Fan Biyun felt a stir in her heart.
This little girl was far too good-looking.
Fan Biyun's gaze circled around Lin Lin.
The red sweater the little girl wore had fine, tight stitches, and one could tell at a glance that the yarn was pure wool.
Such yarn would sell for twenty yuan a catty at the supply and marketing cooperative, and it required ration coupons.
A young female colleague at Fan Biyun's factory was getting married soon, and her partner had bought her one. The other colleagues had been envious for a long time.
Fan Biyun had gone to the cooperative several times last month to look at it, but she simply couldn't bear to spend the money.
The one Lin Lin was wearing was brand new from top to bottom, with a ring of little white flowers crocheted around the collar and cuffs. It was incredibly exquisite.
Not to mention the corduroy pants she wore on the bottom, she even had a pair of small leather shoes on her feet.
The inner lining was lamb's wool, something the cooperative didn't even sell.
Fan Biyun had seen them at the Friendship Store. Even small children's sizes cost twenty to thirty yuan a pair, which was equivalent to more than half to a full month's salary for an ordinary worker.
Never mind the money, they could only be purchased with foreign exchange certificates.
Fan Biyun could tell at a glance that this little girl had an unusual background.
Her parents-in-law were veteran cadres; perhaps this was a girl from some family in the government compound who had come over to play.
The smile on Fan Biyun's face deepened as she sat down on the sofa opposite them.
"Mom, this girl is so pretty. What is her name?"
"Lin Lin." Lin Lin shrank back into her grandmother's arms, but still answered politely.
Fan Biyun smiled. "A good name, it sounds lovely. Mom, Dad, which leader's granddaughter is this?"
Xu Yueyun, who was teasing Linlin, couldn't help but let out a cold snort.
Su Bingcheng said with a dark face, "This is Xiao Lang's daughter, our granddaughter!"
Fan Biyun's eyes flickered, and she slapped her forehead. "Look at me, I just couldn't recall it for a moment."
"This little girl is quite lucky, following her mother to marry into our younger brother's family. What she wears and uses is even better than our Mingming and Leilei."
Xu Yueyun was about to speak when a clear and beautiful female voice came from the doorway.
"Is Eldest Sister-in-law envious of our Linlin's good luck?"
Everyone's gaze was drawn over.
Linlin broke free from her grandmother's hand and ran over. "Mommy~"
They had just bumped into Xiao Lang's childhood friend outside and chatted for a bit, which delayed them. Lin Zhilan had just walked in holding Jiang Chengzhou's hand and happened to hear Fan Biyun's words.
Lin Zhilan picked up her daughter who had run over and smiled at Fan Biyun. "Our Linlin is indeed lucky. Who told her parents to be so capable? If Eldest Sister-in-law wants Mingming and Leilei to dress and wear things as well as our Linlin, then you and Eldest Brother will just have to work harder."
Who didn't know how to be sarcastic and passive-aggressive?
After everything that had happened before, Lin Zhilan had long given up expecting to be good sisters-in-law with her.
She was even less willing to let her daughter suffer any grievances, even if the child was still too young to understand.
Fan Biyun choked on her words, not expecting Xiao Lang's second-hand wife from the countryside to have such a high tone.
She was the eldest sister-in-law, after all.
"Zhilan!" Xu Yueyun blinked as she looked at the woman holding the child, bundled up tightly.
"Mom, Dad."
Lin Zhilan put her daughter down, took off her hat and scarf, and greeted her parents-in-law in the living room with a bright smile.
Xu Yueyun had seen her photo but didn't expect her, just like Linlin, to be even prettier in person.
She had an oval face, fair and delicate skin, thick eyebrows, large eyes with long lashes, a straight and elegant nose, and lips that were naturally red without makeup.
Her black hair was simply tied into a bun. A few loose strands at her temples had been dampened by the snow, clinging to her cheeks and making her face look even more clear and radiant.
