This massive ship is currently entering the final stages of installation and commissioning. For ease of work, many engineers live aboard. Si Youyuan led her two children to the living quarters, located within a coastal shipyard. Although there was no prominent sign at the entrance, the inspection process was extremely strict. Thanks to Uncle Lin's advance approval for Meng Si Ning's work permit, she was able to enter without issue; otherwise, she would have had to undergo numerous layers of tedious review.
Because of her family status, Meng Sining was assigned to live in the same courtyard as her mother, with guards posted at the gate. The staff quarters were a row of three bungalows, and Meng Sining's room was in the middle of the second row. The room was small, furnished with a 1.5-meter bed with a neatly folded quilt, ample space for her and her younger brother, Lin, to rest. The room also contained a table and a stool, a washbasin, an enamel mug, teacups, a toothbrush, toothpaste, towels, and soap—all the necessary household items.
Meng Si Ning couldn't help but laugh. "Isn't this treatment too good?" Si Youyuan gently tapped her forehead and said, "Your Uncle Lin knows you're particular, so he specially applied for new bedding for you. He asked someone to buy toothpaste and soap in the city. The washbasin and teacup are also new. I washed the sheets for you in advance."
As Meng Si Ning listened to these words, her late mother flashed through her mind. Although her family wasn't well off, her mother always gave her the best. Her gaze fell on Lin Huaci, standing nearby. Meeting her stepfather for the first time, her hands unconsciously tugged at the corners of his clothes. She lowered her head slightly, her voice much softer than usual: "Uncle Lin, thank you." Her reservedness was palpable. After all, this was her first time being so close to Lin Huaci, and the unfamiliarity made her unsure how to navigate the situation.
"Your mother and I only have two children, so naturally we have to give you the best. Okay, don't just stand there. Let your mother take you around. I'll go to the cafeteria to check out the food, and then our family will eat inside." Lin Huaci said.
Lin Siyun grabbed Lin Huaci's hand and said, "Dad, I want to go with you." "Let's go." The father and son left the room, and Si Youyuan took his daughter to her room, which was three or four rooms away. There weren't many things in Mom's room, but the bed was quite large, probably because it was a couple's room.
As soon as she entered the room, Meng Si Ning's eyes lit up and a bright smile appeared on her face. She held Si Youyuan's arm tightly like a little child, and her body unconsciously leaned towards her mother: "Mom, how long will you stay here?" The previous restraint and strangeness instantly dissipated in front of her mother, replaced by full dependence and happiness.
"We'll leave when it's debugged and launched. At the latest, we should be able to celebrate the New Year with you this year. Ningning, how have you been recently? Have you been in a bad mood?" Si Youyuan asked with concern.
"No, I've adapted to life here and even made two good friends in the compound." "What about work? You're so impatient that you easily offend people." "Mom, I've changed. I don't get along well with my colleagues, but I have strong professional skills and my leaders value me very much. Our newspaper now has a foreign language translation column, and I've joined. As a translator, I don't have to go out to collect manuscripts so often, which is a lot easier. Plus, the benefits for translators are good too."
Si Youyuan didn't quite believe what her daughter said. After all, the change was too great, and it was completely different from the Meng Si Ning she knew before. Meng Si Ning looked at her mother's puzzled eyes and knew that she didn't believe that she had changed so much. She snorted softly and said in a coquettish tone: "Mom, don't you believe me?" "I do, I do."
Uncle Lin and Siyun returned shortly after leaving with a small pot. Siyun also carried two lunch boxes. Inside were fried chicken with potatoes, two boiled eggs, and five or six steamed buns. This was probably the best the couple could offer, and they gave it all to the two children.
Meng Si Ning sighed inwardly and said, "Mom, Uncle Lin, I brought you a lot of goodies this time." She then grabbed her bag and pulled out five or six apples, a packet of milk powder, soy milk powder, beef jerky, and beef sauce. The bag looked small, but she hadn't expected her daughter to stuff so much into it. She had driven so far just to bring these things for them. Si Youyuan's eyes nearly turned red; she now believed her daughter had truly changed.
"Before, at the institute, you brought us a lot of meat and food, as well as fans. Your uncle and I were in the lab all day and night, and with the fans there, we weren't hot at all. But have you two bought any fans at home?" Si Youyuan asked. "Yes, we bought two, one upstairs and one downstairs. The breeze is very cool."
Si Youyuan pinched her son's face and said, "Don't brag too much." Lin Siyun opened his mouth but didn't dare tell his parents about his illness.
After dinner, the two began arguing over their mother again. Finally, Lin Huaci persuaded his son, "You're a little man. You should give in to your sister. Don't you miss your father?" Ultimately, Lin Siyun stayed. Lin Huaci, missing his son terribly after not seeing him for a long time, thoughtfully got him a bottle of water, washed his feet, and wiped his body. He noticed he had gained a lot of weight since the last time they met.
"Siyun, how have you been getting along with your sister recently?" Lin Huaci asked. Lin Siyun snuggled in her father's arms and said, "It wasn't good at first. I didn't like my sister. But then, my sister got hurt, and things changed." Lin Huaci frowned: "Injured? How did she get hurt? Was she bullied? Why didn't you tell us?" "My sister was injured at work. Aunt Meng cleaned the wound, and she'll be fine after a week of hospitalization." Lin Huaci decided to ask Ningning about it tomorrow.
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