Chapter 27

Chapter 27: He Liang Cong Walks the Straight Path

Xiao Ying Chun nodded. “Yes. Look through it—tell me what can go up for auction and what can’t.”

Dai Heng Xin hesitated. “Can I call my uncle to come help?”

Xiao Ying Chun stared at him. So it was that much.

“Fine,” she said. “Call him.”

After the call, Dai Heng Xin began sorting through the pieces, one by one, his expression sharpening with every glance.

When he finished the first pass, he singled out several items. “These jars, and these few pieces—keep them aside. Don’t show them to my uncle.”

Xiao Ying Chun frowned. “They’re not worth much?”

“It’s the opposite,” Dai Heng Xin said, voice lowering. “They’re too precious. If you want to auction these domestically, you need to go through proper channels. Your situation… isn’t easy to explain.”

Too precious could be a problem too.

With a sigh, Xiao Ying Chun carried the selected pieces upstairs and stored them in Spacetime Supermarket’s storage space. Once they were inside, no one but her could see them.

When Dai Wang Nian arrived, he took one look at the spread and nearly stumbled. He and Dai Heng Xin pulled out flashlights and magnifying glasses and went over everything with obsessive care.

Their conclusion was the same.

These were antiques, stylistically dated between the Tang and Song dynasties.

Because the pieces were intact, even the starting auction prices would be at least 100,000.

Add it all up, and the total value easily crossed several million. If the auction was handled well, breaking ten million would be normal.

Dai Wang Nian finally looked up, eyes bright with disbelief. “Miss Xiao, you’re something else. You pull out this many pieces at once, and they’re all things the market hasn’t seen… unbelievable.”

Xiao Ying Chun smiled and waved it off. “I’m a shareholder. I have to do my part.”

Dai Heng Xin was practically vibrating. “This batch, plus those gold-and-gem jewelry pieces from last time—we can support an auction with that.” He pointed at the fabric, reverent. “And this kesi bolt… I’ve never seen a full bolt preserved this well.”

Dai Wang Nian looked just as thrilled, as if he’d been handed a private viewing of a top-tier exhibition. And he had no doubt—among domestic experts, he was the first person to lay eyes on this batch.

Dai Heng Xin turned to Xiao Ying Chun. “I’ll have people photograph everything in the next couple of days so we can produce a brochure for promotion. Is that okay?”

“No problem,” Xiao Ying Chun said. “Handle it.”

“Then I’ll bring the consignment contract later. We should sign.” He didn’t need to explain why—shareholder or not, she was still the owner of the items.

After the contract was signed, Dai Heng Xin brought a pile of boxes, packed each piece carefully, sealed them up, and carried them away.

Xiao Ying Chun returned to watching the shop.

Ge Chun Yu came by once during those days, circling the topic like a mosquito. Xiao Ying Chun had made money, right? Could she lend her a little over 60,000 so she could pay the debt first?

Xiao Ying Chun refused outright. And she made her stance unmistakable: if Ge Chun Yu tried to stir trouble over this, Xiao Ying Chun wouldn’t cover that 60,000 at all.

Legally speaking, she never had to take on any of that debt in the first place.

Ge Chun Yu tried crying poor, tried playing pitiful. When none of it worked, she finally gave up—clearly terrified Xiao Ying Chun might retract even the smallest concession.

Xiao Ying Chun used the quiet days to renovate. She had workers redo the ceiling and install lights, replaced the shelves, and set a four-seat table near the entrance.

To outsiders she said it was for customers who bought instant noodles and other convenience foods—so they’d have somewhere to eat.

When the work was done, the whole supermarket looked brand new.

And then it was time to respond in court.

Dai Heng Xin had connections. When he heard she had to go, he arranged a consultation with a lawyer friend and told her what to prepare.

With that guidance, Xiao Ying Chun went in with a clear head.

Ge Chun Yu didn’t tangle much—Xiao Ying Chun’s warning had done its job. Once the judgment took effect, Ge Chun Yu immediately said she wouldn’t appeal.

In court, Xiao Ying Chun laid out the facts and kept her voice steady. She had no obligation. Still, out of the last shred of family feeling, she was willing to cover the 60,000.

But from that day on, she would not assume any debts for her grandmother, her uncle, or her aunt’s family. And all matters related to her parents’ inheritance would be settled—cleanly and permanently.

Once it was said, she didn’t drag it out. She paid 60,000 on the spot, and the matter ended there.

Outside the courthouse, Xiao Ying Chun stretched, feeling as if a weight had finally slid off her shoulders. With that agreement signed, Grandpa and Grandma’s whole clan could no longer claw at her for anything.

She was heading back to her car when she saw Dai Heng Xin waiting beside it.

“You came?” she asked, surprised.

He smiled, mild and composed. “To celebrate. You solved another big problem.” He paused. “Lunch with He Liang Cong? And we can confirm the promotional brochure that just got printed.”

Since it was business, Xiao Ying Chun couldn’t refuse. “Okay. You didn’t drive?”

“No, I took a cab,” Dai Heng Xin said. “Mind if I ride with you?”

“Get in.”

It was the same Music Tavern, the same private booking.

The moment Xiao Ying Chun stepped onto the terrace, she stopped short.

He Liang Cong sat in his usual seat—but his rainbow hair was gone. It had been dyed black. In a crisp suit with a straight, confident posture, if not for the flashy diamond earring, he almost looked like a polished office professional.

Her surprise clearly delighted him. He stood, grinning. “What? Sister, stunned? I can be serious when I want to be serious.”

Xiao Ying Chun pressed her lips together, fighting a laugh. “You do look serious. And honestly? Way more handsome than last time.”

He Liang Cong’s grin widened. “See? I knew it.”

Dai Heng Xin pulled out a chair for Xiao Ying Chun and set a beautifully printed booklet on the table. “Take a look. Is this brochure okay?”

Xiao Ying Chun flipped through it. Each piece had been shot to look elegant and expensive, the lighting and angles doing half the selling already. It was hard to imagine these items not fetching a good price.

He Liang Cong leaned forward, the joking tone fading. “Sister, where did you get this many good things? I took a copy back to show my grandfather yesterday—he got so excited he nearly started shaking.”

Xiao Ying Chun only smiled.

Thankfully, He Liang Cong didn’t expect an answer. He launched straight into his own excitement. “From now on we’re getting rich with you, Sister! My parents didn’t believe me when I said I was partnering with Old Dai to start a company. They thought I was messing around.”

He tapped the brochure. “But when they saw I dyed my hair back and brought this home… they almost cried.”

“My mom said it right then: as long as I’m willing to walk the right path, even if the company doesn’t make money, she’ll accept it.”

He puffed up, delighted with himself. “But come on—following you and Old Dai? We’re definitely making money. I’ll make my parents and my grandfather look at me different. Seriously, Sister, you made Brother look good.”

Xiao Ying Chun finished the booklet and slid it back to Dai Heng Xin. “I’m not a professional in this. If you think it works, then it works.”

“Good,” Dai Heng Xin said. “Then I’ll have a batch printed. Young Master He, you’ll send these to families with money and an interest in this—okay?”

He Liang Cong slapped his chest. “No problem. Leave it to me.”