Chapter 36.2: This is my own granddaughter!

The moment Manager Hu spotted Ye Tianhui walking beside Old Master Ye, he immediately realized how much she was valued. He felt both joy and concern—joyful that Ye Tianhui had gained the old master’s favor, yet worried that with her rising status, it would now be difficult to keep her at the racecourse.  

He promptly greeted Old Master Ye with a warm smile, led him to his seat, and then respectfully presented the detailed log report on Black Rose from the past few days.  

As Old Master Ye flipped through the report and listened to Manager Hu’s summary, it seemed that Black Rose’s condition had improved. The discomfort from early pregnancy appeared to have subsided.  

After Manager Hu finished his report, he kept glancing at Ye Tianhui, trying to signal her with his eyes.  

Ye Tianhui looked at him in confusion.  

Seeing that she wasn’t getting the hint, Manager Hu sighed in resignation and decided to be more direct. “Tianhui, you should also familiarize yourself with the racecourse’s situation so that you can report to President Ye later.”

He really couldn’t figure out the situation and had no idea how the conversation between Ye Tianhui and Old Master Ye had gone, so he had been preoccupied with this matter for the past couple of days.  

Hearing these words, Ye Tianhui was surprised at first, then immediately understood—so Manager Hu didn’t know her true identity?  

But thinking about it, it made sense. The news had been kept under wraps before, just in case, and it wasn’t made public. The explanation given to Manager Hu was that they needed to carefully investigate Black Rose’s condition, so naturally, he wasn’t aware.  

She blinked, trying to give Manager Hu a hint to stop talking.  

Unfortunately, Manager Hu clearly didn’t get it. He frowned, squeezed his eyes at her, and tried to give her a signal.  

Feeling helpless, she could only withdraw her gaze and pretend not to see him.  

Seeing this, Manager Hu felt a chill in his heart.  

This time, the Ye family had purchased several renowned horses from overseas, and these would have to be kept at their racetrack. This wasn’t just a matter of management fees—it was a matter of reputation.  

If the horses were housed at their racetrack but later deemed unsuitable and moved elsewhere, they would essentially lose the Ye family as a major client. This would inevitably trigger a chain reaction, potentially leading to the loss of other clients as well.  

Manager Hu pondered—under no circumstances could he let Old Master Ye take Ye Tianhui away directly. She had to go through their racetrack’s formal procedures. He could offer Ye Tianhui a high salary.  

Just as he was thinking this, Old Master Ye picked up the logbook and handed it to Ye Tianhui. “Tianhui, take a look.”  

Hearing this, Manager Hu felt both joy and sorrow.  

It seemed that Ye Tianhui had a good relationship with the Ye family? But if they were too close, that wasn’t necessarily good for him either.  

Ye Tianhui took the logbook, opened it, and began reviewing it. She also wanted to see how Black Rose had been doing these past few days—this concerned the upcoming racing season and whether Black Rose could compete.  

As she was reading, she heard Manager Hu start speaking cautiously to Old Master Ye, politely and respectfully making his case.  

Ye Tianhui sighed internally and quickly tried to stop him, but before she could, Old Master Ye had already spoken. “Manager Hu, are you saying that you want Tianhui to stay at the racetrack and work exclusively on managing our family’s racehorses?”  

Manager Hu smiled broadly. “Yes! Tianhui has been meticulously trained here as a skilled technician. She is an exceptionally professional talent. If Tianhui manages all of Mr. Ye’s horses, she will provide regular reports, and of course, our racetrack staff will fully cooperate with her work.”  

He turned to Ye Tianhui with a smile. “Tianhui, don’t worry, we will provide you with the best training opportunities, and when it comes to compensation, we will make sure you’re satisfied.”  

Hearing this, Old Master Ye furrowed his already white eyebrows. At first, he didn’t even understand what Manager Hu was talking about, but then he realized—this Manager Hu had no idea that the person in front of him was his own granddaughter.  

Although he was always a deep thinker, seeing Manager Hu trying so hard to flatter and keep Ye Tianhui amused him. And beyond that amusement, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride.  

After all, she was his biological granddaughter. Despite the hardships of her life, growing up alone in the mainland without guidance from her elders, she had still turned out so well—bright and confident, neither arrogant nor servile, bold and insightful.  

