"Thatâs right, at first they came asking for money, now theyâre demanding a house. Somehow my cousinâs partner found out about our house. Theyâre insisting it should be their wedding house, otherwise they wonât get married," Hu Dong sneered, "Even my mom said, âif youâre not family, you wonât come to the door.â My cousinâs partner is just like my uncleâs family, not a decent person. Who do they think they are, wanting our house?"
Lin Wan sighed, unsure what to say.
"Donât worry, Saozi. My parents wonât be soft-hearted anymore. They canât get any benefits from my parents; I doubt that old woman can keep causing trouble for long. Just let her fuss; maybe one day sheâll get her comeuppance."
"You shouldnât say things like that," Lin Wan said, exasperated, giving him a light smack on the head.
"I know," Hu Dong shrunk his neck, "Iâm just venting to you."
When Lin Wan got home, she quickly sent Hu Dong off.
In the following days, her mother-in-law didnât come over, and Lin Wan wasnât sure what was happening on their side.
In mid-October, Lin Wan took a dog-skin cotton coat she made for Grandma and brought it to her.
She also took the opportunity to tell her about her pregnancy.
Grandma laughed heartily for quite a while upon hearing it, and held Lin Wanâs hand, sharing many tips on pregnancy.
Still a bit worried, the next day she personally brought gifts to see Mom.
She asked Mom to pay more attention to her.
"Dear Grandma, rest assured, Xiao Wan is my daughter, I care for her. Sister Shen frequently comes over, thereâs no need to worry. Thereâll be plenty of people around when Xiao Wan is in confinement."
"I know youâre a good mother-in-law, and itâs my family Xiao Yiâs good fortune to have you as a mother-in-law. Without you, how could he be so at ease?"
"Youâre right, dear Grandma. It truly is his good fortune."
Mom finished speaking, and they all burst into laughter.
Though theyâve moved out for a while, itâs Grandmaâs first time visiting their small yard.
Lin Wan showed her around, and Grandma complimented every corner.
"Grandma, why donât you stay here for a while?"
Han Ying shook her head, "The house from your eldest uncleâs side has been allocated; theyâre saying theyâll take me there by the end of the month."
"So soon?"
"Yes, Iâm going to trouble them. If you miss me, just come visit me at your uncleâs place."
"What trouble? Grandma, youâre no trouble at all; you shouldnât belittle yourself."
Han Ying smiled.
At lunchtime, Mom stewed a chicken until it was especially tender.
She thought it tasted great and ate a big bowl of it, not even consuming rice, just meat.
Even Grandma ate quite a bit.
Seeing Lin Wan eat with appetite and without much reaction, Grandma felt at ease.
In the afternoon, Mom conveniently took Grandma back home on her way.
These past days since Lin Wan returned, sheâs been eating and sleeping well, following the doctorâs advice of eating more spinach.
However, with winter soon approaching, thereâs hardly any autumn spinach left. After checking the vegetable market, she couldnât find any.
But there were small supplies available at the nearby supply and marketing cooperative these days.
To buy rice, flour, and vegetables at the cooperative, you must go early; otherwise, by the time you arrive, everythingâs been snatched up.
These days, Lin Wan has been waking up before dawn to queue up at the cooperative with her tickets. Fortunately, sheâs been able to buy a little each day.
She hasnât been eating much meat these days, constantly having vegetables and fruits, and tofu, no doubt. Occasionally, in the mornings, when she doesnât feel like having yogurt, sheâll cook some eight-treasure porridge herself.
Ye Zi and the other kids canât make mistakes; after practicing for half a month, they became skilled, and their speed increased noticeably.
Seven or eight people, producing over forty scarves in a week.