Everything at home was in order, and the custom-made cabinet had been delivered. Bonnie sorted the dried goods into categories and put them away, filling the entire cabinet.
It's been over a week since they came back, and several of Gu Ye's childhood friends have come to visit. Bao Ni packed some sea cucumbers, dried abalone, dried fruit, and preserved fruit into a gift bag and gave one to each family.
Another weekend, my second brother Lin Tao and his family of four came over.
"Second brother, second sister-in-law, come in quickly." They live in another compound. The second brother is now the deputy regimental commander, and the house he was allocated is also quite good, a two-bedroom apartment with a living room, more than 60 square meters.
"Baoni, are you settling in alright? I just got back from this mission. Your second sister-in-law is taking care of two kids by herself, and the younger one is sick, so she couldn't come to help you with the baby care."
"It's alright, I'm fine, I have plenty of time."
It was the first time Bonnie had seen her second brother's youngest child, who was only two or three years old, looking rather bewildered and quite interesting.
The older child called out to his aunt and uncle. Bonnie prepared red envelopes and gave the two children some food, then let them go and play by themselves.
"Where are Liu Jiu and San Qi?" I didn't see the two children.
"I went out to play."
Bonnie took some food and put it on the coffee table, then they ate and chatted.
Bonnie and her second sister-in-law met only a limited number of times and didn't have much interaction, so they didn't really have much to say to each other.
Whether it's relatives or friends, only by staying in touch regularly can good relationships be maintained.
Lin Tao was grateful to Bao Ni, but since he joined the army more than ten years ago, they had only met a handful of times.
After marriage, the relationship with parents and siblings is always a step below that of marriage.
A person's energy is limited. Work takes up most of it, and their own family takes up another part, so there's not much energy left.
Gu Ye and Lin Tao talked about work, while Hao Mei and Bao Ni could only talk about their children.
Hao Mei has a job, while Bao Ni stays at home. She doesn't know if the two of them have anything in common.
Bonnie doesn't talk much with people she's not familiar with; she just talks about her hometown, which is basically just awkward small talk.
Lin Tao and his family of four did not stay for lunch; they had other things to do in the afternoon and left after sitting for a while.
"Baoni, when you have time, go visit your second brother's house and get familiar with the place. From now on, that will be your family home."
Lin Tao was quite disappointed that he didn't see Liu Jiu and San Qi, but he had something to do in the afternoon, and he would be able to see them eventually since they lived closer to each other.
After seeing her second brother's family off, Bonnie stretched and yawned. "Ugh, chatting with people I don't know well is so tiring."
"What's wrong? Don't you and your second sister-in-law have anything in common to talk about?"
Gu Ye and his second brother-in-law were having a pleasant chat and didn't notice Bao Ni and the others.
“We’ve only met a few times, so what common topics could we possibly have? My sister-in-law and I exchange letters about once a month, chatting about the gossip we like. As for my second sister-in-law, what can we talk about? We’ll see how things go as we get to know each other.”
Bonnie doesn't force family relationships; she believes in the old saying, "If we get along, we stay together; if we don't, we part ways."
Lin Tao asked his wife the same question.
"Meimei, how did your chat with Bonnie go?"
"I didn't say much, just some things about the children. Lin Tao, to be honest, we've only met a few times. It's hard to say we'd hit it off immediately. We live in different environments and meet different people."
Hao Mei couldn't understand why her sister-in-law, a high school graduate with considerable abilities, didn't like working. She hadn't worked much in all these years of marriage; wasn't she bored staying at home?
"From now on, you and Bonnie don't have to have common topics. But you can't be insincere. Bonnie cares a lot about that," Lin Tao instructed his wife. His Bonnie hated that kind of affection.
The couple exchanged a few words and then stopped talking, deciding to see how things went in the future.
It's Monday again. After breakfast, the children went to school, Gu Ye went to work, and Bao Ni stayed home reading.
It's a bit boring. This place isn't suitable for hiking or going to the sea, and there's no vegetable garden for her to tend to.
It seems I still need to find a job, otherwise I'll become dull and stupid.
"Ring ring..."
Who can make a phone call at this time?
"Hello, who is this?"
"Baoni, I'm Zhou Weihong."
Bonnie knew who it was: Han Ye's wife.
"Sister-in-law, aren't you at work today?"
"I'm off today and home alone. I remembered you're home alone too, so I thought I'd invite you over for a bit."
Although Zhou Weihong and Bao Ni had only met a few times, they had kept in touch over the years, exchanging letters occasionally and sending each other gifts during holidays.
"Okay, I'm bored right now. Wait for me, I'm coming over now."
Bonnie hung up the phone, opened the cabinet door, took out some dried fruit and preserved fruit, and carried them downstairs.
"Comrade Lin, are you going out?"
Fu Mei, the wife of Brigade Commander Ma downstairs, happened to push open the door and the two met.
"Sister-in-law Fu, are you going out too?"
Bonnie quickly replied, "It's good to live as neighbors and get along well."
"I'm going out to buy some groceries and get some sun." Fu Mei was in her forties, very thin, and pale.
"Getting some sun is good, and some exercise can improve your physical condition." Bonnie had lived in the south for several years, and her skin was very tanned, which was even more noticeable compared to Sister Fu.
"Who can argue with that? My health has been stagnant for so many years, neither good nor bad, and I've been a burden to my father and son."
Aunt Fu is in poor health and has never worked. She doesn't like to gossip and usually stays at home by herself.
“Sister-in-law, you can’t say that. With you here, it’s a family. The father and son know that someone is waiting for them at home. You have to think more positively, take good care of your health, and look forward to seeing your son get married and have grandchildren.”
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