"I used to think about having one earlier, but after Little Star, I found even one is hard to manage. Having another one would be even harder. I thought about waiting until Little Star is a bit older, so it would be easier."
"Thatâs where youâre wrong. Raising two kids together, itâs just a matter of two or three years. If you wait a few more years, just when this one gets easier, the other one starts, youâll have trouble then."
Lin Wan was briefly surprised, realizing this logic made sense.
She came just to visit, but ended up being persuaded by the conversation to consider having another child.
She was so impulsive that night, Lin Wan returned home, waited for her daughter to sleep, and directly clung to Han Yi.
Han Yi was surprised to see his wife being so proactive, "Didnât you say a couple of days ago that you needed a break for a few days? How come youâre so proactive today?"
"Ai Yi, letâs have another child. Now that Xingxing has grown up and become more sensible, youâre by my side, itâs a good time to have another child."
"Little Star alone is just fine." Han Yi didnât want another one. After recently accompanying Ning Jiang through a childbirth event, he was still somewhat traumatized.
Childbirth isnât a hundred percent risk-free for women.
"Two kids are great. In the future, Little Star wonât be lonely, and our home will be livelier. Whether itâs a boy or a girl, letâs just have another one."
Lin Wan held onto Han Yi tightly, making it hard for him to resist.
Counting the time, if Xiao Wan gets pregnant now, she could give birth before he gets deployed, and maybe he could be there for her during the postpartum period.
But once heâs transferred over there, he might not have time to help Xiao Wan with the baby.
Lin Wan didnât know where Han Yiâs thoughts had drifted off to; regardless of his willingness, she had already started undressing him.
"Tonight, Iâll be on top. If youâre tired, just lie there without moving."
Hearing his wifeâs words made Han Yiâs eyes light up with some excitement. It was rare for Xiao Wan to take the lead; Han Yi didnât care about having or not having a child. He lay back on the bed, eyes squinting with a smile, anticipating Lin Wanâs next move...
...
For the opening of the new store, Lin Wan specially invited Uncle Hu and Liu Wei, as well as the brother-in-law in the police department of Wei Jian Country, and of course, they couldnât leave out Han Yi, the soldier. Now people from the Industrial and Commercial Bureau, the police department, and the military were all attending, so anyone thinking of causing trouble had to think twice.
Today is the opening day, and all dishes in the store are half price. Of course, Lin Wan especially invited Brother Jianye and Brother Congnan; almost all family and friends came.
There were two big tables prepared. Lin Wan specially gave each family a membership card. From now on, with the card, they get a 50% discount.
These 50% off cards werenât made many, only twenty in total, mainly for these family and friends. Lin Wanâs way made her friends feel proud.
Other cards were 10% off, 20% off. Anyone with accumulated spending over 200 yuan could get a 10% discount.
Also attending today were her uncle and aunt. Her aunt changed her usual approach and insisted on getting an 80% off card from Lin Wan.
Since it was just an 80% off card, Lin Wan didnât mind giving it.
The week leading up to the opening of the new store saw exceptionally booming business. The place was packed every day.
Although it was still hot, everyone rushed for hotpot, mainly attracted by the half-price promotion, wanting to snag a deal and eat as much as they could. The more they ate, the more they saved.
Little did they know, the more they ate, the more Lin Wan earned.
With the good business at the new store, Lin Wan stayed there for three days and then didnât go back. The rules were the same as with Xiao Gu.
Each morning, they just needed to deposit the previous dayâs earnings to her designated account, and she would come to settle the accounts at the end of the month.
Lin Wan wasnât only busy with the restaurant these days, but also with restocking new clothing items. These past few days, she was constantly changing positions with Han Yi, busy trying to have a baby. Naturally, after exhausting nights, days left her a bit lacking in energy.
Returning to the city with Little Star, after finishing up things at the store and balancing accounts with Ye Zi, she came home, ignoring Little Star, and fell straight onto the bed. When Su Ling brought her Tiger over, she saw Little Star bouncing on the trampoline in the yard.
"Auntie..."
"Wow, Little Star is being good, playing by yourself in the yard. Whereâs your mom?"
"Sleeping."
"Is your mom a little lazy pig? Sheâs not even watching over our Little Star now. Tiger, play with your little sister."
"Play with sister." Not waiting for Su Lingâs instruction, Tiger, rough and tumble as boys are, was already rolling on the trampoline.
