"After all, he's the child's father."
Ye Zhinan's hatred for evil could only turn into the hope that a prodigal son would turn over a new leaf in the face of the child.
Qin Yihuai narrowed his eyes. "I'll keep this in mind. There's another thing. Setting up a stall is not a long - term solution. Let's open a shop!"
"..."
Ye Zhinan half - squinted her eyes, a look of mockery flashing across them. "You'll pay for it?"
"Yeah, I will!"
As soon as the words fell, Ye Zhinan's almond eyes widened in surprise.
When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a man, it first makes his mind suffer and his sinews and bones work hard.
Ye Zhinan thought Qin Yihuai didn't look like a rich man at all. For him to boast that he would pay for them to open a shop, he must either be out of his mind or have an ulterior motive!
She sized him up and down. "Oh? So you've taken a fancy to..."
Qin Yihuai's eyes darkened and he lowered his eyebrows, but the next words made him want to laugh and cry at the same time.
"Sister Yanlai is off - limits. Brother Li has been kind to you."
"You're overthinking. I'm not interested in her!"
Qin Yihuai said coldly. His voice was like ice that had been frozen for a thousand years, capable of freezing a person to death.
"Then you must have taken a fancy to the profit potential of my marinated food!"
This sudden change in tone made Qin Yihuai's heart skip a beat. He almost choked on his breath.
Helpless, he turned around and left without a trace.
"The shop is at the intersection of East Market Street."
"A rich man!"
Ye Zhinan watched his departing back with envious eyes.
When they got home, Liu Ruonan had already learned about 80% of the method of making marinated food.
Seeing Ye Zhinan and Ye Yingfeng come back, she slowly shuffled over.
"Sister Ye, come and taste my cooking. See how it is?"
"This child has a talent for cooking. It tastes a hundred times better than mine!"
Han Xiangmei said with a smile in her eyes, looking at her as if a teacher had found a promising student.
"Auntie, you're joking. My cooking skills are far from yours. You're flattering me."
Ye Zhinan watched the two of them compliment each other while tasting the steaming marinated food on the plate.
Sure enough, her mother was right. Liu Ruonan had a talent for cooking!
"Do you want to open your own shop?"
Liu Ruonan was stunned for a moment and said awkwardly, "Sister, you're joking. I'm not cut out for that!"
"I'm serious! I can lend you the start - up capital. For the sake of the child, think about it!"
Seeing Ye Zhinan's serious face, not like she was joking, Liu Ruonan also became nervous.
"Can I?"
"Of course you can. Your cooking skills are no worse than those of professional chefs. If the Yan family falls, what will you and the child do? You can't rely on others for a lifetime, right?"
Ye Zhinan stared directly into her eyes with her dark pupils.
Liu Ruonan lowered her eyelashes to hide the emotions in her eyes.
The atmosphere became a bit heavy.
Suddenly, the door opened and a shadow approached.
"I agree!"
"Mom?"
When Liu Ruonan saw the person in front of her, she could no longer hold back her emotions. Tears welled up in her eyes like a waterfall.
All the grievances of so long finally burst out in front of her family.
"Silly girl, there's nothing you can't tell your family. If your father and I hadn't come to deliver the cloth, were you going to hide it until the child was born?"
Liu Dongxing frowned, but his eyes were full of worry and love.
The couple had come to deliver the cloth and happened to hear Ye Zhinan's words. Their hearts were filled with mixed feelings.
"I think Young Master Yan will come to pick me up soon, so..."
Liu Ruonan's eyes flickered and her hands rubbed against each other.
Even she didn't believe what she said.
"Come home with Dad."
Liu Dongxing's words were non - negotiable.
Wang Zhilan also agreed. She thanked the Ye family a thousand times. Before leaving, she grabbed Ye Zhinan's hands.
"We're just ordinary people. We don't know how to thank you. We can only show our gratitude through actions. We're willing to do what you said about opening a shop. Your uncle and I have the start - up capital. After we make money, we'll split it 50 - 50."
Wang Zhilan was a straightforward person. She understood Ye Zhinan's intention and would support her even if it meant selling everything they had.
"Let's split the start - up capital 50 - 50. We'll talk about the profit later."
Ye Zhinan smiled.
Splitting the capital 50 - 50 reduced the burden on both sides and preserved the other's dignity.
After they left, Han Xiangmei became worried.
"Do you really have the capital to open a shop?"
How could Ye Zhinan not have money? There was plenty in her space. But in front of others, she still had to keep the accounts clear.
"The marinated food stall has made some money. Opening a shop is for stability. Besides, we're making money to build canals. Inspector Qin won't just sit back and do nothing."
Since she couldn't be "rich" herself, let Qin Yihuai be the rich one!
"Is he very rich?"
Ye Shenyan suddenly asked. The words "honest and upright" were deeply engraved in his bones.
Ye Zhinan quickly explained, "What I mean is that Inspector Qin will help us, but how he helps doesn't necessarily have to be with money. The environment is so tough for everyone now. We need to help each other to make progress together. Dad, don't you think so?"
Ye Zhinan blinked her long eyelashes and hugged Ye Shenyan's arm. Then she changed the subject.
"Dad, why were you exiled back then?"
Everyone's expressions darkened.
Ye Yingfeng had asked Ye Shenyan before but never got an answer. So he held his breath, full of anticipation.
Han Xiangmei carefully watched Ye Shenyan's expression. Seeing that his face was getting colder and colder, as if covered in a layer of ice, she quickly changed the subject.
"Okay, let's eat. You've been busy all day. Aren't you hungry?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Ye Zhinan's stomach growled loudly.
Ye Shenyan sat down and picked up his chopsticks.
This matter was dropped again.
Some things remained unresolved, while others were proceeding in full swing.
After the marinated food shop opened on East Market Street, the number of customers increased sharply. So Ye Zhinan decided to strike while the iron was hot and open another shop on West Market Street. This shop would be managed by Liu Ruonan.
At first, everyone was worried about Liu Ruonan's health. When she came back from the Yan family, she was so thin that it seemed a gust of wind could blow her away.
But after Ye Zhinan's conditioning, not only did her face become more rosy, but she also gained some weight.
"Sister Ye, your meals for pregnant women are so delicious. Can't you give me more?"
Since Liu Ruonan no longer had morning sickness, her appetite had increased greatly. She chased after Ye Zhinan every day asking for more food.
Ye Zhinan frowned, put her hands on her hips, and said earnestly, "No. You must control your weight. Otherwise, it will be difficult for you to give birth."
Wang Zhilan felt sorry for her daughter and whispered in her ear, "It's okay. Mom will give you some more later."
Before she could finish her words, Ye Zhinan rushed in front of them and said sternly, "I know you've been sneaking food, so I've reduced the portion. If you do it again, I won't care about you. Don't come to me if you can't give birth then."
The ancients would never let a pregnant woman go hungry no matter how hard life was. But they didn't know that overeating would make it difficult to give birth, which could be very harmful.
Wang Zhilan made a sad face. She felt sorry for her daughter but trusted Ye Zhinan more. So she quickly changed her tune.
"I'll make sure she won't be greedy in the future."
Just as the three of them were arguing about food, a figure gradually approached.
"Ruonan..."