Chapter 17.3: Rainy Night Memories

Gu Shizhang’s voice was pleasant to listen to, and his English was fluent.

Ye Tianhui didn’t understand much English, but she could tell his pronunciation was very good.

His teaching attitude was decent too. He showed no trace of mockery toward her clumsy and stiff English. Instead, he patiently spoke with her and carefully corrected her mispronunciations.

After going over a dozen English sentences four or five times, Ye Tianhui finally managed to handle them. Then Gu Shizhang began teaching her equestrian-related English terms like rein, girth, and saddle. He also explained equestrian knowledge and actions in English, such as heels down, shoulders back, and half halt.

These words weren’t easy for Ye Tianhui, but she knew a few of them, so learning from that foundation wasn’t too difficult. However, pronunciation and practical use still required Gu Shizhang to teach her step by step.

Gu Shizhang spent the entire afternoon teaching her, and she barely started to feel more confident.

Then Gu Shizhang handed her a portable radio: “This can pick up English radio programs. Listen to them when you have time.”

Ye Tianhui: “Alright.”

Gu Shizhang smiled: “You’ve learned a lot today. Let’s go eat.”

Ye Tianhui: “What are we eating?”

Gu Shizhang turned his head, his dark eyes looking at her: “It depends on what you want to eat.”

He smiled and added, “I’ll treat you.”

Ye Tianhui hurriedly said, “No need, no need! You’ve helped me so much already. As long as I can still afford to eat, I should treat you!”

Gu Shizhang said, “This time, let me treat you. Otherwise, I’m afraid my sixty-Hong-Kong-dollar value might take a few hits.”

—

As expected, Gu Shizhang obtained the recommendation for the assessment opportunity. He handed Ye Tianhui a training invitation, which detailed the necessary preparations, and then he left.

From what he said, with the recent horse racing competitions, the horse handlers were quite busy. He had just been on break earlier when he didn’t have much work, but now it seemed like he’d need to work overtime.

Ye Tianhui naturally understood and expressed that she could go by herself.

Before leaving, Gu Shizhang paused and looked at her.

Ye Tianhui: “Hmm?”

Gu Shizhang smiled at her and said tactfully, “I just received my salary this month, so I have some money on hand. If you need anything, I can lend it to you for now, interest-free.”

Ye Tianhui laughed, “No need, I should have enough to spend!”

Gu Shizhang reminded her, “Check the details in that document carefully. You’ll still need to prepare some attire.”

Ye Tianhui: “Alright, I’ll take a look and follow their instructions!”

After giving her a look, Gu Shizhang didn’t say more and left.

After he left, Ye Tianhui opened the interview notice and reviewed it. It included a small booklet introducing Pentium Equestrian Center in detail, analyzing the job description and future prospects for her position, as well as outlining the items she needed to prepare for the assessment.

Looking over the list, she noted it required riding pants, riding boots, a top, and anti-slip, sun-protective gloves. As for helmets, unless there were special requirements, she didn’t need to prepare one, as the riding center would provide helmets for interviewees.

Examining the list, she felt a bit helpless. For someone poor, if they couldn’t afford these items, wouldn’t they lose the chance to even take the exam?

It seemed that those who could attend interviews at such equestrian centers either had connections or weren’t short on money.

But since she was determined to get in, she had no choice but to buy what was needed.

She took the list and rode a bus to the mall, heading to a specialty equestrian counter. As expected, the items were expensive—a seemingly plain polo shirt cost one or two hundred Hong Kong dollars, and some even several hundred.

Too deceitful…

After some consideration, she concluded that the riding pants and boots were unavoidable, but she could substitute regular gloves and similar-looking T-shirts for the gloves and top to save some money.

She bought a few discounted items and finally moved on to the riding boots.

The boots were the most expensive item. She first visited a well-known brand store, thinking she would familiarize herself with the options before choosing a pair with the best value.

The shop assistant, noticing her ordinary attire, wasn’t very attentive. When she asked a question in a distinctly mainland accent, the assistant still smiled, but there was a clear hint of tolerance and disdain behind it.

Ye Tianhui understood and didn’t take it to heart. She didn’t expect much to begin with. As long as they didn’t chase her out, she was fine looking around by herself.

She quickly realized the variety in riding boots. Not only were there different styles, but even the materials varied greatly. For example, leg guards could be made of leather or fabric, while the boots themselves came in genuine leather or synthetic materials. A pair of genuine leather leg guards and boots would be incredibly expensive.

