Chapter 57: Kindness

On the twenty-ninth day, the rain finally ceased, and the sky brightened.

Early in the morning, Ye Xin counted the eggs and headed to the kitchen to stoke the fire. Today was Shen Zhuo’s exam, marking the end of his training class. It was rare for her to wake up early to help with cooking, making her feel like she was completing something worthwhile.

As she warmed herself by the firelight, she unconsciously began to hum a tune, swaying her head to the rhythm. Her freshly trimmed hair flowed along, adding to her lively spirit.

Since cutting her hair, Ye Xin felt a newfound lightness. The heaviness that used to weigh her down was gone. She no longer had to worry about her braids dragging on the ground when she bent over. All the dry and split ends were gone, leaving only healthy strands that felt delightful to touch—refreshing and vibrant.

Now, with her hair at this length, she could tie it in a high ponytail, a low ponytail, pigtails, or even a bun, or simply let it fall freely. It was so much easier to manage, no longer a hassle like before.

What delighted her most was that she felt a resemblance to her former self. When she first arrived, she had been thin, dark, and lifeless, so much so that after seeing her reflection once, she avoided mirrors for a long time. But now, she felt herself growing more beautiful, shedding the image of a “poor farmer’s daughter.” She was enjoying looking at herself again.

With the New Year approaching, her spirits soared even higher!

Shen Zhuo was chopping vegetables nearby when he heard her humming. Although he couldn’t make out the words, her voice was clear, sweet, and a bit playful—so lovely to hear.

He couldn’t resist sneaking a glance at her.

This morning, her hair was unbound, yet it looked different from last night. Last night, her hair flowed down to her waist—graceful and beautiful, but a bit cumbersome. Today, however, she radiated vitality and a youthful charm.

In the past, Shen Zhuo thought long hair on a woman could look messy if not styled properly. Now, he realized it was just those who didn’t care for their hair that looked unkempt.

Ye Xin’s hair was beautiful—dark, thick, and glossy, like the finest silk. Even when it fell freely, it didn’t appear disheveled. For the first time, he understood how lovely it could be to let hair down.

Her rich, dark hair accentuated her small, fair face, paired with bright, expressive eyes—refreshing and lively, making her incredibly attractive.

After staring for a moment, Shen Zhuo quickly looked down, focusing on his chopping again. If she caught him staring, she would definitely tease him about it…

“Good luck on your exam!”

“Thanks!”

After breakfast, feeling warm and energized, Shen Zhuo slung his bag over his shoulder and rode off to his exam. Ye Xin remained at home, tending to the fields, snacking on some melon seeds, and resting when she felt tired.

In the afternoon, she crouched beside the chicken coop, thoroughly engrossed in watching a hen turn its eggs, when she suddenly heard a familiar sound from the courtyard gate. At first, she thought she was imagining things, but then came a faint but recognizable knocking sound.

Ye Xin quickly remembered Little Li Guangming, and then recalled the wooden barrel she had ordered, her spirits lifting.

“Coming, coming!” she called out excitedly.

As she opened the gate, there stood Li Guangming, just as she had hoped.

The little boy paused, then softly asked, “Sister, you cut your hair?”

Ye Xin smiled brightly, “Do you think it looks good?”

Li Guangming stared at her, nodding eagerly. “It looks good.”

Ye Xin’s heart soared with happiness.

Children were honest; their eyes and voices spoke the truth.

She praised him, “You’re such a great and well-behaved boy—did your grandpa send you to tell me about the barrel?”

Li Guangming suddenly remembered the main reason for his visit and said, “Grandpa asked me to tell you that your two wooden buckets are ready for pickup.”

Ye Xin smiled brightly. “Great! I’ll go get them now.”

Li Guangming added, “Grandpa also reminded me not to forget the four dollars.”

Ye Xin froze for a moment—she really had forgotten. “Oh no! Wait here; I’ll be right back!”

She hurried back to her room to grab the money. Each bucket cost three dollars, and after giving a two-dollar deposit last time, the remaining four dollars would settle the bill. As she gathered the money, she hesitated and grabbed a few extra coins.

Just as she was about to head out, a thought struck her: Li Guangming’s heartbreaking story of having lost his father and mother, leaving him with only a frail grandfather, the barrel maker.

It was rare to find such a well-mannered child; despite his young age, he spoke clearly and was reliable—a truly wonderful boy. Plus, he had just complimented her on her looks. Ye Xin recalled how he had referred to her as the “pretty young lady from Shen Zhuo’s family,” and that had filled her with joy.

