After dinner, Han Yi took Lin Wan home and, taking advantage of the lunchtime break, helped Lin Wan wash her hair.
The clothes are thick in winter, making everything inconvenient. Lin Wan loves cleanliness and washes her hair every two days, even in the coldest winter.
Han Yi noticed that every time Lin Wan washed her hair, she had to strip down to her undergarments, fearing she might catch a cold.
At the Spring Festival Gala in the troop, Sun Yu reportedly signed up for a dance despite Yang Weiâs opposition.
Lin Wan can only draw things, incapable of singing or dancing. She didnât want to stand out, so she teamed up with Shi Lan for a painting entry.
Shi Lan can sing a few lines of opera, but only a few lines. If she were to perform, sheâd still fall short. No need to mention anything else. Not capable at all.
So, Shi Lan could only pair up with Lin Wan to make up the numbers.
The two of them figured painting was a time-consuming and dull task, and most people wouldnât choose such a program.
Therefore, they werenât worried about being selected.
Although they signed up, they didnât practice much at home, as if knowing they wouldnât be chosen.
Sure enough, as they said, their program wasnât selected. Only three programs were added to the whole compound, all being the most exciting ones.
As expected, Sun Yuâs program was selected, and she spent the whole day showing off excitedly in the compound.
After the excitement, she returned home to face Yang Weiâs stern face.
Yang Wei strongly disagreed with Sun Yu dancing. She isnât in stable condition right now, a pregnant woman jumping around all day sounds terrifying, let alone seeing it.
Yang Wei talked to Sun Yu several times, but she wouldnât listen, feeling like ants on a hot pan, trying to figure out how to sabotage his wifeâs dance program.
That day, Lin Wan was keeping an eye on the clock from the moment she got up. Occasionally looking down to check the time.
Around one oâclock, Lin Wan dressed warmly and went to the entrance of the compound to wait for her brother coming on the mess hall bus.
Brother and Mom were on holiday. To be precise, Mom had already graduated. She passed all her final exams and was just waiting to get her diploma next summer.
Lin Wan didnât wait long before she saw her brother.
Unexpectedly, he brought so many things, three big bags full of odds and ends.
Seeing this, Lin Wan worried for her brother, "How did you carry it, Brother?" "Mom gave me a ride with the tricycle to the road, itâs not a hassle." Lin Yinghui and Lin Wan had to make two trips to carry everything.
At home, they opened the bags, which were mostly food. Rice, noodles, dried vegetables, and even various seasonings like oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. "Brother, Iâll be staying here until the Lantern Festival, then Iâll go back, no need to bring so much."
"Not much, youâll probably finish it by then, and when you leave, Xiao Yi will still be here." Lin Yinghui finally had time to take a closer look at his little sisterâs home. Itâs small, but enough for two people, with the advantage of a yard wall for family privacy, albeit small.
"This place is not bad." He said, looking around indoors before pausing, "Itâs probably boring here. A TV would be great. Iâll buy you one next year."
Lin Wan shook her head, "No need, I go out visiting every day, totally unnecessary." In fact, she didnât fancy the current TVs, not only black and white but also very small, uncomfortable to watch.
Besides, if people in the compound knew she had a TV, sheâd never get any rest. Wang Guihua and her daughter next door would definitely find excuses to visit daily, and she couldnât stand that.
Plus, there werenât many TV stations in this era.
No public buses here, so they definitely canât go back in the afternoon.
Due to the arrival of his brother-in-law, Han Yi returned an hour earlier in the afternoon. Lin Yinghui didnât want them to be too inconvenienced, so the three of them had hotpot together for dinner.
"I put those photos you took in the wardrobe at home, in the quilts." Lin Yinghui paused, puzzled, "Xiao Wan, whatâs really going on?"
She knew her brother would definitely ask about this when he came. Lin Wan sighed and explained the whole series of issues to her brother.
Lin Yinghui didnât expect it to be like this. He couldnât understand why Ye Qing would resent Xiao Wan. This wasnât Xiao Wanâs fault.
