CHAPTER 559: CHAPTER 543: THE REASON

"I asked her, but she didn’t say anything. I noticed that girl lost a lot of weight. She looked better when she was chubbier."

"...She lost weight?" Lin Wan was puzzled.

"Mom, what are you guys doing? Come help me find my clothes! Where’s my green shirt?" From inside, Lin Yinghui called out urgently to the two at the door, and then went back in.

Liang Hongmei looked at her son, shook her head helplessly, and smiled, saying to her daughter, "He just got off the phone in your room and now he’s rummaging through his clothes."

Lin Wan’s eyes lit up as she followed her mom into the room. It was rare to see her brother so particular about his appearance.

"Bro, why are you looking for clothes? Meeting some important leader tomorrow?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes, a leader is visiting our unit tomorrow, I can’t dress too casually," Lin Yinghui said, sounding a bit nervous.

"Oh..." Lin Wan didn’t expose him, instead, she grinned mischievously at her brother’s nervousness and deliberately suggested, "Bro, the white shirt looks the best. It suits you really well."

"The white... shirt?" Lin Yinghui was momentarily unsure of what to choose.

"Yeah, black pants and a white shirt go together nicely. When you meet the leader tomorrow, there will surely be reporters accompanying them, and these two look good on camera."

Lin Yinghui coughed lightly, feeling guilty, "Then I’ll wear the white shirt."

"Oh, right. Our store recently got some new styles perfect for Sister Mu Qing, should I get them for you?"

"Cough, bring me a couple of nice ones, just in case... I’ll mail them to her tomorrow or the day after."

"Okay, I’ll go get them right now." Lin Wan said, running back home to pick out a couple of outfits that would suit Mu Qing. She brought them back to her brother and, before leaving, even gave him a thumbs-up gesture.

Embarrassed, Lin Yinghui realized there was no fooling this girl.

The next morning, Lin Wan took Little Star to the front yard to collect clothes and saw her brother with freshly washed hair, even shaving what little nonexistent beard he had, dressed in the outfit they discussed yesterday, holding a briefcase, clearly ready to go out.

Just then, Mom returned from the early market, and seeing her, Lin Yinghui coughed lightly and said, "Mom, I might... not come back tonight, have to accompany a leader."

"Go ahead, just remember not to drink in front of the leader, okay?" Liang Hongmei didn’t pay much attention, reminding her son casually as she carried groceries into the kitchen.

Lin Wan covered her mouth, laughing quietly, "Bro, ’accompanying’ the leader means staying at a good guesthouse. Don’t neglect them, okay?"

Lin Yinghui went over and playfully knocked her on the head, then pinched Little Star’s cheek before leaving with a broad smile.

He hadn’t walked far when he ran into a guy in a military uniform. Perhaps in their haste, they accidentally bumped heads.

Rubbing his forehead, Lin Yinghui bent over and quickly apologized, "Sorry, sorry."

"Young man, watch where you’re going next time," said a voice from the other end, deep and resonant with a hint of pain, clearly hit hard. Lin Guozhi had been struck at a spot where his head was already bruised, feeling momentarily dizzy but fortunately had a nearby wall to hold on to.

"I’m sorry, are you alright?" Lin Yinghui looked up at the middle-aged man in front of him, realizing it was the same person he bumped into at the train station in Z City last year, thinking to himself, what a coincidence.

"It’s fine, feeling better now. Young, energetic fellows like you are good, but be careful when walking. There’s a lot of traffic on the roads these days."

"Thank you for the reminder, I’ll remember that."

"Hmm, you can go now, I’m alright."

"Thanks." Lin Yinghui glanced at him and hurriedly walked away. The man obviously didn’t recognize him.

After a few steps, Lin Yinghui stopped abruptly, turning back to look at the middle-aged man also walking away, instinctively touching his own face. He was instantly startled.

That man looked so much like him, he wondered if he’d look like that when he got older. He’s not bad looking either, Lin Yinghui thought with a silly grin, wishing Qingqing could see his older self.

Thinking of Mu Qing, Lin Yinghui quickened his pace and glanced at his watch, hurrying to the train station.

...

"The leader’s car is ready, we can set out now," said a commanding officer when he saw Lin Guozhi at the intersection. Noticing Lin Guozhi’s discomfort, he quickly asked, "Sir, are you alright?"

