"Yang Ming, I think I should go back. She probably doesn’t want to see me. I’ll come back when she’s almost better,"
Chu Lian worried that seeing him now might upset her further. She had barely escaped death and was still so weak.
Once she recovered in a few days, his presence would be less of a shock, as her resilience would be stronger than it was now.
"Hmm, that might be best."
"I’ll have my kitchen maid come over every day to make her some nourishing food; you help smooth things over when the time comes."
"..." Chu Lian had given them a tough problem again. How could they smooth this over? Their family wasn’t wealthy enough to afford a chef.
"Brother Chu, maybe it’s better not to have the kitchen maid come. It’ll be discovered."
After thinking it over for a moment, Chu Lian then said, "Then I won’t send her. I’ll have some food delivered instead, and you can take care of preparing it."
"Hmm." That proposal was still acceptable. Wang Xiangxiang indeed needed nourishment, and this spared them the trouble of buying the rich foods themselves.
"If there’s anything, come find me at the Chu Mansion or send a message through someone at Yuelai Restaurant."
"Got it." Yang Ming thought to himself that Chu Lian, now that he had someone in his heart, had started to be excessively verbose. He wasn’t before.
So while Wang Xiangxiang was still fast asleep, Chu Lian left with his carriage.
Because of Wang Xiangxiang’s condition, the Yang Family hadn’t gone out to work today.
By the pond, Yang Wuzhu was in charge, so there wouldn’t be any major issues.
At the rented courtyard, the great aunt was watching over, so there wouldn’t be any major issues there either.
By the time Xiaoxiao woke up, it was already noon. "Husband, how is Sister Wang?"
"She’s still sleeping."
"..." She must be really weak, hence the need for more sleep.
"Wife, since you’re awake, it’s time for lunch. Let’s go to the Main House to eat."
Xiaoxiao’s stomach was truly starting to feel hungry, so she quickly got up and followed Yang Ming to the Main House.
Upon seeing the people at the dining table, Xiaoxiao’s brows furrowed as she calculated in her mind, "When are Han Yongsheng and his folks actually going to leave?"
After eating, seeing Han Yongsheng getting up to return to his room, Xiaoxiao stopped him.
"Mr. Han, if I may ask bluntly, how long do you intend to stay with us?"
Xiaoxiao had already categorized Han Yongsheng as a cunning merchant, so her tone was not very friendly.
Han Yongsheng was very calm and simply said, "No rush."
"..." Xiaoxiao was really frustrated to the point of feeling ill. He wasn’t in a hurry, but she was! Their home was already in chaos; they hardly had time to entertain outsiders.
"Mr. Han, seeing the current chaotic state of our household, perhaps you could..."
Han Yongsheng caught on to Xiaoxiao’s hint. She was trying to send him away. "I rarely come here; why don’t you take me to see your fish pond instead?"
Xiaoxiao hesitated. They were competitors, after all. But Yang Ming quickly agreed.
"Mr. Han, I had just that in mind. Why don’t I take you there right now?"
Han Yongsheng clasped his hands in salute, "Then I shall follow your kind offer, please!"
Seeing the situation thus, Xiaoxiao agreed as well. The road wasn’t owned by her family. Even if she refused, they would still find out.
Thus, Yang Ming drove the carriage, pulling Xiaoxiao, Han Yongsheng, and his attendant Ada, and soon they arrived at the depression.
As the group got out of the carriage and walked towards the half-completed pond, admiring the grand construction, Han Yongsheng became even more eager to initiate a partnership.
"Young Master Yang, regarding the cooperation, I think we should discuss it further!"