Chapter 61: Big Sis is a Healer

Chapter 61: Big Sis is a Healer

Zhang Erni was brought home by her family, but the news of her jumping into the river had spread throughout the entire Baichuan Village in less than an hour.

When Ye Xiaoxiao and her family were having dinner, Miao Cuifang asked, "Did Zhang Erni really jump into the river? Is she okay?"

Ye Changsheng: "She's been rescued. She's fine."

"What a silly girl, no matter how big a problem is, you shouldn't lose hope. Erni has been growing up under my watch too. Although her mother isn't that great, we don't have a big feud. After dinner, I'll go visit her."

Miao Cuifang muttered a warning to her children, "You kids aren't allowed to do anything extreme if you run into problems. No matter what happens, we've got to keep on living."

Ye Changsheng: "Don't worry, we won't."

After dinner, Miao Cuifang grabbed a pack of brown sugar from home to visit Zhang Erni.

Ye Xiaoxiao went with her.

When they arrived at the Zhang family's courtyard, some relatives and neighbors had just left the house.

That's how things go in the village. Even though folks argue sometimes, when something serious happens, they still look out for each other.

Wang Meili, unusually, lacked her usual fiery spirit and looked somewhat haggard.

Miao Cuifang: "Sister-in-law, what's really going on? Is it really because of the marriage that made Erni despair?"

Wang Meili sighed, "I don't mind if you laugh, but it's true. It's because of the marriage with the Li family. That jerk Li Deshu has found someone he likes in the city and is calling off the marriage with our Erni."

Miao Cuifang: "Can they really do that? We should report this to the Women's Federation. We can't let our girl suffer a loss."

Wang Meili shook her head, "It's not so simple. When we got engaged, our family received 200 yuan as a bride price from the Li family. Now that they want to call off the marriage, they said we don't have to give back the bride price. If you really think about it, our girl hasn't suffered a loss. They aren't married, and without that official stamp on the marriage certificate, we can't take it to the higher-ups."

Besides, if we were to accuse him of something.

Well, Zhang Erni's always had a thing for Li Deshu, so that doesn't help either.

Miao Cuifang comforted her, "There are plenty of fish in the sea. You should tell Erni to loosen up a little."

Wang Meili: "Who says otherwise? I've told her I'd find her a better match, but she's stubborn. This is why... after I advised her a bit more, she jumped into the river when I wasn't home. If she hadn't been found early, I would have lost my daughter!"

As the saying goes, a clear official cannot settle family matters, so Miao Cuifang could only say that the two kids were not fated.

Ye Xiaoxiao entered Zhang Erni's room and found that she had woken up, but her eyes were wide open, staring at the ceiling, showing no reaction to anyone entering.

"Li Deshu is a philanderer. Is it worth being so devoted to him?"

Zhang Erni's eyes finally moved a bit in response, "What do you know? When I was a child, I was very chubby, and the kids in the village wouldn't play with me. Only Deshu ge was willing to pay attention to me. He's a good person."

Ye Xiaoxiao sat on the edge of the kang, "But you shouldn't repay kindness with resentment."

Zhang Erni: "Who turns their back on kindness? I just wanted to be with him, marry him, and have his kids."

Ye Xiaoxiao covered her ears, not wanting to hear any more.

Wait until she stopped crying before I continued, "Why do you think he doesn't like you?"

Zhang Erni: "It's because I'm fat and ugly."

Ye Xiaoxiao patted Zhang Erni's belly. "Exactly!"

"If he thinks you're fat, then lose weight to prove him wrong. If he thinks you're ugly, then get prettier to show him.

You should go dazzle him instead of jumping into the river."

Zhang Erni finally looked at Ye Xiaoxiao.

"Can I really lose weight? Can I really become pretty?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Of course, losing weight is really popular among city folks these days. Do you really think everyone is born skinny? Most people have to be disciplined.

Your features are just fine, your hair is long and black, you'll definitely look good once you lose the weight.

Add some makeup, and you'll be stunning."

Zhang Erni sat up from where she'd been lying down and tentatively asked, "Could I become even prettier than you?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Not a chance."

Seeing that Zhang Erni was about to lie back down, Ye Xiaoxiao quickly pulled her.

"I'm not your parents, so why are you comparing yourself to me? Just say if you want to become pretty."

Zhang Erni: "I want to..."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Speak up!"

Zhang Erni shouted, "I want to get pretty!"

The shout startled Wang Meili and Miao Cuifang, who were talking in the courtyard.

Ye Xiaoxiao stood up. "Come find me after your exams are over. And don't forget to return to school."

"You're leaving already?"

Zhang Erni watched Ye Xiaoxiao leave, feeling a surge of confidence.

She *will* become pretty!

Wang Meili hurriedly ran into the room.

"Erni, what's wrong? Why are you shouting in the room?"

Zhang Erni: "Mom, I want to go back to school."

Wang Meili doubted if her ears were playing tricks on her, asking again only to receive the same answer from Zhang Erni that she wanted to go back to school and take the college exams.

It was miraculous.

No matter how much they tried to persuade her, this girl from the Ye family went in and said a few words, and her daughter was full of life again.

Could it be that the Ye family girl's words were just that effective?

Ye Xiaoxiao followed Miao Cuifang home.

On the way, Miao Cuifang asked, "You didn't upset Zhang Erni, did you? She was shouting so loudly in the house."

Ye Xiaoxiao replied, "No, I just talked to her a little, and she's already willing to go back to class."

Miao Cuifang said, "That’s good, as long as she’s changed her mind."

After spending the night at home, the next morning, Ye Xiaoxiao and the two others headed back to the county town with the things the family had prepared.

Miao Cuifang put two new outfits in Ye Xiaoxiao's schoolbag.

"Xiao Xiao, I received the fabric you bought last time. There wasn’t much time, so I made two outfits for you first."

Ye Xiaoxiao said, "Thanks, Mom, you’ve been working so hard."

Miao Cuifang replied, "It’s no trouble at all, I just love seeing my girl in new clothes. If you like them, we'll make more next time."

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded firmly, "Yes."

...

Zhang Erni said she would come back to class, and on Monday, she appeared in the classroom on time.

Her friends crowded around her and asked,

"Erni, where have you been these days? Did you really go back home to get married?"

"We thought you weren’t coming back at all."

Zhang Erni, though feeling guilty, put on a brave face, "How could that be? I just stayed at home for a few days."

Ye Xiaoxiao was helping Wang Ying with a problem. Zhang Erni coming back to class showed she wasn’t a lost cause.

Besides, crying over some jerk isn’t worth it.

Wang Ying curiously glanced back and then whispered, "I... I saw... Zhang Erni’s boyfriend."

Ye Xiaoxiao looked at her deskmate, "You know Li Deshu?"

Wang Ying spoke slowly, "I don’t know him personally, but I’ve seen his photo at Zhang Erni’s."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "What did you see?"

Wang Ying: "He showed up at my place with gifts."