September in Jiangcheng had pleasant temperatures. What Lin Wan had changed into was precisely the new clothes she had bought at the department store a while ago.
A goose-yellow plaid dress, cinched at the waist and falling down, elegant and delicate.
It was just that the fabric was thin. Separated by a piece of cloth, Lin Wan still felt her abdomen grow slightly warm. An unfamiliar, broad, forcefully controlling sensation swept over her, making her tremble and feel uneasy.
Fortunately, Fu Xiuhuai did not linger long. He quickly withdrew his hand, his face showing delight: “It really doesn’t give me, its father, any face. Not a single movement.”
Lin Wan tugged at the corner of her mouth, somewhat amused: “The timing of fetal movement is inherently unpredictable.”
“Then next time there’s movement, you tell me?” Fu Xiuhuai stood with his back to the light. The setting sun melted gold, plating him with sunset glow, likewise softening the man’s sharp edges.
Lin Wan seemed to see a bit of gentleness on his face. Her lashes merely quivered lightly: “Mm.”
At the Fu family’s dinner table at night, the whole family often could not gather together.
Especially Fu Xiutong and Fu Xiuhuai, who were busy with work and often had times when they could not come home for dinner.
The steel plant had encountered some difficulties. Fu Xiutong had already been busy for several consecutive days, returning home late at night. Zhang Meiying worried along with him and had not been in the mood to go out and play cards for the past few days.
The old master Fu Zhiyong exhorted his second son a few words: “Your elder brother has met with difficulties this time. Help as much as you can.”
Fu Xiuhuai was just placing a chopstickful of taro braised chicken into Lin Wan’s bowl while answering his father: “Of course. Elder brother mentioned borrowing money to turn over funds to me. Wanwan and I discussed it, and she was very supportive too. The money has already been remitted to elder brother’s account.”
Fu Zhiyong looked at the brothers helping each other and felt deeply comforted: “Meiying, you also take more care of Xiutong. When the factory has a mishap, you can’t be too anxious. The family supports him too.”
Zhang Meiying’s own maternal family could not help. She was grateful for the Fu family, especially Fu Xiuhuai’s substantial wealth. At this moment she was truly thankful. She responded to her father-in-law’s words and immediately thanked her second brother-in-law: “Xiuhuai, thanks to your help. Your elder brother and I will remember it in our hearts.”
Lin Wan silently ate the food. The nanny Auntie Wang’s cooking was good. The dishes were fragrant enough to compare with a master chef in a Jiangcheng restaurant. The food was fragrant, and this Fu family household affair was also interesting to listen to.
Fu Xiuhuai gave a slight nod, but said to his elder sister-in-law: “This matter was mainly agreed to by Wanwan. Husband and wife are one.”
Zhang Meiying’s face stiffened. The corner of her mouth twitched. However much she suspected her second brother-in-law had done it on purpose, she could only brace herself and thank Lin Wan: “Sister-in-law is thoughtful. We will all remember it.”
No matter how well Zhang Meiying usually concealed it, she could still recall Lin Wan’s former identity. The words “sister-in-law” came out with difficulty.
Lin Wan had not expected Fu Xiuhuai to still direct the favor onto her head. Whether to accept it or not seemed to become the focus at the dinner table: “It’s no trouble. I didn’t express any opinion either.”
The old madam Jiang Yuehua had a kind face. Hearing this, she praised without stopping: “When a family can help, they should help. It’s a good thing. Wanwan has not been married in long, and I see she gets along well with Meiying. You two sisters-in-law must be fated.”
As soon as these words came out, Lin Wan, as if possessed, glanced at Zhang Meiying across the table. The two, who had once sat at the same table as Fu Mingjun’s girlfriend and Fu Mingjun’s mother, both somewhat awkwardly shifted their gazes away.
Lin Wan read a bit of embarrassment in Zhang Meiying’s eyes and suddenly felt somewhat relieved. It was not only herself who was like this.
It was just that the man beside her remained calm and composed, without the slightest trace of embarrassment.
Lin Wan sighed in admiration. Fu Xiuhuai’s psychological fortitude was truly formidable.
After dinner, Lin Wan returned to the bedroom to shower and changed into blue-and-white striped pajamas.
Pure cotton pajamas felt comfortable on the skin. Lin Wan guessed that during the vanished year, she had bought them herself, and had even specially chosen her favorite color.
Last time at the department store, Lin Wan had seen this style of pajamas. There were five colors in total. At first glance she felt blue-and-white stripes suited her eye best, and the ones at home were exactly that.
