"Thatâs right, Little Tang, youâre very helpful. That Du Guangjun you mentioned has good conditions. There are good women out there, not just Hongmei. You should introduce a few more to him in the future," Yin Peibaiâs mom advised.
"True."
When Lin Wan and the others arrived, several people quickly stood up. With the kids present, they couldnât keep chatting idly and quickly surrounded the children.
Yin Peibaiâs mom looked at the two kids, truly envious, "Look at you all, one after another, already have grandkids, while my Little Yin hasnât yet shown any sign."
"Theyâre still young; it doesnât have to happen right away. My Lingling was married for two years before she had hers."
"Is that so?"
Talk shifted to parenting experiences. Yin Peibai shook her head helplessly at her momâs reaction.
Seeing Aunt Jin and Uncle Jin, Lin Wan thought of Xiao Gu and quickly asked her mom when Xiao Gu could be discharged.
"The doctor said itâll be another two or three days. I originally wanted him to come out today for a meal, but the doctor disagreed. Shuhua is there watching him now. Xiao Gu can walk around on his own, but Shuhua, that girl, insisted on staying and watching over him."
Lin Wan raised her eyebrows; seems like something might be going on!
People gradually gathered as they were informed.
What surprised them most was Aunt from the second uncleâs side and Grandma. The second uncle actually brought both of them back.
"Aunt, Grandma, how come you are here?"
"Your Grandma was worried and insisted on coming back to have a look," Aunt from the second uncleâs side said as Mom quickly came over to help Han Ying sit down.
"With Xiao Yi injured and your house having gone through so much, how could I not worry? At your second uncleâs place, I wasnât eating or sleeping well every day, so I just came back," Grandma said with a sigh.
"Her Grandma, itâs thanks to her second uncle for all of this help. Otherwise, the child would still be inside."
"Weâre all family; such words are too polite. Her second uncle is a police officer, and this is his duty."
"Fortunately, the child is fine now, so we can rest assured."
"Indeed."
Todayâs meal isnât hotpot; hotpot is too warm. Dad, along with son-in-law, prepared all the dishes - cold and hot dishes alike, altogether offering three large tablesâ worth. Today, Lin Guozhi didnât let Shao Li and Zhou Hanliang leave; instead, they stayed.
Liang Zhi, who just helped Uncle in the kitchen, was now out to sit at the table, looking around at the two large tables full of men. He realized that in recent years, Xiao Wan and Ah Hui had made quite a lot of friends here. Itâs surely good to have many friends while living away from home.
Today serves both as a recognition of people and a gratitude for everyoneâs help during these days.
If it werenât for the gathered friends and relatives, his son might not even be in this world at this moment.
Li Congnan watched as Lin Guozhi got up to toast everyone and nudged Lin Yinghui, "Ah Hui, you and your dad look really alike. Truly worthy of being father and son."
"You and your dad donât look alike; itâs not unusual."
"Thatâs true, back in school, I was curious about your dadâs appearance. Didnât expect to see him now. By the way, how did it go that day when you went over there?"
"The captain who hit me will definitely go to prison labor. There was no chance earlier, but if I have the chance, and I donât give him a proper beating, then I wouldnât be named Lin. However, that Captain Zhang kept a backup plan. He reported Director Wu as well. Originally, Director Wu found an excuse to push all the matters onto Captain Zhang, now itâs a fight between the two of them, neither can escape."
"Give him a beating when the time comes. Call me and Jianye, weâll help you vent it out. If Jianye wasnât busy at the factory, heâd have already come."
"Forget it; our factory canât do without him. Why didnât he come today?"
"My Saoziâs dad hasnât been feeling well these days. The place our factory arranged for Uncle had a fan, but he didnât want to use it and ended up with heat stroke. Right now, my brother should be accompanying his father-in-law for infusion."
"Uncle really, whatâs there to be frugal about; itâs all paid for by the factory."
"Older folks are just considering for us, all this is for the sake of conserving electricity for us," Li Congnan said with a wry smile, shaking his head. "My elder cousin already told him not to pinch pennies."
Lin Yinghui nodded.
"Ah Hui, howâs business at your liquor factory?" Ah Zhi asked.
"Itâs quite good. Last year we just sold properties over there, and have been slowly expanding these past two years."
Liang Zhi sighed regretfully, "If transportation were convenient, I could help sell some for you. I deliver chicken, duck, and wild game to establishments and restaurants in the county and know many buyers."
