Chapter 15: The Eccentric Neighbor

After coaxing Nuannuan to sleep, An Yan stepped outside and saw the older man smoking in the yard.

“Smoke less! Don’t you know how old you are?” she snapped.

Lin You was momentarily stunned. How old was he, really? Just a bit over thirty. Now he finally understood why Zhu Yan could never match her; she seemed meek as a lamb most days, but when she spoke, she could infuriate anyone.

Still, he stubbed out his cigarette. “Only one a day. I don’t smoke much.”

With that, he took a box from his pocket and handed it to An Yan.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“I bought it for you. I was going to give it to you in a few days, but what you said just now made me see things differently.”

An Yan eyed his mysterious expression and didn’t ask further. She took the box, opened it, and found a Shanghai-branded wristwatch inside. “Why did you buy me this?”

“It’s the latest model. Of the four big upgrades, this is the one you’ll find useful right now, so I bought it for you first.”

Lin You took the watch from the box. His hand hovered in the air for a moment, hesitating before finally taking her hand—both seemed to feel a sudden jolt.

He rolled up her sleeve, revealing a wrist as white as jade, so fair it made him lose himself for a moment.

“There’s a clock at home, isn’t there? Why waste money on a watch? How much did you spend?”

“Not expensive. One hundred eighty yuan. Shanghai brand. The saleswoman said it’s the most fashionable watch right now.”

“That’s not expensive? Comrade Lin, you must have your head in the clouds!” An Yan exclaimed.

One hundred eighty yuan—considering Lin You’s salary, it would take him months to save that much, even if he didn’t spend a single penny.

“Can you return it? I don’t need this.”

Lin You, hearing her words, accidentally tore off the tag, his face serious. “It can’t be returned now.”

An Yan’s lips twitched. Couldn’t this old man have cut off the tag beforehand? He had to wait until she asked, acting as if she was invisible...

“Lin You.”

“Hm?”

An Yan looked at him with a plaintive expression. “Can we stop spending so much? I don’t want to be in debt before I’ve even married you.”

Lin You replied, “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”

Late at night, when everyone was sound asleep, Lin You’s door was knocked on. An Yan heard someone outside calling, “Captain, there’s a mission!”

She listened to the commotion in the next room and got up to open the door.

“What’s going on, Lin You?”

“Looks like an urgent mission. I might have to head into the mountains. Usually these missions last several days. I’ll have to trouble you with the house.”

Lin You spoke while dressing, then ran out the door.

“Be careful,” An Yan called after him.

Watching his departing figure, she felt an emptiness in her heart. She softly said in the direction he left, “Come back soon.”

She stood at the gate for a long time.

In the distance, the headquarters was ablaze with light.

She looked up at the twinkling stars in the sky, sighed heavily, steadied her mood, and went back inside.

Lin You’s departure left no word. On the third day, after the two children went to school, Wang Guilan came to knock on the door. “Xiao An, we’re heading to the town at the foot of the mountain today. Pack up, let’s go together.”

An Yan thought of all she needed to buy and suddenly realized her little bag wasn’t enough. She grabbed a large burlap sack and stuffed it in her bag, picked up Lin Nuannuan, and headed out.

Er Dan saw Lin Nuannuan was going and clamored to go too.

“Er Dan, Nuannuan is coming because there’s no one to look after her at home. You stay and keep your mother company.”

Er Dan’s mother had never been in good health, they said it was an illness left over from childbirth, so Wang Guilan managed everything in the house.

Er Dan reluctantly agreed, but only smiled when An Yan promised to bring him some candied hawthorn.

Wang Guilan laughed and scolded, “Xiao An, you and Captain Lin make quite a pair—spending money so freely. You shouldn’t spoil the kids so much.”

“I’ll remember, Aunt Wang.”

As they stepped out of the compound, someone called out behind them, “Aunt Wang, Captain Lin’s wife, are you heading to town?”

An Yan turned and saw a woman coming over, holding a child in one arm, leading another, and carrying a baby on her back. She looked familiar.

Thinking back, An Yan remembered—the woman by the river who wanted to see Lin You embarrassed, and claimed Zhu Yan was Lin You’s real wife.

An Yan hesitated to respond, but Wang Guilan grabbed her hand and hurried forward.

“Xiao An, don’t bother with her. That’s Liu Xiuying—the most notorious penny-pincher in the compound.”

Wang Guilan quickened her pace.

“Aunt Wang, why are you walking so fast?”

Liu Xiuying caught up with them, blocking their path. “Captain Lin’s wife, my husband is the instructor of the first battalion. He’s very close with Captain Lin.”

Since Liu Xiuying was blocking her way, An Yan felt she had to respond. “Hello, sister-in-law. Just call me Xiao An.”

“Then I won’t be formal. Xiao An, our husbands are in the same battalion. We should visit each other more often.”

By her logic, they really could interact more—one’s a captain, the other an instructor; frankly, sometimes the captain has to listen to the instructor.

“Sure, we will.”

“Are you heading to town?”

“Yes, we’re just about to go.” An Yan nodded helplessly.

“Perfect. Look, I’m taking care of three kids. I wanted to go to town this month, but my husband went out on a mission with Captain Lin, and there’s no one to watch the children. Xiao An, could you bring me back two pounds of white sugar?”

White sugar? That was a rarity these days—not just a matter of money, it required ration tickets. An Yan had a few tickets Lin You gave her, and she needed sugar herself. If she got some for Liu Xiuying, what would she do for her own?

While An Yan hesitated, Liu Xiuying turned and walked off.

An Yan arched her brow. She didn’t mind bringing things for others, but at least give her the tickets—everyone had children, after all.

“Sister-in-law Xiuying, wait a moment,” An Yan called, handing Nuannuan to Wang Guilan and jogging after her.

“What is it, Xiao An?”

“To buy sugar you need tickets. You haven’t given me yours yet.”

Liu Xiuying hadn’t expected An Yan to chase after her. She’d used this trick on many newcomers, and none had ever asked for the tickets afterward.

Two tickets wasn’t much, but people didn’t want to offend her—they were all neighbors, and the newcomers were always eager to make friends.

“Tickets? Oh, my memory! Seeing you two, I rushed out and forgot them at home. I’ll give them to you when you return.”

“They’re at home?”

An Yan thought for a moment. “Aunt Wang, the bus doesn’t leave for another half hour, right?”

Wang Guilan nodded in reply.

“We’ve got half an hour, sister-in-law Xiuying. I’ll go back with you to get them.”

Liu Xiuying was speechless.