Chapter 40.2

“Do you need my help?” Qin Yan offered.

While eating, Jiang Ruan shook her head. She didn’t want to rely on Qin Yan or Brother Changfeng every time there was a problem. If something required constant help from others, it wasn’t worth pursuing.

“You focus on your studies. The eel business is something I decided to do, so I’ll handle the problems myself. If I can’t manage it, then I just won’t do it anymore,” she said.

“Alright, keep me updated on your progress.”

Qin Yan had ordered a medium-spicy dish, and as Jiang Ruan ate, sweat dripped down her forehead. Qin Yan went to the counter to get a soda, wiped her sweat off, and then held the soda bottle for her to drink through a straw, the gesture casual yet caring.

When they ran into a new classmate of Qin Yan’s, he introduced Jiang Ruan openly as his fiancée. From the moment they entered the restaurant to when they paid the bill and left, Qin Yan didn’t spare a single glance at Han Qingqing.

To him, Han Qingqing was just another staff member at the restaurant, not someone he needed to avoid or pay any special attention to, which was precisely what made Han Qingqing feel even worse.

…

Han Qingqing had waited all day in the restaurant, hoping to see Shen Tianming, but he never showed up. Her heart grew heavy again.

Mu Xuehui, who had returned from school, counted the day’s earnings and was disappointed that they fell short of her expectations. With such low revenue, after covering rent, labor costs, and ingredient expenses, not much would be left over.

Mu Xuehui felt frustrated, and so did Han Qingqing, though for different reasons.

Han Qingqing said in a dejected tone, “Huihui, I saw Qin Yan today. He came to the restaurant with Jiang Ruan to eat braised chicken and even opened a soda for her. I’ve never seen a guy hold a soda bottle like that and feed a girl in between bites.”

Qin Yan bringing Jiang Ruan to eat at her restaurant? Mu Xuehui was both surprised and disappointed.

Why couldn’t Qin Yan show her that kind of care? She was his sister in their past life, even if she wasn’t in this one.

Looking at the underwhelming earnings, Mu Xuehui vented her frustration. “What does Qin Yan have to do with you? Why are you still thinking about him?”

“I just mentioned it in passing.” Han Qingqing recalled that Mu Xuehui had once asked her to share anything related to Qin Ao.

She said, “My older sister visited today. She mentioned that Jiang Ruan has started buying eels. My sister saw her at an eel noodle shop with her stepbrothers and overheard some troublemakers talking about teaching Jiang Ruan a lesson. Should we warn her?”

Jiang Ruan was buying eels in the Dawan area? That was Xun Lao’er’s territory. In their past life, Xun Lao’er had a thriving business and used ruthless methods. He and Qin Yan had clashed several times. Jiang Ruan would likely suffer a loss, and maybe even have her leg broken again.

If Qin Yan got injured or disabled again because of this, the Qin family might call off the engagement.

Mu Xuehui’s mood improved at the thought and she glanced indifferently at Han Qingqing. “You want to warn her? Go ahead. Do you think a warning will earn you a place back in the Han family? If you’re still clinging to that hope, give it a try.”

Han Qingqing had brought it up casually, but facing Mu Xuehui’s sarcasm, she sighed. “My sister said it’s time for Jiang Ruan to learn a lesson.”

…

The next morning, Jiang Ruan had plans to collect eggs, but Qin Ao hadn’t shown up at the agreed time. She went looking for him and found him behind a door, his face bruised and swollen. She quickly asked who had beaten him up. “When did this happen last night? Why didn’t you come to my house?”

If there was a fight, who else would he go to for help but her?

Qin Ao, with his head bandaged, dodged her gaze. “Don’t shout. Don’t alert my grandmother. Let’s talk outside.”

Qin Ao had been beaten by a few thugs he didn’t recognize, but it was definitely Xun Lao’er who had sent them.

It was unexpected for Xun Lao’er to target Qin Ao instead of Jiang Ruan herself.

Jiang Ruan asked in surprise, “Could it be because I’m a woman that Xun Lao’er doesn’t hit women?”

Qin Ao couldn’t help but roll his eyes. The last time, Jiang Ruan had single-handedly tied up seven or eight thugs who tried to settle a score with Shen Tianming and hauled them off to the police station. Her reputation preceded her, and Xun Lao’er was no ordinary thug. He wouldn’t act without first gathering information.

This eel business had clearly challenged Xun Lao’er’s authority, and if he didn’t retaliate, how could he maintain his influence in Dawan?

Jiang Ruan was skilled at fighting, and given that her older brother was a criminal investigator, Xun Lao’er wouldn’t dare mess with her easily. Instead, he targeted Qin Ao as a way to send a message.

After analyzing the situation, Qin Ao explained to Jiang Ruan, “Xun Lao’er attacked me to get to you. He knows that if I get hurt, my grandmother and mother will definitely come to you, complain to our second uncle and aunt, and try to persuade you to stop doing business with loaches. Now that you’re engaged to Qin Yan, our families are connected. If my mom and grandma approach your foster parents from the Han family, they will likely urge you to drop the loach business. Do you understand how cunning Xun Lao’er is? Maybe it’s best to stay away from this business.”

Jiang Ruan responded, “Should we still collect eggs today?”

Qin Ao replied, “Xun Lao’er has already forbidden me from collecting eggs in Dawang Township. I’ll just find a place to stay out of trouble for today. You go ahead and collect the eggs.”

“Just don’t wander off and get yourself hurt again. I’ll handle the egg collection,” Jiang Ruan advised.

Qin Ao remained uneasy, wondering if Jiang Ruan would heed his advice or if she would still be dealing with loaches in a few days.

