Chapter 262: Returning to Modu

It was the end of March when Zhang Ping'an went to Modu, and now that he had returned, it was already mid-April; he had stayed in Modu for nearly twenty days. At this moment, he was eager to return home. After leaving Li Huaide's office, Zhang Ping'an prepared to head straight home.

He dug out his Twenty-Eight Bar Bicycle, which he had left sitting for over half a month and was now covered in a thick layer of dust. Zhang Ping'an wiped the seat off briefly and then rode the bicycle out of the Rolling Mill.

"Director Zhang is back!"

The neighbors in the Front Courtyard were all employees of the Rolling Mill, and they were all second-generation residents of the Siheyuan, about the same age as Zhang Ping'an.

However, they were not very familiar with Zhang Ping'an, and they couldn't bring themselves to call him "Zhang Shu," but since they saw each other constantly, they simply addressed him as "Director Zhang." Zhang Ping'an did not mind this.

"Mm, are you all busy?" Zhang Ping'an nodded and greeted them briefly.

Returning to the small courtyard, only Zhang Ping'an's mother and the triplets were home at the time.

"Daddy, you're back!" His youngest daughter, Zhang Wanqiu, was the first to spot him and happily rushed over to him.

"Hahaha, good girl." Zhang Ping'an picked his daughter up directly.

"Daddy!" His two sons also rushed over one after another, each hugging one of Zhang Ping'an's legs.

"Hahaha, come on, let's go inside first. Daddy brought you something delicious."

"Oh..."

Zhang Ping'an took off his satchel and handed it to the triplets; inside were some local snacks he had bought in Modu.

"Just eat a little of each; it's almost time for dinner."

"Okay, Daddy."

"Ping'an, you're back."

"Mm, Mother, is everything at home alright?"

"Everything is fine. Two days ago, your San Jie Fu came over with his younger brother to express their thanks. I must say, they really look alike; they are truly brothers."

"Is that so? The first time I saw Jia Erge, I was almost certain he was San Jie Fu's younger brother. After some investigation, it turned out to be true."

"Ping'an, I heard that Jia Youwei was mentally disabled before?" Dong Dani asked curiously.

"Mm... not exactly, it was just..." Zhang Ping'an briefly described the symptoms and history of Jia Youwei.

"So that's how it is. Youcai's younger brother is also a pitiful child. Fortunately, heaven has eyes."

Zhang Ping'an told his mother about his experiences in Modu over the past half-month before getting up to go pick up Wang Xiaoling from work.

"Daddy, we'll go with you to pick up Mommy from work."

"Hehe, that's fine too. Let's go."

"Let's go!"

The triplets took the lead, and Zhang Ping'an followed behind. People on the road looked at Zhang Ping'an with envy, and he felt quite uncomfortable under their gaze, but fortunately, they reached the Pharmacy in just a few steps.

"Great-Grandma, Great-Grandpa!" The three little ones shouted as soon as they entered the courtyard.

"Hey, my dear grandchildren are here. Come in and let Great-Grandma see you."

Lao Wang heard the commotion and also came out of the study. He greeted the children and then pulled Zhang Ping'an into the study.

"I heard from Xiao Ling that you cured a brain disorder?"

"Mm, you could say that. It was my San Jie Fu's younger brother. His illness was a special case. This is the medical record, which details his condition. Please take a look."

"Alright."

Lao Wang was naturally delighted to see such a case; he had also cured a few instances, but regardless of the type of brain disorder, they were generally quite tricky.

Coupled with the fact that Zhang Ping'an rarely had the opportunity to take action, Lao Wang was even more curious about it.

"Eh?"

Lao Wang took the medical record and let out a soft exclamation as he read it. The more he read, the more shocked he became. He had indeed encountered a similar brain disorder when he was young, but unfortunately, his medical skills were limited at the time, and he had been unable to cure it.

However, it was also recorded in his own medical notes, and he had later studied a treatment method that had similar results to the one Zhang Ping'an used now.

"Good, good, good! Ping'an, it seems there is no illness that can stump you now. I'm afraid your medical skills are no longer inferior to mine."

"Hehe, that's all thanks to your teaching."

"You rascal."

