The industries in Ancheng County had stabilized, and Lin Chuxia was concerned about the bun shop in the city.
It had been half a month since Jia Liang had been bustling about, and he probably didn’t know she was back yet. Lin Chuxia planned to visit in person when she had time.
While she was pondering this, Little Zhuangzhuang’s crisp voice called out “little auntie” from outside, getting closer to her door.
“Here I am, what’s up, Zhuangzhuang?”
Zhuangzhuang pushed the door open and peeked his little head in, his eyes wide, “Little auntie, there’s someone outside, says he’s your younger brother.”
Jiadong?
How did he come to the Qin Family?
Lin Chuxia got up and tousled Zhuangzhuang’s little head, “Let’s go out and have a look.”
Zhuangzhuang responded obediently and followed behind Lin Chuxia, curiously asking, “What should I call little auntie’s younger brother?”
“You should call him uncle,” Lin Chuxia said with a smile looking back.
Just a few steps out the door, she saw Lin Jiadong talking to Mrs. Qin in the outer courtyard.
Usually, the silly lad seemed a bit awkward now, not sure what he was saying to Mrs. Qin, who was smiling joyfully, while Lin Jiadong bowed his head shyly like a young lady.
Lin Chuxia grew more puzzled.
Given the Lin Family’s nature, Lin Jiadong seeking her out probably meant her mother wanted to see her.
But it didn’t seem like it right now.
Lin Jiadong had already seen Lin Chuxia and immediately beamed a big smile, yelling from afar, “Second sister!”
He glanced at Mrs. Qin, said something, and then ran over with his long legs.
“Second sister, I got in! Look at my admission notice, I got into Ancheng First High School.”
Ancheng First High School, the key high school in Ancheng County, and also the only high school.
At that time, the quality of teachers varied, and the influence of student families also played a part; most of those who got into Ancheng First High School were non-agricultural children from the city.
Their rural kids, let alone getting into Ancheng First High School, completing middle school was already quite an accomplishment.
So this admission notice from Ancheng First High to Lin Jiadong really meant something significant.
Lin Chuxia took the admission notice, her face also unable to hide her joy, “Not bad, well done.”
Her simple brother was indeed a good student; in her previous life, he had performed very well and got into Ancheng First High too but eventually dropped out of school.
“Did mom say anything after you got the admission notice?”
Lin Jiadong’s smile faded a bit, “Mom seemed quite disappointed. She wanted me to drop out and work for you a while ago, but I disagreed. Probably she was hoping I wouldn’t get into the high school, so I could comfortably work for you. She also said the family can’t afford my high school tuition. When I told her you would support my education, she stopped arguing.”
Finishing, he looked uneasily toward Lin Chuxia.
Lin Chuxia patted his shoulder, “Don’t worry, your second sister won’t go back on her word. Come find me on registration day, I will take you for enrolment. I’ll arrange for you to board, it’s convenient for studying at the school and keeps you from going home often.”
Better not get involved in the atmosphere of the Lin Family home.
Her intent to support Lin Jiadong’s education meant not letting him be involved with them any longer.
Lin Jiadong nodded firmly, “Okay, second sister, I’ll listen to you. Don’t worry, I’ll study hard and not let you down. I will strive to get into university just like brother-in-law.”
“Second sister believes in you, as long as you want to study, I will support you.”
Lin Jiadong grinned broadly, looking simple and honest.
Then, as if he remembered something, he sulked and complained, “Mom is so biased. She said there’s no money for my schooling, but actually, my grades are good, and the tuition isn’t that much. On the contrary, my older sister, she recently came back home asking for money, and mom gave her more than 100. Can you believe it? She’s married already but every time she comes home, she makes a scene and it’s all about asking mom for money.”
Lin Chuxia didn’t bother with that mother and daughter. Apart from this brother, she didn’t care about the others in the Lin Family at all.
“You free today? Let’s go, sis will take you shopping for new clothes, consider it a gift for your academic advancement.”
Although little brother is quite pampered at home, under the current circumstances, it’s already good if his clothes don’t have patches.
The clothes on Lin Jiadong’s back, although not torn, had become too small. Boys in middle school are growing quickly; the pants revealed a section of his ankle, and the tank top was short.
Hearing about the academic advancement gift, Lin Jiadong’s face bloomed with joy, and his eyes shone with clear light.
The two headed straight to the Department Store. Lin Jiadong seldom came to the county town and had rarely ever entered the Department Store before.
Looking at the dazzling array of goods and the neatly dressed salespeople, he was a bit shy.
Lin Chuxia took him directly to where they sold ready-to-wear clothes, not bothering to ask for his opinion, and picked out a set of tank top and shorts.
“Go try them on there, see if they fit.”
Lin Jiadong, like an obedient puppy, took the clothes and went to try them on.
Once he came out in new clothes, he looked like a different person.
Now over 1.7 meters tall, Lin Chuxia had picked out a size larger; the young man indeed looked good in slightly oversized clothes.
“Looks good, no need to change. Just wear this new outfit and let’s go.”
Lin Chuxia paid directly.
When they reached the shoe section, she also picked out a new pair of sandals for him.
Lin Jiadong looked down. On his feet were velvet shoes with canvas soles, with the big toe already poking out.
Holding the new sandals, he grinned and said, “Sis, you’re really good to me.”
When they left the Department Store, it was almost noon. Lin Chuxia took Lin Jiadong to the Bun Shop near the train station.
The Bun Shop was bustling with people, with a queue outside the door, and inside many customers were seated.
Lin Chuxia looked around, only to see a few young waitstaff bustling about, and Granny Sun selling buns, but Sun Lanlan was nowhere to be seen.
She asked Lin Jiadong to wait for her while she personally went to get some food.
Granny Sun had seen Lin Chuxia coming from the moment she arrived but was too busy to attend to her just then.
When Lin Chuxia approached, Granny Sun greeted her while simultaneously picking out buns for her plate.
“Granny, where’s Lanlan?”
Sun Lanlan hardly ever took time off since starting work, and now that she was married to Su Wensong and lived nearby, she had never taken a leave.
If she wasn’t at the Bun Shop at this time, there must have been something serious.
Granny Sun didn’t even raise her eyelids but there was a smile playing at the corners of her mouth, “She should be in the backyard now. She hasn’t been feeling well the past two days. I told her to take a couple days off, but she insists on being tough…”
“Lanlan is sick?”
Lin Chuxia was startled and turned around to go see Sun Lanlan.
Granny Sun laughed, “It’s not really sickness; I reckon by the looks of it she’s likely pregnant.”
Lin Chuxia turned sharply, “So soon?”
“From my experience, she looks like it. But she should go to the health clinic to know for sure.”
“I’ll go have a look.”
Lin Chuxia handed a plate of meat buns to Lin Jiadong, asking him to eat slowly, and then headed to the backyard.
There in the yard, Sun Lanlan sat listlessly under the grapevine, her face lacking its usual glow and with a bit of dark circles under her eyes.
Granny Su sat beside her, fanning her, her face full of concern.
Lin Chuxia first greeted Granny Su, then touched Sun Lanlan’s forehead.
Thankfully, her temperature was normal.