Han Yi responded with a sound and didnât say much more, he got up and went to the department to speak.
Lin Wan let Liang Hongmei lie down and rest for a while, there was still time.
Little Star woke up for a moment, Lin Wan gave her some water to drink, and the little one started getting excited again.
Lin Wan tidied her up, then hung her up. Han Yi was meticulous, he had already prepared the rope for hanging the child.
Lin Wan was also sleepy at this moment, lying on the bed, one hand covering her eyes, the other slowly rocking the cradle.
Around three oâclock, people started coming to the house one after another. Shi Lan was the first to arrive, she had long known that Lin Wan had given birth but hadnât had the chance to visit her.
Not only was she anxious, but Sister-in-law Jiang and Sister-in-law Zhang also curiously ran over. They all eagerly held Little Star, unwilling to let go. Before the new year, several military wives went out to eat, Liang Hongmei had seen them.
She sat down and chatted with them.
Lin Wan took out sunflower seeds and snacks she had prepared at home to entertain everyone.
"Sigh, this is troubling... I should have listened to Xiao Wan earlier and had one in advance, now Iâm regretting it to death," Sister-in-law Zhang looked at the cute little girl and regretted not having a child.
"Itâs all fate, just be open-minded about it, donât be like Wang Guihua," Shi Lan and Lin Wan became even more curious seeing Sister-in-law Jiang like this.
Seeing them curious, Sister-in-law Jiang said, "Wang Guihua was pregnant a while ago, about one or two months. She didnât realize at all what being a mother is about. You werenât here at the time, Wang Guihua was often making noise with your row of neighbors. Just last month, there was a big ruckus over the vegetable plot. In the morning, we only heard those two arguing. We didnât take it seriously. Who knew by lunch, they were cursing at the vegetable plot. The Wang family accused Wang Guihua of stealing their vegetables, Wang Guihua denied it and turned the tables accusing the Wang family of occupying her plot. They argued all morning, and Wang Guihua probably felt wronged, so during lunch, she took advantage of everyoneâs absence to pull out all the vegetables from the Wang familyâs garden. The Wang family had been waiting for this moment, and as she was pulling out the vegetables, she was caught red-handed, which certainly angered the Wang family. They started hitting Wang Guihua. But at the time, they didnât hit too hard, thankfully, it was during the lunch break and some leaders saw it and immediately reprimanded both of them. The leaders werenât done yet, it reached the team where Wang and Feng Xiaoxian were also lectured.
Shi Lan was surprised, "Wang Guihua wasnât really beaten to miscarriage by the Wang family, was she?"
Sister-in-law Zhang pouted and shook her head, "Of course not, since even Wang Guihua herself didnât know she was pregnant, how would Feng Xiaoxian know? Plus, because Wang Guihua was scolded by the leaders, he mustâve been angry, he came home and without saying a word, kicked Wang Guihua a few times, coincidentally kicked her in the stomach, and within half an hour, there was blood coming out. Thatâs when they realized something went wrong, by the time they got to the hospital, it was already too late. He kicked too hard, and the child was lost.
"Wang Guihua didnât seem terribly upset about losing the child but used it to pluck up courage. Sheâs been causing quite a scene with Feng Xiaoxian these days. After all, itâs his fault for causing the miscarriage, Feng Xiaoxian doesnât want the higher-ups to find out, so he can only endure Wang Guihua at home.
Wang Guihua hasnât been quiet these days nor has she properly cared for her postpartum health. Sheâs constantly bleeding, in the end, Feng Xiaoxian had no choice but to take her to the hospital. Upon examination, the doctor said Wang Guihuaâs body is damaged, and that it might not be possible to have children in the future."
Lin Wan just treated it as gossip, a woman like Wang Guihua, she genuinely couldnât stay quiet, now itâs her own doing and no one else is to blame. Feng Xiaoxian probably dislikes her even more now.
Talking about Shen, the group leader of counterintelligence, he was supposed to be transferred away in April after the New Yearâs, but due to a drill a while ago, it was delayed for a few months.
Now, Sister-in-law Jiang said that heâll be leaving in a few days, "Weâre leaving in a couple of days, I thought I wouldnât get to see you and the baby. Our Old Shen got transferred to the South District, not sure if weâll get to meet again. Iâll contact you when I get there if possible."
