Chapter 86: 1953 2.0

"Fine, fine, fine, it's just that the girl is a bit old," Qian Xiaofang said subconsciously. In these times, if a girl wasn't married after eighteen, she would be considered old.

"Mother, Lanhua finished elementary school in just two years and graduated successfully. Now she even runs a Clothing Shop; otherwise, she would have been married long ago. How could it have been my turn?"

"Yes, yes, yes, what you say makes sense."

Qian Xiaofang had also been that age once, so she naturally knew that her son only saw the girl's good points at the moment, and she didn't say anything more.

"Hahaha, alright Xiaofang, that child Lanhua is the niece of my comrade-in-arms. I've seen her too; she's a good child. I'm happy to see them dating."

"Hmm, I'll meet her another day too."

"Deal."

On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Ping'an, his fourth sister, and Xiaomei and Xiaoqing returned to their hometown first. Li Cheng and Li Ze had to wait until the afternoon of the thirtieth at the Rolling Mill to get their holiday, while Xiaochen and Xiaojing were just right in the shop selling clothes and waiting for them.

Zhang Ping'an had originally asked Daniu to come back with them, but this guy insisted that someone from the village would be going into the city to shop on the twenty-eighth, and he would come back then. Zhang Ping'an let him be.

At the door of their home, Zhang Ping'an first dropped off his fourth sister and the things, then sent the two nieces home and settled their wages before going home himself.

Each family got 1.05 million; this was just half a year's wages, half of which Zhang Ping'an had already put into the hands of the four little ones.

After all, in the city, especially since Xiaochen and Xiaojing were almost at the age of marriage, they might even find a partner while going out to play on their days off.

Giving money to the two nieces was also to prevent them from being deceived by "yellow-haired" men. It's better to raise girls well; that way, they usually wouldn't be fooled by the tricks of such men.

"Lanhua, didn't Daniu come back with you?"

"Brother Daniu said he would come back tomorrow with the people from the village."

"That child is honest; he probably wants to help out for one more day."

"Dad, now that you mention it, it's true. It's really busy at the end of the year. With Brother Daniu there, San Jie and the others can focus on rushing to make clothes. If I had known, I would have come back a day later too."

"It's all the same. There's not much difference between selling one more or one less piece of clothing, but Brother Daniu is indeed an honest person," Zhang Ping'an said as he walked in from outside.

"Also Dad, I want to have Sister-in-law Xiaoli come over to cook. With someone taking care of the three meals a day, they won't have to rush to cook and eat every time."

"That works. When Daniu comes back, go to your second uncle's house and discuss it."

"Alright."

Si Jie Zhang Lanhua was hesitant to speak on the side. Dong Dani saw it and patted her gently; Zhang Ping'an naturally saw it too.

"Si Jie, this is actually to make things easier for you all. Besides, I've said before that the shop needs to be formalized in the future, with everyone performing their own duties. When I go back, I'll think about it and set up some rules and regulations."

"Our shop is all relatives, but work is work. It's actually easier to get along if some things are stated clearly."

Zhang Ping'an also wanted them to adapt in advance to the upcoming Public-Private Partnership, so they wouldn't feel uncomfortable about it later.

"Ping'an, I know that public is public and private is private, but some things should also be considered with discretion."

"I know, Dad. They are all my brothers, sisters, and nephews; the requirements certainly won't be stricter than at the factory."

"Hmm, as long as you have a plan in mind, that's fine. Your second uncle and third uncle both sent money to me, but I didn't take it. As the eldest brother, I can only help them this once."

"Since we're slaughtering the New Year pig, each of them sent me a pig's hind leg and ten catties of fatty meat. We don't need to slaughter our own New Year pig this year; you can take it back to the factory after the New Year."

"Deal."

Zhang Ping'an understood his father's meaning. He said he could only help once, but if they really encountered trouble, he would definitely still help. The bond between the three brothers wasn't just talk.

His second uncle and third uncle hadn't treated him poorly since he was a child; they wouldn't hide good food from him, but would instead give it to him to eat.

