Chapter 148: Letting Go

Chapter 148: Letting Go

Li Deshu's aunt felt somewhat awkward; she was truly grasping at straws.

Zhang Erni had once been engaged to Li Deshu, but the engagement was later broken off.

In the end, it was Li Deshu who had let Zhang Erni down.

Now, asking for her help was a bit of a stretch.

Zhang Erni, however, smiled slightly, "Well, I'm heading to the county town. If it's on the way, you can come with me."

"Alright, alright... It's not safe for you two girls to walk the mountain road alone. It's safer to stick together and look out for each other."

Zhang Erni shook her head, "I'm not by myself."

She stood there holding onto her bike, waiting for someone.

"Alright, Erni, you're waiting for someone. You wait here, and I'll take Feng Yan to Stone Slope to look for her bicycle."

The aunt pulled Feng Yan away.

Feng Yan had never met Zhang Erni, but she could tell that Zhang Erni's family was well-off.

The bike she was holding was new, and the hairpin she wore was a city-style hairpin.

"Who is that?"

"She's the village chief's daughter. She works in the city and is on her way to work now."

Feng Yan nodded thoughtfully, thinking the way she'd been looked at was a bit odd.

Meanwhile, Zhang Erni had also spotted the person she was waiting for.

It was a tall young man in a black cotton-padded jacket and a mink hat.

Fei Qing was also a village boy, and his meeting Zhang Erni was no accident.

Last time, when Zhang Erni fell into the water, he was the one who saved her. To protect her reputation, he left immediately after bringing her ashore.

To his surprise, Zhang Erni later came to his house to thank him.

Fei Qing could see that Zhang Erni had changed a lot since then, becoming more confident and even more beautiful.

Fei Qing was a carpenter in the village, and this time he was going to the city to take measurements for a house where a family wanted custom furniture.

He was skilled, and many people from nearby villages came to him for work.

He had been to the city with Zhang Erni a few times and had gotten to know her. Sometimes they would arrange to walk together.

"Let's go. Guess who I just met? It's Li Deshu's new wife, Feng Yan, I believe."

Fei Qing, pushing his bicycle and carrying his tools, stopped in his tracks.

"Don't be nervous. I'm over Li Deshu. People like him, Xiao Xiao says, are called scumbags and aren't worth entrusting your life to."

Zhang Erni was just into gossiping.

Fei Qing, on the other hand, was more of a listener.

When the two arrived at Stone Slope, Feng Yan and her aunt found the bicycle in the ditch.

No one had taken it, likely because few people visited Baishi Village.

However, the bicycle chain had some issues.

Li Deshu's aunt warmly greeted Zhang Erni and Fei Qing.

"Comrade Fei, come and see why this bicycle won't move."

Fei Qing went over to check, squatted down, fiddled with it for a few moments, and then fixed it.

"Having a skilled craftsman is really good; Comrade Fei is quite capable."

Zhang Erni: "Auntie, are you going to the city too?"

"I'm not going. You three can go together; I'll head back first."

With that, she left.

Feng Yan then walked together with Fei Qing and Zhang Erni.

The three of them were very quiet on the way.

Feng Yan wasn't used to walking on mountain paths and noticed that although Zhang Erni was a girl, she walked very fast.

Fortunately, after passing Stone Slope, they could ride bicycles.

But riding a bicycle on mountain paths was also difficult for Feng Yan; she wobbled as she held the handlebars, riding very slowly.

Zhang Erni asked pointedly, "You can't walk well, and you can't ride well. Why did you come back to the village with Li Deshu?"

Feng Yan blushed, "I didn't expect the village to be so far."

Li Deshu's family is quite wealthy; how come their hometown is so remote?

"It's your first time back; I guess you won't have the chance again in the future."

Zhang Erni no longer envied Feng Yan; although the other was also beautiful, she herself wasn't ugly either.

Feng Yan remained silent.

What she was really thinking was that she would never come back again.

The three parted ways after reaching the county town.

Feng Yan thanked the two; if it weren't for their company, she really wouldn't have dared to walk such a long distance alone.

"Let me treat you to a meal."

Zhang Erni waved her hand, "No need to be polite; you should hurry home."

At this moment, she truly felt relieved.

After Feng Yan left, Fei Qing said to Zhang Erni, "I'll take you to the barber shop."

Zhang Erni nodded, and the two walked in another direction.

...

The Ye household.

Ye Changqing and Zhang Xue have returned from visiting relatives.

Zhang Xue is noticeably happier than on previous returns, and her family has sent along many gifts for the Ye family.

Miao Cuifang remarked, "Why did you bring back so much again? Your in-laws are too kind."

Zhang Xue replied, "These are all pickled vegetables from my mother's house. She wanted everyone to try them."

Meanwhile, Ye Xiaoxiao was tidying up her belongings in her room.

She had returned with only a few undergarments and a set of heavy clothing.

The temperature in Baishi Village differs from that in the capital, so the heavy clothes worn here are unnecessary there.

After storing away her fur boots, Ye Xiaoxiao decided that ordinary cotton shoes would suffice for her return.

She counted out two hundred yuan from her wallet.

"Mom, please keep this money at home."

Ye Xiaoxiao sensed that a large portion of the money she had sent home had been spent on her—like replacing the glass in her room, making new cotton quilts, and even crafting two extra sets of heavy clothes.

Thanks to Miao Cuifang and Zhang Xue's attentiveness, Ye Xiaoxiao hardly had to lift a finger after returning home.

Miao Cuifang was startled when Ye Xiaoxiao pulled out money as soon as she entered the room.

She had just been discussing with Ye Jianguo about giving the children their living expenses.

"Xiaoxiao, we can't take this money," Miao Cuifang protested.

Ye Jianguo added, "Xiaoxiao, don't always send money home. A poor family should focus on its own needs; you, being away, should keep more for yourself."

Ye Xiaoxiao insisted, "Mom, I know how good you and Dad have been to me, but I also want to help the family live better. This money is all earned by me, not from the Hao family, so please spend it without worry."

Miao Cuifang hesitated, "Xiaoxiao, you're still a student."

Ye Xiaoxiao countered, "What's wrong with being a student? I have the ability to earn money. This is my way of showing filial piety to you and Dad."

Reluctantly, Miao Cuifang accepted the money.

Only then did Ye Xiaoxiao feel at ease and leave the room.

As soon as she left, Ye Changning entered.

Miao Cuifang didn't feel as much guilt towards her son, especially the third child, who had been a troublemaker since he was young.

"What are you here for? Are you also here to give money?" she asked.

Ye Changning replied, "Mom, you really are a mind reader."

He handed Miao Cuifang five hundred yuan.

"I'll keep the rest for expanding production. Take this.

I've already arranged jobs for my eldest brother and Jun Ge through some connections. There should be news soon.

If my eldest brother moves to the city with his wife and child, they'll definitely need to rent a place. There are many expenses at home."

Without waiting for his parents to refuse, Ye Changning continued, "I'm taking Sheng Ge'er to the capital for a few days. Don't worry about his living expenses; I'll cover them."

The Ye brothers shared a strong bond, always supporting each other without any ulterior motives.

Miao Cuifang held the money, her eyes moist, "You kids, really..."