Transmigrating into the Famine Years with a System: I Carried My Family of Villains to Success - Chapter 5

Shen Qingyue and Shen Er’ya walked to the spot next to Lin Xi’er.

She originally wanted to set up the stall quietly.

To her surprise, Feng Shuanzi shouted at Lin Xi’er and her father: “Did you not see our Boss setting up a stall here? Move a bit to the left! If you crowd our Boss, I will make you regret it!”

Zhang Tieshi even raised his fist in a threat: “Be sensible, or my fist will do the talking!”

Shen Qingyue rubbed her temples and gave the two a stern warning: “You two behave yourselves. Do not bully people!”

Only then did the two lackeys stand aside obediently.

Shen Qingyue stepped forward apologetically and said to Lin Xi’er and her father: “I am sorry. These two brothers of mine have a bit of a temper. You do not need to move. Just carry on with your business.”

Facing Shen Qingyue’s apology, Lin Xi’er subconsciously frowned, feeling quite surprised.

Shen Qingyue was a notorious bully for miles around. He had an uncle who was a bailiff in the county yamen. He was used to acting like a tyrant. Even when he did something wrong, he never apologized.

Did the sun rise from the west today? He seemed a bit different from how he was in her past life.

Wait! According to the timeline, Shen Qingyue should have cracked his head open and died by now. Why was he still alive?

Lin Xi’er was a regressor. In her previous life, she had stolen the partner of her cousin, Lin Zhaozhao. Only after marrying him did she realize he was a man of blind filial piety who allowed his mother to mistreat her. Her body broke down from exhaustion, and she died before she was thirty.

Her cousin, Lin Zhaozhao, however, turned out to be a princess living among the commoners! Eventually, she was recognized by the Crown Prince and enjoyed a life of glory and wealth.

Since we are all human, why are some people born with such good luck while others suffer so much?

Having lived again, she was determined to change everything!

In this life, she had taken the initiative to seize the advantage. She tricked Lin Zhaozhao out of her jade pendant identity token, bound it with a drop of her blood, and obtained a Spirit Spring Space.

In about a month, the Crown Prince would come looking for his long-lost sister under the guise of disaster relief. At that time, she would take Lin Zhaozhao’s place and become a noble princess!

Lin Xi’er thought everything was under control until she suddenly discovered that a person who should have died in her past life was actually alive.

This was very wrong. Could it be that Shen Qingyue had also regressed?

Lin Xi’er felt uneasy and decided to test him with a playful tone: “Brother Goudan, you look very spirited today. It is almost as if you have been born anew.”

As she spoke, she stared intently at Shen Qingyue’s face, trying to judge his emotions through his subtle facial expressions. If Shen Qingyue had also regressed, he would surely be sensitive to the idea of being born anew, and his expression would change.

Shen Qingyue felt Lin Xi’er was acting a bit strange and replied casually: “Oh, I suppose I am fine.”

Lin Xi’er saw nothing on Shen Qingyue’s face but refused to give up, continuing her test: “Even your skin looks like it was reborn. It is better than a girl’s.”

Shen Qingyue raised a hand to touch her face: “Is that so? You flatter me.”

Farm folk were exposed to the sun every day. Regardless of gender, their complexions were generally dark. The original owner’s skin was at most a tiny bit fairer than average. Lin Xi’er’s words were too exaggerated, and her twice-repeated mention of being reborn felt intentional.

Shen Qingyue could not help but wonder in her heart. This Lin Xi’er was very different from the one in the original owner’s memories. Could she have regressed? If she herself could transmigrate, regression was not impossible. As long as the girl meant her no harm, she did not care whether she was a regressor or a transmigrator.

Shen Qingyue thought for a moment and decided to probe back: “Second Miss Lin is staring at me so intently. Could it be that you have feelings for me?”

A flash of disdain crossed Lin Xi’er’s eyes. A worthless bully was not even fit to carry her shoes; who would like such a person?

