An embarrassed look flashed across Sister Zhang's face, and then she turned her gaze to Ye Zhinan.
She realized that if she didn't agree, Ye Zhinan would definitely not help.
"I agree. Please come back with me," she pleaded.
Only then did Ye Zhinan nod and get on the ox cart.
Before leaving, Qin Yihuai made all the arrangements for the village and even named it personally.
He named it Fushou Village.
Wu Yangping finally realized his mistakes. To make amends, he left behind the design drawings for the brick houses.
Ye Zhinan sat on the ox cart, listening to Qin Yihuai rambling about what had happened recently. She closed her eyes, feeling utterly at ease.
"The greenhouses in the village are all in bad shape. Some are even growing worse than those outside. A few of them collapsed not long ago, and I heard someone got injured," Sister Zhang exaggerated deliberately. She knew Ye Zhinan was kind - hearted.
Hearing that the situation was so serious, she would surely pay more attention.
Unexpectedly, Ye Zhinan just walked on without even sparing her a glance.
"Really? How about my greenhouse?"
Sister Zhang didn't get the answer she wanted but didn't dare to contradict Ye Zhinan. She could only force a smile.
"Yours is fine."
Ye Zhinan said nothing more and instead focused on the scenery around.
Sister Zhang felt extremely uncomfortable, unable to think of anything to say for several times.
She wondered if Ye Zhinan was just pretending to be stupid or really didn't want to get involved.
When Ye Zhinan returned to the village, Han Xiangmei was waiting at the entrance, craning her neck, afraid of missing her.
When she saw Ye Zhinan get off the cart, her face lit up like a flower.
"You're back. It's good that you're back. Mom misses you so much," Han Xiangmei said, tears welling up in her eyes. She lovingly stroked Ye Zhinan's head.
"You've lost weight. And why do you have injuries?"
Ye Zhinan didn't want Han Xiangmei to worry, so she lifted her arm and let Han Xiangmei feel her muscles.
"I haven't lost weight. I've built muscles."
Ye Zhinan acted playfully in front of her parents to keep them from worrying.
She knew she had been away for a long time and felt a bit guilty.
Ye Shenyan didn't say a word but just looked at Ye Zhinan.
He had heard about what happened in Fushou Village. It was impossible for him not to feel heart - ache, but more than that, he was proud.
His children were really something.
"Let's go back. I guess the villagers are already waiting at our door," Ye Shenyan said.
Just as the family was about to turn around and leave, Han Xiangmei noticed Qin Yihuai standing beside them.
Seeing the growing intimacy between the two, Han Xiangmei's mouth almost split from ear to ear.
She was an experienced person. If she couldn't tell there was something going on between them, she would have wasted all those years.
"Inspector Qin, thank you for taking care of our Nannan. Why don't you come to our house for a simple meal?"
Before Qin Yihuai could reply, Chen Zhenhai happily nodded.
Just thinking about Ye's mother's cooking made his mouth water.
He thought Qin Yihuai would decline, but unexpectedly, he agreed and headed straight for the Ye's house.
"Have you finally come to your senses?"
Qin Yihuai gave him a cold look with a hint of threat in his tone.
"If you want to eat, shut up."
Chen Zhenhai didn't want to argue with someone who was stubborn. He quickened his steps and walked up to Han Xiangmei to chat.
Han Xiangmei really liked Chen Zhenhai. She felt as if he was her own son.
This guy might seem a bit simple - minded, but he was actually very good at talking and could read people's minds. He always knew how to make Han Xiangmei happy.
"Why don't you be my mom's adopted son?" Ye Zhinan joked. Han Xiangmei didn't get angry but laughed heartily.
Chen Zhenhai panicked and waved his hands repeatedly.
"I can't do that. Your family is a noble one. My father was a pig - butcher before he passed away. I can't be worthy of your family."
Han Xiangmei frowned, pretending to be angry.
"What are you talking about? We're all the same now. If we really dig into it, we're even lower - class than you."
She said this to Chen Zhenhai, but actually, she also meant it for Qin Yihuai.
Both she and Ye Shenyan could tell that Qin Yihuai was a calm and meticulous boy.
He always thought about more things than others.
Chen Zhenhai nodded with a smile but still didn't agree.
After all, his eldest brother was still struggling on the way. How could he rush ahead?
"Our front door is really lively. People who don't know might think we're having a wedding," Ye Shenyan stroked his beard and casually mentioned as if he had thought of something.
"There's no wedding in our family. But during the time you were away, the Zhao family got things done," Ye Shenyan said.
Ye Zhinan calmly nodded without showing any extra emotion.
She just wanted to know what lie Zhao Qingfeng had told to make the Cao family agree.
But it didn't matter how much she thought about it. The matter was already a done deal. Even if it really affected her, she could only face it head - on.
"Everyone is blocking in front of my house. What are you doing?"
She greeted them with a smile. Looking at the villagers who had once distanced themselves from her, she felt so cold - hearted that even she was scared.
The villagers looked embarrassed when they saw her. They pushed each other, and no one dared to stand up and speak.
The smile on Ye Zhinan's face grew wider.
Was this the way to ask for help?
Did they expect others to break the ice themselves when asking for favors?
"Since you all have nothing to say, then disperse. Our family also has to go back and cook."
As she said, she was about to step forward, push through the crowd, and open the door.
But unfortunately, Sister Zhang ran up from behind, grabbed Ye Zhinan's hand, and said obsequiously,
"Didn't we agree before? Go to the fields and take a look at the greenhouses."
Ye Zhinan deliberately pretended to suddenly realize.
"Oh, it's that thing. It seems that everyone can't even speak without Sister Zhang."
The villagers' faces turned red and then white. Since they were asking Ye Zhinan for help, they didn't dare to turn hostile.
They could only swallow their pride and follow Ye Zhinan to the fields.
"I might as well tell you the truth. The Zhao family did help with the greenhouse construction technology. The cloth on my greenhouse roof was woven by the Zhao family's wife. But you all know the relationship between our two families. Now we can't get the cloth anymore."
She spoke bluntly without any concealment, just laying all the facts on the table.
The air was silent for a moment, and then a woman trembled and stood up.
"Are you saying that we spent so much money just for a piece of useless cloth?"
Ye Zhinan shook her head, denying it.
The woman's eyes lit up, but then Ye Zhinan's next words were like a bucket of cold water, drenching her completely.
"You used wax to coat the cloth, while I used tung oil. If the wax can't be washed off, you might just be throwing your money away."
Even though she was a wealthy young lady, she could understand the hardships of the common people.
But she didn't want to give false hopes or empty promises. Sometimes, facing the reality was the first step to building a better future.