Chapter 21

To say Su Ya felt no guilt or discomfort towards Sang Ran would be untrue.
After all, in her previous life, Su Ya had been an unfortunate soul who had never harmed anyone.
But she understood one thing clearly: if one doesn’t act in self-interest, heaven and earth will condemn them.
What was wrong with wanting a better life? Since she had been reborn and knew Song Jianguo would succeed in the future, why should she stand by and watch Sang Ran marry him, only to return later in glory?
The same logic applied to the clothing business.
She wanted to earn money too.
As for Sang Ran’s fate, it was no longer her concern.
Of course, this was all under the condition that she didn’t encounter Sang Ran face to face. Seeing Sang Ran now, appearing calm and casual as if she had just happened to run into her and wanted to chat, Su Ya inexplicably grew nervous, swallowing nervously out of fear.
It took several seconds for Su Ya to regain her composure. Pretending to be calm, she asked, “Is something the matter?”
“There’s something I’d like to talk to you about,” Sang Ran replied, pressing her lips into a slight smile. Her complexion, nurtured well in the Zhu family, made her look utterly harmless, delicate and charming, easily evoking goodwill. Yet, this only made Su Ya retreat another step, more guarded than before.
She didn’t believe Sang Ran could speak to her without any lingering resentment.
But she didn’t think it would come to a fight either. Though she had vaguely heard rumors that Sang Ran was quite strong, she assumed it was just from doing farm work.
Besides, Sang Ran was dressed so elegantly now, surely she wouldn’t resort to violence.
Su Ya pressed her lips together, her face taut as she asked, “What is it?”
Sang Ran didn’t answer immediately, instead stepping closer to her.
Originally, Sang Ran had planned to wait until the busiest part of the first day was over, then find a moment in the evening or the next day to intercept Su Ya on the road.
Unexpectedly, Su Ya had come alone today to spy on their shop.
With the perfect opportunity presenting itself, Sang Ran felt she had to seize it.
So she approached.
This time, Su Ya didn’t move, holding her breath as she waited to hear what Sang Ran had to say.
But just as Sang Ran drew near, instead of speaking, she curved her lips into a smile, abruptly grabbed Su Ya’s arm, and, before Su Ya could react, propelled her swiftly forward, then hurled her into the river!
“Ahhh, gurgle, ” Su Ya screamed in terror.
But after only two cries, she was truly thrown in. The water quickly submerged her head, and as she opened her mouth to call for help, she swallowed several mouthfuls of river water.
Yet she didn’t actually sink.
The river surged fiercely, its currents roaring. This section was the most turbulent, and people usually only crossed the bridge here, choosing the calmer downstream areas for washing clothes.
At this moment, Su Ya’s arm was pulled by a hand, and her entire body fell into the river, swaying with the rushing current, drifting like seaweed.
It was heart-stopping, as if she could be swept away by the river at any moment.
Su Ya frantically flailed her limbs, trying to struggle, but to no avail.
A few seconds later, she was pulled up, coughing desperately. But after coughing for a while, she saw Sang Ran beside her and lunged at her with a scream: "Bitch! Ahhh, "
Yet it was useless. The moment she moved, Sang Ran pinned her to the ground, her grip ruthless, almost choking her to death by the neck. Su Ya’s frantic hands turned into a desperate struggle for survival, terrified she might actually be strangled.
Her eyes bulged with extreme fear.
"It’s not over yet!" Sang Ran said in a low voice, her face cold as she released her grip. Watching Su Ya cough until her face and neck turned red, she waited until she calmed down slightly before throwing her back into the water.
She held onto one of Su Ya’s arms like a kite string, completely controlling her.
Forced to struggle for survival in the water, Su Ya wept silently in terror, her limbs growing weaker with each futile movement. Only then did she truly understand what "Sang Ran is quite strong" meant!
This wasn’t "quite" strong, it was incredibly strong!
She couldn’t resist at all, like a ragdoll.
After several more seconds, Sang Ran pulled Su Ya up again. Seeing her broken, coughing and crying, with snot and tears streaming down her face, completely disheveled and soaked, Sang Ran finally laughed heartily, her voice tinged with amusement and exceptionally pleasant: "Feeling good?"
Yet to Su Ya, that voice sounded like a demon’s. One of her arms was immobile, while the other flailed wildly as she pleaded with reddened eyes: "No, don’t…"
As she spoke, Su Ya realized her voice had turned hoarse, as if grated by sand.
The pathetic part was, even after being tormented like this, she didn’t dare to look at the culprit.
But Sang Ran said, "No, one more time."
With that, she acted again.