Zhang Ping'an knew his father's temperament; he didn't take money from his own brothers, so he certainly wouldn't take it from his own daughter.

Zhang Ping'an also liked this atmosphere. You help me, I help you; this is what family affection is, and it is precious.

"By the way, your eldest sister's and second sister's families also sent pig hind legs the day before yesterday. Just the hind legs alone make four; we won't be able to finish them all winter."

"Alright, don't talk about work when you're home. Wash your hands and get ready to eat."

"Mm, okay."

The chill on Zhang Ping'an's body had mostly dissipated, and he went to see his younger brother to "brush his face"—after all, an infant's memory only lasts a few days.

Although Zhang Ping'an went home frequently in the summer, after the weather turned cold, ingredients were easier to store, so his visits home decreased relatively, and this little brother might not necessarily remember him.

"Little Xile, do you still remember your brother?"

The little guy just made babbling sounds and laughed very happily; clearly, he still remembered his brother Zhang Ping'an.

"Dad, Mom, look, Xile still remembers me, hehe."

"How could he not remember? You come back every few days, and besides, you are blood brothers. Although the little guy can't talk, he has a heart and knows things. Isn't that right, Lele?"

"Babble."

"Hahaha."

The next morning, both the eldest sister's and second sister's families came. From the third sister's family, only Jia Dongxu came.

"Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, my dad and the others have to rush work before the New Year, so it's hard to ask for leave. My mom said she has to watch the shop."

"It's fine, Dongxu, you still made the long trip."

"Grandpa, Grandma, I'm the most free in the family, and Huairu is also busy in the shop."

"Hmm, it's good to be busy."

"Hehe, Uncle, let me see the little uncle."

Jia Dongxu reached out to hold him, but the little guy gave him no face at all and kept burrowing into Zhang Ping'an's arms. Jia Dongxu had to awkwardly retract his hand.

"Hahaha, Dongxu, how many times have you met Xile? I'm the eldest sister, and I've seen him more than you, and he doesn't give me face either."

"That's right, in our family, besides Dad, Mom, Grandpa, and Grandma, only Ping'an can hold him."

"Who says? I can too."

Si Jie Zhang Lanhua also wanted to try, thinking she had gotten familiar with Xile yesterday, but she ended up getting slapped in the face.

"..."

"Hahaha, who told you not to come back to see your brother often? He's so small, how could he remember you?"

"I've been busy, haven't I?"

Zhang Lanhua also felt a bit guilty; ever since she started dating Wang Zhiyong, she had returned less on her days off.

Dong Dani and her children were busy in the kitchen, while Zhang Laohan and his sons were outside smoking and chatting about this year's harvest; Zhang Ping'an joined them after coaxing his younger brother to sleep, even though he did not smoke.

In his past life, Zhang Ping'an did not smoke either; when he worked at a hotel, he once learned to smoke for half a year, but it was just for fun—he would puff the smoke out as soon as it entered his mouth, never inhaling it into his lungs because he simply couldn't swallow it, so there was no question of addiction.

Zhang Ping'an truly did not understand what was so good about smoking; not only did it leave a taste in one's mouth, but it was also bad for the lungs—it was bad in every way.

Zhang Ping'an also did not like the smell of smoke, though of course he could tolerate it under special circumstances, such as during the few days of the Lunar New Year—those who know, know.

"Wash your hands and eat."

"Let's go eat," Zhang Dadan said, being the first to put away his tobacco pouch.

The tobacco leaves were provided by Zhang Ping'an, who had grown an acre of them in his space; after harvesting and drying them, he gave them to his grandfather, and although he did not know if it would reduce the harm, he figured it should be better than what was available outside.

In the afternoon, Zhang Daniu also returned, wearing the Uniform from the shop, which was also requested by Zhang Ping'an—two sets for each season, spring, summer, autumn, and winter, for the convenience of washing and changing.

Zhang Daniu also bought a set of winter clothes for his father, mother, wife, children, and his younger brother and sister-in-law, spending most of his wages; the people in the same village all watched with envy as Zhang Daniu carried his large and small bags of clothes.