Chapter 33

Ye Fangfang returned home, her heart pounding with anxiety as she walked.

By the time she reached her front door, the sound of her parents’ coughing could be heard intermittently.

She remembered what Yu Li had said: “I’ll check on your parents later and see if there’s anything I can do to help. Maybe we can treat their condition, and your life will get better too.”

When Ye’s mother heard the footsteps, she said with concern, “Fangfang, is that you? Don’t go back to the canal work. You’re a girl; how can you handle such heavy work? I’ve already said, you should find someone to marry.

Just live your life. Your father and I are in poor health, and the more you worry about us, the worse things will get for all of us. Why do you have to…”

Ye’s mother was in severe pain and couldn’t get out of bed.

Ye’s father suffered from severe rheumatism, was paralyzed in bed, and hadn’t spoken a word. He had refused to eat, resigned to the fact that he didn’t want to be a burden to his daughter anymore.

Ye Fangfang entered the room and looked at her parents in this condition, feeling an overwhelming sense of discomfort.

“Mom, Dad, I found a job. I’m helping someone, and they’re paying me eight yuan a month! Our lives will get better from here on out…”

Ye’s mother asked a few more questions and then, in surprise, said, “Isn’t that the eldest son of the Yu family? Are you… still thinking about him?”

Ye Fangfang fell silent for a moment and then replied, “He divorced Gao Xuelian, but who knows what will happen in the future? I’ll just do what I’m supposed to do.”

Ye’s mother didn’t know what to say, so she sighed softly.

This daughter of hers was so stubborn!

That evening, Yu Jiefang gathered the whole family together.

According to the time Lu Guanshan had mentioned earlier, it was nearly time.

“We need to prepare for the wedding. We won’t have extravagant dowries or wedding gifts, but we must confirm the guest list and the banquet. Once Little Lu arrives, we should arrange the banquet quickly to avoid delaying his work.”

Yu Li, who was sitting beside them, felt a little embarrassed.

Wang Xinghua, who had been struggling with pregnancy sickness, felt relieved upon hearing this: “Little sister, I’ve already told your second brother that we won’t send you any gifts. You won’t be able to take them back to the station anyway. We’ll just give you thirty yuan!”

Yu Li was startled: “Second sister-in-law! You need money to raise the child, and your second brother’s orchard is just starting up. The chickens and ducks aren’t even fully grown yet. Keep the money for yourselves, you don’t need to give it to me!”

But Wang Xinghua lovingly touched Yu Li’s hair: “I’m living with your parents. They help take care of the children, so we’re not in danger of starving. But you, you don’t know when you’ll come back. It’s better to have more money on you.”

Yu Tuanjie, the eldest brother, also said, “I don’t have children, I’ll give you fifty!”

Yu Li quickly refused, “Big brother, you should save it to marry someone! My life at the station will be simple, and Lu Guanshan gets a salary every month. I won’t need that much money!”

Chen Ailan, watching her two sons dote on their daughter, couldn’t help but smile: “Alright, alright, Yu Li is right. Keep your money, you’ll need it more. No need to give it to her.”

“I’ve discussed it with your dad. We won’t buy anything difficult to carry for her dowry. We’ll give her eighty yuan, just like we did when you two got married. Is that okay?”

Yu Tuanjie, Yu Li’s second brother, and Wang Xinghua all immediately objected: “That’s too little, isn’t it?!”

Wang Xinghua shook her head: “Mom, our wedding was several years ago. Now we have to give more. Besides, Yu Li is going far away, so we should add my share to hers…”

The dim light from the kerosene lamp illuminated the warm, cozy room.

The whole family was discussing how to make Yu Li’s future better.

She sat by, feeling her eyes grow misty and her heart warm.

It wasn’t until her father and brothers finalized the menu for the banquet, and they figured out who would cook and where to borrow tables and benches, that the discussion ended.

Yu Li fell into a deep sleep. Early the next morning, she heard someone getting up, but she was still groggy.

By six o’clock, Chen Ailan was the first to wake up and was startled to see the yard looking neat and tidy.

“Ah! The yard is all swept? Who washed the clothes? And what’s this pile of fresh wild vegetables? Water has been fetched too?”

Looking closer, she saw Ye Fangfang standing there, a little shy.

“Auntie, I took Yu Ge’s wages, and it didn’t feel right to only do a little work. From now on, let me help with your household chores. I’m really quick at working!”

Ye Fangfang was indeed efficient. The whole yard was swept clean, spotless!

Chen Ailan was genuinely pleased and impressed.

But she still advised, “Fangfang, you don’t need to do so much. You’re young, delicate, and can’t work like this! Tuanjie pays you to help him with the meals, just focus on that. Take a rest, and when I’ve made breakfast, we can get ready for lunch.”

But Ye Fangfang wasn’t the type to rest. She followed Chen Ailan into the kitchen and quickly got to work.

Chop, chop, chop—she cut the vegetables, then swiftly kneaded, rolled out, and prepared the dough, all while tidying the kitchen. She worked so smoothly and efficiently that it could cure anyone’s obsessive-compulsive disorder!

The more Chen Ailan watched, the more she liked her. She had never seen such a capable young girl working so hard!

That morning, Ye Fangfang’s breakfast successfully conquered everyone’s stomachs.

The family had always considered Yu Li the best cook, but now, Ye Fangfang’s cooking was on par with hers!

She even made things that Yu Li couldn’t.

For example, a pot of scallion oil flower rolls—fragrant, soft, and delicious. When you tore one open, the layers looked so tempting!

Yu Li didn’t have enough strength to knead dough like that, so she couldn’t make such fluffy flower rolls.

Yu Tuanjie’s gaze towards Ye Fangfang had changed as well.

He wasn’t a fool and could naturally sense something.

He had originally planned to explain things clearly to Ye Fangfang. He had just divorced and wasn’t thinking about remarriage, but seeing her energy and determination, he found himself swallowing those words.

That day, with Ye Fangfang’s help, selling the meals became much easier.

Yu Tuanjie specifically asked Chen Ailan to stay home and rest, so they could prepare for Yu Li’s wedding.

Chen Ailan was happy to give her son and Ye Fangfang some time alone.

She and Yu Li worked together to stir-fry a few kinds of sauces.

Chili sauce, beef sauce, and bean paste.

“When you get to the station, these can serve as a decent meal in a pinch when needed,” Chen Ailan said.

Watching her mother sweat as she worked, Yu Li felt deeply moved.

Her family had prepared so much for her wedding.

Now, it was just a matter of waiting for Lu Guanshan to arrive.

But this person still hadn’t called her back—could something have happened to him?

Anyway, the whole family was certain that Lu Guanshan was absolutely reliable.

Yu Li helped Chen Ailan put the sauces outside to cool. Once they were cool, they could be put into jars.

What she didn’t expect was that Summer Yuying would dare to come to visit.

“Yu Li, it’s been a while, I came to see you,” Summer Yuying said with an air of superiority, walking in with a bright smile and greeting Chen Ailan.