Chapter 207: Guilty

As the year approached, all the bad mojo has seemed to finally pass, adding a bit of joy to the Spring Festival.

Since Heavenly Residence would be closing on the eve of the Spring Festival, Ye Jiayao called all the guys together after lunch. She distributed red packets to everyone as a bonus for their hard work this year.

All the workers were smiling and laughing as they received their heavy red envelope. They could finally have a good Spring Festival.

Ye Jiayao said, “This is a thank you for all the hard work that you have exerted for me and the restaurant.”

She made sure to add more than usual in the red envelopes that she gave out. These workers have more than earned her generosity.

“I also want to tell you that from now on, five percent of the proceeds each year will be distributed amongst you as a reward. As long as you work hard, you have a share,” she continued.

Everyone was stunned as they quickly calculated the math in their brains. If the restaurant’s good business continues, they could be looking at at least a thousand silvers yearly. For the people who are getting paid only a couple of silvers a month, that was an astronomical figure.

Ye Jiayao wasn’t done. “And if you stay with Heavenly Residence until you are fifty years old, you will be getting an allowance from the restaurant every month for the rest of your life.”

Pensions were a part of the modern social welfare system. She wanted to bring that kind of benefit to her restaurant since it doesn’t exist in ancient times. Not only that her workers deserve this, but it would also fortify their loyalty to the restaurant. It’s a definite win for both parties.

Ye Jiayao looked at everyone’s shocked faces and laughed. “What? Do you not believe me? I can have all of these written into a contract if you’d like more assurance.”

“No, no! It’s not that we don’t believe you, Second Young Lady. It’s just too generous and unexpected,” Zhong Xiang said.

Deng Haichuan said, “Second Young Mistress, I will be working for Heavenly Residence until I can’t work anymore.”

Everyone echoed the same sentiment.

They were lucky to have found such a good master like the Second Young Mistress. It was clear that she values them from the way she takes care of their needs. Now, they wouldn’t need to worry about food and other expenses when they get old.

Ye Jiayao smiled at everyone. This was a motivation for them to work harder and to work smarter. This type of loyal employees will guarantee that Heavenly Residence would continue to be prosperous in the future.

Manager Zhao was in awe of the Second Young Lady. He has been in the business for years and he has met a lot of bosses and reviewed a lot of policies. Not one of those people could compete with the Second Young Mistress. She’s business savvy with a heart of gold. It was a great and unexpected combination.

She has inspired loyalty and hard work from her employees without a single threat or punishment. They were loyal and they work hard because they wanted to please her, and that was rare in the industry.

In the middle of everyone cheering, Little Shao, Zhao Qixuan’s servant, came with two cars filled with coconuts.

Ye Jiayao has been thinking about these coconuts, but she knew that it wouldn’t be easy to ship from the south so she refrained from badgering Qixuan. She wasn’t expecting them to come on a holiday.

“These coconuts arrived just this morning and the Heir-son Lord told me to get it to you as soon as possible,” Little Shao said with a smile.

“This is great!” Ye Jiayao exclaimed. “How much do these cost?”

Little Shao said, “The Heir-son Lord said that he didn’t spend that much on these. He said it’s a gift for the Second Young Lady for the New Year.”

Ye Jiayao looked at the two carts filled with coconuts. She didn’t know how much coconuts cost in this era and there was no way to estimate the value.

She called Cui Dongpeng to take six gift boxes from the pastry shop and gave them to Little Shao to bring back. “Your Madame likes to eat these. Take this back to her as my gift.”

Little Shao shook his head and said, “The Heir-son Lord said not to take anything from you.”

Ye Jiayao smiled and insisted, “This is a gift for the Lord’s wife. I was going to send it to her, but since you’re already here, you can just take it to her.”

Little Shao still refused to take it.

Ye Jiayao gave up. She would have to deliver these boxes herself.

Back at the mansion, Ye Jiayao asked the servants to move the carts of coconuts to her yard. Qiao Xi and the others have never seen a coconut before and found it strange.

“What is this used for?” someone asked Jiang Yue curiously.

Jiang Yue shrugged. “I don’t know, but the Second Young Lady said that they can be made into something delicious.”

After Ye Jiayao has made sure that all the coconuts were properly stocked, she headed over to the Helian Mansion to help cook for the dinner that they were having that night.

