Qiaohui and Lin Yuezhen both laughed.
Lin Yuezhen had seen bell-bottoms before and gestured to show how wide the pant legs were.
Qiaohui looked at her in surprise. "Pant legs that wide must use a lot of extra fabric, right?"
It suddenly dawned on Lin Lan that it was already the ’80s—the era of those massive bell-bottoms, tight on top and wide at the bottom. The cuffs could be a foot and a half wide, with even the smaller ones being over a foot. They billowed as you walked, swaying from side to side and practically sweeping the floor.
Paired with floral shirts, oversized sunglasses, and perd-out hair... it was the signature look for the trendy youth of the era.
Lin Lan finished packing the pastries for the two brothers. "I’m going to Shilian today and might be gone for a couple of days. If you two have so free ti, co and help out."
"No problem!" Wang Zhilin puffed out his chest. "Auntie, you go enjoy your trip. We’ll take care of everything at ho."
"Thank you," Lin Lan said with a smile.
After the two brothers left, Lin Lan went to the city hospital. She got a prescription for so ointnt for rheumatism and joint pain, and after a mont’s thought, also picked up so fever reducers for coughs and colds, along with so headache powder. By the ti she ca out, the rain had stopped, and the sun was breaking through the clouds to shine upon the earth.
Li Xiangyang and Little Douzi had already returned. "I had soone buy twenty-two pounds of salt, eleven pounds of brown sugar, a bag of white flour, and so fruit candies."
Seeing that everything was packed, Lin Lan said, "Alright, let’s get going."
"I have to get my things!" Little Douzi hurried back to grab his schoolbag. Inside were the picture books and colored crayons he’d prepared as gifts for his older cousins.
Uncle Xiangyang had bought him the crayons, along with a nice pencil case printed with his favorite character, Haiwa!
Lin Lan gave the coin purse to Lin Yuezhen and gave them both a few last-minute instructions.
Li Xiangyang secured their bag to the back of the bicycle, lifted Little Douzi onto the crossbar, and the three of them set off for the bus station.
The station was much more crowded than it had been recently. Lin Lan noticed a few shifty-eyed n deliberately pushing their way into the most packed areas. ’They’re definitely pickpockets,’ she thought.
She also spotted two youths in bell-bottoms with shoulder-length hair. All eyes were on them wherever they went. The older folks tsked in disapproval, while the younger ones watched with undisguised envy.
Lin Lan held Little Douzi’s hand and walked with Li Xiangyang, who was pushing the bicycle, toward the bus bound for Shilian. Just as they neared it, a bus across the way opened its doors, and a wave of passengers surged out, instantly mobbing the area in front of the bus entrance.
A man with an old army uniform draped over his arm and a youth carrying a briefcase tailed an elderly gentleman in a navy blue Mao suit. The one with the briefcase froze for a second when he saw Li Xiangyang, but then continued to shove his way onto the bus with his companion.
Li Xiangyang and Lin Lan stopped, holding Little Douzi’s hand, and decided to wait for everyone else to board before they got on.
She watched as the man with the uniform over his arm reached into the elderly man’s coat pocket. Lin Lan glanced at Little Douzi beside her, hesitated, and said nothing.
"Mommy, look! Why is that man putting his hand in that grandpa’s pocket?" Little Douzi suddenly shouted.
The old man quickly clutched his pocket and shot a glare at the man with the uniform. Seeing that nothing was missing, he gave Little Douzi a grateful smile and boarded the bus.
The man with the uniform stepped back off the bus and walked nacingly toward the trio. He glared at Lin Lan and Li Xiangyang. "You’d better watch your little brat."
Li Xiangyang took a step forward, his eyes flashing with nace. "I’ve morized your face. Now, get lost!"
The man gave Li Xiangyang a surprised look, then glanced back at his partner, who was now getting off the bus. "Hey, co take a look at who this ’grandpa’ is."
The man with the briefcase ca over and gave Li Xiangyang an awkward smile. "Brother Li, you and your wife are catching a bus!"
The man with the uniform froze for a second, then his face imdiately broke into a grin. "Oh, so you’re acquaintances!"
Li Xiangyang gave him a cool glance. "Hou Wu, does your brother know this is what you’re doing?"
