She couldn’t let Lin Wan be stronger than her, couldn’t let Lin Wan surpass her. It’s just doing business, she can do it too.
Wait and see, Lin Wan.
These days at school, the teacher hasn’t taught anything new. The main focus of this sester is to teach everyone how to pattern and tailor. For her, the final exam is not a problem.
During her free ti at ho during the day, Lin Wan had already completed the design, and the clothes were made.
A spring top, a won’s jacket, similar in style to the red cotton coat in the movie.
Lin Wan tried it on at ho, and it looked great. With the final assignnt completed, Lin Wan felt much relieved.
At ho now, except for the scarf that’s not finished, there’s mom at ho every day to help her look after things.
Lin Wan decided to stay at Han Yi’s place for a few days. The day before, Lin Wan had already asked for leave from the teacher, for half a month.
Lin Wan brought a lot of stuff — rice, noodles, vegetables, and her mom gave her plenty of them.
Thinking she hadn’t visited Grandma in a while, before departing, Lin Wan brought a lot of dried goods to Grandma.
Who knew when she got ho, Saozi said Grandma had already moved to Uncle’s place.
Lin Wan got the address, went to Aunt Jin’s next door to leave so dried goods. Knowing Lin Wan was pregnant, Aunt Jin packed plenty of snacks for her, telling her to eat them whenever she wanted and to co over for more once they were finished.
Aunt Jin and Uncle Jin’s kindness, she and Han Yi always rembered it. This sentint, they always kept in mind.
Lin Wan carrying the remaining dried goods took a bus to the address Tan Aixiang gave her.
I have to admit, the newly built apartnt building is indeed different, particularly conspicuous in this area.
Eldest Uncle’s family lives on the second floor of building 3, in the west unit.
It was Grandma who opened the door after Lin Wan knocked.
Seeing Xiao Wan, Han Ying was overjoyed, "I was just worried you’d co looking. When we moved, I didn’t intentionally tell you. It’s so cold, and with ice forming as soon as water is spilled outside, I feared you’d fall and hurt yourself."
Lin Wan glanced at Eldest Uncle’s house, a two-bedroom, two-hall apartnt, with a large balcony. No wonder Eldest Aunt was unwilling to stay ho to take care of the kids. She’s a senior worker at the factory, and any benefits always had to be arranged for them.
At this ti, both Eldest Uncle and Eldest Aunt have gone to work, leaving only Grandma at ho.
"It’s clean, but too quiet. When Eldest Aunt cos ho, there’s at least a bit of banter. They both go to work during the day, leaving just alone. Here for almost half a month now, I spend the whole day alone in the room with just a stove and a radio. It’s not as good as living at the old place, where at least stepping out ans having people to chat with." Han Ying pulled Lin Wan to sit by the iron stove in the living room to warm up.
The iron stove here in the north is specially made huge, lighting it up makes it really warm. There’s a flue installed on the stove, several small bowl-sized iron tubes venting outside.
Warm and no coal sll at all.
"Are you getting used to it here, Grandma?"
"Why wouldn’t I? I can get used to anywhere. I don’t even have to do any work; washing clothes and cooking, that’s all done by Eldest Aunt. I just help them clean up at ho, sweeping and wiping tables, very light work. The only downside is there’s no one to chat with."
"If Grandma finds it boring, why not move back? How’s your leg been lately?"
"Soaked all sumr, much better this winter. You and Xiao Yi don’t need to worry about . How’s the baby doing? Any trouble?"
"Absolutely no issues, eating well, and sleeping well."
"The ability to eat and sleep well is a blessing. The child is well-behaved, doesn’t trouble you."
Lin Wan thought the sa; the little one was so well-behaved in her belly.
She hoped they’d be just as well-behaved after birth.
Lin Wan chatted with Grandma for a while, helped her make so noodle soup for lunch, ate, and then headed to the shop.
At the shop, Lin Wan unexpectedly found so lotus root. At this ti and place, having lotus root is rare indeed.
"Xiao Gu, where did this co from?"
"Brother Huang brought it over this morning. He said his mother-in-law’s family has a wild lotus patch in front of their house, and they got a lot, brought it here to see if we want it."
"Of course, we want it. Ask how much Brother Huang has tomorrow; we’ll take it all." No matter how much, it will sell this winter.
