Chapter 19

Since the family was rarely together, they decided to buy New Year goods and take them back.

It was only twenty-odd days before New Year’s Eve.

Besides, Miao Fengshan usually spent the New Year at his daughter’s house. If he wanted to, he could go back to the village earlier this year to avoid a heavy snowfall later.

Ye Changsheng told his parents that they had already bought fifty kilograms of rice and flour from the black market.

But the family was big, and this wouldn’t last long. They still needed to buy more coarse rice.

Ye Jian Guo told them, “The adults will take care of buying New Year goods. You guys don’t have to worry.”

Ye Xiaoxiao mentioned that she was apprenticing at the pharmacy, “I want to stay in town a few more days.”

She couldn’t take the benefits and then quit.

She had to stay until the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Miao Fengshan, “Then you guys go back after buying New Year goods. Grandpa and Xiaoxiao will go home in ten days.”

Ye Jian Guo agreed but still reminded him, “Dad, if you see the weather changing, take Xiaoxiao back early. Don’t let the heavy snow stop you.”

Miao Fengshan, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of her.”

After discussing it, the family stayed at Miao Fengshan’s house for one night.

Miao Cuifang, Li Guilan, and Ye Xiaoxiao stayed in the west room. The room suddenly had two more people, making it a little warmer, but Ye Xiaoxiao couldn’t sleep.

She wasn’t used to sleeping with so many people.

The east room was even more crowded. The talking didn’t stop until late at night. They probably didn’t sleep well either.

The next morning, the family got up to make breakfast and then went to buy New Year goods.

Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t go with them. She went to the pharmacy to help.

The family spent three days buying almost everything they needed for the New Year.

The Ye family, who had to tighten their belts because they lost their savings, had a turning point thanks to Ye Xiaoxiao.

This year’s New Year goods were even more abundant than before.

Miao Cuifang even dared to buy a few bolts of cloth to make new clothes for the family.

The others went home with the New Year goods, but Ye Changsheng stayed. He was mainly focused on studying anyway.

The others still had a lot of work to do.

Miao Fengshan’s house was quiet again.

Ye Xiaoxiao finally had time to open the box that Duan Lei had mailed.

“These are the study materials my friend sent. See if they’re useful.”

She wasn’t familiar with the textbooks of this era.

Ye Changsheng opened the materials, his face visibly excited, “The difficulty level of these questions is higher than that of Baichuan No. 1 Middle School. They cover more knowledge points.”

Ye Xiaoxiao, “That’s good.”

Duan Lei was still reliable. Besides, the Duan family had access to better educational resources.

From that day on, Ye Xiaoxiao had to do extra exercises besides going to the pharmacy to learn every day.

She wanted to catch up on high school knowledge before the school year started.

…

Duan’s house in Beijing.

A letter was open on the coffee table in the living room. The woman finished reading it and told the housekeeper, “Give this to Duan Lei later.”

“Yes, Madam.”

The woman was the mistress of the Duan family, Duan Lei’s mother, Wu Sifang.

Wu Sifang wasn’t someone who disrespected her son’s privacy. But after seeing the mailing address on the letter, she thought a little more.

Her son had finally settled down for a few days. She couldn’t let anyone disrupt his recent study habits.

But after reading the letter, she felt relieved.

It didn’t say anything outrageous. Instead, it was quite positive.

Her son listened to Hao’s girl the most.

This could be seen from his behavior over the past month.

The recent events at the Hao family had spread throughout the courtyard.

Everyone sympathized with the girl who came knocking on their door, but they couldn’t accept her so quickly.

After all, her character and upbringing still needed to be examined.

On the other hand, everyone felt sorry for Xiaoxiao, who had left.

After reading the letter today, Wu Sifang felt that the girl had backbone. She had earned her own future. If she really had this heart, their family could help her a little. After all, she was a child they had watched grow up.

Wu Sifang told the housekeeper to deliver the letter and then went to work.

On her way out, she saw a mother and daughter walking in the courtyard.

It was Mrs. Hao, He Qiao Xiang, and Hao Yan Yan.

If she hadn’t seen them, it would have been fine. But they bumped into each other face-to-face. She had to greet them.

Wu Sifang greeted them with a smile, “Qiaoxiang, out for a walk?”

Her eyes also looked at the girl beside He Qiao Xiang.

She had thick eyebrows, big eyes, and long black hair. Her features were very similar to Hao Chengbing’s. She was more heroic than beautiful.

Maybe because she grew up in the countryside, her skin was a little dark, but it was a healthy color.

Her eyes were a little timid when she saw them, but she kept her head up and her chest out.

For a child who had just come from a mountain village, this was already considered excellent.

But He Qiao Xiang loved face more than anything. Even if nothing had happened, she still felt that her daughter had embarrassed her.

He Qiao Xiang forced a smile, “Just came back from the department store. Are you going to work?”

Wu Sifang withdrew her gaze, “Yes, I don’t have your good fortune. Your Hao Comrade is too reluctant to let you go out and work.”

“Where is that? You’re teasing me again.”

Although He Qiao Xiang said this, her face showed sweetness.

Seeing that she didn’t have any intention of introducing her daughter, Wu Sifang could only take the initiative to say, “This is your daughter.”

He Qiao Xiang’s smile froze, “Ah… yes. Come and say hello. This is your Aunt Wu.”

Hao Yan Yan walked forward, suppressing her nervousness, “Hello, Aunt Wu.”

“Yes… come and play at home sometime.” He Qiao Xiang said politely.

“Tha… thank you, Aunt Wu.”

Hao Yan Yan was very nervous.

How could she not be nervous? This Aunt Wu was a big shot she had seen in the newspaper in her past life.

At this moment, she was very certain that her fate was different from her past life.

She wouldn’t have to marry a good-for-nothing from the village because of poverty and ruin her life.

Wu Sifang didn’t say anything else. After greeting them, she continued walking.

Behind her, He Qiao Xiang said impatiently, “Speak properly when you speak. Why are you stuttering? If you do this again, don’t go out.”

Hao Yan Yan lowered her head.

He Qiao Xiang, “What… are you feeling sorry for yourself because I said a few words? Are you giving me a look?”

Hao Yan Yan quickly raised her head, “No, Mom… Mommy, I’ll study hard.”

“I’ve already found a teacher to teach you etiquette. You’ll go to class on time starting tomorrow. When you can speak properly, you can go out and see people.”

After speaking, He Qiao Xiang walked ahead on her own.

She regretted it very much. She should have gone out to buy things herself. Why did she bring this girl?

Now that Wu Sifang had seen her, she didn’t know what she would say behind her back.

He Qiao Xiang was a little doubtful about whether she had made the right decision.

If Xiaoxiao were still here, she wouldn’t have to worry about these things. That child was excellent in every way.

She was also beautiful, like an angel. Just standing there, people would rush to praise her.

Unfortunately… she was someone else’s child, and she was that woman’s child.

She couldn’t accept it!