"Do you have any friends around here? You’ve been back for so long, but no friends have co by."
"Back in school, I only hung out with Wei Jian Country; I’m not familiar with the others. My comrades are scattered all over. There are very few in S City. I’ll gather them when I have ti."
"Aren’t you bored being stuck with your wife all day?"
"Not at all." Han Yi smirked, still rembering to reach out with his mischievous hand.
Besides preparing a cotton jacket for him, Lin Wan also bought him a dozen pairs of socks and underwear. With the leftover cotton fabric at ho, Lin Wan made two pairs for him and her brother, boxer style.
"After this leave, are you staying on-base without going out?"
"Probably, there’s a training session next month that I must lead. If you miss , you can visit the base on Sundays."
"Yes, I’ll co to see you when I’m free. Our ho must have gathered a lot of dust. If it’s inconvenient, just stay at the camp for a couple of days when you go back. Sun-dry our quilts for a few days before using them, okay?"
"Got it."
"If they get moldy, just call . I’ll make a new set and bring them over."
"Alright."
The young couple lounged in bed all afternoon until her brother ca back, and only then did they get up.
Lin Yinghui glanced at his sister’s sleepy eyes and knew what was going on, feeling a bit embarrassed.
After dinner, he returned to his own courtyard.
The next morning, Shen Boxu arrived on a bicycle and said the deal with the supply and marketing cooperative fell through.
Their side doesn’t sell clothes, only fabric.
"Big brother, it’s okay; we closed a deal yesterday. Our current stock isn’t much."
"Alright, in the future, if you sell anything, let know. I have so friends at the factory, maybe they can help."
"Sure."
Before he left, he wanted to give her clothes, but Lin Wan insisted he take them away. She prepared them for him and his wife.
Mom looked at the chicken coop Han Yi built in the courtyard, delighted, and inquired at the morning market about who was selling hens that were laying eggs, preferably laying old hens.
Lin Wan heard and laughed quietly, thinking, "Who would be willing to sell a hen that’s laying eggs?" The last ti she gave Grandma an old hen, Lin Wan told them it could lay eggs, and Saozi couldn’t bear to kill it. Even after several days, it hadn’t laid a single egg.
Clearly, they were tricked.
With nothing to do at ho during the day, Lin Wan spent the morning at ho and in the afternoon, Han Yi took her to the cinema.
There was only one screening in the afternoon, a romance film called "Legend of Tianyun Mountain."
They didn’t see Hu Dong’s shadow at the cinema entrance, only to realize it was Monday, and he had to attend classes.
But next to the cinema, there was a new stall selling sunflower seeds and peanuts.
At that ti, the screenings were still black and white, and a single movie ticket cost eighty cents.
The plot was average, but Lin Wan admired the black, red, and white scarf the girl wore in the film and her red canvas down jacket.
She liked that jacket at first sight, but it couldn’t be made with a sewing machine. Slightly thicker fabric made the machine struggle. Even if it could be made, she couldn’t source any down right now.
It was a case of ability without opportunity—skills and experience but lacking equipnt. A lucrative opportunity missed just like that.
Lin Wan wore a look as if she had lost a fortune, amusing Han Yi.
"If you can’t earn, just rest at ho. We don’t need that much money; having enough is fine. Even if you do nothing, I can still take care of you."
"I know you’re capable. I’m a rural girl from out of town without stable work. I can’t compare with others wherever we go. I’m afraid I’ll embarrass you."
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