Chapter 43: Rumors of the Courtyard

After a day of cleaning by the mother and daughter, the entire courtyard finally regained its vitality. It looked much brighter.

Ling Yao sat on a chair in the main hall, wiping the sweat from her face, “Tomorrow, I’ll go to the street and find two workers to repair the roof and windows.

We can move in the day after tomorrow.” She was quite satisfied with the courtyard.

Ling Xuemei was also happy, “Then are we still staying at the motel tonight?” There were no buses back to the village at this time.

“We’ll go to the state-owned restaurant for dinner and stay at the motel tonight.”

Li Ling was serving a customer when she saw Ling Yao and Ling Xuemei come in. She was slightly surprised.

After quickly serving the food to the customer, she greeted them, “Ling Yao, why are you here now?”

Ling Yao had given her fifty yuan that day, and she had taken her mother to the hospital.

 After a few days of treatment, her mother’s health had improved a lot. She would be able to be discharged in two days.

Ling Yao smiled faintly at Li Ling, “We came here for dinner. Mom, this is Li Ling. She’s my classmate.”

“Hello, Auntie!” Li Ling quickly greeted Ling Xuemei politely.

“Hello, Li Ling.” Ling Xuemei also smiled and greeted Li Ling.

“Auntie! Ling Yao, you can sit over there.”

 Li Ling led Ling Yao and Ling Xuemei to a window seat. It was already getting warm.

It would be more comfortable to sit by the window where there was a breeze.

After Ling Yao and Ling Xuemei sat down, Li Ling handed the menu to Ling Xuemei, “Auntie, take a look. What would you like to order?”

Ling Xuemei took the menu and glanced at it briefly, “Two bowls of rice, a bowl of tomato and egg soup, and a bowl of stir-fried green beans.”

She was a doctor, so she paid extra attention to healthy eating. When she was at home, she had always followed the principle of

 “Eat well in the morning, eat enough at noon, and eat less at night.”

“Okay. I’ll go place the order.” Li Ling wrote down the order and walked towards the kitchen.

There weren’t many customers at the state-owned restaurant at night. Ling Yao and Ling Xuemei finished their meal, and it was time for the restaurant to close.

“Ling Yao, where are you and your aunt staying tonight?” Li Ling knew that Ling Yao was from the countryside. There were no buses at this late hour.

“We’re going to stay at the motel.”

Li Ling hesitated for a moment, “If you don’t mind, you can stay at my place. It’s not far from here.” Ling Yao had helped her, and she wanted to repay her.

“No need. We won’t bother you.”

“Are you not treating me as a friend?”

“It’s just too much trouble for you.”

“It’s no trouble at all. I’d be happy to have you at my place. Wait for me. I’ll pack up and leave with you.”

 Li Ling said, not giving Ling Yao a chance to refuse, and quickly ran to the back kitchen.

Ling Yao shook her head and smiled helplessly.

After waiting for a while, Li Ling came out carrying a bag. It was filled with leftovers. She was taking them home for her brother and sister.

Every day, the state-owned restaurant would have some leftover food from customers.

They were supposed to be thrown into the garbage, but she couldn’t bear to throw them away.

She would put them together and take them home every night after work.

This was also one of the reasons why she chose to work at the state-owned restaurant.

“Let’s go.” Li Ling walked to Ling Yao and Ling Xuemei.

The three of them strolled under the moonlight. The silver moonlight scattered like stars on them, as if they were covered in a layer of holy gauze.

Li Ling walked beside Ling Yao, looking at her several times, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

“You have something to tell me?” Ling Yao turned to look at Li Ling.

Li Ling pursed her lips, “Ling Yao, I’ll go back to school when my mom is discharged.”

Her mom knew she had dropped out of school and scolded her. She said she wouldn’t get treatment if she didn’t go back to school.

She had been thinking about it these past few days. After seeing Ling Yao today, she made a decision.

She wanted to repay Ling Yao. But with her current education, she could only find a stable job at most.

Only by going to college would she have a chance to get ahead and have a better future. Only then could she have a chance to repay Ling Yao.

Ling Yao smiled slightly, “I’ll wait for you to return to school.”

The smile was like the rising sun, warm and bright, like a spring breeze gently brushing against Li Ling’s face, shining into her heart, bringing her infinite comfort and encouragement.

“Ling Yao, thank you!” It was Ling Yao who gave her a ray of light in her darkest hour, helping her out of her predicament.

She would remember this kindness forever. When she had the ability, she would repay Ling Yao.

“Don’t keep thanking me.”

Ling Yao followed Li Ling, and the path became familiar. Wasn’t this the alley where she rented her house?

“You don’t live in Wuque Alley, do you?”

“Yeah, how did you know about Wuque Alley?”

“I rented a house in Wuque Alley.”

“Really? Then it’ll be convenient for me to find you in the future!” Li Ling exclaimed excitedly.

“Mm.” Ling Yao smiled and nodded.

As they passed a courtyard, Li Ling slowed down and moved closer to Ling Yao, “Someone died in this courtyard before.

No one has lived there for many years. Every time I come back at night and pass by here, I feel a chill. I always run past.”

Li Ling pointed at the courtyard, her eyes showing a hint of fear.

Ling Yao turned her head and saw that the courtyard Li Ling was pointing at was the one she rented. She smiled, “This is the house I rented.”

“What? You rented this place?” Li Ling’s face was full of disbelief.

She came to her senses and quickly said, “You should return the house. This courtyard is really not clean.”

Ling Yao smiled nonchalantly, “There are no ghosts in this world. I’m not afraid.”

“But people have seen them. And there are always strange noises in the house every day.” Li Ling shuddered at the thought of those rumors.

“But I’ve already paid the rent and deposit. I can’t return it.”

“Why don’t you and your aunt stay at my place? You can return the house when the lease expires.”

As they were talking, they heard a strange sound from the courtyard.

“Thump, thump, thump!” The sound was clear and crisp, as if something was knocking on the ground, or knocking on people’s heartstrings.

Li Ling was terrified. She tightly grabbed Ling Yao’s hand and quickened her pace, “Let’s go.”

Ling Yao glanced at the dark courtyard, raised an eyebrow, and followed Li Ling forward.

Li Ling’s house was not far from the courtyard Ling Yao rented. They passed two houses and arrived.

As soon as Li Ling opened the door, two little ones ran out from inside, “Sister, sister, you’re back.”