The Young Lady is a Bit Unruly [Fragrant Harbor] - Chapter 71 The Old Man

Chapter 71 The Old Man

Back in her bedroom, Ye Baoling sat on the balcony lost in thought.

Sister Ping entered carrying Papaya Hashima. With the temperature dropping these past few days, she said, Young Miss, it’s chilly outside. Come inside to drink this.

Ye Baoling didn’t want to go in. Seeing her reluctance, Sister Ping had no choice but to bring the soup out to her.

Ye Baoling asked, Sister Ping, do you still remember the year my parents divorced, when my mother was falsely accused of stealing the jade?

Sister Ping was momentarily stunned before replying, How could I forget? I even had an argument with that damned fat attendant your father kept around back then.

Why did you argue?

Seizing the opportunity to coax her, Sister Ping said, Come inside, and I’ll tell you.

Ye Baoling had no choice but to carry the soup bowl inside. When Sister Ping moved to take it from her, she blocked her hand, saying, I can carry it myself.

Once inside, Sister Ping closed the balcony door and turned on the living room lights before speaking. During that time, that vixen Zheng Junni secretly called your mother, begging her to give her official status. Your mother was so angry she couldn’t even sleep properly. How could she possibly have thought to steal that worthless piece of jade? Everyone said that jade wasn’t valuable – it had been passed down since before the ancestors made their fortune. When the family was poor, how could they have possessed good jade anyway? What would your mother have wanted with stealing it?

After this long speech that missed the main point, Ye Baoling pressed further, Who do you think framed my mother?

Who else could it be? Sister Ping tilted her chin toward the Abundant Moon Tower. Besides your father, who would dare do such a thing? We servants wouldn’t dare, and we couldn’t have done it anyway – we couldn’t even get into the fourth floor of the Hall of Flourishing Harmony to steal the jade. It wouldn’t make sense, don’t you think?

But Ye Baoling had already largely ruled out her father. On the day the jade went missing, who had entered my mother’s room?

Oh my, that was so long ago, I can hardly remember. Your mother and I tried to recall before – it was just us few attending servants, and two of your father’s attendants. Your mother had been in her room those two days, only going to the garden for walks before and after meals.

Though she thought it unlikely, Ye Baoling still asked, What about Zheng Junni?

She hadn’t entered the Ye household yet. That vixen was secretly living in a house your father rented for her while she was pregnant. She didn’t have the opportunity. Not only did she not have chances to come to the Ye residence, your grandfather almost forced your father to make her abort the pregnancy. But then your father invited some Old Chinese Medicine Practitioner to take her pulse, who said she was carrying a male fetus. That’s why the abortion didn’t happen. And because of this male child, after your parents divorced, she entered the main house, a common pheasant suddenly flying up to perch on the phoenix branch! Speaking of Zheng Junni, Sister Ping couldn’t help cursing her: That vixen deserves all her misery!

Ye Baoling asked, Was she familiar with those attendants around my father?

Familiar! All those attendants around your father had been bought off by that vixen, especially that damned fat one. If it wasn’t your father, the next most likely possibility is that Zheng Junni bribed your father’s attendants to secretly play this trick.

But didn’t you say the fourth floor was locked, making it difficult to enter and steal the jade?

If someone was determined, they would have stolen the key early on…

Ye Baoling drank her Papaya Hashima soup, lost in thought, and asked no more questions.

Ye Baoling officially assumed the position of Vice General Manager at the Leaf Pure Tea branch company.

Her office moved from the 7th floor to the 10th floor.

He Jiayi was transferred to serve as her assistant, while HR assigned her a new secretary.

The new secretary was none other than Lin Zhizhi, the beautiful woman with red lips and wavy hair who had interviewed on the same day as her.

This Lin Zhizhi was very perceptive. Perhaps thinking Ye Baoling had already forgotten her, she didn’t bring up their shared interview experience.

Instead, she prepared strong coffee, fresh fruit, and the latest reports from each department early in the morning.

As soon as Ye Baoling arrived, Lin Zhizhi stood up to greet her: Good morning, President Ye.

