CHAPTER 620: 620 ENRICHMENT

It was pointless for them to be here; it would be better to go home and rest. After all, just staying put was already a help to Wei Kaiyun.

That evening, Jiang Xinyu decided to make dumplings. On their way home, they picked some wild vegetables, which should taste great mixed with oil residue.

Tonight, Wei Kaiyun would make two vegetable beds in the yard and plant chives. Adding chives to the wild vegetable dumplings in the morning would make them even more perfect.

At Old Yang’s place, the beam was already in place today, and they worked on the roof in the afternoon. By nightfall, the work on the roof was done.

The house could now be said to be more than halfway finished.

Zhao Xiaoli made meat stew and wheat cakes for dinner.

Although half of it was dried radish, it still smelled delicious. The wild vegetables were blanched and eaten as a salad.

Guodong and Jing Chu also dined here tonight. They had gained Old Yang’s approval, not for any other reason but because the character of these three children was worth supporting.

Zhao Xiaoli always stayed by Old Yang’s side and felt more and more that he was a man who could absolutely be depended on. He managed everything well and never appeared troubled.

So she became enchanted, her eyes always following Old Yang.

As for Old Yang, with his sharp senses, he noticed the little girl always secretly glancing at him.

It didn’t bother him; he didn’t think she was interested in him.

He might look impressive, but in reality, his life was a balancing act. Besides, his age was evident.

The two masons had been exhausted these past few days. But the end was in sight; just a few more days to endure. The work of building the courtyard wall could be done in a day.

The main focus now was on decorating the house. The heated brick bed was ready, but it was for the children, so the walls still needed to be covered.

That night, Zhao Xiaoli stayed until the end. When everyone else had gone to rest, she quietly approached Old Yang.

Gathering her courage, she looked at Old Yang. "Master Yang, I know you haven’t settled down; I want to spend my life with you."

Old Yang was startled, almost choking on his own saliva. He stared at the young girl in surprise.

"I’m not much younger than your parents."

"I know. I started liking you when you came to ask the village chief for a homestead for us. As we spent more time together, I found myself liking you more and more."

It was nighttime, and Old Yang couldn’t clearly see the young girl’s expression.

He sighed, "Xiao Zhao, I cannot harm you. You’re still young; don’t say such things in the future. Let’s pretend nothing happened today."

"Old Yang, I’m serious. I’ve thought about it for a long time."

"My life is unstable; I can’t give you happiness."

"Whether I am happy or not is up to me," Zhao Xiaoli spoke fluently now; her earlier nervousness had subsided significantly. She felt that since she had already spoken, she had to convince Old Yang.

"You’re still young."

"I’m not that young; I’ll be twenty soon. I’m already an adult, and I know what I’m doing.

Also, don’t worry that I’m trying to latch on for security. Honestly, with Jiang Xinyu around, the three of us won’t have a hard life; it would be the same anywhere.

I, Zhao Xiaoli, would never be the kind of girl who wants to cling to someone else.

I genuinely like you. As for you claiming your life is unstable, I don’t care; as long as my life is stable, it’s enough.

Although I’m not as capable as Jiang Xinyu, I think I can keep a home for you."

Old Yang was deeply moved; he had long sensed the different way the young girl looked at him, and he had quite a liking for her too, but he genuinely didn’t want to harm anyone.

So he decided to feign ignorance. He hadn’t expected this little girl to have the courage to confess to him.

"I’m someone who’s here today but might not be tomorrow; I could end up hurting you."

"That’s a matter for the future. Just tell me if you have any feelings for me. As for what you said, that’s mine to weigh. Your say doesn’t count."

Old Yang was amused by the girl’s words. "I’m just looking out for you."

"I will certainly look out for myself too."

"I’m afraid you’ll regret it in the future."

"That’s my business. I don’t think I’ll regret it; no one will give me the sense of security you do in the future."

"To protect you, I can’t let anyone know you’re my woman, nor can I provide you any security." Apart from money and materials, he couldn’t offer her anything in terms of reputation.

"So I have to follow you secretly?"

"Yes."

Zhao Xiaoli fell silent. She was very conflicted inside; secretly following a man without clarification—what if one day he no longer wanted her?

Yet remembering his behavior at that time and recently, she thought she should try. If it didn’t work out, it would just be her fate.

"Alright."

"What did you say?" Old Yang was startled. Is this girl okay?

"I said alright. If one day you don’t want me, it’ll also be my fate. I’m making this decision today so I won’t have any regrets in the second half of my life.

If you abandon me, I’ll be disappointed but not regretful."

"Have you really thought it through? I’m making it clear beforehand; if you follow me, you can’t leave. I absolutely won’t agree to it."

"Yes, I’ve decided to take this gamble. Maybe you’ll accompany me for a lifetime; the chances of you abandoning me and me being happy are the same."

"You’ve got no way out." Old Yang had been lonely for too long. Although he knew he was fourteen years older than this young girl, he would shamelessly hold on to her.

"Alright, I won’t back down."

Old Yang stepped forward, his tall figure enveloping Zhao Xiaoli, and lifted her in his arms. He gazed into her eyes, "I’ll give you one last chance."

Zhao Xiaoli answered resolutely, "I’ll spend my life with you."

"Alright, once we’re done here, I’ll take you to let Xiao Wei and his wife know. He’s my only friend and brother."

Zhao Xiaoli felt very uncomfortable being held up like that and squirmed a little.

Old Yang pressed her against his chest. "No one can betray me. Since you’ve decided, there’s no escape."

"I won’t regret it, and I hope you won’t abandon me either."

Old Yang felt like laughing inside. How could he abandon his own woman? He could barely hold back from pampering her.

Holding a girl who liked him in his arms, Old Yang’s vanity was greatly satisfied. Being liked by a young and beautiful girl was truly an exhilarating feeling.

"Alright, I can assure you, there will absolutely be no other woman." That promise, at least, he could keep.

The two embraced, and Zhao Xiaoli’s heart pounded intensely. It was only now that she felt a little embarrassed.