Chapter 55: The Pitiful Female Supporting Character from a Patriarchal Family in the 2000s (2)

At 5:40 in the evening, the sun began to set.

Ai Xiaoling started to slowly move things back into the shop. At exactly six o’clock, she turned off the fan and closed the shop immediately.

If you’re not eager to get off work, there’s something wrong with your brain.

She didn’t want to keep working herself to death. In her past life, she was worked to death by her job, and it wasn’t even to earn money for herself.

After closing the shop, she walked along the road to the very end. There was a small market there, with fast-food stalls lining both sides of the street, and delicious smells wafting through the air.

“Off work, young lady?” An old man at a roadside stall called out to Ai Xiaoling and asked warmly, “Still getting the same as usual today?”

For more than a year, Ai Xiaoling had been buying meals from this old man’s stall.

He was the only one who would sell her a cheap set meal. It included a few thin slices of meat, a small scoop of vegetables, a box of rice, and an eternally unchanged bowl of bean sprout soup. One meal cost only two yuan.

Standing in front of the stall, Ai Xiaoling looked at the thin slices of duck meat and suddenly felt sad.

In all her cycles of reincarnation, she had always been the blood donor for her birth family. She couldn’t bear to eat or wear anything nice, strictly controlling her daily expenses and giving everything to her parents and brothers. In the end, she gained nothing good.

Her monthly salary of one thousand yuan — eight hundred and fifty went to her family. She had one hundred and fifty left. With this one hundred and fifty, she had to eat three meals a day, so she could only spend five yuan a day.

Fifty cents for breakfast, two yuan for lunch and dinner each. By the end of the month, there would be nothing left.

Now, with five days left until the next payday, Ai Xiaoling thought of the twenty-something yuan in her pocket and nodded to the old man, “Yes, the same as usual.”

“Alright.” The old man started scooping rice and stirred the pot of braised meat twice with his ladle, pouring some of the sauce onto the rice, “It tastes better this way.”

The stir-fried dishes he sold cost at least one yuan each, so the money Ai Xiaoling gave was clearly not enough. But he served her a little extra.

“Thank you.” Ai Xiaoling took the food and soup and paid.

As she walked back, she heard various street vendors shouting along the road.

Snacks, fruits, pastries, and all kinds of fast food…

She had never bought any snacks or treats. With a daily budget of five yuan, spending four and a half left her fifty cents, which she would save to buy sanitary pads.

To save more money, she would buy the cheapest unbranded products.

“Young lady, want some mangoes? One yuan for three jin,” an old lady blocked Ai Xiaoling’s path and eagerly tried to sell her mangoes, “Very cheap already. I need to head home, so I’m selling them cheap.”

Ai Xiaoling smelled the fruity fragrance of the mangoes but shook her head, “No, thank you.”

“One yuan for four jin, how about four jin?” The old lady lowered the price again.

One yuan for four jin was really cheap, but Ai Xiaoling still did not buy.

Even one yuan — even fifty cents — she had to calculate carefully.

Carrying her food, Ai Xiaoling returned to the shop, walked around to the back door, and went up to the second floor.

There were three rooms on the first floor. Mother Ye and Ye Zhou lived on the third floor. The second floor was half a warehouse, filled with various goods. Ai Xiaoling lived in the smallest room, and even so, she was content.

Only after returning to her room did she finally breathe a sigh of relief. She placed the food on the small table and began to eat.

Although there was little meat and vegetables, the braised meat sauce smelled so good. There were even bits of minced meat floating in it. Ai Xiaoling mixed it with her rice and ate bite by bite.

It was a simple and perfunctory meal for herself.

After showering, Ai Xiaoling picked up a storybook from her bedside and started reading.

These books were ones Mother Ye had picked up from who knows where. She had originally planned to sell them as scrap paper, but Ai Xiaoling kept them. At night, when she had nothing to do, she would curl up in her room and read.

She had read them over and over again.

After a tiring day of work, Ai Xiaoling fell asleep before reading more than a few pages.

Unbeknownst to anyone, Ye Zhou had been standing at the staircase holding a bag of mangoes for a long time. He walked to her door and then turned back again. In the end, he silently carried them upstairs.

The next morning.

At six thirty in the morning, Ai Xiaoling got up. As soon as she woke, she felt a bit itchy all over her body and just could not feel comfortable. Seeing that it was almost time for work, she quickly got up, washed up, bought a bun for herself, and arrived at the store at seven o’clock sharp to open the door.

