Chapter 216: Another Business Trip

The two went to the site together. The previously cordoned-off area was already dusty, the pig farm was beginning to take shape, and most of the wasteland had been cleared; it was estimated that it would be fully cleared in another half-day's work.

"Factory Director Liu, the progress is very fast."

"Hahaha, it's alright. Putting it into operation sooner means we can harvest sooner, right?"

"That's true."

Seeing three busy, short figures in the distance, Zhang Ping'an frowned slightly. Factory Director Liu followed Zhang Ping'an's gaze and saw the three children, Damao and the others.

"Factory Director Zhang, Damao and the others are inside helping to pick up some stones. Our factory provides them with a meal."

"Mm, that's good too."

The sweet potatoes and cornmeal that Zhang Ping'an had left behind initially probably didn't have much left; this could be considered them earning their own keep.

"Factory Director Zhang, the place you stayed at last time is still vacant. I'll have someone clean it up, and you can move in."

"Alright, then I'll trouble you."

"It's only right."

At noon, while eating at the Steel Mill cafeteria, Zhang Ping'an saw Nan Yi again.

"Leader, you've come again."

"Hehe, Nan Yi, I see your complexion is rosy. Is there some good news?"

"Hehe, you go ahead and eat."

Nan Yi gave a lewd smile, looking exactly like a cat that had successfully stolen a fish. Zhang Ping'an knew what was going on in his heart; it looked like Nan Yi and Liang Ladi had likely had relations.

Zhang Ping'an took his lunch box and walked to a deserted spot. Many bold young female employees were secretly looking at him.

"Stop looking, the man already has several kids." The people from the Personnel Section clearly knew Zhang Ping'an's file.

"Ah?" The young women found it unbelievable; Zhang Ping'an's appearance looked like he was definitely not over twenty.

"Factory Director Zhang just looks young. He is twenty-seven this year and has been married for five or six years."

"What a pity, why didn't I meet such a high-quality man sooner?"

"Laidi, you were only eleven seven years ago."

"Uh..."

Although their conversation was quiet, Zhang Ping'an heard it and shook his head helplessly; being a handsome man just attracts attention.

"Uncle." The three little ones also held their own small bowls, with Nan Yi following behind.

"Hey, you guys are..."

"Ahem, I've married Laidi."

"..."

Nan Yi's words really shocked Zhang Ping'an. He hadn't expected that in just over a month, Liang Ladi would have captured this little fledgling, Nan Yi.

"That's right, Uncle. Uncle Nan is our dad now."

"Uh... good, good."

"Nan Yi, I brought some ingredients. Why don't you come help me tidy them up tonight? We'll have a drink together, consider it a celebration for you two."

"This... alright, then thank you, Leader."

"Don't call me Leader anymore. My name is Zhang Ping'an. I reckon I'm about the same age as you; you can just call me Brother Zhang."

"No, how old are you? You're about the same as me?" Nan Yi looked at Zhang Ping'an's face, then thought of his own old face, and immediately got anxious.

"I'm twenty-seven this year."

"Then that really is about the same as me. I'm also twenty-seven this year," Nan Yi said after a moment of silence.

"Are you really twenty-seven?" Nan Yi asked, feeling a bit unwilling to believe it.

"Really," Zhang Ping'an said without changing his expression.

"Brother Zhang."

"Mm, then it's settled for tonight. Come over right after work."

Zhang Ping'an wanted to open a restaurant after the Reform and Opening-up. Shazhu, Cai Quanwu, Yan Jiecheng, and Nan Yi were all his pre-selected right-hand men. He wasn't worried about the first three, but he had to build a relationship with Nan Yi in advance.

"Good."

After eating, Zhang Ping'an carried his luggage to his previous lodging. This time he would have to stay for at least a week.

After tidying up a bit, Zhang Ping'an put two catties of pork belly, a fish, a chicken, a plate of sausages, a plate of pig head meat, ten catties of eggs, and over thirty catties of five-grain flour in the kitchen. Tonight, he would let Nan Yi simply cook a few small dishes to make do.