This shop, being a well-known brand, had high-quality leather and attractive designs.

She noticed a young woman nearby trying on boots. After putting them on, the woman looked valiant and dashing.

Ye Tianhui thought to herself that she would buy a pair like that once she had money.

In her past life, she had to wear boots for horse riding as well. Those boots were made of the finest leather, tributes bestowed by the imperial court. The craftsmanship was impeccable, and they were extremely comfortable.

But now, those were just memories. Times had changed.

While she was observing, several other customers arrived, prompting the shop assistants to suddenly become enthusiastic, their words laced with flattery.

Looking over, she happened to see Ye Wenyin.

A group of four or five people entered. Ye Wenyin and her friend were dressed luxuriously and fashionably, followed by two or three individuals who appeared to be maids.

The shop assistants respectfully ushered Ye Wenyin and her group into the VIP area. It turned out Ye Wenyin had custom-ordered two pairs of riding boots and was there specifically to try them on.

At this time, the service staff brought out two pairs of riding boots, enthusiastically introducing them to Ye Wenyin: “These are handcrafted, made from premium Nile crocodile leather. Miss Ye, take a look here—”

The service staff explained how these boots were exceptionally comfortable and luxurious, offering a level of comfort and support that ordinary riding boots couldn’t match.

As they were speaking, Ye Wenyin glanced up and happened to see Ye Tianhui.  

She looked at Ye Tianhui with some surprise. “What are you doing here?”  

Her voice was soft and slow, carrying a hint of astonishment.  

When she spoke, the nearby service staff, adept at reading social cues, naturally understood the implication. One of them immediately smiled and explained, “This young lady seems to just be looking around. She’s not one of our customers.”  

Another service staff member stepped forward. “Miss, do you need any assistance?”  

Although the words were polite, the tone made it clear that they wanted Ye Tianhui to leave. It was evident they found her appearance shabby and thought her presence was an eyesore.  

Hearing this, Ye Tianhui was about to leave. After all, she hadn’t intended to buy anything and didn’t want to stay and be subjected to disdain for no reason.  

Unexpectedly, Ye Wenyin smiled and called her back. “Did you eat the pastries I gave you that day?”  

When she said this, the surrounding service staff were a bit surprised. They hadn’t expected Ye Wenyin to know Ye Tianhui.  

Ye Tianhui looked at Ye Wenyin’s smiling face. “Thank you, Miss Ye. They were delicious.”  

Ye Wenyin nodded slightly. “You like horseback riding? Are you here to buy riding boots?”  

Ye Tianhui replied, “I am planning to buy a pair, but the ones here are too expensive for me. I can’t afford them, so I’m just looking around to broaden my horizons. I’ll go elsewhere later to get something more affordable.”  

Hearing this, Ye Wenyin sighed and said to her companion, “She’s from the mainland. It’s rare for someone who grew up in a place like that to even know about equestrian sports. I think it’s quite remarkable.”  

The companions, maids, and nearby customers all looked at Ye Tianhui curiously.  

They were well-versed in such matters and could tell at a glance from someone’s attire—the material and craftsmanship. Ye Tianhui’s clothes were obviously cheap, not even comparable to what the maids of the Ye family wore.  

A wave of pity flickered in their eyes. One companion asked curiously, “Do people in the mainland not have enough to eat? Have you ever seen a horse before?”  

Another companion added, “Probably not. How could there be horses in the mainland?”  

Everyone thought about it and agreed, laughing together. Ye Wenyin chuckled and said, “I saw something on TV the other day mentioning how difficult it is for mainlanders to get by. I even talked to my second aunt about it. With her approval, I donated some clothes to the squatter areas. It’s the least I could do.”  

The group laughed and said, “Wenyin, you’re really too kindhearted. No wonder everyone speaks so highly of you.”  

Ye Wenyin then looked at Ye Tianhui with a gentle smile. “If you like horseback riding but can’t afford riding boots, I can give you my old riding gear and boots. Although they’ve been used, they’re still in good condition and much better than the cheap alternatives you’d find outside.”  

The service staff smiled and complimented, “Miss Ye, you’re truly kind! All your riding boots are custom-made from our store. Any one of them would be excellent. It’s an honor for us to have a customer like you.”  

As she spoke, she turned to Ye Tianhui. “Aren’t you going to thank Miss Ye right away?”  

Ye Tianhui had always been straightforward about accepting others’ goodwill.  

She wasn’t concerned about pride, had no sensitivity typical of the impoverished, and wasn’t overly burdened by moral considerations. If someone offered her something she needed, she would accept it gratefully without hesitation.  

