Chapter 356: First Meeting with Wen Man
These words warmed Ma Dapao’s heart. Indeed, how could the boss not trust their own people?
No matter how good the relationship with outsiders is, they are still outsiders—they are the real Taoyang people!
Ma Dapao suddenly felt enlightened. “I understand now, boss. It won’t happen again. I was being petty.”
Su Tao nodded and changed the subject, bringing up the issue of purchasing equipment for the experimental base.
Ma Dapao patted his chest confidently:
“Don’t worry, I’ve got connections. Networking is what I do best.”
Watching Ma Dapao leave with such confidence, Su Tao felt a wave of emotion. The cautious man who once hustled everywhere for a small commission was gone.
Now, he could hold his own and even use his exceptional networking skills to help Taoyang resolve one big issue after another.
That evening, Su Tao mentioned to Shi Zijin about the people from Qian’an Base coming to Taoyang:
“That’s the basic situation. If I don’t want to sell Little Flame, will they try to take it by force?”
Shi Zijin replied firmly:
“Luo Yan wouldn’t do something so disgraceful. He’s a cautious businessman. Although he dotes on his wife, who’s ten years younger, he won’t let her act recklessly. Besides, Luo Yan’s father-in-law is a high-ranking official in Changjing. For the sake of his reputation, he won’t resort to force. At most, he’ll give you some attitude, but he won’t hold a grudge afterward.”
Su Tao propped her chin and asked, “You know Luo Yan well?”
Shi Zijin lay beside her lazily, “Not really. We’ve interacted a few times. If he gives you a hard time tomorrow, tell me. I’ll find a dark, windy night to have a little ‘chat’ with him.”
Su Tao burst out laughing. “All you do is scare people now.”
Shi Zijin sat up slightly, looking serious:
“Don’t underestimate the power of scaring people. Luo Yan is actually terrified of ghosts and supernatural things. Back when we were in the military together, he wouldn’t even go to the bathroom alone at night. He’d drag Cen Lao’er along and insisted Cen had to keep one foot visible while he squatted, or he couldn’t go.”
Su Tao laughed so hard that tears welled up.
Thanks to his playful teasing, her worries about tomorrow’s visit disappeared.
She hugged the whimpering Little Flame and said with a smile:
“Little Flame, your beauty has caused me quite a bit of trouble. But don’t worry, as long as I’m here, I won’t give you up. I’ll watch you grow up healthy and round—just like White Sesame.”
Shi Zijin chuckled. “White Sesame is getting too fat. I think it’s exhausted from pounding Chili. I suggest we start cutting back on its food today, or it’ll affect its health.”
Su Tao readily agreed and halved White Sesame’s supper that night.
White Sesame howled in protest when it saw the reduced portion.
The next morning, while Su Tao was brushing her teeth, a loud rumble echoed outside. She opened the window to see a small aircraft descending in the distance.
The commotion drew a crowd of curious onlookers from both Taoyang and Dongyang.
Even Xiao Wenyu, who was usually immersed in designing her dream mansion, dropped her blueprints and ran outside.
When she saw the logo on the plane, she froze for a moment before excitedly rushing forward:
“Manman?”
A woman in a moon-white lace dress stepped off the plane, shielded by Luo Yan’s umbrella. Seeing Xiao Wenyu, she was equally surprised and delighted:
“Wenyu? What are you doing in Taoyang? I was planning to attend your father’s wedding next month!”
Xiao Wenyu, who knew her well, rolled her eyes when her father’s wedding was mentioned.
“I bought a piece of land in Taoyang and have been staying here. What about you? Are you here to buy land too? Don’t bother—Boss Su only sold me a plot!”
By the end of her sentence, she couldn’t help but sound a little proud.
Wen Man grabbed her hand excitedly. “Where’s Boss Su? Take me to her!”
Su Tao raised her hand. “Here.”
Wen Man, Luo Yan, and their entourage from Qian’an Base all turned their gazes toward Su Tao.
Wen Man froze in disbelief.
“You’re Boss Su of Taoyang? The one Captain Song from Yue Ling introduced me to?”
Luo Yan also seemed surprised, secretly sizing her up several times.
Su Tao nodded slightly, her expression polite but distant, and gestured toward the interior:
“Please, come inside.”
Wen Man openly stared at Su Tao with her large, curious almond eyes the entire way.
Su Tao also quietly observed Wen Man.
Wen Man looked about her age, her face full of youthful radiance—no wonder she was called Luo Yan’s “little wife.”
Her first impression of Wen Man could be summed up in one word: clean.
It wasn’t just her fair, flawless skin or the moon-white dress—it was her aura.
She seemed like a true heiress born in peaceful times, exuding an elegant yet pure demeanor, untouched by darkness or corruption.
Such purity was rare.
Instinctively, Su Tao lowered her guard around her.
Xiao Wenyu, noticing Wen Man’s eyes practically glued to Su Tao, bluntly asked:
“Just say it—I’ll speak to Boss Su for you.”
Luo Yan shot her a glare, silently warning her to be kinder to his wife.
Xiao Wenyu rolled her eyes at him in return.
Wen Man playfully pushed Luo Yan. “Be nice to my friend.”
Then she turned to Su Tao with a bright smile:
“Boss Su, how old are you?”
Su Tao shared her birthdate. “What about you?”
Wen Man blinked in surprise. “I’m a year and three months older than you. So, you became a base leader at eighteen? That’s amazing!”
Her admiration was genuine.
She had always struggled academically, lacked any special skills or supernatural powers, and relied on her father before marriage and her husband after. Without her family background, she felt like a useless person.
Before their trip, Luo Yan had told her that Taoyang was built from scratch and that Boss Su was not only capable but also knew how to inspire loyalty.
Apparently, many talented people followed her wholeheartedly.
Such competence deeply impressed Wen Man, who admired strength.
In her heart, she no longer saw Su Tao merely as a female peer but placed her on the same pedestal as her husband and father.
By this time, the group had entered Taoyang’s gates. The refreshing cool air stunned the visitors from Qian’an.
Wen Man looked around in amazement. “Where’s the air conditioning? How is it this cool outside?”