On a whim, she decided to give him a little treat. Not wanting to keep giving him dried sweet potatoes, she rummaged through the cabinet where she stored the New Year’s goodies and grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, along with a few pieces of candy, before heading out.

As she approached the chicken coop, an idea sparked, and she casually plucked two fresh eggs from the nest—today’s fresh batch. The hens had grown accustomed to her daily intrusions and didn’t peck at her; they simply watched as she collected the eggs without any fuss.

Li Guangming waited patiently at the door, neither running off to play nor poking around the yard. He was such a focused and considerate child.

Seeing him made Ye Xin feel even fonder of him. She closed the gate and handed him the candy and sunflower seeds. “Thank you for coming to tell me. Here’s a little reward for you.”

Li Guangming’s eyes lit up at the sight of the treats.

The boy was easily tempted; if someone didn’t offer him something, he would just watch longingly without asking for it. But once given a gift, he would happily accept it without hesitation.

Ye Xin helped him tuck the candy and seeds into his pockets and then slipped the eggs into the pocket of his padded jacket, reminding him, “These eggs aren’t cooked yet, so be careful. Take them back and let your grandpa cook them—one for each of you, okay?”

Li Guangming nodded enthusiastically. “Okay!”

Ye Xin chuckled. “Alright, lead me to your house to get the buckets.”

The two of them trotted down the slope with cheerful steps.

As they approached the two slightly dilapidated houses, Ye Xin spotted the two brand-new wooden buckets sitting in front. There was the familiar figure of the old craftsman, Li Xingsheng, seated on a bench beside a pile of firewood, his cane resting by his side. Next to him stood a tall, sturdy young man, holding a ruler and a piece of wood, seemingly busy with something.

At first, Ye Xin didn’t recognize him, but after taking a closer look at the young man, a sense of familiarity washed over her, and the memories she had buried began to surface.

That was Li Guangming’s older brother, Li GuoRong…

She felt a mix of surprise and awkwardness.

Although she had known for a while that his family lived nearby and there was a good chance of encountering them, actually running into him sent a shiver down her spine.

Why did it have to happen now? How unlucky!

Panic surged within her, and she thought about turning around and leaving.

But Li GuoRong glanced at her, then quickly averted his gaze, focusing intently on his work, seemingly unconcerned.

Seeing this, Ye Xin felt a wave of relief wash over her.

Great! Since he didn’t seem to care, why should she?

With that thought in mind, she walked over to the elder Li Xingsheng, smiling as she handed him the four dollars. “Mr. Sheng, here’s the payment for the buckets. Thank you for getting them ready for me before the New Year—it’s just what I needed!”

Li Xingsheng accepted the money, his tone businesslike. “As promised, I’ve made them for you. Take a look; if everything is in order, you can take them home.”

“Go back and check for leaks. Just bring it here; I’ll fix it up,” Li Xingsheng offered.

“Sure, let me take a look,” Ye Xin replied, picking up the two brand-new wooden buckets for inspection.

As she got closer, the fresh scent of wood mixed with tung oil wafted up to her nose—not unpleasant at all. The craftsmanship was impeccable; the barrel bands were neatly secured, the wooden planks fit snugly together, and the entire structure looked robust. It even had sturdy wooden handles for easy lifting.

She was impressed. “These are wonderful! Thank you again, Mr. Li.” Then, she asked casually, “Could you also make a larger bath basin?”

Li Xingsheng raised an eyebrow. “How big of a basin? One suitable for washing a child?”

“A bit bigger,” Ye Xin clarified. “It’s for my own use.”

She had been wanting a bath basin for some time—there was nothing quite like a warm soak in winter or unwinding after a long day in summer.

Previously, she had hesitated to ask because she didn’t know how long it would take to make such a basin or if this elder craftsman had the skill to do it. But after witnessing his talent, she felt confident to bring it up now.

She also felt a pang of sympathy for the elderly man, who was raising his little grandson; ordering more items from him could help him earn some extra income.

“Why don’t you describe it in detail?” Li Xingsheng suggested.

Ye Xin thought carefully and explained, “I envision an oval basin, about 120 centimeters long and 60 centimeters wide. The edge should be tapered—one side higher, at 70 centimeters, so I can rest a towel while soaking; the lower side would be 60 centimeters. The transition between the two ends should be smooth and gentle, to avoid any bumps or injuries.”

