Chapter 100: Distribution

Fortunately, there weren't many people at the Pharmacy at this hour, so Zhang Ping'an pulled Wang Xiaoling toward the back, and Wang Xiaoling let him lead her like a puppet.

The first moment Zhang Ping'an saw Wang Xiaoling, his heart ached terribly; the chubby baby fat that used to be on her face was gone, which showed how she had spent these past two months.

"Xiaoling, don't cry, it's my fault," Zhang Ping'an wiped away Wang Xiaoling's tears and pulled her into his embrace.

"Sob sob sob," Wang Xiaoling reached back and hugged Zhang Ping'an tightly, her tears flowing like a broken dam, and it took a long while for her to calm down.

"Didn't you say one or two months? Why did it take almost three months to come back?" Wang Xiaoling raised her head, her face tear-stained.

"I'm sorry, plans couldn't keep up with the changes, the convoy delayed the trip," Zhang Ping'an explained the reason and picked up a handkerchief to wipe her face.

"Be good, don't cry anymore. I haven't even asked you yet, why have you lost so much weight?" Zhang Ping'an held Wang Xiaoling's small face in his hands, his heart aching.

"Mm," Wang Xiaoling's eyelashes fluttered shyly, not daring to open her eyes.

"Ahem, ahem," Wang Lao coughed deliberately twice, and Wang Xiaoling fled into her grandmother's room like a startled rabbit.

"You brat, you've hooked my granddaughter's soul away."

"Hehe, aren't we going to be family joined with family later on?" Zhang Ping'an could only offer a forced smile.

"Go, go, go, hurry up and help Xiaoling recover; her parents have been worried sick. It's fortunate that Jianguo didn't come back, otherwise..."

"Yes, yes, yes, I guarantee I'll complete the mission."

"Master, I brought things for you and Senior Brother, they are already in the room. This is for Xiaoling; I hadn't had the chance to give it to her just now."

Zhang Ping'an knew it was getting late, and with Master here, Wang Xiaoling wouldn't be able to come out for a while, so he simply handed it to Lao Wang.

"Good."

Wang Xiaoling inside heard that Zhang Ping'an was leaving and, ignoring her shyness, hurried out.

"Zhang Ping'an, don't go."

"Ahem, Ping'an, it just so happens you can take Xiaoling home," Lao Wang was helpless; his own granddaughter was beyond saving.

"Alright, Master."

The two didn't rush home, strolling along slowly; Wang Xiaoling was like a lark at this moment, chirping away beside Zhang Ping'an about everything that had happened in the past two months.

"I'm going to be an employee at Grandpa's Pharmacy from now on, specifically in charge of filling prescriptions. Am I impressive?"

"Impressive, very impressive," Zhang Ping'an fed her another sugar bun.

"Mm, so sweet."

"Also, Yingnan went to join the army last month." Speaking of this, Wang Xiaoling's voice dropped again.

No wonder Wang Xiaoling had lost so much weight; Zhang Ping'an had gone to Beijiang, and Mu Yingnan had gone to join the army. Two people very important to her had left Sijiucheng one after another; it had truly been hard on her.

"Mm, rest assured, I won't leave again from now on. Even if I go out, it won't be for more than half a month, or I'll take you with me."

"Mm~" With Zhang Ping'an's promise, she felt at ease.

The three-minute walk was dragged out by the two of them for over half an hour.

"This bag is some small snacks for you, and this bag is some smoked venison for your uncle and aunt."

"Mm."

"Go on in, I'll come to pick you up tomorrow morning."

"Mm."

Seeing her lingering, Zhang Ping'an had no choice but to use his trump card and kissed her on the forehead. Wang Xiaoling turned red-hot again and quickly ran back home. Little thing, I can't handle you?

Zhang Ping'an took out some more packages and went to the Clothing Shop. Looking at the time, it was already 6:30; Zhang Ping'an figured the people at the workshop should have all gone home.

Just as Zhang Ping'an reached the intersection, he saw Xiaomei and Xiaoqing closing the door, and they also saw Zhang Ping'an.

