated in a layer of cold sweat. Phew! Stay calm, stay calm. After all, she had been through big events before. Hearing this, Lu Ye breathed a sigh of relief. Good. He had not been mistaken for a libertine. But his heart rate didn¡¯t slow down at all. Xue Jinghao was like a big gorilla watching a drama, with the color of gossip in his eyes about to overflow, he leaned into Heizi¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°Did you see that!¡± ¡°See what?¡± Heizi was curious. Xue Jinghao continued, ¡°Third Brother¡¯s face is all red!¡± Heizi turned his head to look. One shouldn¡¯t look too carelessly. This look. Tsk. It wasn¡¯t just his face that was red; even his neck was red, all the way down to the depths of his shirt. Xue Jinghao went on gossiping, ¡°Didn¡¯t expect Third Brother to be such a romantic, blushing like that from a touch of the hand! If I¡¯m not mistaken, he must still be a virgin.¡± In the end, he revealed a sleazy smile. Hearing this, Heizi¡¯s eyes widened. Having been by Lu Ye¡¯s side for three years, he knew Lu Ye was a man of integrity, but he had no idea Lu Ye was this sentimental. Which rich person around him wasn¡¯t surrounded by women? Living a life of luxury and pleasure. Mistress after mistress? Yet Lu Ye, standing at the pyramid¡¯s apex, had not a single scandal to his name¡ªtruly rare! Heizi asked curiously, ¡°Has the boss never been in a relationship before?¡± ¡°Never.¡± Heizi was even more shocked! Mr. K himself. Had never even been in a relationship. Who would believe it if you told them? Lin Wu took a tissue to wipe the sweat from her palm and found a stool to sit down. Xue Jinghao walked over and said with a smile, ¡°Hello sister, my name is Xue Jinghao, you can call me...¡± Before he could finish saying ¡®brother,¡¯ Lu Ye, who was changing the tire, interrupted, ¡°Just call him Sixth Xue.¡± Xue Jinghao smiled, ¡°Right, right, right, just call me Sixth Xue. And this guy here is Heizi.¡± Compared to Xue Jinghao¡¯s sociability, Heizi was a bit more socially anxious, merely nodding at Lin Wu. Lin Wu lifted the corners of her mouth slightly, ¡°Hello, my name is Lin Wu.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll call you Sister Lin from now on.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Xue Jinghao wanted to say more but accidentally met Lu Ye¡¯s gaze and immediately changed his tune, ¡°I just remembered I have a very important thing to do! Heizi, come with me.¡± Heizi hadn¡¯t even reacted before Xue Jinghao dragged him out the door. The two left the repair shop. Heizi scratched his head, curious, ¡°What important thing do you have to do that¡¯s so urgent?¡± ¡°You really have a log for a brain!¡± Xue Jinghao shook his head helplessly. The clueless otaku. No wonder he couldn¡¯t find a girlfriend. Heizi stared, not understanding the meaning behind Xue Jinghao¡¯s words. Xue Jinghao then said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice that Third Brother¡¯s look at us changed? It¡¯s pretty obvious he despises us for being third wheels!¡± Xue Jinghao had an intuition, they¡¯d need to leave the repair shop soon, or Jiang Shaoyun, currently in F Continent, would find himself a companion. Thinking of this, Xue Jinghao got a fright. Luckily, he ran away fast. Hearing this, Heizi finally realized, ¡°You mean the boss likes Sister Lin?¡± Xue Jinghao narrowed his eyes, ¡°I feel there¡¯s an eighty percent chance.¡± Heizi was very surprised, ¡°No wonder the boss insisted on me investigating Sister Lin.¡± Saying he suspected Sister Lin was Dr. M. Absolutely nonsensical. With Sister Lin¡¯s age, how could she possibly be Dr. M? Xue Jinghao continued, ¡°Look how indulgent Third Brother is towards Sister Lin! I¡¯ve known Third Brother for so long, and I never knew he had a nickname ¡®Old Iron¡¯!¡± Heizi nodded, feeling that Xue Jinghao made a lot of sense. After Xue Jinghao and Heizi left, the repair shop was left with only Lu Ye and Lin Wu. Lin Wu sat by the table, propping her chin with one hand, just watching Lu Ye repair the car. The man was half-squatting there, dressed in a spotless white shirt, the topmost button undone, the collar slightly open, sleeves rolled up to the forearms, revealing a hefty wristwatch. He wore black trousers, such simple attire, yet it exuded an authoritative aura that made people hesitant to look directly. Ten minutes later. Lu Ye finished setting up the backend and stood up, ¡°Done.¡± ¡°That was quick?¡± Lin Wu also stood up. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°How much, Old Iron?¡± ¡°Thirty-eight.¡± Lin Wu took out her phone, ¡°I didn¡¯t bring any cash today; I¡¯ll WeChat you.¡± ¡°My phone¡¯s out of battery. How about you add me on WeChat and transfer the money once my phone¡¯s charged?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Lin Wu slightly nodded her head, ¡°What¡¯s your WeChat ID?¡± Lu Ye recited a string of numbers. Lin Wu found a user, ¡°Is the WeChat name a capital ¡®L¡¯?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Lin Wu added him, ¡°I¡¯ll transfer it to you when I get home.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Ye gave a slight nod. With that, Lin Wu pushed her bike and left. Xue Jinghao and Heizi were nearby and saw Lin Wu pushing her bike away. Only then did they approach the repair shop. ¡°Third Brother.¡± Xue Jinghao¡¯s sly expression alone indicated he wasn¡¯t harboring any good secrets. Lu Ye looked up at him and said just one word, ¡°Spill.¡± Xue Jinghao went on, ¡°Third Brother, do you like Sister Lin?¡± Like? His feelings for the child were like those of a brother for his sister. Definitely not liking. Just mere admiration. Lu Ye slightly raised an eyebrow, ¡°I believe in non-marriage.¡± Xue Jinghao squinted his eyes. Lu Ye turned his gaze to Heizi, ¡°How¡¯s the investigation on W going?¡± Heizi said, ¡°Still hasn¡¯t come online.¡± Upon hearing this, Xue Jinghao¡¯s attention was immediately captured, ¡°Hasn¡¯t come online? If I remember correctly, Ghost Path already made it to the annual List of Influencers, right?¡± The total number of downloads for Ghost Path across the net has already hit an astonishing one billion! Heizi continued, ¡°The Huaxia Game Association awarded W two annual best awards, but no one has claimed them so far.¡± Lu Ye narrowed his eyes slightly. His curiosity about this W, whom he had never met, was growing. As Heizi spoke, he seemed to remember something and looked up at Lu Ye, ¡°By the way, Third Brother, I found through tracking W¡¯s account that he¡¯s also in Qing City.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Lu Ye asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± Heizi nodded, ¡°At least before the last log-in he was in Qing City.¡± Xue Jinghao¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Damn! So many significant figures are in Qing City!¡± First Dr. M! Now the gaming genius W. What magic does Qing City hold? Lu Ye continued, ¡°Then search! Conduct a carpet search in Qing City for people between 30-50 years old, regardless of gender. But focus on homebodies.¡± Chapter 49 - 49 046 Irresistible Beauty_1 ?Chapter 49: 046: Irresistible Beauty_1 Chapter 49: 046: Irresistible Beauty_1 Lu Ye had meticulously studied Ghost Path. He was certain the developer must be female. But there were always exceptions. So he couldn¡¯t be too rigid about the gender. However, the age difference shouldn¡¯t be significant. The research-intensive nature of W towards the game definitely wasn¡¯t something a teenager or someone in their twenties could possess. Heizi nodded his head, ¡°Got it, boss.¡± ¡°If anything comes up, report to me immediately.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Heizi continued nodding. Lu Ye lit a cigarette and turned to Xue Jinghao, ¡°Anything unusual with the Su Family lately?¡± ¡°Not for the time being,¡± Xue Jinghao shook his head, ¡°Third Brother, do we cut off their collaboration with Europe directly?¡± Lu Ye took a puff of his cigarette, thin lips releasing layers of smoke, his tone low, ¡°No need.¡± Compared to pulling the rug out from under someone. He preferred boiling a frog in warm water. As he finished speaking, Lu Ye turned and entered the shop, picked up the mobile phone on the table, and just as he opened WeChat, he saw the friend request from the child. He was about to accept. But the finger about to touch the screen stopped 0.1 centimeter away. Wait a bit longer. How could a phone charge so quickly? On the other side. Having used Immortal Phoenix for three consecutive days, Grandma Lu noticeably felt the spots on her face had lightened a lot. But to be certain it wasn¡¯t her imagination, Grandma Lu still pulled out a photo she had taken three days ago from her phone. Indeed! Immortal Phoenix was effective. The most obvious was the dark spot at the corner of her eye. The spot, originally the size of half a little fingernail, had not only shrunk but also lightened a lot in color, turning from black to light brown. Upon confirming this, Grandma Lu was extremely excited. She immediately rushed downstairs to share the good news with Bai Lu. Upon arriving downstairs, she learned from a servant that Bai Lu had gone to play cards. She wasn¡¯t at home at the moment. Grandma Lu felt a bit disappointed, then said, ¡°Then have Xiao Li prepare, I¡¯ll be ready to go out in ten minutes.¡± The servant nodded, ¡°All right.¡± Grandma Lu continued, ¡°And take the ginseng and deer antler I bought last time to the car as well.¡± The servant kept nodding. Ten minutes later, Grandma Lu got into the car, ¡°To South Street.¡± ¡°All right, Grandma Lu,¡± Xiao Li then said, ¡°South Street has recently been hyped by a bunch of internet celebrities. There are a lot of tourists coming every day, so there might be some traffic congestion.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Grandma Lu leaned back in the rear seat, resting with her eyes closed, ¡°I¡¯m not in a hurry.¡± What usually was a twenty-minute car ride took an entire hour stuck in traffic today. Looking at the crowd outside the window, Grandma Lu squinted her eyes and exclaimed, ¡°The power of technology is truly tremendous!¡± Without advanced technology. Who would come to such a remote place as South Street? There definitely wouldn¡¯t be any Hanfu festival. Xiao Li said with a smile, ¡°The Cultural Tourism Bureau of South Street is quite impressive too!¡± If it hadn¡¯t been for South Street¡¯s Cultural Tourism Bureau seizing the opportunity and collaborating with internet celebrities while riding the wave of popularity, South Street definitely wouldn¡¯t have developed so fast. Grandma Lu nodded, then asked, ¡°Who is now in charge of South Street?¡± ¡°I think his name is Zhao Hu.¡± Xiao Li answered. Grandma Lu said with a smile, ¡°No wonder!¡± Xiao Li was shocked, ¡°You know him?¡± Grandma Lu shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m not very familiar with the younger generation.¡± Soon. The car stopped in front of Beauty Chant. Grandma Lu pushed the door open and got out of the car. Xiao Li took the gifts from the trunk, ¡°Grandma Lu, let me escort you inside.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Grandma Lu tucked her walking stick under her armpit and took two boxes of gifts with both hands, ¡°I can manage on my own.¡± Xiao Li¡¯s eyes went wide! He had always thought the elderly lady was frail and often ill, but he hadn¡¯t expected her to be so formidable. After walking a few steps, Grandma Lu turned back to Xiao Li, ¡°Wait for me here.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Xiao Li nodded. Grandma Lu entered the Beauty Chant store. There were still quite a few customers in the store at that time. The elderly lady was not in a hurry and found a seat to sit down. Zhao Cuinong was somewhat curious as she glanced at Grandma Lu. She wondered who this could be. Somebody who just walks in and finds a seat, quite familiar with the place. Although the store received different customers every day, they had not really had anyone as elderly as Grandma Lu. Looking at the old lady, she probably was in her eighties or nineties, right? After all the customers had left the shop, Zhao Cuinong approached Grandma Lu and asked, ¡°Ma¡¯am, may I ask who you are looking for?¡± Grandma Lu said with a smile, ¡°I am looking for your boss.¡± Zhao Cuinong guessed that the old lady was looking for Lin Guixiang, ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± Lin Guixiang was upstairs, mixing skincare products. Zhao Cuinong went up and said, ¡°Big sister, there¡¯s an old lady downstairs looking for you.¡± An old lady? Lin Guixiang frowned slightly. Who could it be? She didn¡¯t know many people in Qing City. Soon, Lin Guixiang came downstairs, and upon seeing Grandma Lu on the sofa, she said with a smile, ¡°So it¡¯s you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s me!¡± Grandma Lu stood up, ¡°My dear, the Immortal Phoenix you sell here is just too good, I only used it for three or four days and the spots on my face are gone!¡± She was truly amazed. At last, domestic products were seeing the light! As she spoke, Grandma Lu continued, ¡°Dear, about the ten thousand yuan I transferred to you last time, why did you transfer it back to me again?¡± Hearing this, Zhao Cuinong finally realized who the old lady was. It was the one who had a high blood sugar episode. Lin Guixiang brushed a few strands of hair behind her ear, ¡°Auntie, it was just a simple gesture of help, how could I accept so much money from you? By the way, my name is Lin Guixiang, and if you don¡¯t mind, you can call me by my name.¡± After finishing her sentence, Lin Guixiang continued, ¡°This is my sister-in-law Zhao Cuinong, we opened this store together.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhao Cuinong approached Grandma Lu, ¡°Hello Auntie, you can call me Cui Nong.¡± ¡°Good, good!¡± Grandma Lu smiled very kindly, ¡°You two sisters look like you¡¯re not the slick type. Let me introduce myself too, my surname is Jin, and my name is Jin Lan. If you don¡¯t mind, you can call me Aunt Jin. Just at that moment, Lin Wu walked in from outside. Seeing Lin Wu, Zhao Cuinong immediately waved her over, ¡°Xiao Wu, come here.¡± Lin Wu walked over. Lin Guixiang then said, ¡°Aunt Jin, this is my daughter Lin Wu, you can call her Xiao Wu.¡± As she finished speaking, she turned to Lin Wu, ¡°This is Grandma Jin.¡± ¡°Grandma Jin.¡± Lin Wu greeted her with ease and grace. Grandma Lu just watched Lin Wu, her eyes filled with amazement! Such a beautiful young lady. Even a well-traveled woman like Grandma Lu was captivated by her beauty at first sight. This was a kind of beauty that could not be described in words. Humans are sensory creatures. They can¡¯t resist beautiful things. If such a beautiful young lady could become her granddaughter-in-law, she¡¯d wake up laughing even in her dreams, wouldn¡¯t she? Grandma Lu reached out and took Lin Wu¡¯s hand, the affection in her eyes impossible to hide, ¡°My goodness! Xiao Wu, you are really too beautiful!¡± Lin Wu¡¯s finger just happened to be on Grandma Lu¡¯s wrist. The pulse of the elderly lady was not too good. In traditional Chinese medicine, observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking are essential, and Lin Wu hadn¡¯t noticed at first, but now looking at Grandma Lu¡¯s complexion, she could tell¡ªher forehead was yellowish and darker than normal, and her lips were much paler than those of an average person. These were signs of an impending serious illness. It was essential to go to the hospital immediately to intervene. If not treated at the hospital in time, the consequences were unimaginable. With a heart of medical compassion, knowing the current state of Grandma Lu, Lin Wu naturally couldn¡¯t ignore it, and she said with a smile, ¡°Grandma Jin, have you been feeling unwell recently, perhaps you¡¯ve had a low fever, right?¡± Upon hearing this, Grandma Lu nodded hurriedly, utterly surprised, ¡°Yes, yes, yes, I did have a slight fever last night! But it went away quickly, how did you know?¡± Chapter 50 - 50 047 Biopsy_1 ?Chapter 50: 047: Biopsy_1 Chapter 50: 047: Biopsy_1 Grandma Lu hadn¡¯t expected Lin Wu to be so formidable. She even knew about the low fever Grandma Lu had recently experienced. She seemed even more incredible than the fortune-teller He Xianzi! ¡°I know a little about traditional Chinese medicine,¡± Lin Wu analyzed based on Grandma Lu¡¯s current condition, ¡°Grandma Jin, have you had any black moles appear on your palm recently?¡± Black moles? Hearing this, Grandma Lu stretched out her right hand, ¡°Xiao Wu, are you talking about this kind of black mole?¡± Indeed, on the palm of Grandma Lu¡¯s right hand was a conspicuous black spot. Lin Wu narrowed her eyes slightly, ¡°Did this mole appear about two months ago?¡± Grandma Lu¡¯s face was filled with surprise, her eyes also reflecting admiration, ¡°Xiao Wu, you¡¯re so accurate!¡± It was Lin Wu¡¯s first time meeting her, and not only did she know about her recent fever, but she also knew about the black mole on her hand. Lin Wu continued, ¡°This kind of mole could be a sign of melanoma, I suggest you go to the hospital for a biopsy. Early detection might prevent the spread of cancer cells.¡± Melanoma! Hearing this, Grandma Lu¡¯s eyes widened. It was just a tiny black mole. Could it really be that serious? Lin Guixiang immediately looked up at Lin Wu, ¡°Xiao Wu, you can¡¯t just say things like that recklessly.¡± Cancer could be a matter of life and death. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not talking recklessly,¡± Lin Wu replied before turning back to Grandma Lu, ¡°Grandma Jin, yours is just beginning to change, going to the hospital in time could cure it, so don¡¯t worry or feel too pressured.¡± Grandma Lu nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± Zhao Cuinong immediately brought over a cup of water, ¡°Aunt Jin, have some water to calm down.¡± Grandma Lu took a big gulp. Zhao Cuinong turned to Lin Wu, anxiety in her voice, ¡°Xiao Wu, I also have a black mole on my arm, it¡¯s not that melanoma thing, is it?¡± ¡°No,¡± Lin Wu reassured her, ¡°Aunt, only suddenly appearing moles carry a risk of cancer. You don¡¯t have to worry.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± After speaking, Lin Wu gave another instruction to Grandma Lu, ¡°Remember to go to the hospital after you get back.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Grandma Lu nodded seriously, then she added, ¡°By the way, Guixiang, do you still have the Lotus Dew for acne treatment? I want to buy a set.¡± ¡°We do,¡± Lin Guixiang smiled, ¡°Today we¡¯ve got just one set left.¡± Because South Street had become a tourist street, there had been a large number of visitors these past few days. The daily turnover had even reached a staggering fifty thousand! Just then, a female customer entered the store, ¡°Is the owner in?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Cuinong immediately approached her. The woman smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that your store has recently started a membership program, is that right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded. The idea of a membership system was also suggested by Lin Wu. And there was even a members¡¯ day every week. The female customer continued, ¡°I¡¯d like to sign up for one, how much is it?¡± Zhao Cuinong said, ¡°200.¡± Hearing this number, the female customer obviously hesitated. 200 might not be a lot, but to the average person, it could be a significant amount nonetheless. Having said that, Zhao Cuinong added, ¡°This membership card is time-limited. It ends on the 10th of next month. If you sign up now, you¡¯ll also get a complimentary box of our new hydrating sleep mask and, furthermore, we¡¯re about to release a new Yellow-Removing Cream exclusively for members.¡± Hearing this, the female customer scanned to make a payment, ¡°Please sign me up for one.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Seeing this, Grandma Lu excitedly stood up, ¡°Guixiang, I want a membership card as well.¡± Lin Guixiang nodded, ¡°Sure.¡± After getting the membership card, Grandma Lu curiously asked, ¡°Guixiang, why do you sell your skincare products so cheaply?¡± A slightly decent skincare set tends to cost over a thousand. And Beauty Chant¡¯s complete set doesn¡¯t even exceed eight hundred yuan. A single set of creams from Hainan Mystery can cost upwards of fifty to sixty thousand yuan. But Beauty Chant is so much more effective than Hainan Mystery, and yet a day¡¯s sales were only equivalent to the price of one set of Hainan Mystery products... it seemed somewhat regrettable. Hearing this, Lin Guixiang smiled as she explained, ¡°Although raising the price could help us select higher-quality customers and increase sales by more than tenfold, Xiao Wu said she wants every girl in the world to be pretty and confident, free from skin anxiety. She wants people from all over the world to see the quality of our Huaxia national products!¡± Grandma Lu¡¯s eyes widened in amazement. It¡¯s hard to imagine that these are the words of an eighteen-year-old girl. The vision of this girl is certainly not comparable to that of ordinary people. Grandma Lu said with a smile, ¡°Guixiang, you¡¯ve taught Xiao Wu very well.¡± Lin Guixiang shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t have such skill. Xiao Wu has always been a self-motivated child, she has never caused me any worry since she was little.¡± The two of them chatted like this all afternoon. It wasn¡¯t until five o¡¯clock in the afternoon that Grandma Lu suggested it was time to leave. After returning home, Grandma Lu shared her encounter at the Beauty Chant with Bai Lu. Upon hearing this, Bai Lu laughed and said, ¡°Mom, do you really believe that? If having a new mole means cancer, then I have several on my arm! Wouldn¡¯t that mean I have several types of cancer?¡± Only the elderly would believe such nonsense. ¡°It¡¯s different!¡± Grandma Lu earnestly explained to Bai Lu, ¡°Xiao Wu said that eighty percent of new moles carry a risk of mutation, especially the black ones.¡± Bai Lu picked up a cup and took a drink, ¡°Mom, how old is that Xiao Wu you¡¯re talking about? Which university did she graduate from?¡± ¡°Xiao Wu is only eighteen and still in her senior year of high school,¡± Grandma Lu replied. ¡°Cough, cough!¡± Bai Lu almost choked on the water she had just swallowed upon hearing this. ¡°Mom, you believe the words of a child?¡± She had thought Xiao Wu was some university professor of medical science referred to by Grandma Lu. At the very least, she must be a medical university student. She didn¡¯t expect her to be just a kid! Grandma Lu took out a bag of spicy strips, eating as she spoke, ¡°You don¡¯t understand, Xiao Wu is really amazing!¡± ¡°How amazing can a kid be?¡± Bai Lu was dismissive, ¡°Mom, she might just be a fraudster trying to trick you into buying things from her shop all the time!¡± ¡°Their skincare products are really good, selling out daily, they don¡¯t need to trick anyone.¡± Bai Lu said with exasperation, ¡°If their products are that great, why haven¡¯t the spots on your face disappeared?¡± Grandma Lu replied, ¡°Removing spots needs to be done gradually, Xiao Wu said the spots on my face will completely disappear in another month!¡± In fact, there had been results, it¡¯s just that Bai Lu hadn¡¯t noticed. Hearing this, Bai Lu¡¯s face was filled with helplessness. ** The next day, Lu Wenyu returned from a business trip and accompanied Grandma Lu to the hospital for a check-up. When Bai Lu learned that her mother-in-law was really going to the hospital for an examination, she said with a laugh, ¡°Mom! Wenyu, it¡¯s just a mole, there¡¯s no need to make a big fuss about it. There are germs everywhere in hospitals!¡± The bodies of the elderly are already weak. Especially now, during the peak of flu season, what if she gets infected? Lu Wenyu furrowed his brows slightly, ¡°It¡¯s still better to go to the hospital for a check-up to be reassured.¡± As one gets older, Fear of illness and disaster is the biggest worry. Bai Lu said helplessly, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll accompany you guys then.¡± Lu Ye drove the three of them to the hospital. Today he was driving the family car. A low-key Volkswagen. They arrived at the hospital in about half an hour. Director Wang personally greeted Grandma Lu and the others. ¡°Grandma Lu, the mole on your palm needs to be cut out for a biopsy to determine if it¡¯s benign or malignant,¡± he said. Lu Wenyu nodded, ¡°Then cut it out.¡± The mole wasn¡¯t big, just a small piece of skin needed to be removed. Very soon, Grandma Lu entered the operating room to have the mole removed. Lu Wenyu, Bai Lu, and Lu Ye waited outside. Ten minutes later. Grandma Lu and Director Wang came out together. Bai Lu immediately approached and asked, ¡°Director Wang, how did it go? Is the result out?¡± Madam Lu,¡± the biopsy will take about seven days. If it turns out to be a malignant tumor, you will need to start medication immediately to block it. If it¡¯s benign, then there¡¯s no worry,¡± he said. As he spoke, Director Wang adjusted his glasses, ¡°However, based on my many years of medical experience, the possibility of the mole on Grandma Lu¡¯s palm being malignant is not high. You all don¡¯t need to worry; just calmly wait for the results.¡± Upon hearing this, Bai Lu breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°I knew it couldn¡¯t be some malignant tumor, it was made to sound too scary! Mom, next time you can¡¯t just believe everything you hear!¡± Chapter 51 - 51 048 Self-awareness_1 ?Chapter 51: 048: Self-awareness_1 Chapter 51: 048: Self-awareness_1 Just a small black mole. What could be wrong with it? Bai Lu never took this matter seriously from the start. Her husband insisted on bringing his mother to the hospital for a checkup, and as a daughter-in-law, she couldn¡¯t stop him, so she only could accompany them. Hearing the director¡¯s words, Lu Wenyu also breathed a sigh of relief, smiling and saying, ¡°It¡¯s good that there¡¯s nothing wrong!¡± But Grandma Lu also relaxed, ¡°Since there¡¯s nothing wrong, let¡¯s not do the biopsy.¡± It would be a waste of resources. Upon hearing this, Lu Ye was a bit worried and looked at Grandma Lu, ¡°We should still do the biopsy we¡¯re supposed to do, consider it as paying for a peace of mind.