Back to 1984: Earning Money, Raising Kids, and Keeping the Household Busy

Chapter 105 Picking up the child

Lin Qin dared not presume to do anything, and even though she felt that this would be very tiring for Chen Wenjun and Lin Yi, she could only agree for the time being.

When the couple arrived at the city's experimental primary school, they found that some people had secretly set up stalls near the school gate, selling snacks and toys that children liked. They looked quite novel, with items priced at two cents, five cents, and the most expensive not exceeding ten cents.

The children at the Municipal Experimental Primary School are mostly from families where both parents work, so they can really afford it.

Lin Qin looked at them leisurely, feeling a little tempted, and impulsively bought a dollar's worth of snacks and toys.

Chen Wenjun not only didn't stop them, but instead helped them continue picking.

After buying snacks and toys, the couple discovered that there were also pastries for sale in the box, so they bought another bag.

When the two walked out of the alley, their bicycles were already covered with things.

Lin Yi, who happened to be walking over to pick up his child, spotted them.

Without a second thought, Lin Yi rushed forward to stop them, asking, "What's wrong with you? What did the doctor say?"

Chen Wenjun glanced at the passersby, suppressing his excitement, and said, "Dad, the doctor said that Aqin is pregnant. She's not sick, she's just overworked. She needs to rest more and not overexert herself. I was just about to go back and discuss the rest with you!"

Lin Yi was overjoyed. "This is great news! Oh my, I feel much more at ease now. I'll take the children back on foot later, you can ride your bicycles first."

Chen Wenjun readily agreed, "That works too. I'll take Aqin home first, and then I'll come back to find you on my tricycle later."

Lin Yi waved his hand, "We can walk. Aren't you rushing to Nangang to pick up the goods? We can't keep Weimin waiting."

Chen Wenjun had no choice but to agree.

When the couple returned to Nanyu, Huang Yuezhen learned about Lin Qin's pregnancy and was happy for her. When she learned that Lin Qin would need Huang Yuezhen's help to pick up and drop off the baby, Huang Yuezhen readily agreed without hesitation.

Lin Yi and his two children arrived home about half an hour after Chen Wenjun left.

The two children immediately ran to Lin Qin upon seeing her, chattering excitedly with questions.

"Mommy, Grandpa said you're having a little brother or sister in your tummy, is that true?" Ya Ya was very excited and looking forward to it.

Peace is also starry-eyed.

It seems that the two children do not reject the baby in her belly.

Lin Qin nodded happily and took out the snacks, toys and desserts she had just bought, including bubble gum, popping candy, hawthorn candy, sour plum powder, rice crackers, Maltesers and other small toys such as windmills and curling sticks.

Upon seeing these items, the two children instantly forgot about their younger siblings, first dividing up the snacks, then the toys.

Lin Qin asked leisurely, "Do many students at your school buy these things?"

Both children nodded in unison.

Ping An had a piece of bubble gum in his mouth and spoke unclearly, "The older students often buy it, but we first graders hardly have any money, so we have to ask our parents to buy it for us."

Grandpa bought us this bubble gum twice; it's so delicious!

Lin Yi chuckled, "They're happy to eat it occasionally, but I don't buy it often!"

Lin Qin didn't say anything.

Lin Yi immediately changed the subject, saying, "I'll steam a fish for you tonight! People say it's good for pregnant women to eat more fish! Wenjun will come back later and we'll see if he has any good seafood to cook tomorrow. It's a pity the weather is so hot now, things don't keep well. It would be great if we had a refrigerator at home."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qin also had an idea. "Dad, when Wenjun comes back, let him ask Boss Zheng for directions. Boss Zheng has many connections; he might know where they sell them."

Lin Yi took this matter to heart.

Chen Wenjun was busy until 11 or 12 o'clock that night before he came back, and Lin Qin didn't have a chance to tell him about it.

Early the next morning, Chen Wenjun took Lin Yi to Nangang.

On the way, Lin Yi mentioned buying a refrigerator. Chen Wenjun nodded, "Dad, I would have bought one even if you hadn't mentioned it. Let's go check out the newly opened department store in a couple of days."

Lin Yi frowned. "I heard that things at department stores aren't cheap."

Chen Wenjun laughed, "Dad, how expensive can it be? Qin needs to eat well after she gets pregnant. It's more convenient to have a refrigerator to store all sorts of things, and we can also freeze popsicles. It's not easy to buy popsicles in Nanyu."

These words really struck a chord with Lin Yi.

He used to live in Shanglin Village, where every summer there would be vendors selling popsicles from styrofoam insulated boxes. One popsicle cost five cents and was incredibly thirst-quenching. Although he was frugal, he would still eat one or two every summer. He didn't eat any last year and really missed it.

So Lin Yi clapped his hands and gritted his teeth, saying, "Buy!"

Before the two reached Nangang, and before dawn, a five-masted boat sped toward them, its lights still on.

Chen Wenjun recognized it at a glance as his five-awning boat, and his eyes widened instantly.

Gao Lei, who was standing on the deck, recognized Chen Wenjun's iron boat and quickly ordered his men to slow down.

The two ships gradually drew closer.

Gao Lei was overjoyed when he saw Chen Wenjun clearly. "Brother Wenjun! Where are you going at this hour? And you've brought your uncle with you!"

Chen Wenjun was straightforward and replied loudly, "We're going to Nangang to buy seafood. The fishing boats arrive at the dock at five o'clock. If we're late, we won't make it."

Gao Lei nodded knowingly, "When are you free? I'll come over and make you some tea!"

"It's from around 2 to 3 pm! I still have to go out and work around 3 pm." Chen Wenjun thought about it carefully and realized that he only had this little bit of free time.

Gao Lei felt exhausted just listening to him. "Okay! I'll go this afternoon!"

The two exchanged a few words and then parted ways.

Lin Yi asked, "Why is he on Nanxi at this time?"

Chen Wenjun seemed thoughtful, but did not answer. Instead, he shook his head and said, "I don't know. Maybe they just came back from sea. Dad, we need to hurry."

Lin Yi indeed stopped dwelling on Gao Lei's matter.

The two were busy all morning and didn't get home until almost 11 o'clock.

Chen Wenjun had to rush to pick up his two children.

When the two children came home from school, Lin Qin had already prepared lunch.

A pot of fragrant taro and minced meat savory rice, a plate of small yellow croaker in soy sauce, and a big pot of crucian carp and tofu soup made the two children jump for joy.

Ya Ya exaggeratedly said, "Mom's cooking is so delicious, I can eat two big bowls of it."

Ping An: "I'll eat three big bowls!"

Lin Yi laughed, "What's wrong? Grandpa's cooking isn't good?"

Ya Ya nodded seriously, "Grandpa's cooking isn't as delicious as Mom's."

Lin Yi glanced at the food on the table and nodded, "That's right, your mom's oil is enough for me to use for five days, how could it not smell delicious!"

Lin Qin chuckled and shook her head, "Dad! This is nothing! You planted a bunch of peanuts, and you'll make some peanut oil later. Plus, there are the pigs we raise. We're not short of money. Why are you being so stingy?"

Lin Yi stared at him anxiously, "You make it sound so easy! We've only just started living a good life this year, who knows how long it will last? How can we spend money so freely? You're used to a good life, could you handle living such a frugal life again?"

Lin Qin didn't want to argue, she just kept nodding and continuing to do things her way.

(End of this chapter)