Chapter 509 Ye Shengge's Lack of Business Acumen
In truth, the name Ye Yage barely registered in Ye Mama's memory. After all, she had only inherited the original host's memories, had only interacted with Ye Yage for a few days, and then hadn't seen her for over a decade, so the name truly slipped her mind.
"Mom, it's Yage, how could you not remember me?"
This single "Mom" caused Ye Mama to frown. She vaguely recalled, but why had this person reappeared?
"I am not your mother. Fifteen years of raising you resulted in betrayal. What right do you have to call me that?"
Ye Mama didn't hide anything. The fact that Ouyang had brought her to make this call meant the matter was out in the open. Rather than letting Ye Yage spout nonsense, it was better for her to speak first.
Ye Yage clearly couldn't accept such cold treatment from Ye Mama.
"Mom, I made mistakes before. I've known my wrongs all these years. Can you, for the sake of our fifteen years of mother-daughter relationship, forgive me? I've already been punished for over a decade."
"If you had had even a sliver of affection for our nurturing of you back then, you wouldn't have pushed us towards a dead end. We only gave to you, we owe you nothing, so there's no need for us to be in contact anymore. Our fate has run its course."
Everyone nearby clearly heard Ye Mama's words. Turns out she was an ungrateful wretch.
"Mom, please save me. I will definitely be filial to you and Dad from now on, and use the rest of my life by your side to make up for my mistakes."
The two interrogators twitched their lips. She still wanted to return and enjoy a comfortable life; she truly spoke with grand eloquence.
"Hehehe, I truly can't enjoy that. I have my biological daughter and son. It's not your turn as a stranger.
Alright, I've said what I needed to say. You have no relation to our Ye family. You're almost thirty, go live your own life properly."
With a snap, the phone went dead. Ye Yage screamed desperately into the phone, but no one on the other end paid her any mind.
Ouyang grabbed the receiver and put it down, looking coldly at Ye Yage's frenzy.
"You've made the call. You've also let us all know you have no connection to the Ye family, so stop using the Ye family's name to stir up trouble.
Now that you have no trump cards left, quickly confess about Zhao Jiada's affairs to save yourself."
With that, Ye Yage was escorted back to the interrogation room, but her entire being was consumed by madness and rage.
After Ouyang saw Zi Yisheng off and returned, her attitude soured. She glanced at the two interrogators and sat aside to wait.
"Ming Ge, are you ready to talk now? Revealing Zhao Jiada's situation might still allow you to walk out of here safely."
Ye Yage's face was already a mess of tears. She looked up, her vision blurry, but she was still clear about Zhao Jiada's various wrongdoings.
Ouyang hadn't expected Zhao Jiada to be implicated with so many people. Just based on what Ye Yage confessed, the entire Chenghai City would undergo a massive shake-up.
Ouyang rubbed his forehead. He had a feeling they wouldn't be able to leave when their trip concluded. Moreover, Zi Shao's anger might very well fall upon him. The only fortunate thing was that Madam, the professional "fire extinguisher," had come along.
Ye Yage confessed everything she could. Just from her receiving money on Zhao Jiada's behalf, the sum was substantial. Therefore, she was no longer merely a mistress but an accomplice.
However, when she was locked up alone, the more she thought, the more frightened she became. At this moment, she remembered Gu Miao and the child. If she hadn't driven them away, perhaps they could have come to save her.
Zhao Jiada, lying in his hospital bed, drifted off to sleep when several interrogators directly pushed open the door to his room.
"We need to interrogate Zhao Jiada now. Please wait outside."
The young police officer quickly retreated, a look of relief on his face. Zhao Jiada's gaze was truly too terrifying.
Meanwhile, He Chunhong had finally finished speaking. She leaned back in her chair, looking dejected and lost in thought, because she had to personally send Zhao Jiada, the man she had been with for over a decade, to his execution. She truly didn't know how she would face her children when she returned home.
Ye Shengge, on the other hand, was enjoying a leisurely time. They drove around the outskirts of Chenghai City, and at noon, they had a delicious home-style meal at a farmhouse. The hosts were so hospitable that they even killed a chicken from their own coop.
This also allowed Ye Shengge to understand that the villages around Chenghai City had not yet been developed. These places now looked like ordinary villages, but in the future, they would definitely be incorporated into Chenghai City.
After the meal, Ye Shengge went for a walk nearby. The reason she had stopped here was because she had her eye on a large piece of land. If she could buy it, her pharmaceutical factory would be valuable in the future.