¡± Lu Wenyu nodded, ¡°Sansan is right, since we¡¯re here, we might as well go ahead with the biopsy.¡± Bai Lu seemed to want to say something, but swallowed her words before they came out. The director chuckled, ¡°Then let¡¯s wait for the biopsy report in seven days.¡± After returning from the hospital. Lu Ye was ready to drive to Mingzhu Plaza; he had made an appointment to discuss matters there. Bai Lu reminded Lu Ye to drive carefully. As she finished speaking, as if she remembered something, she looked at Lu Ye, ¡°Sansan, wait a moment.¡± Lu Ye hit the brakes, ¡°Is there something else you need?¡± Bai Lu walked over with a smiling face, ¡°Sansan, be honest with your aunt, do you really not have a girlfriend?¡± She always felt Lu Ye might have a romantic interest outside; otherwise, which strong and healthy young man wouldn¡¯t want a girlfriend? That¡¯s just too abnormal. ¡°No,¡± Lu Ye said. Bai Lu narrowed her eyes and smiled, ¡°How about I introduce someone to you?¡± She thought Zhang Xianxian would be a good choice. She had already tactfully expressed this to the Zhang family, including Zhang Xianxian, who did not outright refuse, which indicated Zhang Xianxian wasn¡¯t too proud to accept someone of lower status. She definitely wouldn¡¯t look at Lu Ye with prejudiced eyes. Perhaps Zhang Xianxian was truly the destined woman for Lu Ye. Lu Ye suddenly felt overwhelmed, ¡°Aunt...¡± Before he could finish his sentence, just then his cell phone rang; Lu Ye, feeling like he¡¯d been granted a reprieve, took out his phone, and before the caller could speak, he immediately said, ¡°Okay, okay! I¡¯ll be there right away!¡± After speaking, Lu Ye ended the call and looked at Bai Lu, ¡°The people over there are urging me; I have to go now!¡± Watching the black Volkswagen disappear, Bai Lu had nothing but a helpless expression on her face. This child! Jiang Shaoyun on the other end of the phone was utterly confused as he looked at the hung-up call. What¡¯s going on? Was Third Brother still angry? Half an hour later. Lu Ye¡¯s car stopped in the underground parking lot of Mingzhu Plaza. Almost at the same time, a Maybach also stopped nearby. In the next second. A luxurious-looking woman stepped out of the car. Tall, with heavy makeup, clutching a limited-edition Chanel bag, she took off her sunglasses after stepping out and looked at Lu Ye, who was getting out of his car, with disdain in her eyes. Hmph. Daring to drive a broken Volkswagen into Mingzhu Plaza. Mud will always be mud. With no self-awareness whatsoever. Then came a sarcastic voice. ¡°Zishu, are you saying Mingzhu Plaza now lets any Tom, Dick, or Harry in? It¡¯s such bad luck!¡± The speaker¡¯s name was Su Zhirou. She¡¯s the daughter of Qing City¡¯s First Prominent Family¡¯s Old Master Su, only ten years older than Lu Ye, and is also Lu Ye¡¯s aunt-in-law nominally. In Su Zhirou¡¯s eyes, Lu Ye was an unlucky jinx. Trash should stay in the trash can. How could he be qualified to appear in the same upscale places as her? For her, it was an insult. Gross as hell. Upon hearing this, Han Zishu was taken aback, not immediately catching the implication in Su Zhirou¡¯s words, ¡°Is there a dog? Where?¡± Su Zhirou deliberately raised her voice, ¡°Look to your left!¡± ¡°Oh! So that¡¯s the cursed stray dog you¡¯re talking about! Nothing¡¯s more pathetic than a lack of self-awareness in a person or a dog! If I were him, I¡¯d just find a tall building and jump off. How could he still have the face to stroll around a shopping mall?¡± Nobody in Qing City¡¯s elite circles ever took Lu Ye seriously. After all, he was just a bastard child with no parents, fostered by his grandma. Once the Lu Family¡¯s grandparents were gone, he¡¯d simply become a homeless man on the street. Even less than a homeless man. The two of them fed off each other¡¯s energy. Even the security guards patrolling the basement glanced over at them. But Lu Ye continued with his carefree demeanor, taking out a cigarette from his pocket, lighting it up, and heading towards the upper floors. Statuesque as ever. Seeing Lu Ye act this way riled Su Zhirou even more, like punching into cotton, ¡°A bastard will always be a bastard, utterly stubborn and unteachable!¡± If she were Lu Ye, she would definitely feel too ashamed to stay in the mall. But not only did Lu Ye not leave, he even went inside. Shameless! Han Zishu smiled, consoling her, ¡°Zhirou, why lose your cool over a lump of mud? Out of sight, out of mind, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡ª Elsewhere. At Jule Courtyard. Today was Saturday. Several middle-aged women gathered, chatting and munching on sunflower seeds. As soon as Sun Shanshan stepped into the courtyard, she heard their chatter. ¡°Have you heard? The shops on South Street recently soared to over thirty thousand per square meter!¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Xiao Li sighed upon hearing this, ¡°Why couldn¡¯t we have had the foresight to invest in a shop there...¡± Just owning one shop could support their families for a lifetime. ¡°It¡¯s Lin Wu who has the vision and the perspective, just look at how she predicted the development trends on South Street as soon as she arrived in Qing City.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth?¡± Feng Qiaoqiao snorted disdainfully, with a sarcastic tone, ¡°Although the shops on South Street were cheap before, a unit still cost over eight hundred thousand. Even just for a down payment, you¡¯d need over two hundred thousand! Both mother and daughter came from the countryside; have you never wondered where their money comes from?¡± At that, people exchanged knowing looks. Feng Qiaoqiao¡¯s words certainly sparked the imagination. What¡¯s the fastest way to earn money nowadays? Obviously, it¡¯s selling yourself. Upon hearing this, Sun Shanshan also paused in her steps, continuing to listen to the ensuing conversation. Aunt Wang looked at Feng Qiaoqiao with narrowed eyes, ¡°Do you think that money might be borrowed from Lin Bingqiang?¡± ¡°Lin Bingqiang is itself swamped with mortgage debts; where would he find the money to lend them? And Lin Guimei is even less likely. If she had the money to lend to Lin Guixiang, she would definitely buy a shop too! Also, don¡¯t you find it strange? Lin Guixiang and Lin Wu, those two mothers and daughters from the countryside, as soon as they arrived in Qing City, they talked about opening a skincare store, out all day long, who knows what they¡¯re really up to?¡± At that, Feng Qiaoqiao continued, ¡°Oh right, have you noticed? Isn¡¯t Lin Guixiang looking prettier and prettier recently? If we didn¡¯t say so, who would guess they came from the countryside?¡± ¡°I bet they¡¯re working in the Red Light District!¡± Only there could they make money fast. Therefore. There¡¯s no way Lin Guixiang and her daughter are up to anything good outside. ¡°I think Mother Feng Yang has a point, they even told me that the skincare products were made by Lin Wu! How old is Lin Wu? What kind of skincare products could she make? People aren¡¯t stupid nowadays, who buys skincare without going for the brand?¡± ¡°Unbelievable, to think they¡¯d become escorts.¡± Feng Qiaoqiao followed up, ¡°You all better keep an eye on the men in your houses, lest they get lured away by that shameless mother-daughter duo!¡± ¡°Exactly, exactly!¡± Hearing this, Sun Shanshan¡¯s lips curled up slightly. Tsk. Lin Wu¡¯s reputation was completely ruined. Good news stays within the walls, but bad news travels a thousand miles. With these gossipy women spreading the word, it wouldn¡¯t take three days before everyone knew. Then she would see how Lin Wu would have the face to continue surviving in Qing City. Chapter 52 - 52 049 Cool and awesome Miss Lin_1 ?Chapter 52: 049: Cool and awesome Miss Lin_1 Chapter 52: 049: Cool and awesome Miss Lin_1 If she were Lin Wu, she¡¯d have just jumped into a pond and drowned herself. The voices of several people continued, with the content becoming increasingly unbearable to hear. A slight smirk played at the corners of Sun Shanshan¡¯s mouth. What good was Lin Wu¡¯s beauty compared to hers? After the college entrance exams, she would be a student at a prestigious 985 university. And Lin Wu? She was nothing but a filthy sewer. The two of them. One was a pearl that attracted all eyes. The other was a rotten shrimp and fish in the sewer. There was simply no comparison at all. With this thought, the frustration that had been bottled up in Sun Shanshan¡¯s heart finally dissipated, and she turned to head towards the door. She couldn¡¯t afford to interrupt the people¡¯s discussion. ¡ª- At seven in the evening, Lin Guixiang got off work from the store and saw a street vendor selling wormwood sugar, a specialty from her hometown. Overcome with homesickness, she impulsively bought three portions and took one out when she got home, asking Lin Wu to bring it over to Lin Guimei. Her sister had been married in Qing City for so many years, she must also miss her hometown. Lin Wu took the wormwood sugar and had just stepped out when Lin Bingqiang, wearing an apron, came out of the kitchen. ¡°When you come back, Xiao Wu, remember to bring a bottle of soy sauce from the supermarket.¡± ¡°Alright, Uncle.¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly. The Sun Family lived on the eighth floor. Lin Wu didn¡¯t take the elevator but walked directly to the eighth floor and knocked on the door. It wasn¡¯t long before the door opened. It was Sun Dingbang who opened the door. Lin Wu politely said, ¡°Uncle.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Xiao Wu, eh,¡± Sun Dingbang looked somewhat surprised, ¡°come in, take a seat.¡± This niece from his wife¡¯s side seldom visited their home since she arrived in Qing City. This was the first time. Lin Wu handed the wormwood sugar to Sun Dingbang, ¡°Uncle, my mom bought this on the street; it¡¯s a special treat from our hometown. She said Aunt likes it.¡± Receiving the wormwood sugar, Sun Dingbang thanked her repeatedly, then looked into the house, ¡°Shan Shan! Come out, your cousin is here.¡± Hearing this, Sun Shanshan walked out with her cellphone in hand, ¡°Dad.¡± Then she turned to Lin Wu, her eyes reflecting a complex emotion, ¡°Cousin.¡± Laughing, Sun Dingbang said, ¡°Shan Shan, take your cousin to your room for a while, have a good chat, and let her play those games you young people like. Haven¡¯t you always said it¡¯s lonely being an only child at home?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± For once, Sun Shanshan didn¡¯t talk back to Sun Dingbang but nodded obediently, lifting her cellphone, ¡°Cousin, have you played Ghost Path? The new brain-burning game that¡¯s really fun, do you want to try it?¡± Garnering acclaim as the strongest dark horse game of the year, Ghost Path took the world by storm, and nearly every one of Sun Shanshan¡¯s classmates was playing it. However, the game was so challenging that hardly anyone in her class could get past the tenth level out of eighty-one. Even Sun Shanshan had only cleared the eighth level. As for Lin Wu, this girl from the small village, she probably couldn¡¯t even get past the first level, could she? With this in mind, Sun Shanshan¡¯s eyes brimmed with derisive amusement. Ghost Path? What¡¯s so fun about her own game? It was no challenge at all. Upon hearing this, Lin Wu raised an eyebrow slightly, ¡°I don¡¯t play anymore, I¡¯ve got things to do.¡± No sooner had she spoken than Lin Wu turned and said goodbye to Sun Dingbang and then left. Watching Lin Wu¡¯s retreating figure, a small smile curled Sun Shanshan¡¯s lips; she knew Lin Wu definitely wouldn¡¯t dare to play. ** Coming out of the Sun¡¯s place, Lin Wu went downstairs to buy soy sauce. After buying the soy sauce, she saw Feng Qiaoqiao and several neighbors chatting at the entrance of the first-floor corridor. Lin Wu, holding the soy sauce, greeted them politely, ¡°Good evening Grandma Ma, Aunt Wang, Aunt Liu, Aunt Feng, Aunt Xiao Li, and Aunt Xiao Zhou.¡± They all smiled and nodded back at her. However, just as she had taken a few steps upstairs, Lin Wu¡¯s ears caught some discordant voices. ¡°Did you just see that? The outfit Lin Wu is wearing costs over three hundred yuan. They¡¯ve only been in Qing City for a few days, and they¡¯re already buying shops and new clothes. Who would believethe money comes from a legitimate source if you told them?¡± Feng Qiaoqiao was becoming more and more jealous. And angrier by the second! Why should such a bargain fall into the hands of a mother and daughter from the countryside? Every time she saw Lin Wu, dressed so smartly, walking past her, it was like a thorn in her heart. She was a bona fide city dweller. Why should her lime-light be stolen by a pair of country bumpkins? Upon hearing this, Lin Wu¡¯s expression remained unchanged as she quickened her pace to the third floor and brought the soy sauce back home. About two minutes later. Her voice resounded once more in the corridor. At that moment, Feng Qiaoqiao was still going on and on, ¡°Lin Guixiang and Lin Wu must be in the flesh trade, the older one is indecent, so is the younger!¡± Influenced by Feng Qiaoqiao, the other four also looked at Lin Guixiang and Lin Wu through tinted glasses, nodding in agreement. ¡°Would Aunt Feng care to explain what you mean by a business that can¡¯t see the light of day!¡± The very next second, Lin Wu appeared in front of the group, her gaze locked with Feng Qiaoqiao¡¯s, a faint smile playing on her lips, while she held a kitchen knife that glinted coldly in her hand. It sent a chill down the spine. In fact, Feng Qiaoqiao had heard Lin Wu approaching, she had intentionally said it loud enough for Lin Wu to hear. She had thought Lin Wu would be too guilty to make a peep. She hadn¡¯t expected Lin Wu to confront her with a knife in hand! At that moment, Lin Wu¡¯s presence was overpowering, although she was smiling, her aura was ice cold, causing even the adult Feng Qiaoqiao to feel fear, her speech stumbling, ¡°You, your mother¡¯s affairs aren¡¯t only being discussed by us... You can¡¯t just target us, right?¡± She emphasized the word ¡°us.¡± Alone, she was no match for Lin Wu with a knife. But what if Lin Wu alienated the other four as well? Was Lin Wu going to slash all four of them too? That tactic might work on others. But who was standing in front of Feng Qiaoqiao? Lin Wu naturally wasn¡¯t swayed by such talk. She half-closed her eyes and looked down at Feng Qiaoqiao, her tone sharp and clear. ¡°Listen well, Feng Qiaoqiao! I¡¯m only targeting you! If it weren¡¯t for your constant foul mouthing and deliberate lies, would the other elders in our courtyard be misled by you?¡± She, her mother, and her uncle¡¯s family had to continue living in that small courtyard, so by making it clear that she was only targeting Feng Qiaoqiao and suggesting the others were misled by her, she was not only doing them a favor but also hoping to leave a good impression as someone reasonable and amiable. It wouldn¡¯t be wise to offend everyone outright. Having said this, Lin Wu threw the kitchen knife in the direction of Feng Qiaoqiao. Thump! The knife stuck upright in the pillar behind Feng Qiaoqiao. In that instant, Feng Qiaoqiao thought the knife would strike her neck, and she was shaking all over with fear. ¡°I and my mother have a clean conscience, we fear no shadows! If I hear someone gossiping behind our backs again, I will fight them to the death! After all, being alone and unsupported, what do I have to lose? A life for a life!¡± Lin Wu¡¯s voice was not too loud, not too soft, but it was enough to reach everyone¡¯s ears. And it made an impact. The crowd was terrified into silence. How could a mere girl in her teens exude such authority? Even Grandma Ma, the eldest of the lot, felt intimidated by Lin Wu. Especially Feng Qiaoqiao. She was accustomed to talking too much, and driven by jealousy of Lin Guixiang¡¯s sudden good fortune, she thought country folk were easy to bully. Hence, she intended to ruin the mother and daughter¡¯s reputation through public opinion. Little did she know, she had kicked an iron plate. Chapter 53 - 53 050 None of them is a waste of paper_1 ?Chapter 53: 050: None of them is a waste of paper_1 Chapter 53: 050: None of them is a waste of paper_1 Feng Qiaoqiao was so frightened that she didn¡¯t dare to let out a breath, her face ghastly pale. Looking at Lin Wu, she still had an air of calm about her as she spoke indifferently, ¡°May I ask, Aunt Feng, did you hear everything I just said?!¡± Although she used polite language and her tone was courteous, it sent chills down the spine. Cold sweat broke out on Feng Qiaoqiao¡¯s forehead, ¡°Heard, heard it.¡± To be born human, who isn¡¯t afraid of death? Lin Wu had a fierce streak in her. Even for a shrew like Feng Qiaoqiao, it scared two and a half of her three souls away. Having heard the answer she wanted, Lin Wu calmly picked up the kitchen knife that had been stuck in the pillar and casually walked upstairs. Watching Lin Wu¡¯s retreating figure vanish into the stairwell, Feng Qiaoqiao felt a huge weight lift from her chest, and she leaned against the wall, gasping for air as if sapped of strength. The other onlookers exchanged looks, and then with unspoken agreement, they picked up their stools and went back to their homes. They would never gossip behind people¡¯s backs again. It was just too frightening. Fortunately, Lin Wu was a sensible and reasonable child; otherwise, Feng Qiaoqiao wouldn¡¯t have been the only one in trouble today. ¡°It¡¯s all Feng¡¯s fault! Who asked her to gossip about someone¡¯s mother anyway?¡± ¡°Exactly, exactly! She almost made us suffer along with her.¡± ¡°Xiao Wu is a sensible kid.¡± Xiao Li followed up with a nod of agreement, ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯ve always said that Xiao Wu and her mother are honest people.¡± At this comment, Grandma Ma, Aunt Liu, and Aunt Wang all very tacitly looked up at Xiao Li. Xiao Li didn¡¯t used to talk like this. Before this, except for Feng Qiaoqiao, it was Xiao Li who talked the most. Xiao Li smiled awkwardly, ¡°It was all a misunderstanding before, a complete misunderstanding! I guarantee I¡¯ll never say a bad word about Xiao Wu and Mother Xiao Wu again!¡± ¡ª- Lin Wu returned home and silently put the kitchen knife back in its place, keeping a low profile. Lin Bingqiang, wearing an apron, paced back and forth in the living room. Lin Wu asked curiously, ¡°Uncle, what are you looking for?¡± ¡°The kitchen knife,¡± said Lin Bingqiang with an anxious face, ¡°It disappeared just when I turned around for a moment! Isn¡¯t that strange?¡± Lin Wu responded indifferently, ¡°I just saw the kitchen knife on the cutting board.¡± Hearing this, Lin Bingqiang¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Impossible!¡± Lin Bingqiang said as he headed to the kitchen, ¡°I¡¯ve searched the kitchen three times!¡± Lin Wu just smiled and said nothing. The next second, Lin Bingqiang reached the kitchen and, seeing the kitchen knife on the cutting board, thought he was hallucinating. He picked up the kitchen knife, turned to Lin Wu, and said earnestly, ¡°Xiao Wu, do you think I should go to the hospital to have my eyes checked?¡± Lin Wu reassured him, ¡°No need, uncle, it¡¯s normal to have blurry vision sometimes.¡± With that, Lin Bingqiang finally felt relieved and turned back to continue cooking. Eight o¡¯clock. Zhao Cui Nong had also returned. The family sat at the dinner table, and Zhao Cui Nong looked at Lin Wu, ¡°Xiao Wu, I¡¯ve already spoken to my younger brother back home, and we can start renovating our shop tomorrow.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly, ¡°Auntie, that would be great for you and Uncle Zhao.¡± Zhao Cui Nong said with a smile, ¡°What¡¯s difficult about it? After all, we¡¯re not doing it for free!¡± With that, Zhao Cui Nong added, ¡°Xiao Wu, recently my brother also wants to invest in an apartment in Qing City; he thinks you have a good eye. Where do you suggest would be suitable to buy?¡± When they were buying the shop, Zhao Cui Nong had mentioned it to her brother, but he didn¡¯t take it seriously and now he regretted it deeply. After this incident, both Zhao Cui Nong and her brother trusted Lin Wu a lot. Hearing this, Lin Wu thought carefully and then slightly looked up, ¡°Auntie, it¡¯s almost impossible to find a shop like the one on South Street now. The houses in the north of the city could be considered, though; the appreciation may not be much, with future prices probably around 20,000 to 30,000 per square meter.¡± Zhao Cui Nong immediately took out her phone, opened the housing app, and said in surprise, ¡°The houses in the north part of the city are a little over 10,000 now; if we buy a hundred square meters, we could make a nice profit, couldn¡¯t we!¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly. Zhao Cui Nong continued, ¡°Xiao Wu, then what do you think, should we sell this house and buy there?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t recommend it,¡± Lin Wu put down her chopsticks, ¡°Although the price per square meter here hasn¡¯t reached twenty thousand yet, it should not be lower than in the north of the city in the future.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Zhao Cui Nong nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll talk to my brother about it tonight.¡± After dinner, Lin Guixiang returned to her room to study. With the comprehensive educational videos and the learning methods Lin Wu had shared with her, Lin Guixiang had already started learning ancient poems and idioms. Lin Wu, on the other hand, sat beside her fixing the computer. Just then. Her cell phone suddenly lit up. *Click.* She took out her phone and saw a new WeChat message had popped up on the screen. ¡°L has agreed to add you as a friend.¡± Who is this person? Lin Wu was stunned at first, but then she remembered adding Lu Ye on WeChat to pay him for the bike repair. On the other end of the phone, Mr. Lu stared intently at the screen, afraid of missing anything. Fearing that the youngster would suspect ulterior motives, he deliberately waited a full day before accepting the friend request. Several minutes had passed since he accepted the friend request, and there was still no activity from the youngster¡¯s side. Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but pull out his phone, write a text message to send, but in the end, he deleted it from the chat box. Wouldn¡¯t it seem too deliberate if he sent a message now? While Lu Ye was in a quandary, Lin Wu sent him a red envelope. Lu Ye clicked to accept it. Not more, not less, precisely thirty-eight yuan. Lu Ye immediately found a reason to send a message, ¡°Thanks, little friend, for supporting your brother¡¯s business.¡± ¡°Old Iron, you¡¯re too polite!¡± Seeing this message, Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but burst out laughing. Old Iron. He could almost see the youngster¡¯s expression while composing the message. Sitting on the sofa, Lu Lingli saw Lu Ye like this and immediately asked, ¡°Big Lu, what are you up to? Why are you grinning like that?¡± Lu Ye immediately put away his smile, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Lu Lingli narrowed her eyes, astutely sensing that something was off, ¡°Are you secretly dating someone?¡± ¡°How could that be?¡± Lu Ye slightly raised an eyebrow, finished speaking, and turned to walk upstairs. Watching Lu Ye¡¯s retreating figure, Lu Lingli was full of confusion. Why did Big Lu¡¯s back look like he was fleeing in panic? With this in mind, Lu Lingli touched her chin. ¡ª The Sun Family. Lin Guimei unintentionally learned about the neighbors¡¯ gossip concerning her eldest sister from Sun Shanshan. Hearing this, she frowned, ¡°Did Feng Qiaoqiao and Xiao Zhou really say that?¡± Sun Shanshan nodded slightly, ¡°Mm.¡± Upon saying this, Sun Shanshan sighed and continued, ¡°Even though I don¡¯t believe that my aunt and cousin would do such filthy things, now that everyone is saying so, believe it or not, in less than three days, the matter will be known to all. By then, it won¡¯t just be the two of them who lose face.¡± Lin Guixiang and Lin Guimei were, after all, sisters tied by blood and bonded by love. Sun Shanshan¡¯s words made a lot of sense, and Lin Guimei immediately decided to have a serious talk with her sister. Before long, Lin Guixiang found Lin Guimei. It was already half past nine in the evening. Lin Guixiang brought her sister to the bedroom and spoke in a hushed voice, ¡°Guimei, are you looking for me this late for a reason?¡± Lin Guimei sat on a chair, ¡°Sis, haven¡¯t you heard any of the rumors these past few days?¡± ¡°What rumors?¡± Lin Guixiang asked with a puzzled face. ¡°You go out early and return late every day, you¡¯ve bought a shop after only a few days in Qing City and dress so conspicuously, everyone in the yard suspects you¡¯re up to no good! That you¡¯re involved in some unsavory business they say!¡± If she were Lin Guixiang, she would pack up and leave immediately. How could she have the face to stay here? Concerning her reputation, Lin Guixiang stood up right away, ¡°Guimei, you can¡¯t listen to their nonsense! I am clean and honest, making a living with my own hands; I have done nothing to violate my conscience. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can come to the skincare shop tomorrow and see for yourself what kind of business I¡¯m running!¡± Full of irony, Lin Guimei said, ¡°Sis, what use is it if I believe you? The whole yard is doubting you! How about this, don¡¯t go to the skincare shop tomorrow, I¡¯ll find you a dishwashing job.¡± There must be a cause for the gossip, or else why would people suddenly start talking? Lin Guixiang simply wasn¡¯t suited for a high-profile occupation. Hearing this, Lin Wu slightly knitted her brows, ¡°Auntie, if my mom suddenly stopped going to the skincare shop at this time, everyone would definitely think she did so out of guilt. Far from stopping the rumors from spreading, it would make things worse.¡± ¡°So what do we do?¡± Lin Guimei looked at Lin Wu, ¡°Are we just going to let everyone talk? What do you know, you¡¯re just a child?¡± What right did Lin Wu have to interject when the adults were talking? Such a lack of manners! She wasn¡¯t even comparable to the tip of Sun Shanshan¡¯s little finger. Upon hearing this, Lin Wu took out a hundred-yuan note from her pocket, stepped on it a few times, then bent down to pick it up again, ¡°The innocent are self-evident, just like this hundred yuan note. No matter how many times I step on it, no matter how dirty it gets, it is still worth a hundred yuan and will never lose its value.