CHAPTER 149: 148: POOR PEOPLE (SECOND UPDATE)

Early the next morning, Ye Ling awoke as usual with her biological clock, while the dormitory was quiet. She pulled aside the curtain to see the other four people still asleep. Ye Ling quietly took her basin and headed out, running into Zhang Zhenlian, who had also woken up early, by the water tap outside.

Indeed, Zhang Zhenlian’s washbasin had seen better days, with the paint nearly flaked off, revealing the iron underneath. Seeing Ye Ling, Zhang Zhenlian smiled and waved, moving her basin aside.

Ye Ling filled her basin and walked over, "Why are you up so early?"

"I’m used to it at home. You know, we had to get up early to head to town for school. Couldn’t sleep lying in bed, and I was afraid I’d disturb them by turning over, so I got up first." Zhang Zhenlian perked up, "Ye Ling, thanks for yesterday. I really didn’t know what to do back then. I actually thought about buying a replacement for her, but my mom only gave me ten yuan and fifty pounds worth of food vouchers. I heard the tuition and book fees are ten yuan, and the vouchers are for my meals. I calculated that if I eat sparingly, I can make these vouchers last. Plus, I heard there’s a five yuan subsidy every semester, so I just need to ask for another ten from home next semester and I’ll be set."

Currently, ten pounds of food vouchers could be exchanged for one yuan and fifty cents, meaning fifty pounds would be worth seven yuan and fifty cents. Buns cost five cents each, fried dough sticks three cents, and porridge one cent a bowl. Relying only on these seven yuan and fifty cents for the whole semester, and saving a little, Ye Ling figured out what Zhang Zhenlian would do to save money—cut down on food, as there was no other way.

"That’s good," Ye Ling responded blandly.

She really didn’t know what else to say. Initially, she also planned to only eat breakfast and lunch, skipping dinner to save money. Especially since the start of school, spending three yuan on dorm curtains and plastic sheets, Ye Ling felt she had to cut back on meals. So both lunch and breakfast had to be reduced, no different from Zhang Zhenlian.

Zhang Zhenlian then cautiously asked, "Why are you staying on campus? Isn’t your family in town? When we decided to come to high school here, I thought I’d see you. If you got in, we’d definitely be in the same school. Oh, and Si Daochen got in too. The team even threw a celebration."

But her smile soon faded, "Wang Shumei didn’t get in, and she’s quite upset. Heard she went to live with her aunt in town, seems like she got a temporary job there, no clue how she’s doing now."

Ye Ling wasn’t interested in all this and just listened quietly without saying much. She washed her face, and as she was parting with Zhang Zhenlian, Zhenlian hesitantly asked, "Ye Ling, is your dorm full? If not, I’d like to ask Aunt Sun to transfer me over. Would that be okay? I really don’t know anyone here."

"It’s full," Ye Ling replied. Although she helped Zhang Zhenlian, she didn’t feel particularly close to her.

In the village, Zhang Zhenlian was always close to Wang Shumei. Now in town, although they grew up in the same village, Ye Ling didn’t feel they got along very well. She faintly sensed Zhang Zhenlian was a bit opportunistic, cozying up to whoever was useful. Maybe she was overthinking, but she couldn’t really warm up to Zhenlian.

Zhang Zhenlian felt a bit disappointed, "That’s really a shame."

Ye Ling was already at the dorm door, just smiled at her before going inside. Zhang Zhenlian watched her go in and then walked back to her dorm, feeling a bit desolate.

When Ye Ling returned to her dormitory, everyone else was still not up. She lay back on her bed, drew the curtain, and opened the one facing the window so light could come through. She lay there reading a book, planning to skip breakfast since she didn’t have class. She decided on a bun for lunch and skipping dinner, spending only two cents a day. Once school officially started, her plan was for a breakfast of one bun and a bowl of porridge, plus a lunch bun, making it five cents a day. The tight budget was necessary with the transition from a two-year to a three-year high school system, incurring an extra year’s expenses.

By the time Ye Ling estimated it was past eight o’clock, the other students started waking up. Wang Xiaohong thought Ye Ling was still asleep and asked Wan Li if they should wake her. Once they all washed their faces and returned, Ye Ling put away her books and raised the curtain.

"Let’s go have breakfast together, I haven’t been to the canteen yet," Wang Xiaohong said, sitting down after washing her face and feeling hungry.

Shao Guangli spoke up, "Let’s ask Ye Ling first, she’s been at this school before and knows how the canteen food is."

Before Wang Xiaohong could ask, Ye Ling replied directly, "I always ate at home, so I haven’t been to the canteen. I’m not eating breakfast; you all should go and check it out."

Hearing Ye Ling say she wasn’t eating, no one said anything. In the end, Wang Xiaohong, Shao Guangli, and Wan Li went to eat, while the usually quiet Dong Juan stayed behind with Ye Ling.

Dong Juan was not very talkative, but Ye Ling could see she had a good and gentle nature. No matter what anyone in the dorm said, Dong Juan would just smile lightly and not say much.

After breakfast, Wang Xiaohong and the others clamored to go shopping for school supplies. Ye Ling had already bought hers and didn’t go, and this time Dong Juan joined them, leaving Ye Ling alone in the dorm. Ye Ling found it quite peaceful then, and then Zhang Zhenlian came around, saying that Si Daochen found out she was also staying on campus and suggested they meet up, having not seen each other in over half a year.

Ye Ling thought about it and packed up to go with Zhang Zhenlian. Si Daochen was waiting at the school gate, still in his white shirt and blue trousers. When Ye Ling arrived, he nodded at her, "How about I treat you two to noodles for lunch? Do you know where there’s a noodle shop?"

"Better not," Ye Ling thought spending fifty cents on a bowl of noodles was too extravagant.

"Come on, we haven’t seen each other in over half a year. Also, the materials you gave me were really helpful; otherwise, getting into high school this time wouldn’t have been easy," said Si Daochen sincerely.

Feeling he was trying to return a favor, Ye Ling thought about it and decided not to refuse, leading them to a noodle shop where they ordered three bowls of noodles as usual.

After they sat down, Si Daochen glanced at Ye Ling, "You’re still the same. Why are you staying on campus instead of at home? Your sister is in the same school as us, right?"

At the mention, Ye Ling’s expression slightly cooled, "Same school, yes."

But she didn’t get in.

Remembering the incident of her grandmother’s passing, Ye Ling recalled how much Si Daochen seemed to care about Ye Qian, and there was some discord between them after that. With so much time passed, she almost forgot about it, reminding herself of the trivial nature of it all, and found it amusing.

Oh well, if Si Daochen felt like he owed her the favor, then eating at his expense today was enough to settle it between them. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)