Chapter 8: Pointing at the Mulberry Tree While Cursing the Locust Tree

Zheng Qiaoling was washing clothes by the public water trough in the courtyard.

As the eldest daughter in her family, she was responsible for washing everyone’s clothes. Most things were manageable, but her two younger brothers were like little monkeys, their clothes so dirty that you couldn’t even tell what color they originally were.

Zheng Qiaoling’s fingers were red as she gritted her teeth and scrubbed the clothes with a brush at the washing station.

“Qiaoling!” Song Xilan walked over and casually helped her by putting the small pieces of clothing she had already washed into the basin for a final rinse.

Zheng Qiaoling quickly said, “Don’t touch it, the water’s cold. I’ll be done here soon.”

She tossed the clothes she had just scrubbed into the basin, then started to rinse them with large, efficient motions.

Song Xilan liked watching her work, admiring how quick and efficient she was, just like her mother. As for herself, she wasn’t like that—everything she did was slow and deliberate.

“By the way, how come you came back by yourself last night? I went to find Yang Jingyu. He asked me to ask you…”

Song Xilan interrupted her, “Qiaoling, I’ve made up my mind. I don’t like Yang Jingyu anymore. Don’t deliver things for him anymore. I don’t want to hear anything about him again.”

Zheng Qiaoling paused, seeming like she wanted to ask something, but in the end, she didn’t. Instead, she said decisively, “Okay, we’ll stop bothering with him. Actually, I didn’t want to go find him either. If it wasn’t for my mom always telling me to deliver stuff, I wouldn’t bother.”

Song Xilan suddenly remembered that the last time they went to the backstage to find Yang Jingyu, he had scolded them, and although Zheng Qiaoling didn’t say anything at the time, she never wanted to go backstage again.

Unfortunately, at that time, she was so focused on Yang Jingyu that she didn’t notice others’ grievances.

Zheng Qiaoling continued, “You were so obsessed with Yang Jingyu back then, I didn’t want to say anything. But I feel like he’s not the type of person who knows how to handle relationships. Remember when he first came to the city? My mom was so good to him. She even got him bedsheets, blankets, and a lunch box. Every time he came over to rest, he’d eat at our house. My mom would always buy meat for him. Now that he’s settled down, he hasn’t done anything to repay her, and he doesn’t even visit us. He’s afraid we’ll try to take advantage of him in the future!”

Song Xilan asked, “Why didn’t you tell me about this before?”

“Back then, you were so focused on his good side that you wouldn’t listen to this. Even if I told you, you would’ve said, ‘That’s just the artistic temperament of an artist.’”

Song Xilan smiled awkwardly, “Yes, I was confused back then, but I won’t be like that anymore.”

“Exactly. When looking for a partner, you can’t just focus on appearance. Good looks don’t feed or clothe you, what use is that? You’re in such good shape, you’ll definitely find someone better.”

Song Xilan blushed a little. “Alright, let’s not talk about that. Last time, you were teaching me how to knit a scarf. Can you teach me again later?”

“You don’t like Yang Jingyu anymore, but you still want to knit him a scarf?”

“I never said I’d give the scarf to him. I can knit it and wear it myself.”

“Alright, alright. A few days ago, my cousin made me two thick knitting needles from bamboo. I’ll give you a pair. They’re perfect for knitting a scarf.”

As they spoke, Zheng Qiaoling had already finished washing the clothes. Song Xilan helped her wring out the thick clothes, and the two of them walked toward Zheng’s house.

“Hey, do we have guests at home?” Zheng Qiaoling noticed an unfamiliar bicycle parked in front of her house.

When they entered, they were both stunned. It was none other than Yang Jingyu, the person Zheng Qiaoling had just described as not knowing how to behave.

Yang Jingyu stood up. “Qiaoling, you’re back? It’s the holiday today, I brought some apples from the company for Aunt. Uh, Xilan, you’re here too?”

Song Xilan’s face turned cold. “Qiaoling, I have something at home. I’ll go back now.”

She turned to leave immediately.

Yang Jingyu hurried to chase after her. He had come specifically to see Song Xilan today. He couldn’t just let her leave like this.

“Xilan, wait a minute. I need to talk to you.”

Song Xilan frowned. “Yang Jingyu, we’re not close, don’t speak so intimately.”

“Xilan, is there a misunderstanding between us? If I did anything to upset you, just let me know, and I’ll correct myself.”

Song Xilan smiled. “Actually, you’ve always looked down on me, haven’t you? You think I’m fat, not pretty, and not good enough for you.”

Yang Jingyu panicked. “How could that be? It’s not like that. I… of course…”

He was still young, and saying “I like you” wasn’t so easy.

Song Xilan said, “You suddenly became nice to me, and it’s clearly because you found out that my uncle is the deputy director of the Provincial Cultural Bureau!”

Yang Jingyu’s expression changed. “How did you…”

“It’s fine. You don’t need to feel ashamed that I guessed your thoughts. People strive for higher positions, I understand. But I need to tell you, you’re mistaken. My uncle is an upright man, he would never use his position to help our family. Even if you marry me, it won’t help.”

“And I think I’m good enough, and I want to find someone who truly likes me and cherishes me, not someone like you, who’s just settling for convenience for the sake of benefits. In the future, I will definitely be happy.” Song Xilan said seriously.

[ Why would Yang Jingyu marry someone he doesn’t even like? It seems pointless to get married under these circumstances, it just leads to unhappiness for everyone]

[The chubby girl is clear-headed in this world.]

[ I think I might be falling for this chubby girl. I don’t want her to be replaced by the time-traveling girl. I don’t want such a soul full of love for life to disappear. What should I do?]

[You fence-sitters, can’t you see it? If this isn’t her playing hard to get, trying to push him away yet drawing him in, just wait and see. In the end, she’ll still marry the male lead.]

Yang Jingyu’s face turned red and pale as she spoke. After all, he was still a young man just starting out, and his skin wasn’t thick enough yet. He couldn’t do anything too shameless, so he could only watch as Song Xilan walked away just like that.

He looked a bit lost and dejected.

Zheng Qiaoling was hanging up clothes nearby and deliberately pointed at the holes in her brother’s shirt while scolding him: “You little brat, are you a hedgehog? You keep wearing your clothes until they have holes in them every few days. You never think about it. The cloth coupons we’ve saved up with so much effort are all used to buy new bedding, and there’s no fabric left to make you new clothes!”

Yang Jingyu’s face turned even darker: “Well, I have things to do with the team. I… I’ll leave first.”

He hurriedly pushed his bicycle away.

Zheng Qiaoling snorted: “So stingy.”

In this day and age, whose money and coupons aren’t saved up from tight situations? Anyone who has some sense would know that when others helped you in tough times, now that your situation has improved, you should at least find a way to repay them!

But he sure was good at pretending to be innocent.