"I’ll get her household registration book," Lin Lan said, going inside to retrieve Lin Yuezhen’s book. She handed it to Li Xiangyang for him to take to Xiuyun to get the certificate issued. "Your bike is at the alley entrance by the vehicle factory. Just ride mine back."
Lin Yuezhen placed the freshly stead buns into an enal mug, wrapped it in a towel, and handed it to Li Xiangyang.
"Thanks, Yuezhen!" Li Xiangyang put the buns into his satchel, then ruffled Little Douzi’s head. "Make sure you eat up."
"Okay!" Little Douzi replied thoughtfully. "Ride carefully, Uncle Xiangyang."
Li Xiangyang went ho, and Lin Lan brought so buns to the old woman, telling her that Lin Yuezhen was going to the provincial capital to see a doctor the next day.
The old woman patted Lin Lan’s hand. "Yuezhen is blessed to have t a good sister like you. Once she’s better, she should find a good man while she’s still young and have a child or two. Then her life won’t have been lived in vain."
Lin Lan smiled. "Grandaunt, I can make so many things each day now, and it’s all thanks to Yuezhen’s trendous help. She’s always looking out for , so I have to look out for her, too."
The old woman nodded repeatedly. "Exactly. That’s how people should be. We look out for one another."
When Lin Lan returned ho, she saw the table was laid with large buns filled with pork belly and celery, a fragrant potato porridge cooked in bone broth, and preserved vegetables stir-fried with pork cracklings. The other two were just waiting for her to get back before they started eating.
"Go on, eat! Why were you waiting for ?"
Little Douzi grabbed a bun in one hand and a spoon in the other. He took a bite of bun, then a spoonful of potato porridge, nodding as he ate. "Mama, the potato porridge and the buns are both delicious!"
Lin Lan smiled and nodded. "If you like them, I’ll make them again in a few days. After you finish eating, go for a little walk, then co back for your bath."
"Okay!"
After Little Douzi finished eating, he took Wangcai for a walk. When he returned, Lin Lan prepared his bathwater, but he clutched his little underwear tightly. "Mama, Brother Kai says we’re n! When we get older, we have to wash ourselves!"
Lin Lan laughed and gave his bottom a light pat. "You silly boy, getting shy in front of your own mother! It’s getting cold out. You’ll catch a cold if you wash by yourself. Wait until it’s warm next year, then you can start washing on your own."
Little Douzi blushed and nodded. "When it gets warm, I’ll wash myself."
Lin Lan nodded, placed him in the washbasin, bathed him, and changed him into a clean set of pajamas. Mother and son played for a while, and she waited until his hair was dry before putting him to bed.
As he listened to Lin Lan’s gentle voice, Little Douzi gave her a little tug. "Mama, I know you’d never beco a an stepmom!"
Lin Lan paused for a mont before understanding what he ant. She leaned down and kissed him. "Oh, sweetie, you’re my precious boy."
Little Douzi nodded emphatically. "I love Mama too!" With that, he snuggled under the covers and drifted off to a sweet sleep.
Lin Lan set down the storybook. She gazed at his little, rosy-cheeked face as he slept, gave him a kiss, then went to the kitchen to get busy.
The next morning, after finishing her business at the market, Lin Lan had Lin Yuezhen pack for her trip while she went to the brigade headquarters to call Old Chen.
The early morning countryside was shrouded in thick fog. The distant rapeseed fields, the bamboo forest, and Niu Bei Mountain had a hazy, elusive beauty as they faded in and out of view.
When she arrived at the brigade headquarters, Lin Lan peeked through the glass window and saw accountant Jin at his desk, writing in a ledger. She knocked on the pane. "I need to make a phone call," she said with a smile.
Accountant Jin lowered his reading glasses. Seeing it was Lin Lan, he smiled and nodded. "I’ll bring it to the window for you." Then he asked, "Do you know how to dial?"
Lin Lan smiled and nodded. "I do!"
Accountant Jin brought the phone to the window. Lin Lan dialed the number Old Chen had given her and told him that Lin Yuezhen would be heading to the provincial capital the next day.
