Chapter 213: Heartless

Chapter 213: Being Stern

Miao Cuifang glanced at Ye Xiaoxiao with a hint of guilt.

Ye Jianguo jumped in, "We weren’t just sitting around doing nothing—we were helping the lady downstairs make tea-leaf eggs."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "I bet you weren’t just helping. You two were probably selling them yourselves."

Miao Cuifang coughed a few times. "We really had nothing else to do, so we picked up some work to pass the time."

Ye Changning: "Where’d you guys get all these eggs?"

Miao Cuifang finally admitted that they had asked Auntie Li for help.

Ye Changning: "Guess I get my business smarts from you two. You guys move quick—must’ve been at this for days."

Miao Cuifang gave her son a look and pulled Xiao Xiao to sit on the sofa.

"Xiao Xiao, don’t worry. Your dad and I just go out for two hours in the morning, that’s all."

Ye Xiaoxiao wasn’t angry, just worried about Miao Cuifang’s health.

"Mom, you and Dad need to pace yourselves. Don’t overexert yourselves."

Miao Cuifang: "This is nothing. We used to do it in our spare time back home—it’s no trouble at all."

Ye Jianguo rubbed his nose and added, "I do all the heavy lifting. I’m keeping an eye on your mom."

Ye Changning shot back, "I think you’re just an accomplice."

Ye Jianguo glared at Ye Changning, ready to smack him again.

Ye Xiaoxiao jumped in, "Third Brother, why not stick around for a bit? It’d be nice for you to keep Mom and Dad company for a few days."

Ye Changning: "Sure, I’ve got plenty to do here anyway."

Since Ye Xiaoxiao still had classes, having Ye Changning around to accompany their parents made them happy.

Ye Xiaoxiao noticed several sample clothes Ye Changning pulled from his bag—styles that were big in the south but not exactly standouts.

Ye Changning knew this too, which was why he had come all the way to Beijing to try and capture the northern market.

"Third Brother, your factory makes formal wear too?"

Ye Changning: "Yeah, besides Zhongshan suits, we also make Western suits. Check out the fit—super sharp."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "You’d need a dress shirt with that suit."

Ye Changning: "Right, we’ve got white shirts, blue shirts—plenty to choose from."

He pulled several shirts from his bag.

Ye Xiaoxiao wasn’t very familiar with the garment industry, but she remembered something she had once seen.

"Third Brother, have you ever thought about making shirt collars?"

Ye Changning was puzzled. "Shirt collars?"

Ye Xiaoxiao gestured as she explained, "Just the collar and shoulder front, without the sleeves. It’d be simpler to make, use less fabric, be cheaper, and easier to wash."

It hit Ye Changning—

"That's quite novel, but isn't it all flash, no substance?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "But it's cheap, and no one’s going to peek under your clothes to see what’s underneath. It’s fine in winter, but think about summer—wouldn’t lighter layers feel better?"

Ye Changning: "I’ll get the factory designers on it right away to make a prototype."

He wasted no time, running to the living room to make the call.

This temperament was indeed inherited from Miao Cuifang and Ye Jianguo—they got things done in a flash.

Ye Xiaoxiao stayed for dinner and then went back to school.

Concerned about her walking in the dark, Miao Cuifang had prepared the meal early.

Before leaving, Ye Xiaoxiao said to Ye Changning: "Third Brother, why don’t you ride back with me and drive the car back for tomorrow? I won’t need it at school."

Once her classes started, it would be another four or five days before she could visit again.

Ye Changning didn’t hesitate. "That works. I’ll return the car to you when I’m done."

Ye Changning needed the car for business trips—not only was it convenient, but it also commanded respect.

So, Ye Changning drove Ye Xiaoxiao back to the campus housing area before bringing the car back. On the way, they chatted.

Ye Changning: "I’ve never driven such a nice car before. This thing costs as much as a few houses!"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "I didn’t pay for it. Lu Hanchuan bought it."

Ye Changning snorted. "Guess he’s got deep pockets."

...

The next day, Ye Changning went out to pitch his clothing designs.

Miao Cuifang and Ye Jianguo went about their usual tea egg business.

The tea eggs sold quickly because Miao Cuifang made them so well—some folks would detour just to buy them.

They sold all three hundred eggs in less than two hours.

By noon, the couple called it a day.

Meanwhile, Hao Yanyan arrived at the Ping'anli compound.

Most folks here worked at the hospital, but regular people could buy some units too—which was how Ye Xiaoxiao had managed to purchase a home.

Hao Yanyan hadn’t been able to shake her unease since her last encounter with Ye Jianguo and his wife.

She pulled a lot of strings to track down their current residence and finally found the Ping'anli compound.

Looking around the compound, Hao Yanyan doubted they could swing a place here.

She wasn’t here for small talk.

Hao Yanyan had heard that Ye Xiaoxiao had used money to cut ties with the Haos.

While a handful of folks called her ungrateful, most gave her props for it.

They felt her actions showed she was unafraid to love or hate, and she hadn't wronged the Hao family.

The Hao family had already swapped the two children back, but Ye Xiaoxiao still returned a large sum of money, showing she knew how to repay a debt of gratitude.

With things having reached this point, the best outcome was for both sides to leave each other alone.

Hao Yanyan was here this time to emulate Ye Xiaoxiao’s approach.

She had brought some money—even if she couldn’t cut ties completely, she could at least return the money she had taken from the family.

That way, Ye Jianguo and Miao Cuifang wouldn’t be able to expose her.

Thinking this, Hao Yanyan headed to Unit 7, Apartment 101, using the address she’d found out.

No need to knock—she could already see Ye Jianguo and Miao Cuifang in the small garden.

Only when she got closer did they spot her.

Miao Cuifang’s eyes widened first, then she spoke excitedly.

“Yan Yan!”

Ye Jianguo quickly turned to look as well.

Hao Yanyan walked forward slowly, her voice barely above a whisper as she called out, “Dad… Mom…”

Miao Cuifang hurriedly opened the small iron gate of the garden, started forward but stopped.

“Yan Yan, how did you know we were here? Did Xiao Xiao tell you? How… how’s life with the Haos?”

Miao Cuifang assumed only Ye Xiaoxiao would’ve reached out to her.

But Hao Yanyan didn’t answer the question. She stood at the garden gate.

“I’ve been fine with the Haos, but my mom won’t let me see you or have any further contact…”

Miao Cuifang’s smile stiffened.

Ye Jianguo sighed. “It’s your choice, and we’ll respect it.”

Hao Yanyan: “Xiao Xiao has stopped calling my parents ‘Mom and Dad’—she’s cut all ties with the Haos. Dad, Mom… I can’t keep calling you that either. I hope you understand.”

Miao Cuifang had known Hao Yanyan wouldn’t return to the Ye family, but she hadn’t expected her to cut all ties.

Papers could be rewritten anytime, but could over a decade of emotions be erased so easily?