The shop was facing the street and close to the market so it was lively in the morning.

Not long after, customers started coming in one after another.

“Take the materials according to the list and deliver them to the door”

“Give me seven double-bottom boxes”

“I want to buy three white elbow joints”

…

Mother Ye had still not come back today. With such a big store, Ai Xiaoling was busy running around and did not even have time to take a sip of water.

She not only had to fetch goods but also write invoices. Fortunately, she was already familiar with the procedures and did not panic.

Each invoice was handed to Ye Zhou. Her handwriting was neat and clear with all the information written precisely.

Ai Xiaoling casually asked him, “Is Aunt Ye still not back today?”

“In a couple of days. She said she wanted to meet up with some friends” Ye Zhou replied and then added, “After I deliver the goods, I’ll come back and watch the store.”

Ai Xiaoling shook her head, “I can manage by myself. Just drive slowly. No need to rush.”

Ye Zhou did not respond directly to her words. Instead, he said, “There are mangoes on the table. They taste pretty good.”

“Huh?” Ai Xiaoling had not noticed. She turned her head to look at the counter and smiled gently, “I’ll eat one later. I quite like mangoes.”

Her luck was not bad. Yesterday she had wanted to eat mangoes but had no money to buy them. Today there were mangoes to eat.

Life is better when one is content.

Ye Zhou’s gaze fell on her arm and he saw several red marks. His eyes darkened slightly. His thin lips moved but he ended up not asking. Instead, he said, “I’m going to deliver the goods.”

Just as Ye Zhou finished speaking, another customer came in saying he had taken the wrong item and wanted to return it quickly. Ai Xiaoling immediately turned around but still hurriedly replied to Ye Zhou, “Alright drive safe on the road.”

Before she finished speaking, she had already rushed back into the store. Her face carried a warm smile as she skillfully greeted and reassured the customer. In just a few words, she calmed the customer’s anger and then took back the item with a promise of a refund.

Before leaving, Ye Zhou glanced at her once more from the truck

Ai Xiaoling’s smile was bright as she moved effortlessly through the narrow and crowded store.

Around noon, foot traffic on the street lessened and Ai Xiaoling was finally able to rest for a bit. She sat at the counter under the fan while doing the accounting.

The fragrance of mangoes was strong but she had no appetite.

When she was not busy, she started to feel itchy again. Ai Xiaoling reached out to scratch and left red marks on her arms and neck. Her body felt hot and uncomfortable.

She did not know whether it was because she was unwell or too tired. She had no appetite for lunch. Seeing the mangoes beside her, she only ate a few. In the afternoon, a few more customers came to make large purchases and she kept busy again.

By the time afternoon came, Ai Xiaoling noticed that her discomfort was getting worse. Her arms had been scratched until the skin broke. It was the kind of itch that could not be relieved no matter how much she scratched. She also felt nauseated.

It was pure torture.

Ye Zhou had said earlier that he would return to take over for her but maybe something had come up. It was almost closing time and there was still no sign of him. Ai Xiaoling, barely holding herself together, continued to work.

Another half hour passed. Leaning on the counter, Ai Xiaoling heard the familiar sound of a truck and immediately raised her head and stood up to go outside.

Ye Zhou had not yet parked when the truck window was knocked on.

He saw her pale face and her fair neck covered in scratched red marks. His expression changed. “What’s wrong with you?”

“I don’t know.” Ai Xiaoling was scared now whenever she felt unwell. She held onto the car window and pleaded, “Can I get an advance on my salary? I want to go to the hospital.”

Her clear eyes were filled with worry. She repeatedly promised, “One or two hundred yuan is enough. I don’t need much.”

There were only a few days left before payday. Ai Xiaoling felt her request was not unreasonable.

Ye Zhou was a quiet person who focused only on his work. A year ago, Mother Ye had hired someone to make deliveries. He only came back six months ago. It was said that he failed to make it outside and came back to help out at home.

The two of them did not have much interaction. Usually, she made the invoices and he did the deliveries. He never said unnecessary words. Sometimes they barely exchanged a few sentences for several days.

If it were before, Ai Xiaoling would have been reluctant to spend money on seeing a doctor. If she really could not bear it, she would spend one or two yuan to buy some random medicine at a pharmacy. If that did not work, there were always small clinics. The medicine was strong and would cure her quickly.

But she was afraid of dying and wanted to go to a big hospital.