With a hearty laugh, he said, “Manager Hu, I understand your meaning. Tianhui is a valuable asset at your racetrack, and you’re afraid I’ll poach her, isn’t that right?”  

Caught red-handed, Manager Hu felt a little embarrassed but still chuckled. “Mr. Ye, you’re making fun of me.”  

Old Master Ye, hearing this, was even more delighted.  

She was his own granddaughter, after all. Even without the status of a Ye family heiress, others would still have to look up to her wherever she went!  

His face beamed with pride as he turned to Manager Hu. “Tianhui does have a keen eye for horses—she’s truly talented. Manager Hu, I understand your concern, and it’s reasonable, hahaha!”  

Manager Hu, watching this scene unfold, was utterly confused. He had no idea why Old Master Ye was so overjoyed.  

Was he really not planning to return Ye Tianhui to them?  

From the side, Ye Tianhui observed and could see through Old Master Ye’s thoughts.  

Elderly people—no matter how shrewd—were still elderly people.  

And elderly people had their quirks. They loved hearing others praise their children and grandchildren. When their descendants were accomplished, they felt a sense of pride and triumph.  

For the first time, she found Old Master Ye not so enigmatic. He had a rather endearing side.  

The surrounding onlookers were also watching, finding the scene amusing. But at the same time, they couldn’t quite accept it.  

This Ye Tianhui—had she even seen a horse race before in the mainland? The mainland didn’t even have horse racing. How could she possibly understand?  

After laughing heartily, Old Master Ye, finally satisfied, said, “Manager Hu, let me make things clear for you. Don’t bother offering Tianhui a high salary to keep her at the racetrack—Tianhui will only be working for our family in the future.”  

Hearing this, Manager Hu’s heart sank. He thought to himself, So I’m really losing a top talent just like that?  

Old Master Ye looked at Manager Hu’s expression and laughed. “Do you think I’m just stealing her away from you?”  

Manager Hu quickly said, “President Ye, no, of course not! I didn’t mean that. In fact, it’s Tianhui’s good fortune to be able to help you manage your horses.”  

Old Master Ye, however, waved a hand dismissively and laughed heartily. “What fortune? Let me make it clear—Tianhui is my granddaughter, my granddaughter! My granddaughter managing our family’s horses—isn’t that only natural? Do we need your stable to pay her a salary?”  

—Granddaughter?  

Manager Hu was stunned. What was Old Master Ye saying?  

Sure, they shared the same surname, but she was from the mainland, and she couldn’t even speak Cantonese fluently. How could she possibly be his granddaughter?  

Seeing Manager Hu’s confusion, Ye Tianhui finally spoke. “Manager Hu, thank you for taking care of me before. I was lost for many years due to certain circumstances, but now I have returned to my family.”  

—Huh?  

Manager Hu was dumbfounded, staring at Old Master Ye in disbelief.  

Old Master Ye nodded, his face brimming with pride. “Manager Hu, this is my own granddaughter. In fact, I should be thanking you. If it weren’t for Black Rose, we wouldn’t have reunited so soon.”  

Manager Hu was completely stunned.  

A mainland girl, what did that mean? Poor, backward, rustic. Initially, he thought he could easily use Ye Tianhui’s eye for horses to his advantage.  

But now, with one step, she’d ascended to become a Ye family heiress!

This—this was a completely different situation!

The status has completely changed!  

He took a deep breath, quickly gathered his thoughts, and immediately put on a flattering smile. “Congratulations, congratulations! What a joyous occasion!”  

Looking at Ye Tianhui, he continued with a smile, “I was blind not to recognize greatness and didn’t realize that this is the esteemed daughter of the Ye family! As expected, the Ye family’s young lady is truly extraordinary!”  

Old Master Ye was in high spirits and chuckled, “My granddaughter was lost for many years, but she has finally returned. This horse farm has indeed brought me great fortune. We will continue boarding our horses here, and I will have to trouble Manager Hu to take good care of them.”  

Hearing this, Manager Hu finally felt relieved. He immediately became even more enthusiastic and repeatedly offered his congratulations.  

Ye Tianhui reviewed Black Rose’s medical examination and observation logs and found them satisfactory.  

Old Master Ye was naturally pleased as well, so he led Ye Tianhui, Ye Wenyin, and others to see Black Rose.  

Looking at Black Rose, Old Master Ye seemed much more energetic.  

He turned his head, glancing at those around him, and asked, “Do you think Black Rose can participate in this year’s race season?”  

