CHAPTER 148: 147: ASSIGNMENT (FIRST UPDATE)

Until the evening rest, everyone in the dormitory except for Ji Hong, who lived on the upper bunk of Ye Ling, had returned. There were five girls in the dormitory, and Ye Ling’s dormitory had the fullest attendance.

The lights went out at nine, so everyone gathered, lying on their beds and chatting. The dormitory was lively, but the cursing from next door still came through.

Wang Xiaohong loved the excitement, she immediately put on her shoes and got out of bed, rushing to the door, peeking to the left, then turning back with an excited face, "Hey, there’s a fight next door, two girls, tsk tsk, that one is really something, got pushed over several times and didn’t dare to make a sound."

As Wang Xiaohong watched and spoke, Wan Li, who also loved excitement, got out of bed as well, followed Wang Xiaohong to the door. Only Dong Juan, who was the least talkative, stayed back, while the three of them squeezed to the door.

Wan Li kept waving at Ye Ling, and after thinking for a moment, not wanting to distance herself from her classmates, Ye Ling got up to join them. With the dorm light, they could see outside where groups of three or four stood together, but no one stepped in to stop the fight. Only one girl kept pushing the other, who remained silent and kept her head down. But Ye Ling immediately recognized her. She hesitated for a moment, then walked out of the room. As soon as she stepped out, the rest followed, drawing attention from all around.

Wang Xiaohong straightened her waist like a righteous person, while Wan Li kept her eyes on the fight. Shao Guangli was mostly watching Wan Li.

When Ye Ling approached, the girl who was pushing stopped and turned to look at her. Although she didn’t speak, her eyes were unfriendly, as if to say mind your own business.

The girl who had been pushed raised her head upon seeing Ye Ling, immediately looked as if she’d seen a relative, "Ye Ling."

Then she rushed to Ye Ling, eyes red, she started crying without saying a word. Everyone realized they knew each other, so it wasn’t wrong for Ye Ling to stand up for her friend.

The girl pushing looked Ye Ling up and down, scanning her fully, and displayed all her disdain on her face. At first glance, Ye Ling knew she came from a well-off family, otherwise, how could she have that condescending attitude?

Ye Ling simply asked Zhang Zhenlian, "What happened?"

It turned out the bullied girl was Zhang Zhenlian from Ye Ling’s hometown. Seeing her was quite a surprise for Ye Ling, since in her past life, she hadn’t heard of anyone else from the village besides Si Daochen making it to high school. She hadn’t expected Zhang Zhenlian to make it too.

"I bumped her washbasin, chipped a bit of paint. She wants me to pay for it, but it’s just a bit of paint chipped. You know my family’s situation, my basin is even from home." Zhang Zhenlian seemed scared, her whole body was trembling.

Being surrounded and pushed, she really didn’t know what to do, unfamiliar with the place, until she saw Ye Ling, she felt saved, both happy and grieved, and couldn’t help but cry louder like a bullied child finally united with a family member.

Ye Ling sighed, saying only, "Wait here."

After all, they were from the same village, and bullying someone over a chipped paint was something Ye Ling couldn’t bear to see, so she turned and went back to the dormitory.

Luckily, she had bought a new washbasin yesterday, or today’s matter would really be hard to resolve. People watched Ye Ling leave, not knowing what she was going to do, but Zhang Zhenlian felt assured just knowing Ye Ling was there, everything would be fine. Ye Ling returned with her own washbasin, and people then understood her intention.

Ye Ling handed the washbasin to Zhang Zhenlian, "This is new. Go offer it to her, just exchange it for the chipped one."

Zhang Zhenlian gripped the washbasin tightly, "Ye Ling, thank you. When I have the money, I’ll surely buy you a new one."

"Alright, go ahead. It’s getting late. If this goes on and we alarm Aunt Sun, it’s not even the start of the term and we’re causing trouble, the teachers won’t like that." Ye Ling directed this remark at the girl who had pushed Zhang Zhenlian.

Now there’s a new basin, she’s vented her anger, it’s best to stop here. Continuing the fight won’t do anyone any good.

Zhang Zhenlian nodded, finally smiling, "Ye Ling, I didn’t expect we’d end up at the same high school, it’s really great. I don’t know anyone here all by myself, it’s really awkward. I’ll bring the washbasin to you later."

Ye Ling nodded, and Zhang Zhenlian turned towards the girl who pushed her, "Zhou Haiying, I’m really sorry I accidentally damaged your basin. I hope you can forgive me. Can we exchange with this one?"

Everyone around was staring, and Zhou Haiying could see that Ye Ling wasn’t someone easy to push around. She snatched the washbasin, "Be careful next time."

Then she turned and headed back to the room.

Zhang Zhenlian exhaled in relief, turned and smiled at Ye Ling, and hurried back to her dormitory to get the basin.

Wang Xiaohong then spoke up, "Ye Ling, you two know each other?"

She envied that girl for having such a good friend like Ye Ling.

"We’re from the same village." Ye Ling walked back into the room, knowing that since Zhang Zhenlian was here, Si Daochen must be at this school too.

She wondered whether he had seen the practice problems she had given him, but regardless, he had managed to pass after all.

"Oh, what a coincidence," Wan Li said, surprised. "Weren’t you classmates then?"

"I later returned to the city to study." By the time Ye Ling reached the dorm entrance, Zhang Zhenlian had caught up with the washbasin, returned it to Ye Ling, thanked her again, and promised to visit tomorrow. As lights were about to go out, she hurried back.

When they finally lay back in bed, they saw that Ye Ling’s upper bunk was made up but still empty. Wang Xiaohong speculated, "I wonder what the person who shares Ye Ling’s bunk looks like. It’s almost lights out and they’re still not back."

Ye Ling closed the curtains around her bed, lay down, thinking this would be her small world for the next three years, a novel and secure feeling she had never experienced before. Seeing Zhang Zhenlian, she suddenly thought of a way to make money. She could return to her village during the school holidays and sell snacks at the small platform there. A summer or winter holiday could earn her forty or fifty bucks. If she spent frugally during school, it would cover half a semester’s meals.

People are like this; once things clear up, it gets easier. The lights were out, and in the room, Wang Xiaohong was still talking about how she loved her mother’s potato pancakes. Ye Ling had already fallen into a deep sleep, thinking just before she did that having closed curtains was definitely the right choice. Although it was six people in one room, pulling the curtains made it feel like her own small world. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com for reading.)