"Ah, " A brief, terrified, and hoarse scream barely escaped before it was swallowed by the water.
After three rounds in total, when it was finally over, Sang Ran dragged her ashore and tossed her against a tree, letting her lean there. Then, looking down at her, she said, "Alright, I’ve had my revenge."
"Revenge?" Su Ya, having coughed up a mouthful of river water, was dazed and instinctively asked.
Sang Ran let out a low, mocking laugh. "Yeah, back when you pushed me into the water and took the chance to have Song Jianguo save you, did you really think I wouldn’t notice how I ended up in the river? You pushed me in once, so I gave you three times. If there’s a next time…"
Her voice grew colder: "If you dare scheme against me again, I’ll make sure you disappear!"
Su Ya’s breath hitched. Her face, flushed from coughing, quickly paled again. Her reddened eyes were filled with fear and regret, none of her earlier confidence remaining. Pitifully, she shuffled backward and whispered, "I-I’m sorry…"
Her body was still trembling.
Sang Ran curved her lips into a smile. "It’s fine. I’ve already had my revenge anyway."
Su Ya’s face turned ashen.
In the end, when they returned, Su Ya’s steps were still unsteady.
It felt as though she had brushed with death, no, not just once, but several times. She was utterly terrified.
The river in Zhu Village flowed through several surrounding villages, it was located upstream, right where the current was most turbulent.
Su Ya didn’t return to Zhu Village but went back to her maiden home instead.
She had no desire to see the Song family at all. It had been a long time since she last went back, and no one had asked about her anyway.
Now, both physically and emotionally battered, all she wanted was to go home and rest properly.
At the same time, she felt a faint regret, she should have chosen a more cautious approach. It had been so many years since she last interacted with Sang Ran that she had completely forgotten how strong Sang Ran actually was.
Su Ya returned home drenched and disheveled, only to find the Song family in the courtyard of the Su residence.
Su Ya instantly flared up: "What are you doing here?!"
Mother Song, with a daughter on her left and a son on her right, along with her younger son’s wife, smiled amiably: "Eldest daughter-in-law, why are you talking like that? I just came to see how you’re doing since you seem so busy."
Su Ya gritted her teeth, glaring at them darkly: "See how you’re doing, my foot!"
Mother Song’s face darkened.
Their eyes met, and the hostility between them was unmistakable.
A fight broke out.
Everyone knew why Mother Song had brought her family along. Su Ya had never wanted anything to do with them, and now that they were trying to stake a claim on her interests, how could she possibly agree?
Although the Song family had more people, the Su family wasn’t short on numbers either. No one wanted their share taken away, so a brawl ensued.
That evening, the news reached Sang Ran’s ears.
Zhu Chang’an, sneaking a cigarette for a quick smoke, was just about to light it when he caught Sang Ran’s faint sidelong glance. He froze, then awkwardly removed the cigarette and said earnestly, "Wife, your plan worked perfectly! I just sent someone to tip off the Song family this morning, and they’ve already started fighting!"
He silently praised his few brothers, though small in number, they got things done efficiently.
He’d have to treat them to a meal!
Sang Ran took the match he was about to use to light the cigarette but left the cigarette untouched. Calculating the day’s earnings, she said quietly, "But this incident also serves as a warning. We need to find another way out. If something like this happens again, we might really suffer losses."
It had happened faster than she expected. She had thought it would take longer before the next batch of brave souls dared to venture into business.
For now, though, only Su Ya had the nerve to try.
But Sang Ran was already thinking about a backup plan.
Lost in thought, she pondered their next steps. Zhu Chang’an, on the other hand, was content with their modest gains. Now that their debts were cleared, the money they had left was more than enough. Even if they made slightly less in the future by dealing in premium goods, they wouldn’t end up in real financial trouble.
Not to mention, not everyone dared to travel that far to get goods.
Shenzhen was a place where fish and dragons jumbled together, just two days ago, someone had gone to pick up goods, and while still on the train, their money was stolen.
He tossed away his cigarette, wrapped his arms around Sang Ran from behind, rested his chin on her shoulder, and shared his thoughts with a relaxed expression: "It's fine, we can still make a decent amount. There's no need to work so hard, right?"
Sang Ran was about to nod when she sensed something. Her face darkened as she slapped away his wandering hand. Seeing him pout and whine with grievance, she snorted coldly, "Have you forgotten what I said before?"
"No," Zhu Chang’an mumbled dejectedly. "We can't have a child until we're stable."
Sang Ran smiled in satisfaction.
Seeing her charming smile, Zhu Chang’an couldn't resist pouncing on her again, hugging her tightly as he mumbled, "How about I just don't go in?"
