Chapter 479: An Accident

Chapter 479: An Unexpected Turn of Events

Ye Xiaoxiao was unaware that someone had issues with her behind her scenes. After finishing breakfast in the morning, she took a walk.

Only then did she learn about the snow-clearing activity outside.

However, Ye Xiaoxiao was well aware of her physical condition. Since it was a volunteer effort, she certainly wouldn’t overexert herself shoveling snow at the risk of harming herself.

So, she came up with an alternative. If she couldn’t contribute physically to the snow-clearing, she could still help everyone in another way.

The weather outside was cold, and clearing snow could easily lead to getting sick from the cold.

Ye Xiaoxiao prepared a mix of medicinal herbs and brewed a pot of ginger brown sugar tea, which had warming effects.

Once it was ready, she asked Auntie Zhao to help deliver it to the women clearing snow outside.

Auntie Zhao scooped out some from the pot and took it to those working outside first. The remaining tea in the pot was left for everyone to bring their own bowls to take some from home, making it more convenient.

On her way out, Auntie Zhao ran into Gao Yanfei and asked her to go home and bring bowls to share the tea.

"Look how cold the kids are. Have some brown sugar ginger tea to warm up."

Gao Yanfei saw the tea Auntie Zhao was carrying and said, "Auntie, you’re too good to us. We’ve been clearing snow for years and never had such treatment. Besides, this is our own yard—we should be doing the work."

Auntie Zhao seized the chance to compliment Xiao Xiao, "This was all Xiao Xiao’s idea. I’m just following her instructions."

Gao Yanfei sent her two children to fetch containers and thanked Xiao Xiao for her kindness.

The other women also received the brown sugar ginger tea sent by Ye Xiaoxiao. In those days, brown sugar was considered a luxury item.

Even those who had initially thought Xiao Xiao wasn’t pulling her weight now had nothing left to criticize and instead spoke highly of her thoughtfulness.

So, apart from Jia Xiaofen, who had left early, everyone else received Xiao Xiao’s kind gesture.

Jia Xiaofen only heard about it the next day from a neighbor.

"Xiaofen, you left too early yesterday—what a pity! Dr. Ye specially prepared brown sugar ginger tea for those clearing snow. It was so comforting to drink."

The neighbor, a straightforward woman, mentioned this without malice.

She also had no idea about the conflict Jia Xiaofen had with others the day before.

But Jia Xiaofen didn’t react well. She felt Ye Xiaoxiao had purposely snubbed her.

And this Ye Xiaoxiao was just too good at buttering people up.

"So, what’s her point? She left me out on purpose?"

The neighbor was stunned. "Xiaofen, she didn’t even see you. How could it be on purpose?"

But Jia Xiaofen wouldn’t listen. In her mind, she was convinced Ye Xiaoxiao had intentionally humiliated her.

Agitated, she marched off, saying, "I’m going to have it out with her."

The neighbor hurried after her. "Oh dear, why did I have to open my big mouth? This wasn’t Dr. Ye’s fault at all. Don’t go!"

Jia Xiaofen ignored her and marched off angrily to confront Ye Xiaoxiao.

The neighbor tried to stop her, but Jia Xiaofen shoved her aside, sending her tumbling onto her rear.

"Ow, ow..."

The sister-in-law was badly hurt from her fall, and by the time she got up, Jia Xiaofen had already disappeared.

Since the roads were mostly cleared of snow, Ye Xiaoxiao went to the nursing home as usual today.

So when Jia Xiaofen went to Ye Xiaoxiao’s home, she couldn’t find her.

Unfortunately, Kong Xuelan from next door had just stewed some radish and mutton and was just bringing some over for Ye Xiaoxiao.

She came out of her own home, delivered the food, and while Aunt Zhao put it away, she walked Kong Xuelan out.

"Teacher Kong, you must be careful."

Kong Xuelan smiled and said, "Don't worry, I checked before coming out—there’s no ice on the road, and it’s just a few steps."

Aunt Zhao followed behind, still worried despite the short distance.

Neither of them expected any trouble, but at the courtyard gate, Kong Xuelan ran into Jia Xiaofen, who had suddenly appeared.

Though there was no ice on the road, Jia Xiaofen had been in such a hurry that she sent Kong Xuelan sprawling.

"Ah!"

Kong Xuelan grabbed her belly as she fell.

At first, Jia Xiaofen thought she had bumped into Ye Xiaoxiao, and she froze.

When she realized it was Kong Xuelan, she was even more terrified.

Kong Xuelan’s belly was already quite large, and now she couldn’t get up by herself.

Fortunately, Aunt Zhao was there and immediately rushed over, yelling for help while trying to help her up.

The noise brought Gao Yanfei next door, who saw Kong Xuelan on the ground and hurried over to assist.

"Teacher Kong, hold on!"

The baby wasn’t due yet—if something happened now, it wouldn’t survive.

Aunt Zhao and Gao Yanfei worked together to carry Kong Xuelan to the clinic.

Before leaving, Gao Yanfei gave Jia Xiaofen a sharp look. "See what you’ve done! What were you even doing here?"

Jia Xiaofen was too scared to speak.

"You just wait. If anything happens to Teacher Kong, you’ll pay for this."

With that, she helped get Kong Xuelan to the clinic.

By the time Ye Xiaoxiao arrived at the clinic, Kong Xuelan’s condition had stabilized. There was some light bleeding, but nothing serious.

Thankfully, she was far enough along in her pregnancy that the pregnancy was stable.

Even so, Jia Xiaofen wouldn’t get off scot-free.

"What's going on?"

Before arriving, Ye Xiaoxiao didn't know what had happened.

Aunt Zhao waited until they arrived to tell her the truth, worried her anxiety might affect her.

"Teacher Kong slipped and fell at our doorstep, but fortunately, it wasn't serious."

Ye Xiaoxiao went to check Kong Xuelan's pulse—thankfully, there were no major issues.

"How did she fall?"

Aunt Zhao glanced at Jia Xiaofen, who was standing facing the wall in timeout.

Ye Xiaoxiao followed the others' gazes and saw a woman she didn't know.

Gao Yanfei, however, knew exactly what had happened. This Jia Xiaofen had previously held a grudge against Xiao Xiao, and her sudden appearance at Xiao Xiao's house couldn't be up to any good.

"Jia Xiaofen, what were you doing at Xiao Xiao's house?" Gao Yanfei demanded.

Jia Xiaofen had been uneasy the whole time, but now that she heard Kong Xuelan was fine, she stood up straight defiantly.

"I just wanted to ask Dr. Ye why everyone else got brown sugar ginger tea except me. Is she singling me out?

How was I supposed to know I'd run into Teacher Kong? This isn’t my fault—blame the ones playing favorites instead."

Only then did Ye Xiaoxiao take a closer look at Jia Xiaofen.

So that’s what this was about.

Though Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t know Jia Xiaofen, the way she spoke made it clear she was not a nice person.

Gao Yanfei just laughed. "That tea was for those who shoveled snow. You left early, and still expected some warming soup? If you’d gone to Xiao Xiao’s house yourself, she would’ve given you one. Were you waiting for room service?"

Jia Xiaofen turned red but dug in her heels.

Ye Xiaoxiao wasn't looking for an argument, but she wasn't backing down either.

"I made the brown sugar ginger tea, and I decide who gets it. No one's entitled to it."