"Oh, Sister-in-law, you know how to knit a sweater?" Zhang Cuiping made Lin Wan a cup of tea and then noticed the half-finished sweater in Lin Wan’s hands.
"I do a bit. Idle in the winter, I thought I’d knit a couple for Han Yi. Save them for when it’s warmer."
"I saw Han Yi wearing one last year and asked where he bought it. Then Old Huang said his partner made it for him. I was quite puzzled at the time. I hadn’t heard anything about Captain Han dating someone. Who would have thought, you two were secretly together all along. I was wondering why Han Yi suddenly got married."
Zhang Cuiping’s words left Lin Wan unsure how to explain, so after hesitating for a while, she tacitly agreed.
It’s not easy to explain this kind of thing, can’t say she chased Han Yi all the way to S City, right?
"This yarn must be expensive, right? I’ve long wanted to buy Old Huang a sweater, but the ones outside are too expensive. I heard it costs a month’s salary." Zhang Cuiping, knowing she was shy, didn’t press further but looked at the yarn in her hands enviously.
"Yarn prices vary, some are cheap and some are pricey. Cheap ones are just a few dimes. Expensive ones cost two to three dollars."
"A few dimes is manageable. Next time Sister-in-law comes over, I’ll buy some yarn and you can teach me. One day I’ll make one for Old Huang too."
Lin Wan sat at Sister-in-law Zhang’s house all afternoon. In the evening, she went home and reheated the leftover noodles from lunch, along with a few buns.
She waited until almost eight, but Han Yi still hadn’t returned. Lin Wan had to eat the remaining noodles.
It was around ten at night when Han Yi finally returned, feeling quite chilled.
"Have you eaten? Why did you come back so late?" Lin Wan groggily sat up and asked.
"I ate already, had some leaders to entertain. It’ll be easier after tomorrow. In the future, if there’s a similar situation, don’t wait up for me." Han Yi got rid of the chill before taking off his clothes to get into bed. "I was careless today, next time I don’t come back, I’ll have them notify you."
"Hmm, you must be frozen." Han Yi already in the blanket, Lin Wan cuddled up to him, helping him warm up.
Han Yi let out a satisfied hum, holding Lin Wan tightly.
That night, the two did nothing but hold each other tightly and had a good sleep.
The next day, Lin Wan and Han Yi woke up together, and she specially made a mantou sandwich.
Han Yi said the thing he missed most was the mantou sandwich she made for him in Huai Town.
"I won’t be coming home for lunch. There’s an event tonight in the team, you and Sister-in-law Zhang can go together."
"Not eating dinner at home? Grandma brought us some dumpling stuffing, I was planning to make them today."
"I’m on duty this year. The old leaders are celebrating New Year’s with comrades, so there needs to be accompaniment. Go have a look together. The military will also invite a troupe to perform. Even the military spouses have programs. You came late, so they didn’t inform you."
"Oh, I’ll go with Sister-in-law Zhang tonight. By the way, what about the two thousand yuan Mr. Mei left here."
Han Yi paused his eating, then resumed as if nothing happened, saying, "Give it to me."
After Han Yi left, Lin Wan still kneaded some dough and made the dumplings in advance, freezing them outside.
At noon, Lin Wan didn’t eat, instead drank a belly full of hot water. She sat on the bed, took out the little black yarn she brought, and knitted a hat-scarf for Pidan.
During this time, Wang Guihua came over, inviting her to Sun Yu’s house for a chat. Lin Wan found an excuse about her stomach not feeling well and didn’t go.
Around two-thirty, Sister-in-law Zhang came to find her to go to the military camp together.
Lin Wan thought they would go at five or six o’clock.