After Rebirth, Minor Character Only Wants to Level Up
Chapter 27 - 026: Face

Chapter 27: 026: Face

Ye Qian’s dance really gave Bai Xue plenty of face.

After the gathering, everyone helped restore the tables and chairs to their original positions. The employees were busy collecting bowls and chopsticks, while large pots of steaming white dumplings were bubbling in the back. Tonight is New Year’s Eve, and everyone can eat as much as they want without any restrictions.

The big table where Ye Ling and the other family members were sitting was even more lively, even the leaders came over. The wife of Director Li sat at the family table, proudly accompanied by a gentle-looking Ye Qian.

Ye Zhenfen, who looked to be over fifty, affectionately patted Ye Qian’s hand and said, "Isn’t fate something! Look at you, you’re also surnamed Ye, and so am I. Watching you dance on stage reminded me of my youth. Back then, I was also in the Art Troupe, although I worked in administration. I envied those who could dance. But in our days, we had to follow wherever the company went. It was much tougher than it is for you now."

"Grandma Ye, we are so fortunate now. Even if you were in administrative roles in the company, being able to go to the forefront with the company required courage we can learn from," Ye Qian stated seriously.

The smile on Ye Zhenfen’s face slowly faded. Bai Xue grew a bit anxious inside; why bring up such heavy topics during a good New Year’s celebration? Her youngest daughter was always clever, so how could she make this mistake?

Yet, Ye Qian’s words made everyone around the table smile, "Good child, you are so thoughtful. It’s rare to see someone your age thinking this way."

Ye Zhenfen’s reaction was already anticipated by Ye Ling. She understood the leader’s wife, Grandma Ye, quite well. Later, after marrying Shen Bin, her title changed from Grandma Ye to Aunt Ye, her seniority in the family rising. Over time, Ye Qian also changed her address to Aunt Ye.

This Director Li was quite a person, an old revolutionary who participated in the Korean War. The only regret for him and his wife was not having children, so they focused their energies on the company. They favored Shen Bin, who came from the countryside, was ambitious, and honest. Yet, Shen Bin, being from a rural background and divorced, was single. Thus, they had their parents introduce him to someone. The parents dared not offend Director Li and his wife, couldn’t find a suitable match, and were reluctant to let go of their younger daughter, so Ye Ling was pushed into the role.

Thus, whenever she saw the wife of Director Li, Ye Ling felt she should resent her. Had it not been for her making Ye Ling’s parents introduce someone to Shen Bin, Ye Ling wouldn’t have ended up marrying him, leading to all that followed, and she wouldn’t have had such a miserable life.

However, out of guilt towards Shen Bin, Ye Ling lost the resentment she held for the wife of Director Li. After all, she realized it was her own choices that led to her situation; there was no one else to blame.

Because of these experiences, she knew what kinds of people Ye Zhenfen liked—those who remembered the revolutionary elders. Even though Ye Qian spoke a heavy topic during New Year’s, it resonated with Ye Zhenfen. Instead of disliking her, it made Ye Zhenfen remember her deeply.

Ye Ling retracted her gaze and lowered her head, smiling slightly. Ye Qian played her cards well. Even if she could live her life over again, Ye Ling felt that without knowing Ye Qian’s true nature, she wouldn’t be a match for Ye Qian.

Originally, Ye Zhenfen intended to let go of Ye Qian’s hand but didn’t. She even asked Ye Qian about her age and interests. After Ye Qian answered, she held Ye Qian’s hand again, saying, "I now work at the city library. You can go borrow whatever books you like by mentioning my name."

This was a great thing.

Everyone at the table showed an expression of envy.

Bai Xue was naturally happy but said awkwardly, "How can we trouble you like this? I’ll just get her a card when I have time."

The city library is a great place with many books, but the card is expensive, costing five yuan a month. Most families are reluctant to spend that money on a card. Being able to access it for free was definitely enviable.