When Su Ling came into the house, Lin Wan was sleeping soundly. She didnât intend to disturb her, but accidentally kicked a stool when she was leaving, waking Lin Wan up on the bed.
Lin Wan groggily opened her eyes, saw it was Su Ling, closed them again, and said after a pause, "Not working today?"
"Oh, when thereâs work at our factory itâs busy, otherwise itâs pretty relaxed. What happened to you? You sick?"
"No, just tired. Been busy making a baby with my man, worn out."
Lin Wanâs candidness piqued Su Lingâs curiosity, "That intense, huh? Your Han Yi is strong and robust, constantly wearing you out. With your little frame, itâs a wonder you can handle it."
"Stop teasing me."
"Seriously though, are you both sure about wanting another?"
"Yes, we are." Lin Wan sat up, rubbed her eyes, looked at the two kids in the yard through the window, and then got out of bed, reassured.
"Iâm really envious of you, being able to have a second child. If I had known earlier that minorities could have a second child, I wouldâve changed my ethnic identity sooner."
"Come on, thereâs no such thing as early medicine. Haha... By the way, is Pei Bai due these days?"
Su Ling rolled her eyes after hearing that, "She was admitted to the hospital yesterday. They said she started having contractions last night, and thereâs still no news now."
"From yesterday till now, she shouldâve given birth by now, right?"
"If she had, her husband Zhang Hanfu wouldâve shared the good news. Itâs probably not yet." Su Ling said, then slapped her own head in frustration, "Look at me, coming to see you made me forget the main thing. My father-in-law said yesterday there are some matters at the construction site we need to check ourselves. Are you free? Letâs go take a look."
"Whatâs the problem?"
"Nothing serious, just some areas we need to confirm."
Lin Wan quickly got ready, took Su Ling and the two kids to the construction site.
The construction site was incredibly messy and unsafe, so Lin Wan had Su Ling stay with the two kids in an open area to play, while she went over to talk with Uncle Liu.
Not far away, wearing a helmet and riding a motorcycle, Li Liang was secretly watching from a hidden corner.
Unfortunately, Su Ling saw this scene. Although Li Liang had a helmet on, Su Ling could recognize him at a glance. After all, she once had a fantasy about this jerk back in the day. If not for Lin Wan and Yin Peibai, she couldâve nearly ruined herself.
Su Ling couldnât figure out why Li Liang was here. But seeing his sneaky appearance, she knew it couldnât be anything good.
Li Liang waited outside for over an hour while Lin Wan was inside, and Su Ling pretended not to notice him.
Once Lin Wan came out, they brought the kids to the car. Su Ling sighed in relief, "Xiao Wan, see that motorcycle behind us? Itâs been waiting outside for over an hour."
Lin Wan froze, looked through the rearview mirror, and recognized instantly, "Li Liang?"
Su Ling gave her a confirming look.
"Is he following us?"
"I think so. Why would he follow us when we didnât provoke him?"
Lin Wan frowned, thinking about her brotherâs incident last year and when she sought out Wei Xue. She thought to herself he couldnât have known it was her who did it.
She speculated that wasnât the case; if it were, Wei Xue wouldâve told her.
If it involved Li Liang, aside from forcing her to write a complaint, it must be about Ye Qing.
Could Ye Qing be stirring up some trouble again?
For a moment, Lin Wan and Su Ling couldnât figure out why Li Liang was following them. They pretended not to notice him and drove Su Ling home with the kids.
Then Lin Wan called Han Yi from Su Lingâs home, before driving back alone with Little Star.
When Su Ling went out and saw Li Liang still following them, she was worried for her and considered leaving her behind to wait for Han Yi to come pick her up.
"Itâs okay, I just want to see what heâs up to. Comparing his motorcycle to my car, he canât be faster, and now that itâs broad daylight, Iâm driving on major roads with so many people, whatâs he gonna do?"
Su Ling saw that Lin Wan wouldnât listen, so she said nothing further, just told her to call when she got home safely.
After Lin Wan came out with Little Star, she drove really fast. Li Liang, like a sticky candy, wouldnât stop following her.
Fortunately, halfway there, Han Yi drove over to pick her up.
Li Liang seemed flustered, seeing Han Yiâs military vehicle, he immediately turned around and left.