Chapter 222 Gong Suo Er Comes to Help

Chapter 223 Gong Suo Er Comes to Help

Zi Yisheng watched the little girl following behind the sheep from afar, and a smile couldn't help but rise to his lips. The girl was running around, trying to prevent the sheep from scattering.

Zi Yisheng had never seen such a vibrant little girl before. Letting her run a bit, with small movements, was actually beneficial for her health.

"Shenge, Mom can herd sheep now. Don't worry about the other sheep not being in line. As long as they follow the lead sheep, they won't run wild."

Mom Ye was proud. Gong Suo Er had told her this, and soon she had grasped the key.

This was Ye Shenge's first time exerting herself so much. She was panting heavily with her head bowed, but her heart felt perfectly fine.

Gong Suo Er quickly went to support Ye Shenge. She had heard at home that the new beautiful girl was not in good health. To her surprise, after only fifty meters, she was already like this.

"Shenge, are you alright? Do you want to sit down and rest for a while?"

Ye Shenge shook her head quickly, her cheeks flushed red.

"No, no, I'll just walk slowly. I need time to adapt."

Mom Ye knew her daughter's body well. This was not a sign of discomfort at all. However, the lead sheep wouldn't wait, so they had to drive the sheep to the foot of the mountain first.

"Shenge, Mom will go herd the sheep first. You can follow slowly."

"Don't worry, I'm fine."

Ye Shenge and Gong Suo Er walked slowly, enjoying the scenery of mountains and water.

"Shenge, were you from the city before? Did you go to school?"

Ye Shenge looked at Gong Suo Er and saw that she looked embarrassed.

"I went to school. How about you?"

Gong Suo Er's face was full of envy and some regret.

"I only went up to elementary school. To go to junior high, I'd have to go to the county town, and my grandma was unwilling to give me grain and money."

Ye Shenge knew that girls were often not valued nowadays, and even having enough to eat was a problem. Going to school was truly a luxury for girls.

"Having gone to elementary school is already very excellent. If you really like learning, you can buy some junior high books and read them yourself. When there's an opportunity in the future, you can catch up in school."

"Buy books?"

Gong Suo Er shook her head. The family hadn't split up yet. Even though her father was the team leader, he didn't have a single yuan in his pocket. If she asked her grandmother for money to buy books, her second and third aunts would surely raise hell.

"My grandmother would definitely not agree."

This left Ye Shenge speechless. She was truly helpless. She couldn't possibly pay for books for someone else.

Seeing Ye Shenge's silence, Gong Suo Er became a little anxious.

"Shenge, do you have any junior high textbooks you could lend me?"

Ye Shenge's smile faded slightly.

"I didn't bring any books with me. I'm very sorry."

Gong Suo Er was truly disappointed. She loved learning very much, and even more so, she liked learned people.

"Don't be sorry. I'll go ask Zhizhi." (I'm using Zhizhi to refer to educated youths)

"Zhizhi?"

Was it the Zhizhi she was thinking of? What was happening in this world? How could it be so chaotic?

"Yes, educated youths from the city have come to support construction in the countryside. Our Bai Rong Brigade has already received two batches of Zhizhi."

"How long have the earliest ones been here?"

"Not long, only about a year. My dad said there will be more in the future."

Ye Shenge sighed inwardly. She had read many novels about educated youths going to the countryside. Villagers probably didn't like the educated youths coming to snatch their food.

"Shenge, you know, there are many educated people among the Zhizhi, but they are all very arrogant and don't like to interact with us."

"Uh, maybe they haven't gotten used to the current life yet. If they wait a bit longer and adapt, it will be better."

Even the most arrogant people would have their sharp edges worn down by life in the countryside. In any case, the Zhizhi described in the novels didn't have an easy time. After all, they didn't have a family to protect them like she did. In the countryside, they had to work hard and swallow their tears alone.

"But they don't look as good as you. I just don't know if they are as knowledgeable as you."

Ye Shenge didn't quite like what Gong Suo Er said, wondering if it was just how things were or if she meant it deliberately.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, Ye Shenge found a shady spot under a large tree and sat down. Gong Suo Er also sat next to Ye Shenge.

Mom Ye stood nearby, watching the sheep, afraid they would scatter.

Ye Shenge opened her thermos and took a sip of well water, feeling refreshed.

Gong Suo Er looked at the brand-new thermos in Ye Shenge's hand and envied her. Even the educated youths from the city couldn't compare to her. She even had her mother accompanying her when herding sheep, and herding sheep was a task that pampered village girls vied for, a chance she hadn't even gotten.

"Shenge, I heard you already have a boyfriend?"

Ye Shenge was surprised that after only one day, someone knew so much about her.

"Yes, I have a boyfriend."

"Is he the one who looks the best? Does he happen to be surnamed Zi?"

Ye Shenge nodded, a smile appearing as she thought of her boyfriend.

Gong Suo Er was envious again. How could all the good things happen to one person? People really couldn't be compared.

"That's great. I don't know what kind of family I'll be married into in the future."