¡± ¡°But if it were a plain piece of paper? If you step on it a few times, it turns into waste paper, eventually only fit to be thrown in the trash.¡± By stopping Lin Guixiang from excelling, this behavior was no different than throwing her in the trash! Lin Wu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Lin Guimei, parting her red lips slowly and clearly stating, ¡°Time will prove everything. Neither my mom nor I are just a piece of waste paper.¡± Chapter 54 - 54 051 Come to the hospital right away_1 ?Chapter 54: 051: Come to the hospital right away_1 Chapter 54: 051: Come to the hospital right away_1 Lin Wu spoke in a calm tone, yet her every word was like a pearl, resonating firmly as they landed. Lin Guixiang had been wavering, even considering accepting Lin Guimei¡¯s suggestion not to look after the skincare shop anymore and to find a job washing dishes instead. Because for a woman, nothing is more important than her reputation. But now, hearing Lin Wu¡¯s words, she suddenly felt filled with strength. Indeed. The innocent are naturally innocent. One hundred dollars will always be one hundred dollars; no matter how much it¡¯s trampled on or talked about, its value will not be affected by these external factors. Only waste paper is influenced by its environment. If she suddenly stopped going to the skincare shop now, people would surely think she was doing so out of a guilty conscience. With this in mind, Lin Guixiang looked at Lin Guimei, ¡°Xiao Wu is right, we must not only continue the business but also improve it!¡± She wanted to prove to everyone that she was not just a piece of waste paper. Upon hearing this, Lin Guimei found it laughable. If Lin Guixiang and her daughter Lin Wu weren¡¯t waste paper, then what were they? At least waste paper can still be used to start a fire. One of them is a second-hand item rejected by others. The other is a naive country girl with aspirations bigger than her abilities. Lin Guimei looked at Lin Guixiang, ¡°Big sister, it¡¯s good that you want to prove yourself, but the question is how? Is business really that easy these days? Dishwashing may pay less, but it¡¯s definitely enough to sustain you and your daughter in Qing City. You¡¯ve bought a storefront on South Street, but you can¡¯t just live off your savings, right?¡± Without a doubt, Lin Guixiang just found dishwashing beneath her dignity. But what decent job could Lin Guixiang, an illiterate, possibly find? Lin Guixiang, however, did not agree with Lin Guimei¡¯s words and frowned, ¡°The skincare products that Xiao Wu makes are very effective, and business has been really good lately. We won¡¯t sit idle and eat away our resources.¡± As these words were spoken, the scorn in Lin Guimei¡¯s eyes almost seemed to burst forth. Business is good? The skincare products are very effective? Was Lin Guixiang dreaming? What good skincare products could Lin Wu, that greenhorn, possibly make? If their faces didn¡¯t rot, it would be nothing short of a miracle. An illiterate remains an illiterate. Even though she had spoken so plainly, Lin Guixiang still couldn¡¯t understand. At that, Lin Guixiang continued, ¡°And I¡¯ve started learning to read now. I will strive to become better and not hold Xiao Wu back. Nor will I disgrace you all.¡± Under the light, determination filled Lin Guixiang¡¯s eyes. Looking at her sister, Lin Guimei was slightly taken aback. During this time, she had not communicated much with her sister; their meetings were always brief before each went home. Now, looking straight at Lin Guixiang, she suddenly noticed that Lin Guixiang had changed a lot since she first came to Qing City. Her complexion wasn¡¯t so sallow, the spots on her face were fading, and even her demeanor had greatly improved. A month ago, people would mistake them for mother and daughter. But now. Who would suspect that they were mother and daughter? If this continued, the doubt wouldn¡¯t be whether Lin Guixiang was the sister but whether she was the younger one! Somehow, Grandma Lu¡¯s warning echoed in Lin Guimei¡¯s ears. Lin Guixiang did have some good looks. If she were to marry a local from Qing City, she could undoubtedly lead a prosperous life. So, from the very start when she came to depend on her, Lin Guixiang had a motive! Did Lin Guixiang really think marrying a local from Qing City was that easy? She should take a good look at herself in the mirror to see her true colors. And now learning to read? If Lin Guixiang learned to read, then pigs might fly! Lin Guimei¡¯s expression remained unchanged, ¡°Big sister, whether you learn to read or do business, I support you, because these are signs of your progress. But while progressing, we must also learn to see ourselves clearly. If we continue on a path that we know is impossible, we will only get hurt. As your sister, I hope you will consider what I said. Dishwashing is honorable; it¡¯s not shameful since it¡¯s done by one¡¯s own hands.¡± The implication was that only things done in secret are shameful. Upon hearing this, Lin Wu slightly furrowed her eyebrows. When Lin Guimei heard people gossiping about Lin Guixiang behind her back, her first reaction wasn¡¯t to help her sister. It was to advise her sister to stop doing business. This behavior wasn¡¯t any different from those gossiping about Lin Guixiang behind her back! In fact, it was even worse. ¡°Auntie, I know you mean well. But how we should walk the road ahead and how the business should be run, in the end, are matters for my mom and me. Thank you for always considering us, but my mother and I will take care of our own path, so please don¡¯t worry about us,¡± Lin Wu spoke these words very tactfully. She was indirectly reminding Lin Guimei not to meddle in their affairs. Who is Lin Guimei? How could she not discern the meaning behind Lin Wu¡¯s words? Lin Wu really was too ungrateful! If Lin Guixiang weren¡¯t her sister, would she have bothered to speak up? Even though Lin Guimei was fuming with rage, she still managed to grit her teeth and maintain her composure, ¡°Fine, fine, fine! Xiao Wu, since the words are already out there, your aunt won¡¯t say anything else. I wish you a booming business and a wealth of gold every day!¡± After saying this, Lin Guimei turned around and left. Watching Lin Guimei¡¯s retreating figure, Lin Guixiang sighed softly, then turned to Lin Wu, ¡°Xiao Wu, did we offend your little aunt? After all, she meant well. Do you think I should go and apologize to her?¡± If she weren¡¯t Lin Guimei¡¯s sister, Lin Guimei wouldn¡¯t have gone to such lengths. Lin Wu could understand Lin Guixiang¡¯s feelings at this moment. As a sister, she had always considered problems from the other person¡¯s perspective. But such behavior was no different from being a saint. It would surely lead to disadvantages in the future. What she needed to do now was to straighten out Lin Guixiang¡¯s values and completely transform her attitude. It¡¯s no use just having a pretty face! Lin Wu frowned slightly, ¡°Mom, if she really had good intentions, she wouldn¡¯t have sought a compromise with you while you were being wronged and misunderstood. As a younger sister, her first thought should have been to defend your innocence, not stand on a moral high ground to blame you while trampling on your dignity!¡± Such behavior was truly despicable. Lin Guixiang opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but she felt her daughter had a point and was left with nothing to counter. ¡°You are a typical people-pleaser personality. No matter what happens, you always find fault with yourself. Have you ever thought that the problem has always been with the other person from the beginning? You¡¯ve lost yourself in the first half of your life for the sake of your younger brother and sister. Mom, I hope you can learn how to love yourself in the second half of your life!¡± If it had been before, Lin Wu¡¯s words would have been lost on Lin Guixiang. But now it was different. She was stunned, lost in Lin Wu¡¯s words for a long time before she finally looked at her daughter and nodded. ¡ª¡ª The next morning. Lu Family¡¯s Old Mansion. Lu Lingli yawned as she walked into the dining room, where Grandma Lu and Lu Ye were already sitting at the table talking. Looking at Grandma Lu¡¯s glowing appearance, Lu Lingli expressed her surprise, ¡°Grandma, how come there are so many fewer spots on your face? Did you change skincare products recently?¡± It wasn¡¯t just the spots; her complexion had improved greatly. It was nothing short of miraculous. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve changed skincare products,¡± Grandma Lu nodded. Lu Lingli¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°What brand?¡± Grandma Lu continued, ¡°It¡¯s the domestic skincare brand Beauty Chant that you previously looked down on.¡± Upon hearing this, Lu Lingli¡¯s eyes filled with disbelief. Beauty Chant? ¡°The one nobody has heard of?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± said Grandma Lu. Getting a definite answer, Lu Lingli¡¯s eyes widened even more. Just then, Bai Lu and Lu Wenyu entered the room and overheard the conversation. Bai Lu said, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t get too excited. Some inferior skincare products only show their side effects after a month.¡± After all, Grandma Lu had only been using it for half a month. With this remark, Bai Lu glanced at Lu Lingli, ¡°Lingli, don¡¯t just use it recklessly.¡± Lu Lingli nodded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait another month.¡± Her mother was right; there are many unscrupulous businesses out there willing to go to any lengths for money, and she couldn¡¯t lose her reasoning for momentary beauty. Grandma Lu looked at the mother and daughter, ¡°Wait all you want! You two could wait forever, but you¡¯ll never find any issue with Beauty Chant. Also, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you¡ªBeauty Chant is handling membership registration for outsiders. After a month, there won¡¯t be such a good deal. If you can¡¯t get a membership by then, don¡¯t blame me for not reminding you.¡± Bai Lu smiled, ¡°Mom, you really believe those dishonest businesses¡¯ gimmicks?¡± The idea that you can¡¯t get a membership after a certain date was just a way to deceive consumers. It was only Grandma Lu would believe them! It would be too late to cry when the time came. With that, Bai Lu added, ¡°You¡¯re just too trusting! Didn¡¯t that girl also say that the mole on your hand was cancer?¡± At these words, Lu Lingli seemed to remember something and turned to Grandma Lu, ¡°Grandma, how did the biopsy results from the hospital turn out?¡± Bai Lu smiled, ¡°Your grandma has just been fooled. How could a mole be cancer?¡± Hearing this, Grandma Lu responded, ¡°Xiao Wu is not a swindler, she probably just made a mistake! Even saints make mistakes, so why can¡¯t she?¡± Bai Lu was speechless. At this time, and the old lady was still defending that cheat! Just then, the ringing of a telephone came from the living room. A servant picked up the call, then rushed with the receiver to Lu Wenyu, ¡°Sir, it¡¯s for you.¡± Lu Wenyu took the receiver, ¡°Hello, who is this?¡± Director An¡¯s voice came through on the other end, ¡°Mr. Lu, this is An Zhenbang. The biopsy report for Grandma Lu is out, and it¡¯s not good¡ªthe melanoma shows signs of cancer. Please bring her to the hospital immediately!¡± Chapter 55 - 55 052 Help with a referral_1 ?Chapter 55: 052: Help with a referral_1 Chapter 55: 052: Help with a referral_1 The results were very bad? There is a risk of cancer in the melanin? Upon hearing this, Lu Wenyu¡¯s mind went blank and cold sweat covered his forehead. He reached out to grab the edge of the desk to prevent himself from collapsing. Lu Wenyu tried to calm himself down, but his trembling voice betrayed his composure, ¡°Wh-what?¡± On the other end of the phone, An Zhenbang repeated what he had just said, ¡°Mr. Lu, please bring Grandma Lu to the hospital immediately!¡± ¡°Alright, alright!¡± The call had just ended. Bang. The microphone in Lu Wenyu¡¯s hand dropped to the floor. Lu Ye was the first to reach Lu Wenyu¡¯s side, supporting him, ¡°Uncle, what happened?¡± Lu Wenyu took a deep breath, ¡°Hurry! Let¡¯s take Grandma to the hospital right away!¡± That was cancer! A deadly disease. At these words, everyone was stunned. To the hospital? Considering that the call had come from Director An and that Grandma Lu had just had a biopsy... Could it be? The mole that was removed actually had a problem. The whole family looked anxiously at Lu Wenyu, but Grandma Lu herself was so excited that she stood up from her chair immediately, ¡°Could it be that Xiao Wu was right? There¡¯s a problem with the biopsy? Am I going to have cancer?¡± Seeing that Lu Wenyu remained silent, Grandma Lu walked over to him and poked his shoulder, ¡°Have you gone mute? Why aren¡¯t you answering my question?¡± Lu Wenyu looked at his mother, not sure whether to cry or laugh. While he was scared half to death, his mother was still able to laugh. Bai Lu also looked tense, ¡°Wenyu, what exactly is going on?¡± Only then did Lu Wenyu come back to his senses, ¡°Director An called and said the mole on Mom¡¯s hand might be cancerous and told us to come to the hospital right away.¡± What? Bai Lu¡¯s complexion turned instantly pale. So it was really true! Half an hour later, the family of five was driven to the hospital by their driver. An Zhenbang was waiting for them at the entrance. Lu Wenyu could hardly keep walking. His father had passed away early, and his mother had raised him and his sister all by herself. Later, his sister had an accident... His mother had experienced two of life¡¯s three great tragedies. Over the years, she had hardly enjoyed a few good days, and now she was diagnosed with cancer... Lu Ye ran ahead and was the first to speak, ¡°Director An, what¡¯s the situation now?¡± An Zhenbang¡¯s gaze fell on Grandma Lu next to Lu Ye, and for a moment, he didn¡¯t know how to begin. Grandma Lu said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Xiao An, just tell me, am I going to have cancer?¡± An Zhenbang looked at the Lu family, who had turned pale with fear, and then back at the excited Grandma Lu, a row of question marks popping up in his mind. Was the person who was at risk of cancer not anyone from the Lu family but Grandma Lu herself? Why wasn¡¯t Grandma Lu afraid in the slightest, and even seemed a bit excited?! An Zhenbang even began to doubt his own eyes. ¡°Xiao An, speak up!¡± urged Grandma Lu. An Zhenbang swallowed hard and prepared his words internally, ¡°Your biopsy report shows that there is indeed a risk of cancer in the melanin, and now a more thorough examination is needed. We will have to wait for the results of the tests to know the exact situation.¡± Upon hearing this, Grandma Lu looked at Bai Lu and the other family members, ¡°You see, I told you Xiao Wu was very impressive! You all didn¡¯t believe her, and now you¡¯re being proven wrong, aren¡¯t you?¡± An Zhenbang adjusted his glasses. He had seen many cancer patients. But most people, when they hear such news, would break down in an instant, crying as if their life depended on it. Meeting someone as optimistic as Grandma Lu was a first for him. Very soon. An Zhenbang arranged for Grandma Lu to have an in-depth examination. The examination report would not be available for two hours. During the wait for the report, Lu Ye and Lu Wenyu were frowning and nervous. But look at Grandma Lu. She was holding a soda in her left hand, and some spicy strips in her right hand. She was even commanding Lu Lingli to go buy her this and that, her appetite seemingly insatiable. The elderly lady had a very fragile stomach; on a normal day, Lu Lingli would definitely not have allowed Grandma Lu to eat such things so early in the morning, but today Lu Lingli was also scared. That was cancer, after all. Once most people were linked to this word, it was akin to being sentenced to death. ¡°Grandma, aren¡¯t you worried at all?¡± This mindset! She was truly impressed. ¡°What¡¯s there to panic about over this little scene? It¡¯s nothing but a drop in the bucket!¡± Grandma Lu said proudly, lifting her head, ¡°Back in the day when your grandma single-handedly charged into the enemy camp, I was never scared! You should learn from me!¡± Lu Lingli handed the instant noodles to the old lady, ¡°Be careful, it¡¯s hot.¡± Grandma Lu took a bite of noodles, followed by a spicy strip, clearly enjoying herself. An Zhenbang was stunned by the sight. Grandma Lu held the bowl of noodles out to Lu Wenyu, ¡°Wenyu, do you want to try some?¡± Lu Wenyu: ¡°...¡± How could he be in the mood to eat instant noodles now? Grandma Lu then took the noodles over to Bai Lu, ¡°Lulu, do you want some?¡± Bai Lu: ¡°...¡± Just like her mother-in-law, impressive! Another two hours passed. With everyone eagerly awaiting, Director An finally emerged from the analysis room with the report in hand. Lu Ye was the first to stand up and approach, ¡°Director An, how are the results?¡± The others were also looking at Director An with anxious faces. Of course. Except for Grandma Lu. Director An habitually pushed his glasses up his nose and smiled, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, although the melanoma on the old lady¡¯s hand carries a risk of cancerous changes, fortunately, it was discovered in time. For now, she only needs to take medication to block it and come in for regular check-ups, and there won¡¯t be any major issues.¡± Continuing, Director An spoke with a sense of hindsight, ¡°If the check-up had been delayed by a few more days, the cancer cells might have started spreading.¡± Upon hearing this, Lu Ye breathed a sigh of relief. Lu Wenyu then grasped Director An¡¯s hand, ¡°Director An, are you sure it¡¯ll be fine just with some medication?¡± Director An nodded his head, ¡°Yes.¡± Grandma Lu walked over and began to mock Lu Wenyu, ¡°Look at you, so lacking in spirit. Director An already said it¡¯s fine, what are you afraid of?¡± As she finished speaking, Grandma Lu turned to Director An, ¡°Xiao An, you still need to keep studying! Xiao Wu could tell at a glance that the mole on my hand carried a cancer risk, but do you remember what you said at that time?¡± Director An had said there was nothing to worry about and that even a biopsy was unnecessary. Because of what Director An had said, Bai Lu had always thought that Lin Wu was a fraud. Hearing this, Director An looked very ashamed. At the same time, he became very curious about this Xiao Wu that Grandma Lu mentioned; someone who could discern with the naked eye that the melanoma in the old lady¡¯s hand had a cancer risk was surely no ordinary person, probably a big shot in the medical field. Although Director An was currently the head of Qing City¡¯s First People¡¯s Hospital, he was still far from his goal of making a name for himself in the medical field. If he could meet this senior and possibly apprentice himself to learn, then he would be one step closer to the goal of making a name for himself in the medical field. With that thought, Director An turned to Grandma Lu, ¡°Old lady, I greatly admire the senior you mentioned. If possible, could you introduce me?¡± Chapter 56 - 56 053 Hua Tuos Descendant The Big Shots Method (First ?Chapter 56: 053: Hua Tuo¡¯s Descendant, The Big Shot¡¯s Method (First Order, 10,000-Word Chapter)_1 Chapter 56: 053: Hua Tuo¡¯s Descendant, The Big Shot¡¯s Method (First Order, 10,000-Word Chapter)_1 Grandma Lu squinted her eyes, ¡°I could do that, but I need to ask Xiao Wu for her consent,¡± If I just brought An Zhenbang directly to Lin Wu, it¡¯d be far too disrespectful. An Zhenbang nodded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll trouble you.¡± As the director of Qing City Hospital, An Zhenbang had two idols. One was Mad Doctor Qingdai Qingdai was one of the well-known inheritors of ancient medicine. Although she never revealed her mentor, her mastery of traditional Chinese medicine led many to speculate that she was a descendant of the Divine Doctor Hua Tuo. Driven by an obsession for medicine, Qingdai once nearly died testing a poison on herself to find a cure for a certain infectious disease and successfully discovered the antidote. Her contribution left a significant mark in the medical community. Therefore, everyone called her the Mad Doctor. A popular saying in the medical community was: ¡°Mad Doctor Qingdai can revive the dead; even the Grim Reaper dares not snatch souls from her hands without her nod!¡± But Qingdai herself was always a mystery, rarely seen in public. Few had seen her true face, and with her name appearing less frequently in the public eye over the past two years, many speculated whether she had sacrificed herself for medical experiments. Others said she had vanished. An Zhenbang¡¯s other idol was Ji Ziyun. Ji Ziyun was a bona fide descendant of Bian Que. She held a very important position in the medical community. If not for Qingdai¡¯s prior excellence, Ji Ziyun would have reached the pinnacle of the medical world long ago. Now, An Zhenbang had another idol. That was Xiao Wu, mentioned by Grandma Lu. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all, just a word is enough,¡± Grandma Lu said with a smile. An Zhenbang thanked her again, and then said, ¡°If Senior Wu agrees to meet with me, please let me know in advance.¡± He needed to prepare. Since Grandma Lu was already over ninety, the Xiao Wu she referred to was definitely not young either. As An Zhenbang wished to become her disciple, it was natural to prepare some gifts that the elderly would appreciate. ¡°Alright,¡± Grandma Lu nodded. Soon, a nurse brought Grandma Lu¡¯s medicine. After instructing her on how to take it, An Zhenbang left for a meeting. Watching An Zhenbang¡¯s retreating figure, Lu Wenyu took a deep breath, walked over to Grandma Lu, and said, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s good that we got the check-up early. Otherwise, it would have been too late for regrets!¡± Bai Lu hurriedly nodded. Only Bai Lu herself knew how scared she was now. That day when Grandma mentioned the black mole on her palm, Bai Lu was dismissive, thinking Grandma was making a mountain out of a molehill. But unexpectedly... Thankfully, her husband insisted on taking Grandma to the hospital for a biopsy. Otherwise, she would have become the sinner of the family. Grandma Lu looked at Bai Lu, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say earlier that the girl was a swindler?¡± Upon hearing this, Bai Lu¡¯s face turned various shades of red and white. After a moment, she lifted her head, ¡°Mom, although that¡¯s what happened, you can¡¯t give the girl all the credit. What if she just got lucky by chance?¡± Anyone with a bit of knowledge in this area knows that newly developed melanomas indeed carry a risk of cancer. But not every black mole is risky. So the girl must have been guessing. Grandma Lu gave her a stern look and said angrily, ¡°You¡¯re the one who got lucky by chance! Our Xiao Wu has real skills, and I won¡¯t allow you to speak of her like that!¡± Our Xiao Wu? Bai Lu frowned subtly, realizing that her mother-in-law really had fallen deep under the spell. Having only met Xiao Wu a few days ago, she was already so overprotective? Bai Lu felt more and more that Lin Wu was not a good person. Grandma Lu continued, ¡°Xiao Wu is not only skilled in medicine, but she also makes skincare products. Without her, the spots on my face wouldn¡¯t have disappeared, and I wouldn¡¯t have found out about the potential cancer ahead of time.¡± Now, Lin Wu was practically Grandma Lu¡¯s idol. She couldn¡¯t wait to tie Lin Wu down and make her her granddaughter-in-law. ¡°Mom, let¡¯s not talk about whether the cancer was a fluke. However, whether these skincare products have side effects is still up for debate; it hasn¡¯t even been a month yet,¡± Bai Lu said. Who knew if Grandma Lu might end up with a ruined face from using these skincare products after a month. ¡°Beauty Chant will absolutely have no side effects; I can guarantee it with my personal integrity,¡± Bai Lu chuckled, ¡°Mom, facts speak louder than words.¡± Some things naturally come to light after a month. Grandma Lu wanted to slap Bai Lu, ¡°Lulu, one day you will regret it. You¡¯ll regret not believing what I said and you¡¯ll regret even more not becoming a member of Beauty Chant sooner!¡± At that, Bai Lu laughed even more joyously. Chapter 57 - 57 053 Hua Tuos Descendant The Big Shots Method (First ?Chapter 57: 053: Hua Tuo¡¯s Descendant, The Big Shot¡¯s Method (First Order, 10,000-Word Chapter)_2 Chapter 57: 053: Hua Tuo¡¯s Descendant, The Big Shot¡¯s Method (First Order, 10,000-Word Chapter)_2 Grandma Lu was truly amusing. She had always been accustomed to using high-end skincare products, so how could she take an interest in some cheap, no-brand items? As Lu Ye watched the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law¡¯s argument grow more intense, he timely interjected, ¡°Auntie, no matter what, Grandma did go to the hospital for a check-up only after being reminded by someone, so we really should thank her properly.¡± If it hadn¡¯t been for the little girl Xiao Wu mentioned by Grandma Lu, the cancer might not have been discovered until it had spread. By that time, it would have been too late for anything! Whether it was blind luck or not. She was a benefactor to the Lu Family. As he finished speaking, Lu Ye looked at Grandma Lu, ¡°Grandma, please tell me her address, I¡¯ll go personally to express our thanks.¡± Hearing this, Lu Wenyu said, ¡°Mom, Sansan is right, I¡¯ll go with him.¡± Grandma Lu smiled and said, ¡°You two big rough men going there, what if you frighten her? Don¡¯t worry, I have a plan for this!¡± She wanted to think over the thanking matter slowly. Bai Lu seemed to want to say something, but she swallowed her words in the end. The old lady was bewitched now, believing in a child¡¯s wild tales; she would realize the severity of the situation once her face was ruined. ¡ª¡ª Zhou Zhongquan and his wife had just returned from traveling abroad when they heard that South Street was being planned as a 5A tourist area. At this, the couple was somewhat disbelieving. How could a rundown place like South Street possibly be rated 5A? Ding Mudan, with schadenfreude, said, ¡°Luckily we didn¡¯t rent out our shop before, the rent has now increased to thirty thousand a month? Some in the landlords¡¯ group are already planning to raise it to forty thousand next quarter.