"Grandpa, Brother Ping'an."

"It's Xiao Ling. You should go now."

"Alright."

Just as Zhang Ping'an opened the study door, Wang Xiaoling dove into his arms like a swallow returning to its nest.

"Brother Ping'an..."

"Mm, Grandpa, Grandma, and the children are watching." Zhang Ping'an gently patted Wang Xiaoling's back.

"Oh." Wang Xiaoling stuck out her tongue in embarrassment and then let go of Zhang Ping'an.

"Sigh..." Whenever Lao Wang thought about the whole family having to move away, and his granddaughter still acting like a child, he felt both heartache and a headache.

"Grandpa, Grandma, we'll be heading back now."

"Mm, go on then."

After returning home and finishing dinner, the children were lulled to sleep by their parents. Zhang Ping'an and his wife were like newlyweds after a short separation, and the battle commenced immediately, with the sounds of Huangmei opera singing for half the night.

Early the next morning, Zhang Ping'an stretched beautifully. Looking at the beauty beside him, he felt immensely satisfied. He lingered for a while before getting out of bed lightly to exercise.

After stretching his muscles and bones in the courtyard, he felt refreshed. After finishing his workout, Zhang Ping'an was too lazy to cook, so he went out to buy some large meat buns. On his way back, he unexpectedly ran into Shazhu.

"Zhang Shu, you're back."

"Mm, just got back. What are you doing, Zhuzi?"

"Zhang Shu, I was just about to go relieve myself. Hehe, I heard that Dongxu's uncle is already thirty-six years old? And that you were the one who cured him?"

"Mm, you could say that. Why?"

"Well, you see..." Zhang Ping'an looked at the bashful Shazhu and felt a sudden chill.

"If you have something to say, just say it."

"Hehe, I'm not saying Brother Dongxu's second uncle doesn't look like he's in his thirties; it's just that I'm not even thirty yet and I'm already a bit old," Shazhu said, then touched his own weathered face.

"So?"

"So, Uncle Zhang, can you make me look younger too?" Shazhu looked at Zhang Ping'an with a hopeful expression.

"..."

"Your Uncle Dongxu is naturally young; it has nothing to do with me. He has practiced Taiji for over twenty years. If you can practice for twenty years without fail, you'll be like this in twenty years."

"Of course, even if you practiced, the change might not be that great."

"..."

Shazhu is not yet thirty, but his face looks like he is over forty; this is not only because of the constant smoke and fire in the kitchen, but also the norm for people in this era.

"Forget it, I'll get you some medicinal paste to wash your face with later, it will lighten your forehead wrinkles."

Zhang Ping'an didn't want to discourage Shazhu too much; after all, his He family lineage is naturally old-looking.

"Great, great."

"Alright, I'm going home. I'll give it to you when I have a moment."

"Good, good, good."

"Sigh..." Shazhu thought of Jia Youwei's face, touched his own again, and let out a heavy sigh, but his bursting bladder reminded him, and he hurried toward the public toilet.

In the morning, the family had a lively breakfast, then those who had to go to work went to work, and those who had to go to school went to school; the Siheyuan quieted down.

Zhang Ping'an was reading under the grape trellis when Jia Youwei also came over with a book.

"Second Brother, come over and sit. The tea has just been brewed."

"Okay."

"Second Brother, are you getting used to living in Sijiucheng?"

"Hmm, it's alright. The neighbors are all very enthusiastic."

"Second Brother, if you have something to say, just say it directly. We aren't outsiders," Zhang Ping'an said, seeing Jia Youwei looking like he wanted to say something but was holding back.

In fact, Zhang Ping'an had also been pondering over these past few days that sentence that suddenly popped into his mind the day he first met Jia Youwei: "Treat him well..."

He always felt like he had heard it somewhere before, but he couldn't recall where; the only thing he could be sure of was that it was Jia Youwei's voice.

"It's about Uncle Liu. Is there really no hope for him?"

Zhang Ping'an was silent for a moment. He had actually spoken to Liu Wanzhou before returning, but Liu Wanzhou didn't care at all and instead laughed:

"To have a clear-headed Youwei accompany me for a year or two is enough for me. How could I delay their family reunion any longer?"