Ye Shenge turned to look at Gong Suo Er, who seemed to be about her age.

"How old are you?"

"Sixteen. My grandma is already looking for a suitable family for me."

"Aren't you not yet an adult? Do you have someone you like?"

Gong Suo Er didn't seem shy when talking about these things. She looked at Ye Shenge openly.

"Girls here generally get married at sixteen. The reason mine hasn't been settled is that my grandma wants to find the family that offers the highest price."

Ye Shenge didn't understand the person in front of her. One moment she spoke with jealousy, the next she was forthright. She was truly a contradictory person.

"Do your parents have any objections?"

"Heh, what objections could they have? Wasn't their marriage like this too? Girls are meant to be sold for money. Some families with many daughters can even become wealthy households."

Ye Shenge didn't know what to say. She couldn't do anything for others. She took out a milk candy from her bag and offered it to Gong Suo Er.

"Have a candy. It might sweeten your heart a little."

Gong Suo Er blinked for a moment, then smiled and took the milk candy.

"Thank you, Shenge."

Gong Suo Er popped the candy into her mouth, closing her eyes in enjoyment.

"It's really sweet, and my heart feels much sweeter too. When my grandma chooses a suitable family for me, I'll definitely ask him if he can buy me milk candy every day. If not, I absolutely won't marry him."

Ye Shenge suddenly felt that Gong Suo Er was someone who knew what she needed and was capable of controlling her own destiny.

"Mhm, keep going. If he doesn't buy milk candy, don't marry him."

After regaining her energy, Ye Shenge went to take over from her mother so she could go home and prepare lunch. Even if she couldn't cook, she could at least wash and chop vegetables for Mo Lin.

Gong Suo Er stayed with Ye Shenge until the sheep were safely returned before leaving. Zi Yisheng also finished work early and went to the sheep pen to find her.

Zi Yisheng stood at the entrance of the sheep pen and watched the little girl making friends with the lambs.

"Little lambs, we'll be together for the next ten-plus days. You all need to be good. If you're good, I'm good. Otherwise, I'll definitely whip you with a small whip. Do you understand?"

"Pfft, hahahaha, do you want me to negotiate with them for you?"

Ye Shenge recognized the voice and glared at the person who had arrived.

"You come and negotiate with them. Tell them not to run around."

Zi Yisheng quickly pulled the little girl up and brushed the dust off her pants.

"Alright, I'll deal with them first tomorrow, and I'll make sure they listen to you. Are you tired?"

"Not tired. Sitting outside, looking at the mountains and water, my mood has improved a lot."

The two walked towards home, drawing everyone's gaze. There were all sorts of whispers behind them, and some eager eyes swept back and forth.

"This girl is so pretty. Look at her clothes, they're so nice, with a waistline."

"Yes, and not a single patch. The shoes on her feet are also beautiful."

"Alas, that man is also handsome. Are these two dating? Otherwise, why are they walking so close?"

Ye Shenge looked down at her own shoes, which were just canvas shoes. She also looked at the distance between herself and Zi Yisheng, which was about the space of one person. They weren't that close.

"Don't pay attention to what they're saying. We don't seek trouble, but we're not afraid of it either. Live your life however makes you happy."

"Mhm, I understand. I don't mind."

Mo Lin had collected four catties of rice paddies with Xiao Tiantian that morning and earned two work points, which made Mo Lin very happy.

Mom Ye had all the ingredients ready, just waiting to be cooked, as her cooking was truly terrible.

When Mo Lin returned home, he quickly washed his hands and went into the kitchen. The wok was hot, the oil was hot, and he immediately began to stir-fry. Soon, a meat dish and a vegetable dish were served, each in a basin. The staple food was mixed grain rice, which Mom Ye could steam well.

When Ye Shenge returned, she smelled the aroma of food. She suddenly felt very, very hungry, perhaps due to the increased exercise today.

"Hurry and wash your hands to eat. Everyone must be hungry."

This was the Ye family's first formal meal. The table was full. No one said much; they all rolled up their sleeves and started eating.

"Mhm, this is good. Mo Lin's cooking is really excellent. From now on, no one will have to go hungry."

Mo Lin felt very useful being able to contribute to the family and even ate half a bowl more than usual.

Meanwhile, Aunt Zhen in Mingcheng was not having an easy time.

"What? Mom, you're saying you're not working at the Zi family anymore? Then what will happen to our family in the future?"

"Yes, Mom, did you do something bad and get kicked out?"

"That's thirty yuan a month. It's gone just like that. How will my son eat meat?"

Aunt Zhen was very calm. She didn't feel sad at all listening to her daughter-in-law's words. It was the attitude of her sons that hurt her. Since her husband had passed away early, her excellent cooking skills had led her to be chosen by the Wen family. She had followed Miss Wen to the Zi family and had worked there for twenty years.

But now, the children she had raised with her hard-earned money had married and had children, and she no longer had a place to stay. The disdain in her sons' eyes made her heart ache, making her feel that even Zi Shao treated her better.

"Do you all think the same way?"