Assen held a marked map of Chenghai City. He first specifically noted the land Ye Mama and the Bai family had previously purchased before showing it to Ye Shengge.
"Madam, this is still quite far from the land Madam Ye bought. The Bai family's chosen location isn't in this direction either. The span from north to south is very large."
"That's even better. Our pharmaceutical factory needs to consider waste disposal issues. The more remote, the better. If I dared to build the factory near where my mother planned to build her house, she would flip out."
Assen smiled and nodded. Madam Ye's aura was truly strong now; if she were to truly get angry, the pressure would be quite oppressive.
"Then let's keep our distance. This place seems like our top choice."
"Yes, let's go talk to the village head. We'll be occupying nearly half of their village."
After Assen left, Ye Shengge continued to wander around the village. Although economic reforms had only been in place for a few years, there were already very few young people remaining in the village. Those working in the fields were mostly middle-aged.
Presumably, they had all gone to the city to do business. Ye Shengge looked at the patches of sweet potato vines with surprise. In the villages surrounding cities nowadays, the main crops were typically rice and corn. She hadn't expected this village to still dedicate such a large area to growing sweet potatoes.
"Comrade, are you curious about the honey sweet potatoes we're growing?"
A middle-aged woman approached from a distance, carrying a large hoe with enthusiasm. The look of weariness that farmers used to have when toiling in the fields was gone from her face.
"Honey sweet potatoes? Is it a new variety of sweet potato?"
"Hahahaha, you can tell you're a knowledgeable person. This is what our village planted in response to the city's policy of trying new varieties. They say if we sell it abroad, it will fetch many times more."
Ye Shengge had eaten honey sweet potatoes in her previous life, but they hadn't been introduced to China this early. It seemed this alternate world didn't follow the usual script.
"Have you harvested them yet? How do they taste?"
"Not yet. Everyone in our village cherishes this land. We just want to see what grows. It feels even more precious than growing rice. Fortunately, we're using barren land,"
Ye Shengge pointed to the large expanse of barren land.
"Why didn't you plant more? I see there's still a lot of land."
"Don't mention it. All the young men and women in the village have run off to the city to earn money. My daughter earns over four hundred yuan a month in wages, which is much better than what we earn working here for a year."
"That's good. The young women are very accomplished nowadays."
"Hahahaha, that's true. The only problem is they don't get married. She's nineteen and hasn't even been on a date. She just buries her head in work at the factory every day. I'm afraid she'll end up an old maid."
Ye Shengge had a plan forming in her mind. The possibility of her buying the land was very high. If it remained idle, it wouldn't create any value.
As expected, Assen soon arrived with the village head and Party secretary. Their warmth made Ye Shengge feel more confident.
"Comrade, the land you're pointing to is about seven hundred mu. Currently, the land belongs to the collective, so we can only lease it out. As for buying it, we haven't dealt with that before."
Only then did Ye Shengge realize that village land was different from land planned for urban development. Villages did not have the right to buy or sell.
This point dissatisfied Ye Shengge. She wanted land that belonged entirely to her, not something that might change later.
She recalled that the land she had bought before was managed by the state land bureau. This village situation was indeed her first time encountering it.
Assen and the others were not business people, and their madam's businesses had always been within the city limits. So, they had gotten excited for nothing.
"How about this, Village Head, I'll go back and discuss it before giving you a reply."
"Certainly, certainly. Our village's rent isn't high. Even if you rent it for a hundred years, it won't be as expensive as buying land in the city."
Ye Shengge said goodbye to the village head and got into the car, feeling dejected. Looking at the marked-off land in her hand, she became even more depressed.
"These people are too quick. Hidden tycoons are now popping up like mushrooms after a spring rain."
"Indeed. There are too many capable people, and they all see the future development of Chenghai City."
"Assen, when you get back, have Wei Jiu search within the city limits. Even if the compensation is a bit higher, it's fine. Buying now is a guaranteed profit."
Ye Shengge now even regretted that her mother hadn't called her when she was buying land. Now, after waiting a year, there was nothing good left for her.
"Yes, the main issue is the limitations of our pharmaceutical factory. It's prone to pollution and strong odors."
This was actually something Ye Shengge had considered in advance. Pharmaceutical factories in her previous life had gradually relocated outwards. She simply didn't want future trouble and preferred to do it right the first time.
