Chapter 15: Instigating Xiao Yingchun to Sever Ties with Her Family

Chapter 15: Instigating Xiao Yingchun to Sever Family Ties

Xiao Yingchun stood up. "Aunt, why have you come at this hour? Did you come alone?"

Ge Chunyu sneered. "I've heard all about it. You're doing big business now, moving goods all over the city. I heard you moved tens of thousands of boxes of compressed biscuits? You must have made hundreds of thousands from a single order, right?"

"Since you've made so much money, why are you being so stingy about paying back that small amount of goods money?"

"I wasn't capable. I was tricked back then into thinking this shop could make money. After taking over your little convenience store, I didn't just fail to make a profit—I lost money."

"When you said you wanted to go back, I didn't ask for a single cent and gave everything back to you. Now that you've struck it rich, why do you expect your aunt to keep pouring money into it?"

Xiao Yingchun was dumbfounded.

The facts were perfectly clear, so why, when they came out of Ge Chunyu's mouth, did it sound like everything was her fault?!

What exactly had she done to make her think she was such an easy target?

Was it because she wanted to take over the shop back then and hadn't charged her money, leading her to think she was a soft persimmon?!

Ge Chunyu continued her incessant nagging. "I won't ask you for any more money; I'll just consider this past year of working for you as free labor. But you can't keep letting me lose money..."

Xiao Yingchun interrupted her. "Aunt, since you're being so logical and well-reasoned, how about this?"

"Tomorrow, I'll invite Grandma and Grandpa's family, Uncle's family, and your family. We'll all sit down for a meal together."

"We'll clear this matter up and discuss a solution. Does that work?"

Ge Chunyu was satisfied now; what she wanted was for Xiao Yingchun to back down.

"Fine. Once you've picked a place, post it in the family group chat." Ge Chunyu left, swaying her fleshy hips.

Xiao Yingchun sat behind the counter in a daze, suppressing her anger. Among the three sisters, the aunt was the eldest, the uncle was the second, and her mother was the youngest.

Because the uncle was a boy, he was unconditionally favored from childhood; because the aunt was sharp-tongued, she also received preferential treatment.

Only the youngest, her mother, was naturally quiet and became the one most thoroughly ignored.

It went so far that when the grandparents' house was demolished later, the six apartments were divided: three to the uncle, two to the aunt, and one kept by the grandparents. Her mother received no house.

Her mother only received this plot of land, which hadn't even been built upon at the time.

Back then, what did the aunt say? "Who knows if this land will be demolished in the future? You might get even more money! It's a bargain for little sister!"

No one knew if it would ever be demolished.

Her mother said nothing. She had her father borrow money to build this small two-story house.

The family settled here, and Xiao Yingchun was born in that year. They had lived there for over twenty years.

This place was originally in the outskirts of the city. Having passed the initial peak of urban redevelopment, many people now assumed that if it hadn't been demolished by now, it never would be.

Yet, the aunt had been able to speak so loftily and self-righteously about such empty promises back then.

"Xiao girl, why are you sitting here crying?" Ye Yubin's voice rang out.

He was closing up to go grab a drink, and passing by the convenience store, he saw Xiao Yingchun wiping tears behind the counter.

Xiao Yingchun wiped her eyes. "It's nothing. Uncle Ye, where are you going?"

"Don't try to change the subject! Are you facing some kind of trouble? Tell me, and I'll try to find a way for you." Uncle Ye stared at her with a serious expression.

Xiao Yingchun knew he was being sincere, so she decided to tell him the truth.

After she explained the situation regarding her aunt's arrival, Ye Yubin frowned and hesitated.

"It would be best if you could just use a little money to get rid of her. Ideally, you should sever ties—the sooner, the better."

Xiao Yingchun froze. Who on earth would instigate someone to cut ties with their own relatives?

Ye Yubin scratched his head. "There are some things I can't tell you right now. If you trust me, just listen to me this once. It will save you a lot of trouble down the road."

Xiao Yingchun thought about Ye Yubin's personality—someone who usually didn't care about anything except his next drink—and then thought about his friendship with her.

Could Uncle Ye know some inside information? Was that why he was warning her?

Knowing he truly had her best interests at heart, Xiao Yingchun thanked him sincerely. "I understand, Uncle. I'll handle it as soon as possible."

Seeing that Ye Yubin was about to leave, Xiao Yingchun remembered the payment for the goods. "Uncle, don't leave just yet. Let me pay you for the medicine first?"

But Ye Yubin waved her off. "Wait until everything is ready, then we'll settle it all at once..." and walked away.

Xiao Yingchun sat blankly for a while, losing the heart to do business, so she simply closed up.

She booked a large private room at the Yuwei Restaurant for tomorrow night, posted it in the family group chat with an explanation of the situation, and went upstairs to sleep.

The night passed quietly. The next morning, when Xiao Yingchun checked the family group chat, it was already in an uproar.

The uncle and aunt were asking why she was suddenly hosting a dinner and if she had struck it rich.

Grandpa and Grandma sent voice messages asking how she had been lately.

Only the aunt, Ge Chunyu, sounded triumphant yet aggrieved: *I looked after her convenience store for a whole year last year, and now Yingchun is preparing to give me an explanation in front of everyone.*

Seeing these messages, Xiao Yingchun chose to quote Ge Chunyu's words and replied with a single word: "Yes."

"..." The group fell into a collective silence.

A moment later, the aunt said, "Then see you tonight. [Rose emoji]."

Tucking her phone into her pocket, Xiao Yingchun first went to eat some noodles and then headed to Uncle Wu's distillery.

Uncle Wu said he would deliver the goods later. For one thousand barrels of Guangxi Gongwenbao wine, the price was ten thousand yuan.

As soon as he finished speaking, Uncle Wu called the other party, only to find that they were even more anxious than Xiao Yingchun. They said the loading was complete and they were already on the road!

Xiao Yingchun couldn't worry about anything else and hurried home.

Not long after she arrived, the plastic barrels were delivered—all ten-liter capacities.

Xiao Yingchun efficiently had someone move the barrels into the warehouse and settled the bill with the boss.

Closing the front door and opening the back door, the Time-Space Supermarket began its business hours.

Almost as soon as she opened, Fu Chenan walked in.

Today, Fu Chenan was wearing a crimson robe, his hair still tied with a white jade crown. It only served to further accentuate his handsome features.

Xiao Yingchun was startled. "Have you been waiting for a long time?" Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?

Fu Chenan nodded. "I followed your method and walked into the mist, but the door didn't open, so I just stood there waiting."

"How long did you wait?"

"Not long."

Fu Chenan seemed unwilling to dwell on the matter and changed the subject directly. "Have the plastic barrels arrived?"

"They have."

Instead of paying and leaving immediately, Fu Chenan pointed to the empty snack shelves. "The soldiers all think these are delicious. Can you get some more?"

Xiao Yingchun nodded. "No problem. They should be delivered in a moment."

"Good." Fu Chenan's gaze fell upon the colorful packaging. "What else is tasty? Tell me about them all."

Xiao Yingchun loved doing this!

She immediately brought over the entire row of hanging snacks.

"This is called squid strips; it's made from a type of fish from the sea. Some people aren't used to it and find it fishy, but others love it. Try some..."

"This is Liuliu Plum. Do you have candied fruit where you're from? It's something similar. Try it..."

"And this, these are Drunken Peanuts. Try them..."

"This whole section is biscuits, cakes, and small breads, in all sorts of flavors. You should try these too..."

...

(End of Chapter)