Ling Yunzhou also saw the stunningly beautiful girl approaching. Just as he was wondering why he didn't recognize her, he noticed Chen Lian and Xiao Qiao'er behind him. Instinctively, Ling Yunzhou looked around. Could Tao Wanniang be here too?
Yun Pingting simply looked Ling Yunzhou up and down, then glanced at Hailan beside him, and clicked her tongue twice.
Chen Lian and Xiao Qiao'er couldn't pretend they hadn't seen her, so they went up to greet her, but their eyes couldn't help but glance at Hai Lan. What a young girl! Was General Ling a bit...?
"Oh, it's you guys!" Ling Yunzhou breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't see Tao Wanniang.
“Sister Tao is still working at the restaurant. This Miss Yun is Sister Tao’s guest, so we came out for a walk together,” Chen Lian explained. “The General certainly has a refined taste.”
Ling Yunzhou was embarrassed, especially since Hailan had come to his side and greeted him with a smile, saying, "I am Hailan from the General's Mansion."
"Oh!" Shen Lian didn't know who Hai Lan was, but she couldn't help but let out a meaningful sigh.
“Hailan is my savior,” Ling Yunzhou explained, but then felt there was no need to explain anything to Chen Lian and the others.
"Oh!" Yun Pingting also expressed her feelings with a strong personal touch.
Ling Yunzhou frowned, and Qian Feng, who seemed to lack common sense, quickly walked over with a paper kite in his hand.
"General, the kite has arrived. Would you like to fly it?"
Ling Yunzhou felt utterly ashamed. He, a dignified general, was over forty years old, and yet he had been caught trying to fly a kite.
"Release it yourself if you want!" Ling Yunzhou said angrily and left.
"General!" Hailan stepped forward quickly, leaving Qian Feng, who was holding a kite, completely bewildered!
"Hey, little Qiao'er, how about I give you this kite?" Qian Feng handed the kite to Xiao Qiao'er.
"Thank you, Master Qian." Little Qiao'er happily accepted it. "Teacher, Sister Yun, let's go fly kites!"
Shen Lian nodded to Yun Pingting and walked past Qian Feng.
"I never expected that this old general would like young girls!" Yun Pingting said softly. "No wonder Sister Tao didn't want him!"
"Probably...maybe!" Shen Lian didn't know much and wouldn't normally comment on others, but seeing it with her own eyes still shocked her. The majestic general actually had this quirk; no wonder Sister Tao didn't like it.
Shen Lian wouldn't say anything to Tao Wanniang, and Yun Pingting was just satisfying her own curiosity. She had no intention of mentioning Lingyunzhou to Tao Wanniang.
However, after returning to the General's Mansion, Ling Yunzhou thought it over and over again, and the next day he felt that he had to go and explain.
Tao Wanniang was cooking at the restaurant when she heard that a guest in a private room wanted to see her. She didn't think much of it at first, but when she realized that the guest was Ling Yunzhou, her expression turned sour.
"If you have something to say, say it. If not, hurry up and order your food, eat your fill, pay the bill, and go home," Tao Wan's mother said irritably.
Ling Yunzhou sized up Tao Wanniang, noticing her annoyed expression, and tentatively asked, "Did someone say something to you?"
"Don't you know what I said?" Tao Wanniang said sarcastically. If he had just said that he had come, she wouldn't have bothered to see him.
"Um... there's really nothing between Hailan and me. Are you upset because you mind Hailan and me?" Ling Yunzhou asked cautiously, but secretly he was also a little pleased.
"What nonsense!" Tao Wanniang disagreed with Jinzhou, looked at Lingyunzhou with disdain, and said rudely, "What are you imagining? What does your relationship with Hailan have to do with me?"
Ling Yunzhou was also taken aback, and then asked, "Didn't they tell you about what happened between Hailan and me yesterday?" He then quickly added, "It wasn't just Hailan and me. Qian Feng was there too. She was recovering from a serious injury and wanted to go out for a walk. I was dragged along."
"Why are you telling me this? I don't care where you go, who you go with, or who they are," Tao Wanniang asked, her voice filled with annoyance and confusion.
Ling Yunzhou then realized that he had come here to make a fool of himself. But since he had already spoken, he could only tell the truth: "Yesterday at Liufang Garden, I met your little girl and her teacher, as well as a very beautiful young woman. I was afraid that they said something to you that might cause you to misunderstand."
“First, neither Master Shen, Xiao Qiao’er, nor Pingting are gossipy people; they would never speak ill of others behind their backs,” Tao Wanniang said solemnly. “Second, I have no interest in your affairs.”
Ling Yunzhou had seen Tao Wanniang's impatient expression many times before. He had already lost interest, so he could only cover up by saying, "Yes, yes, I was narrow-minded. Manager Tao, I came alone, so just bring me a simple meal, like some pastries to take home."
Tao Wanniang didn't care about Ling Yunzhou's tone, and after agreeing, she left briskly.
"If he comes to me again, don't tell me anything," Tao Wanniang said to the waiter as they left the private room. "As for Ling Dahu, just talk to him about his affairs from now on!"
Another day passed, and Zhu Yan finally arrived. The contract had already been signed back in Sifang City. He came this time to inspect the site in person and obtain the blueprints for the Zhaixing Tower. Naturally, he didn't forget to send someone to invite Yun Pingting to come along as well.
"Manager Tao, please forgive my lateness," Zhu Yan said politely.
"Brother Zhu Yan, you're finally done with your work! I've eaten at Zhaixinglou for several meals now and then, and every meal is different!" Yun Pingting was invited over from the Tao family by Zhu Yan's guards.
"Does Pingting really like the food at Zhaixinglou?" Zhu Yan asked Yun Pingting gently.
Yun Pingting nodded, but smiled as she looked at Tao Wanniang. "Sister Tao's cooking skills are so good. The dishes she makes always taste especially delicious."
“My chef Yang’s skills are also quite good. In addition, I have taught my apprentices myself. Even when I’m not around, Zhaixinglou has always had an excellent reputation,” Tao Wanniang said. “You must be able to find a chef in Sifang City. Pingting has already tasted my cooking. So, we’ll see what Pingting thinks of the chef’s skills.”
"That's a great idea, Brother Zhu Yan! Did you hear that? I said it's delicious, that's what makes it delicious!" Yun Pingting immediately said happily.
Zhu Yan looked at Yun Pingting with affection and responded.
Tao Wanniang then discussed the details of opening the shop with Zhu Yan. Yun Pingting was also present and chimed in with a few words. The three of them talked for nearly an hour. In the end, Zhu Yan gave a deposit of one thousand taels of silver. It happened to be lunchtime, so they naturally ate at Zhaixinglou.
After finishing their business, Zhu Yan and Yun Pingting were about to return to Sifang City.
Zhu Yan was alright, but Yun Pingting was extremely reluctant to part with him, and the disappointment on her face was evident.
“Pingting, it’s my fault. I’ve been so busy these past few days and haven’t been able to spend much time with you in the capital. If you don’t want to leave, then…”
"No, let's go back and build the Star-Picking Tower as soon as possible. I want to eat Sister Tao's cooking in Sifang City. Brother Zhu Yan, after we finish this meal, let's go back!" Yun Pingting said with a mix of heartache and determination.
Zhu Yan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and agreed with Yun Pingting, saying, "Alright, don't you also like pastries? Take some back with you to eat on the way!"
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