"Aunt Liang already told him to bring it over tomorrow. They’ve agreed on a price, one cent per pound."
Lin Wan nodded. This price is quite low. In the afternoon, she sat at the front desk, knitting a scarf while thinking that tomorrow was Saturday. Just right to have her brother take her to catch the canteen truck by the roadside.
Outside, several familiar people ca in.
"This place is the best decorated here, on par with state-owned restaurants and not expensive. Let’s eat here."
"Do you have a private room, waitress? We have a child..." Leading the group, Sun Yu’s eyes t Lin Wan’s, her surprise obvious.
"Xiao Wan?" Sister-in-law Zhang exclaid from behind.
"Sun, Saozi, what brings you here?" Lin Wan quickly put down what she was holding and stood up to greet them.
"Oh, well, so sisters ca to the city to shop today. We heard soone nearby was selling rabbit fur, so we ca to have a look," Sun Yu explained with a smile.
"Oh? Did you find it?" Lin Wan didn’t know anyone around was selling rabbit fur.
"We did, just finished playing around. We’ve got a ride arranged with the military district’s truck at four in the afternoon. But it’s still early, and one of the sister’s children is hungry, so we thought we’d take the chance to have a al here, didn’t expect to see you here," said one of the sisters.
Lin Wan felt the sister’s face was familiar but didn’t know her na. There are so many military district families; she only knew a few.
"Is this your shop?" Sun Yu didn’t quite believe it belonged to Lin Wan.
Lin Wan nodded, "Sisters, co with ." There weren’t many custors at this ti in the shop.
Lin Wan led them to a private room on the first floor.
Quickly instructed Xiao Gu to prepare a table.
Lin Wan saw one sister with a two- or three-year-old child, she quickly asked the kitchen to cook so thin corn porridge.
Sun Yu initially wanted the sisters to experience sothing impressive; even they planned on pooling a bit of money for a fancy al.
She had long wanted to co to this place, but Yang Wei never had ti, and besides, he didn’t want to.
He thought she was too vain, didn’t want to spend idle money on places like this, especially since they didn’t have any spare money to spend.
Their combined salary was just over forty yuan. Each month, they still had to send fifteen yuan back ho. The rest barely managed everyday expenses.
Sun Yu wasn’t stupid. Playing mah-jongg with the sisters at the military compound recently, she actually earned a bit.
"Perfect, I was thinking of going to the military district later. Let’s go together with the sisters," Lin Wan said as she led them in and sat down, joining them.
It was only then Lin Wan noticed Shi Lan was also there, "Xiao Lan, you’re here too?"
"Yes, ca to buy so fabrics and clothing. It’s my first ti here, didn’t bring any warm clothing."
"Yes, it’s really cold here. When I first arrived, it was the sa. Even now, I still can’t handle the weather here."
While chatting, Xiao Yu brought in the corn porridge. "Sister Xiao Wan, the porridge is ready."
"Place it next to the sister," Lin Wan pointed to where the sister with the child sat.
Aunt Liu, hearing about a two- or three-year-old child, went back to fry so scallion eggs especially for the child.
The sister with the child looked at the food, giving Lin Wan a grateful look. At noon, the child hadn’t eaten well. After wandering around for so long in the cold, they were both tired and hungry. She had originally planned to give the child so wonton from a nearby shop.
Who knew Sun Yu insisted on bringing them here? She said the food here was delicious and five hairs per person would suffice for a grand al. So they ca, it was warm. But looking around, they found nothing suitable for the child to eat.
Unexpectedly, how thoughtful Captain Han’s wife was, it was indeed fortunate to have her.
Lin Wan suddenly rembered sothing, slapped her forehead, and quickly went out to tell Xiao Gu sothing.
"Xiao Gu, could you ride the tricycle to my house to pick up the clothes and things I’ve prepared and bring them over? I want to go back with the sisters later."
"Sure, I’ll go right now." Xiao Gu didn’t waste any ti, took the key, and asked what to bring.
Lin Wan told him where everything was placed. Xiao Gu then hurried off.
Lin Wan asked Xiao Yu to prepare a hotpot. "I don’t know if you prefer mild or spicy; choose whichever you like."
She didn’t let them order, served the best dishes from the shop.
Recently, Lin Wan had been craving spicy food but didn’t dare to have much, afraid of generating too much heat, fearing it would be bad for the baby.
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