Chen Yayun went upstairs herself to call Lin Shuhua down to dinner.
“What’s wrong, Older Sister? Are you feeling unwell?” Lin Wan asked, looking at Lin Shuhua’s pale face.
“I’m fine.” Lin Shuhua shook her head without even raising her eyes.
“Shuhua, Wanwan brought this for you—the braised pork with arrowhead tubers you love most. And this water celery, which you mentioned specially last time.” Chen Yayun used the serving chopsticks to put an arrowhead tuber in Lin Shuhua’s bowl.
“Mom, I don’t want any arrowhead tubers.” Lin Shuhua picked the tuber out of her bowl and put it in Xie Yanzhou’s. “Yanzhou, you eat it.”
Lin Wan’s gaze swept over the two elders of the Xie family. Seeing their expressions, she sneered inwardly. What a shameless family. They weren’t going to do a thing about this?
“Older Sister, you’ve already eaten with those chopsticks. How can you put food in Brother Yanzhou’s bowl? You used to have a serious stomach condition, and it’s highly contagious. Have you been taking medicine lately?” After saying this, Lin Wan took the tuber from Xie Yanzhou’s bowl and put it on the small plate in front of her. Then she turned to him and said, “Brother Yanzhou has to do intense training every day once he’s back with his unit. He can’t afford to get sick or injured.”
Xie Yanzhou turned to look at Lin Wan. She smiled charmingly at him, her face full of sincere concern.
“Shuhua, why didn’t you tell us you had a stomach condition? I’ll have your mom take you to the hospital for a proper examination. You’re still so young—your health comes first,” Division Commander Xie Zhenshan said gravely.
“That’s right, Shuhua. I’ll take you to the hospital tomorrow,” Chen Yayun said at once.
Lin Wan saw Chen Yayun exchange a subtle glance with Xie Zhenshan. As they looked at the chopsticks Lin Shuhua had held out, both seemed hesitant.
“I’m fine, Mom. My stomach problems were from when I was little.” Lin Shuhua was sensitive to people’s thoughts. Seeing her in-laws’ expressions, her face flushed, then paled, then flushed again, changing several times.
Lin Wan, meanwhile, ate with gusto.
Her previous life had been so unbearably hard for those dozen or so years. Especially toward the end, she had gone almost an entire year without tasting meat…
“Yanzhou, pass me the tea.” Lin Shuhua spoke again, calling to Xie Yanzhou in a lilting voice as if he were her husband.
“Older Sister, Brother Yanzhou’s arm hurts. Why do you keep ordering him around?” Lin Wan said with a cheerful smile, looking at Lin Shuhua. “If you need anything, just tell me.”
As she spoke, Lin Wan got up, fetched the tea, and handed it to Lin Shuhua.
“Shuhua, if your stomach’s bothering you, you shouldn’t drink tea with your meals. Be sure to watch that,” Chen Yayun advised.
“Yes. You need to change bad eating habits. And make sure Xiaobao does too—habits should be formed from childhood,” Xie Zhenshan said.
“All right, I understand, Dad.” Lin Shuhua gripped her bowl so tightly that her hand tensed.
After dinner, Xie Yanzhou sat on the sofa facing Xie Zhenshan, while Lin Wan sat on the sofa at the side, watching the father and son.
“Wanwan, let’s find a time for me to meet your Dad and Mom. Would you rather we go to them, or have them come here?” Xie Zhenshan asked.
Chen Yayun was in the kitchen preparing fruit.
Lin Shuhua came over carrying the child and sat down beside Xie Yanzhou as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Yanzhou, look. Xiaobao’s smiling at you again. He doesn’t smile at anyone else, but he does at you,” Lin Shuhua said.
Xie Yanzhou turned and gazed at the child tenderly.
“Brother Yanzhou, your arm’s injured. Be careful,” Lin Wan reminded him. She looked at Lin Shuhua. “Sis, watch out and don’t bump Brother Yanzhou’s injury. He still has to train when he goes back to his unit.”
