While the two were walking, Dongfang Ming spoke out of the blue. “Madam Ye, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you, but I worry it’s too sudden.”
“Say it!”
Liu Duo wasn’t one of those conservative folks. There was nothing too sudden to discuss.
She couldn’t care less about men being the breadwinners and women staying at home, and that the lines shouldn’t be crossed and such. There were still a lot of women like Qin Fang here, who worked outside and even managed a business.
Dongfang Ming liked that Liu Duo didn’t mince her words. He grinned even more broadly as he unfolded his fan, looking quite princely.
“It’s like this. I was very fortunate to get a taste of your frozen fruit salad last time, and I was wondering if we could work together again and allow my restaurant to sell it. Also, your tomato sauce as well. What do you think?”
Liu Duo looked up at Dongfang Ming walking beside her. Was he trying to monopolize the market? He wanted them available only in his restaurant?
She never thought about selling the frozen fruit salad in huge quantities, because she knew ice wasn’t a common commodity!
As for the tomato sauce, she wasn’t in charge in the first place. She was not sure about the deal which the men had struck with the restaurant they were currently working with. So, she replied with a smile, “About that you can talk to my husband Liuzi when he comes home. I don’t deal with the business end.”
“That’ll do.” Dongfang Ming kept his smile throughout the conversation.
They talked about other things as they slowly made their way to Liu Duo’s house in the bamboo village.
Ye Yang hadn’t gone to the farm today. He was at home with Lao Liu, dealing with the rice.
Lao Liu had harvested the rice in his family’s paddy field, and left them at home for his wife to sort out. He got back here to work. After all, he had taken two days off.
Once they entered the yard, Liu Duo called out happily, “Yang, I’m back!”
Hearing her cheerful voice, Ye Yang looked up to find her standing next to a man he didn’t recognize. He looked at Dongfang Ming with his usual emotionless face, not giving a response.
In his mind he thought, who is this?
Liu Duo seemed to catch on with what he was thinking, for she quickly began the introductions. “Yang, this is Miss Fang’s boss, Dongfang Ming, or Mr. Dongfang. He’s here as a guest and he has business to discuss with Liuzi.”
When he heard that, Ye Yang understandably nodded and said to him, “Make yourself at home.”
Then he got back to work. He didn’t say more than that, because he didn’t know what else he could say to him!
Having experienced Ye Yang’s cold aloofness, Dongfang Ming maintained his smile but deep down he was wondering, I’ve seen three out of the four brothers now. One is calm and cold, one is interesting but mischievous, one is gentle and easygoing. So how will this one turn out to be? What kind of temperament does he have?
He was quite curious.
Liu Duo brought Dongfang Ming into the house and allowed him to sit, then she poured water for him and his coachman.
“Madam Ye, this is a gift box from our boss to you and your family,” the coachman said as he placed the item on the table.
“Thank you, Mr Dongfang, but you shouldn’t have.”
“Oh, I ought to,” Dongfang Ming said with a smile as he fanned himself.
It wasn’t long before the villagers came, one after another, carrying baskets of tomatoes to sell.
Liu Duo said to Dongfang Ming, “Do make yourself at home, Mr Dongfang. I have work to do so I’m afraid I can’t keep you company.”
Dongfang Ming nodded, and she went ahead to start dealing with the accounts as well as transactions with the villagers.
Dongfang Ming looked at Liu Duo hard at work. He had been wondering, how on earth did she come up with all these ideas? And that strange artwork too. The little cartoon-like figures were certainly in a class of their own!
He was extremely curious, and hoped to get to know her better…