It should be noted that the annual formal race season, despite a horse farm having multiple horses, does not allow all of them to participate. There are quota restrictions. The Racing Committee determines the number of entries based on past performance, the number and quality of horses owned, as well as charitable donations related to horse racing.  

The Ye family had been allocated a quota of four horses, meaning they could send four horses to compete.  

Because these slots were precious, each selection had to be made with great care.  

Ye Tianhui said, “Grandfather, while I can tell that Black Rose is pregnant and have some knowledge about horses, I lack experience in determining whether a pregnant horse can compete. We should consult the experts at the horse farm.”  

In her past life, Ye Tianhui was well-versed in horses and naturally understood these things. Horses and humans were different—while human infants are born unable to crawl, a foal is able to run shortly after birth. This is a fundamental difference in gestation between animals and humans.  

A mare’s pregnancy in the first few months generally does not affect her physical condition. To put it simply, it’s similar to how a human woman in her first month of pregnancy often doesn’t even notice and continues normal activities without any impact on the pregnancy.  

However, Ye Tianhui was unfamiliar with modern horse racing regulations regarding pregnant mares.  

Hearing Ye Tianhui’s words, Manager Hu felt pleased and took the opportunity to analyze Black Rose’s situation. “A mare’s gestation period is eleven months. More than 60% of the foal’s weight gain occurs in the last three months of pregnancy, meaning that in the first eight months, the foal’s weight is relatively low. In the first five months of pregnancy, a mare’s body typically shows no significant changes.”  

A veterinarian beside him added, “Thoroughbred racing has existed for over a century, and so far, there have been no recorded cases of miscarriage or other injuries caused by pregnant mares participating in races. According to current regulations, mares can compete up to the fourth month of pregnancy.”  

Hearing this, Old Master Ye felt reassured. He then turned to the technical staff and asked, “Black Rose was acquired through an expensive auction, and now that she is pregnant, we must be extremely cautious to ensure her safety. Since you say this, I feel more at ease. But will her pregnancy affect her performance?”  

The technical staff exchanged glances and replied, “There’s no definitive conclusion on that. There are differing opinions on the matter.”  

They proceeded to discuss what they knew. Some claimed that pregnant mares had achieved outstanding results, while others believed their performance was less than ideal.  

Old Master Ye chuckled, “I have an idea. This situation is like the story of the little horse crossing the river—there’s only one way to find out, and that’s through actual experience.”  

Ye Tianhui immediately understood. “Grandfather, you want to let Black Rose race and see for yourself?”  

Old Master Ye nodded approvingly and then asked Manager Hu, “Can you arrange a race for Black Rose so we can assess her condition?”  

Manager Hu agreed without hesitation. “Of course. Even though she’s pregnant, she still needs daily exercise and morning walks; otherwise, it wouldn’t be good for her health. It’s a great idea to organize a race and evaluate her performance before making a decision.”  

Old Master Ye instructed Manager Hu to make the necessary preparations and select two strong horses for the race.  

Soon, everything was set, and Manager Hu handed out detailed information on all the competing horses. Each person received a copy.  

Old Master Ye reviewed the data and noted that all the competing horses were of excellent quality, no worse than Black Rose.  

Flipping through the reports, he looked at his grandchildren present and asked with a smile, “Let’s make a guess—do you think Black Rose will win?”  

With this question, the grandchildren immediately perked up.  

Among them were Ye Wenyong, Ye Wenjing, Ye Wenyin, and Ye Tianhui, along with a total of seven or eight grandchildren.  

Old Master Ye wanted them to guess, and although there was no money at stake, getting it wrong would be embarrassing—it would make them seem incompetent.

In a family with many children, each one had to strive to stand out in front of Old Master Ye. Over time, by accumulating his favor, they might gain greater benefits in terms of inheritance and other opportunities in the future.  

In families like theirs, everything revolved around interests. Every advantage had to be fought for—there was no room for concessions.  

At that moment, everyone straightened up with renewed energy. Some discreetly sought assistance from their aides, some furrowed their brows in deep thought, while others recalled Ye Wenyin’s words from earlier. Each person reacted differently.  

In the end, Ye Wenyong was the first to speak. “Grandfather, in my opinion, the horses racing against Black Rose are all strong contenders. Even if her pregnancy doesn’t affect her performance, winning won’t be easy. After analyzing the situation, I believe Black Rose has a solid chance of finishing in the top three, but claiming first place might be a long shot.”  

