After Rebirth, Minor Character Only Wants to Level Up-Chapter 34 - 033: Visit
To talk about Wang Hai, Ye Ling only knows heβs a troublemaker who doesnβt study well; because his father is the captain of their brigade, his family is well-off, Wang Hai is like a young master in the village, dressed in a Zhongshan suit every day, not a speck of dust on him, and just goes around teasing the young girls in the village all day. ππ£ππ²π°πππ§π π§ππ.πππΊ
Being the son of the captain, no one in the village dared to offend him. Families with daughters would have them keep their distance, and nothing happened eventually. However, in her past life, after Ye Ling returned to the city, she heard from her parentsβ conversations that Wang Hai had gotten involved with the villageβs Zhang Juanzi. Zhang Juanzi was only fifteen when she got married, too young to register the marriage, so they simply held an informal ceremony to count as married.
Zhang Juanzi gave birth at sixteen. In these times, it wasnβt considered a big deal, but ever since the liberation of New China, having children at such a young age was indeed rare.
Knowing this past life incident, Ye Lingβs impression of Wang Hai only worsened. In the eyes of everyone in the village, sheβs always been someone of high self-esteem, so Ye Ling did not bother greeting, directly bypassing Wang Hai to fetch water at the well.
Wang Hai, with a cigarette between his fingers, squatted by the well, puffed out smoke, and then smiled, "Ye Ling, staying in the city must be better than in our countryside, right? Tsk tsk, if it were me, I would have stayed in the city and never returned; who would stay in this village."
Wang Haiβs appearance was decent and looked clean-cut, but as soon as he spoke, his whole demeanor changed, coming across as a sly person.
Although the other party spoke first, Ye Ling and her grandmother lived in this village, couldnβt strike a smiling face, but didnβt show a good face either, "No matter how good the city is, itβs not as good as living in the captainβs house, having white flour every day."
If Captain Wang heard these words, he would surely hold an educational session again, but instead, Wang Hai listened and seemed quite pleased, "Smart. City people are good, but what they eat and use need tickets to buy, nowhere as comfortable as me living in the village."
Speaking of this, Wang Haiβs face was full of resentment.
Heβs been to the city, but there he was looked down upon; others were workers with official jobs, back in the village he counted as a local emperor, but in the city, he was like an old farmer begging for food.
After being looked down upon, Wang Hai didnβt want to go to the city anymore; coming back, he felt even more that the village was better. Wang Hai, who had his face full of anger, suddenly became pleased looking towards the village entrance.
"Letβs chat another time." Leaving a word to Ye Ling, he got up and greeted someone.
Like hell Iβll chat with you.
Ye Ling secretly uttered a phrase, glanced up seeing Zhang Juanzi driving a flock of geese over, curved her lips, realizing these two were already getting together at this time. Speaking of which, Zhang Juanzi was even a year younger than her, yet matured so early; putting aside other things, Ye Ling herself hadnβt even started having a girlβs period.
Zhang Juanzi didnβt go to school or work on the field to earn work points, just herding the geese for the team to earn work points. To be honest, Zhang Juanzi was indeed attractive, especially in this eraβs aesthetics; her round face with big eyes and double eyelids was considered beautiful.
Ye Ling, on the other hand, was dark and thin with single eyelids, being called ugly wasnβt really mocking her; Ye Ling had always been aware of this.
Pumped water from the well and poured it into the bucket, Ye Ling carried it home; her house was the first one in the west end of the village, not many steps away. However, seeing Zhang Juanzi and Wang Hai standing there talking with no intent to leave, Ye Ling felt frustrated but didnβt want to wait in the cold for them to leave to go home.
Coming up closer, Zhang Juanzi greeted with a smile, "Sister Lingzi, when did you come back?"
Actually, seeing Wang Hai talking with a young girl at the well surprised Zhang Juanzi; the person looked like Ye Ling but didnβt. It wasnβt until the person walked closer that she realized she wasnβt mistaken, it was indeed Ye Ling.
Following that, she found it even stranger; Ye Ling actually came out to fetch water in the cold winter, which seemed impossible, even in summer she had never fetched water before.
This anomaly, coupled with Wang Haiβs big smile as Ye Ling approached, unsettled Zhang Juanzi.
Ye Ling didnβt like Zhang Juanzi scrutinizing her, nodded slightly, bypassed the pair towards home, hearing Wang Hai explaining from behind, "Sheβs carrying water, thatβs why she didnβt talk more."
