Chapter 58 A God-Sent Opportunity
The bronze plaque they found that night on the top of Silver Serpent Mountain looked quite ordinary.
It's just that its shape is a bit strange, about the size of a palm. It's called a bronze plaque, but a more accurate description would be a bronze bowl.
A very shallow copper bowl.
The depth is about the thickness of two or three coins.
Ye Huaizhang pointed to the bottom of the bowl: "Look at the patterns here..."
Ye Baoling examined it closely: "Where are the patterns?"
She leaned closer to the roof light and saw three large parentheses inside.
"I see it. But what are those parentheses for?"
Ye Huaizhang said, "I saw the exact same pattern on the bronze plaque in my grandfather's diary, but the bronze plaque in the diary was drawn very small, so I didn't pay attention to it at the time."
Ye Baoling looked at it again and again, and suddenly realized what was going on.
But to prove her innocence, she feigned ignorance: "Why should I care now? What does it have to do with Ugly King Jue?"
Ye Huaizhang pointed to the parentheses at the bottom of the bowl, "The curvature and size of the Ugly King Jue are exactly the same as this bronze plaque."
Ye Baoling pretended to suddenly realize: "Oh... this is the box containing three ugly jade pieces."
Therefore, this is neither a bronze plaque nor a bronze bowl, but rather the bottom of a bronze box?
"Since it's a copper box, shouldn't it also have a lid?"
"That's possible."
After thinking for a moment and realizing something was amiss, Ye Baoling asked again, "What does this have to do with your questioning of my elaborate scheme to collect the three ugly king's jade pendants?"
“I didn’t just start having doubts now; I mentioned them to you when we signed the agreement. It’s really strange that you didn’t want money or other items, but insisted on the ugly jade pendant.” He emphasized, “I’m not stupid.”
Therefore, he always harbored doubts and reservations about her.
She understands this very well.
But she couldn't show understanding in her words, and immediately said, "You're not stupid, you're just stubborn! But I also said that I'm stubborn too. The more you care and the more you argue with me, the less I want to do what you want."
She spoke as calmly as possible so that he wouldn't notice her guilty conscience, "If you keep arguing, no matter how much money you offer after a year, I won't give you back those two ugly jade pendants."
I'm rich now!
I don't care anymore.
Ye Huaizhang stared at her, remaining silent for a moment: "I'm just stating my thoughts; I'm not arguing for the sake of arguing. If you were in my shoes, you would also have doubts. Is collecting all three Ugly King Jade Pendants more valuable, or is there some other reason? Right?"
Ye Baoling wasn't fooled. "Who wants to collect all three Ugly King Jade Pendants? I don't need them anyway. Are you the one who wants to collect all three? Have you seen Dragon Ball? Collect all seven Dragon Balls and you can summon Shenron?"
Ye Huaizhang: "..."
Ye Baoling changed to a more calm tone: "This is very likely the box that originally contained the three Ugly King Jade Pendants. After our ancestor divided the three jade pendants, no one cared about the box. Somehow it fell to the top of Silver Snake Mountain and was buried under the rocks. In the last two years, with frequent rain, it was washed out by the rain, and by sheer coincidence, we found it. That's probably all. Think about it, if I really wanted to collect all three Ugly King Jade Pendants, I would definitely have a plan the moment I saw this box. I wouldn't just treat it as a piece of junk and throw it to you so easily."
She has a point.
But he still had some doubts.
Ye Huaizhang looked at her for a while before saying, "I'm sorry, I was just being paranoid."
Ye Baoling knew that his apology was only to ease tensions. If she didn't take it to heart at all, it would make her seem guilty. "As a business partner, your suspicion makes people uncomfortable."
That's how relationships between people are; friction and doubt are inevitable.
Ye Huaizhang didn't defend himself either. Even now, he couldn't be 100% sure that she had no ulterior motives.
Ye Baoling decided to take the initiative, "You don't need to come to serve me for the time being. You'll be punished by being confined to your room to reflect on your mistakes. That's all."
