Chapter 390: Chapter 389: Ugly
These days in the store, she didn’t dare to eat much, and Mom wouldn’t let her eat either.
Today was just the right day to enjoy a meal with a few sisters-in-law.
"Xiao Wan, you’re pregnant, eat more bland food," Sister-in-law Zhang said as she saw Xiao Wan dipping various dishes into the boiling pot.
"It’s okay, I’m not afraid of spicy food."
"Sister-in-law Lin is pregnant? How come she likes spicy food?" Sun Yu looked at the dishes served, feeling uncomfortable, but upon hearing this, her expression improved a lot.
Everyone present knew what she meant by this statement. Liking spicy food during pregnancy implied that Lin Wan might be having a girl.
Lin Wan seemed oblivious to her insinuation, nodded, and continued eating her food.
Others didn’t pick up on Sun Yu’s words, leaving her quite embarrassed for a moment.
Feeling annoyed inside, she couldn’t understand why nothing good ever happened when she met Lin Wan.
When Liang Hongmei came back from school and saw those accompanying the army had arrived, she remembered what Han Yi told her the last time he left.
She quickly called out Xiao Wan, "Last time Han Yi came, he said you should bring some yogurt when you go to the military district; he mentioned that there were two places asking for it."
"Oh, is that so? Mom, please help me prepare it, and I’ll take it later."
"Later?" Liang Hongmei seemed to understand and asked, "Are you leaving with them later?"
Lin Wan nodded, "Yeah, I just asked Xiao Gu to help me bring some things home."
"Alright then, I’ll help you prepare it," thought Liang Hongmei as she quickly considered what they might still need while helping prepare things for her daughter’s trip to the district.
After wandering outside for most of the day, it was warm and cozy here, and the food was enjoyable. Everyone was very happy.
Sun Yu didn’t accept this favor. When they were almost done, Sun Yu said, "Sister-in-law Lin, I’ve just calculated. These dishes cost nine yuan eighty cents. We agreed with a few sisters-in-law that we would pool our money for a meal. There are six of us, each should pay one yuan sixty-three cents."
The figure of two yuan forty made everyone pause; they had been busy eating and hadn’t thought it would cost so much.
Two yuan and more could buy a lot of rabbit fur.
Lin Wan could understand what Sun Yu meant. She had ordered so many good dishes on her own, which cost a lot, and surely the sisters-in-law were not too happy about it, leading to some dissatisfaction.
"Sister Sun, you made a mistake. It’s not that much. How can we be like others, right, sisters-in-law?"
"Exactly, our relationship with Xiao Wan cannot be compared with others," one sister-in-law agreed with Lin Wan, feeling that it was right to give them a discount since they were all from big provinces or district institutes. Maybe even better to waive the bill altogether.
Zhang Cuiping, chewing on a piece of meat, knew what this sister-in-law meant—trying to take advantage of a deal. "Even though we’re all from the same big complex, times are tough for everyone, and we shouldn’t have people spend money unnecessarily. Whoever should pay should pay," Zhang Cuiping said in a way that left no room for opinion. Receiving hospitality, it’s only right to pay what is due.
"Let’s forget it this time. Next time the sisters-in-law come, I won’t give them any special treatment. Whatever it costs, it costs," Lin Wan said with a smile.
"No, that’s not okay. What should be paid still has to be paid; we don’t like owing others," Sun Yu’s words put everyone in an awkward position.
At the end of the day, they all paid Sun Yu when settling the bill.
But at the counter, Liang Hongmei only charged them four yuan, saying that it was for the dishes. She didn’t say no to any payment, nor did she charge the original price.
Each person paid sixty cents. They had eaten all the good stuff earlier, and it wouldn’t cover even the cost. Lin Wan’s intention was appreciated.
But Sun Yu was not happy. "Sister-in-law Lin either looks down on us or pities us; we can afford this money. No need to save for us." Saying this, she slammed the money back on the counter.
Sun Yu’s action left Lin Wan and Liang Hongmei at the counter stunned, not just them but the other sisters-in-law too.
They were puzzled by Sun Yu’s cause of drama. What looking down or pitying? They didn’t think so.
Wasn’t she embarrassing Lin Wan? How could they ever face Lin Wan afterwards?