¡± Indeed, Ding Mudan was doing this on purpose. Because Zhou Zhongquan had previously boasted to her husband about leasing their shop with a five-year long contract to a fool of a tenant. Her husband was envious at the time, lamenting why he couldn¡¯t encounter such a tenant. Now? Zhou Zhongquan must be regretting it to the point of wanting to jump off a building, right? Calculating by forty thousand a month, in five years, they would¡¯ve lost at least more than two million. Zhou Zhongquan¡¯s wife, Huang Yue, frowned slightly, ¡°Big sister, is your news reliable?¡± Ding Mudan replied, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, you can go to South Street and have a look.¡± After saying this, Ding Mudan checked her phone and then said, ¡°I have to go pick up Tingting from kindergarten.¡± Watching the back of her sister-in-law, Huang Yue said, ¡°Old Zhou, shall we go check out South Street?¡± Zhou Zhongquan nodded. Usually, a trip to South Street only took half an hour by car, but because of the increase in tourists, they ended up stuck in traffic for two hours. The once desolate street was now bustling with people going to and fro. And there were even women dressed in costumes from various dynasties. Who would have thought that such a godforsaken place could become so prosperous? Not only had the roads become wider. They had even opened up subway and high-speed train access. Huang Yue squinted her eyes, ¡°In such a crowded place, our family¡¯s shop has such a good location, the crowd must be even larger.¡± Zhou Zhongquan said with a smile, ¡°Not necessarily, the person who rented our shop sells no-brand skincare products, there probably won¡¯t be many buyers.¡± Nowadays, nobody¡¯s a fool. Who would buy products that ruin your skin? Shortly after. The two arrived at the entrance of Beauty Chant. Even though it was two o¡¯clock in the afternoon, there was still a long queue in front of Beauty Chant. Zhou Zhongquan thought he was seeing an illusion at the sight. Huang Yue¡¯s eyes widened even further, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say nobody would buy it?¡± Zhou Zhongquan licked his dry lips, feeling complicated. How was he to know that Beauty Chant would do such good business? If it wasn¡¯t seen with his own eyes, who would believe it? Huang Yue then said, ¡°I¡¯ll go inquire about the situation, you wait here for me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Huang Yue headed straight to Zhang Ji Restaurant across the street. Two o¡¯clock. It was the restaurant¡¯s break time, but upon hearing Huang Yue¡¯s words, Ma Xiaolan immediately stood up warmly, smiling and asking, ¡°Big sister, are you the landlord of the shop across the street?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Huang Yue nodded. Ma Xiaolan had been jealous of Lin Guixiang and her daughter for a long time, ¡°Big sister, your family really took a big loss! I heard that you rented the shop directly to them for five years, right?¡± Huang Yue sighed. Isn¡¯t that so? Without waiting for Huang Yue to respond, Ma Xiaolan continued, ¡°Do you know why their business is doing so well?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Ma Xiaolan narrowed her eyes, ¡°Isn¡¯t it all because of the good location of your family¡¯s shop. Otherwise, who would buy such an unheard-of skincare product? With a location like yours, anyone could make business thrive. To me, they should share profits with you, giving you half of their income wouldn¡¯t be too much!¡± Chapter 58 - 58 053 Hua Tuos Descendant The Big Shots Method (First ?Chapter 58: 053: Hua Tuo¡¯s Descendant, The Big Shot¡¯s Method (First Order, 10,000-Word Chapter)_3 Chapter 58: 053: Hua Tuo¡¯s Descendant, The Big Shot¡¯s Method (First Order, 10,000-Word Chapter)_3 ¡°After all, without you, there wouldn¡¯t be them!¡± Huang Yue felt increasingly disturbed the more she listened. She thought Ma Xiaolan was absolutely right. That money should have been theirs to earn. Ma Xiaolan continued, ¡°If I had it my way, I¡¯d take back the shop directly! Why should that shameless mother and daughter pair benefit?¡± On this side, The two clerks at Beauty Chant were handing out bottles of mineral water to the queued customers. Suddenly, a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl walked out of the store. She dressed simply in white and black, her hair tied up in a bun, revealing a graceful and elongated swan neck. Despite her plain face, she was stunningly beautiful. Every smile and every gesture carried an irreproducible ink-like grace and elegance. Even the bustling noise behind her seemed to turn into her background. A moment later, the girl looked at the queue and spoke indifferently, ¡°Sorry for making everyone wait so long. The Immortal Phoenix and Lotus Dew sets have sold out, and there are only twenty boxes of face masks left. Please come back tomorrow.¡± Lately, Beauty Chant¡¯s business was booming day by day, with automated production still not meeting the demand. At the moment, Lin Wu had already begun planning to scale up, build a factory, and establish her own production line. At these words, the people in line began to express their complaints. ¡°We¡¯ve been in line for an hour, and now you¡¯re telling us not to wait?¡± ¡°How can your business operate like this?¡± ¡°Swindlers!¡± ¡°Is it because your business is doing so well that you no longer care about us?¡± Lin Wu was not only unfazed but smiled and said, ¡°I understand everyone¡¯s feelings, so I¡¯ve specially prepared a little gift for you. This is our shop¡¯s newly launched Antioxidant Cleansing Cream, and we¡¯re giving away a 20-milliliter full set to everyone. In addition, we¡¯ll give you a discount card, so the next time you come, you can enjoy a 20% discount.¡± Immediately, someone from the crowd asked: ¡°Is it that Yellow-Removing Cream that¡¯s only available to members?¡± ¡°Right,¡± Lin Wu slightly nodded. ¡°Thank you, boss.¡± ¡°The boss is so generous.¡± No one knew how popular Beauty Chant was at the moment. It was the new darling of all beauty bloggers. Nobody anticipated how difficult it was to buy the Yellow-Removing Cream, but now, the store was giving it away. And it was a 20-milliliter set, no less. The crowd¡¯s anger vanished in an instant, and furthermore, their impression of Beauty Chant improved by more than just a notch. About ten minutes later, Huang Yue approached from the side, ¡°Old Zhou, I just inquired, and the best-selling skincare products in their store are sets that are over six hundred and eight hundred respectively. Even the cheapest face mask costs sixty a box. They sell out of everything by less than three o¡¯clock each day, with the minimum turnover starting at a hundred thousand!¡± Skincare sets that cost six hundred or so, a hundred thousand turnover might seem high, but in reality, they only need to sell more than two hundred sets. Beauty Chant¡¯s daily customer flow starts in the thousands, so selling two hundred skincare sets is really quite easy. Ma Xiaolan¡¯s restaurant is right opposite Beauty Chant; naturally, she knew how good their business was. When Huang Yue heard this number, her eyes reddened with envy! She wished she could immediately take back what belonged to her family. Zhou Zhongquan¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°What did you say the daily turnover is?¡± ¡°A hundred thousand,¡± Huang Yue confirmed. A look of disbelief spread across Zhou Zhongquan¡¯s face. He didn¡¯t make a hundred thousand in a month. Yet Lin Wu could earn that in a day. What kind of concept was that? Huang Yue spoke bitterly, ¡°That money should originally have been earned by our family! And now, it¡¯s all being pocketed by others!¡± Huang Yue felt Ma Xiaolan had spoken true. The reason Beauty Chant was doing so well was entirely due to the prime location of their shop space. Otherwise, would a skincare brand no one had ever heard of sell like hotcakes? Impossible! Zhou Zhongquan narrowed his eyes, feeling a mix of emotions inside. He regretted deeply, regretting that he had leased the place for five years. A hundred thousand a day. How much would Lin Wu make after five years? Thinking of this, Zhou Zhongquan sighed, ¡°How could I have known things would turn out this way?¡± If he had known, he wouldn¡¯t have done it, even if it killed him. Huang Yue pressed on, ¡°Why don¡¯t we take the shop back? Take it back and run our own business.¡± How could they let such a good deal benefit others? In time, they¡¯d be making a hundred thousand a day, and in just a few years, they could become super-rich. Huang Yue grew more excited the more she thought about it. She looked as if she had already successfully reclaimed the shop. Zhou Zhongquan slightly furrowed his brows, ¡°But I¡¯ve signed a contract with them. Taking it back now would mean breach of contract! If we breach, we¡¯d have to pay the damages.¡± Chapter 59 - 59 053 Hua Tuos Descendant The Big Shots Method (First ?Chapter 59: 053: Hua Tuo¡¯s Descendant, The Big Shot¡¯s Method (First Order, 10,000-Word Chapter)_4 Chapter 59: 053: Hua Tuo¡¯s Descendant, The Big Shot¡¯s Method (First Order, 10,000-Word Chapter)_4 Although they were from Qing City, facing the huge amount of compensation, they still felt somewhat helpless. Upon hearing this, Huang Yue narrowed her eyes, ¡°I heard from the proprietress of the restaurant across the street that Lin Guixiang, who rented our shop, is a countrywoman from the countryside with little experience, she may not even know what a liquidated damage is!¡± What does a country person know? Besides, they just wanted to get their shop back. It was only right and proper. Zhou Zhongquan tried hard to recall the scene of the contract signing that day. The addresses on the ID cards of the mother and daughter were indeed from the countryside. As she spoke, Huang Yue seemed to remember something and continued, ¡°Right, she also said that Lin Guixiang is an illiterate who can¡¯t even recognize a single character! So you shouldn¡¯t worry about this and that, just join me in taking back the shop.¡± Since Lin Guixiang was illiterate, as long as they coaxed her into signing the termination paper, wouldn¡¯t everything be at their whim afterward? Besides, they were bona fide locals of Qing City, with quite a few connections in Qing City, what connections could an illiterate possibly have? By then, Lin Guixiang would be like a piece of meat on the chopping board. At others¡¯ mercy. With this thought in mind, Huang Yue pulled her husband to go to the neighboring copy shop to print the termination contract. To avoid anyone around Lin Guixiang who could read, Huang Yue edited the content of the contract very nicely; one wouldn¡¯t see any issues with the contract unless they looked closely. A few minutes later, Zhou Zhongquan held the freshly printed contract and looked at his wife, ¡°Are you sure you want to do this?¡± He always felt there was some risk to it. What if somebody noticed a problem with the contract? ¡°It¡¯s our own shop, what are you afraid of? Besides, a countrywoman like her, she doesn¡¯t know shit!¡± Zhou Zhongquan licked his lips, ¡°So what business shall we do after we get the shop back?¡± Huang Yue said matter-of-factly, ¡°Of course we¡¯ll sell skincare products!¡± Beauty Chant is an unknown skincare brand that has been managed so well by an illiterate. With their education and experience, the two of them would definitely do better in business than the illiterate Lin Guixiang. After speaking, Huang Yue continued, ¡°When the time comes, we¡¯ll register our own trademark and just find an OEM skincare product to sell.¡± Based on the current turnover of Beauty Chant. In less than a month. They could make a few million. Hearing his wife¡¯s words, Zhou Zhongquan suddenly felt no pressure at all. His wife was right. Were they not more capable than an illiterate? Thinking this, Zhou Zhongquan instantly felt full of confidence and said with a smile, ¡°Let¡¯s go and get our shop back now.¡± During the conversation. The couple walked up to the front of the Beauty Chant store. Since the ¡°Closed¡± sign was already hanging outside, there were few customers in the shop at that moment. Zhao Cuinong was busy with the renovation of the new shop, Lin Wu was upstairs testing equipment, and the employees had left early to go home; only Lin Guixiang was downstairs checking the accounts. Seeing someone enter, Lin Guixiang immediately greeted them with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we have already closed for the day.¡± Although Zhou Zhongquan was the landlord, Lin Guixiang had only seen him once before, so her impression of him was not very strong. Upon hearing this, Huang Yue stepped forward, ¡°Hello, my husband and I are the landlords here, may I ask who is the boss here?¡± Landlords? Lin Guixiang¡¯s gaze fell on Zhou Zhongquan, and she just remembered what the landlord looked like, and then said, ¡°It turns out to be Mr. Zhou and Mrs. Zhou, please have a seat.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the boss here, Lin Guixiang?¡± Huang Yue sized up Lin Guixiang. She didn¡¯t expect Lin Guixiang to be somewhat good-looking, not quite like the countrywoman she had imagined. But this didn¡¯t change the fact that Lin Guixiang was an illiterate who had not seen much of the world. Lin Guixiang nodded, ¡°Yes, may I know what you are here for?¡± Hearing this, Zhou Zhongquan looked up at Lin Guixiang, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes. He remembered Lin Guixiang from a month ago was not like this. Back then, Lin Guixiang was dirty and disheveled, a quintessential rural woman. But now her... If it hadn¡¯t been mentioned, who would believe she came from the countryside? After speaking, Lin Guixiang brought two cups of water, ¡°Please have some water.¡± Grabbing a cup, Huang Yue said to Lin Guixiang, ¡°Then I¡¯ll just cut to the chase.¡± Lin Guixiang nodded, ¡°Please do.¡± Taking a sip of water, Huang Yue got straight to the point, ¡°We¡¯ve decided not to continue renting out this shop, so please find a time to move out and look for another place.¡± Chapter 60 - 60 053 Hua Tuos Descendant The Big Shots Method (First ?Chapter 60: 053: Hua Tuo¡¯s Descendant, The Big Shot¡¯s Method (First Order, 10,000-Word Chapter)_5 Chapter 60: 053: Hua Tuo¡¯s Descendant, The Big Shot¡¯s Method (First Order, 10,000-Word Chapter)_5 Upon hearing the words, Lin Guixiang was stunned. She even thought she was hallucinating. ¡°You¡¯re not renting anymore?¡± Lin Guixiang slightly furrowed her brows. Huang Yue said with a smile, ¡°Right, we¡¯re no longer renting it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Lin Guixiang continued, ¡°When we signed the contract, didn¡¯t we agree on five years? It¡¯s been less than two months.¡± The smile on Huang Yue¡¯s face remained unchanged, ¡°Ms. Lin, first of all, this shop belongs to us, my husband and I are the landlords, so whether or not to rent it to you is our business.¡± After finishing her sentence, Huang Yue pulled out the termination agreement, ¡°Here¡¯s the contract, don¡¯t worry, we will not shortchange you. We will compensate you with a substantial amount according to the contract. I¡¯ve heard that you can¡¯t read, so, you just need to press your fingerprint on the last page.¡± Press a fingerprint? He Meili was ready to come to chat with Lin Guixiang when she walked in and heard this sentence. She was no fool and naturally knew what pressing a fingerprint signified. Lin Wu had been kind to them, and at such a time, she naturally couldn¡¯t sit by and do nothing. She quickened her pace, ¡°Mother Xiao Wu, you mustn¡¯t press your fingerprint!¡± Her good intentions being interrupted, Huang Yue slightly furrowed her brows, turned her head to look at He Meili, and said, ¡°Who are you? What does this matter have to do with you?¡± A busybody sticking her nose where it doesn¡¯t belong! ¡°Mother Xiao Wu is my benefactor, how is this matter none of my business?¡± He Meili walked straight in, ¡°You are too shameless! When Mother Xiao Wu and the others were renting your shop, why didn¡¯t you refuse then? Now that they¡¯ve finally made their business successful, you turn up! You¡¯re just jealous of their successful business and want to make a fortune off it yourself, aren¡¯t you?! Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re plotting in your minds!¡± ¡°Jealous of her?¡± Huang Yue scoffed with disdain in her eyes, ¡°You should take a good look at yourself in the mirror before you speak! Do you really think it was her who made the business successful? Isn¡¯t it because this shop is in a good location with good Feng Shui? Otherwise, she would have been out in the cold long ago!¡± Shameless country bumpkins! They really think they¡¯re capable, don¡¯t they? If it weren¡¯t for the good location of her shop, how could their business be so good? Delusions of grandeur! He Meili didn¡¯t want to argue with Huang Yue, so she looked at Lin Guixiang, ¡°Where is Xiao Wu?¡± ¡°Upstairs,¡± Lin Guixiang replied. He Meili then said, ¡°Sister Guixiang, you mustn¡¯t sign anything, I¡¯m going to call Xiao Wu down right now.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Guixiang nodded her head. Having said this, He Meili turned around and went upstairs. Huang Yue watched the back of He Meili with tightly furrowed brows. Where did this madwoman come from? She didn¡¯t know what kind of reinforcement she would bring. It seemed necessary to be swift and decisive. With that thought, Huang Yue turned her gaze back to Lin Guixiang and said with a smile, ¡°Ms. Lin, rest assured, as long as you press your fingerprint, my husband and I will not let you suffer. The original compensation was 5 million, but we can double that and compensate you with 10 million.¡± Zhou Zhongquan immediately nodded, ¡°My wife is right.¡± Lin Guixiang shook her head, ¡°I want to wait for my daughter to come down.¡± Huang Yue slightly furrowed her brows. She didn¡¯t know what role Lin Guixiang¡¯s daughter played! Whether she was easy to deceive or not. Just then, a figure walked down the stairs, ¡°Mom.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Guixiang raised her head to look up, and a huge weight finally lifted from her heart, ¡°Xiao Wu.¡± Unbeknownst to herself, Lin Guixiang had already come to rely on Lin Wu as her rock. She just had not realized it yet. Upon hearing this, Huang Yue also raised her head to look. She almost laughed out loud. She had thought Lin Guixiang¡¯s daughter must be something special! It turned out to be just a yellow-haired girl of seventeen or eighteen. What could a young girl do? Apparently. There really was no one in this shop capable of taking charge! Otherwise, why would they let a yellow-haired girl come out to handle the situation? Lin Wu walked over to Lin Guixiang¡¯s side, simply lowered her eyes to look at Mr. and Mrs. Zhou, and said with slightly parted red lips, ¡°Mr. Zhou, Mrs. Zhou, I am Lin Wu. Both of you can directly speak to me about anything.¡± Huang Yue didn¡¯t take Lin Wu seriously at all and continued, ¡°We want to take back this shop and compensate you with 10 million. All you need to do is sign this termination agreement.¡± From beginning to end, she never mentioned the word breach. Always emphasizing compensation. Normal people would have their heads spinning upon hearing the number 10 million. But who was Lin Wu? She spoke calmly, ¡°So, Mr. and Mrs. Zhou want to break the contract, is that it? If it¡¯s a breach, forget about the compensation. Just provide the penalty for breaching the contract as stipulated in the agreement.¡± The moment she spoke, she firmly grasped Huang Yue¡¯s weak spot. Breach? Chapter 61 - 61 053 Hua Tuos Descendant The Big Shots Method (First ?Chapter 61: 053: Hua Tuo¡¯s Descendant, The Big Shot¡¯s Method (First Order, 10,000-Word Chapter)_6 Chapter 61: 053: Hua Tuo¡¯s Descendant, The Big Shot¡¯s Method (First Order, 10,000-Word Chapter)_6 Lin Wu actually knew about breaching the contract. Huang Yue was stunned for a moment. It appears she had underestimated this little Huang Mao. But it didn¡¯t matter. The contract she had prepared was immaculate; an ordinary person wouldn¡¯t be able to spot any flaws, let alone this little Huang Mao, Lin Wu. With this in mind, Huang Yue raised her head to look at Lin Wu, smiling as she spoke, ¡°Young lady, don¡¯t worry, we will compensate you according to the penalty for breach of contract. You seem like an educated girl, so just signing off on the termination contract will do.¡± After she spoke, Huang Yue continued, ¡°Considering the challenges you and your widowed mother face trying to make it on your own, I¡¯ll give you ten additional days to prepare after you sign the termination contract. My husband and I will come to take over the property after ten days.¡± There was no change in Lin Wu¡¯s expression; she simply stretched out her hand towards Huang Yue, uttering just three words, ¡°Hand it over.¡± Huang Yue was taken aback, looking up at Lin Wu, ¡°What?¡± At nearly 1.76 meters tall, Lin Wu towered over Huang Yue who was less than 1.60 meters, and looking up at Lin Wu felt quite oppressive. Huang Yue swallowed hard. Lin Wu was just a little Huang Mao, but she felt like she was talking to a leader. It was somewhat unbelievable. Lin Wu went on to say, ¡°Hand over the termination contract.¡± Huang Yue reached for the termination contract and handed it to Lin Wu with both hands. It was only after handing over the contract that Huang Yue realised why she was showing such respect to a little Huang Mao? And yet, she had done so naturally. This was absurd! Lin Wu took the contract and quickly flipped through it, her eyes moving swiftly line by line. The room was so quiet that only the sound of the flipping pages could be heard. Huang Yue narrowed her eyes. She didn¡¯t have to guess to know that Lin Wu was just putting on an act. Flipping that fast, she probably didn¡¯t even see half a word clearly! Does she really think she¡¯s some kind of prodigy? Such a good pretender! Shameless. Soon enough, Lin Wu shifted her gaze from the contract and looked straight at Huang Yue, ¡°Mrs. Zhou, are you sure there are no issues with this termination contract, and that you will compensate us 10 million?¡± ¡°Of course! Isn¡¯t it written clearly in black and white?¡± Huang Yue replied, her face betraying neither shame nor nervousness, ¡°Or are you illiterate?¡± The last sentence was a provocation. Normally, Lin Wu would sign quickly to prove she wasn¡¯t illiterate. But things didn¡¯t develop in the direction Huang Yue expected. Lin Wu simply held the contract and spoke again, ¡°This termination contract seems nice, every line and word talks about compensating us 10 million, yet it doesn¡¯t mention the penalty for breach of contract at all, nor does it specify when exactly the compensation will be paid. Who are you trying to fool here?¡± In plain terms, it was a blank check. Once signed, even if it went to court, there would be no clear case. Hearing this, Huang Yue was taken aback. Had Lin Wu really understood? No! Impossible! She was a law graduate, which was why she could write a contract with no loopholes; a non-professional simply wouldn¡¯t understand it. How did Lin Wu understand it? She must still be pretending to understand, trying to bluff! With this in mind, Huang Yue smiled and said, ¡°Young lady, listen to how you talk. Am I the type to be underhanded? It¡¯s clearly written here that we will compensate you 10 million. Why don¡¯t you believe it? If you sign now, I can even give you more, but if you delay further, we will have to compensate you according to the original contract¡¯s tenfold penalty clause, and by then you will lose 5 million!¡± The last sentence was both a threat and a reminder. 5 million was not a small amount; an ordinary person would have conceded immediately upon hearing this. Lin Wu didn¡¯t want to waste her breath with her, slamming the contract onto the table, ¡°Mrs. Zhou, let¡¯s not beat around the bush. Either compensate us ten times the penalty fee, or we¡¯ll see you in court.¡± Lin Wu was never one to drag things out. Since Zhou Zhongquan and Huang Yue wanted to breach the contract, they naturally had to pay the price. Lin Wu¡¯s voice was neither loud nor soft, yet it echoed through every corner of the hall, compelling and authoritative. He Meili felt like applauding her, hands on her hips as she stared at Huang Yue, ¡°Xiao Wu is right, either pay the penalty fee, or we¡¯ll see you in court!¡± Huang Yue just looked at Lin Wu, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. How could she have expected that a little Huang Mao could be so capable! To see the flaws in the contract so clearly. It seems she had underestimated her opponent. So be it, she conceded! Just pay! Her shop could earn 100,000 yuan in a single day. What was 5 million to her? Merely a drop in the bucket. ¡°Young lady, since you don¡¯t want the advantage, then let¡¯s proceed with the standard procedure. We will be here with 5.8 million in 10 days, and then please move out immediately!¡± Chapter 62 - 62 053 Hua Tuos Descendant The Big Shots Method (First ?Chapter 62: 053: Hua Tuo¡¯s Descendant, The Big Shot¡¯s Method (First Order, 10,000-Word Chapter)_7 Chapter 62: 053: Hua Tuo¡¯s Descendant, The Big Shot¡¯s Method (First Order, 10,000-Word Chapter)_7 Hearing the words, He Meili snorted coldly, ¡°Let them move! Beauty Chant works so well, no matter where we go, the business will be good! It¡¯s you who should worry, do you really think you can get rich by stealing other people¡¯s business? Wait and drink the northwest wind then!¡± Huang Yue also laughed, staring at He Meili, ¡°Who ends up drinking the northwest wind remains to be seen.¡± Without a doubt, the ones to suffer would definitely be Lin Wu and Lin Guixiang. With that, Huang Yue turned to Zhou Zhongquan, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Zhongquan immediately followed Huang Yue¡¯s lead. As soon as the two of them had left, Zhao Cuinong returned. Walking back, she looked over her shoulder curiously at Zhou Quanzhong and Huang Yue, asking, ¡°Who were that man and woman just now? Why do they look a bit familiar?