Chapter 49

After Little Uncle Ye returned home, Grandma Ye started worrying about his lifelong matters.

She held his hand with heartache and said,

“Look, Shuiya is already married, and you’re her uncle—yet you still don’t have a wife.”

“I’ve let your father down…”

His sister-in-law’s eyes shimmered as if tears were about to fall.

Ye Zhongjian was only twenty-four this year—just nine years older than his niece. Growing up, Ye Mama had played the role of both sister-in-law and mother, raising him as her own.

Rather than calling him Ye Qingshui’s uncle, it would be more accurate to call him an older brother.

He used to carry her on his back when she was small, taught her how to catch crickets and make locust toys. Life had been tough and poor back then, but he singlehandedly ensured she grew up with joy and warmth. Even though she lacked a father, her personality remained bright and unwarped.

Every year when someone asked about his marriage, Little Uncle Ye would always act bashful—like a shy, clumsy young lad—smiling without saying a word.

But now, it was as if he couldn’t get away fast enough, practically scrambling to escape.

Grandma Ye slapped his arm and declared:

“Alright, your mother understands now!”

“Just you wait!”

At twenty-four, Ye Zhongjian was considered a late bachelor in the village. Most rural men married at twenty; by then, their kids were already running errands at the supply store. It used to be excusable because Ye Zhongjian was still serving in the army, but now that he had retired, putting off marriage any longer was hard to justify.

After the “marriage urging,” Little Uncle gave a sharp glare to his idle niece sitting nearby, seemingly taking his frustration out on her.

Ye Qingshui gave him an innocent look. She couldn’t be blamed for marrying before him—it was his own fault for dragging his feet.

A week later, when Ye Qingshui returned from working the fields, she heard Grandma Ye’s angry voice:

“That Du family from Shili Village is just plain extortion! Three hundred yuan for a bride price and they still want a new house?! Our Ye family—can’t afford that, no way…”

Ye Mama sighed, “But Erwa really likes her.”

Then came Little Uncle’s voice:

“Sister-in-law, it’s not about liking or not… with my leg like this, I’m a cripple. I won’t drag her down.”

His clear, firm voice could not hide the trace of bitterness—raspy and weary.

Ye Mama said with difficulty,

“Erwa, don’t say that. It’s just 300 yuan, we can manage to scrape it together. But this new house…”

Ye Qingshui stood frozen for a while, eyes heating up.

“Xiao He”—wasn’t that Aunt Xiao He’s nickname?

So they’d been discussing this marriage all the way back then…

In her previous life, Little Uncle married very late—only managing to find a wife in his 30s. By the time he had a child, he was already 40. But back then, he was a very different person.

In the 1980s, he had a sharp mind and went into business all over the country. He became the first ten-thousand-yuan household in the village. His business grew more prosperous by the year. Though older, young and beautiful girls were still willing to marry him.

When Ye Qingshui left Ye Family Village in her past life, Aunt Xiao He had tearfully given her thirty yuan. She had thought it was simply out of pity for her misfortune. She hadn’t realized her little uncle had played a part in that connection.

Her hands clenched tightly at the memory.

At some point, Xie Tingyu had appeared beside her. He took her hand, gently unfolded her thumb, and touched the deep crescent imprint in her palm with his fingertip.

“Doesn’t that hurt?” he asked, frowning.

Grandma Ye’s angry voice carried clearly from the room, reaching their ears:

“Since when does marrying a bride mean building a whole new house? That Du family is just jealous that Shuiya stayed living here after getting married!”

Xie Tingyu took her hand and led her into Grandma Ye’s room. He looked around. Everyone had different expressions on their faces.

Grandma Ye was full of resentment and frustration. At her age, she was still worrying about her son’s marriage; deep lines etched her face.

Ye Mama’s brows were tightly furrowed in distress—she clearly knew more about the situation.

Only Little Uncle Ye had a calm expression. But as a man, only another man could truly read him. Xie Tingyu could see the bitterness and unwillingness suppressed behind those steady eyes.

Xie Tingyu couldn’t help much with other matters, but if it was a problem money could solve, he could at least offer some support.

After some thought, he said cautiously:

“Originally, Shuiya and I should’ve built a new house after we got married too. If we have a child, the old house won’t be enough.

How about this…

Let’s build a new house together with Little Uncle. We can finish it before winter.”

Ye Qingshui was stunned when she heard this.

Building a house was no small matter—it was a dream long cherished by generations. The Ye family’s old house had been built with wages her grandfather had risked his life to earn.

In her mind, Ye Qingshui quickly calculated the cost: just buying bricks, tiles, and lumber would already require at least 500 yuan. That wasn’t a small amount.

Although she knew Xie Tingyu came from a wealthy family, even he couldn’t afford to waste money like this.

They were going to divorce next year. He had always planned to leave this remote mountain village—he probably wouldn’t stay here much longer. Spending this money was like throwing it into the water.

Ye Qingshui grabbed his hand and desperately gave him meaningful looks.

Xie Tingyu gently clasped her hand in reassurance and said,

“It’s settled then. Tomorrow I’ll have someone come by to check where the foundation should be laid. Once the land grant is approved, we’ll start building.”

Xie Tingyu’s decisive tone shocked even Little Uncle Ye.

He couldn’t help but size up the tall man from the north. Today, the young man had changed into a cotton shirt—looking quite proper and refined, like a true city youth.

Still very young, but what a bold tone.

Little Uncle thought for a moment and said,

“This is something you two shouldn’t worry about.”

Grandma Ye and Ye Mama were both taken aback. Grandma shook her head and said nothing, but Ye Mama’s face flushed red again.

She thought: It’s one thing to rely on the son-in-law for food and clothes, but even the new house has to be built by him?

If word got out, their family’s backbone would be chewed to pieces by gossiping villagers.

Ye Qingshui seized the chance to pull Xie Tingyu back into the house. She took 450 yuan from her cabinet.

“Don’t say things like that again—you scared Mom. This is the reward money the government gave me for developing the water-finding device. I haven’t spent a single cent. I’ll use it to build the house. Here—”

Xie Tingyu couldn’t help placing his palm gently on her head. That soft, smooth sensation was so comforting.

He shook his head, smiling,

“You should save this money. It’s meaningful—you can’t just spend it casually.”

After a pause, he added with a smile,

“Shuiya, you forgot… When we got married, my family still owed you a bride price.”

“This amount… is enough to build a large house.”

Xie Tingyu pulled out a remittance slip and waved it in front of Ye Qingshui. The bold blue characters at the top made her vision blur.

Eight hundred yuan.

Xie Tingyu said,

“That’s about the average bride price back in the capital. Keep it well.”

Author’s Note:

Ping Sheng-jun: Okay, okay, I was wrong, Rich Boss.

Also… can I be your leg-hanging accessory?

Tingyu: No.

Support Sansukini on Ko-fi

Thanks for visiting. If you like this story, then I’m shamelessly asking you to visit NovelUpdates and give a 5⭐ review. (人❛ᴗ❛)♪тнайк　чоц♪(❛ᴗ❛*人)

You can also check out my other translations Here