Chapter 358 Arrogant Chen Tangtang
Ye Shenge walked home alone when a girl suddenly stood in front of her. Ye Shenge narrowed her eyes. Was she in trouble just by going out?
"Are you the good friend Chen Tangtang was talking about?"
Ye Shenge sidestepped and continued walking. With someone watching her aggressively, was she waiting for them to cause trouble?
"Hey, I'm talking to you! Why are you so rude?"
Ye Shenge looked at the person blocking her path again, very impatiently. Did she just look like an easy target?
"Move."
No matter which way Ye Shenge walked, the girl would block her path, looking determined not to give up.
Seeing her fourth cousin rushing over behind the girl, Ye Shenge quickly exchanged a look and casually nudged the girl's arm that was blocking her.
"Ouch! What are you doing? How dare you hit someone casually!"
Bai Chenyi stood by with his arms crossed, watching the scene. He really wanted to see how his little cousin would deal with someone.
"I hit you because you're blocking my way!"
It took the girl a while to feel her arm again. She pointed at Ye Shenge, about to say something more, but saw the finger Ye Shenge was holding up and jumped back in fear.
"Don't go too far. I just wanted to know who it is that Chen Tangtang relies on in the village to be so fearless. Besides, I don't have any ill intentions."
The girl said this with a hint of grievance, but Ye Shenge felt she was acting out. Even if she saw her, what could she do? Would it give her more confidence?
"You've seen what you wanted to see, so don't block my way."
As Ye Shenge walked around her and left, the girl spoke again.
"I just wanted to be friends with you."
Ye Shenge sneered. The last person who wanted to be friends with her was Baili Hui. This one was also from the Youth Academy. Was she that attractive that everyone wanted to be her friend?
"No need. I don't want to be friends with you."
Ye Shenge walked towards Bai Chenyi and tugged at him.
"Haven't you seen enough?"
"No, I haven't. My little Ge'er is so domineering when she talks back."
Bai Chenyi gave her a thumbs-up. Ye Shenge proudly lifted her chin.
"Of course. I'm not someone who has no temper. When I get serious, even I'm afraid of myself."
The girl watched Ye Shenge's retreating back with envy in her eyes.
"I really wanted to be friends with you."
The girl was a fellow educated youth who had arrived with Chen Tangtang. Her name was An Xia. Unloved at home, she was forced to go to the countryside, thinking she could live a life of freedom.
But upon arriving at the Youth Academy, she realized that the older educated youths were like the masters of the academy, bossing them around, bullying them, and withholding their rations.
Of the same batch, only Chen Tangtang was not bullied by anyone. An Xia was very envious. She just wanted to live a peaceful life, but every day was filled with quarrels.
When she learned that Chen Tangtang could live alone, she was even more envious. After inquiring, she understood that Chen Tangtang was not bullied not only because she had her biological elder brother, but also because someone in the village protected her.
An Xia made up her mind to rely on someone in the village. She observed for over a week. Most villagers were exclusive, especially towards educated youths.
Only Chen Tangtang's village friends seemed most suitable. An Xia wasn't originally this overbearing; it was her lack of courage that made her choose this foolish method to attract attention.
She thought she would scare the village girls first, then be gentle, and perhaps they could become friends.
Ye Shenge was unaware of An Xia's thoughts. If she had known, she would have only thought the girl was sick, a very serious illness at that.
These past few days, the family had been quite busy. Several families, totaling dozens of people, were preparing for the upcoming New Year. Anything that needed to be prepared had to be done.
Especially since the customs of celebrating New Year in the north and south were different, and the food prepared for the table was also different. Although there was no need to change their eating habits just because they were in the south, they still had to have a couple of southern dishes on the table.
Bai family's aunts had specifically learned a few dishes from the villagers. Ye's mother was purely there to help.
As soon as Ye Shenge arrived at the Bai family's house, her eldest aunt stuffed her with a freshly fried nian gao. Although it didn't taste as good as the ones from her past life, the soft, sticky texture felt quite good.
Ouyang's mother also brought a small bowl of noodle soup and handed it to Ye Shenge. In this way, Ye Shenge became a taste tester and was fed before lunch.
After the banquet, Chen Tangtang, with a look of disdain, ran to the Bai family's house, her eyes watering at the sight of the table full of delicious dishes.
"Why did you finish so early?"
"Don't even mention it. You don't know, the banquet only had six dishes, and twelve people sat at a table. I couldn't snatch any, so I came back hungry."
Ye's mother smiled when she heard this and quickly set another place for Chen Tangtang.
"Sit down and eat quickly. We have plenty of food here."
"Thank you, Auntie Bai. You're the best."
Chen Tangtang, with her sweet talk, had won the affection of all the women in the Ye, Bai, and Ouyang families.
"Where's your brother? Why isn't he here to freeload?"
Chen Tangtang rolled her eyes at Ye Shenge.
"He doesn't have as thick skin as me, so he had to go back and eat snacks."
Ye Shenge quite agreed with Chen Tangtang's self-awareness.
"What are you guys planning for New Year?"
"What do you mean, 'what plans'?"
Chen Tangtang had already buried her head in eating, her mind not fully engaged.
"I mean, are you planning to spend New Year at home, or come to our place? We're planning to have everyone celebrate together this year."
