Zhao Yanping understood her brother’s personality, so she just ntioned it without any other intention.
"That’s good, Mom and Dad are getting older."
"But they don’t feel like they’re old yet. They still want more land. Both Second and I disagreed, so they gave up."
Mrs. Zhang was listening to the siblings chat and occasionally chid in.
The eldest brother’s nephews and nieces ca over. So for dinner, they had pancakes, sauerkraut and at stew, mixed cabbage hearts, and every al included soybean paste and pickles.
In another pot, sorghum porridge was boiling. The Zhao family’s kids were still a bit shy, so Zhao Yanping gave each of them a pancake and served them dishes, which helped ease the tension.
"Big Brother, tomorrow I’ll go with you to the police station to register a few kids for residency. It’s just that Zhixue and Haijun can’t be registered; they’re not your kids. But I asked, and they can attend school with proof."
"So Zhixue and Haijun can’t get food rations from here anymore?"
Zhao Yanping nodded. "Yeah, since their residency isn’t here, they can’t be counted as residents here and can’t get ration tickets."
"It’s okay. We brought so much grain from ho. Later, when the brothers-in-law co, they can bring more grain. It’ll be enough for them."
"Could I let my nephews go hungry? Don’t worry."
After dinner, it was completely dark. "Xiao Ping, I won’t go to Xiao Li’s house today. I’ll go tomorrow; it’s too late."
"Okay. Big Brother, is there anything missing at ho? I’ll bring tickets and fill in whatever’s missing tomorrow."
"Nothing’s missing. We have grain, and pots and pans. And this coal, who of you two bought it? I’ll pay you."
"My family bought it. You don’t need to pay."
"How can that be? If you’re supporting us, you’re supporting us. This isn’t a small amount of money. How much? I’ll give it to you."
"Big Brother, I don’t know either. Let’s wait for Fusheng to co back and talk then."
"Alright, I’ll take the kids ho. Tomorrow, I’ll wait for you at ho."
Hai Yan was very reluctant to part with her cousins, so they agreed to play together tomorrow. Jianhua was the sa. Mrs. Zhang sighed, there’s still a blood connection after all.
The six of them returned ho, and it was quite warm. At ho, there were five sets of bedding prepared, so Zhao Qingxiang slept with his eldest daughter. The little girl was unwilling, wanting to sleep with Second Sister instead.
On the second day, the two sisters got up early to light the fire and cook breakfast. After all, no one had lived there for a long ti, so the house got cold by midnight.
They made fried stick pancakes and cornal and sweet potato porridge for breakfast.
Zhao Qingxiang previously hadn’t realized this, but he now had a very clear understanding that the two young won were really sensible and capable.
Zhao Yanping was a bit late coming over because she first went to take leave and then went ho to pick up the two children before coming over.
Seeing the bike ridden by their eldest aunt, the two boys were very envious.
The siblings took the children to the police station.
The property deed was in Zhao Qingxiang’s na, and they presented the certificates issued by the farm for the five children. The clerk today didn’t ask any questions and directly registered the five children’s residency here.
Zhao Yanping tugged on her brother’s sleeve to stop him from speaking, and Zhao Qingxiang didn’t ask anything.
The siblings were quite happy. Even though Xu Haijun’s surna was different, nothing was asked.
Everything went very smoothly at the police station, and after they ca out, Zhao Qingxiang was still a bit nervous.
"I asked an old officer last ti. Maybe this one’s new and not very familiar with the rules, but it worked in our favor."
"Let’s go to the neighborhood committee; by the end of the month, we’ll have tickets for subsidies."
Zhao Yanping was also very happy. The family struck while the iron was hot and went directly to the neighborhood committee. There, they just checked the residency. Since they had the five children’s residency, they registered them there. They told them to co back with their booklets after the 26th of the month to get ticket stubs.
"Big Brother, all that’s left is to go to the school, but the school hasn’t started yet."
Zhao Qingxiang nodded. "I know, I’ll just wait. There’s nothing to do by going back now. I’ll return once the kids are settled in school."
"Alright."
"Xiao Ping, you go to work. Just let Hai Yan and Jianhua co to my house; the kids can play together, so you don’t need to worry."
"I’m not in a rush. Let’s go to the supply and marketing cooperative first and see what’s missing."
"No need. What you’ve prepared is very complete; nothing’s missing. You go to work, I’ll take care of the kids."
Zhao Yanping didn’t argue any further, instructed Hai Yan, and left on her bike.
Zhao Qingxiang took the seven children ho. Lunch was still prepared by Zhao Xiaoling and her sister. Hai Yan watched by the side. "Cousin, you’re amazing."
Zhao Xiaoling just smiled. It’s nothing; cooking every day has beco a habit.
The children played at ho until after five o’clock when Zhao Qingxiang took them to visit Zhao Yanli’s house.
"Big Brother, you ca over yesterday, why didn’t you co to my house?"
"We went to your eldest sister’s house yesterday. After dinner, it was too late, so we didn’t co over. This morning, we got the five children’s residency settled."
"All settled?"
"Yes, we were quite lucky. All five children’s residencies are settled."
Mr. and Mrs. Zhou, who were preparing dinner, insisted on keeping the family for dinner. It was quite sumptuous.
In the evening, Zhang Fusheng and Zhou Yongbing ca back. They were all aware that their brother-in-law had co. They all ca over the next day.
Seeing the house was quite tidy, and the snow in the yard was cleared. During snowfall, they only swept the snow from the roof.
Seeing that life was manageable and nothing was missing, they felt reassured.
On the sixteenth of the first lunar month, Zhang Fusheng and Zhou Yongbing took their uncle and six children to the school.
Because the residencies were transferred here, the procedures were very simple. The only thing left waiting was the exams.
Zhixue and Haijun took tests for the second grade. The two sisters took tests for the third grade.
Zhao Xiaoling and Zhao Xiaole had a solid learning foundation, and they answered the first sester’s third-grade final exams papers very smoothly.
Haijun and Zhixue stumbled through. When the results ca out, the two sisters were expectedly admitted to the third grade, but Haijun and Zhixue just barely passed.
The teacher found Zhao Qingxiang. He was quite troubled since these were not his own children.
So he called the two over. "The teacher’s point is that you two haven’t mastered the second-grade knowledge well. What do you think? The teacher is worried you won’t keep up if you go to second grade. Your age is actually suitable for first grade."
The two looked at the red crosses on their answer sheets, lowered their heads in sha. "Uncle, I’ll start first grade."
"Big Uncle, I’ll start first grade too."
"Alright, you two are the young n of the family and must study hard. I hope you achieve good grades."
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