"Not really, my head hurts badly, better get me to a hospital first." Lin Guozhi couldn’t understand how a light bump could hurt so much, cursing himself for being careless and letting that young man go. If something serious happened because of this, who was he going to blame?

"Mr. Lin, get in the car, we’re heading to the hospital now... Xiao Li, quickly contact hospital specialists, looks like Mr. Lin’s old ailment is acting up."

"Yes."

... Liang Hongmei didn’t stay home long, heading off in a tricycle to sell vegetables. Lin Wan gathered the clothes, returned to her courtyard, put Little Star on the bouncy bed where Han Yi was sitting, then set up a table and smoothed out yesterday’s washed khaki pants, preparing to repair them tomorrow.

Shi Lan came into the courtyard, face full of joy, "Xiao Wan, I’m planning to stay at Ah Jiang’s for a while starting tomorrow, leaving things at home to you. If anyone orders, you can go to my place and fetch it for them. I’ve organized and bottled everything, enough to sell for a month."

"Oh, staying for a month?"

"Why, is that not allowed?"

"Sure, as long as your family has enough sauce, you can stay as long as you want. I’m here to watch over things. Hopefully, you can come back with a baby this time."

Shi Lan jokingly scolded her, "Don’t worry, if I can’t conceive this time, I won’t come back."

"Does your Ah Jiang know you’re coming? Have you called to inform him?"

"That’s why I’m here borrowing your phone," Shi Lan said, unceremoniously going into Lin Wan’s house with a smile.

Lin Wan teased from behind, "Oh my, I’m covering your phone bills, while you take care of my sauce. How’s that for a deal?"

"Get out of here!" After finishing her call, Shi Lan helped watch Little Star for a while and then headed home to pack her things.

Shi Lan mentioned she had quite a bit to bring, so Lin Wan offered to ride the tricycle to take her to the train station the next day.

She also asked Shi Lan to take a few clothes for her godparents. By noon, Lin Wan was expecting Zhang Shuhua.

As mom said, chubby Zhang Shuhua was once quite adorable, unlike now, looking like she’s been starved.

"Shuhua, how did you get so thin now? And why haven’t we heard from you these past two years?"

"Xiao Wan," unexpectedly, Zhang Shuhua hugged her immediately upon seeing her and cried.

"What’s the matter?"

Zhang Shuhua didn’t speak, just hugged her and cried for a long time before calming down, wiping her nose, saying, "Sister Xiao Wan, it’s really complicated. Even though my parents are my birth parents, their actions are so heartless."

"What happened exactly? Let’s go inside and talk, stop crying now." Lin Wan was eager to know what happened to Zhang Shuhua that kept her out of touch for so long and in such a state.

"Xiao Wan, I didn’t expect it! In two years, even your daughter has grown so big!" Zhang Shuhua suddenly smiled, looking at the little bean in Lin Wan’s arms. Seeing Zhang Shuhua’s cute side resurface allowed Lin Wan’s worries to ease. At least her mental state seemed okay. "I’ve been married for quite some time, having a child is only natural. Come on, let’s go inside and have a look."

"Okay."

Lin Wan placed Little Star in a stroller and poured Zhang Shuhua a glass of sugar water. "Why did you suddenly come back?"

"Got fed up, so I ran back. Xiao Wan, I’m staying here from now on, not going back."

"What exactly happened with your parents?"

Zhang Shuhua sighed, "When I first went back, my parents and siblings felt uneasy with me around as an extra person and constantly found fault with me. I grew up with my grandma, who spoiled me and never yelled at me, let alone hit me. If it weren’t for her spoiling, I wouldn’t have grown so chubby. At home, I couldn’t stand being mistreated like that, so I used my savings to open a tailor shop. Business was good at first, I was skilled, and many people wanted me to make clothes. I earned some money then, and that’s when my sister got jealous and demanded my shop. My mom sided with her, creating scenes at my store every day, forcing me to hand it over. I refused, and eventually, my sister concocted a scheme. She got involved with some unsavory company and had them destroy my shop one night. They took my sewing machines, then she and my mom opened a shop with those. Can you believe that? They’re my biological family for goodness sake."