¡± He Meili immediately went to Zhao Cuinong¡¯s side, ¡°Cui Nong, you¡¯re back! Those were your landlords.¡± ¡°Landlords?¡± Zhao Cuinong frowned slightly, ¡°What did they want?¡± He Meili described what had happened succinctly. With a furrowed brow, Zhao Cuinong said, ¡°Such people are really disgusting! They actually want to steal our business.¡± After saying that, Zhao Cuinong turned her head to Lin Wu, ¡°Xiao Wu, you shouldn¡¯t have agreed to their request for contract termination.¡± The rent for the shops on South Street had already risen to nearly forty thousand a month. The rent for five years would be around four million-plus. Now, although they had paid more than five million in penalty for breaking the contract, it still felt somewhat unbearable. Lin Wu smiled faintly, ¡°Auntie, I understand what you mean. But our own shop will be renovated soon, we just need to promote the new store location to the customers well over the next ten days.¡± With narrowed eyes, Zhao Cuinong said, ¡°If I had been here just now, I would have definitely had a good argument with her, tear her mouth apart right there!¡± ¡°Arguing with that kind of person is pointless,¡± Lin Wu said in a calm tone, ¡°As long as our product works well, even if the new store is opened in the most remote corner, we won¡¯t be afraid of losing business. Terminating the contract now is not only without loss; we are actually making more than five million in profit.¡± With those five million... She could do a lot of things. Hearing this, Zhao Cuinong nodded, ¡°There is some sense in thinking like that! We still have ten days to communicate with customers, I¡¯m going to tell my brother right now to speed up the renovation, so let¡¯s move in sooner!¡± Fortunately, the renovation was being handled by someone they knew. Otherwise, it would be quite troublesome. ¡°Mhm.¡± Afterward, Lin Wu added, ¡°These few days, I¡¯ll also look for a second-hand skincare product factory.¡± Once the shop renovation is completed, there will be two stores, totaling four floors. If the factory isn¡¯t sorted out in advance, they would inevitably run into stock shortages when the time comes. Finding a skincare factory to transfer would mean they could just recruit workers and start production. There would be no need for further renovation or to buy machines. Zhao Cuinong smiled at Lin Wu, ¡°Xiao Wu, you¡¯re about to take the transfer student exam soon; for the next two days, your task is just to focus on reviewing! I already asked your uncle to take a few days off from his job starting tomorrow, so all matters related to finding a factory will be handed to him. Whatever arrangement needs to be made, just tell him, there¡¯s no need for you to handle it personally.¡± There were just two more days left before the transfer student exam. So, nothing was more important than the exam! Since that was the case, Lin Wu didn¡¯t decline and nodded slightly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to uncle¡¯s care.¡± The transfer student exam loomed near. Lin Wu truly needed to spend time on books and review the senior year materials. After all, it had been a long time since her last high school exam. ¡°Helping you is your uncle¡¯s pleasure!¡± said Zhao Cuinong, pushing Lin Wu toward the exit, ¡°Go back and review your lessons; your mom and I can handle the store.¡± Outside the door, Lin Wu unlocked her bicycle, ready to cycle back home. Watching Lin Wu¡¯s retreating figure, He Meili said with a smile, ¡°Sister Guixiang, I am so envious of you!¡± Having such an outstanding daughter like Lin Wu is like having your ancestral grave emit green smoke, right? Unfortunately, that kind of fortune isn¡¯t something one can simply covet. ¡ª¡ª Repair shop. Lu Ye was squatting in front of an old-fashioned bicycle, his thin lips slightly pursed, his expression focused as he worked on the bike. The sunlight contoured the defined lines of his face with a golden edge. It was captivating. Heizi was holding an iPad, reporting the situation. ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve checked all the homebodies aged 30-50 in Qing City, but none of them match the profile of Big Boss W.¡± Which meant... W might not be in Qing City. But his account¡¯s IP address showed that he was in Qing City. Hearing this, Lu Ye¡¯s eyebrows knitted together, and he put down the wrench in his hand, pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it. Could it be... W was around 20 years old? But how could someone that young have such experience and construct a game like that? Chapter 63 - 63 053 Hua Tuos Descendant The Big Shots Method (First ?Chapter 63: 053: Hua Tuo¡¯s Descendant, The Big Shot¡¯s Method (First Order, 10,000-Word Chapter)_8 Chapter 63: 053: Hua Tuo¡¯s Descendant, The Big Shot¡¯s Method (First Order, 10,000-Word Chapter)_8 At the thought, Lu Ye slightly squinted his eyes. This ¡°W¡±... was becoming more and more mysterious! He was already impatient to meet this genius. Lu Ye slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, ¡°Then let¡¯s expand the age range to people between 20-50 years old.¡± Twenty years old? Heizi was also taken aback. Although genius knows no age limit, ¡°W¡± was a genius among geniuses; he probably wasn¡¯t just some twenty-something kid. Having said that, Lu Ye turned and went to the door, ¡°I¡¯m going out for a walk.¡± Heizi nodded. Watching Lu Ye¡¯s retreating figure, Xue Jinghao immediately followed, ¡°Third Brother, I have something to tell you.¡± The two talked as they walked. Suddenly, Xue Jinghao saw a silhouette riding a bike. The girl was riding with one hand, and the breeze lifted her hair, creating perfect arcs in the air, forming a messy beauty that was refreshingly attractive on a summer evening, especially mesmerizing. Xue Jinghao whistled, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Qing City to have such beautiful girls!¡± As he spoke, it seemed he remembered something, ¡°Isn¡¯t that Sister Lin?¡± What a coincidence. To meet like this. It seems that Sister Lin is destined to become his sister-in-law! With this thought, Xue Jinghao narrowed his eyes. At these words, Lu Ye also looked up, and his lips curled slightly when he saw her face. That¡¯s right. It was indeed the kid. The next second, Xue Jinghao waved to Lin Wu, ¡°Sister Lin, over here!¡± Lin Wu slightly turned her gaze and saw the figure by the road. She slowed down and stopped her bike beside the two men without getting off. With one long leg propped on the ground, she looked at them and said, ¡°What a coincidence.¡± ¡°Quite a coincidence,¡± replied Lu Ye, his voice low. Xue Jinghao was an easygoing guy, ¡°Sister Lin, where are you off to in this heat?¡± Although Qing City was like spring all year round, the summer sun could still be a bit spicy. Especially around two or three in the afternoon. Lin Wu said, ¡°I¡¯m going home, and I¡¯m getting milk tea for my little cousin on the way.¡± Today was Sunday. Lin Guodong didn¡¯t have school, and right after Lin Wu had left South Street, she received a call from him saying he wanted an iced milk tea, so she made a detour to buy milk tea. Xue Jinghao, who knew how to please, said, ¡°What a coincidence, Third Brother and I were also going to get milk tea. I know where the tastiest milk tea is sold, how about we go together?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly. So, the party of two became three. The milk tea shop was just around the corner. After entering the milk tea shop, Xue Jinghao said, ¡°Sister Lin, I¡¯ll queue up. You find a seat with Third Brother and wait for me.¡± There weren¡¯t many free tables in the shop. Lin Wu and Lu Ye found a spot to sit down. Sitting face to face without Xue Jinghao as the lubricant, the atmosphere seemed somewhat awkward. Especially for Lu Ye. Whenever he saw Lin Wu now, he couldn¡¯t help recalling the incident when he accidentally touched her hand... To distract himself, Lu Ye took out his phone and started playing a game. Seeing the game interface, Lin Wu raised an eyebrow slightly, ¡°You play this too?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Lu Ye nodded. ¡°What do you think about the difficulty of this game?¡± Lin Wu continued. ¡°It¡¯s okay, just that level 71 is a bit tough.¡± Lin Wu spoke with a light tone, ¡°Actually, level 71 is the easiest, you just need to think a bit more counterintuitively.¡± Upon hearing this, Lu Ye looked up, ¡°You play Ghost Path too?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Lin Wu nodded. More than just playing. She could clear it too. Lu Ye handed her the phone, ¡°Want to try?¡± The warmth from his palm lingered on the phone. Lin Wu tapped the screen a few times and handed it back to Lu Ye. The whole process took less than a minute. Seeing the words ¡®successfully cleared¡¯ on the screen, Lu Ye paused in surprise. The kid seemed... A bit extraordinary. Just then, Xue Jinghao came over with four cups of milk tea, one of them packed to go, ¡°Sister Lin, Third Brother, here¡¯s your milk tea.¡± Lin Wu said, ¡°How much? I¡¯ll transfer it to you.¡± Xue Jinghao laughed, ¡°Transfer what? We¡¯re all friends here; you can just treat me next time.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly, not making a fuss. Xue Jinghao sat beside them, took a sip of milk tea, and with a teasing smile said, ¡°Sister Lin, can I interview you?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Xue Jinghao went on, ¡°You¡¯re so pretty; do you have a lot of people chasing you at school?¡± ¡°Not too many,¡± Lin Wu thought seriously, ¡°about enough to circle the Earth three times if we held hands.¡± Pfft! Xue Jinghao burst out laughing. He didn¡¯t expect Sister Lin to have such a sense of humor. ¡°Don¡¯t laugh,¡± Lin Wu glanced at him, ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡± Xue Jinghao narrowed his eyes. Indeed. With Sister Lin being so lovely, there surely wasn¡¯t a shortage of suitors. Chapter 64 - 64 053 Hua Tuos Descendant The Big Shots Method (First ?Chapter 64: 053: Hua Tuo¡¯s Descendant, The Big Shot¡¯s Method (First Order, 10,000-Word Chapter)_9 Chapter 64: 053: Hua Tuo¡¯s Descendant, The Big Shot¡¯s Method (First Order, 10,000-Word Chapter)_9 Looks like Third Brother has a lot of rivals in love! After a moment, Xue Jinghao continued to ask, ¡°So what kind of guys do you like?¡± Lin Wu inserted the straw into her cup and began to list her preferred type, ¡°Of course, they have to be tall and handsome, over 1.9 meters, with a good physique, sporting six-pack abs, Adonis belt, broad shoulders, narrow backs...¡± In the past, she was busy with experiments and had never experienced romance... naturally, she didn¡¯t have a boyfriend. As a beauty lover like her, if she were to look for a boyfriend, she naturally couldn¡¯t compromise on her standards. Hearing this, Lu Ye silently touched his own stomach. It had been a long time since he last worked out, and he didn¡¯t even know if his abs and Adonis belt were still there! This action was almost subconscious, and even Lu Ye himself didn¡¯t realize he had done it, but Xue Jinghao noticed all his little movements. He just knew that Third Brother definitely had feelings for Sister Lin. However, you could tell at a glance that Sister Lin wasn¡¯t someone easy to provoke, let alone chase after. Tsk. He was really looking forward to seeing Third Brother¡¯s journey of pursuing his wife. ¡ª¡ª After finishing her milk tea and heading back, it was already four in the afternoon. Lin Guodong knew that Lin Wu was coming back and had been impatiently waiting at the courtyard gate for his milk tea. As soon as he saw Lin Wu¡¯s figure, he immediately rushed over to hug her waist, ¡°Sister is back.¡± Lin Wu patted his little head and said with a smile, ¡°Jelly, your milk tea is in the bike basket, go get it yourself.¡± ¡°Thank you, Sister.¡± Lin Guodong hopped and skipped over to retrieve the milk tea. Just at this time, Sun Shanshan came walking in from outside with her backpack on her back, her gaze falling on Lin Wu and filled with aversion. How can this disgusting bumpkin still have the face to stay here? Speaking of which, it¡¯s strange. Sun Shanshan thought that after the last incident, the rumors about Lin Wu and Lin Guixiang in the courtyard would intensify. Unexpectedly. This matter not only didn¡¯t go in the direction she expected, but in the past few days, nobody even mentioned it. Even the usually talkative Feng Qiaoqiao had quieted down a lot. It was as if everyone had forgotten about it. She didn¡¯t know what was going on. Pushing down the confusion in her heart, Sun Shanshan walked up to Lin Wu and greeted her very politely, ¡°Cousin.¡± Although Lin Wu knew that Sun Shanshan was pretending, she still had to maintain appearances and gave her a slight glance, ¡°Shan Shan.¡± Sun Shanshan continued, ¡°Cousin, the day after tomorrow is the transfer student exam, we¡¯ll go together. I¡¯ll come to Uncle¡¯s place to get you in the morning, and after the exam, I can show you around the Qingzhong School campus, considering that you will be studying there for a year!¡± Sun Shanshan deliberately emphasized the last sentence. Lin Wu was so confident now, but she really wanted to see how Lin Wu would handle herself after failing to get into Qingzhong School! Upon hearing this, Aunt Xiao Zhou, who was washing vegetables in the yard, curiously asked, ¡°Shan Shan, haven¡¯t you already been accepted into Qingzhong School? Why are you still taking the transfer student exam?¡± Sun Shanshan had been waiting for this question. Without delay, she turned to Xiao Zhou and explained gently, ¡°Aunt Xiao Zhou, I¡¯m not taking the transfer student exam, but participating in the elite class math competition. If I pass this competition, I¡¯ll be transferred to the elite class and secure a recommendation spot at Capital University.¡± She would not only get through the elite class competition but also secure a Capital University recommendation spot. What about Lin Wu? What could Lin Wu secure? Lin Wu could only serve as a stepping stone for her. With this thought, Sun Shanshan¡¯s lips curled slightly, and the triumphant look on her face could hardly be concealed. ¡°Elite class competition?¡± Xiao Zhou was even more puzzled, ¡°How come I never heard Yaohua mention it?¡± Xiao Zhou¡¯s niece, Zhou Yaohua, was a student at Qingzhong School and also lived in the courtyard. If such a test existed, Yaohua would certainly have told her about it. Sun Shanshan followed up, ¡°This elite class competition has only been announced to the top 100 students in the grade.¡± Zhou Yaohua¡¯s grades barely ranked her around 300 in her second year at Qingzhong. How could she possibly receive a notice about the competition? Xiao Zhou nodded, ¡°I see, no wonder Yaohua didn¡¯t tell me about this! Shan Shan, you are really amazing! You¡¯ll definitely achieve a good result in the competition and get that recommendation spot.¡± ¡°Thank you, Aunt Xiao Zhou,¡± Sun Shanshan said modestly, ¡°I¡¯m actually not that amazing. Whether I can pass the test is another matter, not to mention getting the recommendation spot! But I believe that Cousin will definitely pass the transfer student exam.¡± Chapter 65 - 65 054 A full pot of water makes no sound a half pot of ?Chapter 65: 054: A full pot of water makes no sound, a half pot of water goes clink-clank_1 Chapter 65: 054: A full pot of water makes no sound, a half pot of water goes clink-clank_1 Sun Shanshan seemed modest, but she was actually very confident inside. She had always ranked within the top ten in her class, and while there hadn¡¯t been a test this semester yet, she had worked very hard, never missing an extra tutoring class. Even her tutors said she had a high aptitude and was bound to make a big splash in the math competition. She behaved so modestly in front of Xiao Zhou to create a stark contrast with Lin Wu¡¯s high-profile demeanor. A full pot is silent, but a half pot sloshes. Obviously. Lin Wu was that half pot. Xiao Zhou smiled and said, ¡°Shan Shan, you¡¯re being too modest. Who in our courtyard doesn¡¯t know that you excel academically and are at the top of your class? That¡¯s why you¡¯re bound to secure a guaranteed admission slot to Capital University from this competition.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Zhou added, ¡°At that time, you¡¯ll be the first person from our courtyard to be guaranteed admission to Capital University!¡± Our courtyard had had guaranteed admissions before. But they were only to ordinary key universities. Capital University was one of the top ten international universities, and ordinary people couldn¡¯t dream of securing a guaranteed admission slot there! If Sun Shanshan managed to secure a guaranteed admission slot, it would be an immense honor. The kind that would get you on the front page of the Qing City newspaper. Lin Wu really couldn¡¯t compete with Sun Shanshan. A village girl from the countryside, who didn¡¯t even fully recognize the 26 letters of the alphabet, let alone competing in a math competition or even passing the entrance exam for transfer students at Qingzhong School was as hard as reaching the sky. It was a mystery where Lin Wu found such confidence! With that thought. Xiao Zhou glanced at Lin Wu. What use is being pretty? What use is being sly? In this society. What matters most is education and ability. Someone like Lin Wu will probably struggle to find a decent job after graduation. In the end, they might only end up waiting tables or sweeping floors. With no prospects for life. With a gentle tone, Sun Shanshan said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll borrow Aunt Xiao Zhou¡¯s auspicious words and do my best.¡± Xiao Zhou nodded, ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to hearing good news from both of you sisters.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Sun Shanshan said and continued, ¡°Aunt Xiao Zhou, my cousin and I will head back now.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Watching Sun Shanshan¡¯s retreating figure, Xiao Zhou said enviously, ¡°Gui Mei really hit the jackpot with her daughter!¡± If she had a daughter as outstanding as Sun Shanshan, she would do anything for her. Xiao Zhou¡¯s voice was neither loud nor soft, just loud enough for Sun Shanshan to hear. The corners of her mouth tilted upward slightly. The sense of superiority in her eyes almost spilled out. Before long, they reached the third floor. With an indifferent tone, Lin Wu said, ¡°I¡¯ll head back first.¡± Sun Shanshan nodded. Lin Wu turned and entered her apartment. Watching the closed door, Sun Shanshan snorted softly. Look at Lin Wu¡¯s aloofness. She wondered what Lin Wu had to be so proud of! After returning home, Lin Wu found the math textbook for the senior year and began reviewing her coursework. Luckily, she was a true scholarly powerhouse with a solid foundation. Although she hadn¡¯t touched many concepts in a while, revisiting them now didn¡¯t feel unfamiliar. So, she sat in the hammock chair on the balcony. Crossing her legs. The swinging chair did not disrupt her line of sight, sunlight shone through the window casting a shadow on her jade-like profile, and the room was so quiet the only sound was the flipping of pages. Perhaps this was what they meant by peaceful times. After a while, Lin Bingqiang came out of the room and said with a smile, ¡°Xiao Wu, I need to go out for a bit. Jelly is playing downstairs with friends. Remember to call him back in time to do his homework.¡± ¡°Alright, Uncle,¡± she replied. ¡ª¡ª At the same time. Sun Shanshan also got home. As soon as she opened the door, Lin Guimei greeted her with a smile, ¡°Shan Shan, I heard from your teachers that you have a math competition the day after tomorrow, is that right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sun Shanshan nodded. Lin Guimei continued, ¡°How many students from your class are participating this time?¡± ¡°Four or five from each class,¡± Sun Shanshan replied. Hearing this, Lin Guimei became very excited. Only four or five people per class were selected, and Sun Shanshan had received the notification, which spoke volumes about her daughter¡¯s excellence. ¡°Shan Shan, you¡¯re really giving me face this time!¡± Lin Guimei exclaimed. And it was no small feat! Upon saying this, Lin Guimei recounted, ¡°Your grandmother told me that even Wang Xiaojun didn¡¯t receive the notice!¡± Wang Xiaojun was Sun Shanshan¡¯s Aunt Sun Xianghong¡¯s son. Sun Xianghong¡¯s husband, Wang Haitao, was a chemistry teacher at Qingzhong School. Their son was very promising and had lived up to expectations by being admitted to Qingzhong School. But he fell short when compared to Sun Shanshan. Although Lin Guimei and Sun Xianghong were sisters-in-law, Sun Xianghong always looked down on her and the two always competed¡ªcomparing husbands, jobs, children... Sun Xianghong always looked down on her sister-in-law from the countryside, but so what? Her daughter was still more outstanding than Wang Xiaojun! Chapter 66 - 66 054 A full pot of water makes no sound a half pot of ?Chapter 66: 054: A full pot of water makes no sound, a half pot of water goes clink-clank_2 Chapter 66: 054: A full pot of water makes no sound, a half pot of water goes clink-clank_2 Lin Guimei became more and more excited as she thought. Upon hearing this, the disdain in Sun Shanshan¡¯s eyes was almost impossible to conceal, ¡°Wang Xiaojun can¡¯t even rank within the top three hundred in the grade, how could he possibly receive a competition notice?¡± Did she seriously think anyone was qualified to stand shoulder to shoulder with her? Lin Guimei turned to Sun Shanshan, her face full of pride and said, ¡°Shanshan, our Sun Family will rely on you to carry on and expand our glory in the future!¡± Lin Guimei has always had a strange sixth sense. She felt her daughter was no ordinary person. She was destined for greatness. As everyone knows, a woman¡¯s sixth sense is always the most accurate. So. This little Qing City would sooner or later belong to her daughter. As she finished speaking, Lin Guimei added, ¡°By the way, Shanshan, I heard that not only can the top twenty of this math competition enter the key class, but they will also draw for Capital University¡¯s recommendation spots, right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Sun Shanshan nodded slightly, ¡°But there seem to be only three spots.¡± The recommendation spots for Capital University were extremely precious. Even a school as formidable as Qingzhong only received three spots. However, despite there being only three spots, Sun Shanshan was determined to obtain one! Lin Guimei narrowed her eyes and said, ¡°Tonight your aunt and uncle are coming over for dinner, and we will have your grandma inquire about the situation with those recommendation spots.¡± It¡¯s always easier with the right connections. Although she disliked Sun Xianghong, one shouldn¡¯t pass up on useful relationships. Sun Shanshan confidently stated, ¡°There¡¯s no need to bother grandma; I¡¯m certain I will get one of those spots.¡± Otherwise, her extracurricular tutoring classes would have been for nothing. Sun Shanshan was never blindly confident. Lin Guimei smiled and said, ¡°Truly my daughter, smart and ambitious!¡± Hearing this, Sun Shanshan¡¯s eyebrows knit together imperceptibly. Her intelligence was the result of her own efforts; what did it have to do with Lin Guimei? Lin Guimei, on the other hand, was something else. She not only outright denied her daughter¡¯s hard work but also took all the credit for herself. The annoyance flickered in Sun Shanshan¡¯s beautiful eyes. Her mother¡¯s behavior was indistinguishable from that of commoners; after all, she was born in the country, and no matter how many years she lived in the city, she could never change her rustic ways! No wonder her grandmother had always looked down on her. Sun Shanshan then said, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m going to study.¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Lin Guimei nodded. ¡ª¡ª By the time Lin Wu finished reading, it was already evening. She looked around; the house appeared to be empty. ¡°Jelly.¡± Lin Wu spoke gently. No response came from inside the house. Lin Guodong had not yet returned. Thinking of her uncle¡¯s words, Lin Wu immediately got up from the hanging chair and went downstairs to look for Lin Guodong. The evening breeze of summer in the courtyard was gentle and refreshing. Standing there, Lin Wu couldn¡¯t help but stretch lazily. She was a beautiful person. What seemed a languid action was like a beautiful painting, incredibly captivating. Just as Qin Fengyang stepped into the courtyard, he witnessed this scene. He paused momentarily, his heartbeat unconsciously accelerating as he greeted Lin Wu with a flushed face, ¡°Lin Wu.¡± ¡°Qin Fengyang,¡± Lin Wu responded with a light smile. ¡°Where are you headed?¡± Qin Fengyang continued. Lin Wu replied, ¡°Looking for Jelly. Have you seen him?¡± Qin Fengyang nodded, ¡°He¡¯s playing with a bunch of kids on West Street.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go have a look.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Qin Fengyang nodded, then turned to walk toward the apartment building. His steps quickened. Perhaps too nervous, he didn¡¯t even realize that he dropped his meal card. Seeing this, Lin Wu called out to his retreating figure. ¡°Qin Fengyang.¡± Qin Fengyang immediately halted and turned to look at Lin Wu, ¡°What, what is it?¡± He couldn¡¯t help but feel... That Lin Wu seemed a bit different toward him? Just like the girls in class who had crushes on him. Otherwise. Why would Lin Wu suddenly call out to him? The more Qin Fengyang thought about it, the faster his heartbeat raced. The only difference was that when facing the infatuated girls in his class, his heart was still as water. But in front of Lin Wu, he seemed to lose control. No. No way. He couldn¡¯t be falling for Lin Wu. And he definitely couldn¡¯t let Lin Wu know that she made his heart flutter. His mother was right; Lin Wu was just a little country girl from the boonies, with no education or background to speak of. And he was destined for prestigious universities, to go on to further studies, and once graduated, to become a pillar of the country with a respectable job. A wife like Lin Wu was simply not presentable. True, Lin Wu was beautiful. But any of the girls in his class who admired him would surpass Lin Wu in status upon random selection. So. With a status like Lin Wu¡¯s, she simply didn¡¯t match up to him. With these thoughts, Qin Fengyang tried hard to calm himself and averted his gaze from Lin Wu¡¯s face. Lin Wu then said, ¡°You dropped something.