Morning, Ye Baoling replied with a smile and a nod.

Ye Baoling also acted as if she didn’t remember the other woman.

At 10 a.m., the senior management meeting began. Cai Yongming, acting as general manager, sat at the head of the table. He jokingly offered his seat to Ye Baoling, but she just smiled without taking the bait and instead sat opposite Qu Zhengming.

There was one acting general manager and three deputy general managers. Besides Ye Baoling and Qu Zhengming, there was another deputy named Sun William, primarily responsible for finance and administration.

Cai Yongming chaired the meeting and announced, The three deputy general managers need to reassign responsibilities. President Ye Baoling will oversee market business, branding, and promotional activities. President Qu Zhengming will be in charge of products and factories. President Sun William will manage finance, administration, and human resources.

No one raised any objections.

They then moved on to discussing work-related issues. Cai Yongming asked, President Ye, what’s the current progress on the newly developed U.S. market?

Without opening the folder in front of her, Ye Baoling, who was thoroughly familiar with her work, replied, The product packaging design is complete. Next is a two-week production period, followed by shipping. The goods are expected to arrive at U.S. ports and be delivered just before Christmas. The urgent task now is to establish the U.S. branch as soon as possible. We need to work with L&D to prepare the North American promotional plan.

Cai Yongming nodded. The establishment of the U.S. branch needs to be discussed with the chairman and President Lin. We must send someone with strong execution skills.

Ye Baoling said, I already have someone in mind.

Who is it?

Yang Baozhu from our marketing department. She studied in the U.S. and is familiar with the situation there. She’s also one of the key contributors to our U.S. market expansion. Moreover, during the initial market development phase, she built a preliminary rapport with the L&D team. She’s the most suitable candidate.

He Jiayi handed Yang Baozhu’s profile to Cai Yongming.

Cai Yongming frowned slightly. A woman, and so young—is that reliable?

Ye Baoling was no longer the person who constantly worried about others’ opinions or moods. When we were breaking into the market initially, why wasn’t it a problem that she’s a woman? The U.S. market was secured by the four women in Team Three of the marketing department. Now that we’re establishing a U.S. branch, the most suitable candidate is undoubtedly one of the pioneers who opened up the market.

They were women, and they were young, but they were pioneers, the founding members.

Being publicly contradicted by the young lady left Cai Yongming somewhat displeased. Then I’ll discuss it with the chairman and President Lin.

In truth, Ye Baoling had already discussed it with her grandfather. Not wanting to further embarrass Cai Yongming, she smiled and nodded. Thank you, General Cai.

It’s my duty.

Next, it was Qu Zhengming’s turn to report on his work.

Qu Zhengming said, We need to start developing new products for next year. Currently, we only have Jasmine Iced Tea supplying the American market, which is too limited. We probably need to develop several more tea beverages suitable for young consumers.

Cai Yongming, who had grown accustomed to suppressing Qu Zhengming lately, responded, Jasmine Iced Tea sells well domestically and in Southeast Asia, but its market potential in the U.S. hasn’t been verified yet. Should we prioritize developing a traditional herbal tea for the Lunar New Year launch first?

Qu Zhengming didn’t argue with him: We can work on both simultaneously.

Cai Yongming suggested, I recommend focusing our main efforts on traditional herbal tea for now. We can concentrate on new-style tea drinks after verifying the American market’s response.

Ye Baoling disagreed with Cai Yongming’s direction: Actually, the traditional herbal tea market is quite fixed. Whether new products emerge or not, the consumer base remains largely the same. These customers are very loyal and rarely change their taste preferences, so new products wouldn’t significantly increase sales. On the other hand, new-style iced tea definitely has market potential in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, regardless of its performance in the U.S. Developing different varieties of iced tea with solid product quality will surely attract more consumers. I think we should do the opposite – focus mainly on new-style iced teas with different flavors. For traditional herbal tea, we already have the new Monk Fruit product this year. Even if we develop new products, we can consider whether to launch them in the next year or two.

Qu Zhengming immediately nodded: That’s exactly what I meant.

