Chapter 84: Lin Xin, What Are You Doing?
As soon as Lin Xin returned home, she keenly noticed that someone had been in the house during the two days she was away.
She had Nan Nan watch the little imperial grandson for a bit while she walked around their house. She found traces of digging next to the foundation in the corner of the house and immediately knew who had done it.
It seemed He Luan’er was quite persistent about the treasures buried in their home, but Lin Xin didn’t know if she would try to dig again now that she hadn’t found anything this time.
Imagining how angry she must be after digging for so long and getting nothing, Lin Xin felt great thinking of her twisted face in fury.
“Sis, what are you looking for?” After playing with the child for a while, Lin Nan saw Lin Xin staring at the ground in the corner of the house and grinning foolishly, so he asked.
“I’m not looking for anything! I was just checking if anyone came in and stole things while we were away these past two days.” Lin Xin had no plan to tell Lin Nan about this now. First, he was too young and his character wasn’t set yet; suddenly knowing they had a large sum of money might not be good for his growth. Second, she was afraid he might accidentally let it slip, and then their home would never have peace.
“Oh,” Lin Nan didn’t doubt his sister’s words at all and asked, “Did they?”
“At least not outside. Sis will check the kitchen, and make dinner while I’m at it. Nan Nan, what do you want to eat?”
Lin Nan thought for a moment but instead of saying what he wanted, he asked, “What about younger brother?”
“He…” Lin Xin was stumped. An eight months old baby should be able to eat complementary foods. She vaguely remembered that a neighbor’s baby before the apocalypse started eating steamed egg custard at six months, so she said, “He’s still little, so I can only steam some steamed egg custard for him.”
“Younger brother is so pitiful. Then I’ll eat steamed egg custard with him too.” Lin Nan said loyally.
“Okay, then Sis will steam three bowls of steamed egg custard, one for each of us. How’s that?”
“Good!”
Steaming egg custard was quick and easy. Lin Xin also took a piece of cured meat from the space, diced it finely, and added it to hers and Lin Nan’s. For the little imperial grandson’s bowl, she chopped two shrimp into it.
Not knowing if those people would come for dinner, Lin Xin made several more big meat dishes. Anyway, anything left could go into the space without spoiling, and they could eat it tomorrow.
Sure enough, milk alone no longer satisfied the little imperial grandson’s appetite. Smelling the aroma wafting from the kitchen, he called out “ah ah” forcefully while drooling. Lin Nan wiped it for him many times but couldn’t keep it clean.
Finally eating the delicacy he had been craving, His Highness the imperial grandson was so happy he waved his arms and legs, and surprisingly stood up holding the edge of the basket. Though it was only for less than three seconds, it still made Lin Xin exclaim that ancient people were just fierce! Even their babies were so amazing, standing at eight months.
In the evening, before Gao Yong and the others returned to town, they greeted her and said their house would be finished in three more days. They told Lin Xin to prepare in advance, and once that was done, they would come straight over to continue here.
Lin Xin nodded in agreement. When she tried to keep them for dinner, they refused. With a little imperial grandson to care for now, they really felt bad continuing to mooch meals, especially since they knew how big their appetites were.
“Nan Nan, we’re going to build a house. What kind of house do you want?” That night, as they lay on the kang preparing to sleep, Lin Xin asked Lin Nan.
The little imperial grandson didn’t fuss at all in the new environment and was already sleeping like a little pig. Afraid he would wet the bed at night, Lin Xin specially rummaged in the space for a while and found some diapers to put on him.
“Mm~” Lin Nan furrowed his little brow and thought before saying, “One that doesn’t leak rain is fine.”
“Hehe, your idea is really simple, and your conditions aren’t high.” Lin Xin was amused by him.
After the siblings discussed for a bit, Lin Nan soon fell asleep too. Lin Xin tucked them both in with the quilt, closed her eyes, and listened to their steady breathing alternating in her ears. Listening, she suddenly smiled.
The next morning, Lin Xin got up early, took off the little imperial grandson’s diaper and threw it into the space where it would be automatically decomposed—saving the trouble of throwing it out where it might be found. She wiped his hands and face, then put him in the basket to lie or sit and play by himself.
While making breakfast, she spotted He Luan’er sneaking around peeking outside their courtyard wall. Lin Xin curved her lips, pretended not to notice, and waited by the door with a bucket of dirty water. When He Luan’er’s footsteps reached the door, she yanked open the courtyard gate and splashed the water out.
He Luan’er, who had just been about to listen inside, got drenched from head to toe. In mid-October weather, getting doused with a bucket of cold water first thing in the morning felt so shocking that she let out a shrill scream. The pitch was so high Lin Xin wondered if she had dolphin blood.
“Lin Xin! What are you doing?” Soaked and stinking, shivering from the cold, He Luan’er pointed at Lin Xin and demanded loudly.
“Oh dear, I’m so sorry. I didn’t expect you to be hanging around my door so early! You didn’t knock or anything, how was I supposed to know someone was outside? I was busy making breakfast and just tossed out the dirty water.” Lin Xin held the bucket, exaggerating her tone.
“You! You did that on purpose.” He Luan’er shouted.
“You can eat whatever, but you can’t talk nonsense! I have no grudge against you, why would I splash you with dirty water for no reason!”
“You! You’re quibbling! You’re unreasonable!” He Luan’er strung together a few idioms, but she was freezing and couldn’t take it. She stomped her foot and ran home, leaving behind the classic line: “Just you wait!”
“With such little combat power, she still dares to come spy.” Lin Xin closed the courtyard gate and started making breakfast in a great mood.
With a new member at home, Lin Nan woke earlier than usual. Opening his eyes and not seeing his sister, he saw the basket placed next to him instead, and heard baby babble coming from inside. He wasn’t in a hurry to find his sister anymore and crawled to the basket edge to peer in.
The little imperial grandson had been entertaining himself for a while and was getting a bit bored when he saw half a face appear above, with two big shiny eyes looking down.
“Ah ah~ Ee ya~” The little imperial grandson gnawed on his chubby little hand and “talked” to Lin Nan.
But Lin Nan, whose baby language level was insufficient, didn’t understand. Remembering his sister saying eating hands was unhygienic, he quickly pulled the chubby hand from his mouth and wiped off the saliva.
“Ah ah~ Ee ya~ Gugu~” With his mouth empty, the little imperial grandson wasn’t pleased. He grumbled discontentedly while struggling hard to get his hand back into his mouth.
Just then, Lin Xin had set the breakfast and called Lin Nan to get up. Entering the room, she saw this scene.
“Sis, come quick. Younger brother keeps wanting to eat his hand. Didn’t you say it’s unhygienic? I won’t let him, and he seems unhappy.” Lin Nan quickly complained when he saw Lin Xin.
“Got it. You go wash up and prepare for breakfast. I’ll take care of him.”
“Right away.” Lin Nan jumped down, slipped on his shoes, and went out to get ready.
Thanks to caroletu, Mmy Dang, Zhao Jun, Sleeping In Early Morning, and Freedom Like Wind for the votes; thanks to caroletu for the tip; thanks to Freedom Like Wind for the monthly ticket. Thank you all for your support, thanks!
