Chapter 37 - 036: Involvement
The school days were straightforward, and Ye Ling had already made plans earlier, so this half term was for revision. She was revisiting the questions from the high school entrance exams, and in her spare time, she tackled high school test papers. When she was at home, she also tried to find ways to earn money, but given the current circumstances and her previous life’s little merit, she couldn’t figure out a way to make money.
With the spring blossoms arriving, it was time for spring farming. The weather was getting warmer, and the days were getting longer. Ye Ling didn’t want to listen to Wang Shumei’s vague and ambiguous words, so she started walking alone without worrying about safety. After all, people around were getting up to work. However, it was Si Daochen whom Ye Ling later realized was also walking late. Every time on the way to and from school, she would see him behind her. Though there was a distance between them, they never exchanged words.
With this going on, Wang Shumei’s face turned increasingly unsightly. Ye Ling wasn’t dumb; she could see that Wang Shumei liked Si Daochen. Originally, people from the same village walked together, but suddenly Ye Ling stopped walking with them, and then Si Daochen also separated from them, often matching Ye Ling’s timing. This naturally made Wang Shumei angry.
Zhang Zhenlian, who was Wang Shumei’s constant companion, had a hard time when Wang Shumei was in a bad mood, turning into her punching bag. Yet, Zhang Zhenlian saw things clearly and suggested quietly, "Why don’t we walk with Si Daochen together? It’s better to have someone from the same village looking after each other on the road."
"You suggest it; I don’t mind," Wang Shumei said, but a smile not seen for days already appeared on her face.
Zhang Zhenlian whispered, "Then I’ll talk to Si Daochen."
Usually, Zhang Zhenlian never dared to mention Si Daochen in front of Wang Shumei, out of fear that Wang Shumei would get jealous. Instead, she often directed things towards Ye Ling. "How about I talk to Ye Ling first? If Ye Ling agrees to walk with us, Si Daochen will as well."
This indirectly shifted the blame onto Ye Ling.
Ye Ling couldn’t think of how Zhang Zhenlian would do such things in secret.
Wang Shumei jumped up from the chair at once, "Don’t you dare find her! What does she think she is? If it weren’t for being in the same village and for her grandmother’s sake, I wouldn’t bother walking with her."
"Alright, I’ll go talk to Si Daochen." Zhang Zhenlian quickly changed her tune, having already seen the effect.
Wang Shumei’s expression improved slightly, letting out a cold snort without any further words.
But due to this minor episode, Wang Shumei grew increasingly resentful towards Ye Ling. Ye Ling was completely unaware of having offended Wang Shumei. Wang Shumei talked bad about Ye Ling at home. Captain Wang, already annoyed with the Ye Family because of the temporary job issue with his son, now heard his daughter constantly speaking ill of Ye Ling, making life difficult for Old Mrs. Ye and Ye Ling at home.