In the main hall, Mr. Zhang saw that Zhang Guoqing had already seen them off and watched his wife entering the room. "Hey, kids’ mom, tidy up the place a bit. Let the old man get so rest; it’s been a busy day. Also, make sure the other rooms are in order."
Mother Zhang cheerfully said, "Don’t worry, everything’s been tidied up. Younger sister-in-law, these two rooms in the main hall are prepared for you and the old man. The quilts were newly made at Jiao Jiao’s wedding. You and the old man can lie down for a while, and once rested, you can have a chat with Jiao Jiao. Have a good rest tonight. Tomorrow, with Xiao Wu not ho, we’ll accompany Jiao Jiao. Let’s see how you want to arrange the old man. I’ve also tidied up two rooms outside in the east wing, which are enough for those young n to stay in."
Hearing this, Lin Lishan stood up and followed Mother Zhang to the room. "Big sister, you really have gone to a lot of trouble. Is the kitchen tidied up? Do you need my help? This room is good enough for the old man—I’ll sleep in the inner room. Let those young lads arrange themselves."
"No need, everything’s in order. I didn’t even lend a hand; they took care of it all. You’ve co from afar and haven’t rested, do you want to take a break first?"
"No need, the military’s tougher than this, going around with the group, nowhere near as comfortable as here. I’ll still have a chat with Jiao Jiao. My daughter is so considerate, listening to her makes happy. We’re all family, no need for formalities. You get on with your work."
After speaking, Lin Lishan headed towards her father, "Dad, would you like to lie down and rest for a bit? Big sister has already tidied up the room. It’s that one."
"No need, I’ll chat with Old Zhang so more. I’ll let Xiao Zhou co in later; you go and accompany Jiao Jiao."
Lin Lishan nodded and greeted Mr. Zhang as she walked to the room in the west wing. Inside, she saw a few kids gathered around Jiao Jiao and her son, chatting.
"What are you all talking about? It’s so lively, and Little Ping’an hasn’t gone to sleep yet?"
Zhou Jiao, seeing her enter, said happily, "Mom, you’re here! I thought you’d be chatting with Grandpa. I haven’t had a proper chat with him yet and can’t go out. Did Grandpa drink? Did he drink a lot? Who’s with him now?"
"Haha, take your ti. Your grandpa is chatting with your father-in-law. I asked him to take a rest, but he said to chat a bit first and let accompany you. He didn’t drink much; I saw Xiao Wu keeping an eye on him."
Mai Miao gleefully told her, "Grandma, my little uncle just took so lamb bones to the kitchen to make soup, and there’s plenty of at in it. Such a big bag full of at. Grandma, you shouldn’t leave; just stay here, we’ll have white rice and at to eat."
Shi Tou foolishly looked at her and smiled, "Sis, our little uncle said if we’re good, we can drink soup and eat at. But what if I’m too full?"
Xi Zi looked at the two, "Don’t worry, after a trip to the restroom, you’ll be hungry again. Those things take a long ti to cook. By the ti Ping’an is asleep, we can eat."
"Big brother, you’re the best! Do you know if what little uncle called BBQ tastes good? Is it like when we roast sweet potatoes and corn? I don’t like roasted sweet potatoes. If little uncle is roasting at, that’d be perfect. I love at the most," Xiao You looked at Xiao Zuo, deciding to ask their big brother.
Xi Zi frowned, pondering, asked Zhou Jiao, "Little aunt, is barbeque just grilling food over a fire? Anything can be roasted?"
Zhou Jiao and her daughter burst out laughing, Zhou Jiao nodded, "Xi Zi, you’re clever! It’s indeed grilling over a fire, anything can be roasted. But you must cut it into pieces, skewer them, and grill it. You can’t handle it yourselves; it’s too dangerous."
Mai Sui looked at everyone, "Little aunt, can Ping’an not eat it? How unfortunate. I’ll save so for him."
"Sure, when Ping’an grows a bit, as big as you, then he can eat. Little Mai Miao is such a good sister."