When she got to the palace, she headed straight to the kitchen and started preparing ingredients.

She was cutting some fish bones when Little Jing came in and exclaimed, “Yaoyao, stop! The Old Ancestress told you to rest!”

“I haven’t cooked for the Old Ancestress for a long time. I have learned some new vegetarian dishes and I want to make it for her.”

“You can do that another time!”

Ye Jiayao only smiled and said, “What better time than the Spring Festival dinner?”

Since Little Jing couldn’t persuade her, he just pulled up a stool and watched her work. He hasn’t talked to her much these past few months.

“My brother won the battle,” he began.

“I heard it from Chunyu. I hope that the war ends soon so Big Brother can come back.”

Little Jing snorted. “Not so fast. If we do not completely eliminate Azhake, there would always be trouble.”

Ye Jiayao felt bad for the soldiers who have to fight. Instead of spending the festival with their loved ones, they were out there risking their lives.

“I also heard that Qixuan and Susu will go south after the new year,” Little Jing continued.

Ye Jiayao thought about the border trade. Were they going south for that? That journey would take months. “When will they leave?”

“After the fifteenth! It’s getting more and more boring. First, you and Chunfeng got married, and now they’re leaving. Who will I hang out with?” he complained.

“Get married then,” she suggested with a laugh.

“I don’t want to. Besides, I don’t have someone that I fancy.” He couldn’t say that the person she liked was snatched by another guy. Where could he find another Yaoyao?

“Give it time. Maybe you’ll meet someone someday,” she assured him.

Before he could stop himself, Little Jing blurted out, “I won’t like anyone else that’s not like you.”

The two of them suddenly went quiet, the air around them tensing.

Ye Jiayao felt awkward. She knew that Little Jing used to like her, but since it’s been so long and she’s married now, she thought he has moved on. Apparently not.

“I’m just joking,” Little Jing said.

Ye Jiayao gave a nervous chuckle and changed the topic. “Why don’t you go out and visit some friends before dinner? Now that you are in the military department, you have to socialize.

Little Jing couldn’t say that he was deliberately staying at home today because he knew that she would be coming.

“If I run out now before dinner, Mother would have my hide.”

There was another moment of silence before Little Jing hesitantly asked, “Are you… are things going well for you in the mansion?”

Ye Jiayao nodded reassuringly at him. “Yes. Very good.”

“Did Liu Li try to make trouble for you?”

 “No.”

“That’s good. If she tries anything, you can go to Mother. Mother is her aunt, after all. She’ll listen to her.”

“I will. Thank you.”

The more Little Jing shows his concern, the more uncomfortable she was getting.

“If you have been wronged in any way, you can tell me. I won’t even tell Brother Chunyu.”

“Who would dare to bully me?” Ye Jiayao teased. “You know how fierce I am!”

Little Jing didn’t laugh. “I’m serious. If you want to talk, I’ll always listen. You can treat it as if you’re talking to your little brother.”

“Okay. Well, with my brother supporting me, I am even more confident,” she said. She was already treating him like her little brother. Now, if he could just treat her as his big sister, they’d be golden.

When Ping An came in and told them that Xia Chunyu has arrived, Little Jing stood up.

“Don’t overexert yourself. Old Ancestress would be happy with just a few dishes. I’m going to greet Brother Chunyu.”

Ye Jiayao nodded and watched him leave, heaving a sigh of relief. She could finally concentrate on cooking now.

When Xia Chunyu arrived at the Helian mansion and found out that Little Jing was with Yaoyao in the kitchen, he immediately got upset. Although he knew that it’s impossible for Yaoyao and Little Jing to ever get together, he still couldn’t help but be jealous.

Handing the gift to a servant, Xia Chunyu went to greet Princess Yu De and the Old Ancestress.

A few moments later, Little Jing came to greet him too.

Xia Chunyu asked, “Where were you? I’ve been looking for you.”

“Oh, I was with a guest for some time. When I found out that you got here, I quickly sent him away,” Little Jing said casually.

Xia Chunyu was quiet as he sipped his tea, the knot in his heart throbbing. Why did he have to lie? If his intentions were innocent, there was no need to lie.

The guilt was painted on his face.