CHAPTER 147: 146: ALL PRESENT (FIFTH UPDATE)

When Ye Ling returned to the dormitory, the person on the upper bunk wasn’t back yet. However, the four lower bunks against the north wall were all made, but there were no people in sight. Lying on the bed, Ye Ling felt a bit hungry.

Hearing someone knocking at the door, she went out to see Zhang Linong, who was standing there holding a bowl. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Ye Ling smiled, "Why did you bring it over?"

Having lived two lifetimes, she rarely encountered people who were good to her, so when facing someone kind, Ye Ling often didn’t know what to do.

"Eat up, once you’re done I’ll return the bowl," Zhang Ningli said with one hand in his pocket, handing over the bowl of noodles with the other. "It’s still warm, no need for formality between us."

Ye Ling then smiled as she accepted the food, inviting Zhang Linong inside while sitting on her bed to eat. The dorm lacked a table, having only one chair, which Zhang Linong conveniently occupied.

"Can we place a table here? I remember my grandma’s neighbor makes furniture. My grandma got along well with them before she went back to her hometown. Let me see if there’s any leftover wood, and I’ll ask them to make a small table for you," Zhang Linong said, looking around the room. "Would it fit at the head of the bed?"

There was just enough space between the bed and the east wall.

But Ye Ling had her own concerns, "Let’s make a small kang table instead, a smaller one that can sit on the bed. This way, it can be used for reading and writing and there won’t be an issue if someone needs to borrow it. If there’s a small kang table on the bed, it won’t cause conflicts when someone borrows it."

Ye Ling pointed to the end of the bed with the bowl, "There’s space over there, right? It’s convenient to move it when not in use, and it’s not in the way. When needed, you can move it onto the bed, stretch your legs under it, and use it for homework. We’ll pay, so ask how much it’ll cost, we shouldn’t get it for free."

Even beyond the cost of materials, labor itself requires money, and you can’t casually ask for something like that, it requires a good relationship.

"No need, don’t worry about it. Our families are on good terms, even if I offered to pay, they wouldn’t accept," Zhang Linong reassured, waving his hand. "How’s your reading going? I remember Dongzi lent you two volumes, did you finish both?"

"I finished reading them, but there are no exercises. I’m thinking of checking out the bookstores for practice books once school starts and I have weekends free." Buying them would be another expense, so Ye Ling was reluctant.

Zhang Linong immediately understood, "In that case, when the time comes, Dongzi and I can help you borrow some exercise books from the senior classes. Would you like some sophomore books to read as well?"

"Sure, that would be great. Thank you so much," Ye Ling’s eyes lit up with happiness.

Zhang Linong laughed too, but when he looked up to see someone enter, his smile faded into a gentle one. Two girls came in, first hesitating at the door at seeing a boy inside. After confirming they were in the right room, they walked in, sneakily glancing at Zhang Linong.

Seeing that her new roommates had arrived, Ye Ling stood up to introduce them, "Are you guys freshmen too? My name is Ye Ling, also a freshman this year. This is my former classmate, who will also be your classmate, Zhang Linong."

Hearing they would be classmates, the two girls smiled and greeted Zhang Linong and Ye Ling. One had a repaired cleft lip and introduced herself as Shao Guangli. She had a long face, big eyes, and long hair in braids, wearing a red plaid shirt and blue pants, just an ordinary fashion.

The other girl, looking gentle by nature, was Wan Li, who was quite good-looking. She had an oval face and big eyes, with plump, pouty lips, giving her a charming appearance.

She was the most direct when sizing up Zhang Linong, without a hint of sneaking around. Her gaze was pure and without any awe or shyness from seeing a boy.

After introductions, Ye Ling finished her noodles in big bites and returned the bowl to Zhang Linong. Seeing he was uncomfortable in such settings, she sent him off before chatting with her new roommates. She learned that Shao Guangli’s family were farmers, and Wan Li’s parents were also from the countryside, hailing from the same village as Shao Guangli. The two had known each other well since childhood, working hard together to get into high school, which caused quite a stir in their village. After all, it wasn’t easy for a rural kid to get into high school nowadays.

So the two shared a close bond, but their family’s financial situation wasn’t great. This time, they could only attend school thanks to collective fundraising in their community. They noticed Ye Ling’s attire was similar to theirs, so they assumed she was also from a rural area, hence feeling especially close to her.

Once they finished talking about themselves, when they asked where Ye Ling was from and found out she was from the city, they were surprised. Ye Ling explained, "I’ve lived with my grandma in the countryside from a young age. So even though my household is in the city, I’m not really a city person."

Wan Li and Shao Guangli exchanged a glance and then nodded, especially Wan Li, who was direct, "Then why didn’t you stay with your parents in the city? Are they busy with work?"

Shao Guangli pulled on her, and Wan Li didn’t understand what she did wrong, exclaiming, ’Ah,’ as she looked at her. Shao Guangli, speechless, could only offer Ye Ling an apologetic smile, "Wan Li is like this, please don’t take it to heart if it sounded unpleasant. She didn’t mean anything by it."

Ye Ling smiled, "I understand."

She then replied, "When my mom followed my dad to the city, she was pregnant, so they left me with my grandma."

Wan Li looked at her with sympathy, "It’s the same in our village, they favor boys. My family favors my younger brother too."

Ye Ling smiled, neither denying nor confirming.

However, Shao Guangli could see Ye Ling was reluctant to talk about her family issues, so she changed the subject to the bed curtains Ye Ling had set up. Wan Li also looked enviously at them. When she heard they cost over three dollars, her face couldn’t hide the disappointment. She had already guessed that they must’ve been expensive when she first saw them, and had been hoping to make a copy if they were affordable, but now it seemed impossible.

Over three dollars, that was their monthly food budget.

In the evening, two more roommates returned. One was named Dong Juan, who seemed timid, reminding Ye Ling of Bai Hehua. The other was Wang Xiaohong, with a boyish personality and a student’s hairstyle. She was enthusiastic, always helping anyone with work, straightforward and unabashed. However, her one flaw was gossiping behind people’s backs. No sooner did someone leave than she started talking about them in the room. Naturally, none of them were foolish enough to engage her, so they smartly brushed it off with a few vague remarks.

(To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to vote for recommendations or monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users can read at m.qidian.com.)