Chapter 208 There is something wrong in my heart
As the end of the year approaches, good news finally comes back from the front, adding a bit of joy to the festival.

In a blink of an eye, it is the eve of the Chinese New Year and it is time for Tianshangju to have a holiday.

After lunch, Ye Jiayao gathered all the employees together and distributed red envelopes to everyone as a token of appreciation for their hard work throughout the year.

Everyone was smiling happily as they held the heavy red envelopes. They were finally able to have a prosperous New Year this year.

Ye Jiayao was also full of joy: "Everyone has worked hard this year, but if you follow me, your hard work will not be in vain."

Isn't it? Who has ever seen such a big red envelope? If it were any other boss, no matter how much the boss made, it would have nothing to do with them as employees! Only the second young lady would be so generous.

“I hereby announce that from now on, we will set aside 5% of our profits every year as rewards. Anyone who works hard will get a share,” Ye Jiayao announced loudly.

Everyone was stunned for a moment, and quickly calculated in their heads, 5%, 500,000 taels is 25 taels, and 1 million taels is 50,000 taels. If all of them are used as rewards, then everyone can get at least a thousand taels. For people who only get a few taels of salary a month, this is an astronomical figure. They dare not even think about it!
"Moreover, anyone who works in Tianshangju until the age of 45 will receive alimony from Tianshangju every month, until you cease to exist." Ye Jiayao dropped another bombshell.

Pension is a modern social welfare system. After working for a lifetime, isn't it the hope to spend your old age in peace? In ancient times, there was no such system. Most people could only rely on their children for support. She introduced this system to provide a guarantee for Tianshangju's employees and to reassure people.

Everyone was stunned. Is there such a good thing in the world? It's unheard of! Is the Second Young Lady kidding?
Seeing everyone's dazed look, Ye Jiayao smiled and said, "Why? Are you afraid that I won't keep my word? This can be written into the contract. If I don't fulfill it, you can go to the government office and sue me."

"No, no, Second Young Madam, it's not that we don't believe you, it's just that this is too unexpected." Zhong Xiang said.

Deng Haichuan patted his chest and said, "Second Young Madam, I, Deng Haichuan, will be a member of Tianshangju for the rest of my life."

"That's right, we are the people who live in heaven." Everyone said.

There is no other boss in the world as good as the Second Young Madam. She gets rewards and alimony, so she doesn’t have to worry about having no food to eat when she gets old.

Ye Jiayao looked at everyone with a smile. Everyone would work harder if they had a sense of belonging. With such a group of loyal employees, there was no need to worry about the prosperity of Tianshangju.

Manager Zhao was completely convinced by the Second Young Madam. He had been in the business world for so many years, had met many people, and experienced many things, but he had never seen a boss like the Second Young Madam, who had a first-rate business acumen, acted so generously, and could truly care about the employees.

In the past, he always worried about whether his colleagues would be lazy or betray their boss, etc. But when he arrived at Tianshangju, he didn't have to worry about such things at all. Everyone worked very conscientiously and no one was afraid of doing more than others, but only of doing less than others.

After the Second Young Lady's move, wouldn't anyone work even harder? Wouldn't they be even more devoted to her?

Just when everyone was in high spirits, Xiao Shao, Zhao Qixuan's servant, came with two large carts of coconuts.

Ye Jiayao had always been thinking about these coconuts, but knowing that it was not easy to transport them from the south, she did not feel comfortable urging Zhao Qixuan. Unexpectedly, the coconuts were delivered just when the holiday was about to begin.

"These coconuts just arrived this morning, and the Young Master told me to deliver them to the Second Young Madam immediately, saying that it was fortunate that they arrived before the New Year, otherwise she would be embarrassed to come to Tianshangju for dinner." Xiao Shao said with a smile.

Ye Jiayao said cheerfully: "It's not too late, as long as we can get some coconuts, it's never too late."

"How much silver do these coconuts cost?"

Xiao Shao said: "My master said that it didn't cost much money, it was a New Year's gift to the Second Young Lady."

Ye Jiayao looked at the two full carts of coconuts, and she had no idea what the market price of coconuts was in this era, and she had no way of estimating their value. She had no choice but to ask Cui Dongpeng to go to the pastry shop and get six gift boxes for Xiao Shao to take back.

"Your wife likes to eat this, so this is a small token of my appreciation."

Xiao Shao waved his hands repeatedly: "The prince said that you are not allowed to take anything."

Ye Jiayao said with a smile: "This is a gift from me to the Marquis' wife. I was going to give it to you anyway, but I asked you to take it back with you."

Xiao Shao still refused to take it and turned around and ran away.

Ye Jiayao was speechless. She had no choice but to go to Yongning Marquis Mansion on her way back and deliver the gift box.

Back at the mansion, Ye Jiayao asked the servants to move more than 30 coconuts to her yard. Qiao Xi and the others had never seen such a strange thing, round and hard like a stone lump.

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

Jiang Yue shrugged: "I don't know either, but the second young lady said that this thing can be made into delicious food."

Ye Jiayao had been very busy these days and had no time to fiddle with the coconuts, so she just piled them up. Because the New Year's Eve dinner at Prince Helian's Mansion was scheduled for the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, Ye Jiayao informed Youshi early on that day that she was going to Prince Helian's Mansion to help, while Xia Chunyu had to ask for favors and would come later.

