134: Chapter 133 Entanglent 134: Chapter 133 Entanglent The next day, Lin Xia took the opportunity to look for sothing to store the monkey stamps while she was out setting up her stall to sell goods.
Upon hearing her intention to find a wooden box for storage, Sister He imdiately chid in, “Xiaolin, don’t rush!
I have an unused wooden box at ho, I’ll bring it for you tomorrow when I set up my stall!”
Lin Xia, with a beaming smile, took Sister He’s hand, “Sister He!
You’re so kind!
I find that whenever I ntion a problem to you, you can solve it for !
Thank you so much!”
She was extrely grateful that she had taken the initiative to befriend Sister He out of compassion.
It seed that one should help others in their ti of need and form good bonds, not knowing what rewards it might bring in the future.
Sister He laughed it off nonchalantly and waved her hand, “Xiaolin!
What’s there to thank?
It’s no big deal!
Actually, it’s all made by your brother-in-law!
His carpentry was excellent before he got injured!”
This was the first ti Lin Xia had heard Sister He talk about her family situation, “My brother-in-law was a carpenter?”
Having grown close to Lin Xia over ti, Sister He spoke without reservation, “Yes!
He used to work in a furniture factory, but he hurt his hand while working, so they gave him so compensation as a work injury.
But what good is that little money?
He can’t work anymore!
My daughter is still in primary school, and my son is in junior high.
It’s all up to to make a living by setting up a stall!”
Listening, Lin Xia felt a pang of sympathy in her heart.
Sister He’s life was certainly not easy.
When she heard Sister He ntion having a son, an idea crossed Lin Xia’s mind, “Sister He, you have a son too?
What grade is he in?
Which middle school does he attend?”
“Ninth grade!
At Second Middle School!”
As they delved into the details, they discovered that her son and Lin Dong were in the sa grade, and the more they talked, the closer they felt, deepening their relationship even further.
Sure enough, the next day Sister He brought a large wooden box from her ho for Lin Xia.
It was finely crafted, fitting together tightly when closed.
Lin Xia genuinely admired the work, “Sister He!
Your brother-in-law’s craftsmanship is really impressive!”
Sister He smiled, but her eyes briefly filled with tears, “These were made before, he can’t do such fine work anymore now that he lost his fingers!”
Hearing this, Lin Xia felt her heart tighten.
She hugged Sister He’s shoulder consolingly, “Sister He!
Things will get better!
If your husband can’t do carpentry, he can do sothing else!
You need to stay optimistic!”
Sister He wiped the corner of her eye, “Right!
I always tell myself that.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to get through the days!”
Lin Xia knew what the future held, but she realized that saying too much now was useless.
It was better to wait until she could lend a hand.
On her way back from closing her stall, Lin Xia found a spot to store the box in Jade’s room.
At night, once she was asleep, her consciousness entered it.
She diligently cleaned off the dust and then placed her precious monkey stamps inside.
Later, unable to sleep, she pondered whether she should inform Zhao, the elder lady, about the stamps and suggest that she buy a few sets too.
And Sister He—after hearing about her difficult family situation, she really felt for her!
But how should she put it?
How to make them take it seriously without making them suspicious of her abnormal behavior?
After all, the monkey stamp was currently unsellable, and no one was willing to buy it.
Might she inadvertently bring trouble upon herself by speaking rashly?
Lin Xia found herself in a dilemma…
The next day, Lin Xia still decided to have an honest talk with Sister He.
Whether she bought the stamps or not was her decision, but at least Lin Xia wouldn’t harbor any guilt in the future.
After listening to Lin Xia’s talk about collecting stamps in case they appreciate in value soday, Sister He couldn’t help laughing, “How much can the value of a few cents’ worth of stamps possibly increase?”
“You never know!
Sister He, why not buy a set and keep it?
If the price goes up in the future, it could be like saving money for the kids!”
“Where can you even discuss such a thing?
A set costs six yuan and four cents—so expensive.
With that money, I could pay the children’s school fees… Xiaolin, if you want to buy them, go ahead, but I’m not into it!”
What else could Lin Xia say?
She dared not delve any deeper.
Afterwards, Lin Xia bought so canned goods and went to Zhao Da’s house, where she intended to asure the sleeve length.
She had a rough idea of the body asurents, but she couldn’t quite gauge the arm length.
If she got it wrong, it would be uncomfortable to wear.
Zhao Da was pleased to see Lin Xia but began to nag her about the things she brought.
“Xiaolin!
Look at you, buying things again!
Have you forgotten our conversation from last ti?”
Feeling a special closeness to Zhao Da, Lin Xia replied with a smile, “I haven’t forgotten!
Zhao Da!
These are actually for Xuewen!”
Zhao Da was exasperated, “You child!
No matter how many tis I tell you, you don’t listen!
Sit down!”
The two sat by the edge of the kang and chatted.
Learning that Lin Xia’s stall sales were doing quite well and Lin Qiu had started learning tailoring, Zhao Da was very happy for them.
“Xiaolin, the days ahead will definitely get better and better!
Those people from the city didn’t co looking for you after the move, did they?”
She had been genuinely worried about the children lately.
Even if Lin Xia hadn’t visited her that day, Zhao Da would have wanted her second son to take her to see them a few days later.
Lin Xia shook her head, “No!
Being further away probably makes us harder to find!
Plus, with the winter materials transport being so busy, my dad’s bound to go back to work in the mountains once he’s a bit better!”
In the recent period without those people around, they all felt their lives were exceptionally comfortable.
Zhao Da couldn’t help but caution them, “But you still need to be careful!
That stepmother of yours brought her son to my cousin’s house once, and I heard she had three n with her.
She’s definitely aiming to make trouble for you!
You two girls and a half-grown boy, do you think you could fend off those people if it ca to a fight?
Don’t co back here lightly in the future.
I’ll find ti to visit you; let your second brother guide there!”
She knew that Lin Xia would not have returned if it weren’t for her visit.
But Zhao Da truly feared for Lin Xia, that coming back to see her would result in her getting caught or targeted.
“Okay, Da!
I’ll heed your advice,” Lin Xia crisply agreed, knowing Zhao Da truly had their best interests at heart.
She wouldn’t be willing to co back today if it weren’t for the monkey stamp and asuring sleeve lengths.
Others might feel happy and at ease returning to their birthplace, but not her.
The mont she set foot back here, she would think of Lin Aiguo and the rest, feeling oppressed and uncomfortable.
“Da!
Let asure how long your arm is!”
“What for?” Zhao Da looked at Lin Xia warily, “I assure you, I’m lacking in nothing!”
“We know you lack for nothing!
But the other day, when we were buying yarn, we saw this color and thought it looked nice.
Xiaoqiu and I decided to knit one for you.
Now, all that’s left is the sleeve!”
Zhao Da strenuously objected at first but eventually let Lin Xia take the sleeve asurent.
She was truly touched, repeatedly saying, “You kids are so thoughtful!” Her affection for them was not misplaced.
Lin Xia then casually brought up the topic of stamp collecting.
Zhao Da laughed upon hearing this, “Your second brother loves tinkering with those.
He has been collecting stamps quite a bit!
There, in the cabinet, is a thick album that no one else is allowed to touch.”
Lin Xia was inwardly delighted, “Did he buy the monkey stamp issued last year?
I just happened to see it at the post office when I went to buy stamps.
It looked really great, so I bought two sets, thinking they might appreciate in value soday!”
Reviews
All reviews (0)