¡± Chapter 67 - 67 054 A full pot of water makes no sound a half pot of ?Chapter 67: 054: A full pot of water makes no sound, a half pot of water goes clink-clank_3 Chapter 67: 054: A full pot of water makes no sound, a half pot of water goes clink-clank_3 Qin Fengyang lowered his head and then saw the meal card on the ground. He immediately bent down to pick it up, ¡°Thank you.¡± He just knew that Lin Wu must like him. Otherwise, how could she have known even when his own meal card had fallen? Because of liking someone, one tends to pay too much attention. Upon this realization, Qin Fengyang¡¯s heartbeat, which he had finally managed to control, started to quicken again. ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± Lin Wu said in a nonchalant tone. Qin Fengyang looked at her, suddenly as if struck by a thought, ¡°Lin Wu, you¡¯re about to take the exam for transfer students soon, right?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly. Qin Fengyang continued, ¡°Then good luck to you.¡± Although Lin Wu¡¯s family background was somewhat lacking, if she could get into Qingzhong School, she might barely be qualified to be his girlfriend. He just didn¡¯t know whether Lin Wu had the capability or not. After a moment¡¯s thought, Qin Fengyang added, ¡°By the way, how confident are you?¡± Lin Wu raised her eyebrows slightly, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be a big problem.¡± Not a big problem? Qin Fengyang¡¯s frown formed subtly. It seemed that Lin Wu didn¡¯t understand the terror of Qingzhong School. How could the sparrow know the ambition of a swan? Indeed. How could someone from a small place know about the competitiveness of a big city? After finishing her sentence, Lin Wu turned around and walked out of the courtyard gate. Qin Fengyang clenched the meal card in his hand and walked upstairs. The Qin Family lived across from the Lin Family. The door wasn¡¯t closed. Feng Qiaoqiao was standing at the doorway. Seeing her son coming home, she immediately took his schoolbag, ¡°Feng Yang, did you receive that notice about the math competition?¡± ¡°I did,¡± Qin Fengyang nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll participate in the exam the day after tomorrow.¡± Upon hearing this, Feng Qiaoqiao¡¯s face immediately lit up with joy. She just knew her son had the talent. Suddenly, as if something occurred to her, Feng Qiaoqiao continued, ¡°Were you just talking to Lin Wu downstairs?¡± ¡°Um, my meal card fell, and she reminded me of it.¡± Feng Qiaoqiao snorted coldly, ¡°She¡¯s quite attentive to you.¡± One could guess Lin Wu¡¯s intentions without even thinking hard! Qin Fengyang had the looks and the family background. Always ranking at the top in Qingzhong, a good child recognized for his character and scholarship, Lin Wu probably wanted to follow in Lin Guimei¡¯s footsteps, latch onto Qin Fengyang and then use some despicable means to get pregnant, forcing Qin Fengyang to marry her. Such people were just disgusting. Not knowing their own weight, they still fancy Qin Fengyang. As she finished speaking, Feng Qiaoqiao continued, ¡°Feng Yang, I know that children in their teenage years can be restless, easily attracted by the things outside. But you have to understand, you and Lin Wu are not from the same world.¡± ¡°You have a bright future ahead of you, what does Lin Wu have? You can¡¯t possibly be with such a person and degrade yourself!¡± ¡°I understand, Mom,¡± Qin Fengyang nodded. Qin Fengyang was a very clear-headed person. Although only eighteen, after going through a retake year, he understood the importance of fame and fortune. When he hadn¡¯t been accepted into Qingzhong, everyone ignored him. Since getting into Qingzhong, who didn¡¯t praise him as smart, sensible, and a future pillar of society? His current achievements had come with great difficulty, and naturally, he wouldn¡¯t give them up just because of Lin Wu. Feng Qiaoqiao narrowed her eyes, ¡°Does that Lin Wu have feelings for you?¡± Qin Fengyang was stunned for a moment, not expecting even his mother to notice, ¡°Seems like it, a little.¡± The scorn in Feng Qiaoqiao¡¯s eyes was almost spilling out, ¡°A toad lusting after a swan¡¯s flesh, shameless.¡± Having said this, Feng Qiaoqiao looked at Qin Fengyang, ¡°If she actively pursues you, confesses to you, you cannot give her any chance!¡± For someone like Lin Wu, one must refuse them outright. Not even a glimmer of hope should be given to her. Otherwise, Lin Wu would definitely be relentless! ¡°Okay,¡± Qin Fengyang nodded. ¡ª¡ª Lin Wu arrived at West Street. Lin Guodong was playing house with a group of kids under a tree. All of them were eight or nine years old. Naive and whimsical. The air was occasionally filled with their laughter. Lin Wu too was infected by this atmosphere, her eyes and eyebrows curved, her smile blossoming like a flower. After a while, she spoke faintly, ¡°Jelly!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Guodong¡¯s playmate nudged his arm, ¡°Your sister¡¯s here!¡± Lin Guodong looked up at Lin Wu, ¡°Sis!¡± Lin Wu was beautiful, so her brother¡¯s friends were all envious of Lin Guodong having a fairy-like sister. Lin Wu smiled and walked over to Lin Guodong, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go home and do homework.¡± Upon hearing the three words ¡®do homework¡¯, Lin Guodong¡¯s smile instantly stiffened. ¡°Sis, can I play a little longer?¡± ¡°No,¡± Lin Wu took his hand, ¡°You¡¯ve been playing all afternoon.¡± Lin Guodong sighed. When he grew up, he was determined to destroy all the homework in the world with a bomb. Following Lin Wu home, he started doing his homework. Chapter 68 - 68 054 A full pot of water makes no sound a half pot of ?Chapter 68: 054: A full pot of water makes no sound, a half pot of water goes clink-clank_4 Chapter 68: 054: A full pot of water makes no sound, a half pot of water goes clink-clank_4 He hadn¡¯t even finished a few questions before Lin Guodong started scratching his head and exclaimed, ¡°Sis, I don¡¯t know how to do this problem. Can you teach me?¡± Lin Wu put down her phone and walked over to Lin Guodong. When she saw Lin Guodong¡¯s test paper, her head started to ache. She had assumed that with her uncle and aunt being intellectuals, her little cousin¡¯s grades would definitely be good. Unexpectedly... His grades were... A total mess. He even got several simple true-or-false questions wrong. Lin Wu helplessly rubbed her forehead. After tutoring three major questions in a row, the next section was idiomatic phrases completion. ()water()flow. Lin Guodong rolled up his sleeves and boasted, ¡°Sis, this type of question is my strong point!¡± Lin Wu breathed a sigh of relief, finally encountering this little guy¡¯s strong point. She was really exhausted. No wonder there are always news about parents getting heart attacks from helping their kids with homework! ¡°Then write it down and let me see,¡± Lin Wu continued. Lin Guodong picked up his pen and began to write. When she saw the answer, Lin Wu couldn¡¯t help but want to give the little guy a thumbs-up. What he wrote was: (mouth) water (straight) flow!!! Genius! Unfortunately, Lin Guodong also lifted his adorable little head, gazing up at Lin Wu with his round, innocent eyes in anticipation of praise, ¡°Sis, am I not great?¡± Lin Wu: ¡°...¡± ¡°It¡¯s ¡®trickling water flowing long¡¯.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Guodong scratched his head, ¡°Ah? Is it wrong?¡± He then continued with the next question. What came next left Lin Wu dumbfounded. Idiomatic phrases completion: five()four(). The little guy went off-tangent and filled in five eight four ten. It seemed correct. And yet not correct. Even Lin Wu began to doubt herself. Seeing Lin Wu¡¯s expression, Lin Guodong tentatively asked, ¡°Sis, did I get it wrong again?¡± ¡°Five eight four ten is a multiplication mantra. This question is about completing an idiomatic phrase, think about it again,¡± she replied. Lin Guodong tilted his head and thought hard. An entire hour of tutoring passed before Lin Guodong had finished half the test paper. Lin Wu was utterly exhausted. Before long, Zhao Cuinong and Lin Guixiang returned from the shop. Seeing Lin Wu tutoring Lin Guodong with his homework, Zhao Cuinong said with a smile, ¡°Xiao Wu, how¡¯s Jelly¡¯s talent for studying?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Guodong arrogantly lifted his head, ¡°Sis said I¡¯ve already got six pains in my seven apertures!¡± Lin Guixiang only understood the literal meaning and said in surprise, ¡°Jelly is incredible.¡± Zhao Cuinong laughed out loud, ¡°What¡¯s incredible about that! ¡®Six pains in the seven apertures¡¯ means ¡®completely clueless¡¯! I¡¯ve been saying all along, this child is just not cut out for academics.¡± Luckily, Zhao Cuinong was an optimist. ¡°There are talents in every trade, and each trade produces its own leaders.¡± As long as you work hard and aim high, there will come a time when you excel. So she never forced Lin Guodong to study, nor did she enroll him in any tutoring classes. Upon realizing this, Lin Guixiang also burst into laughter. Shortly after, Zhao Cuinong approached Lin Wu and said, ¡°Xiao Wu, since Taobao is so popular now, how about we also open an online flagship store?¡± That way, they could save a considerable amount of rent. With e-commerce, there¡¯s no need to rent a storefront; just finding a warehouse to ship the goods is enough. Upon hearing this, Lin Wu shook her head slightly. ¡°Why?¡± Zhao Cuinong asked, puzzled. In a calm tone, Lin Wu began to explain, ¡°Although e-commerce is booming, Beauty Chant relies on the effectiveness of its products, not on high sales volume. If we open an e-commerce platform, not only would it give people the illusion that the products are readily available anytime, but it would also decrease the consumers¡¯ desire to buy. Scarcity adds value; if Beauty Chant is available anytime and anywhere, then essentially it would be no different from any ordinary skin care product.¡± To successfully launch a domestic product into the market and go international, one must forge a unique path. Take the very popular Yueyan Milk Tea Shop, for example. They have not registered on any food delivery platform. If you want Yueyan, you must go to the city where it¡¯s located and stand in line. This is also a marketing strategy. Upon hearing this, Zhao Cuinong nodded, looking at Lin Wu with eyes full of admiration, ¡°Xiao Wu, you¡¯re absolutely right!¡± No wonder she was able to build up her business. With that brain of hers. Not just her. Even ten of her probably couldn¡¯t compare! After speaking, Zhao Cuinong continued, ¡°Today we informed all the customers who came to the store about the new location, but there are still many who don¡¯t know. Xiao Wu, should we print an advertisement board with the new store¡¯s address on it and place it at the entrance, so every visiting customer can see it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible,¡± said Lin Wu as she picked up her cup and took a sip of water, ¡°Moreover, we need to print a new batch of 20% discount coupons to give to every customer who visits the store, and we should also print the new store¡¯s address on the back of each card.¡± Chapter 69 - 69 054 A full pot of water makes no sound a half pot of ?Chapter 69: 054: A full pot of water makes no sound, a half pot of water goes clink-clank_5 Chapter 69: 054: A full pot of water makes no sound, a half pot of water goes clink-clank_5 Not every customer will pay attention to the billboard at the entrance, but when it¡¯s printed on a discount card, it¡¯s different. Beauty Chant rarely has promotions, so for a 20% discount, everyone will look at the new store¡¯s address. ¡°What about the old discount cards?¡± Zhao Cuinong asked. Lin Wu said, ¡°All the old ones are voided.¡± ¡°Good.¡± As she spoke, Zhao Cuinong couldn¡¯t help but curse, ¡°Zhou Zhongquan is really shameless, he agreed to a five-year lease, and he breaches it just like that! With only ten days, how could we possibly make all our customers aware of the new store¡¯s address?¡± ¡°What if he opens a skincare store as well?¡± Wouldn¡¯t that mean taking all their business away? Upon hearing this, Lin Guixiang also grew worried and looked at Lin Wu, ¡°Xiao Wu, your aunt is right. If Zhou Zhongquan opens a skincare store as well, wouldn¡¯t that affect us?¡± She and her daughter had not easily built up their business and had just established themselves in Qing City, only to encounter such an issue. Lin Wu, however, remained calm. No trace of worry could be seen on her serene face, ¡°Even if they really open a skincare store, it won¡¯t affect us, because there is only one Beauty Chant in this world.¡± Moreover, not every skincare product is called Beauty Chant. Zhao Cuinong smiled and said, ¡°Xiao Wu is right. They can imitate us and open a skincare store, but they can¡¯t replicate the effectiveness of Beauty Chant!¡± If just any skincare product could effectively remove freckles and acne, then Beauty Chant wouldn¡¯t have suddenly become so popular. Hearing this, Lin Guixiang also sighed in relief, ¡°Then I¡¯ll contact Xiao Liu right away to print new discount cards. Xiao Wu, how many do you think we should print?¡± ¡°Considering our current daily customer traffic, at least a hundred thousand,¡± Lin Wu said. ¡°Good,¡± Lin Guixiang nodded. Just then, Zhao Cuinong seemed to have thought of something, raised her head to look at Lin Wu, ¡°Xiao Wu, instead of printing a hundred thousand discount cards, why not find an internet celebrity to help us promote the new store¡¯s address? This way, not only can we increase the popularity of Beauty Chant, but also let more people know that we¡¯re moving.¡± After speaking, Zhao Cuinong continued, ¡°I¡¯ve looked into it. Hiring an internet celebrity with ten million followers to post an advertisement is about a hundred thousand yuan.¡± A hundred thousand yuan in advertising fees could bring them at least ten times that in revenue. When you think about it, that¡¯s far more economical than paper discount cards. Plus, we are in the information age. People spend much more time looking at their phones than looking at cards! Lin Wu didn¡¯t immediately respond to Zhao Cuinong¡¯s words but counter-asked, ¡°Auntie, do you know what the best marketing strategy is?¡± Zhao Cuinong was stunned for a moment, then shook her head. She really didn¡¯t know. Under the lights, Lin Wu¡¯s face showed almost no special expression, with just the corners of her crimson lips slightly raised, ¡°The best marketing strategy is not to market at all, no advertisements. Its goodness all comes from word of mouth from everyone.¡± ¡°The truly good stuff doesn¡¯t need to be advertised, like gold and diamonds. Gold has always been hard currency, and in any period, it won¡¯t depreciate. But diamonds are different. In fact, diamonds are a scam in human history. Because their main component is carbon, which is something the Earth has in abundance. In a way, they are no different from household coal; both would burn up completely at high temperatures.¡± ¡°So, diamonds need the gimmicks of ¡®true love¡¯ and ¡®eternity¡¯ to sell!¡± Diamonds are considered the most successful marketing of the 20th century. But as consumers become more discerning, fewer people are buying diamonds. Lin Wu did not wish to be a ¡®diamond¡¯ product. She aimed to be like gold, a hard currency. No matter how advanced society becomes, Beauty Chant will always be in demand. Zhao Cuinong¡¯s eyes widened as she gazed at Lin Wu, ¡°Listening to you is better than reading ten years of books.¡± At this moment, Zhao Cuinong truly saw Lin Wu as an unattainable idol. Not just a junior. Lin Wu was really impressive. Her way of thinking, her perspective on the bigger picture, they all surpassed those of her, an adult. Who would believe that this was just a teenager? At this moment, Zhao Cuinong had a strong intuition. In the future, Lin Wu would certainly rise to great heights. Beyond the reach of everyone else. By then, the Zhang Family would surely regret their actions to the core! The next morning at nine o¡¯clock. When Lin Guixiang and Zhao Cuinong arrived at the store, Xiao Liu from the print shop was already waiting at the door. Chapter 70 - 70 054 A full pot of water makes no sound a half pot of ?Chapter 70: 054: A full pot of water makes no sound, a half pot of water goes clink-clank_6 Chapter 70: 054: A full pot of water makes no sound, a half pot of water goes clink-clank_6 Seeing the two approach, Xiao Liu smiled and said, ¡°Sister Lin, Sister Zhao, you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Good morning, Xiao Liu,¡± the two greeted Xiao Liu. Xiao Liu continued, ¡°The discount cards and advertisement flyers are all printed, I¡¯ll move them to the store for you.¡± Lin Guixiang took the keys to open the door, ¡°Xiao Liu, you¡¯ve worked hard.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no trouble,¡± he replied. As he said this, Xiao Liu moved all the items into the store. Zhao Cuinong was arranging two large advertising boards at the store¡¯s entrance. He Meili also came to open up her shop at this time. Seeing Zhao Cuinong setting up the advertising boards, she immediately came over to help, ¡°Cui Nong, is your shop really moving?¡± Although He Meili was also present at the termination of the contract yesterday, she still found the situation rather abrupt. Moreover, she would come over to chat with Zhao Cuinong and Lin Guixiang during her free time every day, and it wouldn¡¯t be convenient to chat if they moved away. Most importantly, with Beauty Chant next door, He Meili felt that the business at her own shop had improved a lot. Once Beauty Chant left, the customer flow at their shop would definitely worsen. ¡°We don¡¯t want to move either, but that shameless Mr. Zhou left us no choice,¡± she said. At last, Zhao Cuinong sighed, ¡°We can¡¯t possibly inform everyone about the store relocation within ten days, and if that Mr. Zhou also sets up a skincare shop here, who knows how many people will be deceived!¡± He Meili smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s easy to handle. Our shops are next to each other. Just move one of your advertising boards to the entrance of our shop, so even when you¡¯ve moved, everyone can see the new store address.¡± Hearing this, Zhao Cuinong immediately grabbed He Meili¡¯s hand, ¡°Meili, your idea is fantastic, thank you!¡± Helping me out so much, this little thing is nothing,¡± said He Meili. She truly regarded Lin Wu as a little god of wealth. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be so open-hearted and willing to help in this way. Moreover, Lin Guixiang and Zhao Cuinong had been very supportive of her business. The clothes they wore were all bought from her shop, and they insisted on paying the full price, even when she tried to refuse their money. When she finished speaking, He Meili moved an advertising board to the entrance of her own shop. ¡ª¡ª The Lu Family. Ever since being diagnosed with a melanin problem, Lu Wenyu had put his work on hold to stay at home with Grandma Lu. Grandma Lu was somewhat annoyed, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you working and just following me around all day?¡± ¡°Mom, I want to spend more time with you,¡± said Lu Wenyu. The most regrettable thing in this world is wishing to support one¡¯s parents when they are no more. His mother was already in her nineties. He didn¡¯t want to be so busy that he neglected her. Upon hearing this, Grandma Lu frowned slightly and said with disdain, ¡°Why are you acting like a mama¡¯s boy?¡± A mama¡¯s boy? This term clearly touched a blind spot in Lu Wenyu¡¯s knowledge, and he asked in confusion, ¡°What¡¯s a mama¡¯s boy?¡± ¡°A mama¡¯s boy is praising you for being filial!¡± Grandma Lu replied impatiently. After speaking, Grandma Lu added, ¡°Thank you for being so filial, but I really don¡¯t need you around right now! And I¡¯m not at the stage where I need someone to watch over me 24 hours a day, so please, just go! Having you follow me all the time makes me uncomfortable.¡± Such filial piety suffocated Grandma Lu. She felt as though she had grown a pair of eyes on her back. She couldn¡¯t feel comfortable doing anything. Plus, she hadn¡¯t eaten any spicy strips for half a day! All she wanted now was to have a taste of those spicy strips to satisfy her craving. ¡°Mom...¡± Lu Wenyu seemed to want to say something, but Grandma Lu didn¡¯t give him the chance, quickly pushing him out the door, ¡°Just go!¡± Bang! Before Lu Wenyu could even react, the door was closed. The scene hardly matched the image of a tender mother-son relationship he had imagined. Lu Wenyu had thought that by taking the time to talk with his mother, she would be moved to tears. But it turned out... Bai Lu came by, arms folded across her chest, watching Lu Wenyu as if watching a play, ¡°Got kicked out by our mom, did you?¡± Lu Wenyu nodded and then asked, ¡°Lulu, what does mama¡¯s boy mean?¡± He always felt that mama¡¯s boy wasn¡¯t a good term. It had nothing to do with being filial and sensible. Hearing this, Bai Lu laughed out loud, ¡°Mom said you are a mama¡¯s boy?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Lu Wenyu touched his nose. Bai Lu continued, almost unable to stand straight from laughter, ¡°Did she also tell you that being a mama¡¯s boy means you¡¯re filial and sensible?¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± Lu Wenyu was very surprised. Bai Lu knew all along Grandma Lu would say that. Seeing that he couldn¡¯t get a straight answer from his wife, Lu Wenyu had no choice but to pull out his phone and search online. Chapter 71 - 71 054 A full pot of water makes no sound a half pot of ?Chapter 71: 054: A full pot of water makes no sound, a half pot of water goes clink-clank_7 Chapter 71: 054: A full pot of water makes no sound, a half pot of water goes clink-clank_7 Seeing the correct answer, Lu Wenyu was dumbfounded. His mother really was like a child. After a moment, Lu Wenyu continued, ¡°Lulu, since Mom doesn¡¯t need my company, I¡¯ll go to City A for a bit; the house is in your hands now. If anything comes up, remember to contact me in time.¡± The Lu Group was indeed very busy recently, and if it wasn¡¯t for Grandma Lu¡¯s health issue, Lu Wenyu wouldn¡¯t have paused his work. ¡°Okay,¡± Bai Lu straightened her husband¡¯s tie, ¡°Go do what you need to, I¡¯ve got the house covered.¡± With that, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed her husband on the cheek. Lu Wenyu nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll be back next Tuesday.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Bai Lu then said, ¡°I¡¯ll go pack your suitcase for you.¡± After packing, Bai Lu personally sent her husband off in the car. Grandma Lu also stood on the balcony, watching as her son departed. Lu Wenyu seemed to sense his mother¡¯s gaze and looked up at the building; however, Grandma Lu squatted down at that moment, dodging Lu Wenyu¡¯s look. Seeing this, Lu Wenyu laughed, unable to help himself, ¡°This rebellious old lady.¡± Shortly after... Grandma Lu came downstairs, ¡°Is that mama¡¯s boy gone?¡± Bai Lu nodded. Grandma Lu sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, ¡°Finally he¡¯s left!¡± Bai Lu turned to look at Grandma Lu, ¡°Mom, were you just secretly eating spicy strips in your room?¡± ¡°Nonsense,¡± Grandma Lu said seriously, ¡°Of course not. What self-respecting old lady would hide away in her room eating spicy strips?¡± As long as she didn¡¯t confess, no one could prove it. Bai Lu narrowed her eyes, ¡°Then what¡¯s with the chili oil at the corner of your mouth?¡± Grandma Lu immediately reached up to wipe the corner of her mouth, ¡°How odd! I¡¯m sure I wiped it off.¡± ¡°Look!¡± Bai Lu laughed, ¡°I knew for sure you were secretly eating spicy strips.¡± Only then did Grandma Lu realize she had been tricked; she looked at Bai Lu, hands on hips, and defiantly said, ¡°So what if I snuck some spicy strips? What can you do to me?¡± She not only snuck them today but intended to sneak them tomorrow too. Bai Lu: ¡°...¡± She was the one defeated. Just then, Lu Ye entered from outside, ¡°Grandma, Aunt, I brought you some milk tea.¡± At the sight of the milk tea, Grandma Lu¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. Bai Lu, curious, turned to Lu Ye, ¡°Sansan, didn¡¯t you used to dislike milk tea?¡± Lu Ye, who had mild OCD, never ate anything from outside nor did he drink milk tea. Upon hearing this, Lu Ye¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and he replied lightly, ¡°You¡¯re mistaken.¡± ¡°Am I?¡± Bai Lu narrowed her eyes. ¡°Yes,¡± Lu Ye said. Bai Lu, holding the milk tea, continued, ¡°How are you coming along with that thing I mentioned last time?¡± Without waiting for Lu Ye to reply, Grandma Lu asked curiously, ¡°What thing?¡± Bai Lu said, ¡°About finding Sansan a girlfriend.¡± Grandma Lu frowned slightly, ¡°You mean Zhang Xianxian?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Bai Lu nodded. She genuinely liked Zhang Xianxian very much. Zhang Xianxian was talented and beautiful, a perfect match for the peerless Lu Ye. ¡°No,¡± Grandma Lu interrupted Bai Lu¡¯s musings, ¡°I¡¯ve found a better candidate for Sansan; Zhang Xianxian won¡¯t do.¡± Grandma Lu didn¡¯t like the Zhang Family. Zhang Dalong was far from a good man, not only was he immoral, but he also philandered, abandoning his wife and daughter. How could such a man raise a good daughter? ¡°Then who is your candidate?¡± Bai Lu was very curious. Just what kind of person could occupy such a high place in Grandma Lu¡¯s heart! To the point where Grandma Lu disregarded Zhang Xianxian. ¡°It¡¯s a secret for now!¡± Grandma Lu then said, ¡°I¡¯m still getting to know the young lady. But anyway, she is very impressive, at least ten times more so than Zhang Xianxian.¡± When the time was right, she would introduce Lu Ye to Lin Wu. Bai Lu frowned slightly, ¡°Who could be ten times better than Xianxian?