Ye Huaizhang, who had never been punished since childhood, felt somewhat wronged: "You know you're wrong, but you still have to be punished? You just pinched me!"
"What's wrong with pinching me!"
As the ancients said, "To know one's mistakes and be able to correct them is of utmost importance."
She rolled her eyes at him: "Go back to your cold palace, that would be the best course of action."
"..."
Ye Baoling got out of the car, and walked a short distance back to the Gu family home.
Ye Huaizhang could only watch her drive away through the rearview mirror. He stayed silently for a while after she entered the Gu family's gate before driving away.
*
Ye Baoling stayed at the Gu family's house for one night. When she woke up in the morning, she lay on the bed and watched Gu Man'er put on makeup.
After finishing her makeup, she started changing her clothes.
She kept changing outfits, asking Ye Baoling, "Cousin, which one do you think looks best? The brown one? The blue and white one? Or the red one?"
Ye Baoling tilted her head and said, "The red one looks good."
"I think so too, let's choose this one."
Ye Baoling yawned: "What are you doing? Going to a wedding with your mom?"
Gu Man'er smiled sweetly: "No. Fang Haiming asked me out."
!!! !!! !
Did the male and female leads in the original script really fall in love like this?
Ye Baoling teased her on purpose: "Didn't you think he lacked gentlemanly manners and was annoying to everyone around him?"
“At first I thought so, but now I think…” Gu Man’er said with a lovestruck expression, “I think he’s cute from all sides.”
Ye Baoling pretended to vomit, "That's enough! Gu Man'er!"
"Oh dear, cousin, you threw up. Are you pregnant?" Gu Man'er teased her.
Ye Baoling sneered: "You're pregnant with me, but I'm not!"
Gu Man'er immediately noticed that her cousin was in a bad mood. "Did you and your husband have a fight?"
"We didn't argue, we just banished him to the cold palace."
Who told him to be so smart as to doubt her? If he didn't pretend to be angry, how could they continue to cooperate?
Ye Baoling sat up and told her cousin about the celebration party last night, "My grandfather is now looking at several young masters he thinks are qualified..."
Gu Man'er put the red dress aside: "Your grandfather is too pragmatic. Before, he ignored you. But after discovering that you, cousin, are actually capable and can be used, he started to value you again."
Ye Baoling curled her lips, "He doesn't value me; he treats me as a commodity to be used for marriage alliances, so that he can seek benefits for the eldest branch of the family in the future."
“So, no matter how well you marry, you’ll just be a stepping stone for your two younger brothers,” Gu Man’er advised her. “Find a way to let your grandfather know that Ye Baoshun is gay, and make him happy.”
That's interesting.
Ye Baoling couldn't help but burst into laughter, "If my grandfather knew, he would definitely vomit blood."
“Serves you right,” Gu Man’er suggested. “Write an anonymous letter! Just like those scumbags at the company messed with you a while ago, write an anonymous letter to your grandfather.”
"If I really wanted to get back at them, it wouldn't be as simple as writing anonymous letters."
"Cousin, do you have any brilliant ideas?"
Ye Baoling sat up, rubbing her face: "Secretly call the newspaper to leak the information; the paparazzi have their own ways of handling it."
Gu Man'er's eyes widened: "Great! I'll call that number to break the news; I might even get a reward for it."
Before they could even take action, Ye Baoling stopped them, saying, "You can't use your own phone to make the tip-off call, and don't even think about going to the magazine to collect that huge bonus."
Gu Man'er thought for a moment and said, "I'll find someone else to do it."
Ye Baoling: "You don't need to do anything. This is a card in my hand. I'll play it when I need it. When I don't need to play it, I'll keep it in my hand and feel at ease. Besides, Ye Baoshun has always thought that I'm aware of his homoerotic relationship with Lü Tianyou. If he finds out that someone leaked the information to entertainment reporters, he'll definitely suspect me first. Let's put it off for now and talk about it later."
"Alright!"
The two got up and went downstairs for breakfast. Since Sister Ping stopped taking care of the house, the Filipino maid has been cooking, and the taste of the food at home has declined rapidly.
