Chapter 54

Over the weekend, Qin Yan came to Dawang Village to see Jiang Ruan, and she learned that Shen Tianming had been poisoned. Fortunately, he had been saved. Qin Yan explained that the Shencao Flower she gave him played a crucial role in alleviating the toxicity otherwise, Shen Tianming would not have survived until they reached the hospital.

Jiang Ruan asked, “I don’t think Shen Tianming is a confrontational person. Could it be that he saw Han Qingqing joking with another boy, which made him lash out?”

Her guess was partly correct. If it had only been a joke with other boys, Shen Tianming wouldn’t have reacted so strongly. Qin Yan later found out that the reason Shen Tianming got angry and acted impulsively was because Han Qingqing’s attitude made it appear as if he was giving her the silent treatment, pushing her to take the initiative to break off their engagement. She had mentioned to the boys that she was engaged, but when asked why her fiancé was never seen, Han Qingqing would just smile with tears in her eyes and say nothing.

This gave others the impression that her relationship with her fiancé was not going well. Moreover, Liu Jinyun and Jiang Jianchun often complained at the restaurant, calling Shen Tianming a jerk for not showing up to see his fiancée, even though he was nearby at the school.

That day, Shen Tianming went to the restaurant to find Han Qingqing. When Han introduced him as her fiancé to a regular customer who was ordering food, the customer, a fellow student who had been infatuated with Han Qingqing for some time, immediately took a dislike to Shen Tianming. His words were sharp and cutting, even without using any foul language, which only made Shen angrier.

Han Qingqing could only cry, making it seem as though Shen Tianming deserved the verbal abuse. Then came the provocation: “Shen Tianming, I’m telling you, I’m going to start pursuing your fiancée now. If you’re a man, call off the engagement and don’t hold her back.”

Shen Tianming lost his composure and started fighting.

As for who had poisoned him, the student he fought had an alibi, so the identity of the culprit was still under investigation.

Poisoning someone at school was alarming. Jiang Ruan, feeling concerned, decided to dig up a half-foot tall sapling to give Qin Yan. “Brother Qin Yan, I’d feel more at ease if you had this with you.”

Qin Yan said it wasn’t necessary since he still had half of the original plant’s fruit. Although the student who fought with Shen Tianming wasn’t the one who poisoned him, Qin Yan suspected that Han Qingqing was somehow involved. He explained, “Now the Shen family wants to call off the engagement, but Liu Jinyun refuses, saying that since the person who poisoned him hasn’t been found, it can’t be determined that Han Qingqing had anything to do with it.”

This kind of marriage wouldn’t bring happiness. Jiang Ruan didn’t understand why, if Han Qingqing didn’t want to break off the engagement, she would get her fiancé into such dangerous situations. If she accepted the advances of other men, she shouldn’t have been engaged in the first place.

Jiang Ruan then mentioned a village matter. “I asked around about Yan Manchang, and everyone said he’s an honest guy who’s smitten with the village chief’s second daughter from Chengjia Village.”

Jiang Ruan had spoken to about seven or eight women in the village, and they all said that Yan Manchang was deluding himself; he was too poor for the chief’s daughter, who was out of his league. It was clear to everyone except for Yan Manchang, who still held out hope.

Jiang Ruan said, “Yan Manchang knows he isn’t a match for the village chief’s daughter, yet he still works for their family. It’s possible that Han Qingqing also has someone in her life who, despite knowing they aren’t good enough for her, continues to silently watch over her.”

Qin Yan immediately thought of the young man working in the back kitchen of Han Qingqing’s restaurant. He had fainted from hunger outside the restaurant, and while Liu Jinyun had wanted to kick him out, Han Qingqing had given him food and taken him in as a helper.

The young man was of average appearance, and there was no way he and Han Qingqing would end up together. She wasn’t interested in him, and Liu Jinyun wouldn’t consider a mere helper as a son-in-law.

With this new lead, Qin Yan left the rest to the police investigation.

Qin Yan helped Jiang Ruan feed the chicks and, thinking about some recent rumors, jokingly asked, “Ruan Ruan, some people have been spreading rumors about you and Qin Ao. How do you think you can clear those up?”

Jiang Ruan and Qin Ao had been doing business together, and with the meddling Cheng family members, rumors were already swirling in town that Jiang Ruan and Qin Ao had an ambiguous relationship.

Jiang Ruan replied, “We could get married and have a child, then there wouldn’t be any rumors.”

Qin Yan’s face warmed, and he chuckled quietly. It was a good solution, though it would take time.

He wasn’t worried about himself. He said, “I’m just concerned that Ran Xiaorong might get suspicious. Qin Ao has been away for a month or two without visiting. If Ran Xiaorong starts to doubt things, please understand.”

