Just as they were talking, a young man ran towards them. He smiled so hard that his two front teeth were bare, seeming to be a bit dazzling under the setting sun.
Perhaps after seeing Lin Lan talking to Liu Xiuyun, the young man suddenly stopped, turned his head and ran towards the other side.
Lin Lan took a look, “Who was that young man just now? He seems to be from our village.”
Liu Xiuyun’s face turned pale and flushed, “No, no, Auntie, I think you’re mistaken.”
Lin Lan invited her to go home with them.
Liu Xiuyun hesitated but shook her head, “Auntie, y-you should go back first. I-I will wait here for a bit longer.”
“It’s getting dark,” Lin Lan now knew that something was definitely out of place. Liu Xiuyun was an honest girl who couldn’t tell lies. She usually worked every day, so why would she ask for a leave during the autumn harvest?
If she really was sick, she’d be staying at home. Otherwise, she would probably return home right after the checkup.
So, for her to be standing in front of the cinema, it would be weird if she wasn’t trying to cover anything up.
However, seeing that Liu Xiuyun was about to cry, Lin Lan couldn’t bear to force her any longer.
After all, Lin Lan missed the warm feeling of the past, but Liu Xiuyun actually didn’t have much interaction with her. It was just a matter of convenience back then, so Lin Lan didn’t have the authority or the power to force Liu Xiuyun home as well.
She said, “Then remember to go back earlier, alright? Let me know if you need anything.”
Lin Lan bid her goodbye.
After taking two steps forward, Liu Xiuyun called out, “Auntie!”
Lin Lan looked back at her.
Liu Xiuyun bit her lip, but she probably didn’t realise it, “Auntie, you… can you not…”
“I know, I won’t tell anyone, so don’t worry. However, you have to take care of yourself. Don’t hold back if you ever need me.”
Liu Xiuyun’s eyes reddened and she lowered her head.
Lin Lan went to Han Qingsong and talked to him briefly.
Han Qingsong let out an ‘oh’ of acknowledgement and didn’t say anything else before taking the two of them home.
On the way, they also encountered Luo Haicheng, Han Qingyun and the others. After giving a brief greeting, they headed home.
At the entrance of the village, Lin Lan said, “Okay, we’re already home. Me and Xiaowang will go on from here, so you can keep yourself busy now.”
She knew that the matter was not over yet. Han Qinghua’s matter still had to be arranged and Han Qingsong still needed to find his brother to make him face the consequences. Getting another sentence or any other type of punishment was probably inevitable at this point.
(T/N: I just recalled that Han Qinghua was the new name for Jinbao, the youngest son of the Han family that got sent to the labour camp. Just writing this out for clarification in case)
He was considerate of her, so she also had to be considerate for him, didn’t she?
Han Qingsong didn’t insist, so he carried Xiaowang down and placed him on the ground, “Then I’ll go to the Commune first.”
Lin Lan nodded, “No matter how busy you are at work, you must eat well.”
Han Qingsong turned to look at her, nodding,”Got it.”
Lin Lan reminded Xiaowang, who was still remaining obnoxious and fiddling around with the instrument, to say bye to his father.
Xiaowang waved his little hands, “Woo, woo, goodbye!”