Chapter 160: Mechanical Factory Workers

The hiring at the mechanical factory ended quietly, and Xu An stayed home to help take care of Tangtang.

When the first snow fell, the heating stove was lit. To prevent Tangtang from getting cold, they had started warming the kang a month ago.

With the stove going, the entire room was cozy and warm, and Tangtang wore a thin cotton jacket while playing on the kang.

Niuniu and Pip are quite strong; at just four months old, they could already roll over. Tangtang was a bit weaker but could also twist around on the kang.

Xu Ning smiled and said, “In a few months, all three of them will be crawling. At that time, we won’t be able to leave them alone for even a moment.”

Xu An also laughed and replied, “Tomorrow, I’ll ask Uncle Carpenter to make a fence to surround the edge of the kang, so we won’t have to worry about them crawling out.” After saying that, he took a ruler to measure the dimensions.

Xu Ning nodded and said, “That’s a good idea. We can wrap the fence in cloth so they won’t bump into it.”

Before Xu An could arrange the fence, Fan Sizhe came to inform him that the mechanical factory would start hiring again the next day.

Xu An went to notify the young educated workers and the people in the village, and now everyone knew about the factory’s recruitment.

This time, even more people showed up; all the junior high and high school students from the village went.

Not only from their village, but many from other teams also came. Last time there were over two hundred people, but this time there were five or six hundred, making it significantly more difficult to get accepted.

Xu An didn’t think too much about it. After the exam, he went to the carpenter to arrange the fence. He told him the dimensions and gave him the drawings Xu Ning had made, asking him to follow them.

Now that it had snowed, Wei Lanlan and Yang Xiaomei, both with small children, wouldn’t be coming to visit at night either.

With the villagers living so far away, they rarely came during the day, let alone at night.

After dinner, Mother Xu and Aunt Lu came over, and once they arrived, Xu Ning basically didn’t need to take care of the three children.

This allowed her to read, take a break, and do some of her own things.

On the third day, the mechanical factory announced the recruitment results. Surprisingly, three from Yushu Village were selected: Xu An, Sun Hao, and Hong Dang.

Fan Sizhe and Jin Dapeng also passed the exam.

Fan Sizhe told Xu An that the new factory director personally reviewed the exam papers, and none of those with low qualifications or who used connections made it in.

Hong Dang didn’t want to commute every day, so he stayed in the factory dormitory.

Both Sun Hao and Xu An wanted to return home every day, so they agreed to ride Xu Ning’s bicycle to work.

Once the heavy snow blocked the mountains, they planned to stay in the factory dormitory and return home on Sundays.

During the heavy snowfall, Xu Mo’s school was also on break, so he brought his small bundle and stayed over at his siblings’ place.

Every day, he washed the diapers for Niu Pi Tang, laying them out by the fire to dry after washing.

While muttering about how the three of them ate and pooped, he washed with great enthusiasm.

Xu Ning asked him to play with Niu Pi Tang while she washed, but the boy refused.

Once again, he began to grumble.

“Look at how wasteful you three are! The stove has to keep boiling water all day long to wash your diapers.

Do you know how expensive this coal is? These are the coal balls that your dad worked so hard to make.

And look at this soap, it’s such a big bar, and it’s almost gone!”

Xu Ning watched him sitting there, washing while chatting, and smiled as she asked, “Xiao Mo, what do you want for lunch? I’ll make it for you.”

Xu Mo replied, “Sister, you just keep an eye on Niu Pi Tang and the others. I’ll finish washing soon, and then I’ll go cook.

Today, I’ll make you egg pancakes and cook some millet porridge. Grandpa Qi said my egg pancakes are really delicious.”

Xu Ning laughed and said, “Great! Today, I’ll try the egg pancakes and millet porridge made by Xiao Mo.”

Xu Mo said proudly, “Sister, you just wait and see! I guarantee that after you try it this time, you’ll want to have it again next time. My cooking skills aren’t something to be taken lightly.

Now both Dad and Uncle Lu say my cooking is the best, though Mom and Aunt Lu still don’t believe it. Hmph!”

Xu Ning really wanted to tell him, “Xiao Mo, that’s just Dad and Uncle Lu flattering you about your cooking.”

But she decided against it, thinking it was better to let the kid figure it out on his own. If she told him now, he might get embarrassed and angry, and then she wouldn’t get to eat his cooking anymore.

Xu Mo set the thick millet porridge and golden egg pancakes on the table, along with the stir-fried cabbage.

After taking a bite of the egg pancake, Xu Ning couldn’t help but admit that the kid’s skills were indeed impressive.

She gave him a thumbs-up and praised, “Xiao Mo, it’s only been a little while since I last ate your cooking, and you’ve improved quite a bit! Where did you learn this skill?”

Xu Mo, filled with pride, replied, “Sister, it’s delicious, right? Aunt Lu taught me how to make it, but I do it better now!”