Ye Zhou turned off the engine and got out to walk toward the store. Seeing that he did not respond, Ai Xiaoling followed behind him with growing anxiety and tears welling in her eyes. Her tone carried a sob, “Then can you just give me fifty yuan first? I’m getting paid in a few days anyway. I really want to go to the hospital.”

Upon hearing that, Ye Zhou paused slightly and his voice softened, “I’ll lock the door and take you.”

“No need. I can go by myself. You can stay and watch the store in case someone comes—”

“A little time won’t matter.”

…

Ai Xiaoling got into the delivery truck. Ye Zhou skillfully shifted the gears and turned the vehicle around.

Her body was unbearably itchy. She could not stop scratching and could not sit still.

Ye Zhou glanced at her from the corner of his eye and frowned, saying, “Bear with it. Don’t scratch your skin open.”

Scratching broken skin could lead to infection.

“I can’t help it.” Ai Xiaoling’s small oval face was scrunched up. She was itching so badly she was on the verge of tears. Seeing clusters of little bumps forming on her skin and her hand swelling, she truly panicked. She sniffled and quietly wiped her tears. “What’s happening to me what’s wrong with me—”

She had only just gotten a second chance at life and now this was happening again?

Remembering her hopeless final days in the hospital in her previous life, her body began to tremble. Her tears flowed uncontrollably.

Ye Zhou had never seen her like this. In his eyes, Ai Xiaoling was a natural at business. She was sweet and enthusiastic. Her mind worked quickly. She always handled all kinds of sudden issues in the store with ease.

He sped up the truck while comforting her, “It should just be an allergic reaction, nothing serious.”

Ai Xiaoling couldn’t hear a word he said. She kept scratching herself while staring at her hands, crying silently. Her whole body was wrapped in sadness, filled with lifeless despair.

By the time they arrived at the hospital, her mind was dazed. It was Ye Zhou who brought her in and registered her at the emergency department.

The doctor on duty took one look and also diagnosed it as an allergic reaction. He asked Ai Xiaoling a few more questions. At first, he just prescribed some medicine, but she began to feel nauseous and kept retching.

“What did you eat for lunch?”

Ai Xiaoling clutched her stomach and said weakly, “Mango.”

The doctor’s pen paused, “You didn’t eat a meal and only ate mango?”

“…Mm.”

She answered very softly. Ye Zhou, who was standing next to her, couldn’t help but have a change in expression and showed some regret.

“Eat meals during meal times. Your stomach is already not in good condition. You should eat less fruit. If you really want to eat it, eat it after a meal.” The doctor scolded her. Seeing her condition, he figured the medicine might not be effective enough. “You’ll need an injection.”

Afraid that she wouldn’t make it through the night, Ai Xiaoling nodded.

The doctor quickly wrote the prescription and followed the procedure by asking, “Are you pregnant?”

Ai Xiaoling froze on the spot.

As someone used as a family’s blood bank, she was naturally self-abased and sensitive. How would she have time to fall in love? Besides, she feared dragging others down and didn’t have the money or time.

Seeing she didn’t respond, the doctor looked at Ye Zhou and then at her again. “Have you been using contraception recently? Medication will affect the baby. If you are pregnant, many medicines can’t be used.”

Being asked such a private question in public, Ai Xiaoling’s face flushed with embarrassment. She shook her head desperately, “No.”

Her reaction was too strong, so the doctor confirmed again, “Are you sure? Think carefully. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

Ai Xiaoling became even more embarrassed and clutched her shirt tightly, “No.”

The doctor continued writing the prescription and tore it off to hand to Ye Zhou. “I’ve prescribed a few days’ worth of medicine. Let her take it first. She’ll need an injection later. Go get her some porridge to fill her stomach first.”

After Ye Zhou took the prescription, the doctor casually added, “By the way, it’s best not to get pregnant in the near future.”

“Mm.” Ye Zhou nodded. His face looked calm, but the tips of his ears quietly turned red.

Ai Xiaoling wished she could find a hole to crawl into. She kept her head down and followed Ye Zhou out. Her mind was still echoing with the doctor’s words.

“Bang—”

Ye Zhou had stopped walking, and she hadn’t noticed. She bumped right into his back.

Ai Xiaoling froze again. Her face and neck flushed bright red. She had just scratched herself harshly, and now it was hard to tell whether she was embarrassed or reacting to the allergy. But she knew her body temperature was rising rapidly.

Ye Zhou tightened his grip slightly on the prescription. His Adam’s apple moved up and down. Looking ahead in a daze, he asked, “What kind of porridge do you want to drink? I’ll go buy it.”