Li Ya was both nervous and excited by Ye Qingping's high praise, which proved that the path she had chosen was indeed the right one!
She kept saying, "Thank you! Thank you!"
Who was Ye Qingping?
He was the county magistrate of Yongnan County. The fact that the esteemed county magistrate personally visited and acknowledged her success was exciting and gratifying for any businesswoman.
Since ancient times, merchants' businesses have been inseparable from their local environment, and the government is naturally the ultimate authority. The two parties are in a cooperative relationship.
For a merchant, the difference between having government policy support and not having it is as vast as heaven and earth, incomparable.
A single preferential policy from the government could save a merchant a fortune and countless troubles.
Of course, local governments also benefit from this, the most direct being the taxes paid by merchants, as well as the convenience and economic harmony created.
One side strives for national prosperity and peace, while the other aims to make money; it is a relationship of mutual need.
Ye Qingping, being an ambitious man who saw Yongnan County as a stepping stone, naturally wished to see more enterprising individuals like Li Ya emerge and thrive in the region he was responsible for.
At this moment, Qin Chuan strode out of the shop, extending his hands from afar with an incredibly bright smile. "County Magistrate Ye! Welcome, welcome!"
"Your esteemed presence has truly illuminated our humble shop, bathing it in golden light!"
Ye Qingping, who was conversing with Li Ya with a smile, couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration as he looked at the approaching figure.
Some people, it seemed, were truly born for a certain profession!
Putting aside everything else, the ability to possess such thick skin, eloquent speech, and persuasive charm without causing offense was not something everyone could achieve.
Standing beside Ye Qingping was a beautiful, noblewoman leading a little girl, exuding an aura of elegance and grace. Beside her stood a young man with a perpetually lazy, somewhat cynical expression.
At this moment, all eyes were on Qin Chuan as he strode forward, their expressions filled with a mixture of intrigue.
After Qin Chuan shook hands with Ye Qingping, the young man was the first to tease, "Are you very surprised by our arrival?"
This young man was none other than Ye Huai'an. The beautiful noblewoman leading a little girl beside him was Ye Meiyun. It had been about a week since they last met in Jin Province.
However, unlike their previous meeting, this time Ye Meiyun had brought her daughter, Niu Niu, with her.
Their eyes met. Ye Meiyun's dignified and elegant face was framed by eyes as gentle as still water, and her full, rosy lips curved into a smile that was truly captivating.
Qin Chuan nodded emphatically. "Yes! I'm incredibly surprised! I truly didn't expect you to come!"
"I clearly remember your opening day, so we drove over early this morning!"
Ye Meiyun's voice was melodious and carried a hint of magnetic charm.
"We went to my elder brother's first, as I hadn't seen him in quite some time either!"
"We decided to take this opportunity to visit you all at once!"
"Thank you! Thank you, Sister Yun!"
Qin Chuan was deeply touched. Shi City was a considerable distance from the remote area of Yongnan County, yet Ye Meiyun had made the journey. Her thoughtfulness alone moved him greatly.
"Uncle!! Uncle!!"
Just then, a crisp, hurried childish voice rang out. It was Niu Niu, whom Ye Meiyun had been holding by the hand.
Upon seeing Qin Chuan, Niu Niu's initial confusion gave way to recognition. She wriggled her small hands with all her might, eager to rush over.
Qin Chuan quickly crouched down and opened his arms.
Seeing this, Ye Meiyun released her hand. Once free from her mother's grasp, Niu Niu immediately threw her arms around Qin Chuan's neck, her small, rosy face beaming with joy.
"You're the uncle who saved me from falling into the water!!"
"Uncle, I remember you!!"
Niu Niu hugged Qin Chuan's neck tightly, her entire body clinging to him. Her clear, childish voice reached everyone's ears.
Qin Chuan, worried she might fall, quickly supported her little bottom with his arm.
Li Ya, standing nearby, finally understood. She had harbored suspicions while Ye Meiyun and Qin Chuan were talking, but now she was completely certain.
So, these were the mother and child who had been rescued from the water by Qin Chuan that day. No wonder they were so affectionate.
She had never heard anyone mention how beautiful Ye Meiyun was.
The innate noble and elegant aura that the woman exuded, despite Li Ya's own confidence in her appearance, inexplicably made her feel a sense of pressure and unease.
It was a natural comparison from one woman to another.
"Haha, Niu Niu is such a clever little one, remembering so clearly after so much time has passed!"
Qin Chuan planted a kiss on Niu Niu's delicate little cheek, his face full of affection.
Though he had been involved with many women in his past life, he had never married, and consequently, had no children. He had never been sure whether he liked children or not.
Now, Qin Chuan finally realized that he did, in fact, like children.
"Niu Niu, come down now, don't get Uncle's clothes dirty!"
Ye Meiyun noticed her daughter's small feet kicking and transferring dirt from her shoes onto Qin Chuan's clean clothes. She quickly stepped forward and gently lifted her daughter off Qin Chuan.
Then, she took out tissues from her bag and tenderly wiped away the dust clinging to Qin Chuan's chest, her movements entirely natural.
This scene might have seemed innocuous to anyone else, but Li Ya's brow furrowed, and she felt an inexplicable discomfort in her chest. She couldn't shake the feeling that Ye Meiyun's attitude towards Qin Chuan was a little too intimate.
"County Magistrate Ye, let's not stand outside. We should go inside! Our flagship store has a private room on the second floor specifically for honored guests. Let's sit there!"
To mask her discomfort and also to interrupt Ye Meiyun's actions, Li Ya quickly spoke up.
"Certainly!"
Ye Qingping nodded, pointing to the elaborately decorated and beautiful facade of the flagship store. "A storefront like this is rare, even in some major cities!"
"We should definitely go inside and take a good look!"
With that, he led the way towards the flagship store.
Qin Chuan and Li Ya followed suit, with Ye Meiyun, holding her daughter, and Ye Huai'an trailing behind.
Upon entering the flagship store, the bustling, crowded scene within shocked everyone once again.
Looking at the excited faces and the eyes filled with purchasing desire, even the Ye siblings, who were accustomed to grand occasions, were somewhat astonished.
There were simply too many people!
The entire first-floor hall, spanning over seven hundred square meters, was filled with people, a dense crowd of all ages and genders, comparable to the opening of a top department store in a major city.
Furthermore, the interior decoration of the shop was also exceptionally beautiful and tasteful.
Even from the outside, they had guessed that the interior would be well-decorated, but only by walking inside could one truly appreciate the charm of the design.
From the floor to the walls, to every display cabinet, and the lighting design, the ceiling – everything exuded an air of luxury.
This kind of high-end decoration subconsciously made people feel that the clothes sold here were also very reliable, that they were buying into a brand and trust, rather than cheap goods or street-vendor items.