Cai Yongming suspected Qu Zhengming had discussed this with Ye Baoling beforehand. He could only smile and mediate: Director Ye does have a point…

Ye Baoling continued, Actually, for new-style iced tea, we could consider black tea, which is more popular among foreigners. Let’s see if we can develop a tasty Ice Black Tea. Later we can also develop iced green tea.

Qu Zhengming agreed: Ice Black Tea should be feasible to develop first. The flavor should still focus on being light and slightly sweet, suitable for young people.

Ye Baoling smiled and nodded: Yes, actually we could develop a whole series based on different tea varieties.

When it came to product development, Qu Zhengming and Ye Baoling shared more common ground. Cai Yongming, who came from an administrative background, found it difficult to contribute and could only watch them discuss with a smile.

The new product department director promoted by Cai Yongming also couldn’t interject.

Qu Zhengming couldn’t help glancing back at him, reminding: Take notes. Don’t forget the key points when we have our department meeting later.

The new director then hurriedly opened his notebook to record the main points they had just discussed.

The meeting ended around 12 o’clock.

Gu Man’er and Wang Simin came up to find Ye Baoling.

After looking around Ye Baoling’s large office, Wang Simin sighed: Darling, when can you arrange such a big office for me too?

Ye Baoling laughed at her: Work hard, I have faith in you.

Wang Simin joked: I’ll come be your secretary then.

Gu Man’er teased: Can you match the presence of that wavy-haired beauty secretary outside?

Wang Simin held her face: I wouldn’t look bad after some dressing up, okay?

Mentioning the secretary outside, Wang Simin whispered to Ye Baoling: By the way, didn’t you previously ask A Xia to have the cleaning aunt keep an eye on Manager Li from HR?

Now that Ye Baoling couldn’t frequently visit the cleaning department in logistics anymore, she relied on Wang Simin to relay messages.

Any progress?

Wang Simin: Once, the cleaning aunt overheard that Manager Li and your external secretary, her name is Lin Zhizhi. Manager Li told Lin Zhizhi to keep Old Cai happy.

Old Cai? Ye Baoling understood—it must be Cai Yongming.

Was Manager Li’s backer Cai Yongming?

No wonder he wasn’t implicated in that major incident last time.

But what did Manager Li mean by having Lin Zhizhi keep Cai Yongming happy? Was he pimping her out?

The more she thought about it, the more disturbing it became.

Wang Simin added, This General Cai is a smiling tiger. Be careful around him.

Ye Baoling shushed her, signaling not to make a scene.

Recent events at home had taken a heavy toll on Ye Baoxin.

Staying at the Ye residence was becoming increasingly unbearable for her.

Still, at Su Manzhu Jewelry, she was at least a team leader with a generous salary. Besides, she had no better options, so she could only throw herself into her work with greater dedication.

After work that day, instead of going home, she went to the Fang residence to find Fang Shanxing.

As she emerged from the garage, she encountered the Fang family’s housekeeper, Sister Ju.

Sister Ju! Ye Baoxin greeted her warmly.

Sister Ju smiled, Miss Ye, the young master is upstairs in the small sitting room playing chess with Sir Fang.

Ye Baoxin was skilled at winning over the Fang family’s staff. Smiling, she handed over the cakes she had bought, I bought some cakes. Set aside one piece for each family member and share the rest among yourselves.

Sister Ju thanked her with a smile, Thank you, Miss Ye. You’re so thoughtful.

Ye Baoxin headed directly to the second floor, familiar with the route. The corridors on the second floor of the Fang residence were carpeted, muffling any sound of footsteps.

As she approached the small sitting room, she overheard Sir Fang say, Have you heard about what happened with the Ye family’s Oldest Branch?

Fang Shanxing replied, Yes, you mean the fake grandson situation, right?

Hearing this, Ye Baoxin quickly halted.

Sir Fang asked, What are your thoughts?

Fang Shanxing said lightly, What can I think? It has nothing to do with me.

After a long pause, Sir Fang continued, I heard that Ye Baoxin’s mother was driven out of the Ye family and is living separately now. After all, Baoxin isn’t a biological granddaughter of the Ye family. With this happening, her position in the Ye family must be quite awkward.

