Chapter 327: Running Between Two Places 2.0

"Thank you, Section Chief Zhang." The little clerk at the Northern Xinjiang Office looked grateful. Zhang Ping'an waved his hand and followed the convoy to the train station.

Five days later, early in the morning, Zhang Ping'an returned to Sijiucheng. After leaving the station, he drank a bowl of savory tofu pudding at the entrance of the alley and ate four large meat buns before patting his stomach in satisfaction.

Upon returning home, Zhang Ping'an discovered his grandparents and parents were already up practicing Tai Chi. He didn't disturb them; he simply washed up and came out to exercise as well.

An hour later, Zhang Ping'an finished his practice. His grandparents and parents were already eating. The family now ate in three shifts: his grandparents and parents were the first tier, he and Li Aihua were the second, and his younger brother and Qin Jingru were the last.

"Ping'an, how are your maternal grandparents' health?"

"Grandmother and the others are in very good health. They even made buns and baked naan for me. I also passed by and saw my eldest and second uncles; they are both doing very well."

"That's good, that's good."

"Mother, in a few years when transportation is more convenient, we will bring Grandmother and Grandfather over to stay for a while."

"Good, good, good." Dong Dani also hoped for that day to come soon.

Zhang Ping'an entered the bedroom, saw Li Aihua still fast asleep, and patted her bottom.

"Little lazybones, hurry up and get up."

"Brother Ping'an, what time is it?" Li Aihua said groggily, but she instantly reacted and opened her eyes wide.

"Brother Ping'an, you're back?"

"Mm, hurry up and get up to exercise. I'll take you to work later."

"Mm, okay." Li Aihua hugged Zhang Ping'an and acted clingy for a while before nimbly getting up.

At 7:40, Zhang Ping'an dropped Li Aihua off at the Xicheng Branch Bureau, then returned to the Rolling Mill to report his work to Li Huaide.

"Mm, not bad."

Li Huaide had long since received the call from the office, and everyone had nothing but praise for Zhang Ping'an.

"Factory Director, I brought some Northern Xinjiang specialties. I'll send some over for you to taste tonight." Zhang Ping'an brought local specialties for Li Huaide almost every time he went on a business trip.

"Hahaha, good. I'll give you the day off today. Go back and get some good rest, and come back to work tomorrow."

"Alrighty."

Zhang Ping'an greeted Jia Dongxu and then headed home, feeling wonderful.

"Why are you back again? Did you forget something?"

"No, Factory Director Li gave me a day off."

"Then you came just in time. Take the child; I'm going out for a stroll."

"Sure."

Zhang Ping'an hadn't really spent much time taking care of the children; every day he was either at work or on his way to work, and the children were basically raised by his parents.

Just like now, two-year-old Wei'an had been taken out by his mother to gossip with others, and the second son, Weiguo, was too small and the weather was cold, so it wasn't good to take him out, leaving him at home with his father.

Zhang Ping'an picked up the little one and rocked him in his arms. At first, the little one was able to wave his hands and feet with Zhang Ping'an, but before long, his eyelids began to fight, and he was rocked to sleep.

Zhang Ping'an placed him into the baby carriage, covered him with a small quilt, and then prepared lunch.

Put the lamb chops in, put the bones in, put the meat in, add water and blanch it, scrub the pot, add water to the lamb chops again and start stewing. An hour later, take the meat out, while the ribs continue to stew.

At 11:30, his mother returned with Wei'an, looking like she hadn't had enough of her outing.

"Ping'an, why are you back?" Dong Dani asked in surprise.

"I..." Zhang Ping'an briefly explained again.

"Your factory director is quite a good person."

"Li Ge is nothing but excellent to me. Mother, I'll go deliver lunch to Aihua later; the child is in your hands."

"Fine, go ahead, go ahead."

Zhang Ping'an packed three lunch boxes, tucked in two pieces of baked naan, and rode his bike to the Xicheng Branch Bureau.

"Big Brother, I brought some Lamb Soup. Call Aihua over; I'll wait in your office."

"..."

Li Aiguo rolled his eyes. If he didn't have his own office, he was certain Zhang Ping'an wouldn't have brought him along.

