Turning my thoughts back to the purpose of this visit, I reluctantly placed my hand gently on Lin Wanâs belly and looked up at my wife to say
Lin Wan knew it was out of her control, but still felt a bit reluctant, "Will you be back before the baby is born?"
"I will definitely make it back, at most in two months. Iâll be by your side when the baby is born," Han Yi promised Lin Wan.
For him to say this meant he was very confident. Lin Wan hugged him unwillingly, nodding in his embrace, "Be careful, and donât leave any scars for me to dislike."
"Yes, definitely wonât leave scars," Han Yi said with a laugh near Lin Wanâs ear, feeling cheerful.
Lin Wan playfully pinched his little nipple.
Han Yi couldnât take it, quickly seized her hand, and kissed her lips.
That night, Lin Wan felt like she was "floating," and it scared her quite a bit afterward. This was the first time she felt anything since getting pregnant. She had read in books that this was not good for the fetus and could easily cause a miscarriage.
Lin Wan lay still on the bed, too afraid to move. Han Yi was also scared, staying by her side with a hand on her belly for quite a while. Finally, they felt the baby move energetically a few times and only then relaxed. The next day, the couple didnât wake up until after nine.
The purpose of Han Yiâs visit this time was to check whether his mother-in-law and brotherâs household registration had been taken care of.
Han Yi got up quietly, intending not to wake Lin Wan, but still ended up disturbing her.
Lately, Lin Wan had learned to get up early and stroll a few laps around the courtyard.
At this moment, Mom had already gone to the morning market and left for the shop. She probably came by their courtyard in the morning, saw the donkey, and knew Han Yi was back.
In the morning, she specially left two servings of mantou and dishes for them in the kitchen.
Lin Wan felt bored at home, so after breakfast, she followed Han Yi to his friendâs place. This matter had been dragging for more than a month. By now, if it were to be done, it should almost be ready.
Sure enough, when Han Yi found that friend, everything had been taken care of, and the household registration showed the address of their current house. Mom was the head of the household.
At noon, Han Yi took his friend to their shop to have hot pot.
When you are outside, having more friends means more connections. Lin Wan had Mom prepare beef, lamb, tripe, and other good things, focusing on serving them.
Liang Hongmei was very pleased to hear the household registration was sorted. She was overly enthusiastic toward Han Yiâs friend. "No need for more work, Auntie, this is enough," said Han Yiâs friend. He was in the same class as Han Yi back in Huai Town.
When Han Yi approached him, seeing that he was from the neighboring county, he felt particularly connected, having spent two years there himself.
After he retired, he was assigned to the same city. Han Yi, that kid, was ambitious, climbing up bit by bit. People say he has the skills, unafraid of death, having stayed on the front line for who knows how long. It must be said, Han Yi is quite capable.
"Itâs only right, since you and Han Yi are friends. Friends of Han Yi are friends of ours. In the future, come to our shop for meals, Auntie will give you a twenty percent discount." Liang Hongmei was now also adept in business, managing things tactfully.
Take Han Yiâs great-aunt, for instance. She occasionally brings people to the shop for a meal.
She used to claim familial relations and not pay, and Liang Hongmei, without fail, had to argue a bit every time to get paid.
Now that Liang Hongmei wised up, whenever Zhang Huilan visits, Liang Hongmei once explained clearly she only charges the cost price, after all, they are relatives. Sheâs got to save some face for her son-in-law.
"Thank you, Aunt Liang,"
"No need to thank me, Aunt Liang is still waiting for you to introduce new clients,"
Han Yiâs friend joked, saying that Shuxiang Pavilion at the gate of the municipal government was comparable to the state-run restaurants. Everyone knew this in the better half of the city.
They all laughed heartily, and Liang Hongmei responded, then went out to greet more patrons.
Han Yiâs friend was named Zheng Youmin. He was good friends with Wei Jian Country. Back when they were with the Huai Town Military District, Han Yi and he were fellow countrymen. No matter how distant the place, fellow countrymen meeting each other brings tears to their eyes. Wei Jian Country and Zheng Youmin were also middle school classmates, even meeting Wei Jian Country before Han Yi did.
"Is your wife due soon? Scheduled for when?" Lin Wan noticed that Zheng Youmin and Wei Jian Country both had loud voices. They were typical northern men.
Han Yiâs voice was cold, but not loud. Lin Wan was curious, liking quietness herself, how Han Yi became good friends with two loud men.
