Lin Wan didn’t immediately respond to Mom’s words but lowered her head in deep thought. Lin Yinghui disagreed, "Mom, Xiao Wan is still young, there’s no rush for this. Besides, Xiao Wan still needs to go to university."
"Brother, Mom and I have discussed it. I’ve wasted almost two years, and I don’t have the confidence to take the college entrance exam now. I’ve decided that once summer vacation ends, I’m going to enroll in a night school. I’ll manage the store during the day and attend classes at night. It won’t take up too much time." This is something Lin Wan has been planning; she has a plan in mind.
Hearing that Lin Wan wasn’t going to university, Lin Yinghui felt both bitter and guilty. He still had two years before graduation, and the family’s business needed attention, so he couldn’t leave. If it weren’t for him, his little sister might have been in college by now.
The main reason Lin Wan wasn’t going to university was that she didn’t want to run into Ye Qing.
She didn’t want to run into Li Liang either, although in this era, going to university meant a guaranteed job. As long as you have a diploma, there’s no worry about not finding a formal job.
Having lived for a lifetime, what she cared about was no longer these things.
"Xiao Wan, didn’t you tell Brother that you wanted to get into a finance university like him? When conditions improve, you surely must get into a good university; were you just fooling Brother all along?" Lin Yinghui disagreed with Lin Wan attending night school. If night school were the same as a regular university, wouldn’t everyone just go to night school?
"Brother... please don’t be angry, okay?" Lin Wan knew her brother would definitely be upset.
"Let your sister decide about her studies, Yinghui. You should ask around at school to see if there’s a good night school. This year’s enrollment should be fine. Attending class at night won’t interfere with things. You can never make enough money. Xiao Wan, don’t wait; start this year." She didn’t want her daughter regretting this decision for the family’s sake in the future. She also knew her daughter’s stubbornness. If she didn’t want to go, she definitely wouldn’t, but now that she wants to attend night school, let her go.
Lin Yinghui didn’t want his sister to go to night school, but he didn’t say anything. He thought to himself that he would secretly look at schools for his sister and even secretly register her, whether she wanted to or not.
"Okay, Mom, I’ll listen to you." Lin Wan actually wanted to wait another year, at least until things stabilized next year. But since Mom said so, she’d start this year.
"The matchmaking can’t be delayed either. I’ll speak to Grandma Wang tomorrow and have you two meet in the next few days." Liang Hongmei felt that starting school before marriage meant that her in-laws wouldn’t have any objections, and if they did when discussing marriage, the marriage would be off.
"Mom... actually, I wanted to talk to you about something today." Hearing her mother’s tone, it seemed she didn’t oppose her having a relationship and was even open to the idea of her marrying now.
"Actually, I already have someone. We’ve known each other for over a year. He’s from the same city and is a soldier, now an officer." Lin Wan told a small lie, though not completely untrue; they indeed knew each other for over a year.
Mother and son were both surprised. No wonder she didn’t want to go to university; she was busy with a relationship!
In their family, Lin Wan was always under their watch, yet they hadn’t seen her interact with anyone.
In the more than a year since they moved here, besides having some interactions with Zhang Shuhua, Lin Wan hadn’t made many friends.
"...actually, you’ve met him before." Seeing her mom’s expression, Lin Wan knew she was displeased.
"Isn’t it the guy from the Lantern Festival?" Lin Yinghui pointed to the carefully kept five-pointed star lantern his sister had.
Nervously, Lin Wan glanced at Lin Yinghui and nodded guiltily.
"You..." Liang Hongmei felt a bit stifled but didn’t directly scold her daughter. Her daughter had matured a lot in the past two years and had her own opinions, so this past year, she mostly listened to the two children. She thought they had grown up and didn’t need her to worry as much. But she was careless; she didn’t even know her daughter was in a relationship. "When did this happen?"
"Back when we were in our old home, we had a mutual affection for each other. After moving here and meeting a few times, we established a relationship. But since he’s mostly in the camp, he doesn’t return often."
"Why didn’t you tell us?" Lin Yinghui was dissatisfied with his sister’s actions. The last time Mom asked, she still didn’t admit it.
"I was afraid you’d be angry and wouldn’t want me to be with him." Lin Wan kept staring at her mom while speaking, knowing she always had a particular opinion about soldiers.
"So, you haven’t actually met many times?" Liang Hongmei had seen her daughter enough times to know. If they had met frequently, a mother like her wouldn’t have missed it.
"We’ve met... about a dozen times. He wanted to come to our house several times, but I wouldn’t let him." Lin Wan was telling a lie for the first time, keeping her head down, afraid her mom would notice. If they found out, that she and Han Yi had only met a few times, and suddenly these two strangers were discussing marriage, her mom would definitely disapprove.