¡± Her mother-in-law must be losing her sight from old age. Scammed when buying skincare products, And now to be scammed... ¡°There are many who are better than her!¡± Grandma Lu replied with disdain, ¡°Lulu, you are bewitched.¡± What was Zhang Xianxian in comparison? At best, a white lotus. Hearing this, Bai Lu said in frustration, ¡°Mom, who exactly is bewitched here?¡± Grandma Lu turned to Lu Ye, ¡°Sansan, your lifetime happiness is in Grandma¡¯s hands now. Grandma will definitely find you a beautiful bride who¡¯s as lovely as a flower and as pretty as jade.¡± Lu Ye just felt a headache coming on, ¡°Grandma, I don¡¯t want to get married.¡± Grandma Lu cheerfully said, ¡°No matter, once you see her, you will want to get married. Besides, what you should worry about is whether she will like you, not whether you want to get married or not.¡± Hearing this, Lu Ye pressed his temples, his face showing helplessness. Chapter 72 - 72 054 A full pot of water makes no sound a half pot of ?Chapter 72: 054: A full pot of water makes no sound, a half pot of water goes clink-clank_8 Chapter 72: 054: A full pot of water makes no sound, a half pot of water goes clink-clank_8 Grandma Lu was too confident with her words. For an avowed bachelor, even if the woman was a Ninth Heaven Fairy, he wouldn¡¯t be swayed in the slightest. Bai Lu also thought Grandma Lu¡¯s words were absurd, ¡°Sansan, don¡¯t listen to your grandma. Where in the world can you find such a perfect person? I think Xianxian is the most suitable for you. Why don¡¯t you two meet up when you have time and chat on WeChat?¡± Grandma Lu immediately retorted, ¡°Zhang Xianxian is no good!¡± ¡°Mom, the people you introduce are unreliable!¡± Mother and daughter-in-law argued back and forth, causing Lu Ye¡¯s head to throb. He stood up from the sofa, ¡°I¡¯m going upstairs.¡± As he finished speaking, he turned and walked upstairs. Lu Ye went straight to the gym on the third floor, took off his jacket, and glanced at his reflection in the mirror, inexplicably relieved. Fortunately. The abs and the Adonis belt were still there. ¡ª Afternoon. Grandma Lu came to South Street with gifts in hand. Upon arriving at the store entrance, she saw the relocation advertisement and immediately quickened her pace to go inside. Her voice arrived before she did. ¡°Guixiang, why are you suddenly moving?¡± Lin Guixiang was sweeping the floor. Hearing this, she immediately put down the broom, looked up, and said with a smile, ¡°Aunt Jin is here!¡± After speaking, she explained the reason for the move. Hearing this, Grandma Lu frowned slightly, ¡°Such people are truly disgusting! Even if they take over your shop, they¡¯ll never do any business.¡± Lin Guixiang nodded slightly, as if recalling something, then asked, ¡°By the way, Aunt Jin, did you go for a medical check-up? What did the doctors say?¡± When the topic came up, Grandma Lu cheerfully took Lin Guixiang¡¯s hand, ¡°I did go! Thanks to Xiao Wu¡¯s golden advice, we found the problem early. The doctor said that if it were a few days later, the cancer cells would have spread.¡± Thinking back on An Zhenbang¡¯s words, Grandma Lu also felt frightened. Who isn¡¯t afraid of death when born a human? Lin Guixiang was taken aback. She had originally thought it was just Lin Wu¡¯s guess, not expecting Lin Wu to have actually hit the mark. Upon finishing her thought, Grandma Lu picked up the gift, ¡°This is something I bought specially for Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu saved my life, so you must not refuse this gift! Otherwise, I will be upset.¡± Seeing it was the old lady¡¯s sincere gesture, Lin Guixiang naturally could not decline and accepted it with a smile, ¡°Well, thank you then.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to thank me for?¡± Grandma Lu glanced inside the store, ¡°Right, where¡¯s Xiao Wu?¡± Lin Guixiang replied, ¡°Xiao Wu is about to take the entrance exam for transfer students at Qingzhong School, and she has been revising at home for the past two days.¡± Grandma Lu nodded her head, ¡°Xiao Wu is so smart she will definitely pass the exam!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it.¡± Lin Guixiang poured a cup of water for Grandma Lu. Grandma Lu just stared at Lin Guixiang¡¯s profile, feeling more and more familiar as she did so. This feeling was strange. Although it was very familiar, she just couldn¡¯t remember where she had seen her before. After a moment, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Guixiang, where is your hometown?¡± ¡°I¡¯m from Lincheng Town, Flower River City.¡± Flower River? Grandma Lu frowned slightly, ¡°Then how did you come to Qing City?¡± The two places are thousands of miles apart. Lin Guixiang said with a smile, ¡°My brother and sister are both here, so I followed them over.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Grandma Lu nodded. She didn¡¯t know anyone in Flower River. It must be her sixth sense that was off. ¡ª Soon, the day of the entrance exam for transfer students arrived. Lin Guixiang and Zhao Cuinong got up early in the morning to prepare breakfast for Lin Wu. Homemade fried dough sticks. Two eggs. Put together, they added up to a perfect one hundred. A good omen. Zhao Cuinong had just served the food at the table when Sun Shanshan arrived. She was wearing Qingzhong School¡¯s uniform, her face full of confident smiles, ¡°Cousin, are you ready?¡± Seeing Sun Shanshan, Zhao Cuinong asked with curiosity, ¡°Shanshan, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m taking a promotion exam today. It happens to be at the same time as my cousin¡¯s exam. I was worried she wouldn¡¯t be familiar with Qingzhong and might not find the exam hall, so I came with her. I can also introduce her to the campus.¡± Hearing this, Zhao Cuinong nodded, ¡°Have you eaten? If not, sit down and eat with us.¡± ¡°Thank you, Auntie, I¡¯ve already eaten,¡± Sun Shanshan replied, polite and understanding. Lin Guixiang handed a bottle of milk to Sun Shanshan, ¡°Then have some milk, I hear it¡¯s good for calcium.¡± ¡°Thank you, Auntie,¡± replied Sun Shanshan. Although she was smiling, inside she bristled with disdain. Who wants to drink something handed over by a rural woman? Lin Guixiang really saw herself as something special. Shameless. Shortly after, Sun Shanshan sat opposite Lin Wu, ¡°Cousin, there¡¯s still time. Eat slowly, I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly. Zhao Cuinong looked earnestly at Lin Wu, ¡°Xiao Wu, you must finish this fried dough stick and eggs. If you do, you¡¯ll score full marks!¡± Hearing this, Sun Shanshan nearly laughed out loud. She didn¡¯t even have the slightest understanding of the material, but she dreamed that eating fried dough sticks and two eggs would get her full marks? It was like a fantasy. Indeed. A country bumpkin is always a country bumpkin. All hair and no brains. Chapter 73 - 73 055 Overwhelming Victory Five Number Ones _1 ?Chapter 73: 055: Overwhelming Victory, Five Number Ones! _1 Chapter 73: 055: Overwhelming Victory, Five Number Ones! _1 Lin Wu naturally wouldn¡¯t disappoint her aunt¡¯s kindness, ¡°Thank you, aunt. I will definitely finish them all.¡± Upon hearing Lin Wu¡¯s words, Sun Shanshan wanted to laugh even more. What a fool Lin Wu was. Did she really think that eating some fried dough sticks and eggs would guarantee her full marks? Sun Shanshan raised her head to look at Zhao Cuinong, her eyes brimming with mirth, ¡°Aunt, my cousin is so amazing, she can get full marks without eating these things.¡± She was deliberately mocking Lin Wu. Unfortunately, neither Lin Wu nor Zhao Cuinong detected the sarcasm in her words. Zhao Cuinong nodded with a smile, ¡°I love to hear that, Shanshan. Your cousin is naturally smart, always first in her class back home. Coming to Qing City, she will certainly be the top student!¡± She had not a shred of doubt in Lin Wu¡¯s capabilities. Upon hearing this, the mockery at the bottom of Sun Shanshan¡¯s eyes almost spilled over. She had no idea where Zhao Cuinong¡¯s confidence came from. A first-place student from the countryside thinking they could compete with Qing City¡¯s top student? Truly, ignorance is bliss! Though she thought this way, Sun Shanshan still feigned agreement, ¡°You¡¯re right, aunt.¡± Just you wait. The prouder Lin Wu is now, the more embarrassed she will be after the exam. She couldn¡¯t wait to see. Whether Lin Wu would still have the face to stay here afterwards. After all. Now everyone knows that Lin Wu is determined to get into Qingzhong School. At this thought, Sun Shanshan narrowed her eyes. Not long after, Lin Wu finished all the food. Zhao Cuinong immediately brought a wet wipe over to clean her hands, ¡°Xiao Wu, do you want me to take you guys?¡± Zhao Cuinong could drive. Lin Bingqiang¡¯s car happened to be idle at home. Sun Shanshan turned to Zhao Cuinong, ¡°No need, Aunt. Qingzhong School is very close from here, the traffic is terrible in the morning, walking is even faster. I¡¯ll accompany my cousin, so you don¡¯t need to worry.¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded, ¡°Shanshan, that will be hard on you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s what I should do.¡± Lin Guixiang brought over a pencil case, ¡°Xiao Wu, don¡¯t forget to take this.¡± Lin Wu took the pencil case. Zhao Cuinong also handed Lin Wu a bottle of water. The two of them bustled about, fearing that Lin Wu might forget something and it would affect her exams. Watching the two hustle, Sun Shanshan snorted coldly in her heart. In her view, the person Zhao Cuinong ought to be currying favor with should be her. What was Lin Wu anyway? Only she was the true daughter of fortune. Foolish and blind to her surroundings. Deservedly going nowhere in life. Lin Wu said with a smile, ¡°Aunt, Mom, I¡¯m all set. Don¡¯t be nervous.¡± With that, Lin Wu continued, ¡°I¡¯m heading to school now, goodbye.¡± Sun Shanshan also said, ¡°Goodbye, Aunt, Auntie.¡± The two walked shoulder to shoulder. When they arrived at the downstairs courtyard, everyone greeted them with smiles. ¡°Is it already the day for Xiao Wu¡¯s entrance exam?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Wu nodded. ¡°Is Shanshan going to take part in the math competition today?¡± Sun Shanshan said with a smile, ¡°Yes, Grandma Li.¡± Grandma Li¡¯s gaze fell on Sun Shanshan¡¯s face, then said, ¡°Shanshan is so smart, she will definitely pass the exam smoothly.¡± Sun Shanshan added, ¡°The competition is fierce this time, all the participants are top students, so I¡¯m counting on luck as well.¡± Look at that. Such a modest and good child. Without comparison, there¡¯s no harm done. Grandma Li¡¯s gaze returned to Lin Wu, ¡°I heard Xiao Wu¡¯s grades are also not bad, I wish you victory in your exams.¡± ¡°Thank you, Grandma Li.¡± Her confidence was radiating from between her brows. Something irreplicable to others. Grandma Li, however, was somewhat skeptical, thinking Lin Wu was boasting. Youth should be more low-profile. They shouldn¡¯t make claims they can¡¯t be sure of. Lin Wu¡¯s attitude was still too boastful. Qingzhong School was less than two kilometers away from Peaceful Garden. About 20 minutes. The two arrived at the school gate. Sun Shanshan¡¯s classmate, Huang Xiaojiao, was waiting for her at the entrance. Seeing Sun Shanshan approaching, she immediately ran over, ¡°Shanshan, why are you so late? I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a while.¡± Upon finishing, Huang Xiaojiao¡¯s gaze fell on Lin Wu, ¡°Who is this?¡± Lin Wu was too beautiful. Beautiful enough to make people jealous. Normally, beautiful girls don¡¯t focus on their studies; they probably get played with a lot. That¡¯s why there¡¯s a term called ¡°vase.¡± Pretty but useless objects are called vases. Clearly, Lin Wu was such a vase. At that thought, Huang Xiaojiao narrowed her eyes. Sun Shanshan said with a smile, ¡°This is my cousin Lin Wu. She¡¯s here for the transfer student exam.¡± For the transfer student exam? Hearing this, Huang Xiaojiao was somewhat surprised. Could this vase really be? She must just be there to make up the numbers. Shortly, Huang Xiaojiao looked at Lin Wu, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Huang Xiaojiao, Huang as in Huang Zhong, Xiao of dawn, Jiao as in the phrase ¡®a land so rich in beauty¡¯.¡± Chapter 74 - 74 055 Overwhelming Victory Five Number Ones _2 ?Chapter 74: 055: Overwhelming Victory, Five Number Ones! _2 Chapter 74: 055: Overwhelming Victory, Five Number Ones! _2 ¡°Lin Wu,¡± Lin Wu spoke indifferently, uttering just two words. Crisp and to the point. Just two words? At these words, Huang Xiaojiao slightly raised her eyebrows. This Lin Wu probably doesn¡¯t even know how to introduce herself. She really seems like nothing more than a pretty face. All glitter and no substance. Compared to Sun Shanshan, she¡¯s like the difference between heaven and earth. Perhaps noticing what Huang Xiaojiao was thinking, Sun Shanshan deliberately said, ¡°Jiaojiao, don¡¯t underestimate my cousin. She¡¯s a real academic tyrant. Back in our hometown, she always scored the top of her class in exams. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll impress everyone with the transfer student exam.¡± An academic tyrant?? The top of her class in her hometown? Huang Xiaojiao then asked, ¡°Where is your cousin from?¡± ¡°Flower River Lin City Town,¡± Sun Shanshan answered. Flower River? Lin City Town! So she¡¯s from the countryside. Just look at Lin Wu now. People who don¡¯t know her might think she¡¯s some wealthy young miss! The scorn in Huang Xiaojiao¡¯s eyes was almost spilling out. In a moment, she looked up at Lin Wu and said with a sardonic smile, ¡°So, Shan Shan¡¯s cousin is that amazing, the top of her class back home! It seems I was blind to her talents.¡± Lin Wu slightly lowered her eyes as she met Huang Xiaojiao¡¯s gaze, ¡°It¡¯s alright, it¡¯s not your fault you were born with a pair of eyes that look down on people.¡± Eyes that look down on people? What does she mean, looking down on people? Only a dog looks down on people! Realizing something was amiss with that statement, Huang Xiaojiao¡¯s face went pale with anger, her eyes narrowing, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± What does Lin Wu think she is? Some trash from the countryside. She dares to insult her. Lin Wu responded with a faint smile, ¡°I meant it literally.¡± Having said that, Lin Wu turned to Sun Shanshan, ¡°I¡¯m heading to the examination hall first, you guys chat.¡± Watching her leave, Huang Xiaojiao was so infuriated she nearly ground her teeth to dust, ¡°Shan Shan, how can your family have such an embarrassing relative?¡± Sun Shanshan, holding Huang Xiaojiao¡¯s hand with a gentle tone, said, ¡°Jiaojiao, my cousin is really nice. She¡¯s just not very good with words sometimes. She didn¡¯t mean any harm, and you mustn¡¯t be angry with her. If you really need to be mad, be mad at me.¡± Sun Shanshan always seemed so understanding in front of others. At these words, Huang Xiaojiao said incredulously, ¡°It sounds like your cousin has bullied you quite a bit, hasn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t talk nonsense,¡± Sun Shanshan said, looking down. The more she denied it, the more Huang Xiaojiao felt Sun Shanshan had suffered a lot of wrongs. Finishing her statement, Sun Shanshan continued, ¡°My cousin is clever and capable, and she does well in school. It¡¯s only natural everyone likes her. Unlike me, I¡¯m not good with words, and my grades are just average...¡± She spoke with false modesty, and Huang Xiaojiao couldn¡¯t bear to see her good friend so humble, immediately saying, ¡°Who says your grades are average? Are they blind?¡± If even Sun Shanshan¡¯s grades are considered average, then no one in their class is good at studying. In junior high, Huang Xiaojiao always ranked first in her class, and at that time, she considered herself above the rest. That was until she came to Qingzhong School, where everyone was a top student. Her first place hardly kept her in the upper-middle in her class at Qingzhong School. But Sun Shanshan was different. Her grades were very good, ranking in the top ninety or so for the whole grade, so only Sun Shanshan and the class president received the spots to compete. Huang Xiaojiao was accompanying Sun Shanshan to attend the competition, using the opportunity to try out competition problems as well. She hadn¡¯t expected to run into Lin Wu first thing in the morning. Sun Shanshan went on to say, ¡°My aunt and my uncles think my cousin is more formidable than me. She¡¯s the top of her class, while I can only rank around eighty or ninety in our school.¡± At this, Huang Xiaojiao was even more speechless, ¡°Your relatives must not have seen much of the world, have they?¡± Mistaking a fish eye for a pearl. And ignoring the true pearl before them. ¡°A little village girl from the countryside, how can she compare to you?¡± Sun Shanshan was seeking precisely this kind of reaction, a surge of superiority rising in her heart, ¡°Jiaojiao, don¡¯t talk about my cousin like that. Although she¡¯s from the countryside, she¡¯s beautiful! If I hadn¡¯t told you, could you have guessed she came from there?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of being pretty?¡± Huang Xiaojiao scoffed contemptuously, ¡°Just a useless vase! In the future, you¡¯ll be a high-caliber student from a prestigious university, and what about her? She¡¯s probably only fit to wait tables as a waitress!¡± Because Sun Shanshan was good at studying and always received praise from teachers during parent-teacher meetings, Huang Xiaojiao¡¯s mother had actively encouraged her to get close to Sun Shanshan. One is influenced by the company one keeps. This was also why Huang Xiaojiao curried favor with Sun Shanshan. Sun Shanshan smiled and said, ¡°What if my cousin passes the Qingzhong School exam?¡± At that, Huang Xiaojiao snorted with laughter. ¡°Her? Please,¡± Having said that, Huang Xiaojiao added, ¡°If she gets into Qing City First High School, I¡¯ll literally eat shit! Shan Shan, do you think just anyone can score first place in the class on a whim like you?¡± Chapter 75 - 75 055 Overwhelming Victory Five Number Ones _3 ?Chapter 75: 055: Overwhelming Victory, Five Number Ones! _3 Chapter 75: 055: Overwhelming Victory, Five Number Ones! _3 Sun Shanshan¡¯s eyes narrowed subtly, the depths revealing a look of triumph; her vanity was greatly satisfied. ¡ª¡ª After Lin Wu headed to school, Zhao Cuinong and Lin Guixiang were also getting ready to leave for work. It was quite the coincidence. As soon as they walked downstairs, they saw Lin Guimei chatting with someone. ¡°Big sister, Cui Nong.¡± Lin Guimei greeted them proactively. Zhao Cuinong said, ¡°Second sister, why haven¡¯t you gone to the store yet today?¡± Supermarkets are different from skincare shops. Normally, Lin Guimei would be opening the shop by six o¡¯clock. But today it was almost seven-thirty. Lin Guimei smiled and said, ¡°Dingbang is at the store already! It¡¯s okay if I go a bit later, and Shan Shan has a math competition today, you know. She told me last night she wanted to eat seafood when she gets back from her exam. I was thinking of going early to buy some fresh seafood and inviting Xiao Wu to have lunch at our place too.¡± ¡°I heard from Shan Shan that Xiao Wu also has the transfer student exam today.¡± Hearing this, Lin Guixiang nodded, ¡°Xiao Wu is taking the exam today,¡± Lin Guimei looked up at Zhao Cuinong, ¡°Cui Nong, do you remember the bet we had?¡± The bet? Zhao Cuinong was momentarily taken aback. She had been too busy recently and had genuinely forgotten. Lin Guimei continued, ¡°You might have forgotten, but I haven¡¯t.¡± As she spoke, she dug out a piece of paper from her pocket, ¡°If Xiao Wu gets into the top school, I¡¯ll give you a thousand yuan; if she doesn¡¯t, you owe me a thousand yuan! Cui Nong, you¡¯re not trying to weasel out of it, are you?¡± Fortunately, she had kept the written note safe. Otherwise considering Zhao Cuinong¡¯s reaction, it was quite clear she did not want to acknowledge it. So it was about that. Zhao Cuinong immediately remembered and said with a laugh, ¡°How could I possibly weasel out when Xiao Wu is so smart? Second sister, just as long as you don¡¯t go back on your word!¡± Lin Guimei snorted internally. From Zhao Cuinong¡¯s tone, she actually believed Lin Wu could get into Qingzhong School? Overestimating oneself. ¡°Cui Nong, rest assured, I¡¯m someone who can accept both victory and defeat gracefully! I absolutely won¡¯t go back on my word!¡± As they chatted, Xiao Zhou chimed in curiously, ¡°Can I join in on this bet as well?¡± Who doesn¡¯t like money? ¡°Sure.¡± Zhao Cuinong nodded and said with a smile, ¡°Xiao Zhou, you also think Xiao Wu can pass the exam, right? I don¡¯t mind; it¡¯s just whether my second sister can afford to lose!¡± Xiao Zhou looked somewhat embarrassed as he said to Zhao Cuinong, ¡°I, I¡¯d like to side with Shan Shan¡¯s mom, is that okay?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Guimei nearly laughed out loud. See? In the whole yard, no one believed Lin Wu could pass the exam for Qingzhong School. Only Zhao Cuinong and Lin Guixiang still had inflated confidence. Wherever did they get the nerve! Hearing his words, Zhao Cuinong didn¡¯t seem embarrassed, but merely looked at Xiao Zhou, ¡°Are you sure you want to side with my second sister?¡± Xiao Zhou nodded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure.¡± Zhao Cuinong continued, ¡°Then let me tell you, Xiao Wu is exceptionally smart; she has been a top student since she was young. She could not only pass the exam, but she might even come out first. Xiao Zhou, if you lose money, don¡¯t blame me for not warning you!¡± Lin Guimei also smiled and looked at Xiao Zhou, ¡°Cui Nong is right, Xiao Zhou, you should really think it over carefully.¡± Although Lin Wu did have a bit of cunning, she wasn¡¯t so smart as to be able to get into Qingzhong School. Anyone with sense would know, by just thinking with their toes, that Zhao Cuinong was bound to lose. Xiao Zhou was not foolish; she said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s okay; I can afford to win or lose.¡± With Xiao Zhou¡¯s participation, Grandma Li, who was enjoying the cool air in the corridor, also smilingly approached, ¡°Count me in too, count me in!¡± Looking expectantly at Grandma Li, Zhao Cuinong asked, ¡°You surely believe Xiao Wu can pass the exam, right?¡± Grandma Li shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m also on Shan Shan¡¯s mom¡¯s side.¡± After saying this, fearing her words might hurt Lin Guixiang, she turned and smilingly added, ¡°Mother Xiao Wu, it¡¯s not that I think Xiao Wu isn¡¯t smart. The child¡¯s IQ is definitely fine; otherwise, she couldn¡¯t have consistently ranked first in her grade back in her hometown. It¡¯s just that the Qingzhong School exam is too difficult! Not to mention Xiao Wu, even my grandson who grew up abroad couldn¡¯t pass it when he came back.¡± Her grandson had received the most advanced Western education. Even her grandson hadn¡¯t passed. There was even less need to mention Lin Wu. Could it be that her grandson was inferior to a village girl from the countryside? What nonsense! Lin Guimei watched Zhao Cuinong and added, ¡°Cui Nong, just look! It¡¯s not that I want to put down Xiao Wu, but this is just the reality.¡± After finishing her sentence, Lin Guimei began to console Lin Guixiang, ¡°Big sister, Qing City doesn¡¯t just have one high school. If Xiao Wu doesn¡¯t get into Qingzhong, she could go to a slightly less prestigious one. And if she really can¡¯t pass that, going to a vocational school is also quite good. Girls, after all, are meant to get married, and too high an education isn¡¯t that useful.¡± Chapter 76 - 76 055 Overwhelming Victory Five Number Ones _4 ?Chapter 76: 055: Overwhelming Victory, Five Number Ones! _4 Chapter 76: 055: Overwhelming Victory, Five Number Ones! _4 The last sentence was downright heart-piercing. Xiao Zhou immediately jumped in, ¡°Gui Mei is right, your daughter Xiao Wu is so pretty that it doesn¡¯t matter if she can¡¯t get into a good high school. In the future, she can just marry a rich second-generation husband, and live a life of luxury at home!¡± The children of rich families aren¡¯t idiots. Which wealthy person doesn¡¯t want to find someone who has both beauty and brains like Sun Shanshan? Who would want Lin Wu if she can¡¯t even pass high school? Zhao Cuinong said, ¡°Our Xiao Wu is already a rich first-generation, there¡¯s no need for her to marry into wealth!¡± Lin Wu has made such a success out of her skincare business. Calling her a first-generation rich kid isn¡¯t an overstatement at all. Xiao Zhou couldn¡¯t help herself and burst out laughing, chiming in, ¡°Exactly, Cui Nong, your Xiao Wu is herself a first-generation rich kid.¡± Lin Guimei thought Zhao Cuinong had lost her mind. Otherwise, how could she spout such nonsense? Had Lin Wu not just lucked out and bought a shabby shop? After all, it wasn¡¯t something earned through her own ability. What¡¯s there to be so smug about? People like them do nothing, just waiting for the sky to rain pies; sooner or later, they¡¯re bound to run the shop into the ground. Zhao Cuinong continued, ¡°Since all of you are keen on making bets, let¡¯s do it properly. We¡¯ll find a witness and draw up a written agreement.¡± Xiao Zhou nodded, ¡°Sure.¡± She was worried that Zhao Cuinong would deny it when the time came. With a witness and a written agreement, even Zhao Cuinong couldn¡¯t go back on her word. They found Uncle Zhao from the courtyard to act as the notary and even drafted the agreement. Uncle Zhao is a retired cadre. He holds considerable sway in the courtyard. ¡ª- Qingzhong School. Lin Wu arrived at the C campus according to the address on the admission ticket. B2 Classroom. Looking at the rows of academic buildings before her, Lin Wu decided to ask someone, and approached a girl with short hair, holding her admission ticket, ¡°Excuse me, do you know where the B2 classroom is?¡± The short-haired girl, who had been chatting with a classmate, looked up upon hearing the question. Upon seeing Lin Wu, The short-haired girl was stunned, her eyes wide open. The girl before her was really beautiful. A pair of peach blossom eyes that one would only find in novels, a high-bridged nose, crimson lips, skin pale as snow... Her eyes seemed filled with stars, clear to the bottom, and her long curved eyelashes were like thick fans. People are always helpless before beauty, and the short-haired girl felt like she was suffocating. Her voice stumbling, she pointed towards the nearest academic building and said, ¡°You¡ªyou¡¯re good. B, B2 classroom is over there.