On the way out of the city, Jiang Ruan ran into Liang Yong, Qin Yan’s closest friend. They co-owned an antique store, which was also where Qin Yan earned the money to buy the Jiang family house after the engagement.

Stopping her bicycle, Jiang Ruan asked, “Brother Yong, did Qin Yan send you to wait for me?”

Liang Yong nodded, saying that Brother Yan had come to see him last night after looking into Xun Lao’er’s background. He was told to share the information with his ” sister-in-law” today.

Liang Yong relayed, “Brother Yan found out that in 1976, Xun Lao’er served three years in prison for speculation and profiteering. He was released last year just as the reform and opening-up began. He’s known for doing business solo and is both smart and cunning. However, he has a weakness—he’s a devoted son. He has an elderly mother and a half-sister from the same mother. Brother Yan suggested that if you’re set on doing the loach business, you shouldn’t confront him directly. Instead, you could focus on his family.”

Jiang Ruan felt a warm glow in her heart. “I told Brother Qin Yan to focus on his studies and stay out of other people’s affairs, but he still helped me. Alright, I understand now. Please remind him for me—his studies come first, my business comes second.”

Liang Yong thought to himself that this little sister-in-law was truly special, far better than that Han Qingqing. Brother Yan really had a good eye and luck.

In the northern part of the city, in an area filled with shanties, a crowd gathered under an old locust tree, watching a young girl massaging an elderly man’s knee.

The seniors had varying degrees of rheumatism, with some even experiencing bone deformities. Treating rheumatism was difficult and costly, and many couldn’t afford hospital visits. Today, a young girl had come by, offering free massages and herbal baths for the elderly, promising to continue for three days.

Some idle young people at home wanted to try the herbal baths too but were refused, being told that since they didn’t have any illness, the baths were reserved for those with rheumatism. The number of available spots was limited, and the most severe cases were prioritized.

Most thought this was just a scam that offered free services for a few days before asking for money.

A few older women watched the girl bustling about, preparing three herbal tubs. The fragrance of the herbs filled the air, and the powder for the bath was wrapped in muslin, but nobody knew which herbs were used.

Free treatment was appealing, and the nine elderly people with the most severe symptoms started soaking their feet.

Jiang Ruan explained, “I plan to open a massage shop, and this is to spread the word. I said there wouldn’t be any charges, and I won’t start charging. Once the grandfathers and grandmothers feel better, they can come to my shop if they need more treatment.”

In other words, it was a form of advertising, which many dismissed.

To Jiang Ruan, treating rheumatism wasn’t much trouble. Her special ability allowed her to gradually draw out the fluid buildup and heal inflammation. Some of the elderly, after just one herbal bath, claimed they felt less pain and could even walk a few steps more easily.

“Is this real treatment, or did she hire actors?” Some sneered. But the nine elderly people had been living as neighbors for decades.

“Old Qiao must’ve taken some money for this. Those nine must have been paid, or why else would they have been the ones chosen?” some whispered skeptically.

Jiang Ruan ignored the doubt. Her goal wasn’t to make money from massages; it was to challenge Xun Lao’er.

On the second and third day, Jiang Ruan returned as promised, providing herbal baths and massages for the nine elderly individuals. All of them showed significant improvement in their symptoms and were finally able to get a good night’s sleep—results that were impossible to fake.

Xun Lao’er and his family lived in the northern part of the city. He had made money and wanted to move his mother and sister away several times, but his mother, who had been living among these neighbors for decades, refused to leave. As a compromise, he enrolled his sister in a better school.

Though Xun Lao’er looked fierce, he was only 26, having gone to prison at 22. His mother, who was now 47, had a hard life and looked much older due to years of hardship. She could barely walk due to severe rheumatism.

She hobbled over, carrying a bowl of reheated fried rice for her son. She rubbed her knees, which had deteriorated from years of washing clothes in icy creek water.

Xun Lao’er felt a deep ache in his heart. “I asked Uncle Qiao, and he said the girl’s herbal bath really works. He even said he can walk without much pain now. Mom, why didn’t you go for it?”

“I wouldn’t have been able to get a spot,” Aunt Zhao said calmly. “The girl mentioned that her herbal powders were precious and that she could only prepare enough for nine people.”

“But your rheumatism is so severe—why didn’t you get a spot?”

Half of the nine elderly people weren’t as bad off as his mother.

Xun Lao’er had seen the girl who had challenged his loach business and embarrassed him, right in front of his house, treating rheumatism. The results were effective.

She had targeted this neighborhood on purpose, it was clear to him that Jiang Ruan wanted him to back off.

“Mom, what if I go ask her to make one more dose of the herbal medicine for you? We’ll pay her. We shouldn’t take advantage of her generosity.”

The story about only having enough medicine for nine people might fool the elderly, but not him.

His mother, knowing her son’s nature, quickly intervened, “The young lady isn’t charging anyone. If you upset her and she stops coming, what will happen to your Uncle Qiao’s rheumatism?”

“That girl is kind-hearted. Uncle Qiao has two daughters—one lives far away and can’t help, while the other is closer but married into a bad family. He can’t afford to go to the hospital. Aunt Liu’s two sons aren’t any better; they tricked her out of her house and won’t take care of her. If she doesn’t get treated, she’ll end up bedridden. Life hasn’t been easy for the nine of them. You need to promise me you won’t trouble the girl. If you do, it’ll hurt the other neighbors.”

Xun Lao’er was a filial son and cared for the neighbors who had once helped his family. Now, Jiang Ruan had found his weak spot, keeping him from taking any rash actions.

But his mother’s rheumatism still needed to be treated.