Chapter 29

Liu Lixiu looked at Ye Wanqing then looked at Wei Jun. Her brain seemed a bit tangled and she could not react.

She had received the message and knew Wei Jun had suffered a small injury because he saved Ye Wanqing, yet she truly had not expected Ye Wanqing would come to Yuanshan Village.

She…… for so many years she had never properly looked at this child, never spoken a single sentence with her, never held her once…… Thinking of this, Liu Lixiu’s eyes reddened.

“Mom…… Cousin Sister saw that my leg was injured and sent me back.” Wei Jun quickly explained and also reminded Liu Lixiu not to lose composure too much.

“Ah…… okay, okay.” Liu Lixiu finally reacted. She awkwardly wiped both hands on her apron and called Ye Wanqing in a trembling voice. “You…… quickly come in and sit a bit. There’s nothing good at home. I’ll go fry some ginger-salt tea for you.”

“Mm. Thank you, Eldest Aunt.” Ye Wanqing smiled and nodded.

“Okay, okay……”

Although it was only a simple form of address, it still made Liu Lixiu’s eyes fill with hot tears.

Afraid of bringing pressure to Ye Wanqing she quickly rubbed her eyes and went toward the kitchen. “I’ll go fry the tea right now and put lots of beans and sesame for you.”

After Liu Lixiu entered the kitchen Wei Jun scratched his head and explained to Ye Wanqing, “The family is a bit agitated. Don’t mind them.”

“I don’t mind.” Ye Wanqing shook her head.

It was not as if she had not interacted in the previous life. What kind of character the Wei family people had—she was clear about all of it.

She would not feel restrained. On the contrary she felt extremely warm in her heart.

Ye Wanqing was led into the house by Wei Jun. She met Grandma Wei and also met Wei Hong.

Eldest Sister Wei Lan had gone to the pond to pick water chestnuts and was not at home. She would only return at noon.

Grandma Wei had a head full of silver hair and looked very kind. After seeing Ye Wanqing she smiled and patted her hand, said a few sentences of “good child,” then said nothing more. She only kept urging her to eat the biscuits and snacks taken out from the cupboard.

These biscuits and snacks should have been stored from the New Year until now and were already a bit damp, yet Ye Wanqing still very seriously ate them piece by piece.

Wei Hong, only fourteen years old, was still young. She was delicate and pretty and looked clever and mischievous. From time to time she curiously examined Ye Wanqing. Yet when Ye Wanqing looked back at her she hurriedly averted her eyes and pretended she had never secretly examined her.

Recalling the fierce and independent appearance of Wei Hong in the future, then looking at the slightly cute and silly her now, Ye Wanqing could not help smiling gracefully.

Knowing Ye Wanqing had arrived at the house, Wei Huainong who had originally been tending crops in the fields was called by Wei Jun and threw down the hoe to hurry back. Yet after returning this clumsy-mouthed man also did not know what to say. He only sat on the chair rubbing his hands and smiling foolishly.

The men of the Wei family were all not good with words. Liu Lixiu was too agitated. Fortunately there was still Wei Hong chattering and adjusting the atmosphere. Several people chatted and there was no awkward silence.

Yet not a single person mentioned those matters of the Ye family, as if their hearts were linked.

When it was time for lunch the honest and gentle Wei Lan returned, still carrying a full bucket of fresh water chestnuts. Upon seeing Ye Wanqing she stiffly greeted her then said no more, only silently helped serve rice and dishes.

The whole family counted as complete.

After sitting at the table Ye Wanqing discovered that this midday meal was a bit too sumptuous.

Liu Lixiu had killed a laying hen at home, made a fish, and also bought tofu at the village entrance. Adding other seasonal vegetables, a full table was laid out densely.

Sweet potatoes were steamed in the rice, yet in the bowl placed in front of Ye Wanqing there was only soft white rice with not a shadow of sweet potato visible.