"Uncle, you're back! Why have you become so dark?" The two pulled Zhang Ping'an from left and right, looking excited.

"..."

"Mm, let's go inside first. Have your brother and the others all returned?"

"They just got off work and came back not long ago."

"Mm, here is a bag of small snacks for each of you to take first."

"Mm, okay."

Zhang Ping'an then distributed some Red Dates and walnuts to everyone at the Staff Canteen.

"Ping'an, this..."

"Brother Daniu, everyone gets the same, take it," Zhang Ping'an said, then grabbed a handful of Red Dates from his satchel for Daniu's five-year-old son, Weiguo.

"By the way, Sister-in-law, the Red Dates have pits, Weiguo he..."

"Yes, yes, yes, still have to be careful," Liu Xiaoli picked out the Red Date pits and put the rest away.

"Uncle..."

For the next half hour, Li Ze and Li Cheng talked about their work at the Rolling Mill, Li Chen and Li Jing talked about the earnings of the past two months, and Zhang Ping'an told them about the local customs and conditions in Beijiang.

Everyone looked at Zhang Ping'an with envy.

"Ahem, you don't need to envy me. Just the suffering on the road is not something an ordinary person can endure. Your grandmother and grandfather (Uncle and Aunt) haven't recovered yet and are resting at home."

"By the way, Xiaochen, has the Street Office come to say anything recently?"

Indeed, the Military Control Commission had been abolished, and the Street Office and several Police Station institutions had been established, which were closer to the masses and had more perfect laws.

"No, why, Uncle?"

"Oh, it's nothing. When the people from the Street Office contact you, let me know."

"Mm, okay."

Zhang Ping'an placed five Red Dates and five walnuts on every Sewing Machine in the workshop as their employee benefits.

Zhang Ping'an filled his stomach simply in his space and then returned home. San Jie and her whole family were also in his courtyard.

"Ping'an."

"Uncle." X4

"Great-uncle."

"Duo-duo."

"Hey."

The two three-year-old little ones bumped straight into him, Xile was also wriggling in his father's arms, clearly wanting to get down too, and two-year-old Bang Geng was also restless and eager to move.

"Hahaha, Ping'an is truly popular with children."

"Indeed."

Zhang Ping'an treated everyone equally, hugging the twins, comforting his younger brother, and patting little Bang Geng.

"Since we have time now, Dongxu, you carry the bag, and you and Ping'an go deliver some things to each household," said Zhang Laohan.

"Ping'an, just give two or three Red Dates and walnuts to each family; it's a pity to give away too many when they are this big," said Zhang Xiaohua.

"Hahaha, alright."

Zhang Ping'an took Jia Dongxu and started directly with Yi Zhonghai's house.

"Brother Yi, these are local specialties I brought back from Beijiang. There aren't many, just enough for each family to have a taste; please don't think it's too little."

"Ping'an, you are very thoughtful; how could I think it's too little?"

"Uncle Zhang, Brother Dongxu."

"Hey! What a good child."

Zhang Ping'an patted the heads of the two little ones, gave them two extra, and gave a reminder about the date pits; for every family with small children, Zhang Ping'an would give a reminder.

"Teacher Yan..."

"Thank you very much, Ping'an."

"Brother He..."

"Hahaha, alright. These Red Dates are really huge; we don't see many like these around here."

"Brother Liu..."

"Brother Xu..."

"Old Lady..."

Zhang Ping'an seemed to grab them randomly, but actually, every family got the same: three Red Dates and three walnuts. The current Red Dates were about the size of a small chicken egg, so it was quite a lot.

Back home, Zhang Laohan had already divided the items. Since there wasn't much brought back—about thirty jin of each—he gave two jin each to his four daughters' families, shared some dried meat, and did the same for his two brothers' families and his nephews.

"Father, Mother, I just went to the shop and divided some for Xiao Cheng and the others; you can just take those back for Eldest Sister, Second Sister, and the others."

"That works too."

Early the next morning, after eating breakfast, Zhang Laohan pedaled his tricycle back to his hometown, and Zhang Ping'an also took breakfast to go pick up Wang Xiaoling, as he couldn't break his promise from yesterday.