“When my luggage arrives, I’ll prepare gifts for you all too.”
Lin Jiaojiao couldn’t refuse, so she had no choice but to accept the kindness.
It was rare to be doted on by brothers, and the feeling was truly wonderful.
If only they were her real brothers…
Although the Daduizhang’s wife wanted to spend more time with Lin Jiaojiao, the Daduizhang said they couldn’t be too obvious about it.
If they ended up scaring the young girl and she refused to stay with their family, it would backfire.
Zhang Aihua reluctantly gave up the idea of staying home to keep Lin Jiaojiao company and followed the Daduizhang out to the fields.
Lin Jiaojiao had three days off, during which she could purchase daily necessities.
When she’d come back from the county town, she’d passed by the edge of the town, so she knew which way to go.
Besides, last night Lin Guozhi had gone over the route with her in great detail.
Even without anyone accompanying her today, she could still find the place.
After finishing breakfast and waiting for everyone to leave, she closed the courtyard gate.
She placed the key in the hidden spot that Zhang Aihua had told her about, then headed toward the town.
There weren’t many people on the road, though quite a few were busy working in the fields on both sides.
Some people pointed in her direction from afar, probably gossiping about how this young girl wasn’t working in the fields and was instead running around doing who-knows-what.
Even without hearing their words, she could guess roughly what they were saying.
Arriving in town, she didn’t go straight to the Gongxiaoshe.
Instead, she first went to the post office.
She deliberately asked whether there was any package for her, then walked out.
There was certainly no package, because she hadn’t even thought to mail one.
If she hadn’t run into an acquaintance like Zhang Jiyao, she wouldn’t have been afraid the whole way to take things out from her Space.
Thinking about it now, if she missed one step of consideration, she’d be restricted at every turn.
Fortunately, there weren’t many people in town. She found a secluded spot and took out two bundles.
She’d packed these bundles last night when she went into her Space to organize things.
Inside were some changes of clothes, two thin quilts, and assorted grains.
The amount wasn’t much, but they filled two large bundles to the brim.
They were heavy to carry, and she couldn’t possibly transport them back by herself.
She lugged the things over to the Gongxiaoshe with great effort.
After asking around inside, she successfully found Lin Guozhi.
“Sister, why are you here?”
Lin Guozhi saw Lin Jiaojiao and glanced behind her, but didn’t see his mother following.
He was a bit puzzled.
Mother doted on Sister so much—why wouldn’t she have come along?
“I came to the post office to pick up some things.”
“There’s quite a lot, and I can’t carry it all back. Second Brother, could I leave the things here with you for now, and you help me bring some back tonight?”
One bundle, she could barely manage to carry back on her own.
Two was just too heavy—she’d be walking one step and stopping for a rest, and she wouldn’t make it home before dark.
“Let me go take a look.”
Lin Guozhi said, following Lin Jiaojiao to where the two bundles were placed.
After one glance, Lin Guozhi said to Lin Jiaojiao,
“Leave both of these here. Tonight I’ll borrow a handcart and push them back.”
“You don’t get to come here often, so let me take you to buy some things first.”
“You just take those back with you.”
Without giving her a chance to argue, Lin Guozhi pulled Lin Jiaojiao over to the sales clerk.
“Sister Zhang, this is my little sister, here to buy a few things.”
“See if you have any snacks that young girls like, and wrap some up for me.”
“Also get me a set of things like a wooden comb, hair ties, and a small mirror.”
When Zhang-jie saw Lin Guozhi coming over with a young girl, she initially thought it was his partner, but upon hearing those words, she knew she had misunderstood.
However, she had never heard Comrade Lin mention having a younger sister before—why had he suddenly brought a girl along?
It was also possible that he was just low-key and hadn’t spread the word about his sister.
These were minor matters. Zhang-jie immediately started helping them gather everything.
For the mirror, she picked the ones with the prettiest patterns on the back, and for the wooden comb, she chose the ones with the best quality.
Although the prices were the same, different buyers received different levels of care. For an acquaintance like Lin Guozhi’s sister, naturally she had to pick out the good ones for her.
There were also canned goods, malted milk, White Rabbit cream candies, and the like—she got a bit of each.
Lin Jiaojiao looked at so many things and quickly reached into her pocket for money and ration coupons.
“You’ve come to your brother’s place—how could I let you pay?”
“Save that little bit of money of yours to buy candy for yourself!”
Lin Guozhi pressed down her hand that was reaching for money and pulled out his own money and ration coupons from his chest to pay the bill.
And because they were acquaintances, he even got some discount, and bought two pairs of cloth shoes that didn’t require ration coupons.
With these cloth shoes, Lin Jiaojiao would have shoes to alternate wearing.
If Lin Guozhi had brought more on him, he probably would have bought her even more.
Lin Jiaojiao grew more and more puzzled.
While moved, she was also a little scared.
What was with this family?
Could they be wanting to keep her as a daughter-in-law?
But she was only one person, and all five brothers treated her well.
If they wanted her as a daughter-in-law, who should she choose?
The moment this thought popped up, Lin Jiaojiao snuffed it out.
She must be overthinking it. Although she really liked the Lin family boys, that kind of liking was more like between family members.
If it came to being husband and wife, she couldn’t accept that for now.
Lin Guozhi’s series of actions left Lin Jiaojiao dizzy and dazed.
By the time she came out of the Gongxiaoshe, she had big and small bags in her hands.
But these were all snacks, pastries, and daily necessities bought for her.
Though there were many things, none of them were heavy.
Lin Guozhi saw that it was inconvenient for his sister to carry everything, so he went to the logistics department and got a basket.
Now it was much easier.
“Little sister, you go home first.” I’ll bring your things back tonight!”
Just like that, Lin Jiaojiao had come empty-handed and was walking back with big and small bags.
With a basket hooked on her arm and White Rabbit cream candies bought by her second brother in her mouth,
she didn’t feel tired at all on the way.
When she got home, Daduizhang and the others hadn’t returned yet.
Lin Jiaojiao felt she couldn’t just eat without contributing, so she went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.
She had never cooked meals from this era, but the original host had been responsible for all of this at home.
She quickly estimated the food portions for six people and started preparing.
According to what Zhang Aihua had said last night, they ate solid food at noon and watery food in the morning and evening.
So she steamed a pot of mixed grain rice and picked out some potatoes, cabbage, and radishes.
Anyway, the ingredients in the Space would automatically replenish themselves once taken out.
Might as well eat if there’s free food.
So she took out another piece of pork from the refrigerator to stew with cabbage and vermicelli.
She took two eggs to stir-fry with chives from the vegetable garden later.
Then a cold shredded potato dish, and a plate of crisp tossed radishes.
Four dishes should be enough for them.
Estimating the portions, she quickly prepared all the ingredients.
Just as she was about to start cooking, Zhang Aihua returned early.
Seeing Lin Jiaojiao bustling about in the kitchen melted her heart completely.
Was this the benefit of having a daughter?
In the past, all the cooking had been her job. Although her husband and son would help, most of it still fell to her.
Now with a little padded jacket to help her, her heart felt truly warm.