CHAPTER 140: CHAPTER 140: ONLY TWO-THIRDS

Lin Yun hurriedly said, "No need, mom. I’ve been eating well at the hospital these days, no need for special nourishment."

Mrs. Lin glanced at him, "We’ve been tired these days; we also need to nourish ourselves well."

Despite saying that, after Lin Xiang finished stewing the meat, Mrs. Lin still voluntarily picked the two biggest and fattiest pieces for Lin Yun’s bowl.

In times when food was scarce, fatty meat was considered a top-notch item, and Lin Yun was understandably very touched.

"Mom, Missy, I’m fine now. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the market with you."

"No need." Without a second thought, Mrs. Lin rejected, "Your Fifth Uncle and Chunya will be coming with us, you don’t need to worry."

"But I..."

"Just rest well. It takes a hundred days to heal from muscle or bone injuries, even if you look fine now, doing physical work can make you revert back. Before you leave, just rest well at home for this period. Once you get to the army and start training, where will you find time to rest?"

Lin Yun’s hand holding the chopsticks stiffened; he began falteringly, "Mom, I..."

"Missy already told me. Joining the army is good. If you want to go, then go. But let’s be clear; Missy needs money for school, and once you leave, I can’t earn many work points alone. We’ll need money both inside and outside the house. Every month, you must send at least two-thirds of your allowance back home."

"Only two-thirds?"

It’s not everything?

Mrs. Lin gave him a sidelong glance, "If you send it all back, letting your commander and comrades know, they might think I’m an exploitative foster mother! I’ll tell you beforehand; once you get to the army, you aren’t to sully my reputation or speak ill of me!"

Lin Yun smiled wide, grinning like a fool, "Though you didn’t give birth to me, you’ve nurtured me for over ten years. You’re the best mother in the world; how could I speak ill of you?"

Mrs. Lin felt like Lin Yun was teasing her.

However, Lin Yun’s expression was so earnest that she began to doubt whether he was actually serious.

"Eat, eat. Finish eating and rest early. I’m really tired."

After eating, Lin Xiang decided to tidy up the dishes but was stopped by Lin Yun.

"Although I can’t do heavy labor, washing dishes is fine. You sit and rest for a while, I’ll heat up some water. Later, you and mom can freshen up."

Lin Yun seemed eager to show off, cleaning every nook and cranny of the house.

After Lin Xiang and Mrs. Lin finished washing up, he even wanted to wash their clothes, which Lin Xiang quickly grabbed from him.

"We can wash our own clothes. Brother, if you’re free, you should rest for a while."

Watching Lin Yun work like a wind-up robot without stopping, Lin Xiang felt tired just looking at him.

Such a peaceful life continued for another week; Lin Yun’s various formalities had been processed, and he was set to travel to Beijing with the senior officer.

On the day of departure, Lin Yun donned a crisp army green uniform.

But since it wasn’t an official enlistment, there was no red flower. Mrs. Lin asked the crafty Fifth Aunt to make a small red silk flower, which she pinned on Lin Yun’s collar.

"The army is different from home, lots of rules, everything must follow the leader’s orders."

"Don’t slack off during training, but truly, if there’s a mission, avoid going if possible, as life is what’s important."

"Remember to call us once you arrive. If calling is inconvenient, at least send a letter home."

"Don’t forget to send your allowance back once you receive it!"

Lin Xiang, always playing the sidekick, couldn’t help but tease, wasn’t the last line what she truly meant?

But the sorrow of farewell still spread through Mrs. Lin’s gaze as she spoke.

Mrs. Lin’s words were not much different from what any parent says during separation.

At that moment, Lin Yun truly felt motherly love.

"Mom, after I leave, you and Missy must take care of yourselves. As soon as I receive my allowance each month, I’ll send it back home. You and Missy should definitely not skimp on money; eat well, and take good care of yourselves."

"Missy, study well. If you need more money, just tell me. I’ll be waiting for you in Beijing."

Lin Xiang waved her hand, "The car’s been waiting for a while, hurry and go."

Lin Yun, looking back with every step, got into the senior officer’s car.

Once Lin Yun left, Mrs. Lin randomly used the back of her hand to wipe away the dampness in her eyes, "Missy, wasn’t my acting just now pretty convincing? Your brother definitely believes in my affection for him and won’t end up badmouthing me everywhere."

Lin Xiang gave Mrs. Lin a sideways glance but held herself back from exposing her.

Clearly worried about Lin Yun, yet determined to act tough.

She hooked her arm around Mrs. Lin’s, "From now on, it’ll be just us two relying on each other."

"But I still have to set up a stall, every penny we should earn shouldn’t be missed!"

The stall remained as usual.

With the promotion of five-for-one-free, the spicy noodle business flourished more than ever, selling about a hundred and twenty bowls a day.

The daily earnings were around seven and a half, after deducting various costs and paying wages to Fifth Uncle and Chunya, Lin Xiang’s profit was at least five a day.

Mrs. Lin only took dividends for the first few days, but after Lin Xiang gave her a bonus from the cotton spinning factory, and having been coaxed by Aunt Lin to spend five yuan, Mrs. Lin no longer accepted money from Lin Xiang.

Yet all household expenses were still Lin Xiang’s responsibility.

People in the village knew Lin Xiang left home every day before dawn, but whenever asked about her activities, she’d always laugh it off, dodging the topic.

Until the day of Li Hua Team’s market, when villagers saw the Lin Family mother and daughter selling sweet potato noodles, they finally realized what they’d been up to.

That very afternoon, before Lin Xiang and Mrs. Lin could unload their items from the cart upon returning, a crowd swarmed into their house.

"Missy, you’re really smart, coming up with the idea to sell spicy noodles from sweet potato noodles. You’ve made quite some money recently, haven’t you?"

"I spent money on a bowl today too; sweet potato noodles every household knows how to make, yet you managed to sell it for eight cents a bowl, such high profit!"

They didn’t understand the five-for-one-free promotion; they knew they’d paid eight cents for a bowl of noodles.

Lin Xiang had long anticipated this day, but couldn’t just abandon a profitable business because of the villagers’ opinions, especially since it was unavoidable.

"Auntie, look at what you’re saying. Every household can make sweet potato noodles, but how much powder do you get from several pounds of sweet potatoes? Even if sweet potatoes aren’t tasty, they’re real grains!"

"And selling spicy noodles isn’t about the sweet potato noodles but the base sauce I stir-fry myself; it uses several spices, and I even add minced pork. The cost of one bucket of sauce isn’t cheap, and I spent money on aluminum buckets, which are quite costly for two!"

"Moreover, going to the market requires a protection fee, which is a must with one yuan each time, there’s no way around it."