"The restaurant can be opened, but how to open it is something I'll discuss with the Princess after the New Year," Tao Wanniang hinted.
"That's wonderful!" Xiao Yi finally heard good news from Tao Wanniang. "Elder sister, did you gain anything from your trip to Shanhai Prefecture?"
"Thank you, Your Highness, for buying me a house in Shanhai Prefecture. Now I have a place to go," Tao Wanniang said with a smile. "Shanhai Prefecture is a prosperous place."
“But it can’t compare to the capital!” Xiao Yi said. “If Sister Tao is worried about the relationship between the Princess and the General, then there’s no need to worry.” Xiao Yi understood the implication in Tao Wanniang’s words: if she couldn’t stay in the capital, she could still return to Shanhai Prefecture.
Tao Wanniang's expression changed slightly, but she pretended to be indifferent and said, "What do I have to worry about? I'd be happy to see it happen."
"That's impossible now!" Xiao Yi sighed. "The General has already made a bold statement to the Emperor, vowing never to marry. He said he wants to atone for your sins and the child's."
Tao Wanniang's lips twitched, and then she looked Xiao Yi up and down and said, "Your Highness and he seem to have a good relationship."
“Yes, Yunzhou is rough around the edges but meticulous, and of good character. Most importantly, we get along well,” Xiao Yi admitted. “He takes care of me like an older brother.”
"Then please convey this message, Your Highness: belated affection is worthless, and don't mention amnesia. Seventeen years! How many seventeen-year periods does a woman have? Anyway, I have no feelings for him and no resentment. I'm happy to be carefree now. There's no point in trying to mend a broken mirror with him. If he wants compensation, I've already asked for five thousand taels of silver. That's enough!"
Tao Wanniang spoke crisply and decisively. Seeing Xiao Yi awkwardly touch his nose, she pretended to ignore him.
“The eldest princess has also let go,” Xiao Yi said deliberately. “She went to Chaotian Palace.”
"No way! Isn't the princess and the general a match made in heaven?" Tao Wanniang frowned. "They're both so old, how can they still be so reckless!"
This sounded somewhat amusing, so Xiao Yi simply said, "It's rare that you're so open-minded, elder sister. Since that's the case, why not stay in the capital and start the restaurant? Aren't you the one who loves money the most?"
These words made Tao Wanniang's expression stiffen, and then she asked in return, "Who doesn't like making money?"
Xiao Yi smiled. Just then, he saw Zhang Liang walking by. The unfamiliar face made Xiao Yi pause in surprise.
“Oh, it’s a guard from my household. I met him on the way to Shanhai Prefecture. He was in trouble, and I helped him. So he came to me for help,” Tao Wanniang explained.
Xiao Yi couldn't help but whisper a reminder: "Big sister, it's best to be careful with people you don't know."
“Yes, I know him. I saw him twice on the way we fled famine!” Tao Wanniang didn’t want Zhang Liang to attract attention, so she immediately said.
So that's how it is. Xiao Yi was somewhat relieved; it really was an old acquaintance.
Chen Liansheng paced back and forth outside the door, hesitant to go in. He hadn't even met his cousin yet, but he had been kicked out, told he was a poor relative. Only then did he realize that his cousin had married into the family.
"Brother Chen, why are you standing outside?" Zhang Liang noticed someone outside, went out to take a look, and asked Chen Liansheng.
He was only staying here temporarily, but now he was unable to find relatives and had no proper work. Even though he still had a hundred or so taels of silver, he was still uneasy. How could he face Bai Yumei?
"I..." Chen Liansheng struggled to speak. On the 29th of the lunar year, he was living under someone else's roof and felt ashamed.
"Come in, my elder sister is receiving a guest," Zhang Liang said. "It's a very important young nobleman."
This Tao Wanniang is amazing; the people she associates with are either generals or princes. Zhang Liang had never seen such distinguished people in his entire life.
Chen Liansheng had no choice but to bite the bullet and walk in, looking helpless. Right now, he could only beg Sister Tao to take him in.
Another man?
After finishing his conversation with Tao Wanniang, Xiao Yi took his leave. As he stepped out of the living room, he saw Chen Liansheng standing with Zhang Liang. He looked at Tao Wanniang in surprise, wondering if she was an old acquaintance.
"This is Yu Mei's childhood sweetheart. This trip to Shan Hai Prefecture is a reunion for the two of them after a long separation, and they're staying at my house temporarily," Tao Wanniang explained. Xiao Yi's gaze towards her seemed rather strange.
"I see," Xiao Yi replied. "Sister Tao is truly kind-hearted." He just wondered if these people would ask for payment.
"It was just a small favor, and it's all thanks to saving the prince back then that I now have a place to be grateful!" Tao Wanniang said with emotion. Her path to wealth began with saving the prince of Ruiwang.
Xiao Yi's expression was somewhat complicated. Well, what could he do? He was born into a privileged life!
Zhang Liang and Chen Liansheng avoided the conversation. After Tao Wanniang saw Xiao Yi and Cheng Feng out, she saw Old Wang next door.
"You're back?" Wang Fugui grumbled, looking rather unwell.
Tao Wanniang looked at Wang Fugui, whose hands were tucked into the sleeves of his jacket, and said kindly, "Yes, he came back yesterday, Master Wang. Thank you so much. Otherwise, the chickens and ducks in this house wouldn't have starved to death. In a while, when the chickens and ducks have grown up, we will send a few over to you."
"Heh, heh heh, Tao, you really have a thick skin." Wang Fugui sneered. It's amazing that Tao Wanniang would do something like that. Before leaving, she visited his house and asked him to look after the chickens and ducks so they wouldn't starve to death while she was away.
He was supposed to be a wealthy man, yet he was feeding chickens and ducks to the neighbors.
"I didn't know you, Mr. Wang, had such a deep affection for this house. You wouldn't want to end up with a bunch of starving livestock in your home after just over two months," Tao Wanniang said with a smile. She only dared to give the back door key to him because she valued Old Wang's sentimental nature!
Wang Fugui snorted and said with a sullen face, "Now that you're back, you're not going to leave again, are you?"
"I'm not leaving, Master Wang. Thank you for your concern!"
"Stop patting yourself on the back. Here, take the key back." Wang Fugui tossed the key to Tao Wanniang. "I advise you to change the lock on the back door, so you don't blame me if something happens someday."
"Alright, locks are good for keeping out honest people, but not for keeping out scoundrels. But since Master Wang has said so, I'll change it to avoid future disputes."
Tao Wanniang readily agreed, saying that rather than suspecting each other if something really happens in the future, it would be better to cut off the source now.
Wang Fugui snorted coldly again, turned around and left!
That old man has a terrible temper. Tao Wan's mother didn't take it to heart; this neighbor was easy to get along with.
"Sister Tao, I...I..." Back in the house, Tao Wanniang was confused by Chen Liansheng's stammering manner. What was wrong this time?
"Speak, what is it? What, you didn't get to see your relatives?" Tao Wanniang said bluntly.
Chen Liansheng nodded. "My cousin is collecting rent on the estate. I haven't seen him, but his wife had the servants speak ill of me and disown me as a relative."
"Then stay at my house for now. It's the New Year, so don't try to take anything unnecessary." This Chen Liansheng was literate, had read books, and was quick and efficient. Tao Wanniang thought he would come in handy in the future.
Seeing that Tao Wanniang showed no displeasure, Chen Liansheng felt a warmth in his heart.
"Sister Tao, you are such a good person."
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