"The timing is just wrong. If the villages around the city were acquired by the government, then they could be bought and sold. We might not have much to gain this time."
"Sigh, let people keep an eye on the news from this area. As soon as it's acquired, we'll buy it immediately. It can't escape."
"By then, the price will have at least multiplied tenfold."
Ye Shengge was frustrated. It seemed she would have to invest in slightly less developed cities.
At this moment, Ye Shengge started thinking about Ye Mama. For future land acquisitions, it was best to rely on people who were constantly out and about. Ye Mama's ability to gather information was extremely strong. Ye Shengge felt that she was far inferior to her mother in doing business.
Before evening, Ye Shengge returned to the hotel. Zi Yisheng hadn't returned yet. After a simple shower, she grabbed her phone and called Ye Mama.
"My precious daughter misses her mommy!"
"Yes, I miss you very, very much."
"Hahahaha, alright, I know the child I raised. You've run into trouble and want your mother to help you, right?"
Ye Shengge smiled and sank into the sofa. She had absolutely no qualms about showing her vulnerability in front of her parents and older brother.
"Mom, my business acumen is terrible. I might become a burden to you in the future."
"What's wrong? For someone who has never done business before, you've done quite well. Think about the experience I've accumulated; can people here compare?"
"That's true, which is why you were the first person I thought of when I encountered a problem today."
After Ye Shengge recounted the day's events, she was met with Ye Mama's merciless teasing.
"Daughter, you really need an assistant. Do you know what kind of person you are? Honestly, you're best suited for research and development. The rest should be handed over to others."
"Yes, I now know my shortcomings. Ouyang has found me a few assistants who haven't arrived yet. Zi Yisheng said he would use someone experienced from his side."
"Your current venture is already quite large. You must find an experienced person to oversee everything. That way, I can officially step down and stop managing your business."
Ye Shengge lay on the sofa, looking wronged.
"Mom doesn't love me anymore, she's so quick to pass the buck!"
"Hahahaha, you're absolutely right. Once Zi Yisheng finds the right person for you, they'll come to me for the handover. I'm afraid you'll affect my speed in running."
"Hehehe, utterly heartless."
"Enough with that. Your identity also prevents you from overexerting yourself. Just focus on what interests you. With Mom earning money for you and your older brother out there, you can just be happy and do whatever you please."
"Wuwuwu, Mom, you're too good to me."
Ye Shengge was touched. Her family always warmed her heart like this. What more motivation did she need? She could just relax and enjoy life!
"Oh, right. Did you know Ye Yage called me today?"
"How did she call you? Wasn't she arrested?"
"Ouyang called me first, saying she wanted to come back to be filial to you and your father. What a joke. I have my own son and daughter; why would I need her? She just wants the Ye family's status."
Ye Shengge recounted everything that had happened over the past two days to her mother.
"Wicked woman, what did you do to provoke her? You've only met her once, right? How has over a decade of hardship not taught her a lesson?"
"You don't know how pitiful that child looked when she was pushed away. Even when they, father and son, left, I felt uncomfortable. As a mother, I can't stand to see such scenes."
"She'll regret it. She was too ambitious and didn't cherish what she should have. Fortunately, we didn't soften our hearts and keep her by our side back then, otherwise, who knows what would have happened to our family."
The mother and daughter chatted until Zi Yisheng returned and still hadn't hung up, making the increasingly jealous man's pot of vinegar overflow once more.
He tickled her feet, hugged her like a bear, and made it impossible for Ye Shengge to continue the conversation. She had no choice but to hang up and glare at the man's antics.
"Wife, I'm hungry."
"Order takeout."
"I want to eat out."
"Then you're not tired enough."
"Heh heh, what's a little tiredness to accompany my wife."
"Pah, I'm not going out. Don't think about coaxing me out again."
Just as they were playfully bickering, there was a knock on the door. Zi Yisheng sighed and feigned a serious demeanor to open it.
"Stinky kid, I'm here to see you! Aren't you happy!"
Ye Shengge saw a tall, burly man in black pick up her man. Fortunately, the beautiful woman following behind was familiar, otherwise, she would have started sprinkling her medicine.
"Cunxue, you're here! Come in and sit."
Fu Cunxue entered the room carrying two large boxes, smiling, completely ignoring the two men still wrestling at the doorway.
"What's wrong with Pang Puce? I didn't even recognize him."
"Heh, I beat him. Scoundrels don't deserve a face."