Sang Ran hesitated for a moment.
Noticing her expression, Zhu Chang’an inwardly cheered, thinking there was a chance, and quickly nuzzled against her, coaxing, "Please, please"
Sang Ran half-heartedly pushed him away, "Alright then."
Later, Sang Ran slapped the clingy man across the face, fuming, "Get lost! I shouldn't have trusted you!"
Zhu Chang’an, thoroughly satisfied, hugged Sang Ran and planted a kiss on her, smacking his lips as he said, "I'm sorry, darling. Don't be mad."

Far away in the military camp, Song Jianguo was unaware of the conflicts between his parents and Su Ya.
Although they had argued when he was home, once Song Jianguo spoke up, the disputes would cease promptly, never escalating into anything truly alarming.
Thus, Song Jianguo had always believed that the tensions between his parents and Su Ya were minor and that they could simply avoid provoking each other in the future.
But he didn't realize that small conflicts could accumulate into major ones, especially when both sides were at odds.
Song Jianguo remained oblivious to this, never imagining things could become serious.
So when he saw his parents and Su Ya at the military camp, he was completely stunned.
At the time, he was in the middle of training. Having been in the army for years, Song Jianguo was no longer a rookie soldier undergoing training but was now the one training others.
Under the scorching sun on the training ground, everyone was sweating profusely.
Naturally, Song Jianguo was no exception. Squinting his eyes, he watched his soldiers with pride as they moved with vigor and strength.
Suddenly, someone called out to him, "Commander Song!"
Song Jianguo immediately responded and saw the soldier say, "Your parents and your wife are here to see you! They're in the lounge. You should head over right away."
However, the soldier had a strange expression and hurried off after delivering the message.
Song Jianguo was puzzled. Having family visit was usually a good thing, so why did the sentry look so odd?
A sense of foreboding washed over him, and he broke into a run.
The last time Su Ya had visited, the soldiers had clamored to see their "sister-in-law." This time, upon hearing the news, one squad leader's eyes lit up, about to shout and rush over to see her, but the person next to him jabbed him in the chest and shot him a warning look.
The squad leader paused, his mouth hesitating to open.
Once Song Jianguo was out of earshot, the one who had elbowed him said, "Something's off. Let's not cause trouble for now."
"Oh, okay! Got it!" The squad leader nodded obediently.
Drenched in sweat, his skin tanned even darker by the sun, Song Jianguo rushed into the cool lounge, bringing a gust of hot air with him.
Su Ya instinctively stood up upon smelling the sweat odor, her brows furrowing for a moment. But when she saw it was Song Jianguo, she immediately suppressed her disgust, pouted, and spoke in a pitiful, aggrieved tone: "You’re finally here! You have to speak up for me!"
Her tearful, distressed voice rang out, making Mother and Father Song inwardly curse their own slowness. They quickly grabbed their son’s arms, scrambling to speak first: "Son, you can’t forget your parents just because you have a wife now. Look at what your wife has done!"
"Son, your father and I raised you with so much difficulty. Now that we should finally be able to enjoy life, your wife…"
"It’s clearly you who insisted on taking my things and even went to my parents’ house!" Su Ya, furious at their distortion of the truth, rolled her eyes and retorted bitterly.
Father Song angrily shouted, "You woman! You belong to the Song family, yet you insist on earning money for your own parents. How has our Song family ever mistreated you?"
"Exactly! You said you needed money, so you took all of Jianguo’s allowance, yet you never considered the Song family!" Mother Song clung tightly to this grievance.
Though she wasn’t in the wrong morally, she felt shortchanged. If she could seize this chance to get the allowance back, it would be ideal.
Both sides stuck to their stories, and the argument flared up again.
Song Jianguo, who had rushed over, didn’t even have time to call out "Mom" before he was engulfed in the three-way quarrel, his head instantly throbbing.
The sentry soldier, hearing the commotion from the break room from afar, felt his scalp prickle with tension.
From the moment he had received these three, he had sensed something was off. They argued almost every two minutes, it was terrifying. Su Ya and the old lady were particularly fierce, even coming to blows occasionally.
Originally, he had planned to wait until training ended to call for Song Jianguo, but in the end, even the superiors couldn’t handle the situation.
Song Jianguo’s scalp tingled too, but what could he do? One was his wife, the others his parents, he had to yield. Helpless, he could only try to reason with them gently.
This time, however, they wouldn’t listen, insisting on hashing out every detail.
After all, this wasn’t about the small sums from before, it was several thousand yuan!
Mother Song was determined to get her share.
Su Ya, resentful of Mother and Father Song for causing trouble, refused to back down. Neither side would return home, choosing instead to stay put at the military base.
