80s Transmigration: The Young Widow's Hustle to Riches-Chapter 182 - 178: Mom, Your Hand Is So Hot, Do You Have a Fever?
Wu Shufen walked into the kitchen and overheard them. "Little Lan, who’s making farmhouse-style food?"
Lin Lan, holding a platter with the fish, smiled. "I was saying you could open a restaurant that specializes in farmhouse-style food!"
Pleased by her daughter’s praise, Wu Shufen’s eyes crinkled into a smile. "Everyone knows how to make farmhouse food. Who would find it that special?"
Little Douzi raised his hand. "I do! Grandma’s cooking is the best."
"If Little Douzi likes it, Grandma will make it for you every day," Wu Shufen said with a laugh.
By the time Lin Guoliang and his brother got back, Li Xiangyang had arrived with the old Mrs. and Dandan.
From the old Mrs.’s expression, Lin Lan knew the police hadn’t told her about Ding Bang’s injury. She remembered what he had told her and kept quiet about it.
Wu Shufen happily went up to them, taking the old Mrs.’s hand. "Come in, come in and sit down!"
The old Mrs. chuckled. "You finished cooking, and we’re here to enjoy it."
Wu Shufen helped her to a seat. "I stopped by your house this afternoon, but you weren’t home yet."
The old Mrs. nodded cheerfully. "I went over to the house by the police station and tidied it up. When he gets back, we’ll move over there to live."
Wu Shufen smiled. "That’s a great house. A Western-style home! Back in the day, only the wealthiest people could afford a place like that!"
The old Mrs. smiled so wide the wrinkles by her eyes bloomed like chrysanthemums. "We really have Xiangyang to thank for that. We only managed to buy it with his help. The elementary, middle, and high schools are all right there, so it’ll be much more convenient for the children’s schooling."
The old Mrs. and Wu Shufen chatted happily, while Little Douzi and Dandan chattered excitedly to the side about school.
Lin Guoliang opened a bottle of liquor and filled Li Xiangyang’s glass. Then he and his brother raised their glasses. "Xiangyang," Lin Guoliang said, "I want to toast you. Thank you for always taking such good care of Little Lan!"
Li Xiangyang stood and respectfully raised his glass. "It’s my pleasure. Once we get through this busy spell, we’ll go to Shilian to visit your father."
Lin Guoliang nodded happily. "Great! Let’s drink to that."
Li Xiangyang laughed heartily. "Cheers!"
After they all drank, Li Xiangyang toasted the two brothers again. Then the three of them sat down, eating and chatting.
After dinner, Lin Lan and a slightly tipsy Li Xiangyang walked the old Mrs. home. Still, no one had come to report Yang Dingbang’s injury. Lin Lan thought about his instructions. ’He only hurt his leg,’ she reminded herself, ’it’s not life-threatening.’ So she held her tongue.
As they left the old Mrs.’s house, Li Xiangyang took Lin Lan’s hand. "Little Lan, I haven’t told you yet. I had Dongzi arrange for me to get the house next door to you."
Lin Lan turned and rolled her eyes at him. "Xiuyun told me ages ago."
Li Xiangyang hadn’t expected her to know. Seeing that she wasn’t angry, he said happily, "I’m thinking of building a small pond in a corner of the yard. We could plant some dwarf lotuses, raise a few koi, and put up a pergola next to it. We could eat in the yard in the summer, or if we have guests, we could sit out there, drink tea, and chat."
"That’s a great idea!" Lin Lan hadn’t realized he had such a poetic side. She stopped and looked at him, her eyes curving into a smile. "We should find time to go back to Shilian. We can go up the mountain and find some tree stumps, bring them back, coat them with tung oil, and use them to make a tea table."
Li Xiangyang looked at her, resisting the urge to pull her into his arms. He said slowly, "A tea table made from tree stumps... I saw one when I was a kid, at a friend of my old man’s. He was from Fujian."
"Their tea-drinking custom is different from ours. They like to use a tea tray, and their cups are tiny. I’m not a fan. I prefer our local lidded tea bowls. The old man likes them too. In fact, he took the tea you gave me last time."
