Chapter 128: Chapter 125: Favoritism

Wang Zhixue shook his head, his face flushing. “Grandpa, my family is too poor. No one will look twice at me.”

Lin Changyou looked at him and said, “Don’t worry about that. As long as a young man is down-to-earth and willing to work hard, he’ll make a good life for himself sooner or later.”

An idea sparked in Yang Liying’s mind. She smiled and said to Lin Changyou, “Uncle, could I ask you to help look for a suitable match for him in Shilian?”

Lin Changyou thought for a moment, then smiled. “Actually, there is a suitable girl. She’s the daughter of my eldest daughter-in-law’s older brother. She’s seventeen this year, a quick worker, and has a good personality and looks.”

Zhao Dehai nodded repeatedly. “I saw her once during the soybean harvest. It would be wonderful if Zhixue could win the hand of our in-law’s niece!”

Yang Liying nudged Wang Zhixue. “Quick, ask Grandpa to help set things up.”

Blushing, Wang Zhixue said to Lin Changyou, “I’ll have to trouble you to act as a go-between for me, Grandpa.”

Lin Changyou smiled. “First, go back and discuss it with your parents. Have your aunt send word to me. I’ll go mention it to my in-laws, and if they agree, I’ll send a message for you to go meet her.”

“Okay, I’ll go tell my mom right now.” Wang Zhixue and Wang Zhilin left happily.

Yang Liying and her husband went with them.

After Lin Lan and Lin Yuezhen finished cleaning the kitchen and came out, Lin Guoliang emerged from checking the pigs in their pen. He said to her, “Little Lan, they’ll be ready for market in another month or so. Once the piglets at home get a little bigger, I’ll send a couple over to you.”

Lin Yuezhen slapped his arm lightly and gestured, ’Guoliang, send four.’

Lin Guoliang nodded. “Four is fine too.”

Lin Changyou took a look around the courtyard. Seeing that Lin Lan kept it neat and tidy, with the private plot and vegetable garden full of seasonal vegetables, he broke into a satisfied smile.

Lin Lan packed up her things and went with everyone to the Armed Forces Department, where they saw Lin Guoqiang and a few other young men from their production team who were enlisting.

Little Douzi looked at his young uncle, dressed in a military uniform with a big red flower pinned to his chest, his eyes full of admiration. He threw his arms around his neck and said, “Uncle, you look so cool in your PLA uniform! When I grow up, I’m going to get into a military academy and wear a uniform too.”

Lin Guoqiang gently tapped his forehead. “Alright. You study hard, and I guarantee you’ll be even more capable than your uncle when you grow up.”

Little Douzi nodded. “Mommy says if I study hard, I’ll get to wear an even cooler uniform in the future.”

Lin Lan slipped some money into his pocket for spending and urged him to do well in the army.

Lin Guoqiang nodded solemnly. “Don’t worry, Sis, I’ll work hard. When you have time, go back and visit Mom and Dad often. And find a brother-in-law for me—keep your eyes wide open and find someone who will truly be good to you.”

Lin Lan gave him a playful pat. Looking at her little brother, who seemed even more handsome and dashing in his uniform, she said, “Then you should find a sister-in-law for me in the army and bring her home.”

Lin Guoqiang blushed and scratched his head. “Who would be interested in a country bumpkin like me!”

Lin Lan laughed. “My brother is so handsome, even better-looking than those movie actors. I guarantee you’ll charm a whole squad of female soldiers.”

Everyone burst into laughter, teasing Lin Guoqiang about bringing home a soldier for a wife.

After a while, it was time to go. They all said their reluctant goodbyes. Lin Changyou patted his son’s shoulder, reminding him to be safe and to write home as soon as he got to his post.

Lin Guoqiang’s eyes reddened as he nodded again and again. He gave Little Douzi’s head a final, reluctant pat, hugged his two older brothers, and asked them to look after their parents and sister for him. Wiping away his tears, he turned and ran off.

After leaving the Armed Forces Department, the men who had come along split up to shop at the department store, arranging to meet at the bus station to catch the last bus back.

