Chapter 55: Earning Money with the Master

Chapter 55: Earning Money with the Master

Ye Changyuan: "Let's not worry about him. Any family that proposes a marriage exchange isn't a good one."

Ye Xiaoxiao sighed, realizing that marriage is a serious matter, not to be rushed.

Moreover, judging from the Zhao family's demeanor, this was not a good match.

She hoped Ye Changjun would see reason and not get stuck in a rut.

Ye Xiaoxiao rubbed her stomach: "I'm hungry; I haven't eaten yet. Let's grab something to eat."

Ye Changsheng: "Let's go. After we eat, we'll head home and see how things turn out."

After finishing their meal, Ye Xiaoxiao and the others returned to Ye Mei's house, where the family had already discussed the matter.

Ye Jianguo: "Changjun, if this is going to work, you'll need to talk it over with the girl. If she's sincere about living with you, we'll pay the bride price."

Ye Jianye also said, "If she's a good girl, her family doesn't matter."

Ye Changjun nodded, though less enthusiastically than before.

The next morning, Ye Changjun went to see Zhao Xiaona.

When he got back, he told everyone it was off.

Ye Xiaoxiao and the others were at school during the day, and by the time they got out, Ye Changjun and the others had already returned to Baichuan Village.

They only got some news from Ye Mei.

"Changjun said he didn't know her well before, but now he sees she's not right for him. No need to rush into marriage; we'll see how it goes."

It's easy to say, but apart from girls from Baichuan Village, girls from elsewhere don't want to marry into the mountains.

Even Baichuan Village girls prefer to marry out, as their own family shows.

Ye Changyuan: "Guess it just wasn't meant to be. It's all because my brother wasn't clear, making our family make a big deal out of it."

Ye Mei reached out and pinched his ear, "Don't go home and blabber. Changjun's already upset about losing his would-be wife. If you rile him up more, who knows what might happen?"

Ye Changyuan broke free and immediately hid far away, "Got it!"

...

As time passed, the college entrance exams were approaching.

Baichuan County was also in the rainy season. For the students' safety, the usual PE classes that went to the back hills were canceled.

Ye Xiaoxiao returned to the pharmacy; today Zhou Ziran was leaving Songlin Town.

His eyes, which had been blurry at first, had now fully regained their vision.

Zhou Ziran bid farewell to Song Guangjing.

"Mr. Song, I look forward to the day you return to Beijing. We'll meet again then."

Song Guangjing: "That day will come."

Zhou Ziran also spoke to Ye Xiaoxiao, "Girl, study hard, you must come to Beijing for college."

Ye Xiaoxiao said obediently, "I definitely will."

The driver slowly started the car and drove out of the dilapidated town.

After they left, Ye Xiaoxiao prepared to continue practicing acupuncture.

Song Guangjing called her to his side.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Master, what do you need?"

Song Guangjing handed her an envelope: "Old Zhou came this time for his eye treatment and paid a large consultation fee. After deducting the cost of his medication and daily needs, this is what you deserve."

Ye Xiaoxiao felt the thickness of the envelope, "Master, you didn’t give me extra, did you?"

Song Guangjing: "Don’t get ahead of yourself. Do you think his condition was easy to treat? Besides me, no other TCM practitioner could have handled it. Even then, he got a good deal. In the past, you couldn’t get me to treat someone for this price."

"You’re the best, Master," Ye Xiaoxiao praised while putting the envelope away, not forgetting to thank him: "Thank you, Master."

Usually, apprentices don’t get paid, but Song Guangjing was very good to her.

Song Guangjing didn’t think giving money to his apprentice was a big deal. At his age, he didn’t care much about material things.

But he still wanted to remind his apprentice a few things.

"Study hard with me, and you’ll have plenty of chances to make good money later."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Got it, Master."

Using the money Song Guangjing gave her, Ye Xiaoxiao went to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought a bunch of things, which she then took to Miao Fengshan's house.

The money from this treatment was more than she’d ever made selling melon seeds, and she was just assisting.

It shows that no matter the industry, when you reach the top, you can make money.

Miao Fengshan wasn’t fazed by the things Ye Xiaoxiao bought.

"Just leave them here; I’ll send them home later."

Ye Xiaoxiao took out the floral fabric she bought.

"Grandpa, can you ask Mom to make me two summer outfits?"

Miao Fengshan chuckled: "Sure, your mom loves making clothes for you."

Ye Xiaoxiao also liked the clothes made by Miao Cuilan; they weren’t stiff at all—better than tailor-made ones.

Unfortunately, there was no sewing machine at home, so hand-sewing clothes was too much work and took too long.

But sewing machines were hard to come by these days, not only pricey, but the coupons were hard to get too.

Ye Xiaoxiao made a mental note of this, thinking that she must get a sewing machine for the family.

She unfolded a few pieces of plain-colored fabric, "These can be used for Mom, Dad, Brother, and Sister-in-law, and this navy blue one is for Grandpa."

Miao Fengshan: "These are nice fabrics; save them for New Year’s clothes."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "No, we’ll get new ones for the New Year. These are for now."

Miao Fengshan didn't argue and chuckled, "Alright, we'll listen to our Xiaoxiao. You sit down, Grandpa will cook some meat for you."

Ye Xiaoxiao exclaimed, "Great!"

Only Ye Xiaoxiao had taken time off to come back. After Miao Fengshan and Ye Xiaoxiao finished their meal, it was still early.

Miao Fengshan packed a lot of rabbit meat in a container for Ye Xiaoxiao to take back so the two boys could have some.

"Grandpa, I'm heading back."

As she was leaving, Miao Fengshan wanted to walk Ye Xiaoxiao home.

"Grandpa, it's still light out, I'll walk and be there soon."

Miao Fengshan: "But Grandpa still wants to walk you home, it's not safe for a young girl to walk alone."

But Miao Fengshan had trouble with his legs, and Ye Xiaoxiao didn't want her grandpa to make the trip back and forth.

Luckily, Miao Fengshan walked her to the main road at the town entrance, where they met a passing ox cart that could give Ye Xiaoxiao a ride.

Miao Fengshan then went back first.

The cart was driven by an elderly man, carrying a load of baskets to the county town.

These were baskets ordered by someone, and he was delivering them.

"Sir, did you make all these baskets yourself?"

The elderly man driving in front answered loudly, "Yes, I only know how to weave baskets."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "That's a great skill."

The old man smiled bitterly, "It doesn't pay much."

Although the ox cart was slow, it was faster than walking.

If everything went smoothly, it would take about an hour to get from Songlin Town to the county town.

Halfway through the journey, the old man suddenly stopped the cart.

"Oh no... is that someone on the road?"

Ye Xiaoxiao jumped off the ox cart and ran ahead to look, and indeed, there was a person lying curled up in the middle of the road.

On both sides were lush cornfields, and in the middle was a dirt road, making the person stand out.

Ye Xiaoxiao ran a couple of steps forward and found that the person seemed to be having an attack, breathing heavily.

"Hey... hey, do you have asthma? Do you have medicine with you?"

Ye Xiaoxiao turned the person over and reached into their pockets to check.