Ye Wanqing believed that with the Wei family’s situation, perhaps even the New Year’s Eve dinner was only of this scale.

She pressed her lips. Her eyes were a bit moist.

Not only Ye Wanqing—everyone else’s eyes also reddened a bit. Yet the atmosphere was rarely warm. One meal was eaten lively and noisy. Even the wooden Wei Huainong drank two extra cups of small wine and the smile on his face became a few points more cheerful.

After eating Ye Wanqing spoke of the proper matter.

“Eldest Aunt, Uncle, I came this time also with a matter to discuss with you. I hope you can help me.”

Liu Lixiu quickly spoke. “Whatever it is, you say it.”

Ye Wanqing smiled. “You should know I opened a shop and business is also not bad. Originally I was too busy and wanted Wei Jun to help me, yet I also felt that at Wei Jun’s age it is still better to study in school. We cannot waste his talent. After he finishes studying, with knowledge and ability, the help he can give me will be even greater. Wei Hong is the same…… So I want to sponsor them to study. What do you think?”

Sponsoring the Wei family people to study?

And sponsoring two at once?!

At this time tuition was not considered expensive, yet miscellaneous fees, living expenses…… every item required quite a bit of money. Calculated it was much more expensive than tuition. For the Wei family, one more person studying meant one fewer laborer, so they could barely support only one.

The whole Wei family was stunned. After a while it was still Wei Jun who first reacted.

“No, this won’t do! How can we use your money?” His face flushed red as he continuously shook his head.

Ye Wanqing spoke very tactfully, yet who did not know she held the heart of helping the Wei family?

Saying something about letting them help after they finished studying—actually with this time and this effort one could completely hire high school graduates or even university students who had already finished studying. Why wait for them?

Ye Wanqing speaking this way was precisely so the Wei family would not feel embarrassed while still helping them.

This principle everyone knew.

Ye Wanqing had long prepared to be refused. Hearing the words she instead laughed. “Why can’t we? You also know what my situation is in the Ye family. In the future with that side there is only the possibility of walking farther and farther apart. I need trustworthy people. Cultivating you is the best. If Eldest Sister had not passed the age I would still want her to study as well so she can help me more in the future.”

Wei Lan had never studied and was also preparing for marriage matters. Studying again was a bit unrealistic. It was better to think of other methods to help a bit.

In this life Ye Wanqing had the heart to lead the Wei family to live better together.

The Wei family people were all very diligent and willing to struggle. As long as they were given one opportunity they could stand up without others helping too much.

At the beginning the Wei family all disagreed, yet Ye Wanqing spoke gently and softly with much logic and much persuasiveness. Going back and forth she persuaded the several mouths of the Wei family.

Out of longing for studying, the most clear-headed Wei Jun also could not hold back and nodded. Yet he secretly swore in his heart that in the future he must properly repay Ye Wanqing. This lifetime he would sell himself to Second Sister and absolutely could not be a person who went back on his word.

Seeing Wei Jun also agree Ye Wanqing’s almond eyes curved with a smile.

She stayed very happily at the Wei family, yet there was also a time to part.

When leaving the Wei family Liu Lixiu prepared quite a few agricultural goods for her. Wei Lan gave her the large bucket of water chestnuts she had gathered that morning. Wei Hong also secretly stuffed a bundle to her.

“This is money I saved myself and a skirt I made with my own hands. It’s not very pretty, but…… don’t look down on it!” In Wei Hong’s eyes there was reluctance and also full sincerity. One could see she simply wanted to be good to Ye Wanqing.

“Mm. Then thank you.” Ye Wanqing took the bundle and smiled as she rubbed Wei Hong’s head. “When I return I’ll first arrange the place for you and your brother to live. When you and your brother come to the county town I’ll go pick you up.”

This was also what Ye Wanqing had agreed with them.

