Chapter 158: Milk Powder

“Xiao An, tomorrow I need to go to the city to buy some things and check on Grandpa Wang. Can you watch the kids at home?”

Xu An said, “Sister, why don’t I go instead? What if Tangtang gets hungry?”

Xu Ning laughed and replied, “I’ll feed them well before I leave. I’ll ride my bicycle, and will be back quickly.”

She hadn’t been to the city for a long time. The milk powder that Lu Xiaotang had brought before was nearly used up.

Recently, he sent back four cans, and they had already consumed two of them. Both boys had big appetites, so the milk powder was running out fast.

She also needed to take some fabric and cotton since the weather was starting to get cold, and she wanted to make a few quilts for the children.

Xu Ning also wanted to visit Grandpa Wang and Grandma Wang, as Xu An had been the one going there recently to bring them some vegetables and grains.

Before Lu Xiaotang left, he also brought them some coal, so they had no problems in their daily life.

When Grandpa Wang went out to gather firewood, Grandma Wang opened the door and, upon seeing her, was overjoyed. She grabbed Xu Ning’s hand and pulled her into the house.

“Xiao Ning, what brings you here? Who is watching the babies at home?”

Xu Ning smiled and replied, “Grandma Wang, Xiao An is at home taking care of the kids. I came to check on you and Grandpa Wang and to bring you some food.”

Grandma Wang said cheerfully, “Xiao Ning, both your grandpa and I are doing well. As the weather gets colder, you shouldn’t run around here; just take good care of the three kids at home.”

Xu Ning took the meat and grains off her bicycle and smiled, “I understand. From now on, I’ll let Xiao An run here more often. When Niu Pi Tang gets a bit bigger, I’ll bring them over to visit you and Grandpa Wang.”

After chatting with Grandma Wang for a while, Xu Ning hurriedly rode her bike back.

Tangtang needed to be fed every two hours during the day. Having been breastfed since birth, she had never tried milk powder, which made Xu Ning worry that she might struggle to adjust and would cry later.

The two boys, on the other hand, were fine with milk powder. As long as they were fed, they would lie on the kang and play quietly, not crying or causing a fuss.

She found a secluded spot and put some fabric, cotton, and a few bags of milk powder into her backpack.

She decided to let Xu An buy the remaining items the next time he went to the city; she wouldn’t be going to the supply and marketing cooperative today.

As she pedaled her bicycle quickly toward home, she thought to herself, being a mother really means sacrificing freedom! She felt uneasy being away from the kids for even a short while.

As soon as she entered the house, she heard Tangtang crying. She left her bicycle in the yard, not even bothering to take the things off, and quickly washed her hands before walking into the room. Xu An was holding Tangtang and trying to soothe her.

Niuniu and Pipi were lying on the kang, wide-eyed and babbling to themselves.

Seeing her return, Xu An quickly said, “Sister, Tangtang is hungry. I made her some milk powder, but

Xu Ning hurriedly took Tangtang from Xu An and said, “Xiao An, the things I bought are still outside. Could you go grab them for me?”

Tangtang caught a whiff of her scent and nestled her head into Xu Ning’s embrace. She quickly unbuttoned her clothing to let Tangtang nurse.

The little girl was now over three months old, with a rosy little face that looked completely different from when she was just born.

Niuniu and Pipi were also quite sturdy, their chubby faces beaming with health. When they were full, they loved to smile widely, which was utterly adorable. They were nursed three times every night.

Aunt Lu and Mother Xu took turns caring for them in the evenings, while Xu Ning focused solely on Tangtang.

Her milk supply was now only enough for two of them, so the brothers had to have some milk powder added. The two little boys were not picky eaters; they would eat whatever was given to them.

Both Mother Xu and Aunt Lu remarked how sweet the two boys were to their little sister, knowing there wasn’t enough milk. They made sure to prioritize their sister.

Xu Ning listened, feeling speechless. What did such small children know? They were already making sacrifices for their sister.

When she was nursing them, she hadn’t seen anyone eat less; they all had to be forcefully pulled away from her.

When Mother Xu and Aunt Lu arrived in the evening, they noticed a bundle of cotton and fabric on the kang and asked, “Xiao Ning, is this for making cotton clothes for the kids?”

Xu Ning nodded and smiled, “I’m planning to make a few quilts for the three of them. Since they won’t be going out in the winter, I won’t make cotton clothes just yet. I’ll make those for them once they can walk next year.”

Aunt Lu laughed and said, “Then just make the quilts. Your mom and I can handle that, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

Mother Xu added, “Xiao Ning, how about you and Xiao An switch rooms?”

“Now that the weather is cold, there aren’t many people coming here in the evenings. Your mom and I can come at night to help you take care of the kids, so you can have an easier time,” Her mother suggested.

Xu Ning thought about it and agreed. If Xiao An managed to get the job during the interview, he would be going to the city to work, and when heavy snow blocked the mountains, he wouldn’t be able to come back often.

During the winter, there wasn’t much work to do at the cattle shed, so having extra help at night to care for the children would be beneficial for everyone.

“Mom, then I’ll have Xiao An switch rooms tomorrow. I’ll move into that room, and when it snows, you two can stay here at night to help me take care of Tangtang.”