Chapter 179: Daddy’s Back

After returning from the educated youth compound, the little ones were all tired. She steamed some eggs and fed them, and once the three were full, they fell asleep.

When Xu An came home from work, the house was very quiet. Xu Ning was tidying up the vegetable garden, preparing to plant cabbage.

Curiously, he asked, “Sister, why didn’t I hear Niu Pi Tang talking today?”

She smiled and replied, “They played hard at the youth compound this afternoon and just fell asleep after I coaxed them.”

“Xiao An, I’ve tidied up the garden. You can ride your bicycle to Uncle Dashuan’s house now to bring back the cabbage seedlings. While the three of them are asleep, we can get the vegetables planted.”

“Okay, sister, I’ll go right now.”

The day after the autumn harvest began, Lu Xiaotang returned home. Xu Ning was sitting outside, telling stories to Niu Pi Tang, while Niu Niu and Pi Pi wore the gray clothes and cloth shoes that their grandmothers had made for them. Tang Tang was dressed in a complete outfit sent by Lu Xiaoran.

The three little ones sat obediently on the small bed, munching on cookies while listening intently to their mother’s tales.

When a knock sounded at the door, Xu Ning assumed it was Wei Lanlan bringing her children over to play, so she hurried to open it.

Their home was located in a relatively remote area, nestled close to Daqing Mountain.

During the autumn harvest, everyone was busy working in the fields, so there weren’t many people around.

To maintain some security, she locked the door from the inside every day.

Peering through the crack of the door, she caught sight of a figure dressed in army green, and a wave of happiness washed over her as she swung the door open.

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t be back for a few more days? Why are you here already?” she exclaimed, her voice filled with surprise and delight.

Without answering her, Lu Xiaotang set his luggage down on the ground and pulled her into a tight embrace, filling the moment with warmth and comfort.

 “Once I finished my tasks, I came back. Xiao Ning, why have you lost so much weight?” Lu Xiaotang asked, furrowing his brow.

“I’m not thin; I’m about the same as before.”

“How can you say you’re not thin? You’ve lost a lot of weight since I left,” Lu Xiaotang remarked as he looked at her waist and body.

Xu Ning laughed and replied, “You came back right after I gave birth, and my body hadn’t fully recovered then. Now it’s been over a year, and I’m back to normal.”

As she spoke, she pulled him toward the room. Niu Pi Tang stood on the small bed, holding onto the railing, and curiously watched his mother and the man who had just walked in with wide eyes.

Lu Xiaotang saw the three soft and chubby little bundles standing on the bed. They had been well taken care of by their mother, looking fair and plump, with rosy cheeks that made them appear very healthy. Even Tang Tang, who had been weak at birth, now had a healthy, flushed face.

Lu Xiaotang’s eyes were a bit red-rimmed.

Xu Ning smiled and said, “Niu Niu, Pi Pi, Tang Tang, your daddy is back. Quickly call him ‘Daddy.’”

Niu Pi Tang looked at him in confusion but still followed his mother’s instruction and called out, “Daddy.”

Lu Xiaotang smiled and gently ruffled the hair of the three children. “My daughter and sons are so well-behaved and have grown so beautifully. Xiao Ning, you’ve worked hard this past year.”

“It wasn’t too hard,” she replied modestly. “In the evenings, I had Mom and the others to help, so I hardly had to manage everything on my own. During the day, Xiao An and Xiao Mo were also there to assist. With you earning money outside, we didn’t lack for food or clothing. Life has been quite comfortable.”

“Why don’t you take your luggage inside first? I’ll boil some water for you, and you can wash up before playing with the three of them,” Xu Ning suggested, her tone warm and inviting.

Lu Xiaotang knew better than to believe it was all that easy. Even though there were two mothers helping at night, during the day, when Xiao An went to work and Xiao Mo went to school, she had to care for all three children by herself, washing and feeding them. It wasn’t as simple as she made it sound.

He sighed, feeling a bit guilty about his own smell potentially bothering the little ones, and quickly walked a bit further away to give them space.

Niu Pi Tang didn’t pay much attention to their father’s departure; they continued to sit on the small bed, engrossed in their play with various toys, their laughter filling the air as they created their own little world.

After taking a shower, Lu Xiaotang wanted to go and pick up Niu Pi Tang.

Xu Ning was cooking noodles in the kitchen while the three little ones glanced at him but ignored him, continuing to play with their small toys.

He leaned over with a smile and said, “Niu Niu, Pi Pi, Tang Tang, how about Daddy takes you outside to play?”

Xu Ning heard him from inside and laughed, “You should come over and eat some noodles first. After you eat, you can take them out to play. They don’t usually interact with unfamiliar people when I’m not around.”

“True, my sons and daughter are quite wary,” Lu Xiaotang replied.

Xu Ning looked at him, speechless. “At their age, what kind of wariness do they have? They’re just not familiar with you yet; it’s normal for little kids to be shy. Come on and eat.”

She served him a big bowl of noodles and also prepared a smaller bowl to feed the triplets.

When the three little ones saw their mother bringing food, they abandoned their toys and scrambled up, shouting, “Mommy, eat, eat!”

“Alright, Mommy will feed you. Stand nicely,” Xu Ning encouraged.

Lu Xiaotang also brought out his noodles. Niu Pi Tang held onto the railing, standing there obediently, waiting for their mother to feed them. They looked absolutely adorable.

After finishing their meal, Lu Xiaotang picked up Tang Tang in his arms.

Xu Ning took Niu Niu and Pi Pi for a stroll outside, and the three children were very excited as soon as they stepped out the door.

Niu Niu and Pi Pi pulled Xu Ning, eager to head toward the main road.

Since they lived relatively far from the village, Xu Ning rarely took them there. It was only a while ago, during Xiao An’s break, that they had gone to Aunt Dashuan’s house to play for a bit.

Most of the time, she would just take them to visit the educated youth compound or stroll by the small creek.