The two sisters Zhang Meili from the Zhang family had finished their third bath long ago. They carried Xiao Ping'an and followed Lin Lishan back to the west wing to find Zhou Jiao.

The two sisters went into the inner room, laughing happily. The eldest sister, Zhang Meili, who was quick-witted, said to Zhou Jiao, "Jiaojiao, how are you? Are you sorry that you can't come out to watch the fun while you're in confinement? Ping'an's crying was so loud today, it's a good omen."

Zhou Jiao asked them to find a stool and sit down. "Big sister, second sister, haven't you eaten yet? Why don't you eat and come in? You know my mother, right? I just told her that you are all coming back today. Where are the children?"

Zhang Meili smiled and joked, "Just now, Xiaowu told me that this was your mother. I was shocked. Auntie is so young and beautiful. I wanted to call her grandma, but I couldn't bring myself to do it, so I just called her auntie. Auntie, please don't blame us sisters for being rude. This time you come here, you must stay here for a while and accompany Jiaojiao."

Lin Lishan gently put Ping An down on the kang, turned around and said with a smile: "I am old but still young. You two sisters are so beautiful. You look like your mother."

Zhou Jiao secretly covered her mouth and asked, "Mom, did Xizi look for you today?"

"I found him. I told him to follow me if he agreed, but he had to be obedient and not run around. Otherwise, if he gets lost, we won't be able to find him."

Zhou Jiao laughed heartily and said to Zhang Meili and her sister, "Last night, Xizi wanted to go to the provincial capital with my mother, so he went to find his uncle. He said a few words in the kitchen and choked his uncle. Well, I'll imitate it for you. 'Uncle, don't worry about grandma driving alone. I see my aunt is very worried. You can't do that. My uncle always says that if you can make the mother-in-law feel at ease, the wife will be happy.' 'I think your mother-in-law is too young. She is about the same age as my mother and very beautiful. Grandma needs someone to protect her when she goes out. This person can't be too old or too young.' What do you think? I almost choked with laughter."

Everyone burst into laughter. It was so funny. Lin Lishan put the diaper on the plate and said with a smile, "Just for these few words, I want to take him with me. This child is really smart. He has to get his uncle's permission."

Zhang Meili and her sister were also very happy.

"This kid knows how to beat around the bush, but it's troublesome for Auntie to take him there. No need to listen to him."

"It's no trouble. I can just drive over there. I won't be lonely on the road with this little guy. And you don't think he'll try to recruit me. That kid is very smart."

As they were talking, a group of children rushed in from outside, shouting at them. They all gathered in front of the kang to look at Ping An, watching him talking there.

After using up the two kilograms of sugar she bought that day, Zhou Jiao had nothing else to offer. "Have you eaten noodles?"

"Aunt, we've all eaten it. It's delicious, with lots of meat."

"Aunt, I've eaten too. I ate three big pieces of meat. My mother said I can't eat any more because it will make my stomach uncomfortable."

Zhang Meili hurriedly called for a halt, saying, "Take your time! Didn't you just distribute the candy and leave? How did someone come in? And you little ones, stop jumping when you see the baby on the kang. Why didn't you call grandma when you came in?"

Zhang Ziwen looked at his mother and smiled sheepishly, "Mom, I think the baby's grandma is about the same age as you, I don't know what to call her?"

"Haha, silly boy, where's the generation difference? Your nephew is the same age as your father, so why does he call you uncle? Go and say hello to grandma."

The children shouted "Grandma" together, which made Lin Lishan laugh. She quickly took out a handful of banknotes from her pocket and said, "You are all good children. You all have candies. Then grandma will give you money, one yuan each, to buy snacks."

"No, we have candy."

"Thank you, grandma. We have already eaten. You can't take it."

"Grandma, I've already had my share of the candy you gave me. I can't take any more."

Zhang Meili and Zhang Meihao quickly grabbed Lin Lishan's hand and said, "Auntie, please don't be like this. They will keep the New Year's money if you give it to them during the Chinese New Year. They won't accept it even if you give it to them now. Look, they all ran away."

Lin Lishan had no choice. She couldn't just run out and give money to everyone one by one. Many children from the village came outside today. She thought about going back to the provincial capital to see if there were any children who liked it.

"Okay, don't pull me. I won't go out even if they all run away."

The three of them looked at the clothes that had been delivered to them from the end of the kang and helped to pack them up and put them in order. Zhang Meili saw a small, beautifully knitted sweater, made of blue and white yarn woven into a diamond shape. She had never seen such a pattern before. "Jiaojiao, who gave this to you? It took a lot of effort to make this sweater."

Zhou Jiao knew immediately, "It was sent by my classmate Zhao Yuanyuan, the daughter of Zhao Dashan from the Armed Forces Department. She and the two other boys are all good friends of ours. They probably didn't ask for the afternoon off, so they left as soon as they dropped it off."

Zhang Meihao looked at a few pairs of tiger-head shoes and held them up. "Look at the shoes, they're exquisitely made. They must be from her shop. One is wrapped in leather, and inside is a set of cotton clothes and trousers. This gift is quite a big deal."

Lin Lishan took it and looked at it. It was really beautiful. "Well, it's from Zhao Dashan's family, right? Jiaojiao, remember to ask for favors from his family in the future."

Zhou Jiao looked at the sweater and clothes and nodded, "I know, Mom. She gave us a lot of gifts when we got married. She came as my bridesmaid."

Zhou Jiao thought for a moment and asked Zhang Meili, "Sister, my aunt sent over a basket of eggs, clothes, and shoes. I heard from my sister-in-law that there are more than the previous children. Do you think you can tell my mother about this? I think it's too late and she'll be gone. Her family isn't well off, so think about what gifts to bring back."

Zhang Meili stood up and said, "Okay, thank goodness you remembered. I'll go right away. My aunt-in-law is like that. She doesn't want to embarrass me when she has something. Her family should be doing better these past two years, so she gave me a lot."

Seeing that the mother and daughter were both confused, Zhang Meihao explained to them, "As for my aunt, she doesn't like to take advantage of others. A few years ago, when the family was in financial difficulty, Xiaowu went to visit them and came back with a large bag of coarse grains. Since then, every New Year and other festivals, Xiaowu has sent pheasants and rabbits. She remembers Xiaowu's kindness, otherwise her eldest daughter-in-law would definitely be here today."

Zhou Jiao nodded and asked her, "I remember her family lived in the mountains. Why did Xiaowu send her pheasants and rabbits?"

Zhang Meihao didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Do you think people in the mountains have no shortage of wild animals? No, that depends on the mountains and whether there is anyone in their family who can hunt. Aren't these two uncles the only ones left in my grandfather's family? They don't let them go up the mountain for fear of danger. Now, no children know how to hunt. Look at our eldest and second brothers, they can't do it. At most, they'll be lucky enough to pick up something on the outskirts.

Xiaowu has been clever since he was little, following his grandfather and father hunting. Grandpa is an old hunter and taught him almost every trick. Dad used to go up the mountain often, but now he doesn't dare go deep into the mountains. When he was little, his parents spoiled him and wouldn't let him go. If he wasn't seen for a while, they would catch a few pheasants and rabbits. The most amazing one was a sika deer. Later, Dad made an agreement with him that he could only go halfway up Daqing Mountain. Otherwise, he would be too bold. Didn't he tell you that?"