Ye Baoling and Gu Man'er decided to go out to eat. The rice noodle rolls, wontons, pork offal noodles, pork trotter noodles, and cart noodles on the street were all delicious, with many choices.
After finishing their meal, Gu Man'er drove her family's car to take Ye Baoling back to the eldest son's house before going on her date.
When Ye Baoling returned home, Ye Qizu summoned her to his study.
Her father, Ye Kaimin, was also in the study.
"Grandpa and I are discussing sending you to university."
Having a good family background but lacking academic qualifications, even if you marry into a top-tier wealthy family, you're still missing something.
Times have changed; people care about this now.
Ye Baoling: "I have to go to work."
Ye Kaimin: "It won't affect your work. We'll arrange for you to study philosophy at Hong Kong Adventist University, and then immediately apply to transfer to the University of Dunhus in the United States. We'll donate some money to the University of Dunhus, and then you can submit your thesis. We'll find someone to write the thesis for you. We'll announce to the public that you're still studying at the University of Dunhus, and that you're back for an internship and won't graduate until next year or the year after. The University of Dunhus is relatively obscure, and not many people know about it, but it will sound impressive."
It won't be shameful for them to marry into other wealthy families in the future.
However, having someone else write your thesis is definitely academic fraud.
After a moment's thought, Ye Baoling said, "I don't study philosophy, I study economics, and I'll write my own papers."
Seeing that his daughter didn't object and had even chosen her own major and written her own thesis, Ye Kaimin said happily, "That's no problem. But, will your thesis pass?"
"I've read the textbook, so why can't I write my own paper?"
Ye Qizu, who was feeding the fish nearby, put down the fish food box and said, "Why don't you go and study for a year or two before coming back?"
"Of course not. Grandpa, you don't think I was joking about the bet I made with you, do you?"
She made a bet with her grandfather that if she successfully expanded into the European and American markets, she would at least become the company's vice president.
Ye Qizu laughed and said, "The European and American markets are not so easy to develop. You can go to university in the United States, build up your network, and slowly expand your market. Ye Qingtang has a century-old history, it won't take a year or two."
She cares.
"Just do as we just discussed. When it's time to submit the paper, I'll go to Dunhus University."
Fearing that the grandfather and grandson would quarrel again, Ye Kaimin quickly said, "Dad, let's arrange it this way."
Ye Qizu didn't say anything more, just nodded: "Go ahead and make the arrangements. Baoling, when you have time, don't always stay at home, go out and make more friends. I think the second young master of the Li family seems to be quite interested in you. If you have the chance, you can go out to see a play, have a meal, or get together."
Ye Baoling was too lazy to waste words with the old man who was eager to arrange a marriage for her, and simply said, "I know. We'll talk about it later."
She didn't talk to them much before leaving the study, going downstairs, and returning to her bedroom.
Lying in bed, I just want to rest quietly for a day and not go anywhere.
*
The current task of the Marketing Department's Group 3 is to collect and organize various standards, guidelines, and information related to the European and American beverage markets.
At the same time, analyze the strengths and weaknesses of market competitors.
It's similar to preparing for battle by building up physical strength, stockpiling supplies, and keeping a close eye on enemy movements.
During the meeting, Ye Baoling instructed: "We also need to collect information on the top 10 agents in the United States recently, and make full preparations. In case Lisa's husband can't be relied on, we will immediately contact second- or third-tier agents to be prepared for any eventuality."
Ye Baoling has been keeping in touch with Lisa, and Lisa gave the jasmine iced tea to her husband as soon as she got back.
Lisa's husband's company is called L&D. Yang Baozhu is responsible for liaising with L&D. She said, "I have faxed our information over, but L&D needs to conduct a comprehensive evaluation before they can determine whether they want to cooperate with us."
How long will the assessment take?
"If it's fast, it'll take half a month; if it's slow, it might take half a year."
The efficiency was too low, so Ye Baoling could only wait for the stock market crash to arrive.
There's less than a month left; she has the patience.
After the meeting, Ye Baoling, who had plenty of free time, went directly to Qiyuan.
