Ye Zhi returned to the Ye family. Ye Yongxian and Liu Lingyu were overjoyed but also a little resentful.
The resentment, naturally, was because Ye Zhi wasn't home during the New Year holidays, instead running around with a man. Of course, this was absolutely not Ye Zhi's fault; it was all Qi Xuan's fault!
Their Ye Zhi was obedient and well-behaved. It must have been that scheming young man, Qi Xuan, who deliberately used work as an excuse to lure their daughter away! However...
When they thought that Qi Xuan might be the only one who could help Ye Zhi find a partner, they decided to tolerate it for now.
Ye Zhi brought back a lot of local specialties. Seeing that she had also brought them gifts, the two were so happy they couldn't stop smiling.
Afterward, they took her to visit relatives.
Although Ye Zhi appeared approachable, once they learned she was the boss of Taoxun, the attitude of her relatives shifted to one of fawning respect.
Ye Zhi didn't pay much attention to it, but Ye Yongxian and Liu Lingyu gained immense face in front of their relatives, proudly boasting about their daughter.
For the remaining days of the Spring Festival holiday, Ye Zhi stayed home, celebrating the festival with her parents.
However, on the last day of the holiday, Ye Yongxian summoned Ye Zhi to the study with a grave expression.
"Xiao Zhi," Ye Yongxian began, "There have been rumors in the capital recently that you plan to acquire Qianbai. Is this true?"
Ye Zhi was slightly taken aback, instantly understanding what was going on.
This was most likely Su Ming and the others' doing!
They had spread the word that she was going to acquire Qianbai? And this news had already reached Ye Yongxian's ears. It was likely that the entire capital knew. It seemed these people had prepared thoroughly and were about to flee.
"Dad, you can just listen to such things," Ye Zhi said with a faint smile.
"That's good," Ye Yongxian breathed a sigh of relief. "I just wanted to advise you. Qianbai appears glorious, but it's strong on the outside and weak on the inside. Acquiring Qianbai now is not a wise move. Do you want to clarify it?"
"No need to clarify," Ye Zhi shook her head. "Dad, this is a trap set by others. We should just watch the show."
Ye Yongxian's expression faltered. There were so many twists and turns involved? Ye Yongxian opened his mouth, intending to give Ye Zhi some advice. But he suddenly realized that Ye Zhi was the most capable person in this industry. If he spoke, he would clearly be an amateur guiding an expert.
He had made his fortune in real estate and knew better than anyone how serious it was for an amateur to guide an expert.
"Then be careful," Ye Yongxian couldn't help but urge, "Ou Minghan is a man who holds grudges. If this is a scheme targeting him, he will definitely resent you."
Ye Zhi secretly scoffed inwardly. Ou Minghan already resented her. She was definitely at the top of Ou Minghan's hate list, so a little more wouldn't hurt.
She knew Ye Yongxian was concerned about her, so she nodded and agreed, "I will."
*
After the Spring Festival holiday ended, on the first day back at work, Ye Zhi called Feng Jie into her office.
Feng Jie walked into the office and spoke first, "President Ye, two charity organizations contacted me just now, hoping Taoxun would make some donations. I asked them to wait for news, what are your thoughts?"
"Refuse them," Ye Zhi frowned. "I don't plan to donate."
Feng Jie was stunned for a moment. He quickly persuaded, "President Ye, please reconsider. Donating to public welfare organizations has its benefits. The publicity effect of this year's Spring Festival Gala was very good, and Taoxun is now very famous and at the center of attention.
After we donate, not only will we have a good corporate image, but charitable donations are also directly tax-deductible."
"I know," Ye Zhi sighed. "Unfortunately, those charity organizations are not all reputable. You have no idea if the money you donate goes to people who truly need it or becomes 'depreciation costs' for those organizations, used to buy ten-thousand-dollar computers or thousand-dollar desks. Public welfare should be done, but we should do it ourselves."
"Do it ourselves?" Feng Jie was taken aback.
"Yes. Coincidentally, I'm going to assign you this new task." Ye Zhi said.
Feng Jie: ...
He felt like he had said too much again.
"I plan for Taoxun to launch a public welfare project," Ye Zhi continued. "Currently, it's tentatively named the 'Breakfast Project,' which is to provide free nutritious breakfasts to children in mountain and rural schools.
Organize a team and go to rural areas in a few nearby provinces to conduct surveys and research. Determine the number of schools and students who need donations, tally all this information, negotiate with the schools, and then proceed with procurement.
The Breakfast Project is tentatively set to provide each student with a carton of milk and an egg. The milk purchased must guarantee its nutrition and quality. Shunda's express delivery system can open a dedicated line for the public welfare project. Eggs can be purchased locally, but freshness must also be guaranteed.
Oh, yes, and one more important thing: after the students have breakfast each day, the empty milk cartons and eggshells must be collected by the teachers and their quantities verified. For every breakfast delivered, the corresponding number of cartons and shells must be returned."
Feng Jie listened attentively and asked with some confusion, "Why? These cartons and eggshells... are they still useful?"
"Of course, they are useful," Ye Zhi said with a wry smile. "Because if you don't collect them, and just give the items to these children, then many girls in remote areas will be asked by their families to bring the items back for their older brothers or younger brothers to eat."
Feng Jie was very surprised. He hadn't been involved in public welfare before, but the situation Ye Zhi described was definitely possible.
"President Ye," Feng Jie said sincerely, "You think of everything so thoroughly."
Ye Zhi sighed, this wasn't her thinking thoroughly, this was entirely experience.
"Also," Ye Zhi's expression turned a bit more serious, "There are likely to be changes at Qianbai, and not small ones. The reason I'm sending you to do public welfare is actually to move you away from the center of the storm. If Ou Minghan asks you about matters in the capital, use the excuse that you might be suspected by me to defer."
Feng Jie couldn't help but gasp. In fact, Ou Minghan had called him countless times in the past few days, constantly inquiring about Taoxun's affairs. He had originally appeased Ou Minghan, saying he would wait until work resumed to ascertain Ye Zhi's attitude.
But now, Ye Zhi was using public welfare as an excuse to transfer him directly out of the capital?
It seemed the changes at Qianbai would be significant, and Ye Zhi was doing this to protect him.
After all, if Ou Minghan ultimately suffered losses, and he had been the intermediary, then Ou Minghan would definitely suspect him and resent him.
"President Ye," Feng Jie couldn't help but ask, "Is Chairman Su and the others about to make a move?"
"Yes," Ye Zhi said sternly, "Feng Jie, no matter how this matter develops, and no matter how much Ou Minghan loses, you cannot fall out with him before he is completely finished. You also cannot let him suspect your stance."