Yao Fangfang stood by the table, lost in thought, and an involuntary gentle smile appeared on her lips, her almond-shaped eyes slightly curved. It was life, and it was Chen Ming, that had taught her these changes.
"Brother!" Chen Ying’s excited voice called from the courtyard.
"Yingzi! Here, I brought you a gift!" The tall and handso Chen Ming walked in carrying a bag. "How’s everything at ho?" Thinking of ho, he frowned slightly, reminded of Yao Fangfang and her spoiled ways.
"Everything at ho is great! Sister-in-law even made sothing special for you today!" Chen Ying was thrilled about the gift her brother had brought her, but at the sa ti, she thought he was treating her like a kid. "By the way, don’t just bring gifts for —you have to bring sothing for Sister-in-law too."
"Since when did you also start caring about her..." Chen Ming was startled, his eyes eting Yao Fangfang’s at the doorway of the main hall.
Just one glance, and he felt sothing different.
"You’re back." Yao Fangfang couldn’t hide the smile in her almond-shaped eyes as she gazed at him. She always looked at him like this, which made Chen Ming slightly uncomfortable, and he frowned.
Before long, Chen’s father and mother returned, and the whole family gathered to eat.
"Mingzi, you shouldn’t always be running around outside. Newlyweds should spend more ti at ho," Chen’s mother scolded. Truthfully, she just wanted to hold a grandchild. It had been two months since the wedding, and including this ti, Mingzi had only co ho twice. She was getting anxious!
"Mom, I can’t help it either—orders keep coming in," Chen Ming replied vaguely, picking up so fish. The tender fish lted in his mouth, delivering an overwhelming sensation to his taste buds.
"The fish tastes different today. Yingzi, you’ve really improved—what you make now almost matches Sangsang!" For Chen Ming to compare her to Tian Sangsang ant he was particularly impressed.
Chen Ying replied, "I can’t make sothing like this; Sister-in-law made it. She cooked this especially for you, so if you want to thank soone, thank Sister-in-law."
Chen Ming froze, looking incredulously at Yao Fangfang as if he’d seen a ghost. She made this?
eting his gaze, Yao Fangfang shyly lowered her head.
Chen’s father rembered sothing and pulled a letter from the pocket of his green coat. He then grabbed an elegant bag from the side. A refined floral fragrance imdiately overshadowed the aroma of the food, filling the room.
"Yingzi, here’s a letter from Sangsang. It arrived at my place today, so I brought it back for you. The items in this bag are also for you," Chen’s father said.
Chen Ying exclaid and quickly took the items, placing the bag on the ground as she excitedly opened the letter to read.
"What does Sangsang say?" Chen’s mother asked. "I wonder how she’s doing these days?" They had only heard about her leaving with Yanyan’s father, who was a military officer. They figured her life was probably quite comfortable.
"Yeah, what does she say!?" Chen Ming, too excited to eat, put down his chopsticks.
Now, when Yao Fangfang heard the na Tian Sangsang, she felt calm—there was no resentnt, just a faint sense of guilt. Thinking back, the forr Tian Sangsang, though dark-skinned, chubby, and unattractive, was cheerful, bold, capable, and an excellent cook. How could she have disliked soone like that? Now, she had no appetite and quietly pricked up her ears to listen. She thought that soone like Tian Sangsang could live well anywhere. However, she couldn’t help but wonder if her husband’s family might dislike her for her appearance.
Chen Ying finished reading and handed the letter to Chen Ming, who began to read it himself.
Chen Ying said, "Sangsang says she’s doing well. She heard that we have fields here and that we grow tea trees. She’s thinking about collaborating with us. She’s in the skincare business now and has planted so flowers, but with her large sales volu, she doesn’t have enough flowers. She hopes we can beco her suppliers. Oh, and she also sent us so skincare products to try out."
"Skincare products?" Chen’s father asked, puzzled.
"What do you know?" Chen’s mother shot him a look. "This is won’s stuff. You’ve at least heard of face cream, right?"
Chen’s father nodded, understanding now, and focused back on eating his al.
"Is it like face cream?" Yao Fangfang asked. Being young, she had so knowledge of skincare products; she used to favor the Fuxiang brand. She recalled that Tian Sangsang always carried a floral scent.
Chen Ying also rembered Tian Sangsang’s love for flowers and wasn’t surprised she could make skincare products. "Sister-in-law, why don’t we open it up and take a look?" She pulled items from the bag—facial cleanser, moisturizer, and rose essential oil. The bottles were exquisite and elegant, looking high-end and unlike anything they’d ever seen.
Yao Fangfang imdiately grew fond of them. Chen’s mother loved them too, and Chen Ying even more so. The three won couldn’t resist the allure of the skincare products.
"Sangsang really has a talent for this. These look much better than face cream," Chen’s mother sincerely praised. The jars were made of glass, not tin, and when opened, the fragrance was enchanting.
Chen Ying applied so and imdiately noticed the difference: "Sangsang’s work is a cut above the rest. This feels amazing!"
Suddenly, Yao Fangfang exclaid, "Is this rose essential oil?"
Her expression turned serious, startling everyone as they turned to look at her in unison. Rose essential oil—none of them had heard of it before.
Yao Fangfang explained, "Rose essential oil is very rare and hard to find in the country—it’s mostly used by high-ranking officials. Overseas, it’s even more precious. High-quality ones can sell for hundreds per 10ml."
Chen’s mother clutched her chest. "Such a valuable gift... This child is so generous. We should send her sothing in return."
"Sending things is too much trouble. Mom, Dad, why don’t I make a trip to the city to visit her?" Chen Ying suggested. It had been so long since she’d seen Tian Sangsang and little Yanyan.
"That works. It’s better if you deliver it personally," Chen’s father agreed.
anwhile, Chen Ming had already finished reading the letter. He wasn’t interested in all the won’s details; he only focused on the business proposal. After thinking it over, he said, "Since Sangsang has a need and we have extra land, why not turn them into flower fields?" Chen Ming was a straightforward man. Rembering how good Tian Sangsang had been to them in the past, he felt he couldn’t refuse her request.
"Yingzi, what do you think?" Chen’s father asked.
"You all can decide this, but my thoughts align with my brother’s," Chen Ying replied.
"Fangfang, what about you?"
Since her father-in-law asked, she had no intention of making the decision herself. Smiling, she said, "I’ll follow Chen Ming’s lead."
Chen Ming gave her an unexpected glance.
"Alright then. Sangsang wants to collaborate with us, but we need to separate personal feelings from business. If her business succeeds, we’ll benefit too. If it doesn’t, we won’t lose anything—it’s just maintaining ties between the two families," Chen’s father concluded.
"Agreed!" Chen Ying and Chen Ming exchanged a look, grinning from ear to ear.
With the matter settled, the family happily resud their al. Noticing that Yao Fangfang was only eating vegetables and avoiding the fish, Chen Ying kindly picked up a large piece of fish for her and smiled. "Sister-in-law, eat more fish! If you don’t, my brother’s going to finish it all."
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