TNIBFT -Chapter 189 Specialty Store

Tao Lichun looked at his daughter with affection, nodding and smiling. “I just finished handling some things and thought I’d come home early today. You’ve been alone at home all this time, so I wanted to come back early to keep you company.”

As he spoke, his withered hand patted the jade-like hand of Tao Ling’er resting on his arm.

His palm was dry and cold.

Tao Ling’er felt a pang of bitterness in her heart. Forcing a small smile, she looked up at Tao Lichun. Over this period of relentless work, his once slightly graying hair had turned snowy white. The skin around his eyes had loosened, and lines had crept across his face.

“Have you had lunch yet?”

Sensing her father’s gaze, Tao Lichun diverted the topic.

Tao Ling’er’s eyes flickered toward the courtyard. Smiling, she said, “I’ve eaten.”

Tao Lichun nodded.

The father and daughter supported each other as they strolled through the snow, unsure of what to say.

Snowflakes fell softly around them.

Tao Ling’er’s eyes narrowed slightly, her long lashes drooping as if lost in thought.

Out of the corner of his eye, Tao Lichun noticed the blue wrapping around his daughter’s right wrist. He smiled gently. “You just went to see Ye Tian, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

Tao Ling’er nodded. Mentioning Ye Tian, Tao Lichun’s smile grew even broader, genuine happiness radiating from him. He sighed, “I’ve been too busy lately. If I had the time, I’d also like to sit down with Ye Tian and have a drink, chat a little. He’s been hiring workers and managing the medicine factory these past two days—very risky. He should have consulted me about this. But Ye Tian is different from ordinary people. His mind and vision are far beyond the average. He probably has his own plans.”

Seeing his father’s eyes crinkle with joy and his hand stroking his graying beard in satisfaction, Tao Ling’er didn’t know what to say.

“Your father doesn’t want you to marry too high either. Just find someone familiar, who will cherish you, and live a peaceful, happy life. Even though Ye Tian has three children, they are all well-behaved, grateful, and considerate. Ye Tian is responsible; he won’t let a woman suffer…” Tao Lichun worried endlessly for his daughter, always praising Ye Tian in front of her, thinking that perhaps Tao Ling’er’s proud nature made her look down on a widower with three children.

Tao Ling’er lowered her head and bit her lip.

Didn’t she know Ye Tian was a good man?

But matters of the heart required mutual feelings. She was willing—but Ye Tian wasn’t.

How could she say aloud that Ye Tian had rejected her?

So Tao Ling’er fell silent.

Seeing his daughter quiet, Tao Lichun’s gaze wandered helplessly to the big locust tree in the courtyard. Every leaf was gone; it was desolate and barren.

He continued, “I don’t have much time to accompany you. The only person in this world I worry about is you. You’re a young woman—how are you supposed to survive in this chaotic world?”

The father and daughter stopped walking.

Tao Lichun looked at his daughter, her head bowed in silence, and sighed helplessly. He couldn’t push his child too hard.

He turned and was about to continue walking when he heard Tao Ling’er’s sobs behind him: “Ye Tian doesn’t like me.”

Tao Lichun froze.

Startled, he turned to look at his daughter. Snowflakes lightly stuck to her dark hair. She lifted her head slightly; her delicate, pale face was flushed, her rounded nose red from the cold. Misty tears filled her large eyes as she bit her glistening lips.

“Ye Tian only sees me as a little sister.”

“Father… I… I’ve disappointed you…”

After she finished speaking, large tears slid down from her eyes. Tao Ling’er’s shoulders trembled as she sobbed uncontrollably.

Ever since her father learned that his time was limited, he had been trying his best to arrange everything for her—so that after he was gone, she wouldn’t be alone or helpless.

She understood all of Tao Lichun’s painstaking efforts.

To keep him from worrying, she had tried to accept Ye Tian. She even realized that she liked him and the children… but the problem was, Ye Tian was unwilling.

“I’ve never done anything that made Father proud. Before, I was deceived by Shen Jie and nearly ruined myself—and even harmed you. And now… now…” Tao Ling’er cried bitterly. “I’m not worthy of being your daughter… I’m not worthy… sob…”

She didn’t want her father to worry about her during the last days of his life.

Tao Lichun liked Ye Tian and Ye Yunting. Sometimes, she would imagine that if Ye Tian were willing, they could have become a happy family.

“My father is renowned far and wide, but I… I’m no good at studying, no good at needlework…”

“I can’t do anything right!”

“I’m not worthy of being your daughter… I’m not worthy… sob…”

Covering her face with both hands, Tao Ling’er wept in choked sobs. Tao Lichun stood there, stunned—he had never expected this.

Nor had he expected that the pressure he placed on his daughter would be this great.

As a father, all he wanted was for his daughter to be happy.

He stood there blankly, his outstretched hand frozen in midair. In the end, it turned into a helpless sigh as he spoke bitterly, “Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets their heart to it. As long as we treat Ye Tian and the children well enough, one day, he will surely be moved by your sincerity. If you truly like him, then don’t worry about the future. Keep your heart toward the light and focus on becoming your best self. If you still have the strength, then love him. Life is long—there’s no one and nothing you can’t eventually let go of. After a few years, your state of mind will be completely different.”

“Mm!”

After their conversation, father and daughter walked one after the other toward the study.

Snow fell steadily, as if the whole world had been wrapped in silver. The two rows of footprints in the courtyard gradually faded beneath the falling snow…

…

Inside the hot pot restaurant.

Ye Tian held a small brownish-yellow porcelain bottle in his hand. It was shaped like a gourd, with a red wooden stopper and silk wrapping at the mouth. Narrowing his eyes, he felt the design looked oddly familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.

“Boss, this is Cold-Dispelling Pill.”

Seeing that Ye Tian remained silent and kept staring at the medicine, Yuan Heipang bent slightly at the waist behind him and quickly explained. He then handed over a green gourd-shaped bottle. “This one is Heat-Dispelling Pill.”

“These are all from the first batch of production.”

“Several workers at the factory caught a chill. After taking the pills, they didn’t even need to see a physician—they were fine the next day. Now everyone in the factory is saying these are miraculous elixirs from Medicine King Valley.”

Yuan Heipang’s eyes were full of flattery.

About half of what he said was exaggerated—none of it could be fully trusted.

But Ye Tian was certain that once these pills hit the market, he would definitely make a fortune.

In the main hall, Old Yang, Duan Qingshan, Xiao Wang, Sun Wuji, and several other workers either sat or stood, all staring curiously at the medicine bottles in Ye Tian’s hand.

The moment they heard how effective the medicine was, Sun Wuji rushed forward, snatched one, and quickly stuffed it into his chest. “Hehe, something this good—let this old man try it first.”

As he spoke, he patted his chest.

Afraid Ye Tian might take it back, Sun Wuji clutched his chest with both hands. “I’ve had a bit of a headache these past two days. I’ll take a pill and try it… just try it…”

No one dared to object!

After witnessing him crush someone’s head with his bare hands, everyone in the shop was terrified of Sun Wuji—who would dare provoke him?

All eyes turned toward Ye Tian.

Expressionless, Ye Tian looked at Yuan Heipang and said, “Send someone to deliver all the medicine to the shop later.”

“It’s time to open an exclusive store.”