Seeing that Ye Weiliang had bought so much food, on top of the coarse grains from earlier, Liu Aimin thought about asking his wife to help carry it over.
But unexpectedly, Ye Weiliang just lifted all the food herself, looking completely at ease.
“This… Ye Zhiqing, don’t you feel it’s heavy?”
“Huh? Not really?” Ye Weiliang didn’t find it heavy at all.
“Maybe I was just born strong.”
No one expected this fragile little girl to be so strong. Liu Aimin had to look at her with newfound respect.
Not only did Ye Weiliang carry her own rations, but she also freed one hand to help Li Xingxing carry a bag of food.
“Liangliang, I can manage on my own.”
“It’s fine, it’s not heavy. Give it to me.”
This single gesture startled everyone present.
Exactly what Ye Weiliang wanted—to show them her strength and warn them not to mess with her.
Carrying everything back to their room, Ye Weiliang said to Li Xingxing:
“Xingxing, I’m going out to buy some things. Want to come?”
“Sure, I’ll go with you.”
When they were sent down to the countryside, their families had given them plenty of money and tickets.
The kitchen only had a large iron pot, and Ye Weiliang didn’t want to cook with them—she wanted her own cooking pot.
“Liangliang, I want to talk to you about something.”
“Go ahead.” Ye Weiliang wasn’t sure what she wanted to say, but she liked Li Xingxing well enough.
“I know you want to cook on your own. I can cook too. Can we team up and cook together?”
Li Xingxing thought for a moment. “Don’t worry, I won’t take advantage of you. My ancestors were imperial chefs, and I’ve learned quite a bit myself.”
Without hesitation, Ye Weiliang agreed.
In her previous life, she could cook well enough to eat. Having the descendant of an imperial chef help her cook? That was perfect.
Her life had only two true loves: making money as a landlady, and eating lots of delicious food.
[Oh no, Ye Weiliang had already forgotten her humble teacher and the mission to bring glory to her sect.]
“Thanks, Liangliang. Let’s go buy the things.”
Li Xingxing happily linked arms with Ye Weiliang as they went out.
Ye Weiliang took a piece of cured meat and a bag of fruit candies from her bag (space).
Seeing her, Li Xingxing took some items too.
Together, they headed to the team leader’s house.
Ye Weiliang used a single fruit candy to bribe a child to guide her to the team leader’s home.
At the gate, the child ran off in a flash.
Ye Weiliang stood at the yard entrance and called out, “Uncle Team Leader, are you there?”
“Who’s that?” came a woman’s voice from inside.
Soon, a woman appeared.
“Hello, auntie. We’re new educated youths. My name is Ye Weiliang.”
“Hello, auntie. I’m Li Xingxing.”
Li Xingxing quickly greeted her as well.
“Oh, it’s you two. Come in. What brings you here?”
Aunt Liu looked at the two polite, pretty girls and immediately felt fondness for them.
Ye Weiliang placed their items on the table and softly said:
“Auntie, is the team leader around? It’s fine if not. I just wanted to ask whose family has bamboo mats for sale, and who can make cabinets and kang tables.”
“This is… bring it back quickly.”
“Auntie, this is just a little token from us. I’m young and naive, so please kindly guide me and the team leader.”
They needed guidance indeed—after all, her parents were people from the ox pen. Whether they recognized her or not was one thing; she being their biological daughter was another.
“You little girl, you’re so young. Of course, I should take care of you.”
Aunt Liu scolded gently but also marveled at how sensible the girl was.
That heartless trafficker should be dragged out and punished.
He separated the little girl from her family and even tormented her.
When the team leader returned, he told Aunt Liu about Ye Weiliang’s situation.
Hearing it made Aunt Liu furious—she nearly cursed the ancestors of Ye Tangsheng right out.
Seeing how sensible Ye Weiliang was, she felt even more protective.
“You know quite a lot for a little girl. I have a few bamboo mats at home. You can have them if you want.”
“As for the cabinets and kang tables, Wu Er next door can make them. His eldest son can too. Go ask them.”
“Thank you, auntie. How much are the bamboo mats?” Ye Weiliang asked sweetly.
Aunt Liu chided gently:
“You little rascal! You gave me all these fun things, and I don’t even want your money. You’re treating me like some heartless object!”
“Take it, take it. I’m not giving you money anyway.”
Ye Weiliang couldn’t refuse, so she thanked her hurriedly.
Li Xingxing followed suit with her thanks.
After leaving the team leader’s home, Li Xingxing looked at Ye Weiliang with admiration:
“Liangliang, you’re amazing! You won over the team leader’s wife’s heart so quickly.”
“She probably heard about what happened to me and felt sorry for me.”
“Liangliang, I feel sorry for you too. Be good, you’ll have me around from now on.”
Li Xingxing’s eyes were full of concern.
Ye Weiliang smiled, her eyebrows curving.
“Thanks, sister.”
They walked to the Wu family next door.
“Hello, is Uncle Wu Er home?”
A man came out, looking at the two girls at the door:
“What’s the matter with you looking for my dad?”
“It’s like this. We’re educated youths sent to the countryside and want to buy two wardrobes, one kang table, and one desk. Can you make them?”
“The kang table is ready-made. The wardrobes and desk need to be custom-made. Are you sure you want them?”
“Yes. How much? How long will it take?”
“The materials come from the back mountain. I just charge a labor fee—two yuan total. One yuan I’ll hand over to the team leader, otherwise it’s hard to account for using back-mountain materials.”
“Come pick it up the morning after tomorrow.” Wu Junsheng continued.
“Okay. Here’s the money. Keep it safe. I’ll come pick up the cabinets the day after tomorrow.”
Ye Weiliang handed him two yuan.
Wu Junsheng asked, “Will you take the kang table now?”
“Yes, I’ll take it.”
They only bought one kang table—it was enough for both of them.
Wu Junsheng carried out the kang table—it looked like a small low table.
Ye Weiliang moved to take it, but Wu Junsheng stepped back:
“It’s a bit heavy.”
“That’s okay, I can lift it.”
Wu Junsheng looked at her in disbelief.
“Who do you think you’re looking down on!” Ye Weiliang snapped.
But her soft voice had no intimidation at all.
Angrily, she lifted the kang table with one hand and walked away.
Wu Junsheng was left standing at his gate, dumbfounded.
What kind of monster was this?
The table was solid wood; even he found it heavy. How could this little girl lift it with one hand?
Indeed, appearances could be deceiving.
Wu Junsheng didn’t think further—before dark, he hurried to fetch more wood, ready to deliver it the day after tomorrow.
Li Xingxing was a bit puzzled.
She had heard Liangliang’s family had been robbed and their circumstances wouldn’t allow her to prepare so much money. How did she have so much?
No matter what, Liangliang was the little sister she wanted to feed and pamper.
Seeming to notice the question in Li Xingxing’s eyes, Ye Weiliang explained:
“When I signed up to be sent down, I also signed up my foster parents’ older siblings. Their subsidies are all in my hands.”
“Liangliang, that’s your privacy—you don’t need to tell me.”
“Xingxing, don’t you think I’m bad? They don’t have subsidies anymore and can’t buy things after being sent down.”
“That’s what they deserve. They bullied you and should’ve been sent to labor reform. Sending them down is lenient enough.”
Li Xingxing didn’t think Ye Weiliang was bad at all.
The ones who swapped or tormented children were truly bad.
She only thought what Ye Weiliang did was right.
Hearing Li Xingxing’s reply, Ye Weiliang smiled.
See? She wasn’t bad at all.