In the end, it was Song Jianguo’s superior who stepped in. Forced to act, Song Jianguo steeled himself and asked Su Ya to make a concession, promising to borrow some money privately later to help her expand her business.
Upon hearing this arrangement, Su Ya nearly burst out cursing.
But when she saw Song Jianguo’s youthful, sturdy face and remembered how successful he would become over twenty years later, she pinched herself and swallowed her anger.
With red-rimmed eyes, she threw herself into Song Jianguo’s arms and sobbed, "I’m backing down for your sake, Song Jianguo. No matter how successful you become in the future, you are not allowed to forget me, do you hear me?"
Song Jianguo held her, his heart aching terribly. He was a good man, loyal and steadfast, with only one flaw: he was soft-hearted and couldn’t bring himself to be harsh with his parents and relatives.
But this time, he fully understood Su Ya’s grievances and said guiltily, "I know, I definitely won’t let it happen again! Once I get promoted, I can apply for you to join me in the army. Then you can live with me on the base."
Once they left his parents behind, they wouldn’t be able to interfere anymore.
Hearing about the promotion, Su Ya felt a wave of relief and comforted herself. Once Song Jianguo became the successful man she remembered from her past life, and by then, his parents would likely be gone, that would be her time to truly enjoy life!
She obediently nodded.

The turmoil between the Song family and Su Ya dragged on for a full two months.
Sang Ran paid a little attention at first. When she learned that Mother and Father Song and Su Ya had gone to the army base, she once again felt a pang of sympathy for Song Jianguo.
This guy really had it rough, just because Su Ya had been reborn and knew he would become successful in the future, she had tied herself to him, hoping to reap the benefits without effort.
It was truly tragic.
After that, Sang Ran had no more time to follow the situation.
Because Sang Ran planned to delegate some of the responsibilities of the clothing store and start expanding into new sales channels.
In fact, their recent business venture had yielded substantial net profits, especially since the quality of the clothes this time was better, and the pricing was naturally higher.
Sang Ran had initially thought there wouldn’t be too many buyers, but it turned out there were plenty of wealthy people. The clothes sold much faster than expected, so she ended up making another trip.
Given the circumstances, sticking with the clothing store wouldn’t actually result in significant losses, as long as no one engaged in malicious price-cutting like Su Ya had.
Still, Sang Ran thought it best to work hard for the next couple of years, making as much money as possible while it was easy. Later, when business got tougher, she could afford to live off her savings. With that in mind, she decided to explore distribution channels.
Practice makes perfect. For her fourth sourcing trip, Sang Ran didn’t take the train as before. Instead, she hired a truck driver to drive directly there, with Sang Ran accompanying as escort.
Even in the modern world, trucks resting overnight often fell victim to fuel theft or, worse, hijacking. In this era without surveillance cameras or mobile phones for instant help, the risks were even greater.
But this method allowed them to transport more goods and earn more.
Fortunately, Sang Ran was born with extraordinary strength, which gave her the confidence to take the risk.
The truck driver, Old Zhang, was found by Zhu Chang’an. Since he often socialized, he knew many people and could easily make connections.
Old Zhang was in his forties. He hadn’t been good-looking and came from a poor family, so he didn’t find a wife until his thirties. Later, his luck turned when he met a mentor who taught him how to drive. Long-haul driving was exhausting, and many couldn’t handle it. At first, he hadn’t been willing either.
With just three young men and one girl, all of whom looked like easy targets, he feared the shipment might suffer significant losses.
But the pay was generous, and they assured him he wouldn’t be held responsible for any losses. The deposit alone was equivalent to what he’d earn on a convoy trip, so he gritted his teeth and agreed.
This journey took a bit longer than the train. With only one driver to avoid fatigue, they drove during the day and rested at night, moving slower and taking over ten days.
When they finally returned and were nearing the familiar roads of their town, the truck suddenly stopped in a wild patch of land near a road sign.
Sang Ran, who kept watch at night and slept during the day, stirred at the noise and drowsily opened her eyes, asking, "Are we here?"
Zhu Chang'an, who had been holding her as she rested, immediately replied, "We've reached the agreed spot. We'll go unload the goods first, you keep sleeping."
Sang Ran shook her head and murmured, "I'll go keep an eye on things."
She yawned. Despite the exhaustion from traveling between places, her face remained pale and lovely, though weariness was evident. Her eyes glistened with moisture as she squinted and nimbly hopped down.
A flicker of heartache passed through Zhu Chang'an's eyes, but since she had already gotten down, he couldn't say much. He quickly jumped down and stepped in front of Sang Ran to shield her.