Since Wei Jun and Wei Hong were to study then they would study in the county town. The teaching staff was stronger and they could more easily succeed. Previously Ye Wanqing had not thought of this aspect. This time it was also temporarily raised, yet there should not be much problem. It was just that the place for the two siblings to live needed to be properly arranged.

And also, after the Wei siblings arrived in the county town, if the Ye family found out they might make trouble again……

No—perhaps this time her sending Wei Jun back would already make the Ye family make trouble.

Ye Wanqing furrowed her brows a little. She was not afraid of trouble—she just found it a bit annoying.

—

Wei Huainong sent Ye Wanqing to the place for catching the vehicle and only left after watching Ye Wanqing board the vehicle. When the vehicle arrived at the bus station Ye Wanqing had just gotten off when she saw Ge Yuan waiting inside the station.

The tall and big man held a cigarette in his mouth. That casual posture looked handsome and charming.

“Brother Yuan!” Ye Wanqing waved.

The moment Ge Yuan saw her his eyes lit up. In two or three moves he crushed the cigarette butt and strode toward her with large steps.

“How does it feel?” he asked.

“Mm.” Ye Wanqing nodded. “Everything is still okay.”

She showed him the things brought back from Yuanshan Village. “Look—I kept saying I can’t carry them, I can’t carry them, yet they still forced so many things on me.”

Ge Yuan examined once and discovered a pile of agricultural goods stacked beside Ye Wanqing—dried white chili peppers, pickled radish skins, dried sweet potatoes…… there was even a bucket of fresh water chestnuts.

These things were not valuable, yet Ye Wanqing’s face was full of happiness and her speech carried a few points of showing-off intention.

Ge Yuan particularly wanted to pinch her face, yet outside he could only endure. “The Wei family people are all very good.”

Those who were good to his little girl were all good people.

“Mm.” Ye Wanqing nodded and, recalling the accommodation problem of the Wei siblings, could not help discussing with Ge Yuan. “……Brother Yuan, how do you think I should arrange for them?”

Old Zhong’s courtyard was relatively small with only two living rooms. Ge Yuan’s side courtyard actually had three living rooms, yet after Old Zhong moved in people could no longer be stuffed in.

Or, from now on just let Ge Yue always sleep with her?

Ye Wanqing was thinking of methods when Ge Yuan suddenly spoke. “I have a method. I can free up one room.”

“Mm mm, you say it.”

“Get married!” Ge Yuan’s face was full of righteousness. “You live in one room with me. That courtyard of Old Zhong’s will be given to your little brother and little sister—perfect!”

Ye Wanqing: “……”

“What…… what’s wrong?” Seeing Ye Wanqing remain silent the whole time and examine him with a smile that was neither smiling nor not smiling, Ge Yuan forced himself to cough twice. “I feel this method is the best. Don’t you think so?”

“……” Ye Wanqing could not help laughing out loud. “Brother Yuan, why do I feel that after you shaved your beard your face has become thicker and thicker? Previously your face was thin—was it because the beard protected it too well?”

Ge Yuan: “……”

So angry.

Forget it—he still had to sell hard labor.

After gathering all the things on the ground together and hanging them on the bicycle Ge Yuan pushed the bicycle and walked forward. Although he walked with large strides, looking at his back Ye Wanqing no matter how she looked felt a kind of lonely desolation of “nowhere to speak of the bleakness.”

This man—when he pursued her in the previous life he was so patient. At this time he was anxious like anything…… Mm, letting him be anxious for a bit was also good. The appearance of being anxious and pitiful was also quite cute.

Pressing her lips into a smile Ye Wanqing followed his steps.

The two of them walked out of the bus station one after the other, unaware that Liu Lizhen was looking at them from afar and specially stared at the vehicle Ye Wanqing got off for several glances, as if confirming which route that vehicle ran.

After confirming, Liu Lizhen’s face grew even uglier. She returned home puffed with anger.

The moment she slammed the door shut Liu Lizhen loudly shouted in anger, “Old Ye, guess what I saw today?!”