"Scheduled for June," Han Yi replied with a smile.
"Donât forget to invite us for a drink at the celebration,"
"Sure, sure. Canât leave out Brother Zheng and Brother Wei," Lin Wan mentioned Brother Wei, and Zheng Youmin immediately thought of that rascal Wei Jian Country, and exclaimed, "Did your wife meet Jianguo?"
"My wife rented a storefront in his territory to sell clothes," Han Yi didnât hide this from Zheng Youmin, nor did he feel that his wife doing business was disgraceful.
Of course, he knew that Zheng Youmin and Wei Jian Country werenât such people. Otherwise, he wouldnât be so close to the two of them.
"Really?" Zheng Youmin glanced at Lin Wanâs round belly, then glared at Han Yi, chiding, "Your wife is pregnant, and you let her stay outside alone in the dead of winter? If youâre short on money, tell the brothers, weâll lend some to you."
Wei Jian Countryâs civilian housing, he knew of it, had been there too. It was all small rooms made of bricks, with a big door opening exposed outside. They canât help but freeze people.
"Brother Zheng, you misunderstand Han Yi. My shop doesnât open in winter. Even when it opens, itâs only for a short while before closing. I canât sit idle at home. I come and go frequently, itâs good for me too," Lin Wan didnât want others saying her husband wasnât right, so without waiting for him to speak, she quickly defended her husband.
"Oh, thatâs how it is." He figured it out; Han Yi had skills, how could he possibly let his wife suffer that?
Zheng Youmin had to go to work in the afternoon. After lunch, he left.
Knowing he couldnât help much at the shop, Han Yi took Lin Wan to visit his cousinâs house to see Grandma.
Why was Grandma staying at his cousinâs house? That leads back to cousin-in-law Tan Aixiang.
Ever since Grandma went to stay with Aunt, she taught cousin-in-law the craft of polishing bricks.
Tan Aixiang was also clever. Once their child got a bit older, she hired the elderly couple next door to help look after them, paying them five yuan a month. Tan Aixiang could have gone to work, but felt the kids were still young and needed watching, so she took two years of unpaid leave.
Fortunately, the elderly coupleâs two grandsons were already attending preschool, and they had a leisurely daily routine of picking up and dropping off.
Tan Aixiang saw this and let the elderly couple look after the child. She herself ran around trading at the supply and marketing cooperative or occasionally set up stalls.
After she mentioned the packaging idea to her cousin-in-law, by the end of the year, she had found a printing factory and printed some packaging. She even got Uncle Hu to help register a business license, not forgetting to get a trademark.
Speaking of which, their distillery had a trademark, but the hotpot shop didnât. She didnât feel their hotpot shop was that famous anyway, and people wouldnât mind having the same name.
Cousin-in-law brought Grandma back because there were two recipes she couldnât get right, needing Grandmaâs guidance.
Meanwhile, she thought she might convince Grandma not to live with Aunt any more, but come back to help watch the kids.
She didnât trust leaving them with the elderly couple. Having Grandma around wasnât about her actually looking after the kids, but just keeping an eye on them. After all, having someone else take care of them isnât the same as doing it yourself. With Grandma there, she could ensure the kids werenât being mistreated.
She initially wanted Aunt Jin to help out, but Aunt Jin and her family had their own business. During the day, Aunt Jin was home making desserts and was quite busy. Occasionally, when she was free, she would help out a bit.
Grandma felt more comfortable living in the old house, which relieved both Han Yi and Lin Wan.
When they visited Aunt Jin, they couldnât avoid Aunt Jin preparing desserts, especially the mung bean cake, which Lin Wan loved.
Before they left, Grandma had Lin Wan take the small quilt and urine pads she prepared for the baby.
Aunt Jin had prepared several sets of small clothes and hats for the baby.
They didnât bring many snacks when they went, but returned with a large bundle.
Lin Wan didnât understand why Grandmaâs urine pads were so thick, with cotton even stuffed inside.
"Itâs cold here; a single diaper can soak right through the quilt. Not only is it hard to dry in winter, but the bed can also smell foul. These urine pads are meant to go under the babyâs buttocks, so even if the diaper gets wet, it wonât soak the bed."
"Oh, is that so? We only use diapers down south, none of these things." The differences between the North and South are really significant. "We havenât prepared any diapers yet. We must get ready when we go back."