Before they could speak, Sun Yu, with a smile on her face, pulled one of the familiar sisters-in-law out. As she left, she didn’t forget to turn back and say, "Sisters-in-law, hurry up, the vehicle may have arrived." This time Zhang Cuiping and the others didn’t pay her any attention but turned to Lin Wan and said, "Don’t listen to her; we didn’t mean anything like that."
"Neither did I," Shi Lan peeked over and said with a smile.
"I know, come to think of it, this time it was my fault too. When I came, I arbitrarily ordered a lot of food for the sisters-in-law, thinking that since it’s just us, and it’s rare for the sisters-in-law to come here, I should treat you all well." Indeed, she shouldn’t have done that. She hadn’t thought others might feel embarrassed eating for free; after all, it’s her business.
Even if they paid and she only collected a little less, it seemed she was deliberately trying to make them feel indebted, and anyone would be uncomfortable with that.
"This isn’t your fault today. Anyone would have done the same thing. By the way, thanks for today. You even made porridge and fried eggs for my kid," said one of the sisters-in-law. Had it not been for Sun Yu, how could they have come to such a pricey place today?
Since Xiao Wan saw them as neighbors and charged them just enough to cover costs, Sun Yu was the one who wasn’t satisfied. Feeling pretentious and looking down on others—that was her own doing. In the end, she even dragged others into it.
"It’s the least I could do," Lin Wan said, feeling very uncomfortable, thinking she handled the matter inappropriately.
Seeing Xiao Gu pulling Lin Wan’s things over, Liang Hongmei hurriedly told Xiao Wan to get on the vehicle with the sisters-in-law. The military district vehicle had just parked.
"Xiao Gu, thank you so much this time," Xiao Wan said, feeling reluctant to travel with Sun Yu. But seeing her mom and Sister-in-law Zhang helping her load things onto the vehicle, she held her ground.
"It’s nothing, Sister Xiao Wan, check if I got everything right; make sure nothing’s left behind."
"It’s all here. I don’t have much stuff."
"Xiao Wan, didn’t that comrade seem to have a problem with you just now? I noticed she wasn’t looking at you very kindly. Did you have a falling out with someone over there?" Liang Hongmei asked her daughter discreetly, concerned.
"No, you should know my temper by now, Mom. It’s just that some people don’t like me, that’s all. We live far apart, rarely meet, and I can’t be bothered with them, so don’t worry."
"That’s good then. Remember to be careful over there, and you mustn’t act willful," Liang Hongmei subtly reminded her daughter, fearing they might act recklessly on their own.
"Mom, I understand, the doctor has explained everything. I’m not a child," Lin Wan felt awkward as she heard her mother talk like this.
"That’s good, now get on the vehicle," Liang Hongmei and Xiao Gu helped her onto the vehicle.
"Comrades, please look after my daughter Xiao Wan during the journey," Liang Hongmei earnestly requested those on the vehicle.
"...Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of Sister Lin," Zhang Cuiping had initially wanted to call Liang Hongmei Auntie, but upon noticing how young Lin Wan’s mother looked, she felt it wasn’t appropriate to call her Big Sister either, so she said nothing at all.
Lin Wan brought along quite a few things this time, making everyone traveling with them a bit envious of her family’s possessions.
There was no conversation on the road, and upon reaching the courtyard, the soldiers from the mess hall had a task to report. After writing down the items she brought, they let the military police help her carry them home.
Seeing the cold stove, it was clear Han Yi hadn’t returned.
Lin Wan scrubbed the pot, boiled water, and started organizing the things she brought back.
Before long, she heard a knock at the door. Lin Wan went over to peek through the crack.
As she expected, Wang Guihua and her daughter had come. Lin Wan didn’t respond to them and quietly went back to the kitchen to continue organizing her things.
Cabbage, potatoes, radishes. Bean sprouts, tofu, two chickens, five kilos of meat, and even some lotus root. It seems Mom had prepared quite a lot for her.
About a dozen bottles of yogurt—Lin Wan didn’t know who they were for, so she put them in the cupboard, intending to ask Han Yi when he got back.
Wang Guihua knocked for a while, shouted a couple of times, and when no answer came, muttering under her breath, she left.
Lin Wan couldn’t hear her, but she knew it wouldn’t be anything pleasant.
The water boiled, and the room warmed up significantly. Lin Wan changed the sheets and covers and used hot water to wipe down the inside of the room.