A group of people waiting nearby with their three-wheelers or minivans, alerted by the earlier phone call, swarmed over. One of them said, "Boss, you're finally here. Must've been a tough journey."
"Don't mention it," Zhu Chang'an replied with a smile, pointing to the goods. "There are ten pieces in each bag. Come and count them."
"Right away, right away!" they chimed in eagerly. To them, he was like a god of wealth, practically handing them money. They were too embarrassed to let Zhu Chang'an lift a finger. "We'll handle it, we'll handle it. You all take a rest."
Sang Ran didn't step forward to take charge. Wearing a hat, she stood to the side, squinting as she watched silently without a word.
Zhu Chang'an, addressed as "boss," accepted a cigarette offered by one of them and tucked it between his lips but didn't light it.
Yet his carefree, roguish demeanor resurfaced. Having neglected his appearance for days, stubble had appeared on his chin, his collar was wrinkled, and his posture was slouched, adding to his rough, unruly air.
The young men around him shared a similar look, but they lit their cigarettes and began smoking, filling the air with swirling smoke. One of them, burlier and with a fiercer appearance, made some of the more timid vendors shrink back nervously.
Noticing their fear, Zhu Chang'an raised an eyebrow, a hint of smugness crossing his face as he stepped aside from blocking the truck door. He growled menacingly, "Unload it yourselves. Don't damage anything, or you'll pay the selling price as compensation."
"Yes, yes!" they hurriedly nodded.
They began unloading, counting, and sorting the goods, moving with cautious care.
Watching their progress, Sang Ran nodded in satisfaction, thinking that everything would be handled without her needing to say a word.
This shipment was massive, and they had prepared in advance.
Besides hiring truck drivers, Zhu Chang'an had also found several people willing to act as secondary distributors.
The profits from reselling were too substantial for most to resist. Now that someone was willing to take on the riskiest part, the rest was just a matter of time, as long as they weren't afraid of hard work and traveled around, these clothes would sell.
Sang Ran sourced the goods from Shenzhen. The autumn and early winter clothing cost about four or five yuan per piece. She sold them to the lower-level distributors for fifteen yuan each, but the normal retail price could go for twenty to thirty yuan per piece.
Overall, Sang Ran had tripled their stock directly. How much they could sell depended entirely on their own capabilities, but given the current market situation, it was far from saturated, and the potential profits were absolutely substantial.
Therefore, when Zhu Chang’an mentioned needing people, many immediately came to the Zhu family to sign contracts.
Before Sang Ran and the others reached the gas station at the entrance to the town in their truck, they called these people to wait there. Distributing the goods directly made things easier for everyone.
Since it had been agreed upon beforehand, Sang Ran had a ledger to keep track. When collecting the goods, they also had to pay the remaining balance.
Soon, someone finished counting the goods and came forward with the prepared money to hand it to Zhu Chang’an.
Zhu Chang’an gestured with his chin and said, "Here, give all the money to my wife."
"Yes, yes. Sister-in-law came along too? That must have been hard work." The man smiled cooperatively, walked over to Sang Ran, and handed her the money.
Sang Ran counted the amount, confirmed it was correct, and recorded it in the ledger. "Alright, your payment is settled. Next time you want to place an order, make a reservation at the Zhu family in advance."
"Sure, sure." The man relaxed, stepped lightly onto his tricycle, and rode off with a full load of clothes.
"Boss lady, here's mine."
Another person approached.
Soon, a line formed in front of Sang Ran.
At that moment, a thin, middle-aged man who was hesitating and reluctant to hand over his money noticed that several young men were busy counting goods and no one was paying attention to him. His eyes gleamed, and he suddenly leaped into his minivan, starting the engine.
"F*ck, stop right there!" Zhu Chang’an, who was the first to notice the middle-aged man fleeing, turned pale with rage and rushed over, trying to grab the vehicle to prevent it from driving off.
However, the doors were locked, and the van was already starting up.
The middle-aged man smirked smugly, his voice coming from inside the van: "Hahaha, no way I'm stopping!" As the engine started successfully, he stepped on the gas.
But the expected swift acceleration didn't happen.
"Vroom, " The van made a harsh noise, followed by a loud clang. The door was torn off?
Torn off???
The middle-aged man's laughter cut off abruptly.
The next second, his arm was yanked, and he was dragged straight out of the van. Then, a petite figure nimbly jumped into the driver's seat, applied the brakes, and turned off the engine, a series of smooth, efficient movements.
From the start to the end of the incident, the van had moved half a meter.
The door was already broken.
