I slept soundly through the night.
The next morning, just as Xu Xinghe finished washing up, Lin Hui's gentle voice came from outside the courtyard gate, "Xinghe, are you home?"
She opened the door and saw the other person standing there with a food box in hand. She was wearing a dark red dress, her hair was neatly combed, and she had a gentle smile on her face. "Just woke up? I brought you some breakfast in the capital. Try it."
Xu Xinghe stepped aside to let her in, "Sister-in-law, thank you so much for bringing me breakfast."
"Don't mention it!" Lin Hui walked into the courtyard, placed the food box on the stone table, opened it and saw several golden and crispy fried dough rings, a small dish of sweet bean sauce, and a few braised eggs. The aroma wafted out instantly. "These fried dough rings were freshly fried this morning. In the capital, young and old alike love to eat them with douzhi (fermented mung bean juice). We don't have douzhi here, but you can try them with sweet bean sauce. They taste just as good."
Xu Xinghe picked up a fried dough ring, took a bite, and found it to be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a faint aroma of wheat. It was indeed delicious. "Not bad, even better than the fried dough sticks I ate in town."
"Eat more if you like." Lin Hui sat opposite her, smiling as she looked at her, holding a tissue in her hand and occasionally handing it to her, but she didn't touch it herself.
Xu Xinghe ate two fried dough rings, but when she saw Lin Hui staring at her with eyes full of affection, she felt a little uncomfortable and stopped eating. "Sister-in-law, you should eat with me. I can't finish all of this."
"No, no, I've already eaten at home." Lin Hui waved her hand, her gaze softening as she looked at Xu Xinghe's face. Suddenly, she sighed softly, "Speaking of which, if I had children, they would probably be as big as you by now."
Xu Xinghe paused for a moment, then remained silent, vaguely sensing that she had something to say.
Lin Hui lowered her eyes, her tone tinged with melancholy. "I've been married to Lao Li for so many years, but we've never been able to have a child. You know how much pressure a woman has if she can't have children. Luckily, I met Lao Li. He has a good temper and has never blamed me. If it were someone else, they probably would have divorced me long ago and found someone who could have children."
She looked up, her eyes seemingly glistening with tears, but quickly regained their composure. "But it's alright, we've made it through so many years. Seeing you now is like seeing my own child. I've always wanted a girl, and if she were born, she would definitely be as beautiful and lovable as you."
Hearing these words softened Xu Xinghe's heart, and the discomfort she felt from being watched while eating vanished instantly.
She could sense the regret and sincerity in Lin Hui's tone, and couldn't help but feel more sorry for her. "Sister-in-law, don't be sad. Director Li cares about you so much, and you two have such a good relationship. That's more important than anything else."
"Yes, I'm content with his kindness." Lin Hui wiped her eyes, quickly regained her smile, and took Xu Xinghe's hand. "Let's not talk about these unhappy things! Are you free today? Let's go to town together. I'm new here and not very familiar with the area yet. Will you accompany me for a walk and we can buy some things while we're at it?"
Xu Xinghe thought that she really didn't have anything to do, and Lin Hui was so enthusiastic and had said such heartfelt things to her, so she nodded and agreed, "Okay, I'll go with you."
Lin Hui immediately beamed and grabbed her hand, pulling her outside. "Great! Let's go early, and after we're done shopping, I'll treat you to some cold noodles in town. I've heard they're delicious; I've never tried them before!"
Xu Xinghe was pulled along by her, and they walked briskly towards the town.
Throughout the journey, Lin Hui kept talking about interesting things that happened in the capital.
Gradually, Xu Xinghe's initial shyness disappeared.
Despite being over forty, she sometimes has a childlike quality, like the soul of a young girl trapped in an aging body.
Soon, the two walked into the town, chatting and laughing.
Shops along the street have gradually opened, and breakfast vendors are still steaming, creating a vibrant local atmosphere.
Lin Hui led Xu Xinghe around two streets before finally stopping in front of an inconspicuous little shop. A faded wooden sign hung at the entrance, reading "Zhang's Tailor Shop".
“Let’s go take a look here.” Lin Hui pushed open the door. “When I’m in the capital, I like to find these private tailors to make my clothes. The tailors are very skilled, and the clothes they make fit well and look good. They’re much better than the ready-made clothes from the supply and marketing cooperatives.”
Xu Xinghe followed her into the shop. The small space was filled with finished garments. In the corner stood an old-fashioned sewing machine. A female shop owner, dressed in a blue cotton shirt and appearing to be in her forties, was sitting at the table organizing needles and threads. Upon seeing them enter, she immediately stood up with a smile, "Comrades, would you like some clothes sewn or made?"
"Let's take a look at the styles first. I want to make two new outfits for my sister." Lin Hui held Xu Xinghe's hand, but her eyes subtly swept over the shop owner.
The shop owner enthusiastically led them to look at the clothes, constantly introducing them, "This kind of fabric is suitable for making clothes and dresses. If you have it, I can take your measurements and make them. That dark blue khaki fabric is sturdy and durable for making pants."
Lin Hui picked out a few dresses and handed them to Xu Xinghe. "Xinghe, which one do you like? Your sister-in-law will make you two as a small token of my appreciation."
Xu Xinghe immediately refused, "Sister-in-law, there's no need to go to such trouble."
"Why be so polite with your sister-in-law!" Lin Hui pushed her forward without saying a word. "Master, take her measurements first."
The shop owner picked up a measuring tape and walked up to Xu Xinghe. "You have a great figure, you look good in anything."
Xu Xinghe's gaze fell on her face, and she suddenly felt that her accent was a bit special, so she casually asked, "Boss, are you from out of town?"
The shop owner paused for a moment, then replied with a smile, "Yes, I've been married into this family for many years. My hometown is in the south."
"No wonder, your accent is really well preserved. Usually, people who have lived in Northeast China for a long time will start to speak with a Northeast accent, but you haven't been affected at all."
"Well, I don't go out much these days, I just stay here in this little shop, so I don't meet many people and my accent hasn't changed," the shop owner explained with a smile, quickly noting down the measurements, but his eyes inadvertently glanced at Lin Hui.
Just then, Lin Hui suddenly pointed to a dress hanging on a clothes rack, "Xinghe, what do you think of that style? It's simple and elegant, and it suits you perfectly. Why don't you try it on?"
Xu Xinghe looked at it and, seeing that it was indeed the style she liked, nodded, "Okay."
The shop owner quickly took off the dress and led her into the fitting room.
The moment she turned around, Lin Hui's smile vanished, her eyes turned icy, and she glared at the shop owner with a strong warning.
The shop owner froze, lowered his head, and dared not look at her.
Lin Hui quickly pulled a folded piece of paper from her pocket and, under the pretense of turning around to look at her clothes, quietly slipped it into her hand. She squeezed her palm tightly with her fingertips and said in a low voice, in a voice only the two of them could hear, "From now on, speak less to avoid attracting attention. Do as written on this!"
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