Chapter 21

“The Ye family is doing well. They got a daughter for free.” The woman’s eyes sparkled with gossip, “But your Yan Yan, is she really not coming back from the city?”

Ye Xiaoxiao: “…”

Who is this?

Ye Changning retorted rudely, “Aunt Wang, go home. Mind your own business.”

Wang Meili felt a little embarrassed, “You guy…”

Ye Changsheng explained to Ye Xiaoxiao, “She’s the village chief’s wife, Wang Meili. She loves to gossip in the village. Don’t pay attention to her.”

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded.

Finally, they were back in the Ye family’s courtyard.

It was spacious and bright. Although it was an earthen house, the inside and outside were clean and tidy.

Miao Cuifang and her sister-in-law, Zhang Xue, had already cleaned up the rooms they would be staying in.

Ye Xiaoxiao’s room was originally Hao Yan Yan’s, but they had renovated it from top to bottom this time.

The room was covered with new newspapers, and even Ye Xiaoxiao’s bedding was new.

This treatment was grander than welcoming a new bride.

Ye Xiaoxiao noticed the changes in the room as soon as she came back.

She kept a bag of candy for herself and then gave the rest of the things she bought to Miao Cuifang.

“Xiaoxiao, don’t spend money recklessly. Mom is so old. Why would she wear such bright headbands?”

“Mom, you’re not old at all. This headband is perfect for you.”

Miao Cuifang had grand features, but she rarely dressed up because she worked all the time.

If she wasn’t pretty, she wouldn’t have given birth to such handsome children in the Ye family.

Miao Cuifang smiled, “Then Mom will take it.”

Ye Xiaoxiao chose a mature purple headband for Miao Cuifang and a bright red one for her sister-in-law, Zhang Xue.

She took the headbands and the two pairs of children’s shoes and gave them to Zhang Xue.

“Sister-in-law, it was my fault for having a bad temper before. Now that we’re living together as a family, I won’t be like that anymore.”

Zhang Xue didn’t know where to put her hands, “We’re all family. Why are you saying this?”

Ye Xiaoxiao took the opportunity to stuff the gifts into her hands, “Since we’re all family, Sister-in-law can’t refuse my gifts.”

Zhang Xue: “…”

Ye Xiaoxiao ran away after giving the gifts.

She had walked so far and was very tired now. She just wanted to lie on the kang for a while.

The room was still warm, but only the kang was hot.

There was no stove for heating, so they only had a brazier in the room.

Ye Xiaoxiao lay on the kang, burying her face in her arms.

This family was still too poor.

In the evening, the family ate together. After dinner, someone came to call Ye Changning out to play.

Ye Jian Guo frowned, “Go ahead and play. If you go fooling around with others again, I’ll break your leg.”

Ye Changning rolled his eyes and ran away quickly.

He didn’t seem to care about his father’s words at all.

Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t understand, “It’s still snowing outside. Where can Third brother go to play?”

Ye Changsheng, “He’s probably going to Li Ma Zi’s house in the back mountain to play cards.”

Ye Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened.

Ye Changsheng was worried that she misunderstood and quickly said, “It’s not gambling. They don’t have money.”

“…Oh.”

The first day back home was uneventful. Ye Xiaoxiao was very tired and slept soundly.

The next morning, she was woken up by the rooster.

Ye Xiaoxiao put on her new shoes, jacket, and pants. She looked more energetic.

As soon as she finished breakfast, Ye Changyuan came over.

He was accompanied by Ye’s two parents.

They were both in their seventies and in good health.

The two elders came to see their son-in-law and Ye Xiaoxiao.

Ye Xiaoxiao had met the two elders when she first came to Baishi Village, but she hadn’t been polite back then.

But this time, both elders noticed that the girl was different.

Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t rashly acknowledge her relatives. She figured out their identities from their conversation and then politely greeted them.

They weren’t close, so they ran out of things to say after greeting each other.

The snow had stopped outside.

There were sounds of children running and laughing.

Ye Changyuan called Ye Xiaoxiao and the others to play outside.

Miao Cuifang disagreed, “It’s too cold. Don’t take your sister running around.”

Ye Changsheng, “Second Aunt, we’ll just stay at the door. We’ll come back soon.”

It was better than staying at home and listening to the adults talk.

Ye Xiaoxiao rarely saw such heavy snow. She also wanted to go out and see it.

So, she put on her scarf and gloves and went out with Ye Changyuan.

Ye Changsheng was originally reading at home, but he was very worried about Ye Xiaoxiao and Ye Changyuan going out, so he had to follow them.

On the drying yard in the back mountain, many people were already having a snowball fight.

They were all children from the village, aged between thirteen and twenty-three.

Ye Xiaoxiao, wearing a red wool scarf and twin braids, had skin as white as snow. As soon as she appeared, she attracted everyone’s attention.

A boy came forward, “Changyuan, who is this?”

Ye Changyuan told everyone to stop teasing her, “Get out of the way. This is my sister.”

“Your sister is so pretty. Is she from the city?”

“I’ve never seen her before. Which sister is she?”

Among the young people, a tall and thin man kept looking this way.

The girl beside him pinched him, “Where are your eyes looking? My mom said that the new daughter at the Ye family’s house is from Beijing. That’s the capital, a big city. It’s different from ours.”

The man scoffed, “Then why did she come to our poor mountain village?”

“Because the Ye family switched daughters with her.”

Zhang Erni rolled her eyes and stepped on the man’s foot, “Are you going to build a snowman or not?”

Li Deshu smiled, “Build a snowman?  Let’s go see what’s different about city people and us.”

He walked towards Ye Xiaoxiao.

Zhang Erni stomped her feet and followed.

“Hi, I’m Li Deshu.”

Among the group of guys, Li Deshu was considered good-looking and clean.

He thought he was better than the others.

But when Ye Xiaoxiao heard this name, she took a step back.

Damn!

Wasn’t this the heroine’s husband in her previous life?

He was smooth-talking before marriage, tricking the heroine into marrying him. Soon after their marriage, the Li family encountered an economic crisis. Then, his true nature was revealed. He started gambling, abusing his wife, and blackmailing the Ye family.

It was because of the tragic events in her previous life that the heroine was so eager to leave Baishi Village in this life.

But this husband was someone Hao Yan Yan chose herself. She wasn’t forced by the Ye family.

So, Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t understand why Hao Yan Yan stole the Ye family’s money in this life to escape her previous fate.

Seeing that she didn’t speak, Li Deshu’s smile faded.

“Changyuan, why don’t you introduce your sister? We can play together later.”

“Ugh… my sister won’t play with you.”

Ye Changyuan pulled Ye Xiaoxiao, “Let’s go build a snowman over there.”

Zhang Erni gloated, “She doesn’t want to talk to you.”

Li Deshu, “Mind your own business, ugly duckling!”

Zhang Erni grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at him, “Li Deshu! You dare call me ugly? I’ll beat you to death!!!”

Snow landed all over Li Deshu’s hair, ruining his hairstyle. He immediately screamed, “Zhang Erni, you’re so annoying!”