There was no trace of Fu Xiuhuai in the bedroom. Lin Wan enjoyed the ease and freedom. Wearing loose pajamas, she rarely opened the personal computer again and went online into chat rooms and BBS, thinking of looking at the outside world…
Who knew how long had passed. Lin Wan had just finished looking up information and casually opened Minesweeper to relax, when she heard a knock on the bedroom door.
A few seconds later, the door handle was turned open.
Fu Xiuhuai, having finished his work, walked to the desk. One hand rested on the leather chair Lin Wan was leaning back in: “Last time I didn’t get to see it. This time I must properly see it.”
Hearing his insinuation, Lin Wan again remembered the embarrassing incident last time in Fu Xiuhuai’s office when she played Minesweeper and, with one careless trembling hand, hit a mine exactly.
Washing away the shame was urgent.
Lin Wan focused on the computer screen. Her heart was calm and her hand steady. Relying on skilled calculation and reasoning, she successfully bypassed all the mines and completed the intermediate challenge in 31 seconds.
Fu Xiuhuai leaned closer. His long arm stretched out like a broad embrace, seeming to gather the woman in the leather chair into his arms, yet without touching her at all.
“Truly impressive. Last time at lunch break I saw company employees playing, so I joined the fun too. In the end, after just a few clicks, I hit a mine.”
Lin Wan was surprised: “You don’t know how to play this?”
You should know that in Lin Wan’s impression, Fu Xiuhuai was omnipotent.
Of course, such an impression came entirely from Fu Mingjun. This second-generation rich kid worshipped his uncle quite a bit. He often spoke of his uncle’s wealth-building abilities over more than a decade: how in his youth he dared to fight and risk his life, and later seized the opportunity and soared to the sky, truly a legend of Jiangcheng.
In addition, among the various legends about the rich in the streets, Fu Xiuhuai was also the most special one. Hearing the man mention now that he was a layman at Minesweeper, Lin Wan was truly somewhat surprised.
Lin Wan’s eyes lit up: “Do you want to learn?”
In university she had taught quite a few people to play Minesweeper. It was very fun.
Fu Xiuhuai gazed at Lin Wan and nodded: “All right.”
“Minesweeper isn’t random lucky clicking. You have to infer, remember, and also…” Lin Wan taught him everything she knew, holding the mouse and demonstrating on the computer screen, bringing out the friendliness she used with classmates to teach.
A few minutes later, Fu Xiuhuai seemed to have grasped the trick and was ready to try it himself.
The man’s slender fingers brushed past Lin Wan’s fingertips and took hold of the mouse. Lin Wan rubbed her green-onion-like fingertips together and said nothing, only staring at the screen…
However, the uncle Fu Mingjun had described as so clever that he understood with one hint and learned anything well still seemed like a complete novice.
Every time he accurately clicked a mine, so much so that within one minute he had already restarted the game ten times.
Lin Wan: QAQ
Fu Xiuhuai seemed somewhat discouraged: “Quite difficult. I can’t learn it in a short while. You’re still the impressive one.”
Lin Wan stared at the man suspiciously and could not help speaking: “You’re not messing with me for fun, are you?”
Such a big boss, and he thought playing Minesweeper was impressive?
Fu Xiuhuai let out a muted laugh: “How could I? I truly have no talent in this area and need to learn more from you. Or is it that Teacher Lin despises me for being stupid and clumsy?”
Lin Wan was choked by his words. For a moment she felt the words “Teacher Lin” burn her ears. For another moment she could not tell whether this person’s self-esteem had really been hurt. She could only nod: “If there’s anything you don’t know, you can ask me.”
“Good.” Fu Xiuhuai’s brows and eyes were gentle. “Then teach me more.”
The materials needed for communicating with the foreign investor were prepared properly. The computer Fu Xiuhuai had installed at home indeed came in useful.
Over two or three days, Lin Wan accompanied the factory leaders with the materials to meet the foreign investor, preparing to strive for the investment again.
In a private room at the famous Hongzhuang Grand Hotel in Jiangcheng, the waiter laid out specialty dishes. The deputy factory director, accompanied by the sales director, workshop director, and factory office director, attended. Every sentence was translated by Lin Wan.
Lin Wan’s English had mainly been learned in university. In the past, she had attended elementary school in the countryside and middle and high school in the town. The teaching resources were not comparable to the city, and her English progress had fallen seriously behind.
Having started late, Lin Wan nevertheless had a strong gift for language. In university she rose early every day for morning reading, following broadcasts and reading along. Her English listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities actually surpassed quite a few people, and she had even won first place in the campus English speech contest.
When the factory leaders heard the new factory office employee’s first sentence, they immediately felt it was right.
Although they themselves did not understand much, they just felt it sounded like how foreigners spoke, and it was not halting. No matter what was being said, it sounded fluent.