Grandfather, I like Baoxin for who she is. It has nothing to do with the Ye family.

How can it not matter? If Baoxin weren’t flying the banner of a Ye family granddaughter, could she have climbed up to our Fang family? Can just anyone become the granddaughter-in-law of Sir Fang? Think carefully. I don’t oppose you dating. But if you want to marry, choosing a wife who won’t be any help to you in the future—that’s not a rational choice for an adult.

Fang Shanxing changed the subject, laughing, I’ve taken your rook, Grandfather.

Ye Baoxin felt deeply hurt inside. She could understand—it was only natural for Sir Fang to think this way.

Fortunately, Fang Shanxing hadn’t changed his stance yet, but who could guarantee the future?

Just as she was about to compose herself and enter, a voice sounded beside her.

Miss Ye…

Startled, she turned to see Sister Ju coming up the stairs with the cakes.

The carpet muffled footsteps—what a nuisance.

Clearly, Sister Ju had seen her standing there eavesdropping on the conversation between the Fang grandfather and grandson.

So awkward.

Ye Baoxin could only brazen it out, saying, Sister Ju, give me the cakes. I’ll take them in.

Sister Ju didn’t expose her, just smiled and handed over the tray, Be careful.

Forcing a smile, Ye Baoxin took the tray and walked into the small sitting room.

Grandpa Fang, Shanxing, you’re playing chess.

Sir Fang looked quite cheerful when he saw Ye Baoxin enter. Baoxin’s here. You came at just the right time. This guy doesn’t follow the rules when playing chess—he took my rook when I wasn’t paying attention. I don’t want to play with him anymore. Come, play a game with me.

The older, the wiser.

You couldn’t tell at all that the old man secretly disliked Ye Baoxin.

Ye Baoxin smiled and played dumb: Sure, I’ll play a game with Grandpa.

Fang Shanxing noticed the cake and said with a laugh: Did you buy tiramisu? I was just craving some.

I bought it especially for you.

Sir Fang took the hint. Alright, alright, I shouldn’t be a third wheel. You two enjoy yourselves.

With that, he stood up and left.

The two families picked an auspicious day, and Guan Lao Taijun and Yang Pinxian personally delivered various betrothal gifts and jewelry to their door.

In addition to the full set of diamond jewelry that Ye Huaizhang had previously bought for Ye Baoling, there were also jade and gold pieces.

Displayed in the first-floor living room, everyone gathered around to look, creating quite a spectacle.

The sisters Ye Leqiong and Ye Leyan were envious, constantly exclaiming, Wow!

Ye Leyan rested her chin on Ye Baoling’s shoulder: Baoling-jie, we’re so jealous of you. Look at these diamonds—how many carats must they be? So big, so dazzling.

Ye Leqiong teased: They’re almost blinding my poor eyes.

Actually, Ye Baoling’s taste was quite simple.

She preferred gold, which had standard prices and didn’t cheat the young or old.

However, that didn’t stop her from also liking this beautiful full set of diamond jewelry at the moment.

Ye Leqiong added: I don’t easily praise others unless they’re willing to spend money on me. But today, I simply must praise your Huaizhang-gege. He’s really willing to spend on you.

Ye Baoling was creeped out by her calling him Huaizhang-gege and asked with a laugh: Do they look good?

The sisters said in unison: They look beautiful.

After the third branch of the family finished delivering the gifts, they arranged for both families to go out for a meal together over the weekend.

Once the third branch had left, Liang Meiyun repeatedly went tsk tsk several times. Baoling, it’s truly enviable. These huge diamonds are practically blinding me.

Ye Qizu was quite satisfied with the third branch’s generosity.

Ye Qizong stood to the side, somewhat sour: They produce the diamonds themselves, so it’s not that expensive for them.

Ye Qizu shot him a glare: Diamonds from their own mines are even more valuable—guaranteed authentic!

That old man!

He really got to show off.

After the onlookers dispersed, Liang Meiyun asked: Where should we put these jewelry pieces?

