"Sister Su Bai, you go ahead and do your work. We've just come to take a look."

Su Bai nodded to indicate that he understood. Apart from the scheduled inspections, Tao Zhizhi had been adding new items to the warm food stall whenever she felt like it.

"Then I won't bother you any longer. Just now, a customer was on the phone and accidentally bumped into a cart pushed by a waiter, spilling soup. He's making a scene and is looking for the manager. I'll go and handle it."

Tao Zhizhi frowned: "Do you need my help?"

"No need, I handle these kinds of things all the time, I'm very skilled at it!"

Su Bai waved his hand dismissively, his voice tinged with pride.

Tao Zhizhi didn't press the matter, watching her leave with appreciation before turning around and asking, "What would you like to eat today?"

"Are you going to cook a Manchu Han Imperial Feast or not?" Lan Xin winked mischievously, tilting her head slightly to tease, "Who said I came to this shop just so you could cook for me?!"

Tao Zhizhi recalled that she had ordered food for her quite a few times. In order to satisfy her appetite, she even made a special ordering app, just waiting for the two of them to come to the shop for a private meal.

"Hey—" Lan Xin sighed, "Have you forgotten again that today is the day our two families meet!"

"Oh dear! I was so busy I completely forgot."

Tao Zhizhi tapped her head in distress, her thoughts drifting back to three days ago.

"Zhizhi, let's have a proper meal together in three days."

Fu Jue tiptoed behind Tao Zhizhi and rubbed her head, which was sore from the workload. She closed her eyes in enjoyment and didn't listen carefully to what Fu Jue said, but replied, "Okay."

——

"You remembered?" Lan Xin said slowly with an "I knew it" look on her face. "President Fu specifically reminded his mother-in-law to bring you along!"

Tao Zhizhi followed Lan Xin into the private room. Lin Jiao and Lan Xin were already chatting happily with Tao's parents. Lin Jiao noticed their arrival and waved cheerfully, "Zhizhi, my darling, is here! Come and sit down!"

After two years of getting to know each other, her relationship with Lin Jiao grew better and better, and Tao's mother would often tease her with a hint of jealousy: "Oh, Zhizhi, are you still coming home for dinner?"

Fu Jue had already gotten up and gone to her side, affectionately flicking the tip of her nose: "You forgot again!"

Tao Zhizhi's eyes darted around, and she smiled sheepishly, "Hehe, I've been busy, haven't I?"

Mr. Tao's eyes showed heartache. Although she was not often at home, he could feel her exhaustion every time she came home. They had also visited the company and witnessed it grow from dozens of people to hundreds. They often saw her so tired that she would fall asleep in her boss's chair.

Tao Zhizhi changed the subject: "Isn't this a meal? Let them serve the dishes."

The two sat opposite their parents, openly holding hands, their affection evident. Lan Xin looked away, wanting to avoid the sight and the annoyance, and tore off a piece of meat, which, sure enough, got stuck in her teeth!

Lin Jiao and Ye Taoyue didn't even bother to eat; they kept flipping through the almanac: "This day is good, how about we go with it?!"

After choosing a date, the two finally ate their meal with satisfaction. Tao Zhizhi swallowed the crab meat that Fu Jue fed her, her eyes filled with doubt.

"What are they planning? Something doesn't sound right to me!"

"Mom is looking at our engagement date. Although there's no rush to get married, I am anxious—"

"I married Zhizhi!"

Tao Zhizhi was astonished, her pupils filled with shock: "You're going to marry into my family?!"

"Hmm? Your aunt and uncle only have you as their child, and they can't bear to let you leave home."

"No, no, I can't say that."

"It should be that we go out together to establish our own little family; there's no such thing as leaving!"

Fu Jue chuckled and ruffled her fluffy head with his large hand: "Zhizhi is right."

The group burst into laughter upon hearing this conversation, and Fu Linyue was in high spirits as well: "Brother Tao, you don't need to worry anymore."

Fu Jue looked up at Tao's father, who nodded with satisfaction. Fu Jue breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he had expected, the two of them could have gotten married more than a year ago. Tao's father insisted on prolonging the process, citing the short time they had been dating. He also had Lan Xin behind him, and both of them were people he couldn't afford to offend.

"After our discussion, we've decided that October 15th is an auspicious day for marriage. The weather is also good, not too early or too late. Where's Zhizhi?"

Ye Taoyue readily announced the results of their discussion. Tao Zhizhi blushed and nodded. How could she dare to refuse? It was her dear mother who had made the decision!

Lin Jiao added from the side, "This gives us some time to prepare; we'll hold the wedding in the first month of the lunar calendar!"

Upon hearing this, Tao Zhizhi silently calculated in her mind: [The wedding will take several days, and the honeymoon a month—that won't do! The company isn't fully stable yet, and tasks are still ongoing!]

Fu Jue, as if on cue, said: "There's no rush to hold the wedding. Zhizhi's company hasn't reached a stable state yet, but we can get the marriage certificate."

Tao Zhizhi nodded vigorously. Lin Jiao, seeing that the two had their own plans, lowered her eyes, but her eyes brightened instantly when she heard his subsequent addition: "That's fine too."

Seeing that everything was settled and both parties were very satisfied with the conversation, Fu Jue led her away on a separate road, neither to the company nor home. Tao Zhizhi nudged the enthusiastic Fu Jue.

"Don't worry, Zhizhi, you'll find out soon enough."

He deliberately kept it a secret, and Tao Zhizhi wisely stopped asking, instead taking out snacks from the passenger seat and munching on them with relish.

After a long three hours, the two finally arrived at their destination. Tao Zhizhi ate until she was stuffed and let out a satisfied burp.

Tao Zhizhi looked around and found the two of them halfway up the mountain: "Why did you lead me to the mountains?!"

"Pfft—This is a private residence. Old Master Zhao enjoys playing with birds in the mountains and forests, so he lives here year-round."

As the two entered a courtyard, Fu Jue introduced the items to her as they walked: "Old Zhao loves calligraphy and ancient culture. He had stopped taking orders, but after I let him try your pastries last time, he agreed to make this marriage certificate."

"Haha, I can hear you two from inside. Come in quickly."

A deep, hearty laugh echoed through the artificial hill and stream. Tao Zhizhi was somewhat shocked when she saw Old Zhao. He was dressed in a Tang suit, and his hair was completely white, indicating that he was quite old. She respectfully greeted him along with Fu Jue.

"Is this the founder of Shuangzhi Pastries?"

"So promising at such a young age!"

"Young Fu, your marriage certificate is ready. Take a look and see if there's anything you're not satisfied with!"

Fu Jue lifted the bronze marriage certificate with force to examine it closely, and Tao Zhizhi exclaimed in surprise, "It's not made of paper!"

"Didn't Fu tell you? Everyone else uses paper, just red silk with gold thread embellishments and wrapping, but he—"

"He immediately asked this old man to hammer bronze for him, completely disregarding my advanced age, saying that bronze will never fade. These young people—"

Old Zhao took a couple of sips of tea, his eyes filled with satisfaction as he spoke of Fu Jue's dedication: "You don't know, this kid doesn't allow a single mistake. He revised it again and again, and my old back is still aching!"