"There are still three months left. They just paid the rent, three months at a time," Hu Lijuan said sadly, feeling they had no hope of moving into the new house.
"In this situation, they’re also innocent. You can’t just show up and act unreasonable. At worst, just tell them that you won’t be renting after three months and are preparing to take it back."
"Xiao Dung also said that to them at the time. But they said if we want the house back, we need to bring the agreement over. And, we need elders to go there, otherwise, they won’t agree," Hu Lijuan said, reminded of that small locked wooden box in Grandma’s wardrobe. She knew that all of Grandma’s important things were in there, and her college acceptance letter must be inside too.
"Things aren’t absolute. Our situation is special. If you tell them about the hardships you’re going through at home, with no house to stay in and no money to spend, they surely won’t refuse. Everyone has their difficulties, and besides, Uncle Hu is their colleague. Working together, it shouldn’t get too tense. They have their own elderly and young ones too. We must consider their needs as well."
"Saozi is right. Xiao Dung is still young and impulsive. I’ll talk to him tomorrow."
Since her mother-in-law arrived these few days, Lin Wan hadn’t gotten up to make breakfast in the morning, mainly because her mother-in-law got up too early, at six o’clock in the morning.
Since marrying over here, she initially got up at seven. It hasn’t even been a year, and she’s become lazy.
Yesterday, her mother-in-law ran around all day, and last night three adults and a child squeezed into one room with Grandma, so they surely didn’t sleep well.
This morning, she specially set an alarm to get up and prepare breakfast for the family.
Finding a house is not something that can be done in a day or two. Her mother-in-law and Hu Lijuan, the siblings, didn’t go out today, planning to help her move.
Only two big items were left. Lin Wan said she and her brother could manage, but her mother-in-law insisted, "Since you and Xiao Yi got married, I, as a mom, haven’t helped you with anything. Now that I can help you, let me do it, or I’ll feel guilty."
Lin Wan opened her mouth, didn’t say anything more, and nodded.
At three to four months old, the baby just eats and sleeps, sleeps and eats, but has a bit of a day-night reversal.
Grandma said that last night the baby fussed until past one in the morning before falling asleep.
They didn’t wake Saozi up for breakfast. Left some food in the pot for her to reheat when she woke up.
"Grandma, I’m leaving. Make sure you don’t skip your nightly herbal baths. Saozi is busy taking care of the baby, so you’ll have to boil the water yourself. But when Cousin comes to stay, don’t forget to ask him to help with the water. If Cousin is busy, ask Aunt Jin to help. You mustn’t skip it. It’s just starting to show some effects." Lin Wan looked at her cousin-in-law’s condition and figured she wouldn’t be eating on time either. She was quite worried.
Han Ying smiled, reluctant to let Xiao Wan leave. "Don’t worry about me; I can take care of myself. Your big uncle’s family house will be divided in two months. By then, I’ll move in with them. Your aunt has been leisure all these years; it’s time for her to show some filial piety to me. Hmph, I won’t let her be so carefree."
Grandma’s "cunning and sharp" nature made Lin Wan find her quite endearing. Already she could imagine the future life of her big aunt.
The brother rode over with a tricycle at around nine. The wardrobe and the boxes were made of solid wood, thick and particularly heavy. Fortunately, Uncle Jin was there too, and together they moved the wardrobe and boxes onto the vehicle.