In the living room, Dingding saw his sister was about to leave, and with a pout he felt a bit unwilling. But with his dad beside him, he didnāt dare to make a fuss, though he was still not content. He softly murmured next to Han Yi, "Dad, I want to go too."
Han Yi lowered his head, patted him on the head and said, "Be good, in the afternoon Dad will take you to ride a tank, how about that."
Dingding, upon hearing this, instantly brightened up and excitedly said, "Great, I want to ride several times!"
"Mhm, mhm."
Han Yi understood his sonās temperament; easy to appease, just promise him something heās interested in, and heās happy as a clam.
Little Star packed a few sets of slightly lighter clothes, took her winter homework, carried a small suitcase and left with Chen Haichang that very day.
As she was leaving, Lin Wan tucked a wallet into her backpack, reminding her not to spend money recklessly over there. Lin Wan knew this was unnecessary since her daughter never spends money frivolously; she buys only what is needed and doesnāt even glance at what isnāt.
With the older one gone, Han Yi also took the younger one to the military base. Hu Lijuanās clothes and luggage were on their car now, as her colleagues were directly returning to S City. The clothes she was wearing had been worn for several days already.
Lin Wan directly took her to the store to help her choose a few pieces of clothing.
"Saozi, I have clothes at home, no need to pick so many."
"Lijuan, itās three or four days until New Yearās. Why donāt you spend it with us here this year?"
"Saozi, thereās no need. I have some things to discuss with Lawyer Xu after I get back. Iāll buy a ticket this afternoon and leave early tomorrow morning." Hu Lijuan calculated the return time; it would take two days to get home, and she had things to attend to once she got there.
Seeing she had things to do, Lin Wan finished buying clothes and took her for a walk nearby. They bought clothes for Grandma and Uncle Hu, as well as health supplements for the elderly. In the afternoon, Lin Wan took Hu Lijuan to the station to find Uncle.
Considering itās nearly New Year, buying train tickets requires standing in very long lines, and even then, itās not guaranteed there will be tickets available.
With Uncle around, securing a berth ticket was not a problem.
After buying the ticket, Lin Wan took Hu Lijuan to a hotpot restaurant to eat hotpot and try their fried chicken.
"Xiao Wan, who is this?" Coincidentally, they ran into Ying Hanās mom, Aunt Yun, who came over today because Mom had invited her for a meal. Seeing the capable-looking young woman beside Lin Wan, Aunt Yun curiously asked.
"My sister-in-law, Lijuan. Auntie, did you come alone?" Lin Wan quickly introduced with a smile.
"I came to find your mom," Aunt Yun replied with a smile, then looked at Hu Lijuan, saying, "So youāre the sister-in-law. Nice to meet you. Do you have a partner?"
Hu Lijuan quickly exchanged polite greetings.
Hearing Aunt Yunās question, Lin Wan knew Aunt Yun had something in mind, and jokingly teased, "Not yet. Sheās busy with work all the time, no room to meet anyone. Now over 20, it worries my mother-in-law sick; Aunt Yun, do you have any suitable matches? Help introduce her."
"Oh dear, a girl shouldnāt be so career-driven; when itās time to marry and have children, it shouldnāt be delayed." Hearing Lin Wan, Aunt Yun immediately took interest, sitting down to learn more. These days, sheās been thinking of an ideal match and feeling uneasy about it. The young women she knows herself donāt seem suitable for You Pei.
Today, seeing Xiao Wan bring such a pretty girl, Aunt Yun thought to ask.
"Lijuan, right? Where do you work?"
"S City," Hu Lijuan shyly replied with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Aunt Yun frowned, "Oh dear, not in Z Cityāwhat do you do?"
"Lijuan is now a lawyer at a reputable law firm in S City, mentored by an esteemed teacher." Originally, after a meal with Liang Hongmei, sheād have left. Who would have thought sheād end up sitting with Xiao Wan. Liang Hongmei quickly brewed a pot of tea at the back after seeing Aunt Yun inquire into Han Yiās sisterās matters, and said, "So, do you want to introduce someone to Lijuan?"
"Oh, a lawyer, how impressive for a young woman! I do have that thought, but hearing sheās in S City might mean sheās not interested. The person Iād like to introduce now works in the Capital City and is in the military. Also, Xiao Wan, you should know him; he was in the same team as your husband in the past, You Pei. Heās now been transferred back to the Capital City. However, he happens to be here these days; heās just over thirty and hasnāt been in touch with many young women, not even having a partner yet. His parents are nearly frantic. Recently, his mom phoned me, asking if there is a suitable girl nearby, to help look into it."