Chapter 27: A New Friend
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By the time Su Wan and Lin Yan finished setting the dishes upon the dining table that Lin Chen and Lin Rui carried outside Lin Jing and mother Lin joined them as well. Lin Yu who was wiping the uneven dining table legs that croaked like a bull frog looked up at his eldest brother then turned his head at Su Wan before lowering his head once again.
Just like others Su Wan too saw Lin Jing coming to the dining area but she didn't say anything instead she just raised a brow and helped mother Lin settle down on a stool .
" will it be fine ?" trying to ease the awkwardness Lin Rui asked Lin Yu pointing at the table legs that were shaking underneath the weight of the dishes
" no " shaking his head Lin Yu stood up with the help of Lin Chen before limping to the side " I..it can't be u..used f...for even a ye..ye..year , the woo..wood was lon..long eate..eaten by the term..termites . At m..most we can us..use it f..for this win..win..winter "
Lin Chen was the one who found this so called dining table of their family in the junk left by the old Ling family in the broken down shed . Currently they didn't have much money and could only make do with junk like this , in the old Lin family they had a dining table in the old residence of the Lin family but when they separated Grandma Lin sobbed like they were looting her family's treasure when they asked for their dining table . Thus , in the end they had no other choice but to leave it there most probably their uncle's family might be using it now .
" its fine " said Lin Yan waving a hand as he sat down on the stool next to mother Lin " we just need to use it until for a little while . Once we have enough money we will buy a new one "
" I'm afraid it won't last long " said Su Wan tapping on the wooden surface of the table " Lin Yu is right we can use it until this winter is over but that's on the premise that nothing goes wrong . I don't think we should take it lightly , if the table broke while we were eating then won't we have to purchase a new set of crockery ?"
Lin Yan pursed his lips , he rubbed his hand on the uneven surface lightly and felt the table tremble under its impact " I think you are right why don't one of us go to the mountain and bring some lumber to build a dining table from the scratch? "
" I will go " said Lin Jing after a short pause . Among the five brothers he was the only one who could identify which tree wood was good enough to make furniture and the one with the best wood were found at the very back of the forest on the mountain . Only he alone could navigate in that thick forest not to mention , he furtively glanced at Su Wan who was frowning at the shaking table and swallowed he too wanted to coax his wife and receive compliments from him . Since , he cannot coax her with words , he might as well coax her with his actions .
" will you be alright ?" asked Su Wan looking up at Lin Jing , though she knew that he was used to hunting in the mountain. She was still a bit worried about him , after all he was her eldest husband.
" En " said Lin Jing simply his face as stoic as ever in face of her worry but what she didn't know was that Lin Jing 's insides were dancing conga .
" I see -" a sudden knock at their entrance door interrupted Su Wan because of what happened this morning , Lin Chen closed their entrance door . Usually the villagers never closed their front door in the morning but then again the villagers don't have relatives like the old Lin family .
" Who might be at the door ? " asked mother Lin staring at the entrance door , this morning incident left such a big scare on her heart that she was even afraid to open the front door .
" It won't be the old Lin family right ?" said Lin Rui frowning
" no " lips pressed in thin line , Lin Yan refuted at once " The old Lin family just left, I don't they will rush back to trouble us again so soon ? " though he said that he sounded a bit hesistant .
" There is no point in siting here and discussing " said Su Wan as she strode towards the door , she wasn't someone who procrastinated dealing with their trouble . If the Old Lin family was here to trouble them , then she might as well deal with them again .
The Lin brothers exchanged a look with each other and rushed after Su Wan who opened the front door .
" Hello what do you want ?" seeing that it wasn't the old Lin family , Su Wan hurriedly changed her fierce expression to a cordial one .
" hello , good day Mrs . Lin ." greeted their guest , the other girl was a bit chubby and round but her face was kind and when she smiled at her , Su Wan thought that the girl looked cute like a little doll " My name is Fang Xiaolin , you can call me madam Fang or Mrs Fang , the house next to yours belongs to me and my husbands . Since , we are neighbours I thought that I should introduce myself " then with a little embarrassment on her face she asked " did I come at a wrong time ? Umm , I'm sorry .. I just returned from my natal home and heard from Eldest Fang that we have new neighbours - did I disturb you ?"
