CHAPTER 176: 175: FESTIVALS (CHAPTER 4) ASKING FOR MONTHLY VOTES AT THE END OF THE MONTH

Ye Ling didn’t stand on ceremony, she directly handed over the bag while taking off her shoes to enter the house. Bai Hehua from the kitchen also came out, "Little sister is back."

But Bai Xue, who was also in the kitchen, did not come out.

Ye Ling glanced at her without saying anything, changed into slippers, and followed her father into the living room.

"Sis, you’re back." Ye Qian also came out from the West Room.

Ye Ling pretended not to hear and sat down in the chair opposite Shen Bin. She raised her head and only then noticed that there was Shen Bin sitting here, feeling strange. It was the festival of Er Yue Er, why did this person come to someone else’s house? Still, she politely greeted Shen and then said nothing more.

Ye He Ping saw his daughter had lost weight and couldn’t help but worry, "Why have you lost weight again? Didn’t I tell you to eat more? Studying is important, but your body is even more so."

"No worries, I can’t gain weight now no matter how much I eat." Ye Ling felt uncomfortable sitting at home, especially with Shen Bin opposite her, so she looked for a topic to chat with her father, "Zhang Juanzi from Zhang De’s house passed away, it was tuberculosis. But the village said it was a curse; they used a weight to press on her chest, and she just died like that. Zhao Guodong and the others went with me to help sell vegetable cakes and even made some money. Dad doesn’t have to worry about my tuition and living expenses this time; it’s enough for two semesters."

"You went back and sold vegetable cakes?" Ye He Ping felt a pang of sadness, but still forced a smile, "Those kids seem mischievous at times, but boys will be boys. But you, having them help you sell vegetable cakes, they’ve never done that before."

"Rather than wasting time, it’s better to earn some money." Ye Ling said this for everyone present to hear.

Especially her mother, that’s why Ye Ling decided to come back this time, partly for her father’s sake and partly to show her mother that even without home support, she can still live well. Although not very rich, at least she can stand tall.

"From the sound of it, you made quite a bit." Ye He Ping teased.

Ye Qian stood to the side, with a smile on her face, but her heart was not entirely happy.

Ye Ling stuck out her tongue, "Not much, just about one hundred yuan."

"Listen to her tone." Ye He Ping said to Shen Bin, "One hundred yuan doesn’t sound like much, but it’s more than several months’ salary for us."

He turned back to his daughter with satisfaction, "Good child, you’ve got ambition. You’re still studying and already earning more than dad. In the future, dad will rely on you to look after him in old age."

"Dad, don’t worry, even if I don’t look after anyone’s old age, I’ll look after yours because I know you care about me." Ye Ling showed her cheerful side.

Even outside, in front of Zhao Guodong and the others, no one saw her smile so sweetly. Ye Ling of course knew the better she was, some people felt worse. Just imagining this made Ye Ling feel the visit wasn’t a waste.

Ye He Ping understood his daughter’s words well, sighing in his heart but still feeling gratified, "Dad knows you’re filial. I don’t expect you to look after me in old age, just take care of yourself. When you have time, come home often, even if you’re busy studying, don’t neglect everything."

"Rest assured, dad." Ye Ling displayed her high grace, without rushing to exhibit.

Moreover, although she didn’t look at Shen Bin across from her, she knew Shen Bin kept looking at her. Ye Ling wanted to glare back, but since he was sitting directly across from her, was he supposed to turn away and look elsewhere? That would seem even more impolite, so she couldn’t point out his constant staring and could only ignore the uncomfortable feeling.

Ye He Ping was happy, poured a glass of white wine for Shen Bin, and finally Ye Ling sat with her father and Shen Bin, facing Ye Qian and the other two.

A dish of braised fish and a plate of braised meat, plus stir-fried cabbage with wood ear mushrooms, and scrambled eggs. Ye Ling didn’t eat much, only a flat bowl of rice, which Ye He Ping noticed, "Why not eat more?"

"Recently back home, I was worried Zhao Guodong and the others wouldn’t eat well, so I went to the town to buy a lot of meat and green fish. We ate meat every day, so now I feel stuffed. Seeing big fish and meat now doesn’t excite my appetite." Ye Ling was speaking the truth, though it was meant to provoke someone.

Bai Xue’s hand holding the chopsticks tightened. If Shen Bin wasn’t sitting here, she would have already cursed loudly. At home, meat is only eaten during New Year or festivals, yet this girl keeps cooking meat for outsiders every day. Even if she earns money, how can she spend it like that?

Moreover, it was over one hundred yuan, just thinking about it made Bai Xue’s heart ache, but she understood that she couldn’t get that money back. She could only sit there sulking, unable to show her true feelings with Shen Bin present, forcing a smile on her face.

Ye Qian tugged tightly at her mother’s hand under the table, afraid her mother would lose her temper and say something awful, feeling Ye Ling had gone a bit too far with her indirect remarks. Did she really think others couldn’t tell?

Bai Hehua, however, had no mind for anything else because of Shen Bin, keeping her head down counting grains of rice, while Ye Ling pretended not to notice her mother’s already unpleasant expression across from her. "Dad, whenever you’re free, I’ll buy you a set of thermal underwear and pants to take home. I’ve never bought you anything since I was a child."

"Keep your money for your studies. You don’t let dad pay for school, yet you want to buy things for dad? I wouldn’t be able to hold my head high." Ye He Ping noticed his daughter’s clothes were still last year’s, frowning, "Dad will take you to buy an outfit this afternoon."

"No need, these clothes are fine, no need to buy new ones." Ye Ling, who was concerned about appearance in her past life, doesn’t care now, "I’m still a student; what’s the point of dressing well? Many classmates at school wear patched clothes, and no one buys new clothes."

"You!" Ye He Ping didn’t know what else to say and could only raise his glass and drink with Shen Bin.

Apart from Ye Ling and her father talking during the meal, occasionally Ye Qian chimed in with a few words, Bai Xue and her niece remained silent. Until after the meal, when Ye Ling announced she would return to school, Ye He Ping knew he couldn’t keep his daughter, and coincidentally had to return to the army, so he took the clothes with Shen Bin and left together, dropping his daughter at school first.

Once the house quieted down, Bai Xue slammed the chopsticks down, "Beast."

Bai Hehua was too scared to make a sound.

Ye Qian also remained silent. In Ye Ling’s proud eyes, she could see Ye Ling looking down on them, just because she no longer spends the family’s money, living independently outside and still doing well. Now she can live proudly, but what about the reverse?

The family, because of Ye Ling, faced criticism, even she, who was always praised by others, felt overshadowed by her presence. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile readers, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)