Chapter 16

Cooking wasn’t a big deal for Ye Yao, but using a large pot over a wood fire took quite a bit of effort. As a result, the heat control wasn’t great, and the shredded potatoes turned out too soft. However, the taste was still decent.

“Where did you get the money?”

Zhang Qiufeng looked at her as if she didn’t recognize her own daughter.

“The family’s money is kept in the cabinet, isn’t it? I took some to buy groceries,” Ye Yao replied while picking up a steamed bun and taking a bite.

She had been busy all day, and now she was truly starving.

“You used the bride price money? How could you…”

“Mom, since the bride price money was given to us, it belongs to us. Why can’t we spend it? When was the last time you had meat? You should eat well and take care of yourself,” Ye Yao cut her off before she could finish, knowing exactly what she was going to say. She picked up some shredded meat from the dish and put it in her mother’s bowl.

Over the years, the old lady had raised her to be plump and fair, yet she herself had become frail and thin, riddled with various ailments.

“Yaoyao, what’s gotten into you? You used to…”

“Mom, I’m not a kid anymore. I know what I’m doing. Hurry up and eat before the food gets cold.”

Ye Yao deliberately ended the conversation. Continuing it any further would only ruin their meal.

Zhang Qiufeng felt uneasy but forced herself to eat. After taking a bite, she paused for a moment.

“Good, isn’t it?”

Ye Yao teased. Her cooking skills weren’t anything special, but since these were dishes they rarely got to eat, of course, they tasted good.

Zhang Qiufeng nodded, her emotions a mix of many feelings.

This was the first time she had ever eaten a meal cooked by her daughter. Maybe she really was growing up.

But if the bride price money was already spent, wouldn’t that mean the engagement couldn’t be broken off anymore?

The thought made her worried again.

“Yao Yao, you don’t really plan on marrying Li Cheng, do you?”

Ye Yao paused for a brief moment while picking up food but said nothing.

“Yaoyao, Li Cheng’s personality really doesn’t suit you. Marriage is for a lifetime, and conditions aren’t the most important thing,” Zhang Qiufeng said cautiously.

Having lived in the same courtyard for years, she had seen Li Cheng from time to time, but she never dared to interact with him.

Just looking at him, she felt that he wasn’t easy to get along with. Their family and the Li family were simply not the same kind of people.

She didn’t want to admit it, but deep down, she knew her daughter wasn’t a good match for him.

“Mom, I’ll handle this myself. Don’t worry about it.”

Ye Yao had already made up her mind about whether to break off the engagement or not.

—-

The next morning, Ye Yao massaged her sore legs and sighed heavily as she looked at the blisters on her feet.

Before anything else, she needed to find a pair of shoes that actually fit.

“Mom, I’m going for a run.”

She called out before heading out the door.

“Really?”

“I don’t know if it’s true, but that’s what everyone is saying. That kid comes to the courtyard every few days, and everyone sees it.”

“Shh! Keep your voice down, Ye Yao is coming.”

—-

Ye Yao chose to walk briskly. As she passed by a group of women, she could feel their strange gazes on her.

But she didn’t care in the slightest and quickly walked past them.

“That girl sure has some nerve, walking around like nothing happened.”

“If she had any shame, would she have run to the Li family and begged them to honor the engagement? Her mother is shameless, and she’s no better!”

Laughter and mocking remarks filled the air, soon fading away with the wind.