Qiyuan Office rented the adjacent Unit 1807 and spent a few days connecting and renovating it. Now, in addition to the common office area, there is a finance office, Liu Haonan's office, and the boss Ye Baoling's office.
Upon seeing Ye Baoling, Chen Yulan beamed with joy: "Cousin, the stock price has skyrocketed! Brother Nan is at Lihua Securities, he can't sit still in his office because the price has risen so much."
Chen Yulan handed the hot trend chart to Ye Baoling.
They bought it at a cost of about 0.39 yuan, and now it has risen to 7 yuan, an increase of 18 times.
Ye Baoling instructed, "Go and call Brother Nan back."
"good."
Soon, Liu Haonan knocked on the door and came in, sitting opposite her.
It was full of smiles, yet also full of worries.
"If it had increased this much over a year or two, I could understand. But it's increased 18 times in less than a month. If it increases another 6% today, it will be 19 times in no time."
Ye Baoling also knew that it was very likely that she would rush up and then fall down.
"Start arranging the sale today. Sell slowly, don't let the stock price rise too fast, and don't let it fall either. Sell until you've sold everything." Ye Baoling didn't want to wait until it really rose 22 times before selling, otherwise she wouldn't be able to sell and would be stuck with the stock.
Don't be too greedy and try to earn every last penny.
Hearing the boss say that he was going to sell all the hot and spicy food, Liu Haonan breathed a sigh of relief. He asked, "Sell them all?"
"Yes. All out. How long will it take?"
"This stock is hot right now, it should be sold out in three days, or a week if it's slower."
Ye Baoling nodded: "This pace is good. How are the other two stocks we're going to build positions in?"
"Ten million each for Golden Bean and Bright Crystal have been acquired and the positions have been filled. These two stocks haven't risen much yet." Liu Haonan didn't have time to give her a detailed report on his recent work progress; he was in a hurry to sell his shares.
Ye Baoling smiled and waved for him to go first.
Before leaving, Liu Haonan asked another colleague to report to Ye Baoling on the latest hot topics and highlights in the stock market.
The market has been quite hot recently, and several newly listed stocks have made a lot of money, especially Ye Qingtang.
After leaving the Lihua Building, Ye Baoling and Ye Leyan arranged to have dinner at a nearby restaurant.
The restaurant was in a rather remote location, and it took her quite a while to find it.
Upon entering the restaurant, the lighting was dim, and the layout was winding. Ye Leyan should have arrived first, but she couldn't find the other person.
However, I unexpectedly ran into Lü Tianyou in a corner.
Lu Tianyou saw her too, and he quickly stood up to greet her: "Baoling".
Ye Baoling walked over with a smile, "What a coincidence."
There were two people's utensils on Lu Tianyou's table, and judging from the state of the table, they seemed to have finished eating.
She asked with a smile, "Are you with friends?"
Lu Tianyou came with Ye Baoshun. The two occasionally went out to eat together, always choosing restaurants in secluded locations. They didn't do anything too outrageous in public, so no one suspected them.
He laughed and said, "Yes. My friend had to leave after dinner. What about you? Did you make plans with someone?"
Ye Baoling said, "Yes, I made an appointment with my cousin. I looked around but couldn't find her. She probably hasn't come yet."
"I haven't even congratulated you yet. Ye Qingtang went public, and you made a fortune. You also made a great contribution. You're amazing. You've been hiding your abilities so well. I never knew you were so capable."
Ye Baoling humbly replied, "It's all luck."
Lu Tianyou pulled out a chair: "Your sister isn't here yet, so please sit at my table first."
Ye Baoling then sat down, seeing this as an opportunity to clarify that she knew nothing about his relationship with Ye Baoshun.
She asked casually, "Hey, how have you been lately? Do you have a girlfriend yet?"
Lu Tianyou didn't expect Ye Baoling to bring up this topic with him. He laughed and said, "I'm a single guy, do you have any suitable girls to introduce me to?"
“I have plenty of girls around me. List your criteria and I’ll help you find one.”
