The days back in the village passed quickly. Just after the second of February, school started. Since the only middle school was in the town, Ye Ling had to wake up early every morning and walk an hour and a half to get there. Classes started at seven, so Ye Ling had to leave for town by five. In winter, it was still dark at five, but luckily, a few kids from the village walked together, so the adults didn’t have to accompany them.
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Lunch was eaten at school. Families with poor conditions didn’t eat lunch at all. So families still couldn’t afford enough food. The Ye Family was relatively better off; at least they could fill their stomachs, but bringing good food was out of the question. Ye Ling got up early with her grandmother to cook – potatoes stewed with beet leaves. The beet leaves were distributed by the brigade in the autumn, divided according to the number of people in each household. Every family dried them and stored them for winter to be cooked with hot water.
Since the portions were limited, they had to look for flavor in the salt. Just a small bowl was made, but like a pickle dish. Ye Ling packed half a box of corn al, added so vegetables on top, and after covering the lunch box, put it in her backpack. Only then did she sit down to take a quick bite. Hearing soone calling from outside the courtyard, she told her grandmother she was going to school and left with her backpack.
In the pitch-black night, who had flashlights at that ti? Everyone groped their way in the dark. By the ti Ye Ling reached the village road, the group of kids had already arrived. Two girls and one boy, making it three girls and one boy including Ye Ling.
The boy felt awkward being with the girls and walked ahead at a distance, but he didn’t leave the three girls too far behind. When they seed to catch up, he’d quicken his pace, and when they lagged behind, he’d slow down to wait for a while.
The three girls were long used to this behavior. Besides, in those days, if you talked or walked closely with boys, you’d be laughed at and gossiped about.
Wang Shui, the team leader’s daughter, had always been superior in the village. She was vibrant, resembling her mother in looks—thin lips on a dusty face—giving her a sowhat spiteful appearance. Coupled with her flamboyant nature, she always clashed with Ye Ling in the village. Ye Ling, being vain, was always showing off clothes sent from the city, and with Wang Shui’s bitter-looking nature, her words were naturally harsh, leaving no room for half a sentence with Ye Ling.
"Ye Ling, you went to the city this ti and brought back a lot of your sister’s old clothes, didn’t you? How co I haven’t seen you wear them?" The words ca before they even left the village.
Ye Ling wasn’t as naive as before and wasn’t provoked by Wang Shui’s words. "Who wears old clothes if there are new ones?"
Wang Haishu sneered, "Oh, your mom is willing to buy you new clothes? Hasn’t she always let you pick up your sister’s hand--downs?"
In the past, hearing such words would have made Ye Ling angrily argue with Wang Shui. Wang Shui was waiting to see Ye Ling’s furious outburst, but after a long wait, there was no reaction. Puzzled, she glanced over, but Ye Ling did not look, directly catching up to the front to talk to Si Daochen.
"Si Daochen, I reviewed questions in the city this ti and took so notes. Would you like to see them?" Ye Ling was speaking to the only boy in front.
The son of the village accountant, accountant Si had just this one child. Being an accountant for the team, they could afford to send their child to school. Si Daochen was also quite handso, fair-skinned, and didn’t talk much usually, but was always polite to everyone. He was shy, with two dimples when he smiled, looking more like a child from the city than the countryside.
Seeing Ye Ling catching up to talk, Si Daochen was first stunned, then his face turned red from ear to ear, until it seed like it would drip blood, and then quietly nodded, "Thank you, I’ll pick it up from your house after school."
"Okay." Ye Ling didn’t want to stay with Wang Shui, so she used this as an excuse to draw an excuse.
In her impression, Si Daochen was still good. He was also admitted to high school. As for what happened later, Ye Ling didn’t know. Since people could get admitted, Ye Ling didn’t mind doing him a favor. If she needed help from him in the future, it would be easier to ask.
Behind them, Wang Shui angrily tugged at her clothes and whispered, "Shaless."
Then she glared at Zhenlian next to her, and quickly caught up with Si Daochen, walking alongside him on the other side. "Daochen, did you eat the at my mom sent to your house yesterday?"
She said it while provocatively raising her chin towards Ye Ling.
Childish.
Ye Ling ignored her, quickened her pace. Anyway, it was gradually getting bright, and there was nothing to be afraid of.
"I did." Si Daochen was not accustod to interacting with girls, suddenly having one stand on either side made him bow his head almost to the ground.
Seeing Ye Ling leave, Wang Shui was pleased, especially now walking alongside Si Daochen, "Daochen, my mom brought so at today. I’ll share so with you for lunch."
"No." Si Daochen felt this refusal wasn’t strong enough. "It wouldn’t look good to others."
Leaving those words, he strode forward.
Wang Shui pursed her lips, quickened her pace to catch up, leaving Zhenlian behind. Zhenlian was the youngest daughter of the Zhang Family that drove ox carts in the village. The Zhang Family had four sons and just this one daughter, so she was doted upon. But compared to the other three, Zhenlian’s conditions were the worst. Usually, apart from the always gentle Si Daochen, she was often bullied by Ye Ling and Wang Shui.
Such a long road, after walking for more than two years, they got used to it. Reaching school, they didn’t feel tired. With half an hour before class started, Ye Ling went right to her seat and took out her high school exercises to review. Since she planned to study hard this life, she naturally had to be diligent. Besides, having never attended high school in the previous life, Ye Ling wouldn’t have any advantage. She didn’t consider herself smarter than others, so she could only study more to catch up.
Si Daochen put away his things, looked up, and saw Ye Ling sitting by the window engrossed in her reading. Si Daochen felt that Ye Ling had changed into a different person since returning from the city. He had never seen Ye Ling study at school before. Watching her quiet profile now, he found her exceptionally pretty.
"Daochen, can you help with this question?" Zhenlian’s timid voice brought Si Daochen’s attention back.
He turned his head and looked at the question Zhenlian pointed out, thought for a mont, and started explaining it to her. He didn’t notice the scheming glint in Zhenlian’s eyes as she bowed her head...
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