Chapter 58: The Pitiful Female Supporting Character from a Patriarchal Family in the 2000s (5)

Ai Xiaoling lowered her eyes, still holding the 1,100 yuan Mother Ye had just given her, and said expressionlessly to her mother that the salary had not been paid because the boss hadn’t returned yet.

Mother Ai didn’t press further and told her to come home after the salary was paid. She said she would cook a chicken to help her recover, then hung up.

Ai Xiaoling put the money away quietly and continued eating her bun.

Actually, she had nothing to be sad about. After all, she had already been through death once, so what was there to be upset about?

She just thought it was a bit funny to think about her former self.

“This bun tastes pretty good.” Ye Zhou spoke to ease the atmosphere, then asked, “I’m going to deliver goods later. What do you want for lunch? I’ll buy it for you.”

“I got my salary, so I can treat you to a meal.” Ai Xiaoling finished the last bite of her bun. “Let’s have pig’s trotters rice?”

“That’s fine.” Ye Zhou nodded.

Ai Xiaoling said, “Don’t buy it and bring it back. It’s so hot outside; cold food doesn’t taste good. We’ll eat out after work.”

“Okay. I’ll pick you up after delivering the goods.”

“Mm.”

……

Ye Zhou did not leave immediately to deliver goods. He lingered in the shop, constantly glancing at Ai Xiaoling. He was a little worried she was feeling down.

After a while, he saw that she acted like nothing had happened, busy when needed, resting when needed, completely unaffected by the earlier conversation.

When going out to deliver goods, Ye Zhou was somewhat distracted. He felt like Ai Xiaoling might be crying secretly by herself, just like the day she was sick, hiding her sadness with a choked voice.

His mood grew heavy. He just wanted to return quickly, his mind still on this matter.

At 11:30, Ye Zhou rushed back.

Ai Xiaoling saw him sweating heavily and handed him a tissue on her way out. “It’s really hot outside.”

Ye Zhou wiped his sweat with the tissue. “Let’s go eat?”

“It’s only 11:30. Are you hungry?”

“Um.”

Ai Xiaoling glanced at the clock, feeling a little guilty. “Let’s wait until noon. Aunt Ye just gave me a 100 yuan bonus today. I can’t leave early!”

She was principled.

Just as Ye Zhou was about to say something, she waved him off. “It’s too hot outside. Come inside, I’ll get you some water.”

He silently followed her in.

Ai Xiaoling poured a glass of water and handed it to him. “It’s not hot anymore, just right to drink.”

Ye Zhou reached out to take it, but a customer came in complaining that the goods were wrong. Ai Xiaoling quickly shoved the cup into his hand, wrapped her hand over his to steady it, then turned to the customer. “What’s wrong? If it’s not right, we can exchange it. Let me check.”

While Ai Xiaoling spoke to the customer, Ye Zhou held the cup, his body stiffening.

Her hand just covered his wrist, and at that moment, his heartbeat seemed to skip. The contact sent a tingling sensation through him, the warmth lingering, burning and intense.

Ai Xiaoling explained warmly and politely to the customer, who gradually calmed down and waited while she exchanged the goods. Later, the customer bought several light bulbs.

After seeing the customer off, Ai Xiaoling asked Ye Zhou, “Do you want more water?”

He had just come back from outside and needed to hydrate.

“Yeah.” Ye Zhou quickly drank a mouthful. When he was about to hand the cup back, Ai Xiaoling was writing an order, not looking up. “There’s more water in the jug, on the table.”

That meant he had to pour it himself.

Ye Zhou suddenly felt less thirsty, standing still without a word.

Unfortunately, Ai Xiaoling was too busy to notice his little awkward action. When she finished, it was exactly noon. She put away her pen and paper, smiling at him with raised eyebrows. “Let’s go. I’ll treat you to lunch.”

Of course, Ye Zhou wouldn’t let her really pay. Halfway through the meal, he went to settle the bill.

Ai Xiaoling was told it was already paid and looked back at him.

On the way back, Ai Xiaoling wanted to pay him back medical fees and the money for the past few days’ meals.

“No need.” Ye Zhou said.

“I said it’s just a loan.” Ai Xiaoling emphasized. Because it was a loan, she felt a little more at ease.

Maybe because she had received little since childhood, only when she did something beneficial for the family or earned money and brought it home would her parents treat her well.

So she always felt nothing was gained without reason, and she didn’t want to owe anyone anything—it made her uncomfortable.

“We’ll talk about it later.” Ye Zhou didn’t think it was a big deal.

Ai Xiaoling didn’t reply or say anything.

The atmosphere in the truck shifted. Ye Zhou became uneasy and kept trying to find topics, but Ai Xiaoling barely responded.

When they arrived at the shop, Ye Zhou had just parked. Ai Xiaoling opened the door to get out. Before stepping down, she stuffed 100 yuan into his hand. “Since you won’t say it, I’ll roughly settle the amount with you.” She added seriously, “Borrowed and returned, no hardship anymore. I’m not used to owing anyone.”

This money was a bit more than needed, so she felt better about it.

Ai Xiaoling didn’t give him a chance to speak and got out, walking away.

Ye Zhou held the money and watched her stubborn back, sighing in his heart. He dared not provoke her.

Although Ai Xiaoling was easygoing, Ye Zhou knew she was very stubborn and somewhat obstinate.

