The Reborn Sidekick Rejected The Male Lead
Chapter 193 - 188: Lost

Chapter 193: Chapter 188: Lost

After returning home, Xia Lin made a soft little nest for Hua Hua on the first floor, not allowing Hua Guoguo to disturb it. She even cooked it some noodles and made an egg for it.

She had no appetite that evening and went to sleep early.

It was her Aunt Zhou Lanqin who had been busy these past few days with retirement-related matters and needed to visit the Bureau of Commerce today.

Xia Lin rode her bike, taking her aunt with her. Along the way, Aunt Zhou said, "Old Sang from our kitchen asked if I wanted to sell my position. Selling it would fetch a good price, as the monthly pension from retiring is too low to make ends meet."

"Auntie, you really shouldn’t sell it. Although the pension from retiring is low, it’s still something. With your many years of service, even if it’s less, it won’t be much worse than others’."

"Mmm, I feel the same way. This money can be used to buy some snacks for the grandkids in the future, so it won’t be a loss."

Xia Lin smiled. This wasn’t just about affording snacks; it was also a form of security for future living.

At the Bureau of Commerce, the process went smoothly, and when they came out with her aunt, it was just past nine o’clock.

"Come on, let’s go to the department store and have a look around to see if you and Nanzhou are missing anything. Are you supposed to provide all the ’three rounds and a sound’? Does Nanzhou agree?"

Xia Lin smiled, "Auntie, Nanzhou has already given me his savings book. He said I should buy whatever we need. I plan to ask my second cousin to get another radio and a bicycle to leave at home for my dad. I’ll buy another one for myself, but there’s no need to get a sewing machine since we can use the one at home."

"Don’t you want a TV? The ones your second cousin gets are much cheaper than at the department store."

"No need, we’ll wait a couple of years. I’m currently in school, and Nanzhou is rarely home, so we wouldn’t have time to watch it anyway."

"Alright then, you young couple can figure it out yourselves. Your auntie will just get you some small items."

"...Auntie, Nanzhou said he doesn’t know when he will be back from his mission this time, and he might not make it home for the New Year either."

Zhou Lanqin sighed. That was the downside of marrying a military man; most of their time and lives belonged to the country.

"No matter if he can come back or not, let’s prepare everything in advance. Auntie hasn’t even seen your new place yet."

"Alright, after we finish shopping, I’ll take my auntie to see it."

Xia Lin had nearly finished preparing everything, but Zhou Lanqin still insisted on buying her two sets of clothes, a Ni wool coat, a lightweight cotton-padded jacket, and two pairs of pants.

She also bought her a red set of thermal underwear, and even got a set for Jiang Nanzhou, with socks and underwear coming in pairs for the couple.

Xia Lin had no idea she needed to prepare all these things, including soaps wrapped in red paper.

Seeing shampoo and conditioner on sale, Xia Lin bought two bottles as well.

She already bought a thermos, but Aunt Zhou got her another one, along with two enamel basins.

Xia Lin also bought a kettle.

The two of them, realizing they couldn’t carry any more, finally left the department store.

Xia Lin wore the clothes that fit her, and the rest of the small items were placed in the enamel basin, with Aunt Zhou sitting behind her.

They used a mesh bag for the remaining items, placing it on the front beam of the bike. "The things to prepare for a wedding sure are plentiful. When your older cousin got married, it was the in-laws and your cousin who arranged everything. I can’t help feeling guilty."

"Auntie, you’ll be living with my older cousin soon enough. There will be plenty of opportunities to make it up."

"That’s true, I’m just afraid that if I go over there, it might make the young couple uncomfortable. Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts, you know.

Your mom didn’t have this problem, and you likely won’t have it in the future... Your auntie had it tough though. When she married your uncle, she lived with his grandparents for the first couple of years. The old couple didn’t take to me, thinking that our family, with just me and your mom left, sisters without any elders, couldn’t offer much help to their son."

Fortunately, later on, your mom couldn’t stand to see me mistreated by my in-laws, so your uncle found me a job selling vegetables at a vegetable station.

Then your older cousin was born, and I couldn’t work, so I stayed home for two years. Before a year had passed, I was expecting your second cousin, and your uncle was transferred here and got a promotion, too. He was allowed to bring his family along, so I followed him with your two cousins. It wasn’t until both of them were in kindergarten that I started working again. Sigh, when I think about it, the hardest times in your auntie’s life were those years living with the in-laws.

Before that, your mom and I had it tough. With no one to look out for us at home, two young girls always got bullied, but your mother never left me wanting for anything; she bought me whatever I needed. At that time, our family did have some savings, which your grandparents had left us."

After your mom married your dad, I still stayed with my sister. Then I married your uncle. He’s a good man, but his parents, well, they really didn’t think much of me. I just put up with it for those years. Things got better after we moved out."

"Auntie, I’ve never heard you talk about these things before."

"What’s there to talk about? Your uncle’s parents are no longer here, and his two uncles are quite decent. Those grievances from back then, I’ve long since forgotten.

What worries me is whether I can get used to living with the young couple."

"Auntie, your older cousin’s wife is very understanding. Not to mention other aspects, just the food alone, she would be lost without you. Besides, you’re so empathetic and experienced with these things from having been there yourself; you’ll definitely handle it well."

Zhou Lanqin listened to Jingqiu’s words and burst into laughter, "How did you, a young girl, learn all these sophisticated social graces?"

Lu Jingqiu smiled and remained silent. She had indeed learned quite a bit about social sophistication over the years.

"Qiuqiu, look over there, who’s that? It looks like Old Gao... That’s Gao Shu’s wife, isn’t it?"

As they were chatting, Zhou Lanqin suddenly turned her head and saw a bustling street stall surrounded by a crowd on the roadside. Only through the throng could they make out the person behind the stall.

Lu Jingqiu stopped her bicycle, took a quick look, and saw Xia Lin had laid out many cotton-padded coats and jackets for sale in front of her.

Quite a few people were asking about the prices.

Zhou Lanqin said, "How come she’s selling clothes now?"

Lu Jingqiu got back on her bike without lingering too long, and updated her aunt on the recent situation with the sheepskin Gao Da was handling, "Her clothes probably aren’t finished yet, she’s selling a bit during the break."

"Wow, selling clothes is that profitable, huh."

"Yep, otherwise your second cousin wouldn’t be making another trip."

"I’ve been telling your second cousin to stop messing about and get a proper job, to stop looking for shortcuts, but he wouldn’t listen to me. There must be quite the temptation."

Lu Jingqiu laughed, "Auntie, are you tempted too?"

"Tempted, sure, but I can’t help you guys out."

"Auntie, the dishes you make are some of the best in West City. After you’re done helping your older cousin with the kids and have some spare time, it’s not impossible for you to open a shop."

Zhou Lanqin was surprised, "I can open my own shop?"

"Yes, the government allows it, so of course you can."

At the thought, Zhou Lanqin was somewhat moved, but then she reconsidered, "Better not, I’m getting on in years; no need to wear myself out."