Chapter 256: Class Opening Ceremony

Ye Jiayao is completely unaware that she has been unconscious for so long and during that period, there were times were her life was in critical danger which only took a turn for the better if not for Chunyu’s meticulous care day and night.

Furthermore, this time, His Majesty bestowed a huge reward. Her Majesty, Consort Shu and Yu Wang also sent rewards.

His Majesty even sent the imperial physician over to take care of her. In other words, His Majesty takes extreme care of her.

You even came over personally to take care of her and there were many others who came over to visit her like Elder Princess Yu De, Zhu, the people from the chamber of commerce and more…

Ye Jiayao wanted to conceal this from everyone. Now, everyone knows about it.

With regards to her being abducted, she has discussed it with Chunyu before. However, due to the lack of clues, it is difficult to investigate the case. Right until now, the only thing they can confirm is the person’s motive. Also, he is extremely familiar with the layout of the palace and is well aware of the number of guards at each location and the time the change shifts. On top of that, he has a helper. Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to carry an unconscious person from the scene of the incident all the way to the abandoned well near the cold palace without anyone noticing.

However, due to time constraint that day, there is a little clue that Ye Jiayao did not mention. That is, she smelled a faint scent of ambergris on the eunuch when they brushed past each other. Not everyone can use ambergris and it is very previous. In the palace, only the Emperor, the Crown Prince and favoured Princes and Princesses own them. This clue can be checked from the records from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Only, Ye Jiayao does not wish to dwell on it because this matter might involve the political struggle within the palace. She got involved in it once and almost lost her life. She dares not be involved again and most importantly, she cannot allow Chunyu to get involved, it is too dangerous.

Hence, she hid the fact and didn’t mention it.

The incident of her being abducted slowly fades away just like that and no one mentions it again.

Ye Jiayao recuperates for a few days and very quickly, she regained her health. Initially,You wanted to hand the ancestral offerings on the seventh month to Ye Jiayao but after having recovered, You didn’t want her to be overworked. In the end, she took on the task herself.

While Ye Jiayao is recuperating, she took the time to write a detailed class schedule and rules for the students’ management examination and more. The preparatory work on Duan Qilin’s side is completed too. All they have to do is pick an auspicious date and start the class.

Initially, every restaurant is only allowed to send one person for the class but because Heavenly Residence pumped in the most resources for this, with both Ye Jiayao and Zhong Xiang willing to teach, everyone agreed after a discussion that Heavenly Residence can send two people.

However, Ye Jiayao finds this inappropriate as her restaurant is the only exception and this would result in the other members feeling dissatisfied, thinking that they want to be special. After much persuasion, in the end, the president and members of the council are allowed to send two people to the training class. Actually, it is just an additional seven places and is still manageable.

For the two candidates, Ye Jiayao and Zhong Xiang has decided to let Wang Mingde and Cui Dongpeng participate because even though both Deng Haichuan and Wang Mingde are the core of Heavenly Residence, the former is better in terms of managing and coordinating. Hence, the two of them can only participate separately.

To this, Deng Haichuan says generously “The training class is just three to six months for a semester, it would be my turn soon in a few months, it is just a matter of time. It doesn’t matter, let Wang Mingde and Dongpeng go first!”

The 22nd of the seventh month is an auspicious date, suitable for opening of businesses and hence, it is the date where the training class starts officially.

As the first batch of students, on top of that the first batch of students in Huai Song’s history, everyone seems to be very excited, feeling proud, looking around at the four on stage full of anticipation. They are the best in the Food and Beverage industry in Jin Lin, even the entire country. Everyone is pumped up.

As the president and pioneer of this training class, Lu Xiaotian did a brief introduction and also gave a provocative speech, arousing the excitement of the students down stage.

Ye Jiayao silently gives him a thumbs up, who said that Lu Xiaotian is a gentle and refined person, this fellow is a born motivator!

Following that, Duan Qilin gave a speech announcing the rules for the students and things to take note, as well as the rules for the examination. In a nutshell, it is easy to get into this training class but hard to get out. Those who slack off would be kicked out, those who break the rules would be kicked out and those who don’t improve would be kicked out.

Watching Duan Qilin’s serious expression, which makes him look like a devil, Ye Jiayao thinks that he is very suitable in the role of the discipline master.

After that is Ye Jiayao’s turn to talk. Following Ye Jiayao as she rises from her seat, everyone’s gaze from down stage becomes increasingly fervent.

This is the legendary character, the legend of Jin Lin’s Food and Beverage industry. Everyone knows that she is young and that her status is extraordinary but now that they have seen her for themselves and can listen to her lecture, even attending her classes, they cannot hide their agitation and excitement.

Ye Jiayao, Lu Xiaotian and the rest split the content for today’s speeches. Lu Xiaotian is in charge of the introduction, Duan Qilin is in charge of rules and regulations while she will say her word of thanks and the industry’s ethics that she has prepared the previous night.

We have to thank shopkeeper Lu and everyone who put in their blood, sweat and tears for this training class to be possible. We have to thank the bosses willing to nurture you and thank yourselves. Chances are always only given to those who are prepared and it is precisely because you are outstanding enough that you are able to stand here. Therefore, continue to work hard to allow yourselves to become even better…”

“I want you all to remember one point. As people who learn culinary, it is not simply to raise our family. Culinary skills is not just a trade, it is a part of our Chinese civilisation and culture. We are all the inheritors of the Chinese cuisine culture and we will be passing this down to the future generation. Therefore, we have a reason to take pride in ourselves…”

“Also, there is no limit to learning. At any time, we should all be humble and grateful. Today, as the first batch of students for the training class, you all have to work hard to become the model for the future batches. We will pick out the three most outstanding members and put their names up on the training class’s honour roll so that the future batches of students can look up to and follow in their footsteps. These three people might be you or him. From the moment you all step through the door, the opportunity is placed equally in front of you, it is up to you to grab on to it and become the best among the rest…”

Everyone’s spirits are up and they even want to cheer and whistle.