However, the ongoing discussion made her feel a subtle sense of discomfort.  

It was as if she were a monkey that had jumped out of the mountains, with everyone looking at her like an oddity—curious, pitying, and high-handed in their charity, publicly displaying their generosity before a crowd.  

Everyone’s eyes were on her, as if waiting for her to express thanks, to be moved to tears, and to accept the second-hand riding boots gifted by Miss Ye.

She felt a bit rebellious.

She chuckled lightly and said, “In the mainland, of course, we’ve seen horses. The land is vast and abundant; how could there not be horses? We just don’t race them. As for boots, of course, we wear them.”

She glanced at the handmade crocodile boots beside her and smiled, “We just don’t wear these.”

When she said this, everyone exchanged glances, their expressions becoming subtly awkward.

A female companion nearby laughed and said, “Really? Then what do you wear? Do you ride horses wearing straw sandals?”

Straw sandals?

Everyone became curious and started asking what straw sandals were, then burst into laughter.

Ye Wenyin didn’t laugh. She studied Ye Tianhui inquisitively before saying, “No need for everyone to laugh. It’s just pitiful.”

At this point, the others also looked over. After all, it was quite rare to see a “Northern girl” appear in such a high-end store. Everyone was curious and eager to watch the show.

Under the gaze of everyone looking at her as if she were a monkey, Ye Tianhui said, “For riding boots, we either use cowhide or sheepskin. If it’s just for fun, we wear sheepskin boots. Sheepskin is soft, light, and comfortable to wear. However, for long rides, we use cowhide boots. Cowhide is sturdy, wear-resistant, and durable.”

Hearing this, everyone was a bit surprised. She seemed to know what she was talking about.

Ye Wenyin frowned slightly, her gaze fixed firmly on her.

Ye Tianhui noticed Ye Wenyin’s unusual focus on her.

She smiled and continued, “Horseback riding is a skill, not a beauty pageant for young ladies, nor a show of fancy tricks. Naturally, practicality and durability are key. Of course, not everyone understands this. Some people with good financial conditions don’t even know what horseback riding is or can’t even ride a horse. All they care about is being extravagant, like using silk or other expensive materials, thinking they are superior. But in reality, it’s just for show. Such shoes would break in a few days. Saying they came to ride horses is more like saying they came to show off.”

As soon as she said this, the expressions of everyone around her changed slightly. After all, her words offended almost everyone in the room, from Ye Wenyin and her guests to the store clerks and even the onlookers.

One of Ye Wenyin’s female companions pursed her lips and said with amusement, “She’s just a Northern girl. What could she possibly know? Coming here to show off, if you can’t afford it, just say so. Who’s going to laugh at you?”

The store clerk added, “Do you even know what Nile crocodile leather is? This leather comes from African crocodiles, and it’s exclusively supplied for Hermès bags. Have you ever seen it? Do you even know what Hermès is?”

Ye Tianhui replied coolly, “I don’t know what Nile crocodile leather is, but I know this material isn’t suitable for riding boots.”

Her words made everyone sneer, “Do you even understand? These are high-end custom-made boots!”

Ye Wenyin silently watched the eloquent Ye Tianhui, saying nothing, just observing quietly.

Ye Tianhui glanced at the riding boots and said, “This Nile crocodile leather has fine texture and a shiny surface, which indeed looks beautiful. For making stylish everyday shoes, this material would be excellent. But the leather is too delicate and prone to cracking. During regular horseback riding, the friction can easily cause it to crack.”

She smiled and said, “Just imagine, you’re riding a horse, and suddenly your shoes split. Don’t you think that’s embarrassing? It’s like using a golden hoe to farm. You might think you’re being luxurious and elegant, but in reality, it’s flashy but useless. Anyone with sharp eyes would immediately see you’re an amateur.”

When she said this, several of the girls present were naturally furious. Seeing this, Ye Wenyin tried to mediate, saying, “Let it go. Let’s not argue with her. The less trouble, the better.”

However, Ye Wenyin’s good temper only made the girls angrier. One of them even stepped forward and questioned, “What do you know? Can you prove to me that Nile crocodile leather cracks?”

The two store clerks felt even more insulted, saying, “You’re slandering our product. This is premium Nile crocodile leather. Hermès uses this material. Its toughness is five times that of cowhide. How could it crack?”

Ye Tianhui: “Oh? Want to bet? Pull it hard, and the boots will split right open.”