Because weâre all family, Brother Wu only charged six hundred plus yuan.
The profit from selling a TV is several hundred, no wonder there are so many people dealing in appliances this year. At this rate, one can earn quite a bit in a year. With Han Yi taking care of the child, Lin Wan quickly started a new round of cutting and sewing. The group worked for four or five days to get Wu Liuâs order completed.
By now, Shi Lan and her Ning Jiang have been back for two days.
This time, Shi Lan came, and Ning Jiang took care of the child all day, treating Shi Lan like a child. Lin Wan and Han Yi thought Shi Lan was pregnant. Even Little Star wouldnât let her hold him, afraid she might have an unstable pregnancy.
Turns out in the end, it was all a misunderstanding!
"Did you say you had a surgery?" Yin Peibai asked Shi Lan curiously during their free time. Ever since she lost her first child, itâs been a year, and there hasnât been any sign of pregnancy. Itâs only natural to feel anxious.
"Yes, originally Ah Jiang took me to a hospital here; the doctor said there were no issues. This time, while I was in the Capital City, I met a neighbor who worked at a hospital near our apartment. She told me they had a new machine that could spot problems inside the human body, so I had her take me in for a check-up. Turned out, my fallopian tubes were blocked. The doctor recommended surgery."
"Was the surgery painful?" Yin Peibai couldnât imagine.
Shi Lan gave a shy smile "I received an anesthetic initially, so it wasnât very painful. I was sore for a day or two afterward, but now Iâm fine; itâs been almost a month. The doctor advised me to rest well, and after a month, we can try for a baby."
"Really, then... should I also go for a check-up sometime? I always feel like thereâs something wrong with me." Otherwise, after such a long time, and without contraception, why havenât we conceived?
"You, stop overthinking it. I think you have too much on your mind. Just relax." Su Ling, having been through it, was more open-minded.
"Iâm actually not stressed, itâs mostly my two moms at home. My mom is truly anxious for me, and my mother-in-law talks to Zhang Hanfu every day, saying I have physical issues and canât have children. Sigh, hearing it makes me angry."
"Your mother-in-law is really something, rushing things like this," Shi Lanâs mother-in-law isnât great either, but she doesnât badmouth her daughter-in-law behind her back.
Among them, only Lin Wan and Su Ling have mother-in-laws who really care for their daughters-in-law.
Lin Wan was nearby sewing labels, chuckling lightly.
Her grandmother had nothing but good things to say about her, and even her husbandâs younger siblings were fine. Now that the weather was getting hot, Hu Dongâs business of selling seeds was on hold too. He took some classmates with him to the distillery to help move supplies.
They would ride on a tricycle every day, assisting with deliveries to points in the suburban and outer areas.
Brother Jianye pays each person thirty yuan a month. Though this job earns less than Xiao Dung makes at the cinema, he enjoys it. According to him, enduring more hardship and meeting different people is beneficial for his future.
Lijuan had a break recently, helping him knit sweaters, spending all day with Ye Zi and some other girlfriends, or visiting Yu Qianqian to study styles and patterns. She wasnât coming to see him anymore.
By the end of September, the weather began to change, and her knitted sweaters could sell well in the market.
Liang Hongmei stayed with Lin Guozhi at the military unit for two weeks and came back.
In a few days, Dad will return to Z City for his new position, so during these few days, Mom will pack up and go with Dad.
"Mom, when you get there, stay by Dadâs side. If Grandma and Grandpa donât treat you well, come back immediately," Lin Wan worried for Mom, fearing she would suffer at the hands of Grandpa and Grandma over there.
Lin Wanâs words prompted Lin Guozhi to give her a light tap on the head. "How could I let your mom suffer? Donât worry, your grandparents know about this and are waiting for me to bring you back. I originally planned for you and your brother to go together."
Lin Guozhi paused and continued, "Later, I thought after I return, Iâll be busy with work at the unit, so I wonât be able to care for the family. So itâs better for me to take your mom first, and after I settle things there, Iâll bring you over."
"Okay. Since Dad, you canât manage everything, letâs keep Mom here first, and once things are arranged over there, she can come to get us. Besides, Mom needs to take care of the restaurant here."
Lin Wanâs words made Lin Guozhi cough lightly to cover his embarrassment, "Your mom should come with me."
A single sentence made the siblings awkward, but over the past two weeks, Mom seemed rejuvenated by Dadâs affection, learning to dress herself up.