Lu Xiaotian looks at Ye Jiayao with a little shock. He felt that ever since the day he got pushed to run for the chamber’s presidency, his outlook on life and breadth of mind have undergone a drastic change. He sees things in a bigger picture and takes more things into consideration. However, Ye Jiayao’s “We are all the inheritors of the Chinese cuisine culture and we will be passing this down to the future generation. Therefore, we have a reason to take pride in ourselves” moves him to tears all of a sudden.

This is what it means to be open-minded: to stand at the perspective of History to look at this industry, to look at the work that they are doing.

Ye Jinxuan is indeed a miracle of a woman!

After the end of the class opening ceremony, Lu Xiaotian has been looking at Ye Jiayao in a thought-provoking manner.

Ye Jiayao starts to feel a little shy and embarrassed, is it because there is something on her face? Ugh… she even woke up early in the morning to put on some light make up for today’s class opening ceremony.

“Hey, why are you looking at me like that?” Ye Jiayao begins to speak casually to Lu Xiaotian after they become familiar with each other.

Lu Xiaotian lowers his head and smiles “Nothing, I just feel like I have known someone all over again today.”

Ye Jiayao pouts “Is my speech not well done? I really did prepare a lot for it.”

Lu Xiaotian cannot hold in his laughter “No, no, it is very well done, it is so touching I almost cried.”

Ye Jiayao smiles and shoots him a glance “You also shocked me, I thought you wouldn’t be good with words, to think you actually spoke so well, making everyone all hyped up.”

“If you praise me like that I will fly up to the skies. Tell you a secret, actually, the script is written by someone else.” Lu Xiaotian says half-jokingly.

Ye Jiayao stares at him, no way is she going to believe that!

Zhong Xiang has to stay behind to teach today and Ye Jiayao has a date with Ah Ruan. It has been half a month ever since Ah Ruan is married to Yu Wang, she wants to visit her at Yu Wang’s mansion.

Lu XIaotian personally sends Ye Jiayao off from the training class.

Ye Jiayao smiles and waves as she boards the horse carriage.

Lu Xiaotian watches the horse carriage move away until it disappears before he turns around and returns.

All these have been watched closely by someone hiding in a corner not far away.

Ye Jiayao arrives at Yu Wang’s mansion and the gatekeeper has already been instructed to lead her into the mansion.

After not seeing Ah Ruan for half a month, Ye Jiayao got a huge shock when she saw her. Why is Ah Ruan so thin? Her round, apple-shaped face has transformed into an oval-shaped face now, even her chin has become sharp.

Ah Ruan is extremely happy to see Ye Jiayao and got someone to prepare tea and fruits, sending all the servants away other than Xiao Man, who followed her here from Southern Vietnam, and Qiao Xi. Only then, did she break out into a smile “Sister Yaoyao, I am so happy that you can come and see me.”

Ye Jiayao is worried but forces a smile out “Of course I will come and see you, you are my good friend!”

Ah Ruan smiles and asks with concern “Are you feeling better now? I heard that you fell majorly sick because of the cold air in the well. I wanted to visit you but the granny doesn’t allow me to.”

Ye Jiayao smiles “There isn’t a major illness, I just caught a common cold. I’ve recovered from it long ago.”

“Has the perpetrator been found?”

Ye Jiayao bites her lips “I reckon they wouldn’t be able to find him out, thankfully I am alright and your wedding with Yu Wang wasn’t delayed either.”

Speaking of Yu Wang, Ah Ruan’s smile becomes unnatural.

Ye Jiayao asks her with cconcern “Ah Ruan, how have you been? How has Yu Wang been treating you?”

“Good, I am quite alright.” Ah Ruan makes an obvious perfunctory reply.

Ye Jiayao is even more worried “Look at how thin you have become.”

Ah Ruan smiles “Speaking of which, I need your help in something.”

“What is it? Tell me.”

“Can you help me keep a look out for a chef? I am not used to the dishes made by the chefs here, they don’t even taste good.”

Ye Jiayao replies “That cannot be any simpler, I will help you look for one when I go back. Oh, right, here are some rose biscuits, I baked them last night.”

Qiao Xi brings out a food box.

“That’s great, I was craving for something to eat!” Ah Ruan opens the food box impatiently and picks up a rose biscuit, taking a big bite. She says unclearly “It’s delicious, it is getting better and better every time you make it.”

Watching her eat in big mouthfuls, Ye Jiayao tries very hard to keep her smile but she cannot help but feel sorry and sad.

“Ah Ruan, if there is anything that you want to eat in future, just get someone to tell me or go straight to Heavenly Residence, I will instruct them.”

Ye Jiayao knows what Ah Ruan really need is not food and she can tell that her life here isn’t going well, very unwell.

Did Yu Wang not treat her well? Even if Yu Wang has someone else that he likes, Ah Ruan is so loveable and is also his official queen consort, he should still treat her well. Even if it is not possible for both parties to love each other, they should still be able to treat each other with respect as husband and wife!