A Beauty in the 80s Goes on a Blind Date with Her Child, Captivating the Military Compound - Chapter 103

Jin Shan brought his hand to his temple in a crisp salute, signaling his understanding. Beside him, Cao Hua spoke up in a low, muffled voice.

“No need to go asking around. I’ve already looked into him.”

He reached out and handed over a stack of newspapers he had prepared in advance. Shen Sisi opened them to find copies of the Hong Kong Business Daily and the Jiangcheng Daily.

Wen Rong’s face occupied a significant portion of the front pages.

“Wen Rong, the Youngest Son of the Wen Group, Enters the Mainland Market: Is the Health Industry a Future Trend or a Sunk Cost?”

Shen Sisi read the headline of the Hong Kong Business Daily under her breath. The content detailed how Wen Rong had ignored the opposition of his shareholders to invest in the mainland. He was pursuing the low-profit health industry and had even signed a “betting agreement” with his family.

The newspaper didn’t detail the specific terms of the agreement, but the tone was overwhelmingly pessimistic. Despite the lack of family support and the mockery from the outside world, Wen Rong remained composed. Speaking to the media, he had said:

“To be an entrepreneur, one must first be a person of integrity. Look at the Chinese character for ‘enterprise’ (Qi). The top is ‘person’ (Ren) and the bottom is ‘stop’ (Zhi). If the person fails to act, then everything stops.”

“To be honest, the Wen family has plenty of channels for making money,” he continued. “But I believe the health industry is what truly benefits the country and the people; it is a sustainable industry.”

“In a person’s life, nothing is more important than health and safety. It doesn’t matter if I earn a little less. What matters is helping people live longer, healthier lives and improving their quality of life.”

As expected of a gentleman from Hong Kong, Shen Sisi thought. His social consciousness had risen to the level of humanity itself. It happened to align perfectly with her own philosophy. Profit was necessary, but the amount was secondary to the goal of benefiting society.

“This President Wen is young, capable, and very bold. He has visited us several times now; his sincerity is undeniable,” Cao Hua remarked. “Now, take a look at the Jiangcheng Daily.”

Shen Sisi gave a hum of affirmation and opened the local paper. The front page featured news of Wen Rong acquiring a medicinal herb base and manufacturing plants.

With the recent opening of the economy, it was a time of renewal and investment attraction. Wen Rong’s arrival had garnered significant policy support. Since his Traditional Chinese Medicine business was non-polluting, he had essentially been given a “green light” at every turn.

While one could pay to be featured in a Hong Kong tabloid, it was nearly impossible for private capital to influence the Jiangcheng Daily. This proved that Wen Rong hadn’t lied to her; it was all true.

“Alright, I understand. Thank you, Brother Hua. You’ve put a lot of effort into this lately.”

“Ever since you warned me about that problematic supplier in the Russian District, I’ve learned my lesson,” Cao Hua replied. “When Wen Rong showed up, the first thing I did was investigate him. I guarantee he’s clean!”

Despite the confirmation, since they had already agreed to visit the herb base tomorrow, Shen Sisi still intended to go. It was a good opportunity to see the scale of Wen Rong’s operations.

“In that case, Jin Shan, you don’t need to investigate further. Focus on the renovation of the oil mill.”

Jin Shan grinned. “Leave it to me!”

At the mention of the oil mill renovation, Cao Hua’s expression shifted slightly. After the group parted ways, he threw an arm around Jin Shan’s shoulders. “What’s this about a renovation?”

Jin Shan knew Cao Hua was a partner and not an outsider, so he explained Shen Sisi’s vision. Once finished, he rolled his eyes playfully and sighed with faux misery. “Brother Hua, Sister Sisi just took over that mill. It hasn’t been easy for her. We should save money wherever we can!”

Cao Hua immediately caught his drift. “Sisi really has had it rough. Tell you what—I know some construction material suppliers. I’ll make sure she gets the lowest prices for the highest quality materials. As for the labor…” Cao Hua thought for a moment. “I’ll have my brothers from the docks come over to help.”