Ye Baoshun had previously told him that Ye Baoling might know about their relationship, but it seems she was unaware of it.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have asked him if he had a girlfriend, let alone introduced him to one.
Lu Tianyou smiled and complimented, "Someone like you fits my aesthetic and my criteria perfectly."
Ye Baoling almost vomited up her dinner from the night before. "Although my sexual orientation is fluid, you're already on our blacklist. We're not a good match."
"Can't we even talk about it privately?"
When Lü Tianyou gets greasy, it's unbearable.
"Then I'll talk to the woman instead." Just then, Ye Baoling's phone rang. She took it out and answered it. It was Ye Leyan calling.
It turns out the address was wrong; Ye Leyan was at the restaurant next door.
Talking to this idiot too much will only make your brain grow thorns, so Ye Baoling quickly left.
Just as Ye Baoling withdrew, Ye Baoshun silently emerged from the corner behind, startling Lü Tianyou.
Why are you back?
Ye Baoshun came back to find his car keys. "If I hadn't come back, I wouldn't have known that you were still trying to seduce Ye Baoling, that you were still trying to secretly date her!"
Lu Tianyou quickly explained, "I was just flattering her, not flirting. She asked if I had a girlfriend and offered to introduce me to someone. I didn't dare accept her, so I could only flatter her. Can't you tell?"
Ye Baoshun was furious; that damned man falls in love with every woman he sees!
But he was quick-witted enough to ask, "Did she introduce you to a girlfriend?"
"Yes. Judging from her expression, she has no idea about us. Honey, don't be angry anymore, okay?"
How could he not be angry? Ye Baoshun was afraid that people would find out about their relationship, so he didn't want to argue with him in public. "I'll deal with you tonight."
Lu Tianyou said in a cheeky tone, "Who's going to take care of whom?"
"You wait here." Ye Baoshun took the car keys and left first.
*
Ye Baoling never expected that her appearance would make Ye Baoshun jealous.
What bad luck!
She found Ye Leyan at the restaurant next door. The two had made plans to have dinner and go shopping together after winning money playing bridge last time.
He spent all the money he won from Ye Leqiong and Ye Baoxin that day.
I bought cosmetics, pretty clothes, shoes, and a bunch of little gifts.
When I got home, I met Ye Baoxin coming home from get off work in the garage.
"Baoxin! You're off work?" Ye Leyan is like a little sun, always so warm and adorable.
"Yes," Ye Baoxin said with a smile, looking at Ye Baoling. "You didn't go to work today?"
Ye Baoling wrinkled her nose playfully: "Our marketing department is very free."
Ye Baoxin, who diligently goes to work every day: "..."
Ye Baoling: "Le Yan and I used all the money we won from you that day to buy things."
Seeing the maid rush over to help Ye Baoling carry her things out of the car, Ye Baoxin looked as if she'd been struck by lightning, forcing a smile as she said, "It's fine. What did you buy?"
Ye Leyan hadn't even told her what she had bought yet.
"We also bought you a small doll; I'll bring it to you later."
"Thank you." Ye Baoxin could only force a smile and chat for a couple of minutes before going back to her room.
Because she had bought a lot of odds and ends, Ye Leyan followed Ye Baoling back to her room.
This was Ye Leyan's first time here. After entering the room, she couldn't help but exclaim, "Sister Ling, your room is so big! Unlike mine, which is tiny and doesn't even have a private bathroom. Leqiong and I both want to move out, but my grandfather won't allow it, so we really have no choice."
Lanting Residence isn't very large. The three sons of the third uncle, along with more than a dozen other people, all lived there. They also owned properties outside, but Ye Qizong wouldn't let his sons divide the family property. They just stayed in the old eldest son's mansion and wouldn't move. I don't know what they were after.
After Ye Qizu passes away, Ye Qizong's branch of the family must move away; this is a family rule.
To make the other person feel more comfortable, Ye Baoling told the truth: "This renovation was for Baoshun; I'm just staying here temporarily."
"It would be nice to be able to stay here for a while."
"You don't know? When I came back before, I didn't even have my own room."
Ye Leyan smiled and said, "I always thought you didn't like us and didn't talk to us much."
