novelraw Chapter 463 - 461: Farewell
Chapter 463 - 461: Farewell
Han Yi left, carrying a backpack and two bags, heading directly back to join the group at the unit.That day, Lin Wan held her daughter in her arms and saw him off on the bus.
With the pillar of the house gone, Lin Wan felt like she’d lost her soul. A week passed by in a blur. She accomplished nothing.
Fortunately, yesterday she received a call from Han Yi, saying everything was settled on his end. Everyone who went with him passed their examinations.
The studies were intense, and aside from academic learning, regular training couldn’t be neglected. They were a specially recommended team from the unit.
It was different from what they studied at the unit.
Knowing his situation eased Lin Wan’s mind.
With Little Star’s company, life wasn’t lonely, especially with Aunt Liang around. Their household was lively every day.
Mr. Mei had been busy with military affairs lately, and couldn’t care for Aunt Liang. After some persuasion, she decided not to sell the house; instead, she planned to tidy up and rent it out when they returned.
Aunt Liang wasn’t idle these days, spending most of her time at their house. If she weren’t entertaining Little Star, she was learning to cook with Mom.
Even in the mornings, when Mom went to the early market, Aunt Liang eagerly accompanied her.
What surprised her was how Lin Yinghui, a young man, got up early to steam buns and cook meals, not inferior to any woman.
Even with her decades of cooking experience, she couldn’t compare to Lin Yinghui.
This made Liang Qian admire him greatly; after all, her Xiao Jun had never entered the kitchen from a young age, not even during the toughest days.
It was only after joining the army that he learned some basic outdoor survival skills. Cooking merely to get food done was quite an achievement.
"Hongmei, how did you raise such a good son? I’m so envious."
"Ah, it was born out of poverty. My family was so poor there wasn’t enough to eat, and I had to work while he was eleven or twelve, often taking care of his sister alone. Coming home late from work left lunch and dinner to my son. On occasion, when free, Ah Hui would take Xiao Wan to help me with work. To be honest, this child has been obedient and sensible since childhood; if not for him, I might not have survived to enjoy a life as happy as it is now." She didn’t mention the trouble with the village chief, but actually her son, once understanding, protected her.
Helping her at work was also to fend off rascals who tried to take advantage of her.
If not, how could a widow’s household remain so peaceful?
Liang Qian sighed softly after hearing Liang Hongmei’s experiences, but she was more filled with admiration.
If it were her, she might not have been as strong as Liang Hongmei; deep down, she believed a woman like Liang Hongmei deserved a man’s care.
"Our Old Mei has a comrade about your age who went through some things and was in a coma for several years; he just woke up recently and is single. His family is busy finding him a match now. Shall I introduce him to you?"
Liang Hongmei immediately waved her hand, saying, "Sister Liang, please don’t. I really don’t have the mood for that right now."
Fearful she might be as proactive as the Liu Family’s Sister-in-law, she quickly declined.
"You’ve struggled alone for so many years; it’s time to think for yourself."
"I’m not interested in that now; it’s enough to take care of the children."
Liang Qian mentioned it casually and didn’t take it too seriously. As September passed, the weather gradually turned cooler.
Lin Wan took some time to go to the market and bought a few pieces of small patterned cotton fabric for children, making Little Star some autumn clothes and pants, many in the style of wrap-around monk attire.
Su Ling also wanted some, so Lin Wan made them for her Fatty as well.
Yin Peibai saw a business opportunity; there weren’t many baby clothes as exquisite and appealing as those Lin Wan made.
Lin Wan said she’d make a batch to try. While at it, she’d also make some cotton swaddles and autumn-winter outing coats.
With this idea in mind, Lin Wan took a day to visit the cotton textile district.
She selected a batch of materials for children’s autumn clothes and pants, mostly in plain floral patterns.
The swaddle was made of plush material, with cotton fabric lining. All swaddles had hoods.
For outing attire, plush material was used, lined with a removable cotton filling, making it easier to clean. Animal onesies were designed with snap closures at the crotch for convenience.
Lin Wan didn’t plan to make too many children’s clothes; the adults at home were skilled with needlework and mostly bought their own fabric to make clothes.