Zhu Chang’an, who had been furious, froze. He looked up in confusion, trying to grasp the situation. When he realized what had happened, he was utterly dumbfounded.
He felt he had truly underestimated his wife's strength before.
She could even tear a car door right off!
"Damn!" someone exclaimed in terror.
Sang Ran clapped her hands, glanced around, and smiled. "What's wrong? Let's continue. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can go home."
"Okay." A trembling voice replied, and instantly, everyone seemed energized as they resumed counting their goods.
The middle-aged man who had been dragged out was so terrified he nearly wet himself. He struggled to stand up, but under Sang Ran's gaze, he swallowed hard, stumbled several times, and finally managed to get to his feet. With trembling hands, he handed over the money. "H-here f-for you"
He had just been momentarily confused, letting evil thoughts take over. He thought to himself that they were all standing on the ground while he was in a car, and he wasn’t even from Sang Town, just visiting relatives. If he made a run for it, he could exchange a meager deposit for a whole truckload of clothes!
Who would have thought… he’d flip the truck.
Sang Ran took the items, her face stern as she counted them. After confirming everything was correct, she waved her hand dismissively. "Go on, get out of here."
The man stumbled away, his legs weak, panting heavily with every step. The sun was blazing, and he was drenched in sweat, yet he felt a chill down his spine. He tightened the collar of his shirt.
That was terrifying.
He really thought he was going to be thrown down and beaten to death.
Just then, a delighted exclamation came from behind him: "Honey, you’re so strong!!!"
The middle-aged man turned around, his face full of confusion. "What?"
Was that even something a person would say?
Besides, a woman with that much strength, her husband probably had no authority at home!
What an idiot!
Still, he felt a bit sorry for the guy, since he himself didn’t have the guts to say anything bad about that woman either.
But as he turned, he saw the young man, who had a face as pretty as a pretty boy’s, beaming with joy, excitedly kissing the woman. The woman shot him an annoyed glare but didn’t actually stop him.
Suddenly, he felt utterly bewildered.
Zhu Chang’an truly didn’t mind.
If he were the type to mind, he would’ve minded the day before their wedding.
So, after the brief shock of realizing Sang Ran’s strength was far greater than he’d imagined, he quickly adapted. Recalling his wife’s series of actions just moments before, he felt a mix of lingering fear and overwhelming pride as he hugged Sang Ran tightly.
Wow.
This was really something else.
From now on, probably no one would dare to mess with him!
Even though he was a troublemaker and many people feared him, troublemakers also ran into other troublemakers, and there were times when things went south. He didn’t win every fight.
Next time, he’d bring Sang Ran along and put on a show, tearing metal sheets with her bare hands!
Let’s see if they’d still dare to act tough!
Zhu Chang’an was lost in his triumphant daydream when he heard Sang Ran’s light, casual question beside his ear: "Who do you want to fight? If you’ve got too much energy to burn, I can help you with that!"
Zhu Chang’an’s legs went weak, and he shook his head frantically. "No, no, I don’t want to fight."
Clearly, Sang Ran’s decision to switch to the transportation channel was the right move.
Not only was her combat ability high, but in this world where firearms were strictly controlled, she could handle petty troublemakers unscathed with just an iron rod. Aside from being a bit tired, there were no other losses.
The large quantities of goods she brought back were distributed among those who wanted to set up small stalls. Sang Ran’s side didn’t even have to worry much about sales pressure.
Only a small portion of the goods were left for their own shop to maintain the appearance of a business.
Now, the clothing store sells over a dozen items a day, with a profit of around a hundred yuan, which is already quite substantial. Behind the scenes, Sang Ran and Zhu Chang'an, along with their team, handle transactions that yield astronomical profits.
Since this line of work is truly lucrative, the three individuals who initially followed Zhu Chang'an out of brotherly loyalty have now firmly decided to stick with Sang Ran.
They may not excel at other tasks, but running errands is something they can handle, especially since Sang Ran is generous with her money.
Moreover, when they go to purchase goods, they can also smuggle in personal items. As long as the vehicle can carry them, anything like radios and watches can be brought back, these are also highly sought-after items.
Sang Ran herself buys other items to sell as well, with lipstick being the most common because she likes it. The rest are watches and some accessories that girls would enjoy, but the quantities are always small since she lacks expertise in these areas and fears being stuck with unsold stock.
Two months later, when Su Ya and the Song family returned after stirring up some trouble, they discovered that the market had nearly reached saturation without them even realizing it!
After investigating, she found that, aside from their own town, similar vendors had popped up in the surrounding towns.
Su Ya was shocked: "Did they all go to the south to source goods themselves?"