" no , no " waving a hand Su Wan hurriedly invited Madam Fang inside their house " you didn't disturb us " Su Wan though a bit distracted at first caught the words 'husbands 'in Fang Xiaolin 's introduction . It seemed that just like her Fang Xiaolin was a shared wife as well if that's the case wouldn't she be the only woman in the village who will willingly become friends with her ?
" Oh its you Madam Fang " Lin Rui greeted Fang Xiaolin when he saw her coming " you are back ?"
" Ah yes , I'm " answered Fang Xiaolin sounding a bit uncomfortable then as if she wanted to change the topic , she hurriedly shoved the basket filled with chicken eggs in Su Wan 's hands " My family don't earn much but our chickens laid quiet some eggs this week , so I brought you some ..Please don't refuse or I will think you don't want to befriend me "
" Aiya so much eggs " gasped mother Lin who just arrived with Lin Yan " you shouldn't have brought so much , Ah fang " she said to Fang Xiaolin kindly
" its fine auntie.. I already said that our chicken laid quiet a few eggs this week so its not a big problem " Fang Xiaolin shook her head and assured mother Lin who's smile turned even more kinder " then I should be leaving -"
" Hey wait , We cannot just accept your sincerity and not repay " said Su Wan who shoved the egg filled basket at Lin Chen who hurriedly caught it and rushed inside and returning with a big bowl that was filled with Sainsbury fish balls/ steak ( whatever you want to call it )
" There is no need " Fang Xiaolin hurriedly refused but just as she shoved the egg basket in Su Wan 's hands , Su Wan shoved the bowl in her hands " of course there is sincerity should be repaid by sincerity "
It was Fang Xiaolin 's first time when she was treated so kindly by someone . In her natal house she was treated as a slave , her family not only sold her as a shared wife but they didn't even cut off their relationship with her , every now and then they will call her and ask for money . For example this week , her brothers ended up gambling all the living expenses that she had somehow managed save and sent it back to her natal family but her mother didn't scold them instead she scolded her saying that it was her who was useless and couldn't send more money to her brothers so that they can enjoy their life. Fang Xiaolin who was already fed up because of being isolated by the village women for so many years finally blew up and determinedly cut off her relationship with her natal family . Her husbands were kind to her but they were too old fashioned , apart from eating and sleeping they hardly spent time with her , that was why Fang Xiaolin rushed to befriend Su Wan who was a shared wife just like her . In reality Fang Xiaolin came here with some hidden motives but when she saw Su Wan 's sincerity she was so moved that tears came to her eyes " I understand thank you very much " Fang Xiaolin didn't want Su Wan to see her tears thus she hurriedly bid goodbye to the the Lin family and left.
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By the time Su Wan and Lin Yan finished setting the dishes upon the dining table that Lin Chen and Lin Rui carried outside Lin Jing and mother Lin joined them as well. Lin Yu who was wiping the uneven dining table legs that croaked like a bull frog looked up at his eldest brother then turned his head at Su Wan before lowering his head once again.
Just like others Su Wan too saw Lin Jing coming to the dining area but she didn't say anything instead she just raised a brow and helped mother Lin settle down on a stool .
" will it be fine ?" trying to ease the awkwardness Lin Rui asked Lin Yu pointing at the table legs that were shaking underneath the weight of the dishes
" no " shaking his head Lin Yu stood up with the help of Lin Chen before limping to the side " I..it can't be u..used f...for even a ye..ye..year , the woo..wood was lon..long eate..eaten by the term..termites . At m..most we can us..use it f..for this win..win..winter "
Lin Chen was the one who found this so called dining table of their family in the junk left by the old Ling family in the broken down shed . Currently they didn't have much money and could only make do with junk like this , in the old Lin family they had a dining table in the old residence of the Lin family but when they separated Grandma Lin sobbed like they were looting her family's treasure when they asked for their dining table . Thus , in the end they had no other choice but to leave it there most probably their uncle's family might be using it now .
" its fine " said Lin Yan waving a hand as he sat down on the stool next to mother Lin " we just need to use it until for a little while . Once we have enough money we will buy a new one "
" I'm afraid it won't last long " said Su Wan tapping on the wooden surface of the table " Lin Yu is right we can use it until this winter is over but that's on the premise that nothing goes wrong . I don't think we should take it lightly , if the table broke while we were eating then won't we have to purchase a new set of crockery ?"