"Don’t worry, kids from our compound don’t have to pay for books. I’ll apply for it," Ye Zhenfen promised in front of everyone, "Any of your kids wanting to borrow books are welcome."

"That’s really too much trouble for you," everyone thanked her.

Song Mei and several others who had envied Ye Qian earlier now looked at her with gratitude because they would be able to go to the library too. Only Ye Ling looked up just as the dumplings were being served and quickly grabbed her chopsticks.

This action naturally drew attention. With many around, it soon caught others’ eyes. Everyone seated around the round table looked towards Ye Ling, who alone held chopsticks.

Song Mei pulled Jiang Yan closer, whispering, clearly gossiping about Ye Ling.

Even if other parents wanted to comment, they wouldn’t. After all, she wasn’t their child, and the Ye family’s eldest daughter came from the countryside; her unfamiliarity with city life was understandable. Bai Xue felt her younger daughter had gained respect earlier, but now all had been lost by the elder one.

As Bai Xue swallowed her grievances, Zhao Guodong was the first to break the silence, holding his chopsticks and loudly exclaimed, "Dumplings are here, dumplings are here."

This immediately livened up the atmosphere.

Mrs. Zhao’s chiding was met with Zhao Guodong’s justified reply, "Why can’t I say something when the dumplings are here? Isn’t New Year’s Eve about waiting to eat dumplings? Otherwise, why gather around the table?"

From the other side, Ye Zhenfen laughed, "Well said, everyone, hurry and eat the dumplings while they’re hot."

After all, it was the company canteen, serving dumplings quickly, four big bowls to each table, which were replenished from the first table once finished. The chatter in the canteen affirmed the lively New Year atmosphere.

No one at the family table drank; it was all women and children, eating quickly. Ye Ling didn’t care about others’ views. She directly placed dumplings into her grandma’s bowl until it was full before serving herself. Old Mrs. Ye was touched and kept urging her granddaughter to eat more.

Their actions, though taking place amidst eating, showed others that the Ye family’s eldest daughter, despite appearing frugal, had a good heart and knew to be filial first. _{f.re(e) w.e(b)nov el.c.om}

Seeing her youngest daughter hadn’t seized the chance, Bai Xue, who sat beside Old Mrs. Ye, also followed by putting dumplings into her bowl, "Mom, eat more. These past years, you’ve helped us so much with Lingzi."

The mother-in-law relationship was so harmonious that everyone felt it was due to Bai Xue’s good nature. Reflecting on their own familial relationships, they couldn’t help but feel envious.

Ye Ling had no time to bother with her mother’s pretense. With her taking care of Grandma’s dumplings, she focused on her own meal. Zhao Guodong and the boys next to him, well-aware of the phrase "fourteen or fifteen-year-olds eat like three adults," seemed to prove it true. However, growing up in the company compound taught them good manners, so they weren’t messy while eating. Particularly Zhao Guodong, who repeatedly glanced over at Ye Ling, couldn’t help but be distracted. Even while eating, he glanced at Ye Ling, watching her deftly pop a dumpling into her mouth, one after another with her chopsticks, her movements efficient. Zhao Guodong was stunned.

"What are you doing?" Zhao Guodong glared at Zhang Linong while rubbing his leg.

He’d kicked pretty hard.

Zhang Linong placed a dumpling in his bowl, "There are fireworks later, if you don’t eat quickly, you’ll miss them."

Hearing this, Zhao Guodong’s eyes lit up, and his eating pace quickened.

Zhang Linong took out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth, reining in his gaze at Ye Ling. Internally, he wondered why a girl could eat so much.

But instead of focusing on Ye Ling, Song Mei and Jiang Yan, who initially had time to quietly laugh at her, found themselves unable to, as everyone concentrated on their meal. Given that dumplings weren’t something they could eat anytime—they were often scarce—they soon ignored everything else and started eating in earnest.