She remembered the events of her past life very clearly. Shen Dabiao was an incurable gambler who lost the family’s house and fields and ended up a beggar. Bailiff Zhang was reported for abusing his public office for private gain because he interfered in the Shen family’s affairs and was dismissed. Shen Er’ya was deceived in body and heart by Scholar Wang and committed suicide by jumping into a river. Liu Cuihua died of pure rage.

Not a single member of the Shen family had a good ending. Even if Shen Qingyue luckily survived, he could not change the tragic fate of the Shen family.

Lin Xi’er did not want to associate with such unlucky bastards and quickly distanced herself: “Brother Goudan, do not misunderstand. I already have someone in my heart. My cabbages are mostly sold, so I will give this spot to you. We are leaving.”

With that, the father and daughter hurriedly pushed their cart away, fearing Shen Qingyue would cling to them.

Now that the spot was vacant, Shen Qingyue beckoned Shen Er’ya over to set up her stall. Shen Qingyue stood by for a long while, but not a single piece of embroidery was sold. Shen Er’ya’s embroidery skills were decent, and her work was exquisite; it was not as if no one was interested.

Shen Qingyue’s gaze swept over Feng Shuanzi and Zhang Tieshi. With three hoodlums standing here, it would be a miracle if the embroidery sold well.

Shen Qingyue instructed Shen Er’ya: “Er’ya, you sell the embroidery here. I am going to walk around the street.”

Shen Er’ya worried that Shen Qingyue was going to find someone to fight and reminded her: “Brother, do not cause trouble. I will buy you meat buns once I sell the embroidery.”

Shen Qingyue gave a brief “mm” and left with her two lackeys.

“Boss, let us go find Wang Youcai! Last time, he took advantage of his numbers while we were not around. I really cannot swallow this insult!” Zhang Tieshi looked indignant.

“If we do not win back our pride, he will think our Boss is an easy target!” Feng Shuanzi added.

Shen Qingyue remained silent. The food at home could only last three days. The only thing she needed to do now was earn money to buy grain and survive the famine.

Shen Qingyue had a flash of inspiration: “Wang Youcai’s family is in business, right? Are they very rich?”

Feng Shuanzi nodded: “The Wang family is the wealthiest in Pingyang County, and Wang Youcai is the only heir.”

“Oh! I understand!” Feng Shuanzi realized suddenly. “Boss, do you want to challenge him to a fight and make him pay up when he loses?”

Zhang Tieshi slapped his forehead hard: “Boss really is the smart one! Why did I not think of that?”

Shen Qingyue was exasperated with the two of them. Everything led back to fighting in their minds. She had to educate them: “Fighting and killing is so unrefined. It makes us look uneducated.”

Feng Shuanzi wore a bitter face: “Aside from fighting, we have no other skills. Boss, what do you think we should do? We will listen to you.”

Shen Qingyue curled her fingers at them, signaling them to come closer: “Help me arrange a meeting with Wang Youcai. Leave the rest to me.”

Feng Shuanzi and Zhang Tieshi were not very bright, but they were obedient. Half an hour later, using some unknown method, the two lackeys actually managed to get Wang Youcai out.

Juxian Teahouse, Private Room Five.

Wang Youcai led four servants and pushed open the door aggressively: “Shen Qingyue! You really will not stop until you are in a coffin! Last time we fought, it was clearly you who started the provocation. Now you dare to challenge me again?”

“Today, I will teach you a lesson you will never forget!”

Shen Qingyue dropped her usual arrogance and put on the air of a refined gentleman: “Brother Wang, what are you saying? Ever since our last fight, I have felt a deep respect for you.”

As she spoke, she warmly guided Wang Youcai to the seat of honor and personally poured him a cup of tea: “At the moment, I have a guaranteed profitable business. Aside from Brother Wang, no one else is worthy of discussing it with me.”