Lin Yan pursed his lips , he rubbed his hand on the uneven surface lightly and felt the table tremble under its impact " I think you are right why don't one of us go to the mountain and bring some lumber to build a dining table from the scratch? "
" I will go " said Lin Jing after a short pause . Among the five brothers he was the only one who could identify which tree wood was good enough to make furniture and the one with the best wood were found at the very back of the forest on the mountain . Only he alone could navigate in that thick forest not to mention , he furtively glanced at Su Wan who was frowning at the shaking table and swallowed he too wanted to coax his wife and receive compliments from him . Since , he cannot coax her with words , he might as well coax her with his actions .
" will you be alright ?" asked Su Wan looking up at Lin Jing , though she knew that he was used to hunting in the mountain. She was still a bit worried about him , after all he was her eldest husband.
" En " said Lin Jing simply his face as stoic as ever in face of her worry but what she didn't know was that Lin Jing 's insides were dancing conga .
" I see -" a sudden knock at their entrance door interrupted Su Wan because of what happened this morning , Lin Chen closed their entrance door . Usually the villagers never closed their front door in the morning but then again the villagers don't have relatives like the old Lin family .
" Who might be at the door ? " asked mother Lin staring at the entrance door , this morning incident left such a big scare on her heart that she was even afraid to open the front door .
" It won't be the old Lin family right ?" said Lin Rui frowning
" no " lips pressed in thin line , Lin Yan refuted at once " The old Lin family just left, I don't they will rush back to trouble us again so soon ? " though he said that he sounded a bit hesistant .
" There is no point in siting here and discussing " said Su Wan as she strode towards the door , she wasn't someone who procrastinated dealing with their trouble . If the Old Lin family was here to trouble them , then she might as well deal with them again .
The Lin brothers exchanged a look with each other and rushed after Su Wan who opened the front door .
" Hello what do you want ?" seeing that it wasn't the old Lin family , Su Wan hurriedly changed her fierce expression to a cordial one .
" hello , good day Mrs . Lin ." greeted their guest , the other girl was a bit chubby and round but her face was kind and when she smiled at her , Su Wan thought that the girl looked cute like a little doll " My name is Fang Xiaolin , you can call me madam Fang or Mrs Fang , the house next to yours belongs to me and my husbands . Since , we are neighbours I thought that I should introduce myself " then with a little embarrassment on her face she asked " did I come at a wrong time ? Umm , I'm sorry .. I just returned from my natal home and heard from Eldest Fang that we have new neighbours - did I disturb you ?"
" no , no " waving a hand Su Wan hurriedly invited Madam Fang inside their house " you didn't disturb us " Su Wan though a bit distracted at first caught the words 'husbands 'in Fang Xiaolin 's introduction . It seemed that just like her Fang Xiaolin was a shared wife as well if that's the case wouldn't she be the only woman in the village who will willingly become friends with her ?
" Oh its you Madam Fang " Lin Rui greeted Fang Xiaolin when he saw her coming " you are back ?"
