Chapter 73: Grandparents 3.0

Zhang Ping'an saw an imposing old man at first glance, a kind-looking old lady beside him, and three burly men and a young woman behind them; his heart immediately understood.

While Zhang Ping'an sized them up, the family was also sizing him up, all full of curiosity about this child, as his height and build did not look like those of a fifteen-year-old boy.

"Ping'an, this..."

"It's fine, San Jie Fu, you go back first. Everyone, please."

Other residents in the courtyard also heard the commotion and poked their heads out to peer over.

"Resemblance, such a strong resemblance; the brows and eyes are exactly the same as Da Ni's," the old lady said after everyone was seated.

"It really is very similar to the eldest sister."

"Kid, you still won't call me Grandfather even now?"

Xiao Ping'an's memories did not contain a grandfather or grandmother; the current Zhang Ping'an felt both very strange and familiar toward them, yet the kinship and bloodline in his bones could not be changed.

"Grandfather, Grandmother, two uncles, aunt, Wang Shu."

"Good, good, good, my good grandson." The old lady stepped forward and excitedly took Zhang Ping'an's hand, and the others also nodded with smiles on their faces.

"Ping'an, tell Grandmother about what you all have been through these years?"

"Alright..." Zhang Ping'an recounted everything from his childhood to the present, though he did not mention the incident of falling from the roof beam.

In fact, Wang Weiguo had long since investigated Zhang Laohan's family thoroughly, but compared to cold data, they preferred to hear the account from their own family member.

"Da Ni, she..."

"My mother is very well; these years..." Zhang Ping'an began to provide support for his father, as compared to his grandfather's family, his own family was indeed punching above their weight.

Do not be fooled by how amiable his grandfather's family was toward him; they likely would not be so friendly toward his father, as his mother had once been the pearl of the family.

"Ping'an, when do you plan to go back?"

"I can go today."

"That works, we will set off in a while and take your Si Jie with us."

"I haven't told my mother that I found you all yet; it's better to wait for me to go back and tell her before you come over."

Zhang Ping'an had originally wanted to tell her sooner, but he had only said he would return at the end of the year, and waiting was filled with anxiety; Zhang Ping'an did not want his mother to wait in anxiety, especially since she was now pregnant.

"That is also fine; we will go over in the afternoon."

"..."

"Alright, I will pack up and set off."

Afterward, the group left one after another, and Zhang Ping'an said a word to Lao Jia.

"San Jie Fu, I need to go back with Si Jie; I will leave San Jie's shop to you."

"Done, you go back; don't worry about the shop."

Not long after Zhang Ping'an left, Qin Pandi showed signs of going into labor; He Daqing hurriedly borrowed Jia Dongxu's tricycle and took Qin Pandi straight to the Hospital.

"Mother, I'm going to check on my aunt," Qin Huairu said.

"Mm, go ahead, just leave the child to me; let Dongxu ride the bike to take you there."

"Mm, okay."

Zhang Ping'an returned to the shop and saw Si Jie and the others also eating breakfast.

"Si Jie, and you few, finish eating and pack up to go back to the old home."

"What happened, Ping'an?"

"Nothing much, it has to do with Mother."

"Xiaochen, you all eat first." Zhang Lanhua pulled Zhang Ping'an into the room.

"What exactly is going on?"

Zhang Ping'an briefly explained the process from his mother recovering her memory to finding his grandfather's family.

"Ah? Then, then we..."

"This is a good thing; Mother has found her relatives. You also know Mother is pregnant; it is best not to have too much emotional fluctuation. Let's go back and notify them first so Mother can have some mental preparation."

"Good, good, good, we will leave now." Zhang Lanhua returned to the room with no heart to eat anymore, packed up simply, and prepared to set off.

The four nephews also packed their clothes and, while Zhang Lanhua was packing, washed the pots, bowls, and basins clean.

The four of them sat on the tricycle; it was freezing cold, and Zhang Ping'an did not dare to ride too fast, reaching home by nearly ten o'clock.

"Si Jie, you go back and tell Father and Mother; I will take Xiaochen and the others back."

"Alright."

