The next day, Ye Zhinan had stayed up all night, tossing and turning in bed.
The image of Liu Ruonan kept reappearing in her mind. The once so upbeat girl had become so downcast.
Before dawn, she sneaked into the space early, took some nutritional supplements for pregnant women, grabbed a random quilt and walked out.
As soon as she opened the door, Han Xiangmei was standing outside with a food container in her hand.
"I saw your light was on. Are you going to visit the girl from the Liu family?"
Ye Zhinan nodded. Looking at the dark circles under Han Xiangmei's eyes, she began to regret telling her about Liu Ruonan's misfortune after she got home last night.
"Mom, don't worry too much. I'm here. Your daughter is capable!"
"I know. I had a really bad morning sickness when I was pregnant with you. Only pickled plums could make me feel better. Take these to her."
With that, Han Xiangmei opened the food container, which was full of pickled plums.
Ye Zhinan looked at her mother's hands wrapped in gauze and knew that those pickled plums must have been saved from selling scarves.
Seeing Ye Zhinan staring at her hands, Han Xiangmei immediately stuffed the food container into her hands.
"Where are you going so early?"
Ye Zhinan pointed to the fields outside. "I'll finish the work earlier so that I can go to see her earlier."
"Call your brother!"
Ye Yingfeng, who was still asleep, was suddenly awakened. Two dark shadows were approaching outside the window. He grabbed a wooden stick and rushed out of the door. He saw Han Xiangmei and Ye Zhinan staring blankly at him.
"Since you're awake, go to the fields with your sister!"
Han Xiangmei stuffed a basket of steamed buns into their hands. Ye Yingfeng just sleepily carried the basket of steamed buns out of the door.
Ye Zhinan felt sorry for involving her brother. She silently walked to Ye Yingfeng's side.
"Here, this is for you!"
Ye Yingfeng was concentrating on hoeing the field when suddenly a hand reached out. He instinctively raised the hoe and almost hit Ye Zhinan on the head.
"Sister, it's still dark. Why are you walking so quietly?"
Ye Yingfeng took the thing from her hand, squinted and looked at it in the faint moonlight.
"What's this?"
"Trauma ointment!"
Ye Yingfeng was stunned.
He was hit on the back by a gravel at the mine yesterday, but he didn't tell anyone. How did his sister know?
Actually, Ye Zhinan didn't know what had happened. She just noticed that he was walking stiffly.
Seeing that her brother's face looked strange, she immediately became alert. "What happened?"
"Nothing. I'm just surprised that you're so considerate all of a sudden!"
Ye Yingfeng muddled through. Ye Zhinan didn't ask any further.
The sun was gradually rising, and the moon had completely set.
"You can go now. There's not much work left here."
"Miss Ye!"
Just as Ye Zhinan was about to speak, she saw a dark shadow waving at them in the distance. As the figure got closer, she realized it was Chen Zhenhai.
Today, he was not wearing his official uniform, but a simple cloth robe.
"Why are you here?"
"I'm off duty today. I saw you were busy when I passed by, so I thought I'd come and give you a hand."
Chen Zhenhai's eyes were bent into crescent moons, but the dark circles under his eyes told the whole story.
"You're an official. It's not proper!"
Ye Zhinan stared at him blankly, a hint of gloom flashing in her eyes.
She didn't want to cause any more trouble for the Ye family.
Chen Zhenhai looked helpless. "But I'm off today."
"Then please go home and rest, sir!"
Ye Yingfeng inserted the hoe into the ground. A hint of irresistible coldness flashed in his eyes.
Chen Zhenhai couldn't help shivering. "Well, I won't disturb you then. Miss Ye, could I have a word with you?"
"Sure."
After saying that, Ye Zhinan told her brother and followed Chen Zhenhai away.
But this "have a word" led them out of the village.
"Is your home in the neighboring village?"
Ye Zhinan finally couldn't help asking.
Chen Zhenhai clasped his hands together and bowed to apologize. "Miss Ye, please don't blame me. It's my boss who wants to have a word with you. He knew you wouldn't let me stay, so he asked me to bring you here."
As soon as he finished speaking, a tall figure appeared. The black long robe fluttered in the gentle breeze, and the plum blossoms on the corner of the robe were faintly visible.
"I'm sorry to have to do this. I hope you'll forgive me."
Seeing Qin Yihuai appear, Chen Zhenhai wisely stepped back.
"Do you have to say it now?"
Ye Zhinan frowned slightly. She wasn't really angry, but she couldn't figure out the strange feeling in her heart.
Qin Yihuai was quite calm. He lifted his feet and walked towards the Yan family.
"Let's talk while walking. The Yan family spent a lot of silver to support Yan Xuan in the imperial examination. They also did some business before."
"Marinated food?"
Ye Zhinan immediately understood.
But even if it was competition, she didn't care. After all, that kind of food wasn't anyone's patent.
"But they took the wrong path."
Qin Yihuai's eyes darkened. A layer of bloodthirsty coldness covered his black eyes.
"You go into the Yan family. I'll wait outside."
Ye Zhinan looked at the big door of the Yan family in front of her. She didn't quite understand what he meant, but the next second, Qin Yihuai disappeared.
She walked towards the Yan family. This time, she had a chance to take a good look.
It was a single-family courtyard, a hundred times better than their shabby house. Obviously, it was not on the same level as the Liu family.
Qin Yihuai wouldn't choose a family that didn't match his status. And wasn't their business a failure?
Just as she was about to raise her hand to knock on the door, the door opened.
Grandma Yan was standing at the door. Her wrinkled face was covered with a pair of gloomy eyes.
"Miss Ye, you're here quite early!"
"I'm sorry to bother you today!"
With that, Ye Zhinan didn't care whether Grandma Yan welcomed her or not. She pushed open the door and walked in on her own.
At this time, Liu Ruonan was standing in front of the stove with a big belly, preparing breakfast.
"Sister?"
The moment Liu Ruonan saw Ye Zhinan, she was shocked and at a loss. She quickly wiped the grease off her hands and tucked in the loose hair.
It seemed that she got up too early and didn't even have time to put on makeup.
Ye Zhinan's eyes darkened. "Is your morning sickness better?"
How could it be better?!
Liu Ruonan's face was sallow, her lips were pale, and her eye sockets were black. She probably didn't even get enough sleep before she was called up to cook.
Liu Ruonan nervously glanced outside and forced a smile. "Much better. Sister, you're just in time. Have breakfast with us!"
With that, she quickly squatted down and tried to get the bowls and chopsticks placed below.
"I've already had breakfast."
Ye Zhinan said as she helped Liu Ruonan up and bent down to get the bowls and chopsticks.
"Sister, put it down quickly. I'll do it!"
Liu Ruonan tried to stop her, but her hand was tightly held by Ye Zhinan and she couldn't move.
At this time, Grandma Yan walked over. "I'm short. I can't reach it. It's really troublesome for Miss Ye!"
Although she said so, her body didn't move at all. She didn't seem to want to help at all.
After breakfast was served on the table, the Yan family members came out one by one.
Liu Ruonan pulled Ye Zhinan back to the room.
"I like a quiet place. Have breakfast with me!"
Although she said so, Ye Zhinan saw that there was no place for Liu Ruonan at the table.
What on earth had she been through?!