B5SB -Chapter 326 The Freezer

The Next Day

Perhaps because it was winter, Gu Yihan didn’t feel like getting out of bed even after waking up. She just wanted to stay wrapped in her quilt.

She listened to Haohao and Lu Huailin chattering away about his “brotherhood” with Zhao Hu.

She found it very puzzling.

Why was he always so energetic? Even when he was bundled up in padded clothes and freezing so badly that he bared his teeth, he still loved running outside the moment he woke up.

Lu Huailin walked into the bedroom and saw that his wife was awake. Knowing that she was on her period these past few days and didn’t feel like moving, he patted her affectionately.

Smiling, he said, “Wife, sleep a little longer. I’ll take Haohao to the canteen for breakfast.”

Gu Yihan hummed in response, then pointed at the drawer of the dressing table. “There’s money and ration coupons in the box. Don’t forget to take them.”

“Got it.”

Lu Huailin took the money and coupons, called Haohao, and went downstairs.

An Hour Later, Gu Yihan stretched lazily and shivered as she put on her padded jacket. Before she even had time to get out of bed, she heard loud knocking at the door.

Bang, bang, bang.

She quickly put on her cotton shoes, went downstairs, and opened the door.

Standing outside was a tall, thin man in his thirties wearing a blue work uniform. A trace of confusion flashed in her eyes.

“May I ask who you are?”

The man wore a gentle smile and explained, “Hello, I’m a delivery worker from the Materials Bureau. Is this the home of little Lu Chenhao?”

Her confusion deepened. “Why are you looking for my son?”

Before she could ask how they got in or what they wanted with Haohao, the man suddenly turned toward the alley and shouted loudly: “Monkey, you can drive the tractor in now!”

Gu Yihan froze for a moment. Then she stepped forward and saw a tractor rumbling up to her gate.

The driver jumped down neatly, climbed onto the trailer, and together with the tall man, lifted a large freezer.

They walked straight past her toward the courtyard.

Gu Yihan was stunned. She hurried forward and blocked them.

“Wait, wait! You’ve got the wrong place. We didn’t buy this thing!”

The tall man smiled and asked, “Are you Comrade Gu Yihan? Is your husband Comrade Lu Huailin, and is your child named Lu Chenhao?”

She nodded subconsciously.

“Then it’s the right place. The elderly gentleman who bought it said it’s a gift for his little grandson.”

After speaking, he and the driver called Monkey continued carrying the freezer and asked while walking, “Comrade, where should we put it?”

Coming back to her senses, Gu Yihan hurried into the living room and pointed to the right side of the sofa.

“Put it here.”

The tall man nodded, adjusted the position, and even pulled out a wire to connect the freezer to the power supply.

After confirming that everything was fine, he clapped his hands, took out the receipt, and asked Gu Yihan to sign.

…

Outside the Courtyard

Watching the tractor drive away, Gu Yihan sighed.

There was no need to ask—this freezer must have been bought by Father Lu.

Hearing the noise of the tractor, the neighbors came out one after another and looked at her curiously.

“Xiaohan, what did your family buy?”

“A freezer.”

When Bai Yun heard this, curiosity flashed in her eyes. Why buy a freezer in winter when it wasn’t even used in summer?

Wu Meili, standing beside her, felt a surge of envy.

Gu Yihan’s life seemed so comfortable.

She could buy whatever she wanted.

Eat whatever she wanted.

She didn’t care about gossip at all.

Unlike herself.

After marrying into the Gao family, she hadn’t seen a single cent of Gao Yunlin’s salary. She had to wash clothes, cook, and serve her in-laws, while enduring endless criticism from their relatives.

Auntie Zhang didn’t think that much.

She was already halfway into the grave and had never seen a freezer before.

Curiously, she asked, “Is it very big?”

Gu Yihan didn’t know how to answer. After thinking for a moment, she smiled.

“Aunt Bai, Aunt Zhang, would you like to come in and sit for a while?”

Auntie Zhang didn’t stand on ceremony. She directly pulled Bai Yun, who had been silent, and walked inside.

Gu Yihan glanced at Wu Meili’s unhappy face. Since they didn’t get along, she naturally didn’t invite her.

Auntie Zhang looked at the huge machine—about 1.5 meters long, 1 meter wide, and nearly 1 meter tall—and exclaimed,

“It can store a lot of things, right?”

“It must be very expensive.”

Bai Yun added, “Probably around 3,000 yuan.”

Hearing this, Auntie Zhang instantly pulled her hand back, afraid she might break it and be unable to afford the compensation.

Although Zhao Xu’s salary wasn’t low, he liked helping injured retired soldiers.

As a result, their family couldn’t even take out 500 yuan, let alone 3,000.

Seeing her reaction, Gu Yihan couldn’t help laughing.

“Auntie, it’s very sturdy. It won’t break easily.”

Auntie Zhang liked her even more when she saw that Gu Yihan wasn’t mocking her.

Bai Yun thought more deeply. What she really wanted to know was how Gu Yihan got the purchase quota.

Buying a freezer required not only a quota but also nearly a hundred industrial coupons.

“Xiaohan, was the quota approved by the army for Division Commander Lu?”

Gu Yihan’s expression changed instantly. She replied calmly, “This freezer was bought by the child’s grandfather.”

Seeing her tone cool down, Bai Yun knew she had misunderstood.

She quickly explained with a smile, “I’ve wanted to buy a domestic freezer for a long time, but I can’t get a quota. I was thinking that if Division Commander Lu could apply for one, I’d ask Old Gao to apply too.”

Gu Yihan smiled faintly, pressed her lips together, and said nothing.

She didn’t know Bai Yun well and didn’t want to judge her true intentions.

In the Afternoon, Haohao rushed home like a whirlwind and casually threw his schoolbag onto the sofa.

He ran upstairs and shouted loudly, “Mom! Has Grandpa’s gift arrived yet?”

Gu Yihan walked out of the bedroom and looked at him with a half-smile.

“Impressive. You can even predict the future now?”

Haohao giggled.

“Grandpa called the school. Of course I know!”

Then he hugged her leg and acted cute.

“Dear, beautiful Mommy, just tell me!”

She pinched his cheek and teased him on purpose.

“At such a young age, your eyesight is already bad? Didn’t you see there’s an extra cabinet on the right side of the sofa?”

Haohao jumped up excitedly and ran downstairs.

Gu Yihan shook her head and followed him.

She saw him take several bottles of soda from his bag and skillfully put them into the freezer.

“In the middle of winter, you want to drink iced soda?”

He shook his head.

“No, I’m making shaved ice.”

He ran hot. Every time he went to Father Lu’s place with Lu Huailin, he would ask for popsicles.

After eating them, he felt especially comfortable—especially in winter. It felt even better than eating ice pops in summer.

“Mom, do you want some?”

“I don’t.”

She was on her period. Even if she wanted to, she couldn’t eat it.