Lin Zhilan possessed a rich, striking beauty that became even more captivating the longer one looked.
Xu Yueyun paused for a moment, the smile on her face expanding. "Ah, quickly bring the children to warm up by the brazier. Don't catch a cold."
"Okay."
Lin Zhilan agreed with a smile.
It was a bit warm in the house, so she took off her coat and hung it on the coat rack.
Just then, Su Lang came in carrying luggage in one hand and hoisting Jiang Chengzhou on his shoulder with the other.
"Brother!" Linlin tilted her head up and reached out to her brother.
Su Lang put Jiang Chengzhou down and called out to the living room, "Mom, Dad, I'm back!"
Xu Yueyun responded, but her eyes were fixed tightly on her eldest grandson, her eye rims turning red.
When Su Lang had taken Jiang Chengzhou away, Xu Yueyun was in poor health and Su Bingcheng still had to work.
They had wanted to raise their eldest grandson by their side, but unfortunately, their health and energy simply didn't allow it, and Jiang Chengzhou hadn't wanted to stay with them either.
The elderly couple felt that they owed their eldest daughter the most in this lifetime.
As Jiang Chengzhou was their eldest daughter's only flesh and blood, the elderly couple hadn't told anyone, but they had long decided that after they passed away, if the state didn't take back this small Western-style house, they would leave it to Jiang Chengzhou.
Fan Biyun sat on the sofa, feeling suffocated in her heart.
She had always thought before that the woman Su Lang married was just a remarried woman from the countryside. How good could she be?
She probably couldn't even wash off the dirt-poor country smell.
Now this person was standing right in front of her, beautiful and well-dressed, looking even more fashionable than a movie star.
Her words were also sharp and unyielding; she would likely be hard to deal with.
Lin Zhilan took off Jiang Chengzhou's scarf, hat, and coat, and said softly, "Chengzhou, go say hello to your grandma, grandpa, and eldest aunt."
Jiang Chengzhou held his sister's hand, showing neither joy nor nervousness.
He just calmly looked at the three people in the living room. "Hello Grandma, Grandpa, and Eldest Aunt."
Xu Yueyun fought back her tears and forced a smile. "Good, good, good. Come quickly and warm up."
"Brother," Linlin pulled his hand toward the radiator. "It's not cold here, it's so warm."
Jiang Chengzhou let her pull him and obediently walked over to the radiator.
The siblings put their heads together, whispering about something.
Seeing this scene, Xu Yueyun's expression softened.
"Zhilan, come sit down." She patted the sofa beside her.
Lin Zhilan agreed and sat down naturally and gracefully.
Su Lang followed his wife and smiled. "Mom, why aren't you greeting me?"
Xu Yueyun glared at him in annoyance. "Go to the side."
She looked at Lin Zhilan. "It must have been a hard journey. Are you thirsty? Hungry? Xiao Yu, quickly bring them a cup of hot tea. Let them drink some hot water to warm their bodies first."
Auntie Yu came out holding the hot tea and couldn't help praising, "Xiao Lang refused to get married before, saying he wanted to marry a fairy. Comrade Xu was worried to death. I didn't expect him to actually marry a fairy. Oh my, this is really true. Xiao Lang is so blessed to marry such a beautiful wife."
Lin Zhilan took the tea and said generously, "Thank you, Auntie Yu."
Her voice was also nice, clear and crisp, without any artificiality.
Su Lang sat down, acting as if he had just noticed Fan Biyun. "Eldest Sister-in-law came over today too? What were you talking about just now?"
Fan Biyun laughed dryly. "Nothing, just making a few remarks. The shoes on Linlin's feet, the lining is lamb's wool, right?"
Lin Zhilan placed her tea on the coffee table and gave a slight nod. "It is lamb's wool. Eldest Sister-in-law has a good eye."
Fan Biyun wanted to put on airs in front of Lin Zhilan, but also wanted to act pitiful to win her parents-in-law's sympathy.