"Oh, itâs a pity," the topic struck a chord with Li Congnan. Because of transportation issues, they lost countless business opportunities. This is also the reason why their liquor factory still canât match the beverage factory where he works. Their beverage factory has several large trucks for shipping.
"Letâs not talk about this anymore; it only brings pain. Ah Hui, remember to call me when you beat him up."
"No need for that, my brother-in-law is here. His ruthlessness, when he saw that Captain Zhang today, one touch and made his shoulder hurt so much, sweat appeared on his forehead. I could hardly bear to watch. But this guy deserves it, after all, Lord knows how many innocent people he has attacked."
Lin Yinghui said, then turned to Wei Jian Country at another table, "Brother Wei, thanks so much to your brother-in-law this time."
"No need for thanks; if it were someone else, he would have done the same. Thatâs just how he is - a good-hearted person."
"Jian Country, tell your brother-in-law to be a bit more proactive these days," Han Yi said obscurely, and Wei Jian Country nodded, understanding what was meant.
This time, it was essentially a trivial favor extended to Han Yi, yet now heâs indebted with a significant favor. His brother-in-law seems poised to rise a step forward.
Speaking of Han Yiâs influential father-in-law, itâs no small matter. Not only his brother-in-law but even Old Zheng is likely to make strides in the household registration office.
Networking is akin to a large net. One has to manage it themselves!
Lin Guozhi, with a table of men, drank a round, making everyone a bit dizzy, yet he seemed unaffected.
At another table, among the women, Su Ling whispered to Lin Wan, "Your dad can hold his liquor; look at our folks. My father-in-law and Liu Wei instantly get drunk from just touching alcohol. When we go home later, what do I do with my mom?"
"I didnât know my dad could hold his drink so well, but Liu Wei from your place shouldnât be unable to finish even one glass?"
Yin Peibai playfully teases, "Did you forget when Liu Wei was drinking at your place, he staggered and leaned straight toward Su Ling."
Lin Wan laughed, nodding, "Luckily, Liu Wei didnât drink to the point of mistaking his wife."
"You guys! He wouldnât dare! If he really got mistaken, Iâd skin him alive when we got home."
"Alright, alright, we know how formidable you are."
Over at another spot, Lin Guozhi, holding a wine glass, was drinking with Uncle Hu and Uncle Jin.
While their family was amid laughter and cheer, Ye Qing was unbearably hot in a small dark room, sweating profusely while being interrogated by two staff members.
After they finished eating, sent off the relatives and friends, Lin Guozhi took the family back home.
Tonight, Shao Li and Zhou Hanliang didnât leave.
Fortunately, the son had a small courtyard where they could all stay.
Liang Hongmei tidied up the sonâs room, letting Liang Zhi stay there. As for the west room, the two guests would just have to share.
Lin Guozhi, though walking steadily, was indeed profoundly drunk once lying on the bed.
....
After Lin Wan and Han Yi got home, they didnât go straight to sleep. Instead, they played a bit with Little Star in the courtyard. The family of three then took a warm bath together in the bathroom.
Little Star, together with Tiger, spent the day in the shop steadily walking around, holding onto chairs. Fell asleep halfway through the meal earlier, now wide awake.
Playing happily with Han Yi on the bed. Due to recent events, the childâs first birthday wasnât properly celebrated.
But, Grandma stated that on the childâs birthday, she and Uncle Hu cooked an egg for the child. Also made Little Starâs favorite egg cake.
The little girl drew lots and grabbed a pencil, suggesting sheâd be a good scholar in the future.
After calming Little Star, Han Yi took out a few photos of Mei Langchi from the closet. Also, the photos Lin Wan later took of Ye Qing and that kid.
Lin Wan immediately understood, "Are you planning to send them again?"
"Yes, do you have negatives? Iâll ask to develop a few more tomorrow; we might as well make Mei Langchi trip on this."
"Yes, we have to give him a taste of his own medicine. Otherwise, heâll constantly meddle with our side."
Han Yi smiled, "I suspect Mei Langchi knows about Ye Qingâs situation. For the childâs sake, heâll surely pull Ye Qing out, so tomorrow Iâll head out. Regardless of his connections, Mei Langchi doesnât know everyone."
"What are you planning to do?"
"Ye Qing is too cruel; we canât let her off so easily. Dad suggests sending her somewhere far for labor reformation."
"That would be best. I really donât want to see Ye Qing." Recently, with Mei Langchi backing her up, Ye Qing has been increasingly over the top.