Now that he knew about these issues, he had a plan in his mind. When he went back, he would have a good talk with Mom, reminding her to be more careful to prevent Ye Qing from getting any funny ideas about her.
"Brother..."
Lin Wan had just started to speak when Lin Yinghui interrupted her, knowing from her expression what she wanted to say.
"Little sister, brother knows what to do about this. Donât worry, Iâll remind Mom when I go back."
Speaking of Ye Qing, Lin Wan felt a bit uneasy, but she knew it wasnât their responsibility. If Ye Qing persisted in her ways, she couldnât be blamed for being unforgiving.
As for Han Yiâs troop matters, Lin Yinghui couldnât be of much help, he would have to rely on himself in the future.
Regarding other matters, they wouldnât let him worry too much, the only condition was for him to treat his sister well.
In the evening, Lin Wan didnât let her brother stay in the guest house, as it wasnât as warm as home.
Besides, their bed was big enough for three people to squeeze in lengthwise.
Lin Yinghui found it inconvenient, Han Yi felt a bit awkward but didnât oppose.
So, Han Yi slept in the middle, with the siblings on either side.
Han Yi woke up early in the morning since he had exercises and was up before five.
As usual, he prepared a simple breakfast for Lin Wan before leaving.
With his brother-in-law here today, Han Yi woke up even earlier, planning to cook two dishes, but after Han Yi got up, Lin Yinghui followed suit.
Lin Yinghui didnât let Han Yi busy himself, since he was used to cooking when Mom wasnât around over the years.
Speaking of which, even though Dad wasnât around and the family was poor, Lin Wan seldom cooked at home. It was mostly Lin Yinghui doing the chores.
Han Yi couldnât come back in the morning and couldnât return at noon to see Lin Yinghui off. With an explanation, he went off to the troops.
When Lin Wan woke up, her brother had already prepared the meal.
Lin Wan felt very guilty, for her brother coming to her home and yet cooking.
"Silly girl, thereâs no need to be polite with your brother. Eat up, or Iâll miss the bus."
"Brother, when are you and Mom leaving?" Liang Hongmei rarely brought her daughter some greens, and Lin Yinghui fried them early for his sister today.
"Next week, I guess. We havenât bought the tickets yet. Iâll let you know when we do."
"Okay, Iâll see you off then."
Lin Yinghui agreed, but didnât intend to let his sister run back and forth on such cold days. Itâs just going home, and they didnât bring much.
"Brother, I left the money I gave Mom under her pillow, donât forget to remind her." For making the hat and gloves, Mom gave her quite a bit of money, she couldnât let Mom do it for free.
Speaking of money, Lin Yinghui glanced at her sideways, "Already noticed, besides you, who else in our family would put money under the pillow? Mom saw it that very night and knew it was you."
Lin Wan chuckled sheepishly, scratching her head awkwardly, "Tell Mom not to give me the money back, I wonât accept it." Last time she gave money to Mom, she didnât want it either, but she insisted on giving it to her.
"Mom left it in your room. I knew it would happen, so I secretly took her savings book and deposited it in her account."
"Very wise, not disappointing my brother indeed."
"Oh, get out of here, enough flattering me."
The reason Lin Wan gave money to Mom was to let her save some private money herself, as it wouldnât be that convenient once Brother gets married and thereâs a daughter-in-law.
Lin Wan saw her brother off on the bus, waved goodbye as the bus slowly drove off before realizing it.
"Xiao Wan, who was that? Heâs really good-looking." Lin Yuan, who had come up behind her without her knowing, asked, staring at the recently left bus.
"My brother, came to bring me some things." Upon hearing someone praise her brother, Lin Wan felt happy inside. Mom said she resembled her, while her brother took after Dad more. Dad left when she was young, leaving her with little impression, but she sometimes longed for something elusive to fill the void in her heart, imagining her fatherâs face by looking at her brother.
She wasnât boasting, her brother was just as good-looking as Han Yi, but warmer, more charming.
"Your brother..." Lin Yuan, not seeing clearly from a distance, thought he looked familiar, like sheâd seen him somewhere before.
Her brother brought a lot of dried goods, and Lin Wan took her to her house, giving Lin Yuan some to take back.