"I used to be shy."
"I'm shy too."
The two chatted and laughed as they divided up the things they had bought that day. Some of the items were gifts, which they would take downstairs later.
Knock knock knock!
The door wasn't closed, and Ye Baoshun stood outside. "I have something to tell you."
Recently, Ye Baoshun has been quite polite to Ye Baoling, always addressing her as "sister" first when speaking to her.
Ye Baoling sensed something was wrong when they spoke directly without any address today.
Ye Leyan had already gathered her things. "You guys chat, I'm leaving now."
After Yueyan left, Ye Baoling asked Ye Baoshun, "What's wrong?"
Lu Tianyou's ambiguous behavior towards Ye Baoling at noon today made Ye Baoshun unhappy all afternoon.
After confirming that Ye Baoling was unaware of his relationship with Lü Tianyou, he decided to stop tolerating it.
"I want my room back. You should move out when you have time."
Ye Baoling's expression suddenly turned cold. She had just finished talking with Lü Tianyou at noon, but she didn't expect it to have an effect by evening.
She said coldly, "I've just gotten used to living here, and you're already telling me to move out? Do you think I'm a tenant?"
Ye Baoshun chuckled awkwardly: "Isn't that right? You're a woman, you'll get married sooner or later, your home will be with your future husband, you're just a passerby here! What's the difference between you and a tenant? You're even worse than a tenant!"
What a despicable character!
Ye Baoling: "Okay, go tell Grandpa that if he also thinks I'm a tenant, I'll move out of Xihetang today. Otherwise, don't expect me to give you the room right now."
If her grandfather dares to make her move, she'll tear the house down in front of him today.
"Are you using my grandfather to blackmail me?"
"This isn't a threat, it's just that you're not qualified. You don't have the right to make decisions in the Ye family."
"I don't have the final say? I'm a grandson of the Ye family, who do you think you are! Cheap goods!"
"If women are cheap goods, then you're being raised by cheap goods!"
They actually called him a cheap prostitute?
Ye Baoshun was so angry that he rushed forward, but Ye Baoling grabbed his hand and pinned him against the wall.
Fortunately, her Chen Family Boxing training was not in vain!
Ye Baoshun is such a weakling!
Hearing the commotion, Sister Ping rushed in and quickly helped to restrain Ye Baoshun.
"What's going on? What's going on? Why are the two siblings fighting?" Sister Ping gestured for Ye Baoling to let go, afraid that her young lady would cause trouble.
Ye Baoling let go and cursed, "Get lost!"
Ye Baoshun, who was surprised that he couldn't beat his opponent, left in a huff.
Ping watched Ye Baoshun go downstairs from the doorway before closing the door and whispering, "Did he take the wrong medicine today?"
I won't offend others unless they offend me; Ye Baoling wasn't going to let him off so easily.
"Is Aqing there?"
"Aqing?"
"Sister Qin's son."
"I need to go downstairs and take a look."
Ye Baoling lowered her voice: "Find him here, but don't let anyone see him."
"Why are you looking for him?"
Don't ask.
"Oh." Sister Ping nodded tactfully, but she couldn't help but remind her, "Why don't you go see the old man first? Don't let Ye Baoshun complain first."
Let him sue or not, it doesn't matter!
Ye Baoling: "Never mind that, go and call Aqing."
Ping then hurried downstairs.
Ye Baoling stood by the window, looking at the gray-blue sky in the distance, lost in thought.
Since Ye Baoshun is courting death, she shouldn't blame her for showing no mercy.
That evening, Zheng Junni overheard Ah Jin saying, "Ah Fu and Ah Gui, who are by the young master's side, got drunk and let it slip... They said that the young master is secretly having an affair with that guy surnamed Lü."
Zheng Junni was so shocked she almost dropped her jaw. Was this the kind of person who had tasted the sweetness and then wanted more?
"They...they really got together?"
This was truly a golden opportunity for her.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Ye Baoling: Yes, I am that person. This is the opportunity I'm giving you.
Ye Baoshun stomped his foot: You are all treacherous villains!
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