Lin Lan told her father and brothers that she had bought a house on Limin Street and took them to see it.

The Lin Guoliang brothers thought it was too expensive. They felt Lin Lan was far too bold to spend so much money on a house—they had never even seen that much money before.

Lin Guodong said, “Little Lan, you can make money just by running a stall. Why did you have to spend so much on a storefront?”

Lin Lan smiled. “Second Brother, the stall is only temporary. Once the economy opens up more, a location like this will become more and more valuable. When I have some spare cash at the end of the year, I want to buy another one if I find a suitable property.”

Lin Guoliang looked at her and said, “Little Lan, ever since you started your own business, you’ve been meeting different people, and your perspective has changed too.”

“Big Brother, a friend of mine at the police station said that you have to move with the times, or you’ll be left behind.”

After hearing Lin Lan’s words, Lin Changyou thought for a moment and said, “I don’t understand business, but if you say buying a storefront is a good idea, we’ll listen to you. At the end of the year, when those dozen or so pigs are ready for market, I’ll have your brother bring you the money. If you find a couple of suitable places, just buy them and hold onto them.”

The Lin Guoliang brothers felt that their father’s decisions were always right. It was just like when he had decided to start the pig farm; after discussing it with them, he made up his mind and got straight to work.

Back then, so many people in the production team had been waiting to see their family fail! Now that the farm was profitable, those same envious people were full of sour grapes.

Lin Lan nodded. “Okay! If we want to sell our own farm products in the future, looking at the long term, the street with the vegetable market would be best. I’ll keep an eye out.”

“Mm!” Lin Changyou looked at her with relief. “We have two sows at home about to farrow, so we have to hurry back. Once this busy period is over, I’ll have your mom come visit and help you out.”

Lin Lan smiled. “Sister Yuezhen and I can manage just fine. When they have time, have my sisters-in-law and Mom come over and relax for a few days.”

Lin Guoliang laughed. “With so many pigs to feed at home and Guoqiang gone now, the only time they could come is probably during the New Year.”

Lin Lan nodded. She locked up and went to the department store to buy them a few things that didn’t require ration coupons. Then she saw the three of them—her father and brothers—to the bus station, bought tickets for the dozen or so people who had come with them, and saw them onto the bus headed for Dashiqiao Commune.

A little while later, the men who had gone shopping returned, carrying their purchases.

Lin Guoliang quickly called them onto the bus, telling them Lin Lan had already bought their tickets. This led to another round of polite pleasantries.

Lin Changyou said to her and Lin Yuezhen, “You two take Little Douzi and head home. He has school, you know!”

Lin Lan nodded. “Okay! You all be safe on the road.”

With that, she handed the tickets to Li Hongmei, took Little Douzi by the hand, and got off the bus. The three of them only started walking back after the bus had driven away.

When Lin Changyou and his sons got home, they told Wu Shufen and the others about Lin Lan buying the house. Wu Shufen and Zhang Xiuqing felt she was too reckless, daring to spend so much money on a house that who-knows-when they’d ever be able to use.

Zhao Xiaohui also disapproved of spending so much on a house. However, she was convinced that Lin Lan was a real money-maker and started planning to introduce her to her own cousin.

Lin Changyou remembered Wang Zhixue’s request and explained the young man’s situation to Zhang Xiuqing. He added, “Go back and ask your sister-in-law if she’s willing to marry Yuru off to someone in Lexing.”

Seeing that her father-in-law also spoke highly of the young man, Zhang Xiuqing trusted his judgment. She smiled and said, “Dad, if you think the young man is good, then he must be. I’ll find some time to go talk to my sister-in-law about it.”

Zhao Xiaohui was unhappy when she heard this. ’I have nieces on my side of the family too,’ she thought resentfully. ’How come Father-in-law never thought to mention it to me? He only brings it up with Eldest Sister-in-law. His favoritism is just blatant!’

Fuming, she secretly stomped on Lin Guozhu’s foot, leaving him utterly baffled.

****

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