Shi Tou looked enviously at Lin Lishan, then at Zhou Jiao, then at Little Ping’an, "I like Little Ping’an the most, he has a beautiful grandma. My grandma isn’t pretty at all, she’s as old as grandma. Little Ping’an also has beautiful mom and dad, and lots of yummy food."
Lin Lishan and her daughter laughed heartily. This kid’s so amusing, "Then if there’s sothing you want to eat, just ask little aunt. Little Ping’an can’t have what’s at little aunt’s."
Shi Tou jumped up with joy, "Oh oh, I’ve got sothing to eat! I still have 5 pieces of candy in my pocket now! I don’t want to eat it right now; I’ll take it back for my dad."
Xiao You touched his pocket, "I want to save it for my grandfather and grandmother. They gave all their candy to . Big brother, you give so to grandpa and grandma. Second brother, you give so to mom and dad. I won’t eat mine; you all can have it."
Lin Lishan, seeing these kids having a great ti, stood up and opened the drawer, grabbing a handful of candy, "There’s more, eat as you like, but no more than two pieces a day to protect your teeth. Open your pockets, Grandma will distribute candy. Ten pieces each; don’t eat before bedti. Save it for the morning, and when you finish, ask Grandma for more. Grandma will buy more if needed."
Mai Miao looked over at big brother Xi Zi, and the other kids turned to Xi Zi too. Xi Zi looked at everyone and said, "Let’s thank Grandma this ti, but no asking for more next ti. If you have so in your pocket, don’t ask for more until you’ve finished it. Don’t waste it; save it up. Grandma says sugar tickets are hard to co by. Last ti, little uncle only got two jin of sugar tickets for his wedding, and it was quite stressful."
"Big brother agreed, thank you, Grandma. Don’t buy next ti since Grandma said sugar tickets are hard to find."
"Big brother, how much candy is in two jin? Is it a lot? Give us an example, I’ll save mine for Grandma. Then Grandma won’t have to worry."
"Exactly, I’ve got it. Every ti I want candy, I’ll take a small bite and eat slowly. When there’s too much for to eat, I’ll give it to Grandma too."
Xi Zi thought for a mont, "One jin of hard candy is about 80 pieces. Cream candies are heavier; only 50 pieces. The hard candies we eat are 80 pieces per jin. Grandma gave each of us 10 pieces, which ans 60 pieces for the six of us. 80 minus 60 is 20, so Grandma would have to give us another 20 pieces, making it one jin of sugar tickets."
"Wow, big brother, you’re amazing! How do you know there are 80 pieces in one jin?" Xiao Zuo looked at Xi Zi with admiration.
Xi Zi rolled his eyes at him, "Our uncle said it last ti and you didn’t rember. Grandma asked Uncle why he bought more candy when there was so at ho. Uncle said there wasn’t much left, only about 80 pieces of hard candy in a jin. Cream candies are heavier, with only 50 pieces, one handful, and it’s gone. Isn’t that what he said? Little uncle told us to rember and think about these things."
Xiao Zuo thought then shook his head, "I didn’t pay attention. I was playing with Xiao You. Big brother, you’re as smart as uncle."
Xi Zi smiled at Xiao Zuo, "This isn’t smart; our uncle isn’t really smart and often forgets things. Grandma always scolds him for having a pig’s brain. Our uncle knows because he works at the supply and marketing cooperative and sells things every day, so he’s familiar. Only our little uncle is smart in our family. See, little uncle can buy at without tickets, but others can’t. If Grandma doesn’t have tickets, she finds little uncle, and little uncle goes to the city to see his classmates and then buys it back. You should also learn to be smart. If people outside ask you, don’t say we have white rice, at, and candy at ho, otherwise, they’ll think you’re a fool."
"We’re not fools. Grandma says I’m smart. When Gou Dan asked for candy, I said no. I just don’t take candy out."
"I’m also smart. When I went to Grandpa’s house for New Year, Grandpa asked what we ate at ho. I told him we didn’t have food to eat, only wild vegetable stead buns and vegetable porridge. Dad ca back and praised for being smart. Grandpa is always asking Mom for food, I do know that."
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