Lin Zhilan always wrote in her letters that her godparents didn’t need to send her things, but Chen Jin and Zheng Hui still stubbornly sent a big bag of cured meat every year before Chinese New Year.
When Miao Yue heard that she was pregnant, she specially made two baby outfits and mailed them over, also reminding her to send more photos so she could reminisce.
Lin Zhilan smiled after reading the letter and decided to fulfill that little wish.
The rest of the package was from Zhou Chen.
Lin Zhilan sighed.
There was a little soft silk dress—she hadn’t even seen anything like it in Yangcheng, and she had no idea where Zhou Chen got it.
There was also a corduroy pinafore dress, thick and soft, about the right size—Linlin could wear it for the New Year.
Besides that, there were chocolate and candies that kids loved.
A rough calculation told Lin Zhilan that Zhou Chen had probably spent most of his salary on these things.
But Zhou Chen wasn’t doing as badly as Lin Zhilan thought.
He worked at the police station, and since he wasn’t planning to go home for the New Year, he figured he might as well take the shifts.
Although Zhou Chen was a transferred leader, he didn’t put on airs and was very capable, so he quickly got along with his colleagues.
During the New Year, a few of them sat around the office, roasting by the fire, cracking sunflower seeds and chatting.
“Station Chief Zhou, are you married?”
Zhou Chen, who was writing a report, stopped his pen. “I am.”
“Then why aren’t you going home for the New Year? Isn’t your wife upset?”
Zhou Chen shook his head. “She’s gone.”
The group fell silent and quickly changed the subject.
Since it was New Year’s, talk naturally turned to family matters.
Those with kids mostly talked about their children’s mischief.
Zhou Chen pulled out a photo of Linlin from his notebook, a faint smile touching the corners of his mouth.
He wondered if the dress he bought for his daughter would fit.
It did fit.
On New Year’s Eve, Lin Zhilan dressed her daughter in that corduroy pinafore dress.
The dress was red, so Lin Zhilan paired it with a white sweater underneath.
The soft white sweater hugged her little body, and the red corduroy dress made her small face look even fairer and more adorable.
Jiang Chengzhou took her to the playground in front of the housing compound to set off firecrackers, and many people noticed the pinafore dress on Linlin.
Even the biggest department stores in Yangcheng didn’t have anything like it, so folks assumed Lin Zhilan’s in-laws had sent it from the capital, leading to more than a little envy.
Since Li Jiang and Battalion Chief Han couldn’t come home for the New Year this year, Lin Zhilan discussed it with Su Lang, and after speaking with Sister Chunhua and Battalion Chief Ma, they decided the four families would have New Year’s Eve dinner together.
Han Mei got home on New Year’s Eve. As soon as she arrived, she greeted her mother and then headed across to find Lin Zhilan.
Lin Zhilan was simmering the soup base for the hotpot dinner that evening.
Her eyes lit up when she saw her.
“Auntie Lin…”
Han Mei stood by the door, hesitating.
“Come in,” Lin Zhilan beckoned to her.
Han Mei’s lips curved upward as she walked over.
Lin Zhilan took a good look at her. “You’ve grown taller.”
She had, and her whole demeanor seemed different too—there was a newfound openness about her.
But Lin Zhilan didn’t say that aloud, feeling it might sound awkward.
Han Mei laughed, “I grew 4 centimeters. At school, every meal has one meat dish and one vegetable dish—better than at home.”
Lin Zhilan was happy to see her thriving and asked about school.
Han Mei had never even been to the county town much back in her hometown.
Later, when she came to the island, she thought that was the best place ever.
But now, at a city sports school, she finally got a taste of city life.
Lin Zhilan listened as she talked about her roommates inviting her to a movie, but she didn’t dare go.
“Do you want to go?” Lin Zhilan asked.
Han Mei nodded honestly. “I do, but movie tickets cost money. My teacher said I can compete in the city’s youth sports championship next year. If I win an award, I’ll reward myself by going to a movie.”
Han Mei got a few yuan in subsidies each month, so technically she could afford a ticket.
But she’d grown up in a frugal environment, and even with money, she was reluctant to spend it.
Lin Zhilan didn’t press her and instead thought she had ambition.
As for being unwilling to spend?
Lin Zhilan figured it was because she didn’t have enough money yet.
Once she achieved something and had more money, she’d naturally dare to spend.
Nearby, the broth for the New Year’s Eve hotpot was boiling away.
It was made from chicken bones and pork leg bones, cooked down until the marrow and meat released a rich, savory aroma.
As Han Mei talked, she unconsciously swallowed, glancing shyly at Lin Zhilan.
Lin Zhilan looked around quickly, scooped up a fish ball from the basin, and handed it to her. “Quick, eat it before the others find out.”
Those kids of Jiang Chengzhou’s—they loved these fish balls to death.
Since mincing fish meat was a lot of work, she didn’t make them often.
If the kids found out now, there might not be any left for the New Year’s Eve dinner.
These fish balls had passed the test with everyone—delicious, no question.
As soon as Han Mei bit into one, she felt its tenderness.
When she chewed it open, rich broth spilled out inside her mouth.
Good thing the fish balls had cooled off for a while, so they weren’t too hot.
“Good?”
“Mm-hmm,” Han Mei nodded hard.
“Then have another.” Lin Zhilan gave her one more and helped herself to one too.
Su Lang, washing vegetables nearby, hesitated, then closed her mouth.
It was New Year’s Eve, after all—she wouldn’t hold her back. Eat as much as she wanted.
The New Year’s Eve dinner was set up in the courtyard—one table for the adults, one for the kids.
Each family brought out their specialty.
The others at least included one vegetable dish, but just to avoid seeming stingy, Wang Xiuzhi brought three big bowls of meat dishes: braised pork, braised pork hock, and stir-fried chicken.
She was usually extremely frugal, so this rare display of generosity—being hard on herself but generous to others—left everyone both sighing and at a loss.
But it was New Year’s Eve, so nobody brought up unpleasant matters.
The kids were holding their chopsticks, waiting for the adults to give the go-ahead.
The adults waited for Lin Zhilan.
So she said a few words of blessing, then gave the command, “Let’s eat!”
Everyone’s chopsticks shot toward the dishes like arrows.
The kids’ table was especially lively.
“Slow down! Leave some for me!”
“I want this!”
“Oh, this is so good!”
“Give it to me!”
Lin Zhilan hadn’t just prepared fish balls—she’d also made crab sticks, shrimp paste, duck intestines, and blood pudding.
For vegetables, there were cabbage, fried tofu, seaweed, and more.
Since the hotpot was in aluminum pots, and they worried the kids might burn themselves, they didn’t put it on the children’s table.
But of course, the kids were most eager for the hotpot.
When the spicy, numbing, and aromatic scent wafted over from the adults’ table, the kids lost all interest in their own dishes, their eyes fixed on the other table.
Su Lang had to get up and become the children’s food server.
Liu Chunhua quickly kicked Battalion Chief Ma. “Stop eating—look at Commander Su!”
