From then on, Su Huaiyue devoted herself wholeheartedly to the preparation work of the restaurant like a wound-up clock.
The land to the west of Youzhou City, where a restaurant was about to rise, witnessed her countless busy figures.
Early in the morning, before the first ray of sunlight fully illuminated the earth, she had already arrived at the rented land site, frowning and carefully supervising every aspect of the construction.
She saw and remembered every hammering of the workers and every brick laid, and offered her opinions from time to time to ensure that the construction of the restaurant would be in line with her plan.
At noon, the sun blazed down, scorching the earth, yet she had no time to rest, rushing non-stop to negotiate partnerships with various suppliers. In the various reception rooms, she sometimes argued for better ingredients and more reasonable prices, and sometimes listened with a smile, understanding the suppliers' strengths and characteristics.
She shuttled through the streets and alleys of the city, discussing fabrics for restaurant decoration with fabric merchants, negotiating styles of tables and chairs with furniture merchants, and exploring unique spice formulas with spice merchants... Every day was so busy that she had no time to rest, as if there was never enough time.
Wei Che was also busy all day long because he was overwhelmed by the many affairs in Youzhou.
He ran around various government offices, handling complicated documents, coordinating relationships among all parties, and working tirelessly for the development of Youzhou.
During this busy time, Su Huaiyue and Wei Che met only a handful of times in the next two months, and their daily communication was almost entirely through other people.
The occasional words are just simple greetings and expressions of gratitude for each other's busy lives.
One day, the sun was shining brightly, and Su Huaiyue was worrying about the formalities of the restaurant, because he needed a document from the county government to handle the relevant procedures for the restaurant.
Just then, Li Ruolan personally delivered the documents.
The moment Su Huaiyue saw Li Ruolan, his eyes lit up.
Li Ruolan was seen wearing elegant clothes and walking into the yard with light steps. A bright smile was on her face. She looked more energetic than before. Her originally dull eyes were now bright and lively, as if she were reborn.
Su Huaiyue said with emotion: "Madam, it's only been two months since we last met, and you've changed so much. You look so full of vitality."
Li Ruolan smiled, and that smile was like a spring breeze, gentle and touching.
She walked into the house, poured herself a cup of tea gracefully, and said slowly, "Huaiyue, people always have to find something to do and can't be idle. Once they are idle, they will feel that they have lost their value. I am really grateful to you and Master Wei. It is you who helped me find my sense of value again. If it weren't for your encouragement and help, I might still be sitting on the stone bench in the yard, alone and worried."
Su Huaiyue felt a surge of warmth in her heart after hearing this. She pulled out a newly developed beauty cream from her bosom and handed it to Li Ruolan, saying sincerely, "Madam, value isn't given by others, but by yourself. You're a talented woman, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. If you want to do something, it shouldn't be easy. You possess unparalleled talent. As long as you're willing, you'll be able to carve out a world of your own."
Li Ruolan's smile froze slightly, and the figure of Chen Fugui flashed through her mind.
Once upon a time, the man she loved deeply became the shackles that bound her.
A hint of sadness flashed across her eyes, and she whispered, "I wanted to do something before, but Chen Fugui wouldn't allow it. He thought it was shameful for a woman like me to be a gentleman in public. He wouldn't allow me to go out and find a job, so I stayed in the yard all day, lonely and helpless. At that time, I felt like a bird trapped in a cage, losing my freedom and the meaning of life."
After hearing what Li Ruolan said, Su Huaiyue couldn't help but feel a wave of sympathy in her heart.
She frowned slightly, her eyes full of pity, and looked quietly at Li Ruolan in front of her. The image of her being trapped in that small world, lonely and helpless, emerged in her mind.
After a moment's silence, she bit her lip lightly, thought for a while, and then asked, "Ruolan, if we were to go to the capital together in the future, would you be willing to come with us?"
Her voice was soft and gentle, as if she was afraid of accidentally touching the sensitive string deep in Li Ruolan's heart.
When Li Ruolan heard this question, her originally calm eyes suddenly lit up, and a fiery light flashed in her eyes.
She nodded without hesitation, straightened her back, looked at Su Huaiyue with a firm gaze, and said in a decisive tone: "I will definitely go. Beijing is my hometown. There are my memories, my relatives, and my former dreams. I have always wanted to go back, return to that familiar land, and start my life again."
Her words were full of longing for the capital and vision for the future, as if the capital was the last place of hope in her heart.
Su Huaiyue was also encouraged by Li Ruolan's determined expression.
But she couldn't help but ask again: "What about Chen Fugui, will he go too?"
Li Ruolan's eyes turned cold in an instant, as if the passion that had just been ignited was instantly extinguished by a basin of cold water.
There was a cold glint in her eyes, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly, revealing a mocking smile.
She took a deep breath and said firmly, "Whether he goes or not has nothing to do with me. Over the years, he has bound me, restricted me, and made me lose my freedom and self. If he doesn't allow me to return to the capital, then I can only leave a letter of divorce."
As she spoke of this, her hands unconsciously clenched, and the veins on the back of her hands bulged slightly, revealing her inner excitement.
"Even if doing this leaves me with a bad reputation, unable to remarry, and criticized by others, I will never regret it. I don't want him to control my life anymore. I want to live for myself."
Su Huaiyue was shocked by Li Ruolan's determination. She widened her eyes and looked at the weak yet extremely strong woman in front of her in disbelief.
She knew very well what divorce meant to a woman in this era. It was not just the breakdown of marriage, but also the scorn of society and the pressure of public opinion.
But Li Ruolan was able to make such a decision so firmly, and her courage and determination made her admire her very much.
She slowly reached out her hand, gently held Li Ruolan's hand, and squeezed it hard, as if she wanted to give her more strength and support through this grip.
"Ruolan, I support your decision. No matter what, you have to live for yourself."
Li Ruolan looked at Su Huaiyue, her eyes full of gratitude, "Huaiyue, thank you. With your support, I have more courage."
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