As soon as Ye Jiayao arrived at the palace, she went to the kitchen, and Xiao Jing surrounded her.

"Yaoyao, the old ancestor has told you to take a rest, why don't you go and talk to the old ancestor?"

Ye Jiayao skillfully removed the fish bones and said, "I haven't cooked for the old ancestor for a long time. I usually just make some cakes. I specially learned a few vegetarian dishes and will cook them for the old ancestor later. It can be regarded as a token of my appreciation."

"The ancestors know your feelings and always praise you." Xiao Jing said.

Ye Jiayao smiled and said, "Then you have to perform even better."

Xiao Jing couldn't argue with her, so she had to let her do what she wanted and stayed by her side. Now, it was not easy to find such an opportunity to talk.

"My brother won the battle." "I heard from Chunyu that I hope the war can end soon and my brother can come back soon."

Xiao Jing curled his lips: "Not so fast. If we don't completely eliminate Azak, there will be trouble in the future."

"That's true, but it's hard for the soldiers on the border. During the New Year, they can't reunite with their families and have to fight the enemy."

War is cruel, it would be great if the world could be at peace.

"I heard that Zhao Qixuan and Su Su are going to the south after the New Year."

Ye Jiayao thought about the border trade and estimated that they were going there for this matter. It would probably take several months, so she asked, "When are they leaving?"

"It's after the 15th! His parents are forcing him to get married again. Alas, you're married, Chunfeng is married too, and now they're leaving again. It's getting more and more lonely and boring." Xiao Jing sighed.

Ye Jiayao looked at him with a smile: "Then you should get married soon!"

"I don't want it. I don't have anyone I like." Xiao Jing curled his lips. The one he liked had been married to someone else, so where could he find another Yaoyao?

"Marriage is a hard thing to predict. You never know when you might fall in love with someone," said Ye Jiayao.

"I won't like anyone unless that person is like you." Xiao Jing blurted out.

Suddenly, both of them fell silent and the atmosphere became weird.

Ye Jiayao was a little embarrassed. It was not that she didn't know Xiaojing's feelings, but she thought that as time went by, the feelings would fade away. Unexpectedly, Xiaojing still missed her.

This is not a good thing! How can you be happy if you can't let it go?

"Hehe, I was just kidding." Xiao Jing said embarrassedly.

Ye Jiayao forced a smile and changed the subject: "Why don't you go out and do favors? Now that you work in the Ministry of War, you have to socialize."

Xiao Jing couldn't say that he stayed at home on purpose today. As long as she came, he would not go out.

"Isn't this New Year's Eve at home? If I go out again, my mother will scold me again."

There was another silence for a long time, and Xiao Jing hesitated and said, "There is something I have always wanted to ask... Are you living well in the Marquis' Mansion?"

Ye Jiayao smiled faintly: "Okay, very good."

"Did Liuli cause you any trouble?"

"No."

"Oh, that's good. If she causes trouble for you, just tell mom. After all, mom is her aunt, and Liuli will listen to mom." Xiao Jing said.

"Yes, I will." Ye Jiayao knew that he really cared about her, but the more he did so, the more uncomfortable she felt.

"If you have been wronged and have nowhere to tell, you can tell me. Don't worry, I will listen and I won't go to Chunyu Brother to settle the score."

"How can I bear any injustice? Who can bully me? You know my abilities." Ye Jiayao said with a smile.

Xiao Jing's eyes dimmed, "Just remember it. You just treat me as your brother. It's not a big deal to talk to your own brother. It's not embarrassing."

"Okay, okay, I'm even less afraid with my brother's support." Ye Jiayao tried her best to appear more natural, but it just didn't work. She really treated him as a brother, if only he could also really treat her as a sister.

Ping An came to report that Chunyu had arrived, and Xiao Jing hurriedly stood up: "I'm going to go talk to Brother Chunyu, and you don't have to make too many dishes, just make a few for the ancestor."

Ye Jiayao nodded and smiled, watched him leave, heaved a sigh of relief, and concentrated on cooking.

When Xia Chunyu arrived at Prince Helian's mansion, he asked where Yaoyao was. People said she was in the kitchen. He then asked about the young prince, and people replied that he was also in the kitchen.

Xia Chunyu felt a little unhappy. Although he knew that Xiaojing and Yaoyao were impossible, he always had a knot in his heart and felt uncomfortable.

After handing the gift to the servant, Xia Chunyu went to pay his respects to Princess Yide first, and then to the old ancestor. The old ancestor asked him to talk, and Xiao Jing came after a while.

"Brother Chunyu."

Xia Chunyu smiled and said, "Where have you been? I didn't see you when I came."

"Oh, a guest came just now, and I entertained him. When I knew you were coming, I quickly sent the guest away and came here." Xiao Jing said casually.

Xia Chunyu remained calm and drank his tea leisurely, but the knot in his heart seemed to have grown bigger and heavier.

Why lie and cover up? If your heart is clear, is it necessary to do this? It is obvious that Xiao Jing still has something to hide.

(End of this chapter)