CHAPTER 445: CHAPTER 443: THE THIEF AT HOME

Ugh, money isn’t easy to earn. Watching others eat all day while you rush around like a spinning top is exhausting.

After all the guests left, Lin Wan quickly changed into loose pajamas at home; wearing a long dress makes breastfeeding really inconvenient.

Seems like she needs to make some more clothes for herself.

Whenever she’s free, it’s necessary to exercise more at home. Han Yi’s vacation passed quickly, and early this morning, Lin Wan helped him pack his clothes. Summer clothes are few, just one bag.

"After I leave, let Mom accompany you at night, have the baby drink formula, and you can nurse her again once you finish postpartum care."

"Okay, don’t worry, I’ll take care of myself," Lin Wan said, holding Han Yi, feeling a bit reluctant.

Han Yi kissed her on the forehead, making her feel at ease.

Her husband, being a soldier, was lucky enough to accompany her during childbirth and even stayed with her for half a month during postpartum care.

The base isn’t far, so Han Yi could come back anytime. Lin Wan didn’t linger, fearing she’d delay his journey. She urged him to leave.

....

Once Han Yi left, both moms didn’t hold back, taking turns staying in the west room every other night to ensure Lin Wan gets proper postpartum care.

At night, they would bring the baby to the west room. If the baby got hungry, they’d feed her formula.

This time, Han Yi came back with several buckets of formula, enough for the baby to last one or two months. As the full moon day arrived, Lin Wan thought she’d be free, but Mom insisted she wait a week before letting her take a proper bath.

Little Star gained quite a bit of weight in a month, chubby and fair, inheriting the best features of both her and Han Yi. Lin Wan believes Little Star will grow up to be a beauty.

Meanwhile, her clothes had all been sold, only a dozen left; Lin Wan kept some for herself, gave Su Ling a few, and Yin Peibai kept a few.

After Lin Wan and Yin Peibai settled the accounts, she gave Yin Peibai 280 yuan.

Yin Peibai refused it, but Lin Wan said it was what she deserved.

Yin Peibai wasn’t overly sentimental, feeling deeply touched. If she helps Lin Wan a few more times, their family’s debt will be paid off.

"Xiao Wan, if you have any good ideas, just go ahead and do them. I can help you deliver to the store and mall, and I’ll handle the storefront."

Lin Wan glanced down at the child, squinted, and smiled, "It’s hard to hide, needs to wait a month."

"Alright."

This time, after deducting costs, selling clothes made over 5000 yuan.

The next day, Lin Wan asked Mom to help her save it.

Liang Hongmei said she’d do it after returning from the morning market.

That evening, Liang Hongmei returned to the room with money and Lin Wan’s passbook, just as Zhang Dandan came back from the store and saw it.

Seeing that wad of loose cash, Zhang Dandan’s eyes nearly popped out.

Before Zhang Dandan could approach, Liang Hongmei took the money inside.

That night, Zhang Dandan tossed and turned, her eyes stuck on that wad of money from Liang Hongmei.

The next day, after her aunt was busy in the kitchen and left for the morning market, Lin Yinghui also hurried out at eight.

Compelled by some urge, Zhang Dandan came to Liang Hongmei’s room. After a hesitant search, she only found two or three hundred yuan scattered in the drawer. Zhang Dandan was delighted and thought about taking it all.

But she realized it might be discovered, so she conservatively took ten yuan. With bits and pieces scattered, she guessed Liang Hongmei wouldn’t bother counting carefully, hence placed them messily like this.

If ten yuan isn’t noticed, she could come back in a few days and take ten more. A couple times like this, her aunt losing a few bits here and there would let her save up quite a bit.

It was a pity she didn’t find the money Liang Hongmei had last night.

Zhang Dandan couldn’t help blaming Liang Hongmei, finally venting her frustration by slamming the tea mug on the table.

Just about to curse out loud, she heard a voice at the door.

"Dan Dan, what are you doing here?"

Surprised, Zhang Dandan’s body flinched, she turned around hastily, paused for a moment before subtly slipping the money into her pocket, no longer showing a sinister face, pulling a smile. "...Ah... Oh, I... wanted to write a letter home but didn’t have a pen, so I came to my aunt’s room to see if there’s one."

