Chapter 9

After Fangfang decided to retake the college entrance exam, Lin Yilan was never seen again in the courtyard. However, Lin Yilan became even busier with two major tasks: partially renovating her grandparents’ home and preparing for her own university enrollment.

Once she had assembled all the handrail components, she quickly began preparing for installation. But before starting, Lin Yilan needed to double-check the height of the handrails.

According to ergonomic principles for the elderly, the optimal position for support is at the height of the hip bone.

Lin Yilan pulled out a measuring tape and stood beside her grandmother, who was leaning against the wall.

“Xiaolan, didn’t you measure this before? Why measure again?” Grandma Lin sighed.

Lin Yilan took a pencil and gently marked her grandmother’s height and hip bone position on the wall. “Grandma, just one last check for peace of mind.”

Her grandmother glanced toward the ramp at the doorway threshold. “Alright, alright, I know you’re worried about Grandpa and me. Don’t worry, we’re both healthy now.”

Lin Yilan tucked the pencil behind her ear and put away the tape. “I know you and Grandpa are in good health, but we want to minimize the chance of accidents as much as possible.”

“And soon you’ll be helping my eldest brother take care of the kids. Kids love running around—how could I not worry?”

Grandma Lin understood her granddaughter’s concern. It wasn’t a major change anyway; as long as it made Lin Yilan feel reassured, that was enough. “I know you care about us. Don’t worry, we’ll be fine while you’re at school.”

“How will the handrails be installed? Should Grandpa help?”

Seeing her granddaughter about to say more, Grandma Lin quickly changed the subject.

Lin Yilan swallowed her words and said softly, “I haven’t measured Grandpa yet.”

Grandma Lin hurried away from Lin Yilan. “Old Lin, come here—it’s your turn. Stop reading the newspaper for now.”

Watching her grandmother’s quick footsteps, Lin Yilan smiled and shook her head; her grandmother was truly a playful spirit. She picked up her notebook from the floor and wrote down the two measurements she had just taken.

Just then, Grandpa Lin obediently stood against the wall.

“Grandpa’s here. Stand still, I’m going to measure your height,” Lin Yilan said with satisfaction.

Unlike Grandma Lin, Grandpa Lin didn’t say much and simply stood as instructed.

However... he wasn’t as easygoing as he appeared.

Lin Yilan pressed lightly on his shoulder, half amused, half exasperated. “Grandpa, when measuring height, you don’t need to tiptoe. Just stand as comfortably as you normally do.”

Grandpa Lin, a bit dissatisfied, lowered his heels. “The last time I measured, I was three centimeters taller than what you’re getting now.”

“Back then, your grandmother agreed to marry me because, among all the suitors, I was the tallest.”

Recalling this, Grandpa Lin’s eyes twinkled mischievously as he whispered, “Xiaolan, if Grandma asks how tall I am, just say 178 centimeters, okay? Don’t say what you measured now.”

Then, pulling out a handful of White Rabbit candies from his pocket, he handed them to Lin Yilan.

Seeing the sweets, Lin Yilan frowned. “Grandpa! Didn’t the doctor tell you to eat less sugar? Why did you sneak off and buy candy again?”

“I’m going to make Grandma take away all the candy you’re hiding.”

After saying this, she took all the candies from Grandpa’s hand.

Grandpa Lin immediately wore a sour expression. “Comrade Xiaolan, how could you betray your comrade so quickly?”

“You told me to quit smoking before, and I did. Now you won’t even let me eat candy!”

Growing more aggrieved, Grandpa Lin was clearly about to get angry.

He snorted and turned his head, refusing to look at Lin Yilan.

Lin Yilan, holding the candy, coaxed him gently, “Grandpa, I’m just thinking about my eldest brother’s two kids coming over soon. As an exemplary veteran, shouldn’t you set a good example for the younger generation?”

“When my niece and nephew see you eating more candy than them, how will you maintain your authority?”

“And if you get a toothache later, Grandma won’t sleep well. If Grandma suffers, you’ll be upset too.”

Grandpa Lin found her words reasonable, but the thought of giving up candy deflated him.

“Alright, I get it. I’ll let Grandma keep the candy I bought.”