"Wait there."

Within five minutes, the siblings came over together.

"Brother Ping'an, how do you have time to bring me lunch?"

"Yeah, isn't this work hours? You have the time to deliver lunch?" Li Aiguo also noticed something was wrong.

"It's just..." Zhang Ping'an was helpless and explained it to the two of them again.

"So that's how it is." Li Aiguo was envious again. Nowadays, let alone a day off, he was lucky if he didn't have to work overtime on his regular rest days.

"Wow, Lamb Soup! There's too much meat, I can't finish it. Brother Ping'an, here, for you."

"You eat first. If you can't finish it, give it to me."

"Mm, okay."

"I'm still here, you know."

Li Aiguo curled his lip, opened his lunch box, and after a "So fragrant!", he had no time to complain. Pairing it with the baked naan, he happily drank the Lamb Soup.

Li Aihua still couldn't finish it in the end, so Zhang Ping'an took it over and polished it all off, only then letting out a satisfied burp.

"Little sister, Ping'an, you two can really eat. Let Little sister take this lunch box back tomorrow." This aluminum lunch box was a large size, and Li Aiguo had only eaten half.

"Being able to eat is a blessing."

"Exactly."

For the next half month, Zhang Ping'an returned to his daily work routine until the end of December, when there was a procurement trip to Pengcheng. Zhang Ping'an went along as usual.

This time was even shorter, only three days. Zhang Ping'an spent a night of intimacy with Li Aihua before setting off for Pengcheng.

Four days later, at the Pengcheng Procurement Office.

"Everyone, hurry up and finish the procurement verification task. We'll still have half a day of free time, and it'll be convenient for everyone to do whatever they want then, right?..."

"Alright, let's get moving."

With Zhang Ping'an's guarantee, they started checking and verifying the data as if they had been injected with chicken blood. The sooner they finished the task, the more free time they would have, and they could bring back whatever they wanted to ensure their families had a prosperous New Year.

Consequently, the crowd's work enthusiasm reached an unprecedented high, and the task that was originally scheduled for three days was finished by six o'clock on the evening of the second day.

"Very good. Before the free time begins, I'll say a few more words. You are all experienced procurement personnel; you should know in your hearts what should be done and what should not."

"Now, everyone go and rest. Remember to be back by tomorrow night."

"Section Chief Zhang, I want to come with you for procurement next time."

"Hahaha, indeed."

"Me too."

Zhang Ping'an smiled and waved his hand. They all dispersed; having been tired for two days, they would sleep and then start their big shopping spree tomorrow.

Zhang Ping'an slipped away. Following the previous route, and with a motor vehicle, it was fast; Zhang Ping'an arrived at the villa entrance before ten o'clock.

With a thought from Zhang Ping'an, five jars of the Pill produced later appeared in the van.

"Beep beep."

"Who would come over at this hour?"

When Wang Xiaoling saw the familiar van from the second floor, she was overjoyed.

"It's Brother Ping'an who has returned."

Hearing that Zhang Ping'an had returned, the two women hurriedly put on their clothes and rushed out after Wang Xiaoling.

"Mother, is it Father who has come?" The five children downstairs also heard the commotion.

"Yes."

"Then I'll go open the door." Zhang Weidong ran off happily to open the door.

"Let's go inside first."

As the van entered the courtyard, the same blonde-haired, blue-eyed face from last time stepped out. Zhang Ping'an wiped his face and took off the wig, and only then did the children dare to approach.

"Father!" X5

"Hmm."

On the living room sofa, Zhang Ping'an was surrounded by the children again, chattering away and telling him about the things that had happened this year.

"Father, we have more younger brothers and sisters, three of them!"

"What?" Zhang Ping'an had a premonition there would be children, but he hadn't expected three.

"It's true, Mother gave birth to a younger sister, and Aunt Lou and Aunt Zhong both gave birth to younger brothers."

"Ahem."

Zhang Ping'an couldn't help but glance at the three women. Wang Xiaoling nodded with a smile, while Aunt Lou and Aunt Zhong looked at him with shyness and timidity.