Elder Brother Su shook his head: "Not at all. Sang Ran took people to purchase goods and directly supplied them for resale, keeping only a small portion for herself."
Su Ya suddenly understood, this was the beginning of what would later become logistics!
She felt a surge of resentment. That Sang Ran was truly like a lingering ghost!
Just when she had almost blocked her path, Sang Ran had carved out a new one. Now, with everyone showing respect by not opening shops in this town, her sales channels were secured, and they were even sending money her way.
In just two months, she had created so many competitors for her.
But hating her was useless.
Her funds were no longer sufficient. Two months ago, she could have posed a slight threat to Sang Ran, but now Sang Ran had pulled the rug out from under her with a single move. Her meager capital was nowhere near enough to withstand this!
Su Ya knew very well that there were only so many wealthy people. If they bought from one vendor, they wouldn’t spend money on another. This wasn’t like the future, where women loved dressing up so much that they kept buying even when their closets were full.
People had money, but not to that extent.
Su Ya wasn’t entirely foolish, she just didn’t like putting in effort. But if she really put her mind to it, with her foresight from the future, she could still discern many things.
After the conflict with Mother Song, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and endure the losses. Already filled with anger, she returned to find the market gone, which only added fuel to the fire. Yet, in the midst of her frustration, a sudden idea struck her: "We can resell watches and necklaces!"
In the past, it was impossible to wear such accessories openly, even if people had them, they had to hide them. But times had changed, and this market likely hadn’t reached saturation yet.
Elder Brother Su didn’t understand much, but he knew his sister was smarter than him, so he nodded decisively: "You decide."
Su Ya felt reassured now that she had a plan. Calming down, she remembered something and frowned with displeasure: "I recall the clothes I left behind, even if they were sold for five yuan each, the earnings shouldn’t be this little, right?"
Brother Su's eyes sparkled as he said helplessly, "Sang Ran's clothing store is running another promotion. We have no choice but to lower our prices a bit more, selling at four yuan. Although there's hardly any profit left, at least we won't be stuck with the goods and suffer a loss."
"It's her again!" Su Ya cursed under her breath, furrowing her brows. She didn't ask further, but bit her lip in thought.
After nearly drowning in the river at Sang Ran's hands last time, she was genuinely terrified. But being bullied without fighting back wasn't her style. She had been busy dealing with the Song family before and had no time, but now that she had the chance, she was determined to find Sang Ran's weakness!
Then she'd make sure Sang Ran got what she deserved.
Ideally, just like in her memories, Zhu Chang'an would end up in jail, and the Zhu family would fall apart.
After all, there was no way Sang Ran could trace it back to her.
Yet, as she inadvertently recalled the sensation of being thrown into the river, Su Ya shuddered.

With the first successful sale, Sang Ran and Zhu Chang'an's reputation spread. Many people from the surrounding areas, including the city, caught wind of it and came to the Zhu family hoping to get a share of the profits.
Sang Ran welcomed them all, as long as they paid a deposit.
However, having learned from her previous losses, she no longer accepted only one-third of the payment upfront, she now demanded half. If anyone backed out of the deal, the compensation alone would ensure she didn't suffer a loss.
Naturally, the buyers were unhappy, but Sang Ran was the only one offering such high-quality goods in such large quantities.
Scarcity drives value, and with no other options, everyone had to grit their teeth and agree, scrambling to gather the money.
But those who traded with them a second time were all smiles.
Because the clothes really sold fast and well!
Paying a higher deposit wasn't a big deal since they could sell the goods quickly.
However, the journey was exhausting. Even though Zhu Chang'an and his three brothers made thorough preparations and handled all the travel arrangements, with Sang Ran only keeping watch at night, they still returned noticeably thinner. Except for Sang Ran, who operated day and night, everyone else had tanned significantly.
To avoid overexertion, Sang Ran limited the trips to once a month, with each trip lasting half a month. The remaining half was spent resting at home.
The family shop was managed by Zhang Cuixia. Zhu Chang'an's second sister, frustrated with her job and seeing her brother's thriving business, resolutely resigned.
Sang Ran didn't interfere with these minor matters. The shop was practically a semi-gift to the Zhu family elders, and the earnings from the long-distance trips were more than enough for them.
Sang Ran's generosity won Zhang Cuixia's affection, who felt she had made the right choice in her daughter-in-law. She defended Sang Ran both at home and outside, leaving those who expected conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law over money utterly baffled.
There will always be those who can't stand to see others doing well. Aunt Wang, the Zhu family's next-door neighbor, deliberately dropped by. Seeing the household in harmony, she slyly remarked, "Are you buttering up your daughter-in-law because you're afraid she won't take care of you when you're old?"