Originally, Zhang Juanzi had some thoughts, now hearing Wang Haiβs words made her suspect differently, she laughed and tested, "You really know Sister Lingzi well."
Feeling a bit jealous, she waved the whip in her hand, driving the geese out of the village, Wang Hai followed happily, "Youβre jealous? Sheβs just a student, donβt overthink."
"A student, but sheβs older than me by a year." Zhang Juanzi retorted with slight annoyance.
Wang Hai saw she was indeed jealous, became even more cheerful, his vanity fully satisfied, were it not still at the village entrance, heβd have embraced her, instead of just maintaining a distant look.
"My mom went to town yesterday and bought candy; Iβll bring you a bag later."
With this, Zhang Juanzi revealed a smile, "Wonβt your mom ask who youβre giving it to?"
In those days, even during Chinese New Year, candy had to be counted, let alone few houses could afford to eat candied haws; Wang Hai taking a whole bag showed how well-off Wangβs family was.
"Itβs bought for me, why would she ask?" Wang Hai couldnβt contain his delight, seeing no one around, he pulled Zhang Juanziβs hand.
Zhang Juanzi pretended to shake it off twice. Seeing no one around, she let him hold it, but resolved to hold onto Wang Hai, as marrying into Wangβs family would mean a life of luxury.
After Ye Ling started the fire at home, the heat warmed the room; Ye Ling took the opportunity while Grandma was busy with the stove to ladle some hot water from the pot, mixed in cold water, wrung a rag, and cleaned the room. Previously, Ye Ling wouldnβt even lift her hand, now living a second chance made her sensible, quickly doing the tasks and cleaning the room. Then she went out to dump the dirty water, and Captain Wang arrived.
Captain Wang brought a square parcel wrapped in brown paper, which Ye Ling guessed had pastries inside; her eyes twinkled and called "Uncle." She went over to take up the fire duties, letting Grandma come out to entertain the guest.
Although the room door was closed, Ye Ling could vaguely hear some bits of conversation, which involved Captain Wang asking her father to arrange for Wang Hai to be sent to the company. Ye Ling couldnβt hear what Grandma said, but when Captain Wang left, he clearly didnβt look happy; after gathering the firewood at the stove mouth, Ye Ling entered the room.
"Grandma, whatβs wrong?" Ye Ling noticed Grandma also seemed upset.
"In the future, we might have a tough time living in the village." Previously, Old Mrs. Ye would never reveal her worries to her granddaughter, but now seeing her so sensible, she didnβt hide it, "... he asked me and your father to send Wang Hai to the company. Your fatherβs company, how could it be casually joined? He doesnβt want Wang Hai to start at an ordinary company, and we canβt help him, so he might bear resentment. Our family doesnβt have any labor force, and he might make things difficult for us in the future."
Ye Ling, however, wasnβt worried about this, "Grandma, we are related to a professor, openly, he wouldnβt dare make trouble for us; at worst, suffer some hidden losses."
Still, he could remain arrogant for a few years; with memories of her past life, Ye Ling knew that by 1983, the production brigade disbanded, no more communal meals, Wangβs family then had no power and were ordinary villagers. Now itβs 1980, at most endure for two years.
Moreover, Ye Ling planned to attend high school, and by then she would surely take Grandma with her, needing money for that. Currently, the most important thing for her is figuring out how to earn money, but in these times, one couldnβt freely go out to earn money, even if allowed, a large portion had to be handed to the brigade for work points replacement; these were the things troubling Ye Ling.
Old Mrs. Ye, being older, had experienced many things, couldnβt let her granddaughter comfort her, chuckled, "Youβre right, Grandma was silly to worry over these. Are you hungry? Have some pastries; Iβll go make dinner now."
Ye Ling stopped Grandma, "Grandma, rest a bit, Iβm not hungry, after sitting in a train all night, letβs take a nap; when we wake, Iβll cook whatever you want."
Old Mrs. Ye smiled, "Alright, letβs do as you say."
Seeing Grandma smiling with her face full of wrinkles, yet exuding a sense of affection.
Ye Ling thought itβs great to live again.
As for the Wang family, Captain Wang returned home looking troubled, Mrs. Wang mockingly said, "I told you to use some techniques; by then, just mention it, and theyβll surely agree; you wasted pastries and didnβt accomplish anything."
"You women donβt understand. Ye He Ping isnβt just an ordinary worker at the company; Iβve heard heβs now the minister of the logistics department." If such tactics could be used, Captain Wang wouldnβt hesitate.
But hearing his wifeβs comments, he started contemplating.