Second Aunt was so considerate!

Ye Baoling didn’t even have to ask herself.

Ye Baoling seemed troubled: I don’t have a safe in my room.

Liang Meiyun smiled: If you trust Second Aunt, you can store them in our safe.

Ye Baoling joked: What if Second Uncle steals my jewelry to pawn for money?

Ye Kais scolded her: Do I seem that shallow?

I trust Grandpa more. Ye Baoling looked at Ye Qizu. Grandpa, you must have more than one safe, right? Could you clear one out for me to store these jewelry pieces?

Most people wouldn’t refuse to store someone else’s jewelry in their own safe.

Moreover, it came with the trust of a granddaughter.

Ye Qizu thought for a moment: I’ll go clear out a safe for you.

Within ten minutes, Ye Qizu called down to the first floor, telling them to bring the jewelry up.

The jewelry was delivered to the study. After everyone else had left, Ye Qizu walked over to the freestanding bookcase against the wall. Using a key, he unlocked the middle drawer and pressed some hidden switch inside. The entire bookcase slid aside, revealing a door less than a meter wide.

It turned out there was a small secret chamber between the study and the old master’s bedroom.

Grandfather’s bedroom likely also had a door leading to the secret chamber.

Come in.

Only then did Ye Baoling obediently carry the jewelry inside.

The secret chamber contained a small desk and a library ladder.

At the very back stood six safes arranged in three rows and two columns.

If nothing was amiss, the Ugly King Jade Pendant should be in one of them.

Ye Qizu said, The bottom left one is for your temporary use.

The safe had a combination lock with both a keyhole and a mechanical dial.

Ye Baoling carefully placed boxes of gold, jade, and diamond jewelry inside.

After arranging everything, she locked the safe and pulled out the key.

There was a set of six keys—clearly, each safe had a unique one.

Ye Baoling smiled and said, I’ll keep the key.

Without waiting for the old man’s approval, she removed her safe’s key.

Ye Qizu couldn’t help chiding her, You’ve stored everything with me, yet you still don’t trust me?

It’s not about trust—it’s about declaring that the contents of this safe belong to me. As she removed the key, Ye Baoling deliberately slowed her movements, glancing at the key patterns. They appeared to be from the same series.

If she could master one, she could likely open the other safes.

The remaining challenge was the mechanical combination lock.

What’s the combination? she asked her grandfather.

Ye Qizu, advanced in years, found changing combinations troublesome and refused to disclose it.

Just keep the key. Whenever you need to open the safe, I’ll unlock the door and handle the combination.

Ye Baoling knew her grandfather wouldn’t easily reveal the code.

She didn’t press further, avoiding suspicion.

Exiting the secret chamber, she joked, Grandfather, you won’t suddenly forget the combination one day, will you?

Won’t happen.

Ye Baoling teased him further, Have you heard of Alzheimer’s disease?

What illness? Ye Qizu closed the secret chamber door.

Commonly known as senile dementia. It makes you forget many things. What if you forget the combination someday? You should write it down in a notebook.

Ye Qizu retorted, Are you cursing me with illness? Since when do I need you to tell me what to do!

From this, she deduced that her grandfather had already written the combination in a notebook.

Ye Baoling laughed it off, I’m just concerned about you.

Take good care of the key—don’t lose it, Ye Qizu reminded her.

Understood. I won’t lose it.

Leaving her grandfather’s study, Ye Baoling returned to her bedroom and began studying the key’s grooves. A No. 4 hook pick should be able to open this type of lock.

She decided to test it on a similar safe another day.

That evening, Ye Huaizhang arrived as promised. He no longer used the Blue Brick Tunnel, returning first to the Third Branch residence each day. After finishing his tasks, he would punctually come over to attend the bedchamber.

He had the credentials and, frankly, didn’t care about others’ opinions—or as the saying goes, he was thick-skinned. Whenever he had time, he would come daily.

Ye Baoling briefly described what she had observed in her grandfather’s study to him.

I’ll spend this time first researching the lock-picking. My grandfather must have recorded the mechanical combination in some notebook—it’ll take time to find.