Zhang Cuixia immediately lifted her chin and retorted, "Hah, I don't need my daughter-in-law to support me. This shop is mine, and with all the money we're making, why would I worry about having no one to care for me in my old age?"
Aunt Wang opened her mouth to retort, but the thought of her daughter-in-law gifting her such a profitable clothing store made her swallow her words. She left in silent frustration, stewing in her anger.
Zhang Cuixia turned triumphantly to Sang Ran, who had just woken up and was eating a late breakfast. "See? She always comes to pick a fight but ends up losing every time."
Sang Ran smiled sweetly. "Mom, you're amazing. I'm learning from you."
"No need to learn," Zhu Chang’an chimed in lazily, stretching his long legs and resting his hands behind his head. Having just eaten, he was full and starting to feel drowsy again. "Let Mom handle things. Her words are sharp enough to make anyone back off, everyone's afraid of her."
Zhang Cuixia shot her son an annoyed glare. Was that any way to talk about his own mother?
Out of the corner of her eye, Sang Ran caught Zhu Chang’an winking at her, and her smile widened. After taking a few more bites, she set down her bowl and chopsticks. The young couple then held hands and headed back to their room to rest.
They had just returned from a long-distance trip, their pockets bulging with earnings, and now they could indulge in some well-deserved relaxation.
Zhang Cuixia shook her head with a chuckle, only to spot her two grandsons fighting. Her face immediately hardened, and she was about to roar at them but remembered the couple resting and lowered her voice to a fierce whisper, "You two, come here right now!"
The boys exchanged a glance, quickly released their grip on each other, and scurried away.
"Little rascals!" Zhang Cuixia stomped her foot but didn't actually chase after them.
Just then, Grandpa Sang returned from his walk, holding a piece of candy. Not seeing anyone in the main hall, he asked in confusion, "In-law, where's Sang Ran?"
Grandpa Sang usually lived at the clothing store, but during the two weeks when Sang Ran and Zhu Chang’an were home resting, he stayed with the Zhu family. At first, he had refused to come, but Sang Ran had stubbornly carried him over on her back. Once he realized he couldn't change his granddaughter's mind, he stopped protesting.

By the time the couple woke up again, it was already afternoon.
The house was quiet. Sang Ran squinted at the evening sunlight streaming through the window, cozy under a thin blanket, feeling utterly refreshed.
Beside her, someone was snoring softly, a gentle, unobtrusive sound.
Sang Ran thought back to their recent trip and the profits they'd made, dreaming once more of saving enough to buy some shops in the city next year.
No one spoke, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful and serene.
That is, until Sang Ran couldn't resist shifting her position.
The slight movement roused Zhu Chang’an, who had been sleeping lightly. He nuzzled into the soft curve of her neck and mumbled, "Sang Ran, you know I still have two chances to play cards, right? Can I use one tonight?"
After they got married, Sang Ran had set some rules for him. He couldn't play cards as freely as he used to, he had to do something to please her first before she'd agree.
Lately, Zhu Chang’an had been following her around on their business trips and behaving well, so he'd earned a few card-playing opportunities. He still had two left.
Sang Ran tilted her head to look at him and found him gazing at her with pleading eyes. His beautiful phoenix eyes blinked, still glistening with sleep, making her heart soften. She poked his puffed-out cheek and smiled. "Alright, but you can't stay out past midnight, understand?"
Instantly, Zhu Chang’an's drowsy, pitiful expression vanished. He sprang up like a carp leaping out of water, rolled off the bed in a flash, planted a loud kiss on Sang Ran, and cheered, "You're the best, wife! I'm off!"
When Sang Ran came to her senses, the person was gone.
She: “...”
Damn it, she regretted it!
Too bad there were no mobile phones at this time, she couldn’t call him back!
A minute later, Zhang Cuixia came in, and Sang Ran stared at her woodenly.
Understanding dawned on Zhang Cuixia. "You, child, got sweet-talked by him again, didn’t you? Chang’an is the best at sweet-talking. Once he coaxes you, you get all dizzy and end up agreeing to everything. Be smarter next time, if you don’t agree, there’s nothing he can do."
Sang Ran forced a smile. "It’s fine, just let him have his fun this once."
Zhang Cuixia smiled and went out again.
Sang Ran’s smile dropped, her gaze sweeping over the brand-new washboard covered in dust in the corner of the room, lingering for a few seconds.

Elsewhere.
Su Ya was packing up her stall when a disheveled, slovenly young man ran over, a toothpick in his mouth, mumbling, "The Zhu Chang’an you asked me to keep an eye on, I just heard him"