Lin Shuhua sat there awkwardly. She had been about to place the child in Xie Yanzhou’s arms.
“Shuhua, take Xiaobao upstairs for now. I want to talk with Yanzhou about his marriage,” Xie Zhenshan said.
Chen Yayun came out of the kitchen carrying the fruit.
“Come here, Xiaobao. Grandma will hold you and lull you to sleep.” Chen Yayun carefully lifted the child from Lin Shuhua’s arms, then said to her, “Shuhua, you’re not feeling well. Go get some rest.”
“I’m fine, Mom. You can put Xiaobao to sleep first. I’ll stay and listen. I am Wanwan’s older sister, after all. I should have a say in her marriage, too.” Lin Shuhua remained seated beside Xie Yanzhou instead of leaving. She looked at Lin Wan as she spoke.
Looking at the distance between Xie Yanzhou and Lin Shuhua, Lin Wan showed no intention of letting it slide. “So, Older Sister, are you sitting so close to Brother Yanzhou because you’re planning to check whether he’s up to the task for me? You’re sitting much too close!”
“I…” Lin Shuhua was immediately at a loss for words. Her face reddened, and under the gaze of Xie Zhenshan and Lin Wan, she shifted farther away.
“I was only joking, Older Sister. I know you didn’t mean anything by it!” Lin Wan quickly added.
Chen Yayun was still holding the child and hadn’t had a chance to leave. At Lin Wan’s words, she froze by the stairs and turned back, studying Lin Wan closely.
“I’ll go with you to the county seat tomorrow,” Xie Yanzhou said, turning to Lin Wan. “I’ll bring the betrothal gifts and pick up your political background investigation materials.”
“All right.” Lin Wan nodded. Leaning against the arm of the sofa, she looked at Lin Shuhua and asked, “Sis, what dowry are you giving me?”
“It all happened too suddenly. I haven’t decided yet.” Lin Shuhua’s face was pale, and she clutched the hem of her clothes tightly.
Suddenly, Lin Shuhua stood up. Her voice trembled slightly as she said, “Dad, Mom, I want to move out with Xiaobao tomorrow.”
“W-why?” Chen Yayun hurriedly turned around and asked.
“We’re doing fine here. Why move out? Xiaobao needs someone to look after him,” Xie Zhenshan said coldly, his brows drawn into a deep frown.
“Older Sister, don’t worry. Once Brother Yanzhou and I are married, we’ll help you take care of Xiaobao. I’m his aunt, after all. I’ll treat him the way my Dad and Mom have treated you all these years,” Lin Wan said.
For all those years in the factory’s residential compound, who hadn’t praised Factory Director Lin and his wife for caring more for their niece than their own daughter?
“That’s right. Factory Director Lin and his wife were model workers at the Cotton Textile Factory. They even received medals. I still remember what Old Lin told me back then: he said I should treat Shuhua like my own daughter.” Xie Zhenshan looked at Lin Shuhua. “Shuhua, keeping you here means we know we’ve wronged you and held you back. So, once Xiaobao turns one, I’ll arrange a job for you. As for later, if you find a good family…”
“I want Xiaobao. I won’t leave him,” Lin Shuhua said.
Xie Zhenshan and Chen Yayun exchanged a glance, and both their expressions darkened.
“If Older Sister can’t bear to be apart from Xiaobao, she could take in a husband. Xie Zhenshan and Aunt Yayun have both said they’ll treat you like their own daughter, so taking in a son-in-law would be the best solution,” Lin Wan suggested.
“Lin Wan, what nonsense are you talking about?” Lin Shuhua snapped. After scolding Lin Wan, she immediately spoke through her tears. “Yanqing’s been gone for only a year, and this family can’t even make room for me anymore. What am I still doing here?”
With that, she stamped her foot, covered her face, and ran upstairs crying.