Chapter 180: The Triplets' Full-Month Banquet

On the day off, Lou Xiaoe and Li Aihua also came over with gifts.

"You two just go in and take a look, don't stay for long."

"Brother-in-law, I won't go in; I'll just take a look through the window, that'll do."

"That's right, Brother Ping'an, my mother also gave me instructions."

"That's fine too."

Lou Xiaoe's mother originally didn't intend to let her come over, after all, she hadn't finished her postpartum recovery yet, but in the end, Lou Xiaoe acted spoiled and ran out anyway.

"Don't go in when you get there; it's not good for you or the babies."

"I know."

Finally, the two of them put down their gifts and leaned against the window, watching the three infants from afar, their eyes full of wonder.

"Sister Xiao Ling is too amazing, to actually give birth to three at once."

"Yeah, Xiao Ling looks so thin and small, I never expected her to give birth to two or three at a time."

When they left the Hospital, several nurses were still marveling at Wang Xiaoling's belly.

"You say, how did she recover so fast? And even with such a big belly during pregnancy, she doesn't have any stretch marks."

"Yeah, it's only been five days, and her lower abdomen is as flat as before; it's so enviable. I only gave birth to one boy, and I still have faint stretch marks on my belly."

"Yeah, you can't compare to a natural talent. Besides, the teacher also said that at first, she thought that girl was a soldier; she had quite a bit of muscle on her and strong explosive power, it's just that her skin is too fair, which doesn't fit the image of a female soldier."

"That's no wonder then."

Zhang Ping'an took time to go to the Style Lei workshop and ordered three custom baby carriages; they were finished in half a month and polished very smoothly.

Soon a month passed, Wang Xiaoling also finished her postpartum recovery and had a good wash in the wooden tub at home, and Zhang Ping'an also returned to his hometown to pick up his grandparents.

"Oh, my dear grandson."

As soon as the grandparents entered the door, they saw the three baby carriages lined up side by side, and the wrinkles on their faces bloomed with smiles.

In the evening, the three grown men muttered for a while and finally decided on the names for the three: Zhang Weiping, Zhang Weibing, and Zhang Wanqiu.

Originally, the little daughter was to be named Zhang Weihong, but Zhang Ping'an didn't agree; a girl's name shouldn't be chosen casually, and early November could also be considered late autumn (Wanqiu), so she was finally named Zhang Wanqiu.

Weijun is the eldest, Weidong is the second, Weiping is the third, Weibing is the fourth, and Wanqiu is the fifth.

"Dad, the younger brother and sister don't look like me, they look like Mom."

Indeed, Weijun and Weidong look more like Zhang Ping'an, with more rugged facial features, while Weiping and the other two look more like Wang Xiaoling, with softer faces, especially the little daughter; according to the mother-in-law, she looks exactly like Wang Xiaoling did when she was a child.

"Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, I don't plan to hold a full-month banquet for Wanqiu and the others; we'll just have a meal together as a family."

"Fine, then you go notify your Second Uncle, Third Uncle, and your older sisters tomorrow." The others are all in the city and can be notified at any time.

"Okay."

The next morning, Zhang Ping'an pedaled his tricycle back to his hometown to notify his Second Uncle and Third Uncle, and then went to Li Family Village.

"Ping'an, are you here for procurement?" Zhang Ping'an's practice of paying extra for acquisitions before the new year made Li Zhiyuan full of goodwill toward him.

"Uncle Li, I'm here for my older sisters; my children are having their full-month celebration, so I'm inviting them over to join the fun."

"Hmm, congratulations to you. You really should invite them. Which day is it? I'll approve the leave for them directly."

There is basically no work now; it's all just tidying up the field ridges or tinkering with the private plots.

"Alright, tomorrow. Thank you, Uncle Li."

"Hahaha, no problem. If you are short on procurement tasks, I can help you gather some here."

"Hmm~ I'll see. If there's any at the end of the year, I'll come to trouble you again. Uncle Li, are you the Brigade Leader?"

"Hahaha, it's just everyone's kindness, so I continue to serve."

"It's because you have prestige, Uncle, that everyone elected you. I think in this Li Family Village, you are the most suitable, Uncle Li."

"Hahahaha."

Zhang Ping'an's words went straight to his heart, and the look Li Zhiyuan gave Zhang Ping'an became increasingly satisfied.

