Turning my thoughts back to the purpose of this visit, I reluctantly placed my hand gently on Lin Wan’s belly and looked up at my wife to say Lin Wan knew it was out of her control, but still felt a bit reluctant, "Will you be back before the baby is born?" "I will definitely make it back, at most in two months. I’ll be by your side when the baby is born," Han Yi promised Lin Wan. For him to say this meant he was very confident. Lin Wan hugged him unwillingly, nodding in his embrace, "Be careful, and don’t leave any scars for me to dislike." "Yes, definitely won’t leave scars," Han Yi said with a laugh near Lin Wan’s ear, feeling cheerful. Lin Wan playfully pinched his little nipple. Han Yi couldn’t take it, quickly seized her hand, and kissed her lips. That night, Lin Wan felt like she was "floating," and it scared her quite a bit afterward. This was the first time she felt anything since getting pregnant. She had read in books that this was not good for the fetus and could easily cause a miscarriage. Lin Wan lay still on the bed, too afraid to move. Han Yi was also scared, staying by her side with a hand on her belly for quite a while. Finally, they felt the baby move energetically a few times and only then relaxed. The next day, the couple didn’t wake up until after nine. The purpose of Han Yi’s visit this time was to check whether his mother-in-law and brother’s household registration had been taken care of. Han Yi got up quietly, intending not to wake Lin Wan, but still ended up disturbing her. Lately, Lin Wan had learned to get up early and stroll a few laps around the courtyard. At this moment, Mom had already gone to the morning market and left for the shop. She probably came by their courtyard in the morning, saw the donkey, and knew Han Yi was back. In the morning, she specially left two servings of mantou and dishes for them in the kitchen. Lin Wan felt bored at home, so after breakfast, she followed Han Yi to his friend’s place. This matter had been dragging for more than a month. By now, if it were to be done, it should almost be ready. Sure enough, when Han Yi found that friend, everything had been taken care of, and the household registration showed the address of their current house. Mom was the head of the household. At noon, Han Yi took his friend to their shop to have hot pot. This update ıs available on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢•𝓷𝓮𝓽 When you are outside, having more friends means more connections. Lin Wan had Mom prepare beef, lamb, tripe, and other good things, focusing on serving them. Liang Hongmei was very pleased to hear the household registration was sorted. She was overly enthusiastic toward Han Yi’s friend. "No need for more work, Auntie, this is enough," said Han Yi’s friend. He was in the same class as Han Yi back in Huai Town. When Han Yi approached him, seeing that he was from the neighboring county, he felt particularly connected, having spent two years there himself. After he retired, he was assigned to the same city. Han Yi, that kid, was ambitious, climbing up bit by bit. People say he has the skills, unafraid of death, having stayed on the front line for who knows how long. It must be said, Han Yi is quite capable. "It’s only right, since you and Han Yi are friends. Friends of Han Yi are friends of ours. In the future, come to our shop for meals, Auntie will give you a twenty percent discount." Liang Hongmei was now also adept in business, managing things tactfully. Take Han Yi’s great-aunt, for instance. She occasionally brings people to the shop for a meal. She used to claim familial relations and not pay, and Liang Hongmei, without fail, had to argue a bit every time to get paid. Now that Liang Hongmei wised up, whenever Zhang Huilan visits, Liang Hongmei once explained clearly she only charges the cost price, after all, they are relatives. She’s got to save some face for her son-in-law. "Thank you, Aunt Liang," "No need to thank me, Aunt Liang is still waiting for you to introduce new clients," Han Yi’s friend joked, saying that Shuxiang Pavilion at the gate of the municipal government was comparable to the state-run restaurants. Everyone knew this in the better half of the city. They all laughed heartily, and Liang Hongmei responded, then went out to greet more patrons. Han Yi’s friend was named Zheng Youmin. He was good friends with Wei Jian Country. Back when they were with the Huai Town Military District, Han Yi and he were fellow countrymen. No matter how distant the place, fellow countrymen meeting each other brings tears to their eyes. Wei Jian Country and Zheng Youmin were also middle school classmates, even meeting Wei Jian Country before Han Yi did. "Is your wife due soon? Scheduled for when?" Lin Wan noticed that Zheng Youmin and Wei Jian Country both had loud voices. They were typical northern men. Han Yi’s voice was cold, but not loud. Lin Wan was curious, liking quietness herself, how Han Yi became good friends with two loud men. "Scheduled for June," Han Yi replied with a smile. "Don’t forget to invite us for a drink at the celebration," "Sure, sure. Can’t leave out Brother Zheng and Brother Wei," Lin Wan mentioned Brother Wei, and Zheng Youmin immediately thought of that rascal Wei Jian Country, and exclaimed, "Did your wife meet Jianguo?" "My wife rented a storefront in his territory to sell clothes," Han Yi didn’t hide this from Zheng Youmin, nor did he feel that his wife doing business was disgraceful. Of course, he knew that Zheng Youmin and Wei Jian Country weren’t such people. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so close to the two of them. "Really?" Zheng Youmin glanced at Lin Wan’s round belly, then glared at Han Yi, chiding, "Your wife is pregnant, and you let her stay outside alone in the dead of winter? If you’re short on money, tell the brothers, we’ll lend some to you." Wei Jian Country’s civilian housing, he knew of it, had been there too. It was all small rooms made of bricks, with a big door opening exposed outside. They can’t help but freeze people. "Brother Zheng, you misunderstand Han Yi. My shop doesn’t open in winter. Even when it opens, it’s only for a short while before closing. I can’t sit idle at home. I come and go frequently, it’s good for me too," Lin Wan didn’t want others saying her husband wasn’t right, so without waiting for him to speak, she quickly defended her husband. "Oh, that’s how it is." He figured it out; Han Yi had skills, how could he possibly let his wife suffer that? Zheng Youmin had to go to work in the afternoon. After lunch, he left. Knowing he couldn’t help much at the shop, Han Yi took Lin Wan to visit his cousin’s house to see Grandma. Why was Grandma staying at his cousin’s house? That leads back to cousin-in-law Tan Aixiang. Ever since Grandma went to stay with Aunt, she taught cousin-in-law the craft of polishing bricks. Tan Aixiang was also clever. Once their child got a bit older, she hired the elderly couple next door to help look after them, paying them five yuan a month. Tan Aixiang could have gone to work, but felt the kids were still young and needed watching, so she took two years of unpaid leave. Fortunately, the elderly couple’s two grandsons were already attending preschool, and they had a leisurely daily routine of picking up and dropping off. Tan Aixiang saw this and let the elderly couple look after the child. She herself ran around trading at the supply and marketing cooperative or occasionally set up stalls. After she mentioned the packaging idea to her cousin-in-law, by the end of the year, she had found a printing factory and printed some packaging. She even got Uncle Hu to help register a business license, not forgetting to get a trademark. Speaking of which, their distillery had a trademark, but the hotpot shop didn’t. She didn’t feel their hotpot shop was that famous anyway, and people wouldn’t mind having the same name. Cousin-in-law brought Grandma back because there were two recipes she couldn’t get right, needing Grandma’s guidance. Meanwhile, she thought she might convince Grandma not to live with Aunt any more, but come back to help watch the kids. She didn’t trust leaving them with the elderly couple. Having Grandma around wasn’t about her actually looking after the kids, but just keeping an eye on them. After all, having someone else take care of them isn’t the same as doing it yourself. With Grandma there, she could ensure the kids weren’t being mistreated. She initially wanted Aunt Jin to help out, but Aunt Jin and her family had their own business. During the day, Aunt Jin was home making desserts and was quite busy. Occasionally, when she was free, she would help out a bit. Grandma felt more comfortable living in the old house, which relieved both Han Yi and Lin Wan. When they visited Aunt Jin, they couldn’t avoid Aunt Jin preparing desserts, especially the mung bean cake, which Lin Wan loved. Before they left, Grandma had Lin Wan take the small quilt and urine pads she prepared for the baby. Aunt Jin had prepared several sets of small clothes and hats for the baby. They didn’t bring many snacks when they went, but returned with a large bundle. Lin Wan didn’t understand why Grandma’s urine pads were so thick, with cotton even stuffed inside. "It’s cold here; a single diaper can soak right through the quilt. Not only is it hard to dry in winter, but the bed can also smell foul. These urine pads are meant to go under the baby’s buttocks, so even if the diaper gets wet, it won’t soak the bed." "Oh, is that so? We only use diapers down south, none of these things." The differences between the North and South are really significant. "We haven’t prepared any diapers yet. We must get ready when we go back."