Ye Jin was wandering around the back mountain with Xiao Huo in her arms after finishing her tea when she spotted Ye Xiaoli running toward her from a distance, covering her eyes.
“Xiaoli, Xiaoli, what’s wrong?”
“Jinjin, Jinjin…”
Ye Xiaoli was crying so hard she could barely speak. The moment she saw Ye Jin, it was as if she had found a lifesaving straw.
“Don’t cry. I’m here.”
Ye Jin pulled her firmly into her embrace. Ye Xiaoli buried her face against her shoulder and cried until her whole body trembled. She could not even form complete sentences.
By the time she had cried enough, Ye Jin’s shoulder was already soaked.
“What happened? Did your father force you to get married?”
Ye Jin calculated the timeline in her mind. This was a few months earlier than she had expected. It seemed that her rebirth had created a butterfly effect, causing many events to change slightly.
“My father… my father said he’s going to marry me off to someone in Zhang Family Village! They’ve already accepted the betrothal gifts! Jinjin, what am I supposed to do?”
Ye Xiaoli sobbed as she spoke. Ye Jin gently patted her back to comfort her.
“Tell me the details. Which family in Zhang Family Village is your father marrying you into? Did you ask? When is the wedding? How much betrothal money did they accept?”
Ye Jin analyzed the situation methodically. Only then did Ye Xiaoli realize she knew almost nothing.
“I… I don’t know. I was too angry. I ran out without asking anything. But no matter who I’m supposed to marry, I don’t even know him. Why should I marry him?”
“You really are muddleheaded. You need to find out the details first. Only then can we figure out a solution. Listen to me…”
Ye Jin wrapped an arm around Ye Xiaoli and whispered a few words into her ear.
The person who had been panicking moments ago gradually calmed down.
“Will that really work? Oh right, this is the money I earned selling radishes today.”
Ye Xiaoli stuffed an entire pouch of banknotes into Ye Jin’s hand.
Without even counting it, Ye Jin pulled out twenty yuan and handed it back.
“This is for you.”
This time, Ye Xiaoli did not refuse.
She clenched the twenty yuan tightly. Jinjin was right. She could earn this much in a single day. Why should she sell herself into marriage for a few dozen yuan in betrothal gifts? It simply was not worth it.
“Jinjin, thank you. When I ran out crying earlier, I felt like a headless fly. After talking to you, I finally feel like I’ve found someone to rely on.”
“We’re sisters. We agreed to share blessings and face hardships together. How could I stand by and watch you jump into a pit of fire?”
The two were still talking when Xiao Huo began pacing anxiously around them, constantly making soft grunting sounds.
“Is this the squirrel you’re raising? He looks so cute, though he seems a little hot tempered.”
Ye Jin beckoned with her hand.
Xiao Huo immediately jumped onto her shoulder.
Ye Jin was standing very close to Ye Xiaoli. When Xiao Huo leaped up, his pointed nose nearly touched her chin.
One human and one squirrel stared at each other.
The usually mischievous Xiao Huo remained perfectly still. Ye Xiaoli did not even blink as she stubbornly held his gaze.
Ye Jin pressed her lips together in amusement. She had not expected this human and squirrel to become rivals the moment they met.
“Ye Xiaoli! Why are you running? I’ve been looking all over for you!”
Ye Zhifeng charged over and grabbed Ye Xiaoli by the back of her collar without explanation, roughly dragging her away.
Ye Xiaoli closed her eyes in resignation.
Her parents had beaten and scolded her since childhood. Under their intimidation, she rarely dared to resist.
The declaration that she would not marry had already drained all her courage. Now that her father was dragging her home, she no longer had the strength to fight back.
“Uncle, please stop!”
Ye Jin’s slight frame moved without hesitation and blocked Ye Zhifeng’s path.
“Get lost! My family matters are none of your business!”
“If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t interfere. But Ye Xiaoli is my friend. Her business is my business. That’s why I can’t stay out of it.”
“You should worry about your own family. Keep an eye on those eyes of yours. One day somebody might knock you unconscious in your sleep and dig them out before you even know it!”
“You’re barely able to protect yourself, yet you’re sticking your nose into other people’s affairs. I don’t know whether to call you stupid or just plain stupid.”
Ye Zhifeng had a violent temper. Given Ye Jin’s slender build and formerly submissive nature, she had always been someone easy to bully.
“I’ll handle my own affairs, and I’ll help my friends with theirs. That’s my principle.”
As Ye Xiaoli listened, the coldness in her heart gradually melted away.
Tears streamed down her face.
Even Ye Jin, who used to be more timid than her, was now brave enough to stand up for her. What excuse did she still have to remain weak?
“Stop standing there and getting in my way. If you push me too far, I’ll beat you too!”
Ye Zhifeng’s large hand swung toward her.
Ye Jin sidestepped easily.
Ye Xiaoli clenched her teeth and shouted.
“You can hit me if you want, but why are you hitting my friend?”
She broke free from her father’s grip and courageously stepped in front of Ye Jin.
“Poor people’s children only need enough food to eat. What right do they have to have friends?”
Seeing that it was Ye Xiaoli standing before him, Ye Zhifeng became even more ruthless.
Ye Xiaoli shut her eyes tightly.
She was terrified, yet she refused to move aside.
She was determined to shield Ye Jin.
Unexpectedly, Ye Jin grabbed Ye Zhifeng’s arm.
He exerted force twice in succession but could not break free.
The girl standing before him was clearly so thin and frail. How could she possess such strength?
“If we’re comparing whose fists are harder, old people aren’t necessarily stronger than young people. Men aren’t necessarily more capable than women either.”
“The reason I haven’t touched you is because you’re my friend’s father and because you’re an elder. I respect my elders and care for the young. But remember this. If you cross my bottom line, I won’t show mercy no matter who you are.”
Ye Jin flung his arm away.
Instead of getting angry that her father had been overpowered, Ye Xiaoli stared at Ye Jin with pure admiration.
“Jinjin, how did you do that? When did you become so amazing? I want to become your disciple!”
“With your pathetic personality, all you know how to do is cry. Any man who marries you would have the worst luck imaginable!”
Ye Zhifeng never held back his insults.
Ye Xiaoli’s face turned bright red. Her lips moved several times, but she could not think of a response.
“Ye Xiaoli is the best girl I’ve ever met. She’s hardworking and willing to work. She earns money and supports herself with her own hands.”
“Any family that marries a woman like her will prosper for three generations. If Uncle marries her off carelessly for a tiny bit of profit, you’ll not only ruin her life, you’ll also lose a great deal of money.”
Ye Jin’s voice rang with conviction.
Ye Zhifeng was stunned.
His aggressive attitude unconsciously weakened.
“Girls are money losers. Once they’re old enough, they should get married. If you keep them too long and nobody wants them, that’s the real loss.”
Ye Zhifeng felt completely justified.
To prove her worth, Ye Xiaoli excitedly pulled twenty yuan from her pocket.
“Dad, this is money I’ve earned doing business recently. I can make money. I can support myself. I can even give you money to spend. Please don’t marry me off so early, okay?”