Li Xingsheng nodded as he listened. “Now that you mention it, I have a clearer picture. I can make it, but it will take some time and materials. It’ll probably be after the New Year before I can finish it.”

Ye Xin felt a wave of relief wash over her. “I understand! I just wanted to mention it early so that I won’t be stuck at the back of the line when others come looking for barrels. If you can do it, you can take your time after the New Year.”

“By the way, how much do you think this large basin will cost? What kind of deposit do you need?”

After a moment of calculation, Li Xingsheng replied, “It’ll be seven dollars. You can give me two or three as a deposit.”

Ye Xin fished out the cash she had prepared. “Then I’ll give you three dollars to start. Thank you!”

Once their business was settled, she bid farewell to the old man and waved goodbye to little Li Guangming before heading off, each bucket in hand.

As for the unfortunate Li Guorong, he had been entirely forgotten in her haste.

Li Xingsheng, though aging and frail, had seen a decline in business over the years, especially with the rise in popularity of enamel basins. Fewer people came to him for wooden barrels, and his income had suffered. While he appreciated the support from his brother’s family, it was clear that relying on oneself was far better than depending on others.

Bringing Li Guorong into the fold was not just about help; it was also a way of passing down skills. After all, his little grandson, Li Guangming, was still too young. Who knew if he’d even be able to keep working long enough to teach him?

So when this young woman had come along, bringing him two orders and over ten dollars in income, Li Xingsheng couldn’t help but feel pleased as he leaned on his cane and headed back inside to stash the cash.

Meanwhile, Li Guorong had lifted his head, watching Ye Xin’s retreating figure.

The first thing he noticed was that she had cut her hair. It wasn’t the extreme shortness some village women sported; instead, it fell at a perfect medium length—not too long, not too short. There were no heavy bangs, either; her hair was tucked behind her ears, revealing her smooth forehead.

Perhaps it was the haircut, but the moment he saw her, he couldn’t help but find her stunning. Her skin was fair, her complexion flushed, and her eyes sparkled with brightness and energy…

He felt a rush of shyness, quickly averting his gaze, pretending nothing was amiss.

For a moment, Li Guorong was lost in thought.

The memory of that shameless young woman who had relentlessly pursued him earlier this year faded from his mind, but he vaguely remembered that she hadn’t looked nearly as beautiful as Ye Xin; otherwise, he wouldn’t have found her so off-putting…

Just then, the innocent and curious voice of Li Guangming broke through his reverie. “Brother Guorong, the young lady has already left. What are you still staring at?”

Li Guorong snapped back to reality and looked down, noticing that his younger cousin was sneaking snacks again. “Where did you get the candy?” he asked, curiosity tinged with annoyance.

Li Guangming, ever honest, replied, “The young lady gave it to me! She said thank you for telling her. It’s really sweet! Mmm… if you want, I can share a piece with you.”

Guorong’s expression darkened. “No, thanks!”

But Li Guangming was undeterred; he rummaged in another pocket. “She also gave me some sunflower seeds. Do you want those?”

Now Guorong’s frown deepened. “No! Do you think I’m as greedy as you? You just take whatever someone gives you without a second thought?”

Li Guangming blinked innocently, looking up with wide eyes. “Why wouldn’t I take it? It’s tasty! The candy is really sweet.”

Guorong paused, a wave of pity washing over him. What was he doing arguing with a kid over snacks? But he couldn’t help feeling surprised that she was so generous with him, always handing out treats.

He glanced in the direction Ye Xin had gone, suddenly asking his little cousin, “Did you at least say thank you?”

Li Guangming blinked, his voice dropping to a whisper. “No…”

“Then remember this: the next time someone gives you something, you’d better say thank you! You can’t just be rude!”

Li Guangming nodded earnestly. “I’ll remember! Next time I see her, I’ll thank her a bunch.”

As he spoke, he patted his pocket, grinning. “She also gave me two eggs, said they were for me and Grandpa!”

Guorong froze, then frowned slightly. “Candy and sunflower seeds are one thing, but eggs? Those aren’t easy to come by!”

Li Guangming defended himself softly, “The eggs came from the chickens she fed. They were still warm when she gave them to me!”

Seeing that his older cousin was looking a bit stern, the little boy quickly ran inside to tell Grandpa about the treats.

Inside, the elderly man listened to his grandson with a mix of gratitude and delight in his aging voice. “That young lady is straightforward and kind-hearted.”

Li Guorong, standing outside, heard his grandfather’s words and felt a complex swirl of emotions.