Chapter 69: Ye Chang’an

Chapter 69: Ye Chang'an

A young man suddenly arrived at Miao Fengshan's house.

Ye Xiaoxiao was sitting in the yard washing her clothes when she looked up and saw a man in an army uniform with a green jacket and blue pants walking into the yard.

The man had striking features, stood straight like a pine tree, and approached with steady steps.

Before Ye Xiaoxiao could ask about his intentions, the man spoke first.

"You are Xiao Xiao, right? I learned about you from home letters. Let me introduce myself; it's our first time meeting. I am your second brother—Ye Chang'an."

Ye Xiaoxiao stood up, "Second brother, you're in the air force?"

Ye Chang'an: "Yes, I am."

Upon closer inspection, Ye Chang'an did indeed have the look of a Ye family member.

His features were proper, and there was an air of righteousness in his eyes.

"Second brother, please come inside. Grandfather has gone to the small garden to pick vegetables and will be back soon," Ye Xiaoxiao said.

Ye Chang'an was still carrying some items, so Ye Xiaoxiao hurriedly invited him inside.

Noticing that only Ye Xiaoxiao was home, Ye Chang'an asked, "The college exams are over, so why haven't you gone home yet?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "I'm studying at the local drugstore."

Ye Chang'an: "That must be hard."

Ye Xiaoxiao shook her head: "It's not tough at all. My master is very good to me."

Ye Chang'an: "Glad to hear that."

Grandpa Miao returned, ending their awkward small talk.

Ye Xiaoxiao immediately went to finish washing the clothes that she hadn't finished.

Since Ye Chang'an had returned, he would definitely be returning to Baichuan Village. Ye Xiaoxiao hadn't returned for several days either.

Plus, she wanted to check on Zhang Erni's weight loss progress, so it worked out to go back together.

The two rode an ox-drawn cart for a while and then walked over a large slope, finally catching sight of Baichuan Village.

Although Ye Chang'an didn't come back often, he was familiar with the villagers and kept greeting people along the way.

"It is Ye Jianguo's second son who has returned."

"Oh my, look how much handsomer he's become after all these years."

"Chang'an, have you found a wife yet? If not, I can introduce someone to you."

Ye Chang'an replied shyly: "Thank you, Auntie. I already have a girlfriend."

"Then why didn't you bring her back to meet us?"

Ye Chang'an: "Maybe next time, if there's an opportunity."

Ye Xiaoxiao was pretty surprised that Ye Chang'an had a girlfriend.

She didn’t remember this when she was reading the book.

But perhaps the book didn’t describe it in detail.

After all, she was now facing a living person, not cold words on a page.

Ye Chang’an noticed Ye Xiaoxiao staring at him and turned to ask, “Are you surprised?”

Wanting to know more about the situation, Ye Xiaoxiao said, “I’m really surprised, second brother. What is your girlfriend like?”

A smile appeared on Ye Chang’an’s face at the mention of his girlfriend. “She’s a female soldier in the art troupe, very pretty, with a great personality.”

Ye Xiaoxiao was genuinely happy for him.

“Second brother, let’s head home. Mom and Dad will be thrilled to see you. And if they know you already have a beautiful girlfriend, they’ll be even happier.”

Ye Chang’an was eager to get home and strode forward.

“Second brother!”

“Brother Chang’an!”

Before they even reached the door, Ye Changsheng and Ye Changyuan came running down the path.

The brothers had a lot of catching up to do.

Ye Changyuan helped Ye Chang’an with his things, while Ye Changsheng kept asking him questions.

The three of them didn’t ignore Ye Xiaoxiao, occasionally asking her something, making for a really harmonious vibe.

A cyclist who looked somewhat familiar passed by and turned into Zhang Erni’s yard.

Ye Changyuan said, “Isn’t that Li Deshu? Why’s he back again, and heading to Zhang Erni’s house?”

Ye Chang’an, confused by whatever happened between Li Deshu and Zhang Erni’s family, found it strange.

Ye Changyuan told them everything bad Li Deshu had done.

Ye Changyuan sighed. “I remember when we were kids, Li Deshu was pretty decent. How did he end up like this?”

Ye Changyuan scoffed. “Probably his true nature is showing.”

Ye Changsheng said, “His entire family is moving to the city. He’s probably here to ask the village chief to help with the process.”

Ye Changyuan said, “Let’s go, it’s none of our business.”

When Ye Chang’an returned home, his family showered him with concern.

The youngest, Ye Baocheng, didn’t recognize this uncle, but Ye Baocheng was pretty sharp, and as soon as he saw him, he ran over and hugged his leg.

Ye Chang’an had no choice but to use candy to coax him.

The family had no way of dealing with this little clever one.

……

At Zhang Erni’s house.

Zhang Rengui, head down, smoking, said, “Have you thought it through? Once you transfer your household registration out, you won’t be a member of our village anymore.”

Li Deshu thought Zhang Rengui was going to cause him trouble and couldn't help but look smug.

"Uncle, I've got all the necessary documents and meet the national policy for switching from rural to urban status. I've put in so much effort to get a job in the city, so how could I not be certain?"

Zhang Rengui didn't want to get into it. "Once your household registration is transferred, you'll need to give your family's land back to the village."

Li Deshu said, "I got it, Uncle Zhang. I'm starting a family in the city and won't be coming back."

Zhang Rengui stopped trying to persuade him and took the employment certificate Li Deshu provided to handle the household transfer.

Zhang Erni was secretly keeping an eye on the situation from her own room.

She wondered why her brother, Li Deshu, had come back.

Her stomach growled.

Her stomach growled again.

Zhang Erni had no interest in gossip anymore. She lay on the kang, holding her stomach, feeling super hungry.

But she had to tough it out. Once she got prettier, her brother would definitely regret it.

Wang Meili swung open her daughter's door.

"Erni, are you completely giving up now? The Li family moved to the city, and Li Deshu's getting married."

Zhang Erni shot up. "Mom, where did you hear this?"

Wang Meili looked startled. "Li Deshu said it himself just now in the room."

Zhang Erni jumped up to put on her shoes. "I don't believe it. I'm gonna ask him myself."

Ye Xiaoxiao was on her way to deliver whitening cream to Zhang Erni when she saw her rush past like the wind.

"Zhang Erni, what are you doing?"

"Waaa... I'm gonna find Li Deshu."

Ye Xiaoxiao let out a sigh.

"Here we go again."

Ye Xiaoxiao immediately ran after her, but Zhang Erni was already too far ahead. By the time she reached the courtyard, she heard Li Deshu's cold voice coming from inside.

"That's right, I'm getting married to someone else, a woman who is a hundred times prettier than you.

Zhang Erni, why don't you look in the mirror? You're as fat as a pig. No man would ever like you."

Zhang Erni's voice choked. "But when we were kids, you were really nice to me."

Li Deshu looked disgusted. "If I had known you'd remember those childhood moments until now, I would never have helped you."

Zhang Erni was on the verge of breaking down in tears.

Ye Xiaoxiao walked in and pulled her away, not giving Li Deshu a single glance.

Although Zhang Erni was quite overweight, Ye Xiaoxiao easily led her away.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Can you be more ambitious? Where's the face-slapping revenge we talked about?"

Zhang Erni: "I... I've lost a lot of weight already, but he still thinks I'm ugly."

Ye Xiaoxiao looked over Zhang Erni. "It's true that it's not very noticeable yet. Have you been following the plan I gave you?"

Zhang Erni: "Of course, I eat only two eggs every morning, and I'm starving."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "What about jump rope?"

Zhang Erni fell silent.

There's no way she'd jump rope—she was too hungry to move.