"There’s a patch of wild tea trees in the mountains by my family’s home. My dad picks some every year. Next year, I’ll go up and pick a lot more." As she spoke, Lin Lan made a decision. ’Once the new land policies are fully in place, I’ll go back to Shilian and lease that whole mountainside. That way, no one will cut the trees down thinking they’re just random scrub.’
Looking at her radiant smile, Li Xiangyang suddenly leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "Little Lan, I’m so incredibly happy."
Lin Lan’s heart fluttered. She looked up and saw Wu Shufen standing on the Shiqiao Bridge, holding a flashlight and Little Douzi’s hand. Lin Lan felt her whole face flush. She pulled her hand away from Li Xiangyang’s and walked toward her mother.
Li Xiangyang’s heart was also pounding. When he saw Lin Lan turn and walk away, he thought she was angry. But then he looked back and saw Wu Shufen and Little Douzi. His own face grew hot. Taking a deep breath, he hurried to catch up.
Wu Shufen watched them approach with a knowing smile. "Little Douzi said you two forgot your flashlight and insisted on coming to get you."
Little Douzi held Lin Lan’s hand. "Mom, your hand is so hot. Do you have a fever?"
"No!" Lin Lan quickly changed the subject. "Did you do your homework when you got back today?"
Little Douzi nodded. "I did. I also read a storybook for a while."
Li Xiangyang stepped forward and scooped him up. "Uncle Xiangyang spoke with that Uncle Xu from today. Next year, we’re going to send you to the City No. 1 Elementary for first grade. Do you think you’re up for it?"
Lin Lan looked at him, pleasantly surprised. She finally understood what her younger sister was always saying: "Sis, a man who is truly devoted to you will take your concerns to heart and always be thinking of you, not ask you to be the one who has to compromise."
"Wow! Really, Uncle Xiangyang?" Little Douzi beamed, flashing a mouthful of white teeth. "I’d love to go to the No. 1 Elementary! Then I could be in the same school as Dandan!"
"You have to pass the entrance exam first," Li Xiangyang said, lowering his head to gently bump foreheads with the boy. "But I told Uncle Xu that our Little Douzi is a very hard worker with great grades. The first-grade exam will be no problem for you!"
Little Douzi said confidently, "I can do it! Dandan’s been teaching me. I can even do his homework."
Lin Lan happily ruffled his hair. "Don’t get too proud, sweetie!"
Little Douzi nodded. "I know!"
When they got back to the courtyard, Lin Guoliang and his brother were standing on the steps, playing with Wangcai.
Li Xiangyang said his goodbyes, ready to head home.
Wu Shufen smiled. "Alright. It’s dark out, so be careful on your way." She handed the flashlight to Lin Lan. "Go see Xiangyang out."
"Alright!" Li Xiangyang replied, and went to get his bicycle.
Lin Lan walked him out of the courtyard and handed him the flashlight. "Thank you!"
Li Xiangyang reached out, his hand covering hers as she held the flashlight. "You don’t have to thank me."
Lin Lan saw his eyes, full of mirth, fixed on her, and her heart skipped a beat. "You’ve had some wine, so ride slowly!"
Li Xiangyang bent down and kissed her hand. He took the flashlight and said gently, "Okay. You should get to bed early."
"Mhm!" Lin Lan hummed in agreement. She watched him go before turning, closing the courtyard gate, and heading back inside. In the house, she found Lin Guoliang and his brother helping to peel pumpkins.
Seeing her, Lin Guoliang smiled. "Little Lan, when did you buy all these pumpkins? Next year, we can help you harvest some from the mountains. There are tons of them up there."
"Some were gifts from people on our work team, but most of them Sister Li next door picked up from the countryside. We’ll go through these pumpkins pretty quickly. When you go back, could you see if there are any more in the mountains? I’ll pay double the peak season price."
"Alright. When we get back, I’ll have your sister-in-law ask around the team."
After Little Douzi fell asleep, Wu Shufen came out of his room. She helped pack pumpkin pieces into the steamer, watching as Lin Lan simultaneously simmered peas and busied herself making mung bean cakes. A look of pride mixed with concern crossed her face. "You’re up late and awake early all year long. Can your body handle it?"
