Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Close Contact
Lin Wan impulsively wanted to ask what had happened to Fu Xiuhuai in the past year, but the words were on the tip of her tongue and she couldn't say them.
She didn't quite trust the man.
I even have a vague feeling that even if I ask him, I might not get a true answer.
Silently taking the passbook and household cash, Lin Wan put away all the money she had saved in the past and the salary she had received in the past three months. Only after confirming again that Fu Xiuhuai had not given any money to Lin Guofu did she feel relieved.
However, the next day when she returned to the garment factory, Chen Qiuhong found Lin Wan again.
The workers in the factory office all knew that the new college student Lin Wan had an uncle and aunt in the factory, Lin Guofu from workshop one and Chen Qiuhong from workshop two.
The couple worked in the garment factory for more than 20 years. It took them nine years to be promoted from temporary workers to regular workers. Later, they waited in line to get housing in the factory.
On Lin Wan's first day at work, Lin Guofu and Chen Qiuhong came to reminisce about the past, and their chatter was so loud that the entire factory office knew about it.
When she saw her biological mother again, Lin Wan did not show any emotion. After all, she had been placed in the countryside since she was born and lived with her uncle's family.
At that time, Lin Guofu and Chen Qiuhong were still temporary workers in the garment factory. They could not get any housing and could only live in crowded staff dormitories. They could not take care of their children at all.
Lin Wan knew the family situation and never blamed her parents. She only remembered that her parents mentioned from time to time when they returned to the countryside to visit relatives that after she got a formal job and queued up for registration, she would be assigned to a tube-shaped building and would be taken in by them.
Unfortunately, things did not go as planned.
When Lin Wan was nine, her parents finally got a 30-square-meter, two-bedroom apartment. That same year, just as Lin Wan thought she would be able to return to the city to live with her parents, Chen Qiuhong discovered she was unexpectedly pregnant with her second child.
However, that year the country was vigorously implementing family planning, and workers in state-owned factories were also on the key focus list. If they had a second child, they would definitely lose their jobs.
Lin Guofu and Chen Qiuhong struggled for a long time, and since the elders at home believed that this baby was a son, they decided to adopt Lin Wan to Lin Guofu's brother's family. They told the factory that the first baby was gone. In this way, it was reasonable to have another child.
Lin Wan was confused to find out that her uncle and aunt had become her parents, and her original parents had become her uncle and aunt. She could not go back to this city, and there was no place for her in the family anymore.
From birth to the end of the college entrance examination, Lin Wan always lived in the countryside, until she moved to the city at the age of eighteen and reported to Jiangcheng University.
The number of times Lin Wan had met her biological parents could be counted. When she saw her biological mother Chen Qiuhong and heard her mention going to her house for dinner, she was not very interested.
"Xiao Wan." Chen Qiuhong was taller than most women. She was thin, but strong in her hands. She was capable of working in the factory. She was quick in her words and actions and not good at beating around the bush. "Xiao Hao just started junior high school, and his grades aren't very good. As his sister, please help him. When he gets admitted to Jiangcheng University, it will bring honor to our family."
Lin Wan really had no interest in helping her lazy brother with his studies. Just as she was about to refuse, she suddenly thought of something and changed her mind: "Okay, I'll go over and take a look after get off work."
"Oh, that's fine!" Chen Qiuhong smiled happily, thinking that her daughter would not forget her roots even if she married a rich man. She was very happy. "Mom will make you something delicious, your favorite braised fish."
***
Lin Guofu and Chen Qiuhong's home is in the garment factory's staff quarters, only a seven or eight minute walk from the factory.
The tube-shaped buildings that were very popular in the past have now weathered the years and have mottled walls. They no longer have the grand appearance that everyone longed for when they were first built.
The 30-square-meter two-bedroom apartment allocated to the Lin family is on the third floor of a tube-shaped building. The long circular corridor is densely populated with households. It was the restaurant. Lin Wan was walking through the smoke and stove fire, listening to the sound of lard melting in the pot, the sound of the spatula colliding with the iron pot, and the aroma of food filling the air. It was very lively.
"Xiaowan, look what your mother prepared for you." After closing the door, Lin Guofu did not hesitate to get closer to his own daughter.
Lin Wan glanced at the sumptuous dishes on the table, which were comparable to those during the Chinese New Year, but frowned when she smelled the braised fish, feeling a little uncomfortable in her stomach.