Everyone echoed it, agreeing to keep in touch frequently.
Transfers of officers within the team are common, staying in the same position for years is rather unusual.
So this is a good thing, they are happy for Captain Shen and Sister-in-law Jiang.
After sitting for a while, the visitors didnât want to disturb the mother and child any longer and slipped some money into Little Starâs hands when they were leaving.
Lin Wan noted all these down, placed them in her backpack, and will include them in the gift list she and Han Yi had crafted, ensuring they keep track of social obligations.
Lin Wan carried Little Star and got Liang Hongmei onto the bus, instructing her to call once she reached home.
Liang Hongmei was more worried about her and hurried her back home.
Once Lin Wan got back with the child, after more than an hour, she went to the team communication room to inquire.
Learning that Mom had called and reached home, she was finally relieved to start making dinner.
With the child around, Lin Wan had limited time to herself. Since the kitchen was too hot, she simply cooked some rice porridge and prepared a cold dish.
It was both slimming and light.
Han Yi was about to attend military school, classes were intensive now, and heâs probably eating at the barracks in the evening.
After dinner, Lin Wan boiled some hot water and took a simple shower in the yard.
While showering, Lin Wan specifically set up a simple rack in the yard with a bedsheet to block it, to prevent being seen by people in the distant high-rise buildings.
"Little Star, letâs take a bath too," Lin Wan finished cleaning herself, changed to a basin with warm water, and prepared to bathe the child.
In the hot summer, frequent baths for the child help relieve the heat and keep clean. As soon as Lin Wan spoke, Little Star seemed to understand, and babbled excitedly.
Lin Wan unfastened the apron from her body, skillfully holding her head with one hand and buttock with the other, placing her into the basin.
This made Little Star even more excited, giggling and splashing the water with her hands.
After bathing, her freshly changed clothes were already wet from the child.
"You mischievous girl, look at what youâve done to Mommyâs clothes, do you like bathing so much?"
"Ah, babble babble."
"Are you happy now? Seeing you so excited, Mommy will take you out for a stroll."
"Coo coo."
Having stayed inside with the fan wasnât good, so Lin Wan thought of going out, wanting to have a chat with Shi Lan since they hadnât talked much today.
Before reaching her door, Lin Wan saw her with a fan in hand coming out.
"I was just thinking of coming to chat with you, youâre fast, coming out with the child," Shi Lan smiled as she approached, teasing Little Star in her arms.
"This little girl is quite spirited, seems like she hasnât slept much today."
"Exactly, sheâs probably going to stay excited before going to sleep."
"You must be less free now with the child, having to revolve around her every day," Shi Lan playfully teased Lin Wan
"Itâs alright, we have a girl, easier to care for."
They chatted while strolling to a comfortable area. They werenât the only ones out for a walk. Many families brought out chairs and fans to the cool spots in the yard.
People sat together, chatted, and passed the time.
Lin Wan and Shi Lan found a corner to sit, and as soon as they settled, many came curiously to look at Captain Hanâs daughter.
Many complimented how beautiful the child is.
Lin Wan was pleased to hear the compliments.
"I was worried for you initially, afraid Captain Han wouldnât be happy and might pull a divorce like another household did," Shi Lan sat beside Lin Wan, fanned with one hand, cooling them both.
"Why would he want a divorce?"
"Once divorced, he could marry someone else and have another child, you had no idea?"
Lin Wan chuckled awkwardly, "I hadnât really considered it. But thanks for your concern, donât worry, our Han Yi isnât like that. He thinks a girl is great."
Shi Lan giggled, "I could tell. Your Han Yi went to the market with a basket of groceries early this morning, and Sister-in-law Jiang, Sister-in-law Zhang, and I were curious and asked him. Only then did we find out it was because you were coming. Seriously, your man treats you so well. He returned home midday and started making lunch, the aroma wafted over to our place promptly."
"Ning Jiang isnât good to you?"
"Heâs good, of course... sigh, Iâm just disappointing; weâve been married for so long, but nothingâs happening with my belly," Shi Lan said, suddenly looking down.
Lin Wan furrowed her brows.