“You really are a strict housekeeper,” he muttered quietly.

Lin Yilan heard it clearly and wrinkled her nose, deliberately snorting.

Following the same steps as before with Grandma Lin, she marked Grandpa’s height and hip position on the wall and wrote down the measurements.

Then, donning a mask and wielding an electric drill, Lin Yilan began installing the handrails.

The continuous buzzing of the drill soon drove Grandpa and Grandma Lin out of the house.

The sound was so loud it could be heard all the way under the big cypress tree.

“Mrs. Lin, what is Xiaolan up to this time?”

“I tell you, Sister Lin, no girl in the entire courtyard is as restless as Xiaolan. She drove Sister Liu to the hospital before, went to the logistics department for cement a few days ago, and now she’s banging away at home again.”

Grandma Lin’s smile faded upon hearing this.

Their Xiaolan was a dutiful granddaughter who cared deeply for them; she was the most filial child. How could others turn that into ‘being troublesome’?

She forced a smile. “We’re not doing much. Xiaolan knows Grandpa has bad legs and worries that he and I might fall at home, so she’s installing handrails.”

“Don’t forget, she also used cement to fix the doorway threshold. Now we don’t have to worry about tripping over it.”

A neighbor chimed in, “Xiaolan did a great job. I almost tripped over my own threshold the other day but luckily there was a handrail to hold onto. At our age, a fall is serious business.”

“Old Lei even said after seeing your threshold fixed, he wants to do the same for his place.”

Those who had been secretly badmouthing Lin Yilan couldn’t bear all the praise. “Sister Lin, you’re quite generous. If Xiaolan were my granddaughter, I wouldn’t let her study architecture.”

“I heard from my son that architecture graduates build houses. Why should a young girl work so hard?”

“Right?” she said, lifting her chin toward others.

Since the college entrance exam was relaxed, the most envied family in the courtyard wasn’t the officials or commanders but retired Commander Lin’s family.

Everyone knew several of Commander Lin’s grandchildren were already university students. Just the children of his youngest son were all attending university—who wouldn’t be jealous?

Now, having found a chance to needle the Lin family, these few wouldn’t give up easily.

“Yes, I agree with Sister Zhou. Sister Lin, you should persuade Xiaolan.”

“She’s such a pretty girl. Why make herself look so worn out all the time?”

“Exactly!”

“Or have your Old Lin find connections to help Xiaolan switch majors.”

Several people gathered around Grandma Lin to persuade her, some genuinely hoping she would encourage Lin Yilan to change her major.

Grandma Lin quickly waved them off. “I know you’re thinking of Xiaolan’s best interests, but my granddaughter says she likes her major and doesn’t want to change.”

“Nowadays, children should decide for themselves. We shouldn’t arrange everything. So I trust Xiaolan’s choice will be a good one.”

No matter their intentions, Grandma Lin spoke with tact and grace.

She didn’t want any unpleasant gossip about Xiaolan circulating in the courtyard.

Seeing the women’s ill intentions, Grandpa Lin quickly called Grandma Lin over.

“A-Yun, let’s go. Tonight we’ll eat at Dongfeng Restaurant. Xiaolan’s worked hard these days; we should bring her some food.”

Grandma Lin quickly said goodbye to the others and hurried away with Grandpa Lin from the courtyard.

Meanwhile, Lin Yilan, busy working inside, didn’t hear any of the conversation under the big cypress tree—the drill was just too loud.

Fortunately, she finished all the work before nightfall.

She first tested the handrail in the bathroom to ensure it helped with standing up easily.

Then she moved a shower stool and tested the folding handrail used while bathing. It folded smoothly and didn’t break under pressure. Satisfied, she clapped her hands.

Besides the bathroom, all other handrails were designed according to the usual movement paths of her grandparents.

Places Grandpa frequented had handrails at his height; places Grandma often visited had handrails at hers.

For spots both of them used, she chose Grandma’s height.

Lin Yilan ran her hand over the wood-covered handrails, polished smoothly by Uncle Zhao, ensuring no rough edges or splinters.

Looking at the few remaining handrails, she thought for a moment, then picked one up along with the drill and stepped out of the house.