Jiang Ruan responded, “For them, the rumors aren’t the real problem—status is. I heard that her father is about to be reassigned as a deputy mayor in another city. If rumors could break them apart, then it’s better they end things sooner so that neither is held back.”

Qin Yan couldn’t argue with that. “Ruan Ruan, you’re quite open-minded. Remember, we’re a good match. There’s no gap between us, and even if there were, it would be my responsibility to bridge it.”

Jiang Ruan stopped what she was doing and turned to watch Qin Yan as he cleaned the chicken coop. Despite his tendency toward cleanliness, he was doing this dirty work.

He complimented Jiang Ruan in a roundabout way, which made her happy. She ran over, jumped on his back, and playfully stroked his neck. “Even though I don’t quite understand why you like me so much, I’m very happy.”

Just then, Qin Ao returned after feeding the ducklings, feeling a bit jealous. “Stop showing off, you two. While Qin Yan is here for the weekend, I’ll head back to town.”

He planned to visit his family and see Ran Xiaorong. Right now, he was focused on making money and building his career, while Ran Xiaorong was preparing for the college entrance exams. They both needed to work hard on themselves for a better future together.

Spring had arrived, and the mountains were full of mushrooms, wild vegetables, and bamboo shoots. Jiang Ruan packed some for Qin Ao to take back and advised, “Ran Xiaorong will probably ask about the rumors between the two of us. Don’t get mad or curse. Explain things calmly.”

Qin Ao chuckled and asked Qin Yan, “Does Qin Yan explain things to you rationally?”

Jiang Ruan answered, “Brother Qin Yan is very confident, in me and in himself.”

Qin Ao rode away quickly on his bike.

Suddenly, Qin Yan remembered something and called him back. He told him about Jiang Ruan’s suspicions and his own deductions. “Shen Tianming’s poisoning might involve the helper at Han Qingqing’s restaurant. You should discreetly inform Brother Han so he can investigate.”

Qin Ao nodded seriously. “Alright, I’ll take care of that first when I get back.”

…

With a lead, the police quickly uncovered the truth. The culprit was indeed the helper at Han Qingqing’s restaurant. He had heard Liu Jinyun and Jiang Jianchun constantly complain about Shen Tianming, and his deep admiration for Han Qingqing made him develop an intense hatred toward Shen.

On the day of the fight at the restaurant, the helper had the sudden idea that if Shen Tianming were dead, it would be better. He used poison that had been bought to kill rats and put it in Shen Tianming’s thermos. Shen drank the water when he returned to school, and the poison took effect.

Though the poison had been kept in the restaurant, Liu Jinyun had not disclosed this to the police.

Even with the truth revealed, Liu Jinyun still refused to call off the engagement. Shen’s mother was furious and sought advice from the elder Shen. “Dad, I absolutely refuse to let such a troublemaker into our family. What should we do now?”

“What about Tianming?” asked Old Master Shen.

“His health is fine, but he’s still feeling down,” replied Madam Shen anxiously. “Han Qingqing is being flirtatious with other men and still doesn’t want to break off the engagement. I can’t swallow this.”

Old Master Shen had his own considerations. Shen Tianming was currently in college, and his future job assignment was likely to be in law enforcement or the judiciary, so his reputation needed to remain untarnished.

With a sigh, he said, “Things are what they are now. Let’s not dwell on complaints, we should think of solutions. You need to lower your stance publicly, show some grace, and make people sympathize with Tianming and understand him. To put it bluntly, our son can afford to wait. Four years of college, then a few more years focused on his career—we have time. If Liu Jinyun wants to drag this out, we can drag it out with her.”

Madam Shen thought it through and saw his point. She said bitterly, “Liu Jinyun is too selfish. She’s doing this for her child, and I’m doing this for mine. Don’t blame me for giving tit for tat.”

Having made up her mind, Madam Shen decided to lower her stance. She took Han Qingqing to a friend’s gathering for the first time. She put on a show, appearing gracious while subtly making it clear who was being unreasonable.

“Qingqing is young and immature. She doesn’t understand that Tianming’s studies take priority, so he can’t be with her all the time. It’s fine, I can teach her. Luckily, Tianming was saved this time, or Qingqing would have had to carry the reputation of bringing misfortune to her husband.”

“She did a good deed saving that homeless man, not knowing he would repay her kindness with harm.”

“Our family won’t initiate breaking off the engagement,” Madam Shen said with a smile, looking at Han Qingqing. “Qingqing is a gentle and beautiful girl. Many outstanding young men are interested in her. If she changes her mind, we’ll accept her decision to end the engagement anytime.”