"...Oh, really?" Lin Wan raised a brow, observing the awkward smile on her face but didn’t say much, rather pointed casually to a spot on the table, "There’s a pen right in front of you, why knock over the cup?"

"I... I didn’t knock it over, I... just accidentally bumped it," the panic on Zhang Dandan’s face was evident to even herself.

"Really?" Lin Wan’s flat words made Zhang Dandan’s heart uneasy. She quickly grabbed the pen, smiled at Lin Wan, "I’ll go back to write the letter. Sister Xiao Wan, aren’t you taking care of Little Star, how come you’re here?"

"Came to eat." Since her full moon passed, Shen Qing had returned, and Lin Wan didn’t let Mom make boiled eggs for her anymore, everything went back to normal—just eating whatever’s available from the morning market.

She didn’t expect, coming over today, to witness this scene.

Tsk tsk, luckily she found out early. Who’d have thought she not only housed an ill-intentioned person but a thief too.

While doing postpartum care, Mom had to handle the morning market and look after them, leaving no time for Zhang Dandan. It’s been only a few days, and she already started eyeing other things.

After Zhang Dandan left, Lin Wan examined Mom’s room. The mess was slight; if she hadn’t seen it today, even Mom might not easily notice it.

Earlier when Zhang Dandan slammed the tea mug, she likely hadn’t found where Mom hid the money.

Lin Wan didn’t linger in the room, grabbed food from the kitchen, and returned to her yard.

Even with one hundred times Zhang Dandan’s courage, she wouldn’t dare go to Mom’s room once Lin Wan leaves.

Lin Wan finished breakfast simply. Grabbed a few clean diapers and last night’s dirty ones, and carried the child to Mom’s room in the front yard.

Lin Wan put Little Star in a cradle in the cool shade under the eaves, then sat down beside a basin of water to wash diapers.

Not long after, Zhang Dandan came out, smiling "Sister Xiao Wan, let me help you wash."

"They’re dirtied by the child, quite messy."

As soon as Lin Wan spoke, Zhang Dandan recoiled, looking at the yellow water in the basin, she quickly held her breath, pulling a smile, and turned to Little Star, raising a hand to hold her.

She knew Zhang Dandan wasn’t sincere.

"Dan Dan? The child is asleep, don’t hold her."

"...Oh, she’s so cute, always want to hold her."

"Babies can’t be held too often, get them used to it, and they’ll never leave your arms."

Zhang Dandan awkwardly smiled, thinking how often her aunt and cousin held her. Sometimes she even slept in their arms.

Why can’t she do the same? Clearly they’re avoiding her.

Sitting awkwardly beside the child, Zhang Dandan didn’t dare touch, feeling very uneasy.

Lin Wan didn’t want to chat with her either, talking with someone she disliked was like creating obstacles for herself.

After Lin Wan finished washing the diapers, not long after, Liang Hongmei returned.

Summer food spoils easily, many homes prefer not cooking; this season sees the best business.

Liang Hongmei’s prepared food nearly sold out daily.

"Mom, maybe rest for a few days if it gets too hot," money isn’t infinite, seeing Mom rush around every day was tiring even for her.

"Mornings aren’t too hot, now I don’t steam buns, just sell grilled wraps and baked snacks." Liang Hongmei commented, then realized her daughter was at their yard today, "How come you’re here today?"

"I got bored, so I took Little Star for a stroll."

Liang Hongmei didn’t think much, tidied up her things, and placed them back in the kitchen.

"By the way, Dan Dan, you were writing a letter to your family, have you finished it?" Lin Wan turned to Zhang Dandan.

"...Oh, finished... Aunt, Sister Xiao Wan, I’m heading to the post office now," Zhang Dandan replied, nervous Lin Wan might ask to see her letter.

"Know where the post office is?" At this time, Liang Hongmei came out from the kitchen and asked.

"Know, know." Zhang Dandan rushed to grab the letter, put on her military-green backpack, and left the room.

"Come back early, if you can’t find it, return and I’ll send it another day," Liang Hongmei didn’t forget to remind her as she left.

"Got it, Aunt."

Lin Wan wasn’t worried she’d find the post office, Zhang Dandan was sharp, and cunning too. After Zhang Dandan left, Lin Wan hurried to the door, watched her leave the alley, then quickly locked the door, pulling her mom aside.

"Mom, this morning I saw Zhang Dandan enter your room, searching for things."