The iron stove wasn’t placed in the sleeping room; it was also for the children’s safety.
Zhao Qingxiang taught the children how to light the stove. Actually, the central room was warm, and the room wouldn’t be too cold.
Both large pots had water boiling, so the room could warm up quickly.
"Dad, all the corn has been ground into cornal. The food we brought is all in these three large jars. The at and fat are also here."
"Hmm, your aunt prepared it all for you."
Now, the boys started cleaning; even the bedsheets were new. The bedding was in the cabinet, and there were new clothes, new cotton-padded clothes prepared for them.
"Aunt has done it all."
"You must study hard. Look at how your aunt and uncle have prepared for your education. They are very thoughtful." Zhao Qingxiang advised the children once more.
All of them nodded, even Zhao Xiaohong followed along. Zhao Qingxiang felt very relieved.
"Dad, I’ll extract the oil now. Otherwise, it’s pointless to burn the fire."
"Okay, but let do it instead." The eldest daughter was very considerate.
"Dad, you go check if anything else needs fixing. Xiao Le and I can handle this."
Zhao Qingxiang nodded. Indeed, everything needed to be checked—the roof, the windows. Also, the snow in the yard should be cleared.
Even though the two sisters were young, they had been working since they were three or four years old, capable of doing everything.
One kneaded the dough to prepare to steam wotou, while the other started extracting oil.
Maybe it was the new environnt. Zhixue and Hai Jun also helped Zhao Qingxiang with the work.
"Very good; both of you have grown up. In the future, your sisters will need you both to take care of them."
The two children nodded firmly. This is how children are; they hope to be praised by adults, especially being told they’ve grown up and are responsible.
In the hands of those who have long been working, there’s no task that can’t be completed. Zhao Xiaoling extracted a large jar of rendered oil and also chopped up so deep-fried, large green onions. It was mixed into the well-prepared cornal, making it thoroughly aromatic.
Sauerkraut simred under the pot, with corn cakes sticking to the sides. A pot was ready.
The five of them had lunch together. This was their first ti working, and it was outdoors with only one elder. Despite feeling a bit scared, there was also so excitent.
After lunch, the house ward up. Zhao Xiaoling and her sister asked everyone to take off their coats. The hot water was abundant, so the two sisters washed the clothes.
The house was cleaned up nicely, everything looking particularly comfortable.
Originally, the two boys were assigned one room and the three girls another. But since they were all family, and still young, "The five of you should sleep in one room this winter; it’s warr."
The two boys didn’t mind; they were actually a bit scared too.
In the afternoon, Zhao Qingxiang took the five children to the supply and marketing cooperative, where the children’s household registration would be settled. It ant they were entitled to the provisions here, a place they would often visit, making it important for them to familiarize themselves, as they would eventually have to rely on themselves.
He bought two packs of snacks. The food tickets were given by the two brothers-in-law, but both sisters’ hos had elderly people. They couldn’t go empty-handed, though it was only two pounds of snacks per family; it was still a gesture of goodwill.
Back ho, he filled the iron stove with honeycomb briquettes, placing sweet potatoes beside it to roast slowly. Zhao Qingxiang didn’t want to let the children down; if conditions allowed, he’d certainly give them the best.
Noting the ti, his sisters should be off work soon. Thus, he took the five children over to Zhao Yanping’s ho.
Along the way, he told them to rember the route, as it wasn’t very close.
The two boys were lively. Zhao Xiaoling and Zhao Xiaole, the two sisters, remained very silent, having long been undervalued, yet they rembered the way.
Zhao Yanping had just arrived ho from work and was preparing to cook, chatting with Mrs. Zhang, "I guess my elder brother should be coming soon, but I’m not sure which day."
"He’ll definitely co before school starts."
"Mom, my uncle’s here." Zhang Jianhua ran into the central room.
Zhao Yanping laughed, "Mom, my mouth is quite accurate. I was just talking about my elder brother, and here he is."
Hai Yan heard her younger brother’s shout and imdiately ran outside. She still rembered her cousin.
Zhao Xiaoling and the others rembered their aunt, having visited before.
"Brother, when did you arrive? Xiao Ling, Xiao Le, Zhixue, Hai Jun, and our Little Hong, hurry in."
Mrs. Zhang also ca out. Zhao Qingxiang quickly greeted them and had the children do the sa.
Hai Yan held Zhao Xiaoling’s hand, the two not having seen each other for several years, but they knew of one another.
"Where’s your husband?"
"He went on a drive, should return tomorrow."
"Headed out in such heavy snow? Isn’t it dangerous?"
"No choice, it’s part of the job. It’s not too far. Brother, when did you arrive?"
"We arrived in the morning, went straight ho, and needed to get the fires going."
Mrs. Zhang looked at the children, feeling sentintal. Though they wore old clothes and seed quiet, they were clean. That’s all that mattered. They seed honest and behaved, not annoying even when at others’ hos.
She looked at the little girl, who gazed at her shyly, reminding her of her grandson. She really liked the child.
"Xiao Ping, let’s go over to Xiao Li’s place and take a look."
"Brother, eat first before you go."
"Yes, I’ll start cooking. You should have dinner at ho." Mrs. Zhang smiled, knowing her daughter-in-law’s family cared deeply for them, always bringing food, eggs, chicken, duck, everything whenever visiting. Now with the children attending school, they’d surely take care of them, and not let them leave without eating.
Hai Yan and her cousins played well together, while Jianhua played with his two cousins.
Little Hong sat on the kang with her little cousin. The two were getting along quite well.
Zhao Qingxiang felt awkward, wanting to help out, but was refused.
"Nephew, no need for that, go sit inside."
"Aunt, I’d rather sit here, keeping the fire and chatting with you."
"Alright, alright." Her daughter-in-law’s family really wasn’t botherso.
"Brother, did you leave on the fifth?"
"Yes, took the train on the sixth. We moved into Yuanyuan’s old house. Mr. Li’s family has already reached the Capital, found Yuanyuan."
"That’s nice, though it’s a bit far from Mom and Dad now. But Qing Jie is nearby."
"In a few years, we’ll have Mom and Dad live with us. This year, my wife and I will open up wasteland; once we have enough land, we’ll invite them over."
Zhao Qingxiang had long planned this, ensuring his parents wouldn’t live alone. As they aged, he really couldn’t bear leaving them on their own.
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