Chen Tangtang immediately put down her chopsticks upon hearing this and embraced Ye Shenge's arm coaxingly, shaking it.
"Shen Ge, you're truly the kindest fairy. You know that my brother and I are lonely and helpless, so you offer us a helping hand. You're like the Bodhisattva who saves people from suffering..."
"Enough! Coming to our house for New Year means you have to help with the work."
"Absolutely! I can do it."
The family watched the two young girls bicker while eating, finding it quite entertaining.
After the meal, Chen Tangtang, with a full stomach, followed Ye Shenge back to the Ye family's house. Upon hearing that her friend was being bullied by people from the Youth Academy, she immediately turned furious and rushed out without a word.
She happened to meet Qi Xuan, who had just returned. Qi Xuan hadn't been home for a few days. According to Uncle Qi, he had gone to the city to shop and even borrowed someone from Zi Yisheng to accompany him.
"Why are you in such a hurry?"
Chen Tangtang knew Qi Xuan was part of the Ye family, so she didn't hide anything and blurted out what Ye Shenge had just said.
"What? Are they bullying us because we have no one? Come on, I'll go to the Youth Academy with you. I want to see how powerful these people from the Youth Academy are."
Ye Shenge, who had chased after them, couldn't get a word in and was completely ignored by the two of them. She could only follow behind them as they discussed countermeasures.
Ouyang had just entered the village when he saw three girls stomping furiously in another direction, two of whom he recognized.
"What are they up to? Why isn't anyone following them?"
Ouyang knew Ye Shenge's importance in his young master Zi's heart, so fearing something might happen, he followed behind.
"An Xia, get out here! You dare to bully my person, you'd better think about how you're going to be beaten!"
Arrogant, extremely arrogant. The first impression Ouyang had seeing Chen Tangtang with her hands on her hips was arrogance, completely different from how he had seen her before.
Qi Xuan even stepped onto a chair in the courtyard, her other hand also on her hip. Putting hands on hips seemed to be a common sign of arrogance.
Ye Shenge also wanted to hear the other person's true intentions, the one who claimed to want to be her friend. Was she another "spy" sent by the Baili family?
An Xia, who was in the house feeling sad, shivered inwardly when she heard someone shouting at her so angrily. She was actually very timid.
The other educated youths also came out, mostly to watch the commotion.
"Oh, Chen Tangtang, are you bringing outsiders to bully our educated youths? Don't you know you're one of us?"
Wang Zhenli was inherently sharp-tongued, and after injuring her leg, she became even more bitter, especially unable to stand seeing those who were better off than her.
Chen Tonghua, upon hearing the noise, immediately stood by his younger sister's side, not asking for reasons, but solely supporting his sister.
"Hmph, it's you again, you foul-mouthed woman! What, you can't stand me usually, and now you want to stand up for An Xia? When did you become so helpful!"
"You, you're the one with the foul mouth!"
Chen Tangtang rolled up her sleeves and prepared to fight. She was letting loose now and would fight anyone she disliked.
Qi Xuan grabbed Chen Tangtang and flicked a small stone from her hand, hitting Wang Zhenli directly on the mouth.
"Mmmph~~~"
Wang Zhenli just wanted to retort a few words to feel better, but she didn't expect her mouth to be bleeding after only saying a couple of sentences.
Seeing her hand covered in blood, Wang Zhenli became furious, her expression gradually becoming manic. She lunged at Qi Xuan.
Ye Shenge and Chen Tangtang quickly ran over. Before they could reach her, they saw Qi Xuan nimbly turn on one foot, easily dodging behind Wang Zhenli, and then kicking her squarely on the backside.
Wang Zhenli flew face-first, her landing accompanied by a heavy thud and a scream. However, it was a long time before Wang Zhenli was seen to lift her head.
"Hmph, even with one leg injured, this grandma can still kick you down."
"Amazing, Qi Xuan!"
Chen Tangtang, adding fuel to the fire, gave Qi Xuan two thumbs-up.
The commotion outside did not draw An Xia out. She had even burrowed under her quilt, wrapping herself tightly.
Ye Shenge squatted beside Wang Zhenli and felt her pulse. Knowing the other party was unharmed, she stopped paying attention.
Ouyang watched the more lively chubby girl and found her quite cute.
"Where's An Xia? She hasn't come out yet? Hmph, she's a coward. How brave was she when she bullied my Shen Ge?"
Chen Tangtang rushed straight into An Xia's room. Seeing the lump under the covers, Chen Tangtang abruptly flipped it open, and furiously began to scold.
"Well, An Xia, you were so quiet in the Youth Academy, I never expected you to be such a scheming person."
An Xia trembled all over, her voice quivering.
"I didn't! I didn't! I just wanted to be friends with Ye Shenge."
"Pah! Who are you kidding? You don't even know Shen Ge, so why would you go find her to be friends with for no reason? Tell me, what is your real purpose, or I'll beat you until you tell me."
Ye Shenge was also in the room, wanting to hear An Xia's explanation.
Ouyang also entered amidst the curiosity of the other educated youths, still following behind Ye Shenge. However, his eyes were fixed on the arrogant chubby girl.
"I really just want to make a friend in the village, preferably someone with influence like you, so I don't get bullied by people from the Youth Academy anymore, and can live a quiet life."