Free Web NovelChapter 17: Chapter 17: Retribution
"What? Start a venture?"
"The three of us?"
Yin Cuihua and Li Hongqin asked in unison, a single thought running through their minds: ’Did we hear that right?’
Of course, they hadn’t misheard. Su Li gave a small smile and a firm nod. "Mhm, start a venture. Just the three of us!"
A venture, no matter how big or small, is an accomplishment once it succeeds.
Su Li was both ruthless and incredibly ambitious. While she dreamed of building a great enterprise in the future, she knew she couldn’t get ahead of herself by making grand claims right now.
But her ambition was still clear from her choice of words.
She hadn’t said "let’s do a little business," but "let’s start a venture."
Su Li had no shortage of ideas and plans. What she lacked was a starting point, money, and the right people. Her chance meeting with Li Hongqin and Yin Cuihua, whose individual circumstances and talents were such a perfect match, felt like it was orchestrated by fate.
Su Li looked at Yin Cuihua and Li Hongqin’s astonished faces and gave a small smile, her expression firm, wise, and full of confidence.
"Among the three of us, one works at the fabric factory. You have access to all the fabric in the world. The other comes from a long line of tailors and is looking for work. What do you think would happen if you two were to team up?"
The answer flashed through Yin Cuihua and Li Hongqin’s minds instantly. They exchanged a look and ventured, "Clothes?"
Su Li nodded. "Exactly, clothes. Here’s my thinking: Sister Yin, you can get fabric from the factory at insider prices. If we generate enough sales, the factory will back you. So, we have our fabric. Then, there’s Sister Li. With her skills, making the clothes will be no problem. And finally, there’s me. I can handle the investment, management, and sales. Doesn’t that cover all the bases?"
Yin Cuihua and Li Hongqin stared at Su Li, stunned into silence for a long moment. They understood every word she said, but at the same time, it felt like they understood nothing at all.
’Can it really be done like that? Why does it sound so simple? This is clearly anything but simple. We’ve never thought of this before... we probably never would have!’
They couldn’t control the look of utter shock on their faces, or the way their hearts began to pound.
They were hooked. In unison, they asked, "Can we really do that? Make and sell our own clothes?"
"Of course we can." Su Li gave a firm nod. "Fewer and fewer people are buying fabric to make their own clothes these days, while more and more are buying them ready-made. So why shouldn’t we?"
’That’s right, we can do this! Just because no one else has done it doesn’t mean we can’t. We’ve admired and bought those beautiful clothes before, too!’
The two women eagerly peppered Su Li with questions, the earlier atmosphere of idle chatter completely gone. Their eyes were still bright—no, they were even brighter now.
Yin Cuihua and Li Hongqin were truly tempted and wanted to agree on the spot. But the idea was just too big. At the last second, they held back, saying they needed to go home and think it over. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Su Li nodded and told them to think it over carefully. They could talk again once they had considered everything thoroughly.
’This was what she had hoped for. If they had agreed right away, she would have been more worried.’
Yin Cuihua, Li Hongqin, and the others had a lively meal at the Tang family home before leaving. The news of their special trip to express their gratitude had already spread through the village. After seeing her guests off, Mrs. Tang couldn’t wipe the proud smile off her face.
Mrs. Tang had gone up the mountain to graze the ox after breakfast and was both surprised and delighted to see Li Hongqin’s group when she returned.
Su Li had saved several children from human traffickers. It was an incredibly virtuous and good deed, something truly worthy of admiration. Mrs. Tang was genuinely proud of her.
The villagers were all singing her praises, and Mrs. Tang’s face glowed with pride. Those who had spread idle gossip now looked chagrined. As for Qin Shanshan, who had lost all face and whose reputation was in tatters, her situation could only be described as miserable.
Given Qin Shanshan’s personality, with such rumors spreading, she naturally had to find a way to clear her name. So, she steeled herself and left the house. Unfortunately, less than half an hour later, she ran back home, her face ashen with humiliation.
The moment she stepped outside, she found the village loafers, old men, and even the young men all looking at her with *that* kind of look. The way their eyes lingered on her chest and backside made her want to vomit. Though she was fully clothed, she felt completely exposed.
The men’s leering stares made her feel unsafe, while the women pierced her with looks of contempt, criticism, and suspicion, as if she were something filthy.
Qin Shanshan tried her best to endure it, but in the end, she couldn’t take it anymore and fled back home in disgrace.
Meanwhile, outside, the rumors about her only grew and even evolved into a new version. The story now went that Qin Shanshan and Su Li had once been the best of friends, but Qin Shanshan turned on Su Li after Su Li accidentally discovered her illicit affair. Terrified of being exposed, Qin Shanshan had been trying to frame Su Li ever since, turning the two from sworn sisters into bitter enemies.
The rumor sounded plausible and was highly believable, especially since someone in the village claimed to have seen Qin Shanshan embracing a man with their own eyes. It would be nearly impossible for Qin Shanshan to ever clear her name of these rumors, whether true or not.
When Aunt Li finally heard the rumors, the shock was so great she nearly fainted on the spot. She rushed home and held Qin Shanshan, crying until her eyes were nearly swollen shut. Later, she tried many ways to fix the situation, but to little effect.
Qin Shanshan’s reputation was thoroughly ruined. She had no choice but to lie low, not daring to leave her house or even visit the Tang family home anymore.
In the past, if she failed to visit, Mrs. Tang would have surely grumbled about it. But now, she didn’t say a single word. She didn’t dare to, nor did she want to.
Come to think of it, ever since the incident where she had falsely accused Su Li, Mrs. Tang felt that something was off about her daughter-in-law.
The way Su Li looked at her was so cold. Even though this was her own daughter-in-law, Mrs. Tang felt an inexplicable fear of her. Su Li’s cold, detached demeanor sent a shiver down her spine.
For the past two days, Mrs. Tang had been trying to make up for her past mistakes, but Su Li barely acknowledged her, even going so far as to completely ignore her.
Seeing that Su Li seemed to be in a good mood today, Mrs. Tang tried to start a conversation again. "...When you go visit them in the future, Su Li, remember to bring some local produce from the mountains. If it’s too heavy, I can help you carry it."
Su Li watched Mrs. Tang try to curry favor with her. The corner of her mouth twitched, and she gave a noncommittal grunt without saying anything more.
Mrs. Tang’s smile faltered. She asked tentatively, "Su Li, are you still in a lot of pain? Or... are you still mad at me?"
Su Li turned her head to look at Mrs. Tang in silence.
Mrs. Tang was in her fifties, with a few gray hairs at her temples. But she had always been healthy and didn’t look her age. To Su Li, this version of Mrs. Tang was both familiar and strange. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
’In her past life, by this time, her health had already been ruined by Mrs. Tang’s abuse. But Mrs. Tang’s own health had collapsed as well.’
’Mrs. Tang had raised Tang Mo since he was a baby; he was her entire world. Losing him was like having her heart torn out. Within days, her hair had turned white, and she seemed to age twenty years overnight. Later, while Su Li herself was hovering between life and death, Mrs. Tang had cried herself blind before finally passing away.’
’Mrs. Tang grew ill from pining for her grandson, searching for Tang Mo day and night. She only held on for half a year. When she died, it was said she couldn’t rest in peace because they still hadn’t found him.’
’Su Li had heard all this secondhand much later. When she heard that Mrs. Tang couldn’t rest in peace, she had broken into hysterical laughter and tears.’
’She could no longer find the words to describe how she felt in that moment. All she knew was that it was all karma...’
