TNIBFT -Chapter 188 This Is for You

Ye Tian was speechless. Was this really that funny?

He turned to look at Old Yang.

Old Yang’s voice abruptly stopped, and he immediately pressed his lips together, shrinking back to the side.

Seeing Ye Tian’s expression change, Xiao Wang and the other employees didn’t dare say a word either.

The atmosphere suddenly became serious.

Ye Tian folded Xiao Jiang’s letter and looked at them: “You all go about your own work. Don’t bother too much with lunch—just make some braised pork. Shuangxue wants oil-splashed noodles, right? Make some noodles too.”

“Okay!”

Duan Qingshan agreed and turned to enter the kitchen.

The other employees also returned to the kitchen.

Tao Ling’er bit her lip, staring at her embroidered shoes, feeling a bit embarrassed. This was the first time she had seen Ye Tian angry, and it made her a little nervous.

“Sorry for making you laugh at me,” Ye Tian said, then continued, “I’m usually a laid-back person and don’t manage them too strictly. Anyone who does their own work well is a good employee in my eyes. Who would have thought that now, in front of a guest, they’d dare to start internal conflicts?”

“I’m not exactly a guest either.”

Tao Ling’er’s face flushed pink. She adjusted her dress with both hands and sat on the chair next to Ye Tian.

Then she placed a green package on the table in front of him: “Brother Ye Tian, this is for you.”

What?

Looking at the edges of the package, Ye Tian wondered—could it be shoes? Handmade ones?

He had absolutely no improper thoughts about this little girl.

If she really clung to him, future meetings would be awkward. After all, Tao Lichun was the boss’s teacher, and Tao Ling’er was good to the three kids.

Just as Ye Tian’s mind began to wander…

Seeing that Ye Tian didn’t reach for it, Tao Ling’er leaned slightly forward and quickly unwrapped the package with her small, snow-white hands.

Seeing the contents, Ye Tian’s pupils instantly shrank: silver bracelets, jade bracelets, a pearl necklace, golden bangles, hairpins…

It seemed he had overthought things. Ye Tian secretly exhaled in relief.

Tao Ling’er said, “You’ve opened a medicine factory, haven’t you? You hired 200 workers at once. That’s a lot of wages to pay every day. I know you don’t have much silver on hand, so…”

Tao Ling’er hesitated, stumbling over her words.

Ye Tian looked at the jewelry in the package: “So… you brought all your family’s savings to give to me?”

Tao Ling’er nodded.

Her expression was blank, and her large, watery eyes looked timid, afraid of angering Ye Tian.

Ye Tian felt touched. Tao Ling’er had been living in hiding with Tao Lichun for more than ten years, living simply. Tao Lichun had always been honest and frugal, and with years spent taking medicine and visiting doctors, they basically had no silver.

This was probably everything Tao Ling’er had.

Ye Tian reached out and pushed the package back toward her: “I have silver. I wouldn’t be doing this business without money. You should take your things back. Besides, if all of this is given to me, you’re now the Tao family’s eldest lady—can you still go out like before? These pieces of jewelry are just for appearances. How could I take them from you?”

“Brother Ye Tian, don’t be so polite with me.” Tao Ling’er frowned slightly and pushed the package toward Ye Tian with her small hands. “Just take it for now.”

“Consider it a loan. Once you start making money, you can return it to me.”

Ye Tian shook his head and refused.

Tao Ling’er looked helpless.

Beside them, Old Yang’s small eyes flicked between Ye Tian and Tao Ling’er. This girl really cared for the master—practically throwing herself at him. At the shop, even someone as fierce as Shangguan would risk his life for the master, and Miss Xiao would even disregard her own father for him. A man who had achieved what Ye Tian had… there really was no one like him.

“Cough…” Old Yang cleared his throat lightly. Seeing both Ye Tian and Tao Ling’er looking at him, he awkwardly said, “Uh… I’ll go boil some hot water first. You two chat.”

After saying that, Old Yang grabbed the kettle and hurried off.

Tao Ling’er felt awkward and tried to change the topic. “Brother Ye Tian, what’s a medicine factory? Can it make money?”

Ye Tian said, “It’s basically a production line for making medicines. Making money shouldn’t be a problem. All the herbs are sent directly from the Medicine King Valley, and there are professional doctors. As long as we produce the medicines, as long as there’s a market, it will make money. So you really don’t need to worry. Besides, if it really loses money, your little bit of jewelry wouldn’t even cover it!”

Tao Ling’er’s pretty face flushed red, and she didn’t know what to say. Her small hands twisted together nervously.

She had never heard of a medicine factory before. Even her father had said that Ye Tian’s actions were reckless; a medicine factory was something unprecedented. Would anyone really buy the pills?

Old Yang entered the kitchen.

Xiao Wang and the others immediately gathered around him. “What did Miss Tao say?”

“Did she bring something for the master? Was it food? I saw her carrying a package.”

“Master being with Miss Tao is pretty good too. By the time everything’s settled, Sifang City would basically be the master’s territory…”

A fiery spark of gossip lit up in their eyes.

Yuan Heipang glanced at the hall. He could still see the edge of Ye Tian’s clothes, so he knew Ye Tian hadn’t stood up yet and wouldn’t hear them. Stretching his neck, he whispered, “It’s jewelry.”

“You guys didn’t guess, did you?”

Everyone froze, shocked.

Old Yang grinned smugly. “Miss Tao was trying to win over the master with herself and gold and silver. Do you think the master is that kind of person?”

“I’ll tell you, the master is one hundred percent interested in Miss Shangguan. Miss Shangguan would risk her life for him—how could that kind of loyalty not move someone? Don’t be fooled if the master doesn’t openly respond; but a man… you can’t easily see what’s in his heart.”

The others nodded thoughtfully.

“So in the future, Miss Shangguan will be our lady?”

“I think Miss Xiao is the one!”

“I like Miss Tao more; she has a good temper…”

The group argued, red-faced and loud.

Duan Qingshan gave them a speechless look and continued flipping the wok to cook.

…

After having lunch at Ye Tian’s shop, Tao Ling’er returned home.

These past few days, Tao Lichun had been very busy, sometimes returning only at midnight. At home, only two middle-aged maids kept her company, and the house was dull.

“Miss, you’re back!”

The maid opened the door. Tao Ling’er carried her small package and casually handed the oiled-paper umbrella to the maid. Looking at the empty courtyard, she let out a long, frustrated sigh. Ye Tian had refused her more than once, and she felt troubled. If they remained as brother and sister, what if Ye Tian married in the future? The new wife might not be willing to accept her—after all, they had no blood relation.

If one day her father was gone, apart from Ye Tian and his family of four, she wouldn’t have anyone close in this world. The empty courtyard would feel terrifyingly lonely.

Tao Ling’er lowered her head and walked toward her room, her mind heavy with worries.

“Ling’er!”

“Ling’er!”

Tao Lichun called twice, and only then did Tao Ling’er react. Surprised, she turned her head and saw Tao Lichun standing under a tree not far away, watching her.

Tao Ling’er tugged at the corner of her lips, lifted her skirt, and jogged a few steps forward, linking her arm through Tao Lichun’s. “Father, you’re back? How come?”