"Brother Li, please don’t tell my brother! I’ll go ho right now." Hou Wu cupped his hands in a quick apology to Li Xiangyang, then grabbed the man with the uniform and ran.
Just then, the doors to the Shilian bus opened. Little Douzi spotted Li Hongi and shouted, "Auntie Li, we’re going to Grandma’s house!"
"So, Little Douzi’s off to his grandma’s!" Li Hongi bead at the trio. "Little Lin, heading back to your parents’ place?"
Lin Lan nodded with a smile. "Mhm, just going to visit them."
Li Hongi glanced at Li Xiangyang. "And this is?"
"Li Xiangyang, my fiancé," Lin Lan said matter-of-factly.
Li Xiangyang nodded to her, handed her the tickets, then hoisted the bicycle onto the luggage rack. He then ca down and carried Little Douzi onto the bus.
Lin Lan smiled and took out two bags of pumpkin cakes and pumpkin seeds, handing them to Li Hongi. "Sister Li, I made these pumpkin cakes fresh. You and Master Chen should have a taste."
Li Hongi didn’t stand on ceremony, accepting them with a smile. "Thanks! I feel like I’m always mooching off you!" She winked at Lin Lan. "You and your fiancé look so nice today. He’s handso enough to be a movie star! You two are a perfect match."
Lin Lan just smiled. "You’re exaggerating. He’s not that handso, just easy on the eyes."
Little Douzi leaned against the window, waving to her. "Mommy, hurry up and get on!"
Lin Lan nodded and chatted with Li Hongi for a little longer.
Li Hongi told her that the station had gotten much busier after New Year’s, but that ant there were more pickpockets around, too. Soone had even had their child go missing, so she warned Lin Lan to keep a close eye on her son.
After thanking her, Lin Lan boarded the bus and sat beside Li Xiangyang, relaying what Li Hongi had said. "Sister Li and Master Chen often help with my deliveries. They even bring them right to my door."
"The one with the briefcase is Hou Gui’s youngest brother. He was spoiled rotten by his mother. But it’s true the city’s gotten more chaotic since the reforms."
A little while later, Master Chen got into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and the bus headed off toward Dashiqiao Commune.
When they got off, as Lin Lan was saying goodbye to Master Chen and Li Hongi, Li Xiangyang stepped forward and offered Master Chen a pack of cigarettes to thank them for all their help to Lin Lan.
Lin Lan watched him, her heart filled with warmth. Li Hongi chuckled and teased, "Is your fiancé a businessman too?"
"Mhm! His family are butchers!"
"A butcher!" Li Hongi laughed. "I never would have guessed!"
Lin Lan: "..."
Li Xiangyang exchanged a few more pleasantries with Master Chen. Then, Lin Lan got on the back of the bicycle, and Li Xiangyang started pedaling toward the ferry.
Once they were across the river, Lin Lan took out the pumpkin cakes, and the three of them ate as they continued on their way. By the ti they biked to Shilian, it was already past noon.
As they headed up the hill into Shilian’s territory, people from the production team saw the trio pass by and imdiately gathered to whisper among themselves.
Li Xiangyang lifted Little Douzi off the bicycle. The boy shouted as he ran into the courtyard, "Grandma! Grandpa! We’re here!"
"Oh! My dear grandson, you’re here!" Wu Shufen ca out of the kitchen happily. She took Little Douzi’s hand and bead at Lin Lan and Li Xiangyang. "I thought you weren’t coming until tomorrow!"
"Auntie, where are Uncle Lin and the others?" Li Xiangyang asked with a smile.
Wu Shufen’s eyes crinkled as she smiled at him. "They’re at the pigsty out back. One of the sows looks like she’s about to give birth."
Little Douzi tugged on Li Xiangyang’s hand. "Uncle Xiangyang, I’ll take you!"
"Alright!" Li Xiangyang said to Wu Shufen, "Auntie, Little Douzi and I will go take a look at the pigsty."
Wu Shufen quickly said, "You haven’t eaten, have you? I’ll go cook so noodles for you!"
Li Xiangyang shook his head with a smile. "No need, we had pastries on the road. We’re not hungry right now."
Lin Lan chid in, "Mom, we brought so pastries and ate on the way. We’re full."
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