CH 129

At this time, there were few clothes that were in better conditions such as single-layered clothes and cotton-padded clothes. When the weather was too cold then the single-layered shirt with the cotton-padded jacket would be the winter outfit. When the weather was too hot, the shirt alone would suffice.

Thinking about it this way, she felt that the cotton was truly not enough to make quilt covers and sheets. This would at least ensure that she wouldn’t need to remove the cotton annually to wash it.

Plus, she wanted to make more clothes for her children to ensure that they were warm during the winter.

She also needed to find a way to ensure that her kids could shower during the winter. She couldn’t ask them to refrain from showering for four to five months consecutively.

She would wash and dry the cotton. After keeping them, she would start to make the clothes.

In the blink of an eye, it was time for Old Lady Lin’s birthday celebration.

Lin Lan arranged the things at home before taking Xiaowang to the Lin Jiatun Village.

Han Qingsong saw that she was carrying a rag bag which contained a two-layered pancake, a few candies and nothing else. After a while, she was carrying a newly bought basket. He wondered if he should give this to the old lady as a birthday gift even though it didn’t seem that appropriate.

Lin Lan placed a few cucumbers and a few foreign persimmons into the basket.

After packing up, Lin Lan said to Han Qingsong, “If I’m not back by noon, Maisui and Erwang will only have to warm up the meal, so just make do with it if that’s okay.”

Han Qingsong nodded, “Alright, off you go.”

He thought that she perhaps had some money on her. Perhaps giving that to Old Lady Lin would seem good.

The Lin Jiatun Village was not very far from the Shanzui Village. As it was less than ten miles away, it took just a bit more than half an hour to walk.

But when there was a child following along, things were bound to be slower.

At first, Lin Lan led him along, telling him stories along the way. After walking for ten minutes, his footsteps slowed down.

Lin Lan found a tree under the tree and had Xiaowang sit on the basket. She took the washed cucumber, broke it in half, and handed him the more tender half, “Xiaowang, eat the cucumber.”

Xiaowang hesitated, “Mother, aren’t we giving it to grandmother?”

Lin Lan smiled and said, “No, this is what we’re going to eat on the road.”

“What about brother Xiaoxin?”

“Nope, this is just for mother’s Xiaowang,” Lin Lan rubbed the top of his head. Xiaowang was actually a rather insecure child, so he liked the extra validation from someone else.

She knew that he needed her firm answer to prove that she really did love him.

Xiaowang plastered on a sweet smile and started nibbling on cucumbers.

Lin Lan also ate a piece.

After a few minutes of rest, Lin Lan carried him on her back and continued their journey. After walking for a while, Xiaowang said that he could walk by himself.

When they were outside the Lin Jiatun Village, the tomatoes, cucumbers and pancakes were all finished.

“Xiaowang, will you be hungry if you don’t eat at noon?”

Xiaowang patted his stomach, “Mother, I won’t even be hungry if I don’t eat for a day.”

“Good boy,” Lin Lan stroked the top of his soft hair and led him to her mother’s house.

The Lin Jiatun Village was not too big. It was actually smaller than the Shanzui Village as it only had less than 200 households.

The Lin Jiatun Village was close to the river that provided abundant water sources and a myriad of stones. The diligent would pick up the stones to build the foundations of their house walls. Although there were also wheat straws lathered atop the yellow cement walls, the houses appeared to be much tidier than the Shanzui Village.