Chapter 9

Even Yang Lulong had lost track of how long she had been living there.

“Little Yang! Come and get your things!”

Zhang Long’s booming shout drew both Yang Lulong and Wanniang out of their respective rooms.

Wanniang watched in surprise as Yang Lulong accepted the large pile of tools from him.

“What are those?”

“Little Yang asked me a few days ago to get her some woodworking tools from town,” Zhang Long explained honestly.

“Woodworking?”

“I know a little…” Yang Lulong answered hesitantly.

In truth, she did not really know carpentry. At most, she enjoyed making things by hand. She had asked Zhang Long to bring her some tools simply to give herself something to do.

She could not rely on the chicks to entertain her forever.

Wanniang watched Yang Lulong excitedly pick stolen contentup the tools, eager to try them out. Yang Lulong then borrowed some paper, brushes, and ink from her. After dipping a brush into the ink, she began drawing.

Wanniang curiously watched from beside her.

She knew nothing about woodworking, so she could not understand Yang Lulong’s drawing at all.

“What are you drawing?”

“A wheelchair. It’s like a carriage, except it’s a chair—a chair that can be pushed.”

“Are you making it for Sister Fang?”

“Mm.”

What had happened to Sister Fang continued to linger in Yang Lulong’s mind. Although Wu Yu had absolutely nothing to do with her, the guilt she felt had never disappeared.

“Oh…”

A trace of disappointment entered Wanniang’s voice.

Yang Lulong suddenly tore off a strip of paper and asked Wanniang to hold out her hand. She wrapped the strip around Wanniang’s wrist to measure it.

“What are you making now?”

“It’s a secret.”

Yang Lulong deliberately kept her in suspense.

Over the next several days, Yang Lulong remained in the courtyard, laboring away at the wheelchair.

She tested it repeatedly. Only after confirming that it was sturdy enough did she deliver it to Sister Fang.

Upon receiving the gift, Xiaowen became even more excited than Sister Fang. She threw her arms around Yang Lulong and thanked her profusely.

“Now Mama can come outside and play with us!”

Xiaohua was equally delighted. She ran over and hugged Yang Lulong as well.

“Thank you, Little Yang.”

Hearing that, Xiaowen immediately smacked Xiaohua on the head.

“Is ‘Little Yang’ something you should be calling her? You should call her Auntie Yang. Show some respect.”

“But Auntie Xiaowen and Uncle Zhang call Read on BaiLianTalesher that too. Why can’t I?” Xiaohua complained, pouting defiantly.

“Fine, we won’t call her that anymore. From now on, you’re my Sister! I’ll call you Sister from now on. All right, Sister Yang?”

“Me too, Sister Yang,” Zhang Long joined in, adding to the commotion.

“There’s really no need to call me that…”

Yang Lulong was rendered speechless.

Sister Fang’s home was instantly filled with laughter.

To celebrate, everyone decided to have a picnic on the grass beside the fields.

Xiaowen and the others dragged Yang Lulong away to fish with them. The playful Xiaohua followed along, leaving only Sister Fang and Wanniang at the picnic spot.

“Wanniang…”

“Hmm?”

“I know that, after what happened with Wu Yu, I may not be qualified to say this… but she truly is a good person. You’ve felt it too, haven’t you?”

“Mm…”

“Then… don’t let this opportunity pass you by.”

Sister Fang’s words left Wanniang deep in thought.

She understood what Sister Fang meant.

From the moment she first met Yang Lulong, Wanniang could sense that she was merely quiet and reserved. She was certainly not a bad person.

After living together day and night, Wanniang had gradually come to understand her better.

She had constantly worried that Yang Lulong might recover her memories and leave the village. However, after Yang Lulong revealed the truth about herself, that fear no longer troubled her.

It was just that…

Wanniang did not know what Yang Lulong thought of her.

Xiaowen and the others were extremely fortunate and quickly caught several large, plump fish.

Everyone happily enjoyed the picnic, but Yang Lulong noticed that something seemed to be troubling Wanniang. Ever since they returned from fishing, Wanniang had remained unusually quiet, only occasionally smiling along with everyone else.

She remained that way throughout the journey home.

Once they arrived, Wanniang said, “I’ll go boil some water…”

She was about to enter the kitchen when Yang Lulong suddenly stopped her.

“Wait.”

Yang Lulong took a wooden bracelet from inside her robe. Several patterns had been carefully carved into its surface.

“This is for you.”

“For me? Why?”

Wanniang accepted the bracelet, a delighted smile appearing on her face as she examined it closely.

“I just wanted to give you something,” Yang Lulong answered shyly.

Wanniang immediately slipped the bracelet onto her wrist.

“It’s beautiful. Thank you…”

Seeing how pleased Wanniang was made Yang Lulong happy as well.

Holding Yang Lulong’s gift reminded Wanniang of what Sister Fang had told her earlier that day.

Perhaps Yang Lulong felt the same way she did.

Finally gathering her courage, Wanniang slowly spoke.

“Yang Lulong…”

“Hmm?”

Yang Lulong met her eyes. Unlike before, she did not immediately look away. Instead, she sincerely held Wanniang’s gaze.

“I like you…”

Yang Lulong froze.

Seeing Wanniang waiting expectantly for an answer left her at a loss.

She had believed that she and Wanniang were good friends. She did not understand where the boundary between friendship and romance lay. She had barely experienced friendship before, much less fallen in love.

She did not dare reject Wanniang because she was afraid of losing this precious friend.

But did she like Wanniang the way someone would love a romantic partner?

Yang Lulong had never considered their relationship that way.

After thinking for a long time, she could only force out an ambiguous response.

“I don’t understand…”

Wanniang also froze upon hearing her answer.

“It’s all right… I misunderstood…”

She forced a smile.

“I’m a little tired. I think I’ll go to bed first…”

Wanniang hurriedly turned away, not daring to let Yang Lulong see her reddening eyes.

Yang Lulong watched her flee and felt equally miserable.

It seemed she had hurt Wanniang.