Anyway, as she had said earlier, with three approaches working simultaneously, they would eventually find a way to obtain the Ugly King Jade Pendant.

Ye Huaizhang remarked to her: Your grandfather certainly never expected his own granddaughter to be so cunning. You’ve completely outmaneuvered him.

He’s just too cunning. He simply refuses to tell me the password. If I were Ye Baoshun, he’d probably tell me. Ye Baoling snorted coldly. You know how we women are inherently undervalued and distrusted. In your natal family you’re an outsider, in your marital family you’re still an outsider.

Natal family… marital family…

She shuddered. How could she say such things?

Ugh!

She wanted her own home.

Ye Huaizhang gently tapped the tip of her nose. As long as your man values you, that’s what matters.

Ye Baoling was amused by him. Not today. I’m on my period. You’ll have to endure.

No matter, they could still kiss.

They’d recently developed a fondness for kissing – sharing breath, mutual comfort – it was quite nice.

Meanwhile, two rooms over in Ye Kais and Liang Meiyun’s room, Liang Meiyun muttered quietly: Coming every single day. Anyone who didn’t know better would think he’s a live-in son-in-law.

Ye Kais was trimming his nose hairs in the bathroom. Who is he? He’s Ye Huaizhang! Would he ever consent to being our family’s live-in son-in-law?! Dream on. It’s just newlywed passion, can’t bear to be apart. We’ve all been through that phase.

Liang Meiyun glared at her husband. While they’re young they can do it every day. Wait until he’s in his forties, he’ll probably be no different from you. Couldn’t squeeze out half a drop in a month.

Ye Kais fell silent.

When Ye Baoling woke up, Ye Huaizhang had already left.

Sister Ping knocked and entered, tidying up while saying: After you questioned me the other day, I’ve been thinking back to what happened that day.

Ye Baoling had spoken quite a bit with Sister Ping over the past couple days. She asked: Which incident?

Sister Ping lowered her voice: About your mother being falsely accused. I remembered – that day your mother was taking a walk downstairs, and I was inside helping you paste your homework notebook. Then Xing Shen came in and said the Old Master was being discharged from the hospital soon, and told your parents to prepare to welcome him. Your father wasn’t home, so I went downstairs to find your mother.

Ye Baoling stopped rubbing her cheeks: Did Xing Shen go downstairs with you?

Sister Ping helped Ye Baoling arrange her slippers properly in front of her. I don’t remember, I have no impression at all. If she had gone downstairs with me, I should have some memory of it. Don’t you think?

So, was it Xing Shen who planted the Ugly King Jade Pendant in her mother’s drawer?

Ye Baoling asked again: The key to the fourth floor of Hall of Flourishing Harmony has always been with Xing Shu, right?

Sister Yin manages it. But Xing Shu definitely has one too.

Ye Baoling got up, put on her shoes, and entered the bathroom.

Standing before the mirror, she suddenly understood everything.

Xing Shu had the key to the fourth floor of Hall of Flourishing Harmony. After stealing the Ugly King Jade Pendant, he had Xing Shen plant it in her mother’s drawer.

Xing Shu and Xing Shen had no grudge against her mother – they had no reason to frame her.

So they were most likely ordered to do it.

The only person in this family who could order Xing Shu and Xing Shen around was Ye Qizu.

Therefore, the one who framed her mother was none other than her grandfather.

Ye Qizu had always been hypocritical and concerned with face, sanctimonious and self-righteous. He couldn’t openly support his son divorcing his daughter-in-law, especially since the Gu Family had fallen on hard times – he especially couldn’t publicly support Ye Kaimin abandoning Gu Min…

So he used this roundabout method, framing Gu Min for theft to make her the guilty party.

And Gu Min was someone who valued face. Heartbroken and disillusioned, she naturally chose to concede.

Ye Qizu sacrificed Gu Min and the original mother-daughter pair to give his unborn grandson legitimacy.

That old bastard truly deserves to die.

Author’s Note: Ye Qizu: I’ve always been fair and never favored sons over daughters…

Ye Baoling: Hah, old man.