"Xiaohao, call me sister quickly." Lin Guofu called out to his son who was playing poker, and hurriedly sat back in the main seat.
Lin Wan didn't eat much during the meal, especially when Lin Guofu and Chen Qiuhong mentioned Fu Xiuhuai and asked her to tutor Lin Chenghao, she put down her chopsticks directly, causing the two to look at her.
"Xiao Wan, what's wrong?"
"The smell of fish is unpleasant."
Lin Wan knew that her words had no weight before, but now, with just a few words, Lin Guofu actually removed the braised fish despite Lin Chenghao's objection.
"Then eat other dishes." Chen Qiuhong picked up a piece of stir-fried meat for Lin Wan.
Lin Wan originally thought that she was pregnant and had a good appetite for every meal. However, she did not expect that the food here today was a little hard to swallow. She only tasted a little bit and then lost her appetite.
After dinner, when Lin Guofu was still determined to ask Fu Xiuhuai for money, Lin Wan casually mentioned what happened a year ago.
Lin Guofu put on his father-in-law's airs: "This Fu Xiuhuai is also a big boss. He asked you to go back to your mother's house for dinner alone, and you didn't even bother to show your appreciation."
Lin Wan said indifferently, "His legitimate father-in-law is in Linjia Village. When did he become a garment factory worker?"
Lin Guofu was choked by his daughter's words, and continued to mutter: "He knows that we are your real parents..."
Did Fu Xiuhuai really know about his life experience? Lin Wan lowered her eyelashes and remained silent.
Chen Qiuhong pulled Lin Wan closer, her tone much gentler: "Look at you, you were clearly in love with that Fu... Fu Mingjun, but you turned around and married his uncle. If people outside knew about it, it would be so embarrassing. Luckily, this uncle Fu Mingjun is quite capable, so you won't be at a disadvantage if you marry him."
"Then why didn't you try to persuade me at that time?" Lin Wan asked tentatively.
"Why should we persuade him?" Lin Guofu waved his hand. "Fu Xiuhuai is much more capable than that young man Fu Mingjun. If you ask me, marrying Fu Xiuhuai is the right choice."
Lin Wan exchanged a few perfunctory words with the two of them, then found an excuse to leave immediately. However, before leaving, she specifically asked Lin Chenghao to see her off.
No matter how reluctant Ling Chenghao was, Lin Guofu dragged him out of the door: "Get on with your sister. Don't forget who your brother-in-law is!"
No matter how muddleheaded Lin Chenghao was, he could understand his parents' thoughts. He followed Lin Wan closely and kept asking about Fu Xiuhuai.
"Sister, I heard that my brother-in-law drives cars worth over 100,000 yuan. Is that true?"
"Isn't the villa you live in really big? I'd love to go see it someday."
Lin Wan paused and looked at Lin Chenghao suspiciously. He had never been to the Fu family villa?
Based on his understanding of Lin Guofu's family of three, if he got married, they would definitely do everything they could to build connections with the Fu family. Not to mention visiting the villa, even riding in Fu Xiuhuai's luxury car would be possible.
"Have you never been to Cuihu Villa?" Lin Wan knew that her thirteen-year-old brother had the simplest mind, and it would be safest to ask him the questions.
"Tsk." Lin Chenghao got angry whenever he mentioned this. "My brother-in-law is so stingy. He didn't even let us go to your wedding or the villa. On the contrary, he treated my uncle's family very politely. I'm so angry that I almost don't want to acknowledge him as my brother-in-law! My brother-in-law is so confused. He doesn't even think about who is closest to you."
Lin Wan's eyes lit up. Fu Xiuhuai's work was so pleasing to the body and mind?
"Who is closer?" Lin Wan looked at Lin Chenghao with a firm gaze. "Of course, the one who is on the same household registration is closer."
She had been adopted long ago and was not registered in Lin Guofu's household registration book.
***
After coming out of the garment factory's staff quarters, Lin Wan relied on the intermittent messages from the Lin family and roughly realized that Lin Guofu and others were also unclear about why she married Fu Xiuhuai.
However, Lin Wan was somewhat surprised and delighted when she learned that Fu Xiuhuai had ruthlessly refused to let Lin Guofu and his family of three in.
It seems that I didn't suffer any injustice in the past year when I had no memory.
If Fu Xiuhuai was controlled by them and was really treated to delicious food and drink at the wedding, Lin Wan would feel uncomfortable when she thought about it now.