"Alright, Uncle Li, then I won't disturb you anymore. I'll go see my older sisters."

"Good, go ahead."

After Zhang Ping'an left, Li Zhiyuan discovered an extra pack of China cigarettes on the table.

"This kid seems to have become a Cadre too. Last time the Commune Secretary seemed to smoke this brand. I must try my best to look after his older sisters in the future."

"Big Sister, Brother-in-law."

"Ping'an, why are you here? Is it because Xiao Ling has given birth?"

"Yes, it's already been a full month. Everyone come over to sit for a while tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll have your brother-in-law go ask for leave."

"No need, Big Sister. I just met your Brigade Leader at the entrance of the village; he has already approved the leave."

"When did that old man become so straightforward?"

"That's good, it saves me a trip."

"Brother-in-law, take these cigarettes to smoke. I'll go tell my second sister first." After slipping two packs of China cigarettes to his brother-in-law, Zhang Ping'an went straight to his second sister's house.

"This is? China cigarettes?" Although Li Huaijin had never smoked them, he had heard of them.

"What's wrong? Are these cigarettes very expensive?"

"More than just expensive, they are six jiao a pack, and you need coupons for them."

"Then keep them to smoke during the holidays."

"Alright." Even if Big Sister Zhang Cuihua didn't say it, he himself wouldn't bear to smoke them; both packs hadn't even been opened yet.

Zhang Ping'an went to his second sister's house and said it again, and similarly left two packs of cigarettes before returning to Sijiucheng.

Returning to the Third Section of the Rolling Mill, he didn't see anyone there. Over the past two months, Xu Damao and the others had provided information on over four hundred Production Teams, and everyone had become busy.

Although the roads were further than before, the items procured were quite substantial, and completing the monthly procurement tasks was easy.

In the evening, Zhang Ping'an put twenty catties each of mutton, beef, and pork, four carp, four cleaned chickens, a basket of eggs, three soft-shelled turtles, and some oysters into the tricycle.

When Zhang Ping'an passed by the Pharmacy, he intended to pick up Wang Xiaoling and the children, but they had already been taken home by his mother.

"Brother Ping'an, why did you buy so much?"

"There will be many people tomorrow; I estimate there will be at least four tables of adults and children."

"Then it will be very lively tomorrow."

"Yes, it will."

Early the next morning, the eldest sister, second sister, and two others arrived; they washed their hands, rolled up their sleeves, and joined the vegetable-washing team.

The kitchen was full, so Zhang Ping'an set up a pot outside, carried over a bucket of water, and began to prepare the soft-shelled turtles.

This pot alone contained nearly twenty catties of soft-shelled turtle, plus chicken pieces, making it over thirty catties in total; it would take a long time, estimated at three to four hours of stewing, and since it was not yet eight o'clock, the timing was just right.

"Ping'an, with this kitchen full of seasonings, even a shoe sole would smell delicious stewed."

"Go on with you, aren't you being gross?"

"Hehe, I was just saying."

Zhang Ping'an had four pots of various sizes at home, which were perfectly sufficient; the dishes that needed stewing were arranged in advance, and they just needed to be heated up when the time came.

At 11:40, everyone arrived one after another; the men sat at two tables, and four basins of "Farewell My Concubine" (soft-shelled turtle and chicken stew), Four Joy Meatballs, Braised Pork, Braised Fish, scrambled eggs, and garlic oysters were placed on the tables.

"Those who are working shouldn't drink, especially those in the workshops."

"Ping'an is right, Xiao Cheng, none of you should drink."

"Alright, Third Uncle-in-law."

"If you aren't drinking, then eat more food; it's been a long time since everyone gathered together."

Thinking about it, it really was true; the last time everyone gathered together was when their niece Xiaomei got married in '56.

Indeed, Li Jing was also married, and Li Qing and Li Mei were both married as well; both were introduced by Si Jie's husband Wang Zhiyong, and they were both young men from the Xicheng Branch Bureau, and they all had their own children now, who were all present this time.

"Eat, eat, everyone help yourselves to the food."

Before long, the children finished their meal and gathered around the three children, talking non-stop.

"The little cousin looks so good, he takes after his aunt."

"Mm, the little cousin sister looks good too."