12

After Bo Chuan spoke, Yao Yun’s face turned purple with anger.

Unconsciously, she tightened her arms around her child, and her voice became sharp, as if someone had strangled her: “What did you say!? You… you…”

Before she could finish her curse, Bo Chuan was already walking away like the wind.

Bo Chuan practiced Taoism, and each person has their own path. If he met someone, he would say a word at most, but nothing more. As for whether they listened, Bo Chuan didn’t care and wouldn’t bother.

As the blood that rushed to her head began to subside, Yao Yun’s face turned pale again.

She mumbled to herself, trying to comfort herself: “It’s all nonsense, all superstition! Who still believes in such things nowadays…”

Her son, Duoduo, cried out loudly, wanting to be let down as her hand pinched him.

Yao Yun, feeling flustered, coaxed her son: “We’ll go back soon, I’ll get you some cheese sticks when we get home.”

Even so, the courage she had built up was shaken, and her earlier plans seemed to shrink away.

Yao Yun bravely knocked on the door.

Lin You and Yao Jiu were eating noodles. Lin You put down her bowl and chopsticks and asked Yao Jiu, “Did you wear perfume today? You smell so nice.”

The fragrance was subtle, both familiar and unfamiliar.

Yao Jiu, sitting on a small stool in the yard with his legs crossed, slurped noodles: “Perfume? What perfume? I just sprayed some ^[1]Six Gods (六神) is a popular brand of traditional Chinese herbal skincare products, most commonly associated with its herbal mosquito repellent water. This product is widely used in China, … Continue readingSix Gods today at home.”

Hearing the knocking, Lin You went to open the door.

Yao Jiu, squatting on the ground with his rice bowl, looked up at the pepper seedlings that seemed to change every day, and then looked up…

Yao Jiu: “You, Youyou, why is your chicken out?”

After the last time when Mengmeng, driven by hunger, rushed out of the cow pen, Lin You made sure to feed Mengmeng some good treats before every meal. Sometimes it was tomatoes, sometimes soybeans, and sometimes food she had cooked herself. She feared the little cow might cause trouble again. At this moment, the little calf was quietly munching on its tomatoes in its pen.

But Lin You’s chickens were originally kept in a pen as well, and now, one little yellow chick had sneaked out.

The little yellow chick looked extremely cute, and Yao Jiu didn’t hurry to put it back in the pen.

“…Damn, Youyou, why is your chicken so greedy?”

One distracted moment, and the little chick, sneaking out, made a beeline for the bowl on the table. Its tender yellow beak picked up a noodle from the bowl. Its little wings flapped hard against the edge of the bowl, as though trying to jump in.

Yao Jiu reached out to grab the chick, but even though it was running around wildly, the little chick was surprisingly agile. After finishing the noodle, it bit a piece of beef and turned to run away.

Yao Jiu chased it, the chick darting ahead.

Yao Yun opened the door and saw this scene.

The little chick led Yao Jiu on a chase around the yard before finally running to the door. Lin You, fearing the chick might escape, hurriedly let Yao Yun and her son inside and closed the door.

The chick, seeing its escape blocked, stood still with its head tilted, looking around curiously.

Yao Yun’s son had never seen such a tiny chick in town, and he immediately fell in love with it. He stretched out his arms to hold it as soon as he was let down from Yao Yun’s arms.

Yao Yun was happy to see her son playing with the chick, so she could talk business with Lin You.

Yao Jiu walked over and, upon seeing Yao Yun, the joy she had from chasing the chick earlier faded: “Sister Yao Yun, what brings you here?”

Yao Yun put on a smile: “I heard from my mom that Youyou came back. My son has never seen a celebrity before, and he always says he likes Youyou, says you’re pretty. So, I brought him here to see Youyou…”

Yao Jiu chuckled: “Well, he really likes you. Came in and immediately started playing with the chick.”

Adults have their own motives, using children as pawns.

When Lin You heard that Yao Yun was Aunt Chunling’s daughter, she gently pulled on Yao Jiu’s arm, signaling her to say less. No matter what Yao Yun’s intentions were, Aunt Chunling certainly hadn’t agreed, or Yao Yun wouldn’t have come alone.

Out of respect for Aunt Chunling, Lin You didn’t want to make things too awkward for Yao Yun.

Yao Yun cursed in her heart that Yao Jiu was meddling too much. She pulled Lin You inside to talk: “A few days ago, my mom sent some egg cakes for Duoduo, and they were really delicious. Youyou, how come you’re so good at cooking?”

Lin You quietly pulled her arm back and smiled: “It’s just so-so, mainly because Aunt Chunling raises good cows.”

Yao Yun’s eyes lit up: “That’s right! My mom raises cows, and the milk gets sent to the kindergarten. The kids there love it, even the parents praise it, saying they’ve never had such fresh, pure milk before.”

The cows she had her mother raise were bought from her family at one and a half yuan per pound. At the kindergarten, they were sold to the students at three yuan per pound for their meals. The difference made a significant improvement to her family’s living conditions.

But people, once they have one thing, always want more. Now she felt the money wasn’t enough.

“Youyou, look at you. You’re so beautiful, and your live streams are so popular. You’re a top-tier in our village, right? I heard you make a lot in the entertainment industry, isn’t it true? I see online that celebrities get paid by the day, and some get hundreds of thousands or even millions a day…”

Lin You interrupted: “Sister Yao Yun, that’s just a rumor.”

