November passed, and the sweater Lin Wan had knitted was still at home, as no one from the military camp had come over this past month.
Lin Wan felt embarrassed going to the camp to deliver it, so she waited until December.
If the sweater isn’t delivered, winter will be over soon.
That day, Lin Wan gathered her courage, wrapped the clothes, and went to the military camp’s entrance.
"Hello, I am here to see someone," Lin Wan hesitated for a moment before stepping through the gate and speaking to the soldier on guard.
"Is Han Yi part of this camp?"
No response for one time, no response for two, three times still no response. Just as Lin Wan was feeling awkward.
She encountered a soldier who happened to be coming out, "Hey, isn’t this the girl from the restaurant in the town ahead?"
Lin Wan looked up and found this soldier somewhat familiar, likely having eaten at her restaurant before.
"Hello, is Han Yi here?" Lin Wan smiled at him.
Chen Jun was surprised and jokingly raised his eyebrows at his comrade beside him, "I knew it, this girl definitely has her eyes on Han Yi." After clearing his throat, he quickly became serious, "Han Yi is not here, young lady, you got business with him?"
"Oh, can you give him this?" Lin Wan handed him the bag in her hand. "Two pieces of clothing, the gray one is for Director Zhang, and the blue one is for Han Yi... Uh, it’s to thank you two comrades for helping me out last time."
The soldiers looked at her in surprise. Lin Wan, already feeling guilty, turned beet-red under their gaze, quickly lowered her head and handed the bag to that soldier.
Unable to resist curiosity, she asked, "When will Han Yi be back?"
Chen Jun was surprised again, leaned down and whispered in Lin Wan’s ear, "Han probably didn’t want you to worry, so he didn’t tell you. He’s gone to the front line, not sure when he’ll be back." The front line, returning or not really depends on luck.
"Gone to the front line!" On her way back, Lin Wan kept thinking about this sentence.
She couldn’t figure out, after liberalization, where would there be a war?
Gone to the front line, will he be alright?
Lin Wan pondered all the way, and couldn’t think where Han Lin had gone, her only solace being that some city was hit by a disaster, and he was sent over.
"Director, Ying Chang took three companies to the front line, not sure when it will end this time. Since you accepted their stuff, how do you plan to send things to Ying Chang and Han Lianzhang?"
"Keep them well in the dormitory first. We accepted the young lady’s gifts, so she wouldn’t worry. In these times, is it easy to find a wife? It’s hard enough to have a young lady fancy someone from our place, we can’t let her slip away."
"Hey, you know... How did that girl fancy Han Lianzhang, but also gave Zhang Yingchang a sweater?"
"You know nothing, this is called buttering up. With Zhang Yingchang’s endorsement, aren’t you confident to win over Han Yi, that mule?"
"...Oh, didn’t the girl say it’s a thank you gift?"
"Commander, give me a few days off during the New Year, maybe I’ll find myself a wife too."
"Director, this sweater is really soft, can I try it on?"
"Let me try it too, see if it’s warm or not."
Mid-December, my brother returned home for vacation. After staying in the big city for a few months, he became fairer, and his demeanor changed as well.
His already handsome face appeared even more attractive.
Liang Hongmei, seeing her son back, cooked a huge tableful of dishes. The family of three happily sat around the table, with Lin Yinghui talking about his school affairs as both mother and daughter listened.
Liang Hongmei, feeling joyous, surprisingly drank a little wine.
At night, Lin Wan set up a floor bed for her brother in the shop.
"Bro, there are few quilts here, you have to make do with a single quilt. Tomorrow, you’d better head back to the old house."