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Lin Wu¡¯s eyes smiled. My goodness! She smiles so beautifully. Amazement colored the depths of the short-haired girl¡¯s eyes, ¡°No¡ªno problem.¡± ¡°Xue Qi,¡± just then, a male student ran up to the short-haired girl, ¡°I sold the stuff.¡± His gaze landed on Lin Wu¡¯s face, and he paused before saying, ¡°Lin Wu?¡± Lin Wu had not expected to run into Qin Fengyang here, ¡°Qin Fengyang? Are you also here to take an exam today?¡± Qin Fengyang nodded, ¡°Yeah, math competition.¡± As he spoke, Qin Fengyang turned his gaze back to the short-haired girl, ¡°Xue Qi, do you know each other?¡± Xue Qi immediately nodded, ¡°No, this student just asked me for directions.¡± Without waiting for Qin Fengyang to reply, Lin Wu went on, ¡°I¡¯m running out of time, I need to go.¡± After saying that, she turned and left. Watching Lin Wu¡¯s retreating figure, Qin Fengyang¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He knew that Lin Wu had a crush on him. But how did Lin Wu know that he and Xue Qi were good friends? Clearly, Lin Wu had purposefully approached Xue Qi to ask for directions. She likely saw Xue Qi as her rival in love, right? After all, he and Xue Qi have always gotten along well. It seems Lin Wu really does like him a lot. Thinking of this, Qin Fengyang¡¯s lips curled up slightly, feeling as if something was slowly filling the emptiness in his heart. In a moment, Qin Fengyang turned to Xue Qi, ¡°Did Lin Wu say anything to you?¡± Seeing Xue Qi¡¯s dazed expression, Lin Wu must have said something unpleasant, right? ¡°Lin Wu?¡± Xue Qi was momentarily startled, then said, ¡°Are you talking about the great beauty just now?¡± Great beauty? It seems Xue Qi was so upset she began talking sarcastically. Having been friends with Xue Qi for so long, Qin Fengyang has never heard her call anyone a great beauty! Obviously, She was mocking Lin Wu. Qin Fengyang witnessed this but did not expose it and simply smiled, ¡°Yes, her.¡± Xue Qi, with a very positive first impression of Lin Wu, then said, ¡°Is it Lin, as in the pair of trees, and Wu, as in charming?¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Fengyang¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Xue Qi starting to inquire about Lin Wu¡¯s name showed that the two¡¯s enmity had already formed. Xue Qi was looking for an opportunity to get back at Lin Wu. Otherwise, why would she ask so precisely? ¡°Right,¡± Qin Fengyang nodded, asking again, ¡°What happened just now?¡± Chapter 77 - 77 055 Overwhelming Victory Five Number Ones _5 ?Chapter 77: 055: Overwhelming Victory, Five Number Ones! _5 Chapter 77: 055: Overwhelming Victory, Five Number Ones! _5 ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Xue Qi said with a laugh, ¡°I just came to ask for directions.¡± Qin Fengyang looked at Xue Qi, ¡°Then why are you so curious about her?¡± If it was just for asking directions. Xue Qi wouldn¡¯t have reacted like that. ¡°Because she¡¯s pretty!¡± Xue Qi¡¯s nature is to be straightforward. She put her hand on Qin Fengyang¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Brother, why didn¡¯t you introduce her to me before, you even know such a great beauty!¡± Before, Qin Fengyang only suspected that Xue Qi might also have a crush on him. Now... It was basically set in stone. Because Xue Qi also had a crush on him, that¡¯s why she acted so nonchalantly. But she was extremely curious about Lin Wu. After all, Lin Wu was prettier than Xue Qi. If only these two could focus their strengths a little bit. Xue Qi had good academic performance. But although her features were pretty, she couldn¡¯t be considered a great beauty, at most cute-looking. Lin Wu was pretty but her academics and family background were really poor. Given a choice... He would definitely choose a combination of the two. Thinking of two women feeling jealous over him made Qin Fengyang somewhat speechless, then he said, ¡°Xue Qi, our most important task right now is to study hard, don¡¯t think about all that assorted nonsense.¡± Xue Qi rolled her eyes at him, ¡°What assorted nonsense? I¡¯m just appreciating a pretty girl.¡± Seeing Xue Qi avoid the topic, Qin Fengyang didn¡¯t continue it either, and continued, ¡°About the problem the boss gave last night, have you solved it?¡± Xue Qi continued, ¡°When are you going to introduce The Great Beauty Lin to me?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it when there¡¯s a chance.¡± ¡°You are so petty,¡± Xue Qi caught up with Qin Fengyang¡¯s pace, squinting and asking, ¡°Do you have a crush on The Great Beauty Lin?¡± Qin Fengyang was even more speechless! It was clearly Lin Wu who had a crush on him. ¡°How could that be?¡± Qin Fengyang flatly denied. Xue Qi touched her chin, ¡°It¡¯s a pity I¡¯m not a boy, otherwise I¡¯d pursue The Great Beauty Lin!¡± It seemed that Xue Qi really felt threatened by Lin Wu. Otherwise, why would she even start talking tough? Qin Fengyang slightly raised an eyebrow, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry to the exam hall, we might be late soon.¡± Xue Qi continued, ¡°Which exam hall are you in?¡± Qin Fengyang said, ¡°B2.¡± ¡°What a coincidence?¡± Xue Qi exclaimed in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re also B2?¡± That shouldn¡¯t be. Logically, the exams for the same batch should be staggered. If nothing unexpected happened, they should be mixed in with the exam hall for transfer students. Xue Qi continued, ¡°The Great Beauty Lin is also in the B2 exam hall.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Fengyang was also stunned. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Xue Qi nodded, ¡°Yeah, she just came to ask me where B2 is.¡± Qin Fengyang narrowed his eyes, thinking of seeing Lin Wu in the exam hall soon, his heartbeat sped up a bit. Thump thump¡ª When Lin Wu saw him in the exam hall, she would surely be excited and surprised! Qin Fengyang suppressed the excitement in his heart and continued, ¡°Which exam hall are you in?¡± ¡°A3,¡± Xue Qi answered. ¡°Then let¡¯s meet after the exam is over.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Xue Qi said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you at the first-floor exit.¡± The B2 hall was on the third floor, A3 on the first floor, by then she might even see Lin Wu. ¡°Okay.¡± The two turned and walked towards their respective exam halls. There were thirty minutes left until the exam. When Qin Fengyang entered, the classroom was almost fully seated. He spotted Lin Wu in the crowd at a glance. The girl sat by the window, propping her chin with one hand, just looking forward, and from Qin Fengyang¡¯s perspective, he could just make out her clear and jade-like profile. Qin Fengyang thought that Lin Wu must know he was also in this exam hall. She was just too shy to express her feelings, too embarrassed to look back, that¡¯s all. After all, girls are shy. Just then, the girl sitting behind Lin Wu carefully stretched out her index finger and tapped her on the back, ¡°Classmate...¡± Lin Wu looked back slightly, ¡°What is it?¡± The moment she turned her head, the girl¡¯s expression obviously looked dazed, then she said, ¡°I, my name is Shen Lijun. Um, could you lend me a pen? I have none.¡± She had rushed out that morning and had actually forgotten to bring her pencil case. Shen Lijun had already asked others for a pen, even two in succession, but they refused. After all, the exam hall is ruthless, with everyone being their own competitor. Shen Lijun noticed the beautiful girl as soon as Lin Wu arrived, so she thought she¡¯d try her luck. Lin Wu smiled faintly, ¡°Of course you can.¡± To prevent any mishaps, Zhao Cuinong had prepared a double set of stationery for her, with both pencils for shading, water-based pens, rulers, and erasers in duplicates. As she spoke, she handed the extra stationery in her pencil case to Shen Lijun. Shen Lijun didn¡¯t expect that Lin Wu would actually agree. Chapter 78 - 78 055 Overwhelming Victory Five Number Ones _6 ?Chapter 78: 055: Overwhelming Victory, Five Number Ones! _6 Chapter 78: 055: Overwhelming Victory, Five Number Ones! _6 Upon hearing this, Shen Lijun was extremely excited, almost wanting to kneel down to Lin Wu, ¡°Classmate, I¡¯m really so thankful to you!¡± ¡°No problem, my name is Lin Wu.¡± Shen Lijun then said, ¡°After the exam is over, I¡¯ll treat you to milk tea.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Soon, the exam started. The first subject was Chinese. After getting the test paper, Lin Wu first reviewed the questions and then started to write. Her speed was very fast. Almost without any pause. Even the essay was written very fluently; with a total of 150 minutes, Lin Wu only took 50 minutes to finish all the questions. Since they could not hand in the test early, Lin Wu could only sit there and space out. Before long, she was yawning continuously. She had been assembling phones until 3 a.m. last night before she slept. Now she was just too sleepy. Rather than spacing out, she might as well take a nap, she thought, and so she laid her head on the desk to catch up on some sleep. Seeing that Lin Wu was actually laying on the desk and sleeping soundly, Was this Lin Wu¡¯s confidence? Qin Fengyang slightly furrowed his brow. He didn¡¯t understand where Lin Wu got the courage to participate in the transfer student exam. Just because this exam had no threshold and anyone could participate? The three invigilating teachers also noticed Lin Wu. One of them slightly furrowed his brow, lowering his voice, ¡°It seems we¡¯ll have to be a bit more selective with our exam next year!¡± Students like Lin Wu were simply like a fly in the ointment. Upon hearing this, the slightly overweight male teacher beside him said, ¡°Teacher Sun, you can¡¯t say that though! What if the kid finished everything?¡± As a teacher at Qingzhong School, he had seen too many talented students. But this was the first time he saw someone like Lin Wu who started to sleep in less than an hour after entering the exam hall. Teacher Sun withdrew his gaze from Lin Wu, ¡°Just look at her; she doesn¡¯t look like a diligent student. Teacher Wu, if you don¡¯t believe me, you can take a look at her test paper.¡± Even if she finished early, chances are it¡¯s nothing but scribbles. Teacher Wu actually didn¡¯t believe it; he walked over to Lin Wu¡¯s side, intending to take a look at her test paper, but Lin Wu was sleeping on top of it, so he couldn¡¯t see anything. Teacher Wu touched his nose and walked back to the podium. Seeing him come over, Teacher Sun slightly turned his head, ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t see it.¡± Teacher Wu shook his head. Teacher Sun laughed and said, ¡°Actually, you don¡¯t even need to look. If she really finished all of it sincerely, would she cover up her entire test paper out of guilt?¡± Upon hearing this, the long-haired teacher Guo Jingru who was sitting beside also nodded, ¡°I think Teacher Sun makes a good point. Although there are many geniuses, geniuses generally don¡¯t need to take transfer student exams.¡± The real geniuses were snatched away by other cities long ago. Teacher Wu unscrewed the cap of his bottle and took a drink, ¡°You can¡¯t dismiss her abilities just because she sleeps in the exam hall.¡± Seeing Teacher Wu say this, Teacher Sun looked utterly helpless. Wu Zhengang was an old-school teacher at Qingzhong, and not only were his educational concepts different from theirs, but so was his perspective on people. Anyone with clear eyes could tell that a student like Lin Wu was no good. The second exam was math. Compared to Chinese, math was Lin Wu¡¯s strong suit; she finished the paper in less than half an hour. After finishing, she continued to sleep. What a coincidence. Teacher Sun was still the invigilator for this exam. She looked at Lin Wu, her brows slightly furrowed. This girl really was as carefree as a pig not afraid of boiling water. Seeing her constantly looking at Lin Wu, Zhang Ping came over with a smile, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°Looking at that candidate named Lin Wu, she¡¯s been sleeping since the first exam and now she¡¯s started again.¡± Zhang Ping said, ¡°This year¡¯s math paper is quite difficult; I heard that several questions even went beyond the syllabus. If you can¡¯t do it, sleeping is the only option!¡± In any case, whatever you do would be a waste of time; might as well sleep. Teacher Sun nodded, feeling that Zhang Ping had a point. The third and fourth exams were English and physics. Lin Wu continued the pattern of finishing the test and then catching up on sleep. After several rounds of exams, the invigilators all knew there was a candidate named Lin Wu who had slept through the day in the exam hall. Ding-a-ling-a-ling! With the bell ringing, the last exam came to an end. The invigilator stood at the podium, tapped the desk, ¡°Starting now, everyone stop answering.¡± The other invigilators began collecting the papers. It was at this time that Lin Wu opened her eyes and stretched. She had had a good sleep throughout the day. After all the papers were collected, everyone gradually left the room. Shen Lijun stopped Lin Wu. ¡°Lin classmate, wait a moment.¡± Lin Wu looked back slightly, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Shen Lijun handed the stationery to Lin Wu, ¡°Here, I¡¯m giving this back to you. Where do you live? Shall we walk together?¡± Chapter 79 - 79 055 Overwhelming Victory Five Number Ones _7 ?Chapter 79: 055: Overwhelming Victory, Five Number Ones! _7 Chapter 79: 055: Overwhelming Victory, Five Number Ones! _7 She also wanted to treat Lin Wu to milk tea. ¡°I live at No. 298 Wutong Road.¡± Wutong Road? Shen Lijun thought for a moment and then smiled, ¡°That¡¯s right on my way.¡± As she spoke, she added, ¡°How did you do on the exam?¡± After saying this, she somewhat regretted it; Lin Wu almost always slept through the exams and probably didn¡¯t do well, right? But the words were already out, and there was no taking them back. Expecting Lin Wu to be upset upon hearing the question, to her surprise, not only was Lin Wu not upset, but she also replied, ¡°I did okay, and you?¡± Hearing this, Shen Lijun was somewhat surprised; Lin Wu must be a real top student! Otherwise, how could she find time to sleep during every exam? ¡°I did fine, too. Should be able to pass the exams smoothly.¡± Shen Lijun kept pace with Lin Wu, ¡°It would be nice if we end up in the same class!¡± The two chatted as they walked outside. Qin Fengyang was just behind them. Looking at Lin Wu¡¯s back, he frowned imperceptibly. To be honest. Lin Wu¡¯s reaction was beyond his expectations. He had thought that after the exams ended, Lin Wu would take the initiative to greet him, but she hadn¡¯t from beginning to end. It was as if she didn¡¯t see him at all. Was Lin Wu playing hard to get? She wanted to make him take the initiative to say hello. Qin Fengyang wasn¡¯t just good at academics but also quite handsome, so many young girls were eager to pursue him. He had a good grasp of the minds of young girls. Unfortunately. Lin Wu had miscalculated. He and Lin Wu were simply not from the same world; so, no matter how attractive Lin Wu was or what tactics she used, he wouldn¡¯t end up with her. He was actually curious to see how Lin Wu would react when she saw him. If he took the initiative to say hello, Lin Wu should be very happy and excited, right? With this thought, Qin Fengyang quickened his pace and called out to Lin Wu, ¡°Lin Wu.¡± Hearing this, Lin Wu turned her head slightly, ¡°Qin Fengyang? You were in this exam room too?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Qin Fengyang nodded. For some reason, seeing Lin Wu¡¯s reaction, he felt like laughing. Lin Wu had clearly seen him already but pretended as if she had just noticed him. I have to say. Lin Wu¡¯s acting was simply too poor. Qin Fengyang¡¯s gaze then fell on the girl next to Lin Wu, ¡°And you are?¡± ¡°My friend,¡± replied Lin Wu in a tone without much inflection. Hearing this, Shen Lijun looked up at Lin Wu. What did Lin Wu just say? She said she was her friend? The next second, trying to keep her excitement in check, Shen Lijun looked at Qin Fengyang and said, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Shen Lijun.¡± ¡°Qin Fengyang.¡± Shen Lijun smiled, ¡°Oh! I know you, you¡¯re on the school¡¯s honor board.¡± Qin Fengyang¡¯s academic performance was excellent, and his photo was a fixture on the honor board. Also, due to his good looks, he had many adoring younger fans at school. The three of them walked out of the classroom together. Xue Qi was standing outside waiting for Qin Fengyang. Seeing the group approach, she immediately waved, ¡°Qin Fengyang, over here!¡± Qin Fengyang looked over and then introduced to Lin Wu, ¡°This is my classmate, Xue Qi.¡± Lin Wu gave Xue Qi a slight nod, ¡°Hello, Lin Wu.¡± Xue Qi was quite outgoing, ¡°The Great Beauty Lin.¡± Shen Lijun stood next to Lin Wu, ¡°I¡¯m Shen Lijun.¡± ¡°The Great Beauty Shen.¡± Shen Lijun felt a bit bashful, ¡°Just call me by my name.¡± Xue Qi nodded, ¡°Okay. You two can also just call me by my name.¡± After getting to know each other, Lin Wu turned to them, ¡°You guys chat, we¡¯ll be going now.¡± With that, she turned to leave. Shen Lijun immediately followed her. ¡°Lin Wu.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Lin Wu turned her head slightly. Shen Lijun was choosing her words carefully and then said, ¡°I mean... can I really be your friend?¡± When Shen Lijun heard Lin Wu call her a friend, she was somewhat overwhelmed with joy. In her mind, beauties like Lin Wu were usually very aloof and not easy to approach. But Lin Wu had completely overturned her preconceptions. ¡°Of course, you can.¡± Lin Wu said with a light smile. Shen Lijun seemed very straightforward and guileless, qualities that Lin Wu liked in a friend. In her past life, she had been too busy with experiments. And had almost no time to make friends. Hearing this, Shen Lijun was extremely excited, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly. The friendship between girls can be very simple, especially between two girls with no ulterior motives rushing towards each other. Shen Lijun then said, ¡°So, can I call you Xiao Wu?¡± ¡°Of course, you can,¡± Lin Wu smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s what my family calls me.¡± Shen Lijun felt even more that fate had brought her and Lin Wu together, ¡°Really? Then you can call me Lijun.¡± Chapter 80 - 80 055 Overwhelming Victory Five Number Ones _8 ?Chapter 80: 055: Overwhelming Victory, Five Number Ones! _8 Chapter 80: 055: Overwhelming Victory, Five Number Ones! _8 ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly. Shen Lijun continued, ¡°Today¡¯s math test had a few tough questions, and I think I got one wrong. Xiao Wu, do you remember the answer to the second-to-last one?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t pay attention,¡± Lin Wu said in a light tone. Those kinds of math problems were a breeze for Lin Wu, so it was normal for her not to notice. Hearing this, Shen Lijun¡¯s admiration in her eyes grew even stronger. Someone like Lin Wu, who was both pretty and good at studies, was incredibly rare! Right then, Shen Lijun¡¯s phone buzzed. Seeing the caller ID, she didn¡¯t answer the call but sent a text message instead. As the two walked and talked, Shen Lijun quickly realized they shared many common interests. For example. Lin Wu liked to eat snail rice noodles. So did she. Lin Wu liked handsome guys, and so did she! When they passed a milk tea shop, Shen Lijun stopped, ¡°Xiao Wu, what kind of milk tea would you like?¡± She had promised to treat Lin Wu to milk tea, and of course, she couldn¡¯t go back on her word. Lin Wu thought seriously for a moment, then said, ¡°I¡¯ll have the fruit bucket.¡± Shen Lijun smiled and said, ¡°What a coincidence! I also love their fruit bucket!¡± After buying milk teas, Shen Lijun took Lin Wu to visit a boutique. This was her first time visiting a shop that young girls liked, and she found it quite interesting; she even bought a crystal hairpin. Two hours later. When they reached Wutong Street, Lin Wu pointed to the gate of Peaceful Garden and said, ¡°I live here, what about you?¡± Shen Lijun replied, ¡°I have to walk further. Let¡¯s chat on WeChat later.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Wu nodded slightly. After a few steps, Shen Lijun looked back at Lin Wu and called out, ¡°Xiao Wu, I¡¯ll let you know the test results as soon as they come out.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± Lin Wu replied with a faint smile. With that, she walked toward the courtyard. When she got home and had just changed her shoes, Lin Guixiang came over and asked, ¡°Xiao Wu, how did the test go today?¡± Lin Wu answered with a smile, ¡°Pretty well.¡± Zhao Cuinong then asked, ¡°When can we expect the results?¡± Lin Bingqiang, who was cooking in the kitchen, also came out and said, ¡°Yeah, when will the results be out?¡± ¡°The computer grading is fast; the results will be out the day after tomorrow,¡± Lin Wu replied. Elsewhere. After returning home, Sun Shanshan was also asked how she did on the test by Lin Guimei. Sun Shanshan answered with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom, getting into the advanced class should be no problem, but I can¡¯t guarantee a spot as a recommended student.¡± Hearing this, Lin Guimei said with pride, ¡°Shan Shan, you¡¯re so capable, I¡¯m sure you can get the recommended student spot.¡± What if she didn¡¯t get it? Just being able to enter the advanced class had put her far ahead of many others. Sun Shanshan added, ¡°I heard from Teacher Sun that there was a very pretty girl who kept sleeping during the test in their exam room today; I suspect it was my cousin.¡± The Qingzhong School¡¯s transfer test was taken very seriously. Lin Wu was probably the first person to sleep during the test. The story had already spread among the teachers. Hearing this, Lin Guimei wasn¡¯t the least bit surprised, ¡°No need to doubt, who else could it be but her? Just a lump of clay that can¡¯t be formed into a wall.¡± With that attitude, how could she possibly pass the transfer test? Just wait and see. Zhao Cuinong was sure to lose. At this, Lin Guimei continued, ¡°Is the result coming out the day after tomorrow?¡± ¡°Mm-hmm,¡± Sun Shanshan nodded. With a slight curl of her lips, Zhao Cuinong could hardly wait for the day after tomorrow to come. Qingzhong School grading team. Dozens of teachers sat before computers, meticulously grading test papers. To prevent any backdoor dealings, student names were not visible on the papers. Suddenly, one of the teachers exclaimed in astonishment, ¡°This year¡¯s math test is so difficult, yet there¡¯s a student who scored full marks!¡± As soon as these words were spoken, it was as if someone had thrown a stone into a tranquil lake. It was because today¡¯s math test was indeed very difficult. Even many teachers from key classes took a whole afternoon to solve it. ¡°Teacher He, is that for real?¡± Teacher He excitedly responded, ¡°It¡¯s true, come over and look!¡± All the teachers gathered around Teacher He¡¯s computer to see the test paper. ¡°My goodness! That¡¯s just too incredible!¡± ¡°Top material for key universities!¡± ¡°More than key universities, this kind of student is sought after by top international institutions, you know?¡± Before the astonishment had subsided, the neighboring grading team reported full marks in physics and chemistry. Then came full marks in English and history. Although Qingzhong was formidable, it had never seen so many full marks all at once. Most importantly, in the end, the grading teachers were amazed to discover that these top scores all belonged to the same person! One person. Six subjects. She had achieved the first place in five. Chinese teacher Fan Huijuan, looking at Lin Wu¡¯s answer sheet, lamented, ¡°This child, even able to take first place in composition, why did she make a mistake in such a simple cloze test?¡± If she had also been first there, it would have been full marks across the board. Fan Huijuan even wondered if Lin Wu had some objections to the subject of Chinese. Shortly after, Fan Huijuan continued, ¡°Have we found out what this student¡¯s name is yet?¡± She was determined to have a serious talk with this student. The two points lost in the cloze test were just too unjust. ¡°Not yet, Teacher Wu has gone to verify it.¡± It wasn¡¯t long before. Wu Zhengang came over with the answer sheet in hand. When they saw the name on the answer sheet, the teachers were once again taken aback. Especially Teacher Xiao Sun and Zhang Ping. Because the name on the answer sheet was... Lin Wu! The girl who openly slept during the exam. Xiao Sun licked his lips. He found the situation almost unbelievable. Wu Zhengang said with a chuckle, ¡°Xiao Sun, I told you not to judge a book by its cover.¡± After that, the senior teachers started a battle for talent. Everyone wanted Lin Wu in their class. Having a student like Lin Wu was simply the most glorious moment in their teaching careers! In the end, the matter went all the way to the principal. When the principal heard about it, he was also greatly shocked; he hadn¡¯t come across such a talented student in many years. ¡°Enough, enough, no more fighting! The priority is to find Lin Wu immediately to handle her admission procedures; we absolutely can¡¯t let other schools hear about this!¡± Though Qingzhong was the best high school in Qing City, it was only within Qing City. What if a key high school from the neighboring city lured Lin Wu away with better conditions? What school wouldn¡¯t want a promising student like Lin Wu? With this in mind. The principal was very anxious, quickly put on his glasses, ¡°Let¡¯s go! We¡¯re going to find Lin Wu now!¡± As he finished speaking, the principal turned to the man beside him, ¡°Director Wang, instruct finance to allocate fifty thousand yuan for a scholarship; I want to personally hand it to student Lin Wu. Teacher He, you go find Lin Wu¡¯s address.¡±