Chapter 34 Visiting Relatives

Chapter 34 Visiting Relatives

Ye Changyuan didn't want to spend any more money at this point. Hearing Ye Xiaoxiao mention buying things, he advised, "Xiao Xiao, I don't think we need to buy anything. The old bedding at home can still be used, isn't it already there?"

Moreover, since it was her first year in the Ye family, her bedding was newly made.

Ye Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes at him, "Brother Yuan, are you kidding me? We can't go to Second Sister's house empty-handed."

Even if Ye Mei was okay with it, over time, Ye Mei's in-laws and husband might start to think differently.

Ye Changyuan hadn't considered this aspect.

Every year when Second Sister came home, their parents would also bring things for them. As for visiting her, they never brought gifts on their own because Second Sister always said it wasn't necessary.

But Xiao Xiao had a point.

Ye Changyuan and Ye Changsheng exchanged glances but remained silent.

The county town was indeed quite large, with an entire supply and marketing building where everything from clothes to food was available.

Ye Xiaoxiao bought a pound of brown sugar, two bottles of white wine, and the lock they needed.

Then she went to the meat processing plant to buy five pounds of pork.

With Ye Changyuan leading the way, the three of them went to Ye Mei's house.

Ye Mei lived in a house allocated by the factory. As soon as they entered the compound, neighbors noticed the three siblings.

Several aunties sitting at the door picking vegetables gave them a once-over.

Since they were unfamiliar, one of the aunties asked, "Who are you here to see?"

Ye Xiaoxiao replied, "We're going to Ye Mei's house."

The auntie kindly pointed the way, "Ye Mei's house? Go to the very end upstairs, that's her place."

Ye Xiaoxiao thanked her sweetly, "Thank you, auntie."

"You're welcome, young girl, you're so sweet."

After the three siblings walked away, the aunties whispered among themselves.

"Ye Mei's relatives are quite good, bringing so many things when they visit. My sister-in-law has been staying at home for so many days, but hasn't brought anything."

"Exactly, although we don't mind a meal or two, it's the thought that counts."

"Sigh... we're not so lucky."

Meanwhile, Ye Xiaoxiao and her brothers had arrived at Ye Mei's door.

As soon as she knocked, a voice came from inside.

"Coming!"

The door was opened by a woman around fifty years old, who looked surprised to see Ye Xiaoxiao: "Who are you looking for, young lady?"

Ye Changyuan popped his head out from behind: "Auntie, it's me, Changyuan. This is my sister Xiao Xiao, and this is Changsheng, you've met him before."

Ye Mei's mother-in-law clapped her hands together, "Oh, Changyuan. Your sister just went out to get some groceries, she said you would come. Come on in and have a seat."

"Aunt, these are the things we bought for the family," Ye Xiaoxiao handed over the gifts.

"We’re all family; you didn’t have to bring anything," Ye Mei's mother-in-law, Mrs. Ye, refused with a warm smile.

Ye Changyuan also noticed the difference from before. Although his sister's in-laws had always been polite, they had never been as happy as they were today.

Mrs. Ye took the items and put them away, muttering, "Ye Mei mentioned you’re planning to rent a place outside. Why bother with all that? There's still room at home; we can make room."

Actually, if it were just Ye Changsheng and Ye Changyuan, the house wouldn't be too crowded.

But Ye Xiaoxiao is a girl and needs her own space, which leaves no extra room. We’d only have the living room to squeeze into, which would be very inconvenient.

Whether the offer was polite or genuine, Ye Xiaoxiao just smiled and said, "Thanks, Aunt, but we’ve already found a place. It's just right for me and my two brothers. We just need two more beds, so we’ll have to trouble my brother-in-law to make them."

Mrs. Ye readily agreed, "No problem. Your brother-in-law works at a lumberyard; there's plenty of scrap material. He can whip them up in half a day."

After a bit more chatting, Ye Mei came back with her son.

Wang Xiaohu, eight years old and full of beans, immediately ran into Ye Changyuan's arms upon seeing him.

"Uncle!"

Then he turned to Ye Changsheng, "Uncle Changsheng!"

Finally, his gaze fell on Ye Xiaoxiao, looking confused.

He hadn't seen this sister before.

Ye Mei said, "This is your aunt, Ye Xiaoxiao."

Wang Xiaohu shook his head, "No way, my aunt doesn’t look like this."

Ye Mei laughed and patted her son's head, "This is your aunt. From now on, she’s your only aunt."

Wang Xiaohu still didn't quite understand but obediently called out, "Aunt."

Ye Xiaoxiao replied, "What a good boy."

By around four in the afternoon, Ye Mei’s husband and her father-in-law also came home.

Mrs. Ye used the pork brought by Ye Xiaoxiao to make a dish of braised pork. As soon as Ye Mei's father-in-law entered, he exclaimed, "What's the occasion today? You’re making meat."

"Oh, you old man, you think I’m always so cheap. It's because Mei's younger siblings are here; they brought this meat."

"It's Changyuan and Changsheng. You didn’t have to bring anything next time."

Ye Mei's father-in-law was also a kind man. Although he said not to bring anything, he couldn't help but grin when he saw the two bottles of liquor.

The gift was right up his alley; he loved it.

Ye Mei had initially thought her younger siblings were being too formal by bringing gifts, but seeing her in-laws' unusually warm attitude today, she suddenly realized how thoughtful her little sister was.

Since the rented house wasn't ready yet, Ye Xiaoxiao and her brothers stayed overnight at Ye Mei's place.

The next morning, Ye Mei and her husband helped them set things up.

Wang Dongqiang made two simple beds of the right size and delivered them to the house.

The bedding was old items brought from their home, while the sheets and curtains were provided by Ye Mei.

She works at a fabric factory and often buys defective fabrics at cheap prices.

During this time, the house owner came over to sign the rental contract, saying that since they were all students, she felt comfortable renting the house to them.

With these simple arrangements, the house really started to feel like a home.

Ye Xiaoxiao got one room, while Ye Changsheng and Ye Changyuan shared another.

Looking at the neatly arranged house, Ye Xiaoxiao felt that apart from the lack of appliances, it wasn't much different from her old place.

Most importantly, there were electric lights, making it easier to study at night.

"You three will sleep here at night. If you need to eat during the day, you can eat at the school canteen. That way, you won't need to cook. I don't think you guys know how to cook anyway," Ye Mei advised before leaving.

If her place weren't so far from the school, she would have invited her siblings to eat at her place.

Ye Changyuan: "Got it, Sis. Don't worry about us. This place is way better than the school."

Ye Mei: "Xiao Xiao, tomorrow you should go see the principal in his office. He will arrange your class for you."

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded and told Ye Mei and her brother-in-law to head home early.

When only the three of them were left at home, Ye Xiaoxiao laid out her study materials on the table, adding some life to the otherwise empty room.

That night, Ye Changyuan lay in bed, whispering to Ye Changsheng.

"Brother Sheng, having money is really nice. How does Xiao Xiao make so much money?"

Ye Changsheng: "Xiao Xiao is smart."

Ye Changyuan: "Yeah, do you think all city kids are like that? Will Yan Yan become as smart and beautiful as Xiao Xiao after she goes to the city?"

Ye Changsheng frowned: "Why bring her up? She's not even part of our family anymore."

Ye Changyuan: "Don't you miss Yan Yan at all?"

Ye Changsheng turned over, facing the wall.

At first, he did miss and worry about her, but as time passed, those feelings faded.

Moreover, she had done something so terrible.

If she really cared about the family, she wouldn't have gone so long without any word. She was the one who abandoned the family first.