She was a minor actor, and she didn’t make that much. After the agency’s cut and taxes, her income was nothing like that.

“Right, right, but still, it’s easier for you to make money. You’re definitely doing better than us.”

Yao Yun didn’t really believe that. If she were making money like Lin You, she wouldn’t want to come back to this little village with nothing.

“I didn’t mean anything by saying that, don’t think I’m asking you for money.”

Yao Jiu couldn’t help but mutter, “Sister Yao Yun, if you have something to say, just say it.”

These pleasantries were really irritating.

Yao Yun cursed silently again, then spoke: “Youyou, since we’re from the same village, I also want to make those egg cakes.”

Once she started, Yao Yun couldn’t stop: “You see, my life’s not easy. The town’s living costs are higher, and Duoduo is about to start kindergarten. Just consider it as helping me out, since you’ve said you’re not planning on making egg cakes long-term anyway, why not share the recipe with me and my brother-in-law? Don’t worry, I won’t ruin your reputation. I’ll make sure they taste just as good…”

Yao Jiu was furious and rolled up her sleeves, ready to argue with Yao Yun.

Lin You stopped Yao Jiu, calmly refusing: “Sister Yao Yun, I don’t think your idea is a good one.”

Yao Yun grew anxious: “Why isn’t it good? It’s not hard to make, and it can sell for a good price!”

Lin You: “It can sell for a good price, but you see, that’s because it’s sold during live streams. It’s basically me promoting it personally.”

Yao Yun gritted her teeth: “Then you can promote it for us, can’t you?”

This was shameless, and Yao Jiu couldn’t hold back: “Sister Yao Yun, I call you ‘sister’ because we’re from the same village, but you have the nerve to say this? Why should Lin You promote your products for you? If she wanted to, there are plenty of businesses willing to pay her six or seven figures for promotions. Who do you think you are, asking someone to work for free? And that recipe, does she owe you anything? Why should she waste her time and effort for you?”

Yao Yun was scolded by Yao Jiu and couldn’t help but feel resentful: “She doesn’t have to do anything for me, but my family’s situation…”

Yao Jiu rolled her eyes: “What does your family’s situation have to do with others? And Sister Yao Yun, stop treating people like fools. You live in the town, and you’re making money selling milk in the cafeteria, at least several thousand a month, right? If you’re going to say that, then people in our village who are worse off than you must all be living poorly—do you think Lin You can help them?”

Yao Yun’s face turned awkward: “I’m talking to Lin You, what does it have to do with you?”

Lin You pulled Yao Jiu behind her and frowned: “Sister Yao Yun, Yao Jiu might not be polite, but what she said is also what I think.”

Yao Yun was a bit shocked, looking at Lin You.

Lin You: “I don’t want to give you the recipe, and I don’t want to help you promote products. In fact, the recipe itself isn’t that useful. You might not believe me, but that’s the truth.”

She was good at cooking, sometimes the recipe didn’t even matter, it was just about making it taste good.

Lin You’s refusal was very straightforward. Yao Yun was furious and grabbed her son, who was playing by the wall, and left.

She kept walking for hundreds of meters, still angry in her head.

Why wouldn’t Lin You give her the recipe? They were from the same village, helping each other shouldn’t be a big deal. For her, the recipe didn’t mean much, but for herself, it was an opportunity that could change her family’s fate. Plus, she live streamed every day, so what’s wrong with promoting her own products? She couldn’t get millions, but if she made money, she’d definitely give her some promotion fees.

Thinking about it all the way, Yao Yun’s conclusion was that Lin You had been in the entertainment industry for too long, and she didn’t understand human relationships. She was just focused on money.

“Really, the richer they are, the more stingy they get.”

Yao Yun muttered to herself the entire way, not even realizing she was heading south on her way back to her mother’s house…

Yao Jiu closed the door and rolled her eyes at Lin You: “You really have a soft temper. Someone like her, if you don’t scold her, she’ll never leave.”

Lin You: “Aunt Chunling is so kind, but why is Yao Yun…”

Yao Jiu served herself a bowl of beef soup: “She’s always been a bit like that. When you weren’t around, she was already a bit vain. It wasn’t so obvious before she got married, but after marriage, it’s just too much.”

“After moving to the town, every time she comes back, she acts all high and mighty. She even had the nerve to ask you for the recipe. Before, some kids in the village wanted to go to the town kindergarten, and asked Yao Yun to check if there were any spots available, but she wouldn’t even help. When it’s about helping others, she talks about human relationships, but when it’s about herself, she doesn’t want to give anything.”

Yao Jiu was angrily cursing Yao Yun and her husband.

“Her husband is no good either. This embarrassing situation, and Yao Yun has to come back alone, ^[2]“acting like a turtle hiding its head” is a metaphor describing someone who avoids confrontation, responsibility, or embarrassment by withdrawing or trying to avoid being noticed. It implies … Continue readingacting like a turtle hiding its head!”

Lin You patted Yao Jiu’s shoulder: “Don’t be angry, I’ll make you something good to eat tomorrow.”

Although this matter involved her, Lin You wasn’t really that angry.

After all, the other party hadn’t gained anything.

When food was mentioned, Yao Jiu immediately pushed Yao Yun out of her mind and asked: “What are we eating?”

Lin You: “Meat.”