Old Chen invited Lin Lan to bring her son and visit for a few days, but Lin Lan explained that she was busy making and selling pastries. She promised to visit when she had the chance in the future.
Once things were settled with her contact in the provincial capital, Lin Lan returned the phone to accountant Jin, asking him to put the charge on her account to be deducted from her work points.
When she got ho, Li Xiangyang was already there with Brother Yong. He had brought two tickets and the certificate from Xiuyun. He then introduced Brother Yong to Lin Yuezhen.
Lin Yuezhen was taken aback for a mont when she saw the scar on Brother Yong’s face, then she gave him a deep, grateful bow.
Brother Yong quickly stepped aside, laughing heartily. "It’s just one trip. No need for that."
Li Xiangyang smiled and handed the certificate and tickets to Lin Lan. "Get her things packed. The departure is at 3:20 this afternoon. Brother Yong will co pick Yuezhen up." He then leaned closer to Lin Lan and whispered, "Don’t worry about the money. I had Brother Yong bring so."
Lin Lan whispered back, "I’ve made so money selling things the last few days. If it’s not enough, we can borrow a little from Brother Yong. Her things are already packed. She can leave as soon as he gets here."
Brother Yong glanced at Lin Yuezhen, who was busy feeding the pigs, and subconsciously touched the scar on his face.
"Alright!" Li Xiangyang, rembering how Old Li had devoured the buns the day before, bead at Lin Lan. "My dad wanted to thank you for the buns. He said they were delicious."
Lin Lan smiled, pleased. "If he likes them, I’ll steam another batch and send it over next ti."
"Okay! I’ve got to head back. I still need to deliver so pigs to the slaughterhouse."
After Li Xiangyang and Brother Yong left, Lin Lan took the money she had earned over the past few days from a trunk. Worried about all the pickpockets on the road, she cut a piece of cloth and had Lin Yuezhen sew it into her waistband to create a hidden pocket for the cash.
She also urged Yuezhen to get a gynecological exam while she was in the provincial capital. She reminded her not to constantly touch her pockets on the journey, as that was the easiest way to attract a thief’s attention.
Lin Yuezhen nodded, taking the money and the fabric. She pulled a pair of pants from her bag and began sewing the hidden pocket just as Lin Lan had shown her.
That afternoon, when Brother Yong ca to pick up Lin Yuezhen, Lin Lan wrote down Old Chen’s phone number and address and gave it to him.
On second thought, she also wrote down the nas of several pieces of baking equipnt—a mixer, a dough kneader, and a few other machines—for Brother Yong to pass on to Old Chen. She wanted him to ask around and see if any of this equipnt was available in the provincial capital.
Brother Yong nodded, took the note, and led Lin Yuezhen outside.
Lin Yuezhen waved a reluctant goodbye before leaving with Brother Yong.
Once they were in the distance, Lin Lan went back inside and began packing up her things to go set up her stall.
Before she could leave, Li Xiangyang arrived. Together, they finished packing the things for the stall, loaded everything onto the rear racks of their bikes, and headed for the Eucalyptus Forest.
They were still a dozen paces from their spot when Lin Lan saw her: the woman from the day before, the one who had accused her of price-gouging. She was standing right in front of their stall space, her face a mask of fury as she stared Lin Lan down.
She lowered her voice. "Xiangyang, I think that woman is here looking for trouble."
Li Xiangyang glanced at Xu Huan. "Her na is Xu Huan. Li Jing introduced us at the black market. She ca looking for here yesterday, too."
Lin Lan asked, confused, "Who’s Li Jing?"
"Soone unimportant. I’ll tell you the details later." Li Xiangyang pushed his bicycle forward and stared coldly at Xu Huan. "You’d better not start anything here. If you do, not even Li Jing can protect you."
Xu Huan sneered. "What’s it to you? I’m here to see the cake roll seller!" She then shouted at Lin Lan, "Hey, you! Your cake rolls are unsanitary! I had diarrhea all night after eating one. You’re going to pay my dical bills!"
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