" Ah yes , I'm " answered Fang Xiaolin sounding a bit uncomfortable then as if she wanted to change the topic , she hurriedly shoved the basket filled with chicken eggs in Su Wan 's hands " My family don't earn much but our chickens laid quiet some eggs this week , so I brought you some ..Please don't refuse or I will think you don't want to befriend me "
" Aiya so much eggs " gasped mother Lin who just arrived with Lin Yan " you shouldn't have brought so much , Ah fang " she said to Fang Xiaolin kindly
" its fine auntie.. I already said that our chicken laid quiet a few eggs this week so its not a big problem " Fang Xiaolin shook her head and assured mother Lin who's smile turned even more kinder " then I should be leaving -"
" Hey wait , We cannot just accept your sincerity and not repay " said Su Wan who shoved the egg filled basket at Lin Chen who hurriedly caught it and rushed inside and returning with a big bowl that was filled with Sainsbury fish balls/ steak ( whatever you want to call it )
" There is no need " Fang Xiaolin hurriedly refused but just as she shoved the egg basket in Su Wan 's hands , Su Wan shoved the bowl in her hands " of course there is sincerity should be repaid by sincerity "
It was Fang Xiaolin 's first time when she was treated so kindly by someone . In her natal house she was treated as a slave , her family not only sold her as a shared wife but they didn't even cut off their relationship with her , every now and then they will call her and ask for money . For example this week , her brothers ended up gambling all the living expenses that she had somehow managed save and sent it back to her natal family but her mother didn't scold them instead she scolded her saying that it was her who was useless and couldn't send more money to her brothers so that they can enjoy their life. Fang Xiaolin who was already fed up because of being isolated by the village women for so many years finally blew up and determinedly cut off her relationship with her natal family . Her husbands were kind to her but they were too old fashioned , apart from eating and sleeping they hardly spent time with her , that was why Fang Xiaolin rushed to befriend Su Wan who was a shared wife just like her . In reality Fang Xiaolin came here with some hidden motives but when she saw Su Wan 's sincerity she was so moved that tears came to her eyes " I understand thank you very much " Fang Xiaolin didn't want Su Wan to see her tears thus she hurriedly bid goodbye to the the Lin family and left.
By the time Su Wan and Lin Yan finished setting the dishes upon the dining table that Lin Chen andLinRuicarried outside LinJingandmother Lin joined them as well. Lin Yu who was wiping the uneven dining table legs that croaked like a bull frog looked up at his eldest brother then turned his head at Su Wan before lowering his head once again.Just like others Su Wantoo saw Lin Jingcoming to the diningarea but she didn'tsay anything insteadshe just raised a brow andhelped mother Lin settle down on a stool ." will it be fine ?"tryingto ease the awkwardness Lin Ruiasked Lin Yu pointing at the tablelegs that were shaking underneath the weight of the dishes" no " shaking his head Lin Yu stood up with the help of Lin Chen before limpingto theside" I..it can'tbe u..used f...for evena ye..ye..year , the woo..woodwas lon..long eate..eaten by the term..termites. At m..most we canus..use it f..for this win..win..winter "Lin Chen was the one who found thisso called diningtableof their family in the junk left by the old Ling family in the broken downshed .Currentlythey didn'thave much money andcould only make do with junk like this , in the old Lin familythey hada dining tablein the old residence of the Lin familybut when they separated Grandma Linsobbed like they were looting her family's treasurewhen they asked for their dining table . Thus , in the end they hadno other choice butto leave it there most probablytheir uncle'sfamilymight be using it now ." its fine " said Lin Yanwaving a hand as he sat downon the stool next to mother Lin" we just need to use it until for a little while . Once we haveenough money we will buya new one "" I'mafraid it won'tlast long " said Su Wan tappingon the wooden surface of the table" Lin Yu is rightwe can use it until this winter is over but that's on the premisethat nothing goes wrong .I don'tthink we should take it lightly, if the tablebroke while we were eating then won'twe have to purchase a new set of crockery?"Lin Yan pursed his lips , he rubbed his hand on the uneven surface lightly and felt the table tremble under its impact " I think you are right why don'tone of us go to the mountain and bring some lumber to builda dining tablefrom the scratch? "" Iwillgo " said Lin Jingafter a short pause . Amongthe five brothershe was the only onewho could identify which tree wood was good enoughto makefurniture and the one with the best wood were found at the verybackof theforeston the mountain.Only he alone could navigate in that thick forest not to mention , he furtivelyglancedat Su Wanwho was frowningat the shakingtableand swallowedhe too wanted to coax his