Madam Shen’s approach gained sympathy for the Shen family while subtly demeaning Han Qingqing and her mother, making them appear worthless.

As a result, Han Qingqing not only failed to integrate into the Shen family’s social circle but was also ostracized. The elders disapproved of her, and her peers did not like her.

She thought about it and realized that only Mu Xuehui could still offer her some comfort.

She went to Mu Xuehui, puzzled. “My mom and sister told me that I’ll never find a better match than Shen Tianming. They said now is not the time to break off the engagement. Huihui, what do you think I should do?”

In her previous life, Han Qingqing’s social circle indeed had no one better than Shen Tianming. Her mother and sister weren’t wrong.

Han Qingqing’s pickled fish restaurant had experienced a scandal, forcing it to close. She and her sister wanted to open a new one but would have to move to a more distant location, leaving Mu Xuehui with one less competitor.

Initially, Mu Xuehui had resolved to maintain only a superficial friendship with Han Qingqing. But now that Han Qingqing posed no threat, and with her new friend Zhong Wenwen’s mother apparently having discovered the secret of Jiang Ruan’s formula, the situation had changed.

Qin Yan’s recovery, which allowed him to walk again, might even be linked to that formula.

Reborn, Mu Xuehui, like Zhong Wenwen’s mother, was aware that if the medicine’s development succeeded, it would have enormous economic value. She wanted to get involved, so she decided to maintain a good relationship with Han Qingqing.

Mu Xuehui advised, “Qingqing, you’re still young. There’s no rush to make a decision. But I think you should focus on improving yourself—whether it’s making money or studying—don’t stay stagnant. Leave everything else to time.”

“If you find my advice unclear, you could ask Zhong Wenwen. Isn’t she your friend too? Why don’t you invite her out one day, and we can all have a meal together to discuss?”

…

Han Qingqing arranged for Zhong Wenwen and Mu Xuehui to have dinner with her. Zhong Wenwen’s impression of Mu Xuehui greatly improved. She thought, if she were in Mu Xuehui’s position and had a friend open a competing pickled fish restaurant across the street, she would never have associated with that friend again.

Yet, Mu Xuehui was remarkably magnanimous. Despite keeping her distance for a while, she still showed willingness to comfort Han Qingqing in her time of need.

Such a person was worth befriending, so Zhong Wenwen gladly accepted the dinner invitation, planning to establish a closer friendship with Mu Xuehui.

…

Qin Yan didn’t have much time to leave the campus during his classes, so he had previously asked Liang Yong to keep an eye on Zhong Wenwen and her mother’s activities. Now that he was back, there was news.

He went to Liang Yong’s barbecue stall, which he had helped design, from the décor to the dishes. Liang Yong had always wanted to share the profits with Qin Yan, but Qin Yan declined.

Their relationship was so close that there was no need for formalities.

“Yan-ge, you were right,” Liang Yong said. “Zhong Wenwen’s mother is quite sharp. She tried to gather information about the livestock and plantation but didn’t seek out Dawang villagers. Instead, she contacted the village head from Chengjia Village, who has a grudge against Dawang Village, asking them to help keep an eye on things. The medicinal herb your girlfriend lost is indeed at Zhong Wenwen’s place, and her mother has already cultivated a second-generation seedling that’s grown about half a foot tall. Isn’t that strange? It has no fragrance.”

Jiang Ruan had mentioned that the stolen herb hadn’t matured and couldn’t produce viable seeds, and any second-generation seedling grown from it would be ineffective.

But Zhong Wenwen’s mother was persistent, which was quite annoying.

What was even more troublesome was that Mu Xuehui had befriended Zhong Wenwen through Han Qingqing, and she also wanted to profit from the formula.

Qin Yan said, “I heard that the village head from Chengjia Village sent his second daughter to Zhong Wenwen’s mother’s clinic as an apprentice. I want you to find a temporary job for Yan Mancang and make sure the Cheng family feels the pressure. They shouldn’t be allowed to profit from both sides.”

Liang Yong responded, “That’s easy. My relative is planning to open a branch store, so let’s choose a location right across from the clinic. The Cheng family is too cunning, let them deal with their own troubles.”

Jiang Ruan’s chickens were almost ready for sale, and Qin Yan said, “I’ve reserved a batch for you. You can offer limited-edition roasted chicken at your stall, so you won’t have to worry about competition.”

Any profitable business would soon face competitors, just like the barbecue stalls, which had already attracted two or three other shops nearby.

Liang Yong scratched his head. “Roasted chicken at a barbecue stall might not sell well, right?”

Qin Yan replied, “Once you start grilling them, you’ll want to order more from me. But there aren’t many chickens in this batch, I’ve only managed to reserve five hundred for you.”