Chapter 1112: Chapter 985: Arriving Smoothly
On the morning of the second day after the Minor Year in the Northeast, on the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, the platform at the provincial city train station displayed a rare and spectacular scene.
—A dozen young lads stood in a row, craning their necks and peering at the train slowly pulling into the station. In between them stood soldiers.
"Grandpa Zhao, is it this train?"
Zhao Chuan Guang nodded repeatedly, bothered by them, "Yes, it definitely is."
"It’s here! You young ones stand still, we’ll run over."
"Do you know which carriage? Stay put and don’t move." Zhao Chuan Guang hurriedly stopped them. Goodness, so many of you rushing over could frighten the alighting passengers.
They didn’t move, but as soon as the train stopped, the voices calling the names of the Ping An Brothers rose and fell, making Zhao Chuan Guang stare.
Can’t you stop embarrassing yourselves?
As soon as Ping’an stood at the carriage door, he was startled by the scene in front of him, then he waved in response, holding his two brothers’ hands, following Uncle Wang and the others forward.
"You must be exhausted, right? Come, go home with Grandpa."
"Grandpa Zhao, in the future, in the future I’ll definitely bring my brothers to visit, my grandpa and grandma are still waiting, hehe..." Xi Zi immediately laughed as soon as Zhao Chuan Guang began speaking.
"Yes, why don’t you come to the county too?"
Zhao Chuan Guang looked amusedly at the young lads and asked the Ping An Brothers, "What’s your decision?"
Ping’an squeezed his hand and smiled, "Second Grandpa, wait a moment, let me ask the elder brothers. Brother Xi Zi, where’s your wedding?"
"At the old home." Xi Zi had planned, "Grandpa Zhao, let’s do this, we’ll take the brothers back first, and return to the city in a couple of days to visit you."
Zhao Chuan Guang was reluctant to let the children run around in the freezing weather, "Don’t rush to talk. I want to take them back to see their Second Grandma, then I’ll send them back to the village. You need to get your business done quickly and return soon."
The bride’s family is in the provincial city, the wedding is in Zhang Family Village, and the two places aren’t far apart. Although Zhao Chuan Guang wasn’t quite sure about the specific wedding itinerary for the next few days, with so many lads rushing to the provincial city, apart from picking up the three children, the main reason should also be the wedding preparations.
Zhang Ziwen thought it made sense too. Squeezing into the car with the bride’s relatives, and then looking at the two soldiers protecting the Ping An Brothers, he pulled Xi Zi, "I think what Grandpa Zhao said makes sense, let’s get the things moved first, and bring Ping’an over to the new house to play in a few days."
Xi Zi patted the hats on Liu Yi and May 1st’s heads, "You guys be good over there, go home early today, Big Brother hid lots of candy for you."
Liu Yi nodded, "Congratulations, Brother Xi Zi."
After exiting the station, Zhao Chuan Guang took Ping’an and five others into the car, separating from Xi Zi. Once the car had traveled a bit, he said, "You don’t need to return so early, any time tomorrow afternoon is fine."
Ping’an shook his head, "Second Grandpa, we’ll leave after seeing Grandma and the uncles. After Brother Xi Zi’s wedding is over, the three of us will come to stay for a couple of days."
"Are you worried that people will know you returned for the wedding and ask for favors?"
Ping’an smiled but remained silent.
"Alright, then after the banquet, I’ll bring you back."
Ping’an asked disapprovingly, "You’re not planning on joining the fun with the other grandpas, are you? Why not wait until we get married before you come over."
Zhao Chuan Guang hesitated for a moment, "We really don’t need to go?"
"No need, you guys are probably busy by the end of the year too. I thought they’d just hold a simple meal at the workplace cafeteria, but it got a bit complicated."
Zhao Chuan Guang listened to what he said, and seeing the two younger ones nodding, was delighted and decided not to insist on attending the wedding. However, going to Zhang Family Village was still necessary, and the social obligations were left for Zhao Dashan to handle.
Earlier that morning, Zhao Chuan Guang’s wife, Huang Huijuan, after attending a meeting at work, hurriedly ran home under the guise of an outing, barely catching her breath when she saw the car returning.
She was overjoyed, pulling Ping’an to take a good look at him, hugging the twins tightly, she was satisfied as she ran to the kitchen to warm up the snacks prepared earlier.
Ping’an opened up the luggage bag, first taking out the New Year gifts for Zhao Chuan Guang’s family, "Second Grandpa, later I’ll need you to make a call to my grandpa, let him know we’ve arrived safely."
"Alright, I reckon your grandpa will call this afternoon once work starts. Uncle Wang, you and the colleague should have brought your documents, right? I’ll take you to pick up the car later."
Seeing them discuss what time to depart, Ping’an didn’t butt into the conversation. Before arriving, his grandpa had instructed their three brothers that they could trust the two uncles.
By the time they returned to Zhang Family Village, it was already two in the afternoon. Unlike summer, the snowy, mountainous roads of Zhang Family Village had few pedestrians. Ping’an had Uncle Wang drive the car directly into their courtyard.
Passing the old house, the door was wide open with people coming and going, while the gate to his courtyard also wasn’t locked, the car directly stopped within, and Ping’an led the group of five into the main room first.
It seems Mother Zhang learned of their return, as the kang in the main room was already heated. Ping’an entered to check the side rooms; apart from his parents’ bedroom, there were no quilts in the others.
Thus, he understood that his grandma hadn’t arranged for relatives to stay at their home. This was great, he was not comfortable sharing a roof with strangers.
Placing the quilts that Zhao Chuan Guang arranged for them to bring in the empty east room, Ping’an let Uncle Wang and the two rest first. On the train, the two uncles hadn’t closed their eyes to protect them.
Furthermore, he didn’t want any tactless people to see Uncle Wang and come asking to drive them somewhere or do them a favor.
It’s important to note that although they were guards around his grandpa, they weren’t of low rank. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to get a military vehicle. Moreover, for the three brothers, Uncle Xiao Wang and Uncle Xiao Zheng, who watched them grow up, were like family.
With repeated assurances that they wouldn’t leave Zhang Family Village, after settling them down, the news reached Mother Zhang, who hadn’t arrived yet, her voice came first.
"We’re here, Grandma, we’re inside."
The three brothers responded while quickly lifting the door curtain and heading to the courtyard. They saw their grandma just stepping through the gate a few steps in, delighted, with the twins rushing towards her.
"Oh dear, little ancestors, slow down, be careful not to trip."
"Grandma, we missed you, we’re just about to come and find you."
Sweet Wu Yi followed Liu Yi’s words, "Grandma, why have you lost weight? You’re breaking your little grandson’s heart." He said, holding her hand, "Look, it’s frozen, let me warm it up for you."
Mother Zhang laughed heartily. Was she losing weight? She didn’t lack food or clothing. However, the little grandson’s words were indeed sweet, just like their father.
Ping’an stepped forward and stood before her, "Grandma, my parents asked me to pass on their apologies to you and grandpa, hoping you two would come with us after the New Year."
"They’re silly. Sorry for what? Grandma knows they’re busy. Come, it’s cold outside, let’s talk indoors. Who drove you here? Did you thank them?"
The twins held onto Mother Zhang from both sides, and Ping’an, hearing her ask this, smiled, "Grandpa had Uncle Xiao Wang and Uncle Xiao Zheng bring Wan Pingmi over. They haven’t slept on the way here, I just forced them to rest in the east room. Grandma, let’s go to the west wing first."
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