"Uncle, the road isn't far; we can go back ourselves."

"It's fine, you have quite a lot of things; I have some business at your house anyway."

"Oh, okay."

In fact, this return was hurried, and they didn't bring many things, just some clothes and fabric scraps; Zhang Ping'an also took the opportunity to settle their wages, and profit distribution would be discussed after the new year.

"Father, Mother, we are back."

"Didn't you say after the twenty-fifth? Why are you back today?"

"Eldest Sister, I had some business back at the old home, so I brought them back along the way, and here are Xiaochen and the others' wages."

"Eldest Sister, there is a total of 1.1 million here; you give 550,000 to the second sister, I won't go over there."

"Xiao Ze, don't be envious either; when you get married, Uncle will arrange for you to work in the city too."

Li Ze was the eldest son in the family and was already twenty this year; Zhang Ping'an had thought he would be married this year, which was why he hadn't taken him to the city, but who knew there was still no movement.

He had heard before that he had been matched with someone, but he didn't know the situation now; however, Zhang Ping'an had business to attend to, so he could only ask about the situation next year.

"Mm, okay."

"Ping'an, did something happen?"

"Nothing much, it's just that my grandfather and the others have found us."

"Grandfather?" Zhang Cuihua was stunned, then immediately realized that her maternal grandparents had long since passed away, and she had basically no contact with her uncle's family, so this grandfather must be the father of the little lady.

"Alright, then you hurry back."

"Mm, okay."

When Zhang Ping'an returned home, his mother had also calmed down, and the mother and son were preparing lunch.

"Ping'an, did your grandfather and the others say what time they would be coming over?"

"No, I reckon it'll be around two or three o'clock."

"Good, good, good, go wash your hands and get ready to eat."

"Where's Dad?"

"He's inside trying on his clothes."

"..."

Zhang Laohan was very nervous right now; he hadn't expected that at fifty-seven years old, he would still be able to experience that feeling of nervousness when meeting his father-in-law.

"Dad, don't be nervous. I feel like Grandfather and the others are quite easy to talk to."

"Who's nervous? Isn't it normal for me to wear new clothes for the New Year?"

"Yes, yes, yes." Zhang Ping'an didn't bother to expose his father's facade; just wait until he sees Grandfather and see if he's nervous then.

"By the way, Ping'an, what does your grandfather do? I asked your mother, but she wouldn't say."

"Ahem, just an ordinary retired old man."

"Whew~ that's good."

"Let's go, Dad, let's go eat first."

"Alright."

The outfit Zhang Laohan was wearing had been specially made for him by Si Jie; unlike the loose styles of these years, it actually had a somewhat slim-fit feel.

"Eldest, this outfit is nice." After Grandpa finished speaking, he also tugged at his own new clothes; Grandpa and Grandma also had new clothes.

Dong Dani brought the dishes in and also saw Zhang Laizhong in his formal attire; her eyes lit up, it was indeed nice, setting off Zhang Laizhong's already tall stature to look even more upright.

"Si Jie, your craftsmanship is good; I almost didn't recognize our dad."

"You brat, no sense of propriety." Dong Dani lightly patted Zhang Ping'an.

"Hehe."

The meal was finished in the happy atmosphere of the family; they didn't change out of their new clothes, and after a simple cleanup, everyone was waiting for the Lao Dong family to arrive.

A little past one in the afternoon, the sound of a car engine came from outside the door.

"Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, it should be Grandfather and the others arriving."

"Let's go, let's go welcome them."

"Mom, don't be agitated."

"Okay, I won't be agitated." But the slightly trembling hands of Dong Dani betrayed her.

As soon as the outer door opened, the mother and daughter looked at each other, and tears couldn't help but stream down.

"Father, Mother~"

Zhang Lanhua also couldn't control her tears, and even Zhang Ping'an's eyes were slightly red, but he still had to introduce everyone, forcing back his sore nose as he said:

"Grandfather, these are my grandparents, and this is my dad and Si Jie."

"Brother Zhang, thank you for saving our Da Ni back then."

"What are you saying, in-law? No one could just stand by and watch someone die, right? Let's go inside and sit down first."