Whether crying works depends on who you’re crying to.
If someone cares about another, they’ll take their tears to heart. Without that bond, even sobbing your eyes out just becomes a joke!
When Chen Li learned Wen Ying was “Against the Current Fish,” she was surprised but not as shocked as Chen Ru had been.
“Xiao Ying started writing novels last summer, right?”
During the summer after her high school entrance exam, staying at Chen Li’s house, Wen Ying began submitting to magazines.
Later, she joined the New Concept Essay Competition.
Now, she’d published her first novel.
Her writing career’s path was clear, and Chen Li was very accepting. The only surprise was how popular Wen Ying’s first novel was!
Both families dining together at the Shrimp King flagship store was a scene Chen Li never dared imagine before.
Chen Ru and Deng Shangwei were finally acknowledging Wen Ying’s talents beyond academics!
“Yao Mei’s doing great at Shrimp King. She’s even gone on business trips alone, something she never had the guts for before.”
Chen Li praising Deng Yao Mei was like praising Wen Ying.
Wen Ying’s young cousins, Deng Jie and Deng Hao, hovered around her. To the kids, their cousin publishing a novel was a big deal.
Teen Idol wasn’t quite suitable for them. Even Deng Jie, the older one, didn’t get much from it, and Deng Hao only cared about one thing: could he brag about his cousin’s novel at school!
Deng Hao’s childish remark was laughed off, but Wen Dongrong gave him a second glance.
Bragging is so much fun, and only a primary schooler gets my joy!
Shrimp King’s headquarters now had more than just Yang Xi and Deng Yao Mei. After the college entrance exam, Qin Jiao started managing Shrimp King, making the company’s staffing more professional. The Qin siblings were investing more in Shrimp King than Wen Ying, who felt it wasn’t right to remain the largest shareholder. She was considering transferring some shares—Shrimp King needed more investment to grow, and store profits alone weren’t enough. The other shareholders, all from wealthy families, could easily contribute hundreds of thousands or millions.
The challenge was Wen Ying.
Though she now had income, it was earmarked elsewhere, not for pouring into Shrimp King.
Last year, reborn and lost, Wen Ying started the shrimp business to bet with her parents, and Shrimp King did earn her some money.
But now, did she still need Shrimp King’s money?
No one dislikes money, but spending too much energy chasing it wasn’t worth it.
Compared to Shrimp King’s dividends and growth, Wen Ying preferred earning royalties—that was her true passion!
The idea had been brewing, but today’s reveal of her pen name, with Chen Ru not erupting but bringing everyone to Shrimp King for dinner, deeply moved Wen Ying.
If someone respects Wen Ying a foot, she respects them a yard.
Chen Ru wasn’t just anyone, she was her mum. As the family sat in Shrimp King’s private room waiting for food, Wen Ying announced, “I want to transfer my Shrimp King shares. I’ll be busy with writing and studying, and I don’t have the energy for Shrimp King.”
Everyone at the table, except the too-young cousins, stared at Wen Ying.
Transfer shares?
She’d fought hard with the family over this, so why the sudden change of heart!
Wen Dongrong suspected Black-hearted Cotton had a scheme. Chen Ru’s lips twitched, then she asked casually, “You’re transferring? Is there a buyer? Think it through, don’t transfer on a whim and regret it when others make big money!”
It was late August, summer fading, but the shrimp season was still booming.
If Wen Ying hadn’t used her boss privilege, they wouldn’t have gotten a private room. The store was packed, Chengdu foodies waiting outside, feeding mosquitoes for a seat.
With such business, Shrimp King couldn’t not make money.
Chen Ru couldn’t calculate the exact profits but knew they were substantial!
She suspected Wen Ying’s announcement was to “show loyalty.” Chen Ru was pleased with this awareness but worried it was impulsive!
The old Chen Ru wouldn’t care what Wen Ying thought, as long as she obeyed.
Now, Manager Chen seemed to aim higher… the transfer had to be Wen Ying’s genuine choice.
Wen Ying thought her mum was a bit smug but didn’t call it out, instead explaining honestly, “There’s definitely a buyer. Qin Jiao’s brother wanted to buy Shrimp King shares long ago. He’s doing well with franchise stores in Shanghai, and Qin Jiao, now in university, wants to expand to Beijing. The siblings, one in Shanghai, one in Beijing, can work well together. Transferring to them is better for Shrimp King’s growth. This isn’t a whim, there’s precedent—Li Mengjiao had shares in Shrimp King but transferred them after joining the talent show!”
Li Hanhan, though not shrewd, chose her path earlier than Wen Ying, focusing on her dreams and letting go of distractions.
Now it was Wen Ying’s turn to make the same choice!
Deng Shangwei mused, “If you’re sure, I’ll talk to Boss Qin. We’ll ensure you don’t lose out on the price…”
“Uncle, no need for the trouble. This is a business I started with friends, so we’ll negotiate the price ourselves. Adults shouldn’t get involved.”
Wen Ying declined Deng Shangwei’s help.
Qin Xianming wasn’t stingy. If Deng Shangwei spoke, Qin Xianming wouldn’t shortchange a junior, offering a high price for Wen Ying’s shares!
But Wen Ying didn’t want to take advantage of the Qin family either. The price should be fair, negotiated between her, Qin Yi, and Qin Jiao.
The dinner was meant to celebrate Wen Ying’s novel, but the topic veered and couldn’t be reined in. Right after eating, Qin Yi called.
Qin Yi was traveling with his sister Qin Jiao. Hearing Wen Ying planned to transfer shares, he first asked why.
“Brother Qin Yi, you get it. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. I can’t manage Shrimp King now, but I don’t want it to become mediocre. It’s time to hand it to someone more suitable!”
More suitable?
Qin Yi thought Wen Ying meant him and his sister.
“…We’ll talk in detail when I’m back in Chengdu.”
Chen Ru confirmed Wen Ying was serious about transferring Shrimp King shares. She’d planned to discuss how to handle the royalties that night but held back.
If Wen Ying could let go of Shrimp King’s daily profits, she wouldn’t lose herself to millions in royalties, right?
Feeling pleased, Chen Ru spared Old Wen.
That night, Old Wen wasn’t banished to the car or the sofa but stayed in the bedroom.
Though he slept on a mat on the floor, at least he retained the last shred of dignity as the head of the family!