Old Master Ye nodded and turned to the others. Since they didn’t have any strong opinions of their own, they naturally agreed with Ye Wenyong.  

At that moment, Ye Tianhui said, “Grandfather, I actually think Black Rose has a high chance of winning. If I were to place a bet, I’d bet on her to take first place.”  

Old Master Ye raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And why is that?”  

Ye Wenyong, standing nearby, chuckled. “Tianhui, you certainly have a bold perspective. If you were betting, the odds on your choice would be quite high—dozens of times over.”  

Ye Tianhui sensed a hint of mockery in his tone.  

Ye Wenyong was currently the General Manager of Ye Racing Enterprises, meaning he was deeply involved in the industry. Earlier, he had exchanged glances with his assistant—who was a professional. Clearly, he had some level of confidence in his judgment.  

But Ye Tianhui wasn’t speaking without reason. After observing Black Rose’s condition earlier, she believed the mare wasn’t affected by her pregnancy. In fact, Black Rose seemed to have quite a competitive spirit.  

Ye Wenyin spoke up again. “I think Wenyong is correct. Actually, I’ve studied cases of pregnant mares in races before and reviewed data on their performance within the first three months of pregnancy.”  

Old Master Ye was surprised. He hadn’t expected her to be so meticulous. “Tell us what you found.”  

The surrounding crowd turned their attention to Ye Wenyin, who beamed with confidence at the recognition. She then began explaining with a gentle smile.  

“I compiled data from the past ten years of world-class horse racing tournaments and analyzed the records of all pregnant mares that competed in flat races across Europe and America over the last seven years. In total, 443 pregnant mares participated in 1,542 races, with an average of 3.5 races per horse. However, the probability of a pregnant mare finishing first was only 8.23%. Among mares over three years old, the rate of winning first place was 9.35%. Statistically speaking, pregnancy does have a certain impact on a mare’s performance.”  

She continued with a smile, “Grandfather, people often cite examples of pregnant mares achieving great results, but that’s a selective bias. The ones that failed simply disappear from the conversation, while only the winners are remembered.”  

Her analysis was logical and well-structured, earning nods of approval from Old Master Ye. “That makes a lot of sense.”  

Even Manager Hu praised her. “Miss Ye, you truly have the expertise of a professional in equine studies. It’s clear that your education in the UK has given you remarkable analytical skills.”  

The people around them exchanged glances. They recalled that Ye Tianhui had predicted Black Rose would take first place, making their expressions somewhat ambiguous.  

Old Master Ye also remembered this and turned to Ye Tianhui with a smile. “Tianhui, what do you think now? Have you changed your mind?”  

Ye Tianhui smiled. “Grandfather, you should know that when I climbed ashore in Hong Kong from Yuanlong Coast, I only had 200 HKD on me. Later, I turned that 200 into 4,000.”  

Old Master Ye nodded. “You did it by betting on horse races.”  

Ye Tianhui continued, “The biggest mistake in betting is hesitating and wavering. Once you’ve placed your bet, there’s no turning back. Since I’ve said Black Rose will win, there’s no reason for me to change my stance.  

“As for using statistics and analysis to predict outcomes, those are just human conjectures. Whether it’s equestrian professionals or statistics, they’re merely our own speculations. The true condition of a horse and its hidden potential can only be proven by real results.”  

A smile appeared in Old Master Ye’s eyes. “Very well, very well. Let’s wait and see the outcome, then.”  

Ye Wenyin glanced at Ye Tianhui, sensing her unwavering confidence—as if she truly believed Black Rose would win.  

She frowned slightly and looked toward Ye Wenyong.  

Ye Wenyong gave a slight nod, signaling her to be patient.  

If Ye Tianhui was so confident, then let her witness reality for herself.

Author’s Note:

*Cut off a section here as it contains some spoilers*

By the way, just to clarify—Teng Yunwu isn’t being mistreated. The issue is that it’s too greedy when it comes to food.  

Horses can’t afford to be overweight either. They usually sleep standing up, rarely lying on their side because it puts pressure on their abdomen. If they’re too heavy, it can lead to heart disease or high blood pressure.  

A healthy horse needs daily exercise, but Teng Yunwu is just too lazy and gluttonous. So controlling its diet is the only option.