wife and receivecompliments from him .Since , he cannotcoax her with words , he might as well coax her with his actions ." will you be alright ?" asked Su Wanlooking up at Lin Jing , thoughshe knew that he was used to hunting in the mountain.She was still a bit worried about him , after all he was her eldest husband." En " said Lin Jing simply his face as stoic as ever in faceof her worry but what shedidn'tknow was that Lin Jing 's insides weredancing conga ." I see -" a sudden knock at their entrance door interruptedSu Wanbecause of what happened this morning, Lin Chenclosed their entrancedoor . Usuallythe villagers never closed theirfront door in the morning but thenagain the villagers don'thaverelativeslike the old Lin family." Who might be at the door ? " asked mother Lin staringat the entrancedoor , this morning incident left such a big scareon her heartthat she was even afraidto open the front door ." It won'tbe the old Lin familyright ?" said Lin Rui frowning" no " lips pressed in thin line , Lin Yan refuted at once" The old Lin familyjust left, I don'tthey will rush back to troubleus again so soon ? " though he said that he sounded a bithesistant ." There is no point in siting here and discussing " said Su Wanas she strode towardsthe door , she wasn'tsomeone who procrastinateddealing with their trouble. If the Old Lin familywas here to trouble them , then she might as well deal with them again .The Lin brothersexchanged a look with eachother and rushed after Su Wanwho opened the front door ." Hello what do you want ?"seeing that it wasn'tthe old Lin family, Su Wanhurriedly changed her fierce expression to a cordial one ." hello , good day Mrs . Lin ." greeted their guest , the other girlwas a bit chubby and round but her face was kind and when she smiledat her , Su Wanthoughtthat the girl looked cute like a littledoll " My name is Fang Xiaolin, you can call me madam Fangor Mrs Fang, the house next to yours belongs to me and my husbands.Since , we are neighbours I thoughtthat I should introducemyself " then with a little embarrassment on her face she asked " did I come at a wrong time ? Umm , I'msorry .. I just returned from my natal home and heard from Eldest Fang that we have new neighbours- did I disturb you ?"" no , no " waving a hand Su Wanhurriedly invited Madam Fang inside their house " you didn'tdisturbus " Su Wanthougha bit distracted at first caught the words'husbands'in Fang Xiaolin 's introduction.It seemed that just like her Fang Xiaolinwas a shared wife as well if that'sthe casewouldn'tshe be the only woman in the village who will willingly becomefriendswith her ?" Oh its you MadamFang" Lin Ruigreeted Fang Xiaolinwhen he saw her coming " you are back?"" Ah yes, I'm" answeredFang Xiaolin soundinga bit uncomfortablethen as if she wanted to change the topic , she hurriedlyshoved the basket filled with chicken eggs in Su Wan 's hands " My family don'tearn much but our chickenslaid quiet some eggs this week , so I brought yousome ..Please don'trefuseor I will thinkyou don'twant to befriend me "" Aiya so much eggs " gaspedmother Lin who just arrivedwithLin Yan" youshouldn'thave brought so much , Ah fang" she said to Fang Xiaolinkindly" itsfine auntie..I alreadysaid that our chicken laid quieta few eggsthis weekso its not a big problem " Fang Xiaolinshook her head and assured mother Lin who's smile turnedeven more kinder" then I should be leaving -"" Hey wait , We cannot just accept yoursincerityand not repay " said Su Wanwho shoved the egg filled basket at Lin Chen who hurriedly caught it and rushedinside and returningwith a big bowl that was filled withSainsbury fish balls/ steak whatever youwant to call it " There is no need " Fang Xiaolin hurriedly refusedbut just as she shoved the egg basket in Su Wan 's hands , Su Wanshoved the bowl in her hands " of coursethere is sincerityshould berepaidby sincerity "It was Fang Xiaolin 's first time when she wastreated so kindly by someone. In her natal houseshe was treated as a slave, her family not only sold her as a sharedwife but theydidn'teven cut off their relationshipwith her , every now and thenthey willcall her and ask for money .For example this week , her brothers endedup gambling all the living expensesthatshe had somehow managed saveandsent it back to her natal familybut her mother didn'tscold them instead she scolded hersaying that it was her who was useless and couldn'tsend more money to her brothersso that they can enjoy their life. Fang Xiaolinwho was alreadyfed up because ofbeing isolated by the villagewomen for so many years finally blew up and determinedlycut off her relationshipwith her natal family. Her husbandswere kind to her but they were too oldfashioned , apart from eating and sleeping they hardly spent time with her , that was why Fang Xiaolinrushedto befriendSu Wanwho was a shared wife just like her . In reality Fang Xiaolincame here with some hiddenmotives but when she saw Su Wan 's sincerity she was so moved that tears came to her eyes " I understandthank you very much "Fang Xiaolindidn'twantSu Wanto see her tears thusshe hurriedly bidgoodbyeto the the Lin familyandleft.