Mom used to never care about these things, but itâs undeniable that a woman with a man is different.
Theyâre all happy for Mom.
As Liang Hongmei prepared to leave, Lin Wan and Lin Yinghui worried their mom might face difficulties with the grandparents she hadnât met. So the siblings took action.
Lin Yinghui withdrew ten thousand yuan from the bank for Liang Hongmei and put it in her account.
Lin Wan spent the days making several outfits suitable for Mom, ensuring sheâd look respectable. Not just for Mom, but for Dad as well.
She originally wanted to make two outfits for the elders but didnât know their sizes, afraid they wouldnât fit. Eventually, she went to the silverware store and prepared a gold bracelet for the grandmother she hadnât met.
Han Yi heard of the Lin Family in Z City; in the Central Plains region, the Lin Family holds significant status in the military district. Mr. Lin Senior is known for fighting against the Japanese, traversing the grasslands, and climbing snowy mountains as a veteran of the Red Army.
Before retirement, he was prominent in the unit.
His son is now in the unit and has become a staff officer, and his grandson is doing well too.
Han Yi brought out a memento he earned on the battlefield previously and gave it to his mother-in-law for her to use as a gift.
Lin Guozhi found amusement watching his son, daughter, and son-in-law prepare these things for Nannan. It felt as if his parents were wolves and tigers.
"Donât worry, I said your mom wonât be mistreated, and she wonât be mistreated. Weâre not going to live with your grandparents; I have a separate yard divided in the military district courtyard. Your mom and I will live separately."
"Will Grandma and Grandpa have any opinions?" Lin Wan asked worriedly.
"No, these years, your second uncle has been taking care of your grandparents. Heâs been giving them support, and the familyâs old house is something your grandparents left for him. Over the years, I havenât been there, and waking up, I found myself alone, unable to take care of myself. They werenât at ease, so they never discussed these matters."
"Oh, Dad, is your district far from the city?"
"The courtyard is in the city, not far from the unit."
"Oh," thatâs good. Being in the city makes it easier for Mom to go about.
As Liang Hongmei followed Lin Guozhi to Z City, she took the family registry with her. Lin Guozhi intended to transfer Nannan and Ah Huiâs registration under his name. That way, when the military provides subsidies to family members, Xiao Wan, now with Han Yi, neednât worry. Ah Hui, over in Z City, could have his second uncle help arrange things and transfer him over, reuniting the family.
When Mom left, she took two packages of clothes, one small for summer and the rest for autumn and winter. These past two years, Liang Hongmei had acquired quite a few clothes, mostly prepared by Xiao Wan.
They were all good clothes; in Z City, few could outdress her.
Momâs departure made the house feel noticeably empty.
With Saozi absent, Lin Yinghui moved back into his original western room. The small courtyard there only needed occasional cleaning.
Han Yi no longer felt dizzy these days, and he was visibly recovering. He was helping Lin Wan with the clothes lately.
Lin Wan wouldnât let him do these things, only letting him stay home with Little Star and chat with Ning Jiang.
Han Yi and Ning Jiang, two grown men staying at home, felt stifled. Turning around, they took Little Star to the military unit to see their comrades.
With time on her hands, Lin Wan focused on designing autumn and winter styles with Su Ling.
This autumn, Lin Wan didnât just limit her designs to the North; she made several for the South too, where the climate is comparatively warm and damp.
Lin Wanâs styles were suitable for selling down South, which Brother Wu could handle.
After resting for two days, Shi Lan heard Wu Liu needed a shipment. She didnât hesitate, quickly contacting Huang Dashan to get a batch of mushrooms delivered, and resumed making soy sauce. Sheâd been away for over a month, and stockpiling was almost done. She had to act fast.
Ning Jiang helped her, taking on the tasks of washing and cutting mushrooms. Eventually, Shi Lan found him annoying and didnât need him anymore, sending him to join Han Yi in babysitting instead. Both women were busy making money, leaving the two men to watch the children felt unfair, so Han Yi and Ning Jiang discussed and decided to "run away from home" with the kids.
The two took Little Star to the military unit.
At the unit, they ran into Qin Hongbing on guard duty, and joined a few comrades going up the mountain camping.
Han Yi, the stay-at-home dad, couldnât miss out, taking his daughter to experience military life early.
Two days later they returned home, and Lin Wan saw Little Star covered in red bumps. She was both annoyed and amused, nearly making Han Yi kneel on a washboard.