Jin Shan immediately gripped Cao Hua’s hand, as if afraid he would take back the offer. “Then I thank you on Brother Hua’s behalf!”

Unaware of this arrangement, Shen Sisi made her way back home. Just as she entered the residential compound, a woman—emaciated to the point of deformity, with a sallow, haggard face—rushed out from the side.

“Shen Sisi…”

Yang Qiuxia looked like a madwoman with her disheveled hair, blocking Shen Sisi’s path. Shen Sisi stepped back warily, preparing to call for help, but Yang Qiuxia suddenly collapsed to her knees with a thud.

“I’m sorry! I was wrong! I was truly wrong! It was my fault for trying to harm you time and again. Please, please forgive me, okay?”

Looking at the hollow light in the woman’s eyes, Shen Sisi realized she must have reached a breaking point. “Stand up first!”

“No! I won’t! If you don’t forgive me, I won’t get up!” Yang Qiuxia wailed, knocking her head against the ground.

Shen Sisi grabbed her with enough force to hoist her up. “Yang Qiuxia, if you have something to say, say it. Don’t pull this stunt.”

Yang Qiuxia tried to struggle, but she was no match for Shen Sisi’s strength. “Shen Sisi, I was wrong. I’m begging you, just forgive me! I’ve been deathly ill lately, and my husband sent the children back to our hometown. He… he even filed a report with the organization to divorce me.”

“I have no other way out. That’s why I came to beg you!”

Shen Sisi frowned. “This is your family matter. Why are you begging me?”

With a face full of misery, Yang Qiuxia cried, “My husband said I’m beyond reform. Since I targeted you so many times, he feels he can’t look your husband in the eye if he stays with me.”

Shen Sisi was speechless. She couldn’t believe Regimental Commander Chen divorcing his wife had somehow been blamed on her. “What a mess…”

Shen Sisi pulled her over to a stone bench. “Listen to me. Your problems are for the two of you to solve. Don’t drag me into it. You should focus on your own life.”

As Shen Sisi turned to leave, a shrill, piercing wail erupted behind her. “I’d rather die than get a divorce!”

With those words, Yang Qiuxia lunged toward the nearby wall. Shen Sisi, quick as lightning, grabbed her. The momentum nearly sent Shen Sisi flying, and the two of them tumbled to the ground.

“Yang Qiuxia!” Shen Sisi pinned the woman down and delivered a sharp slap to her face to snap her out of her hysteria.

The slap worked. Yang Qiuxia went limp like a deflated ball, her strength vanishing as she slumped on the ground. “Why did you save me…?”

Shen Sisi was so angry she wanted to hit her again. “Yang Qiuxia, where is that spiteful energy you used against me before? What kind of ‘skill’ is it to seek death? It’s just a divorce. Is it worth smashing your head against a wall?”

“What do you know?” Yang Qiuxia howled. “A divorced woman has her spine broken by people’s pointing fingers! I’ve spent my whole life being proud. I’d rather die than have people whispering behind my back.”

Hearing this made Shen Sisi even more furious. She roared, “What’s a divorce? I’m unmarried and have a child! By your logic, shouldn’t I have stopped living long ago?”

“But not only am I going to live, I’m going to live a brilliant, beautiful life! I’ll make those who look down on me turn green with envy.”

Yang Qiuxia muttered, “Shen Sisi… you really are something else.”

“What? Am I supposed to stop living just because people talk? You have to understand—rumors and gossip cannot hurt you a bit unless you care about them. Your caring, your escapism, and your insecurity are the real culprits. Beyond that, everything else is just bullsh*t!”

Those simple words struck a chord in Yang Qiuxia’s heart. It was true. Someone like Shen Sisi, who started with a “bad hand” and a tarnished reputation, could live so vibrantly. Why was she trying to die?

“Besides,” Shen Sisi added, “you aren’t even divorced yet. You don’t truly think Commander Chen is seeking a divorce just because of me, do you?