He stayed in the truck for a while, racking his brain calculating exactly how much had been spent these days. He calculated carefully, down to the last cent.

After getting out, he went to the counter and gave her the remaining money, settling the account in front of her.

Ai Xiaoling listened attentively, then took the money, nodding repeatedly with a smile back on her face.

“I’m going to buy a watermelon. Can I invite you to eat a piece?” Ye Zhou asked seriously.

“Sure.”

Ye Zhou let out a sigh of relief and smiled lightly. “Wait for me.”

He bought the watermelon and remembered what the doctor said about her weak stomach and not being able to eat too much fruit. In the end, he only gave her a small piece, and was called stingy by Ai Xiaoling several times.

*

Mother Ye didn’t manage to close that business deal. When she returned, Ai Xiaoling was ready to comfort her.

As it turned out, not only was Mother Ye not disappointed, she was even more determined. “From now on I have to go out and look for more business. If I can land a big deal, our turnover will go up a lot. Just waiting in the shop for customers isn’t going to work.”

“Yes yes, that’s how it is.” Ai Xiaoling nodded.

Mother Ye patted Ai Xiaoling on the shoulder. “It’ll be hard on you managing the shop alone. I’ve decided to give you a raise of two hundred yuan every month.”

Hearing about the two hundred yuan raise, Ai Xiaoling couldn’t stop the smile at the corners of her mouth. “It’s not hard at all, not hard one bit.”

Ye Zhou looked at the two of them. “…”

Ai Xiaoling didn’t think Ye Zhou would understand how she felt. After all, he didn’t even have a salary. He was just a heartless delivery machine. It was said that he had started a business outside the province and lost a lot of money. Now he was working for Mother Ye to pay off debts.

“By the way, you haven’t gone home this month, right?” Mother Ye asked Ai Xiaoling.

Originally, she said she wasn’t going back. But then Mother Ye said, “Your mom just called me and asked why you didn’t have a day off this month and why your salary wasn’t paid on time. I explained it to her. You should go back tomorrow. I’ll look after the shop.”

Ai Xiaoling had never told Mother Ye the truth about her family. She not only lied to others but also deceived herself into thinking her parents treated her well. So Mother Ye had always believed that the Ai family was honest and decent, that Ai Xiaoling was just from a poor background, but a hardworking and filial child.

Mother Ye was afraid the Ai family would overthink things and assume she was mistreating Ai Xiaoling. That was why she patiently explained everything.

Ye Zhou’s face changed again and again when he heard this, but Ai Xiaoling had no special reaction and agreed calmly. “I’ll go back tomorrow. It’s autumn harvest time at home anyway. I can help harvest the rice.”

“Okay.”

Ye Zhou got up early in the morning and waited specifically for Ai Xiaoling to come downstairs so he could give her a ride.

Ai Xiaoling didn’t think too much. There happened to be a batch of goods to deliver in the same direction. She got in his truck to return to the Ai family home.

The truck drove all the way to the countryside. The rice on both sides of the road was ripe, golden and swaying in the fields. The villagers were busy harvesting the rice.

When a truck occasionally passed by, everyone would curiously look up and keep glancing over, discussing whose daughter it was.

There weren’t many girls who went out to work. Ai Xiaoling was good-looking. Once people saw who it was, gossip broke out in the fields.

Ai Xiaoling didn’t let Ye Zhou take her all the way home. She asked him to stop by the Ai family’s rice field. When the Ai family saw her come back, they all stopped harvesting.

“Do you still remember the way back?” Ai Xiaoling asked Ye Zhou.

“Yes.” He nodded.

Ai Xiaoling said, “Drive slowly. Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

Ye Zhou watched her get out of the truck. Mother Ai was wearing a straw hat and came up laughing, greeting everyone along the way. “Our Xiaoling is back. She comes home every month.”

When Mother Ai saw that Ai Xiaoling was carrying several bags, she raised her voice proudly. “Coming back is one thing, but did the boss even ask her to bring things home?”

In her eyes, since Ai Xiaoling brought back eight hundred and fifty yuan every month and only had enough left for food, there was no way she could afford to buy things.

It must have been given by the boss. That meant it was free.

Right after Mother Ai said this, a nearby aunt said, “Your Xiaoling is really capable. Her boss even gives her things to bring home. You really hit the jackpot with a daughter like her.”

“Isn’t that right? Wherever she works, the boss likes her.” Mother Ai said proudly. “The boss even praised her to me.”

“Mom, I bought the stuff myself.” Ai Xiaoling interrupted her.

Mother Ai’s expression froze and she scolded in a low voice, “Why did you spend money on this? Such a waste.”

She believed that every cent Ai Xiaoling spent was hers.

The nearby aunt continued, “Who’s that young man who brought you back just now? Is he from the city? Xiaoling, you’re so pretty, you should really seize the chance to marry into the city and live a good life.”

In the past, Mother Ai would have grinned at hearing that. She had always dreamed of Ai Xiaoling marrying a rich man who could support the family. But this time, upon hearing it, she immediately pulled a long face and dragged Ai Xiaoling away. “You listen to me when it comes to marriage. I had someone read your fortune. You have to marry far away.”

“Xiaofen married nearby, so you must marry far away. That’s what’s best for your brother. Otherwise, it will bring him bad luck.”