Fan Yu lay in bed facing the wall while Xia Dajun tiptoed in, careful not to wake her. He knew he needed to be considerate of pregnant women. Previously confident in his ability to care for everyone, Xia Dajun had been silenced when A Hua knocked him down and questioned his right to stay by Du Zhaohui’s side.

After hitting walls everywhere while job hunting, he finally woke up to reality. Without Du Zhaohui’s support, he was nothing! How different was he from the rural migrant workers in Pengcheng? If he hadn’t learned to drive, he couldn’t even have found work driving trucks.

He used to be able to carry heavy loads at the dock without worrying about food, but after his back injury, such physical labor was impossible. With no other skills, his only advantage over other workers was his ability to drive!

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to care for the whole family. His current earnings couldn’t support everyone, and lightning wouldn’t strike twice – where could he find another Hong Kong boss to save? He couldn’t let either his pregnant wife Fan Yu or his stroke-affected mother go hungry. The only solution was to have the able-bodied Xia Hongbing family move out – removing five mouths would significantly lighten his burden!

Fan Yu had already discussed this with Xia Dajun. When he’d remained silent, she took it as agreement. However, when Fan Yu played the villain, Xia Dajun still felt heavy-hearted.

Hearing sobbing, Xia Dajun was startled – Fan Yu wasn’t asleep. Turning her over, he found her crying.

“Xiao Yu, are you feeling unwell?”

Xia Dajun was at a loss while Fan Yu cried, feeling increasingly miserable. She was truly unlucky – following Fan Zhenchuan led to his imprisonment, and now this fool Xia Dajun had lost his high-paying job.

Why was her fate so bitter? Looking at Liu Yong’s wife – unattractive and burly next to thin Liu Yong – she could wear gold and silver jewelry.

“Dajun, see how many people are doing business in Pengcheng – why don’t you try some business?”

Being a driver wouldn’t make them rich – earning two to three hundred yuan monthly, how many years would it take to buy a house?

Fan Yu dared not mention revenge against Xia Xiaolan anymore, but she couldn’t accept living worse than Liu Yong’s wife. While others wore fine clothes and jewelry, she wanted that life too.

Yes, only business could bring wealth! Liu Tianquan, Du Zhaohui… even Liu Yong – weren’t all these wealthy men businessmen?

Fan Yu gazed at him tearfully. Feeling pressured, Xia Dajun avoided her eyes.

What business could he do?

He’d never considered it. Even his elder brother’s snack business had been ruined by Xia Xiaolan. Ziyu said they lost money, and the one million yuan from him wasn’t enough to reopen in Beijing. Before they could restart, everything went wrong… Xia Dajun shuddered.

Ke Yixiong’s people said his dismissal was because of Xia Xiaolan. They told him to look for people at Golden Sand Pool.

Xia Dajun had glanced at it from afar – the place where he and Xiao Yu had wanted to buy a house was somehow connected to Xia Xiaolan.

That unfilial daughter couldn’t stand seeing him live well, taking away all his high-paying jobs. Even if he knew how to do business, that wretched girl would ruin it – just throwing money away!

Life had finally taught Xia Dajun humility – he didn’t even dare investigate Xia Xiaolan’s connection to Golden Sand Pool.

Money makes a man brave; without earnings, Xia Dajun had become completely timid!

Seeing Xia Dajun’s evasive gaze, Fan Yu gnashed her teeth in anger – how had she chosen such a useless man? If her pregnancy weren’t so advanced, she’d kick Xia Dajun aside immediately!

Being Xia Xiaolan’s stepmother had seemed satisfying. Better to dream. Xia Xiaolan didn’t even acknowledge her father – how could a stepmother affect her?

Fan Yu’s whole body ached with anger. What had she seen in marrying Xia Dajun? No, if she couldn’t be comfortable, none of the Xia family should be either. Cradling her belly and moaning, she said she was hungry for porridge. Wang Jingui, facing eviction, wouldn’t cook. Xia Dajun burned the food, making it inedible.

Finally, Old Mrs. Xia cooked, but Fan Yu complained it was too salty and dumped it all.

The Xia mother and son stayed up all night. By dawn, Fan Yu slept while Xia Dajun had to work. Old Mrs. Xia, aching all over, cursed Wang Jingui, who stuffed cotton in her ears to ignore it.

Hardworking?

In this family, the industrious couldn’t survive. Wasn’t Liu Fen the most diligent? She was the first to be driven away.

Since coming to Pengcheng, Wang Jingui felt she’d been quite hardworking, doing laundry and cooking for everyone, yet she was still being evicted.

She no longer listened to her mother-in-law – Old Mrs. Xia had lost all authority in this house!

Wang Jingui spat toward Fan Yu’s room: “Pah, what’s so special about her? We’re all farmers’ wives, who’s she to act precious!”

Ah, if only her dear sister-in-law and niece Xiaolan would return. Wang Jingui swore she’d worship them like goddesses.

Of course, if they could help her husband Xia Hongbing, even better.

…

Xia Xiaolan was often “remembered” by others.

Wasn’t it fitting that the Xia family’s situation worsened? She hadn’t thought about those vermin for a long time.

However, Xia Xiaolan was not far from the Xia family now.

This weekend, she’d arrived in Yangcheng first.

Luna’s fire burned bright enough – it wasn’t appropriate to keep these potential franchisees camping at Luna’s office building any longer.

Chen Xiliang had given plenty of interviews in Beijing. Having spent on advertising and publicity, it was time to return to Yangcheng and check the results. Any longer and these people might storm Beijing.

As soon as Chen Xiliang appeared, he was surrounded.

“80,000 is fine, I have the money ready!”

“I came first, already rented a shop back home, let me franchise first!”

“Boss Chen, you know…”

Everyone rushed to the office, leaving Xia Xiaolan at ease.

Liu Yong had also come to Yangcheng, bringing Gong Yang.

If all these people franchised Luna, it meant big business for Yuanhui too, since Luna’s unified store decoration had always been handled by Yuanhui.

Franchisees could choose other decorators, but being eager to open, other companies might not achieve the same results as Yuanhui following the blueprints.

Most preferred experienced hands – faster and more efficient, helping them open as soon as possible.

“Uncle, are the Golden Sand Pool model rooms ready on your end?”

Liu Yong nodded, smiling, “Almost complete, just waiting for your inspection. Are you planning to start selling the Golden Sand Pool houses?”

Xia Xiaolan pointed at the crowded office, “Let’s see Luna’s situation first, how much franchise fees we can collect this time? Chen Xiliang and I have worked so hard, we can’t let it all go to waste.”

Each store was 80,000 yuan. Liu Yong silently counted the heads moving in the office – they could collect quite a sum this time!