Then looking at the foreign investors, they wore smiles and nodded repeatedly. It really was right!
Over the course of one meal, host and guests were all delighted.
After returning to the factory, Lin Wan reported the situation to the factory director in detail: “What Charles’s team means is that they are interested in us, but they need to comprehensively evaluate our production scale and that of several other state-owned factories. However, they hinted that our chances are somewhat greater.”
The deputy factory director was greatly invigorated: “That’s wonderful! Comrade Xiao Lin, take good charge of this matter. If it is handled well, rewards and commendations must be arranged for you!”
Lin Wan, taking advantage of the good timing, prepared to make the path clear once more so Feng Tianjiao could not go back on her word: “Thank you, Deputy Director Wang. In handling matters for the factory, I will certainly do my utmost. Moreover, our Director Feng is also thoughtful. She said she had long ago applied for a bonus and commendation for me.”
Feng Tianjiao had indeed had the idea of finding an excuse to renege after the matter was done. She had not expected Lin Wan to directly bring this matter up in front of the deputy factory director.
Seeing the deputy factory director cast an approving look, Feng Tianjiao’s face stiffened. She could only keep the matter in mind. She could not renege now.
Lin Wan began preparations. She had several more contacts with the foreign investor, and the investment matter was basically agreed upon orally.
Afterward, the two sides needed to draft contract terms, and this matter was also translated by Lin Wan.
In the factory office, Lin Wan was bent over her desk writing swiftly. Outside the window the cool breeze blew gently, rustling the maple leaves. Inside the room, however, there arose a not very pleasant sound.
“What’s so impressive? I’ll go sign up for New Western.” Feng Yan had dragged her aunt into being criticized by the leaders too. Now seeing Lin Wan handling things with ease, how could she feel good? She immediately stood up with a scrape. “In the future I’ll still go study in New York!”
Seeing Feng Yan stomp off in a huff, Qin Fang clicked her tongue twice across the desk and threw Lin Wan a look: “What’s New Western?”
“In the capital, didn’t someone set up New Oriental to learn English? Jiangcheng isn’t idle either. I heard several university students set one up, called New Western. Registration fee is several hundred.”
Qin Fang suddenly understood: “So it really is true that everyone has an American dream.”
For more than a decade, the English-learning craze had continued unabated. The American dream had taken root step by step in passionate hearts. Studying abroad, emigrating, gilding oneself, making money—in short, they just wanted to go out.
Lin Wan still remembered the hit TV drama aired the previous two years. It seemed Feng Yan also wanted to be that Guo Yan who went to New York.
On Saturday evening, Fu Xiutong and Zhang Meiying’s university-attending daughter Fu Minghui finally came home.
Having been at university for nearly a month, Fu Minghui had experienced living on campus for the first time and found it very novel. When she got home, she could not wait to share amusing university stories.
Lin Wan had not seen Fu Minghui before. She only knew from Fu Mingjun’s words that his eighteen-year-old younger sister was lively and cute. Now seeing her, she was indeed charming and lovely.
“Auntie, how does being pregnant feel? When the baby is born, I want to give a big red envelope!” Fu Minghui, like her elder brother Fu Mingjun, was very close to her uncle. It was entirely because of the generational and age gap. Her uncle clearly doted on them more than other elders in the family, was more tolerant, and could communicate better.
Her uncle’s marriage was a major family event. Fu Minghui had been beaming with joy at the time and got along extremely well with her aunt Lin Wan. Now, returning from university, she had also become Lin Wan’s school junior, making them even closer.
After eating, Fu Minghui clung to Lin Wan and talked, making Zhang Meiying, as her mother, twitch her eyelids.
“Minghui, why are you pestering your aunt?” Zhang Meiying thought inwardly that fortunately her younger daughter did not know those messy matters. Otherwise, if she heard that her aunt was her biological brother’s ex-girlfriend, would she not be frightened to death?
Fu Minghui was not willing to let go: “Mom, Auntie and I have so much to talk about. By the way, I heard Uncle installed a computer at home! I want to play too. Auntie, do you know how to play Minesweeper? I’m really good!”
Led along by the girl four years younger than herself, Lin Wan’s brows and eyes also brightened. Hearing this, she was not modest either: “I’m also very good at Minesweeper.”
“Wow!” Fu Minghui perked up. “Then let’s compete! My Minesweeper was taught by Uncle. I received his personal teaching. Although I can’t compare to him, the gap isn’t big.”
Lin Wan’s steps upstairs paused. She spoke blankly: “Your uncle is very good at Minesweeper?”
Fu Minghui nodded: “Yeah! Especially good! He plays fast and accurately.”