After thinking about it, Zhang Ping'an also took four candied hawthorn skewers. Children couldn't refuse sweet and sour things. Being good to the children would move Nan Yi more deeply, and the possibility of future cooperation would be greater.

Time quickly arrived at evening, and Nan Yi's family of six also returned. Now, Nan Yi had moved directly into Liang Ladi's home.

"Brother Zhang, we're here."

"The door isn't bolted, come in. The stuff is all in the kitchen, it's up to you. Damao, Ermao, Sanmao, the old rules: work for your meal. By the way, there's a candied hawthorn skewer for each of you."

For children with relatively strong self-esteem, you have to find them some work to do, otherwise, they wouldn't feel at ease eating this meal.

"Okay, thank you, Uncle Zhang."

"Mm, where is your wife? Why didn't she come along?"

"Ahem, she's a bit shy."

"Hehe, what's there to be shy about? Xiuer, go call your mother over to cook."

"Okay, Uncle Zhang," the little girl said, her mouth full of candy, her words slurred.

"Hehe," Zhang Ping'an was amused by her appearance.

"By the way, Brother Zhang, I haven't thanked you for what happened last time."

"What happened?" Zhang Ping'an didn't remember helping Nan Yi.

"The food you left for Laidi's family."

"Hey, it would be a waste if it wasn't eaten anyway, and since these little ones helped me with the fire and cooking, that is their reward."

"Alright, I'll keep that in mind."

"Alright, alright, is the younger sister-in-law here?" Zhang Ping'an glanced over and saw Xiuer pulling a bashful Liang Ladi into the courtyard gate.

"Younger sister-in-law?"

"Yeah, Nan Yi is younger than me, and since you two are married, she's naturally my younger sister-in-law."

"This... Brother Zhang?" Liang Ladi looked toward Nan Yi, and Nan Yi nodded slightly.

"Mm, then I'll leave the kitchen to you two."

"Just leave it to us."

Forty minutes later, the ruddy-colored Braised Pork was out of the pot, and the Braised Fish had long been finished; now, only the chicken soup was still simmering.

"Brother Zhang, it's ready, come and taste my cooking."

"Alright, what are you doing?" Zhang Ping'an brought out a bottle of liquor and saw Nan Yi picking a little bit of each dish.

"They're taking it back to eat."

"Then you should take more; how much can we eat while drinking?" Zhang Ping'an had pushed aside a third of the food when he was stopped by Liang Ladi.

"That's enough, Brother Zhang, we won't be able to finish it."

"Alright then, come back for the chicken soup after you finish eating."

"Okay."

"Come, Nan Yi, let's have a little drink."

"Coming, Brother Zhang. Mm, this liquor is pure; it must be at least five years old, right?" Nan Yi smacked his lips and said.

"Not bad, it is indeed a five-year vintage."

Zhang Ping'an looked surprised, but he immediately realized that Nan Yi was a descendant of an Imperial Chef, so he probably had some hidden liquor at home.

"Hehe, my grandfather taught me to drink when I was a child, and we used to have quite a bit of old liquor at home, but unfortunately, it's all gone now." Nan Yi wore a look of reminiscence.

"Come, drink, don't think about those unhappy things."

"Come, let's drink, congratulations to you both."

"Hehe, thank you, Brother Zhang." Nan Yi smiled lecherously.

Nan Yi was very proud; Liang Ladi was, after all, one of the few pretty widows in the factory that many workers had their eyes on, yet he had quietly won her over.

Actually, it was much like in the show; the two had also registered their marriage after having relations while drunk. At first, Nan Yi still felt a bit guilty toward Ding Qiunan, but he had succumbed to Liang Ladi's gentle offensive and was now enjoying it immensely.

The two drank cup after cup, but Nan Yi's alcohol tolerance was truly not great, and he soon became a bit tipsy.

"Brother Zhang, I'm not bragging, but I will definitely pass the level four exam this year, level three next year, and in another two years, I'll be a state banquet chef."

"Brother Zhang, listen to me..."

"Brother Zhang, back in the day, I..."

"..."

"Zhang Shu, is my dad drunk?"

"I'm not drunk."

"Right, right, right, not drunk, let's drink the chicken soup first."