When she arrived at the gate of the garment factory, Lin Wan, in a good mood, was about to go to the noodle stall near the factory to fill her stomach, but she heard the security guard calling her.
"Xiao Lin, there are letters and packages for you."
"Thank you, Uncle Wei." Lin Wan took the thing and saw that it was sent by her adoptive parents in Linjia Village, that is, Lin Wan's real uncle's family.
Back then, in order to make room for Lin Chenghao, the baby in Chen Qiuhong's belly, Lin Wan was adopted by her uncle Lin Guosheng and became his third daughter. Her former cousins suddenly became her biological brothers and sisters in name, and Lin Wan was a little dazed.
Many years had passed, and Lin Wan had long since gotten used to it. Just by feeling through the cloth bag, she guessed that the package contained local specialties sent by her adoptive parents: dried radish from their own drying oven, smoked sausages and bacon, pickled salted duck eggs...
The letter home was written by the second sister who went to work in the town's sugar factory after graduating from junior high school. The letter was full of instructions from the adoptive parents, asking Lin Wan not to send money or things home, to take good care of herself, and to come back when she had time.
Lin Wan wasn't sure what she had sent home in the past year, but she knew herself and knew that she must have sent some money and bought some nice things back home after receiving her salary.
After sorting out the current situation, she really needs to take the time to go home on her adoptive mother's birthday.
After packing up the package and letter, Lin Wan walked to the alley a few hundred meters away from the garment factory. She smelled the tempting aroma of noodles and sat down at a simple table set up by a roadside stall. "Boss, I want two taels of beef noodles. I want chili and more lettuce leaves."
In recent years, there are more and more vendors setting up stalls in the streets and alleys to do business.
"Okay," the noodle stall owner said, stirring the noodles in the steaming wok. Soon, long, thin, white noodles coiled and swirled into the large bowl. Ladleful after ladleful of boiling broth poured into the bowl, stirring the soy sauce and chili oil at the bottom into a vibrant, spicy red.
White noodles were placed on the red soup base, with a handful of fresh lettuce leaves scooped up, and finally a spoonful of beef topping was scooped on and sprinkled with green chopped green onions, which aroused Lin Wan's appetite.
Lin Wan ate the delicious noodles with a big appetite, but the boss was too picky and the noodles were quite large. She estimated that it was more than two taels. Combined with the soft beef tendon and the rich vegetable leaves, it almost made her belly, which already had some contours, bulge out.
The food that was eaten at Lin Guofu's house took up some space. Lin Wan felt a little troubled when she saw that there was only one-third of noodles left.
Wasting food is shameful...
After a short rest, Lin Wan prepared to go to the nearby store to buy a bottle of coconut juice before continuing her work. Just as she was about to get up, she saw a tall figure suddenly sitting down opposite the small dining table.
What followed was a bottle of 119 coconut juice placed in front of him.
The glass bottle cap of coconut juice was opened, emitting a faint fragrance, which made the thirsty Lin Wan envious.
"Why are you here?" Lin Wan was stunned for a moment, then changed the subject, "How did you know I was here?"
Fu Xiuhuai, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, pointed to Lin Wan's bowl of noodles with the boss and asked for the same. He then turned around and said to Lin Wan, "Don't you like this noodle stall near the garment factory the most?"
Lin Wan was stunned again when she heard this, and thought to herself, he knows quite a lot.
While Fu Xiuhuai was waiting for the noodles, he pushed the coconut juice towards Lin Wan. Seeing that she finally held the bottle and drank it, he reminded her: "Drink slowly, don't choke."
"Hmm." Lin Wan's heat was soothed by the delicious coconut juice, but in the blink of an eye, she saw the man opposite her taking away her bowl of noodles.
Lin Wan, who really couldn't eat much, watched the man lower his head and finish the remaining noodles. Her fair face immediately turned red.
In the past few days, she never treated them as an intimate couple, and Fu Xiuhuai also behaved well, without any inappropriate behavior... Until now...
"Didn't you order a bowl of noodles?" Lin Wan whispered.
Fu Xiuhuai ate his noodles in an elegant manner, not wolfing them down. Upon hearing this, he glanced up at his wife and said, "It's not good to waste food. Besides, this isn't the first time I've eaten your leftovers."
Lin Wan silently turned her head and looked at the customers coming and going. Perhaps it was too hot, her cheeks were slightly red.
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