Few bought baby items; life wasn’t affluent, so people saved wherever possible. Babies grew quickly, siblings passed clothes down, and sewn repairs lasted several children.
Three patterns of autumn clothes and pants, two hundred sets each; swaddles two hundred pieces; outing onesies three hundred pieces.
When Lin Wan brought back the fabric, Liang Hongmei knew she was getting busy again.
Fortunately, the night market hadn’t ended; every afternoon she went over at two, checked yesterday’s accounts, coordinated the evening’s menu, and by four she’d be back to help Lin Wan with the children.
Liang Qian knew these days that Lin Wan was attending night classes in fashion design. She didn’t expect that after just two years she’d be able to design clothes herself. Liang Qian wasn’t good at cooking, but her needlework was decent.
With Liang Qian and Mom around, the three of them took two days to cut out the clothes.
There was no need to worry about sewing; Su Ling, Aunt Liu, Yin Peibai, and her mom, along with the usual group that took jobs, were enough.
Just as they finished cutting the pieces, Lin Wan took a batch to school that evening and gave them to Su Ling and Yin Peibai.
She asked the two to distribute them.
"Each set of clothes for fifty cents, swaddles and outing onesies for eighty cents each.
Outside, selling them... autumn clothes and pants sets were two yuan; swaddles were eight yuan each, onesies twelve."
"Quite cheap," Su Ling said with a thoughtless nod, prompting eye rolls from both of them.
"This price isn’t low; only your family is wealthy enough to be carefree, unaware how those of us lacking a foundation struggle through life," Yin Peibai grumbled inwardly. The housing issue pressed down on their young couple, and without Lin Wan providing a job opportunity, it might take years to live comfortably.
If Zhang Hanfu’s family had some assets, they wouldn’t have to work so hard.
Combined, their salaries were seventy to eighty, and without debts, life would be extremely comfortable. Maybe there’d even be a television at home.
The clothes weren’t finished yet, and suddenly it rained the next day. The temperature dropped sharply. People wearing short sleeves suddenly donned coats and pants, and among those afraid of the cold, autumn clothes and pants were directly put on. The rain was strong; Aunt Liang’s courtyard, uninhabited for years, suddenly collapsed.
With such a large opening in the courtyard, it wasn’t safe for Aunt Liang to stay there alone, so Liang Hongmei invited her to stay with them for a few days.
"Aunt Liang, the wall next to it is still sturdy; once the rain stops, I can help you rebuild it," Lin Yinghui said when he returned from work that afternoon.
"No need to bother you; I can find some bricklayers, it won’t cost much."
Lin Yinghui smiled, "Why waste money? I can finish this wall in a day. Aunt Liang, don’t be polite with me."
Upon hearing Lin Yinghui, Liang Qian didn’t insist.
That evening, Liang Hongmei tidied up the room she had once prepared for Zhang Dandan, arranging it freshly for Liang Qian. With not much entertainment at night, the two women had endless chats.
Just chatting seemed to waste time, so Liang Hongmei had Lin Yinghui entertain Little Star; both women headed straight to Lin Wan’s courtyard to help with sewing clothes.
In the west room, they each took a sewing machine, stomping while having their conversation.
The next day, it happened to be Sunday. Lin Yinghui rode the tricycle early in the morning to the suburbs to dig a load of soil.
He also went to the brewery; there was still some bricks left over from digging the cellar, and fearing not enough bricks for Aunt Liang, he collected dozens from there.
"Yinghui, you’re here; I’m just looking for you and Congnan," Li Jianye had recently recruited two veteran technicians for brewing research.
A while ago, Liang Hongmei introduced a classmate as an accountant.
Now, the factory was gradually formalizing.
In terms of business, Old Tang and Liu Yanmin each brought in two new recruits.
Naturally, it was unnecessary for Lin Yinghui and Li Congnan to rigorously manage the operations.
"What’s up, Brother Li?"
"Are you in a hurry? If not, wait till Congnan arrives, and I’ll explain together."
Lin Yinghui checked the time, "Sure. I’ll go move some bricks first."
It wasn’t long before he finished moving the bricks and Li Congnan arrived.
Li Jianye called them to the office to show them the account books for the past half-year.