In the room, there was only a wooden bed for two people, covered with a blue and white checkered bed sheet, the most common style seen in the 1980s, with two white pillows and pillowcases sewn with red and white edges. At the foot of the bed was a neatly folded quilt, looking very new, or maybe just about 80% new. Ye Ling could clearly see that this was 'specifically' prepared for them, or perhaps used every time there were guests at home, so naturally, it looked new.
Ye Ling didn't point it out but casually surveyed the room. It was just like in her memory, with a desk in the northeast corner, a small bookshelf right beside it, and a two-door wardrobe squeezed between the bookshelf and the window.
Wardrobes in the 1980s were quite simple, with a small platform recessed in the middle where one could place facial products, and mirrors embedded in the doors on both sides.
For this era, this kind of wardrobe was already considered quite nice; most ordinary families couldn't afford such fashionable furniture for weddings. But the Ye Family's conditions allowed them to use such a stylish wardrobe, which was quite impressive.
Ye Ling understood that it was all because Ye Ma pampered Ye Qian enough to spend this kind of money, saving every bit from the family's tight budget to satisfy Ye Qian's princess-like life.
Just like the clothes Ye Qian was wearing now, a pink outfit with ruffled collars and lace, dark blue pants, her pigtails braided to the ears with pink ribbons tied at the ends — the most princess-like dress of the 1980s.
In comparison to herself, she looked like a big silly girl from the countryside in the same era. Even though she also styled her hair like Ye Qian, she appeared rustic in contrast, and Ye Qian's outfit itself seemed outdated in Ye Ling's eyes, so one could imagine what she looked like.
Ye Qian was talking with Grandma Ye and when she raised her head, she saw her sister examining her and smiled slightly, "Sister, tired standing all night? Come over and sit."
She squeezed past Ye's mother beside her, took two or three steps to Ye Ling, and affectionately grabbed her arm. Ye Ling felt goosebumps rising, naturally feeling sick.
She knew her temperament far too well; once she knew what someone was like, she couldn't hide her emotions. That stubbornness in her bones wouldn't change even if she lived again.
So when faced with Ye Qian's affection, Ye Ling was unapologetically blunt in withdrawing her arm, looking up to find everyone staring at her with various expressions. Ye Ling pulled a smile at the corner of her mouth, "I'm not as lovable as my sister, who was always the one who cuddled with our parents growing up, so I'm not used to others being close to me. Ye Qian, don't take it to heart."
Bluntly pushing the blame away.
Ye Ling didn't feel wrong about saying this, she had become like this and it was indeed her parents' fault. If they didn't want her, they shouldn't have given birth to her just to leave her unattended, and now picking on her faults for no reason?
Ye's mother's gaze shifted slightly, and those who knew her understood she was suppressing her anger. Ye He Ping felt deeply guilty, "Child, you stood all night, quickly go to sleep."
Previously blaming the eldest daughter for being distant from her sister, now he felt increasingly sorry for his elder daughter.
Grandma Ye tenderly waved at her eldest granddaughter, "Lingzi, come here quickly."
On the car yesterday, the granddaughter had become understanding. How could Grandma Ye not be distressed?
Ye Qian wasn't upset by her sister's actions at all and remained as affectionate as before. Though she leaned close to Ye Ling, she cautiously didn't grab her, "Sister, Dad and Mom have felt sorry for you all these years, letting you stay in the countryside. Even though you weren't by Dad and Mom's side, we still held you in our hearts."
She looked up, not forgetting Old Mrs. Ye, "And Grandma too."
Smiling mischievously afterwards.
Her cute and playful demeanor lightened the room's atmosphere, and everyone was amused by her.
A dark light flickered in Ye Ling's eyes. Although not inferior compared to her previous life, she ultimately lost a little. No matter living again, she was not a match for Ye Qian. But in this lifetime, Ye Ling resolved not to compete with Ye Qian, to tread her own path, and not compare with Ye Qian, avoiding repeating her past life's mistakes.
Her heart found consolation, and Ye Ling felt much more relaxed.
When Ye's father and Ye Ma took Ye Qian out, leaving just the grandmother and granddaughter in the room, Grandma Ye gently advised from the bed, "Lingzi, Grandma knows you resent Dad and Mom for leaving you in the countryside, but they had no choice. Your mom had just arrived at a new place while pregnant at the time, so couldn't take you with her. Your dad couldn't come home often due to work, leaving you in the countryside was the only option. Grandma knows you've harbored bitterness over the years, but silly child, they are still your family. Now that you're reunited, don't hold a grudge, get along well."
"Grandma, I know, I don't resent them, I just don't know how to get along with them." Ye Ling replied insincerely, turned around facing away from Grandma, "Grandma, when will we return to the countryside?"
Ye Ling truly lacked the interest to be hypocritical and cunning here with them.
Though she knew it wouldn't be that easy. The previous life's reason for Grandma's real anger, causing her not to spend the New Year here was when Dad and Mom proposed she should quit school after junior high graduation. The reason was the family's poor condition couldn't support two students. For Grandma Ye, who raised Ye Ling, this was unacceptable, leading to a confrontation.
Later, Dad and Mom couldn't persuade Old Mrs. Ye, so Ye Ma started coaxing Ye Ling directly. Those few days were the first time in Ye Ling's life she felt maternal love. After graduation exams, mom returned to the countryside, spent several days with Ye Ling, coaxing her not to continue schooling, arranging a job for her, even if it was temporary work, saying she could return to the city once she worked. In her past life, Ye Ling was quite vain, always wanting to return to the city, and was enticed by mom's offer, abandoning her education and returning to the city.
Ye Ling was hypocritical yet valued face, thus did not want to be looked down upon in academics. Although not excellent, she was above average, good enough to get into high school.
Grandma Ye heard her granddaughter ask to return right after coming and knew her advice had been in vain, "Today is the twenty-fifth, five days until New Year. We'll return after February 5th. Besides, this year you'll graduate junior high, should not be delayed. You must study hard, get into high school, then university."
Nowadays, a university student is highly esteemed in any family; even a junior high student is already quite impressive. Grandma Ye felt her son, being a minor official in the troop, deserved a granddaughter who attends university.
Ye Ling showed a determined expression, "Grandma, don't worry, I will definitely get into high school."
In this lifetime, nobody could stop her.