“Have you eaten?” Ning Shu smiled politely, “Comrade Zhang, did you just get back? Haven’t had dinner yet, have you?”

Zhang Xian replied, “Just got back. I’ll just make something simple at home later.” After a pause, he added, “This time, Ning Qin stayed back home to take care of her pregnancy.

Our place here is empty and going to waste, so I’ll be returning the house to make it available for those in need.”

Hearing this, Ning Shu understood his meaning.

Zhang Xian was informing her that they wouldn’t be living next door anymore, to put her at ease.

She said, “That’s great, leaving it for someone who needs it also helps solve a comrade’s need.”

Zhang Xian said, “Indeed. Comrade Ning, I’ll go make lunch now.”

Ning Shu responded, “Go ahead, eating is important.”

Zhang Xian walked a few steps, then stopped and turned around to look at Ning Shu.

He seemed to want to say something, but seeing her back, he remained silent in the end.

Ning Shu continued her post-meal walk with her child, Sanbao.

Sanbao toddled ahead, while Ning Shu watched from behind.

She thought she might have “mom goggles” because even watching Sanbao walk seemed adorable to her.

Granny Yang poked her head out from the courtyard, looked around, and not seeing Zhang Xian, quickly approached Ning Shu. “That troublemaker didn’t come, huh?”

Ning Shu couldn’t help but laugh at her sneaky demeanor. “Didn’t see her. Comrade Zhang said Ning Qin is staying back home to take care of her pregnancy, so she probably won’t be coming here for a while.

He also mentioned returning the house here for others in need, so even if they come back, they won’t be living here.”

Aunt Yang replied, “Good, finally some peace around here.”

Aunt Yang overheard the conversation.

Hearing that Ning Qin wasn’t coming and Zhang Xian was returning the house, she was quite pleased.

However, she remarked, “I just hope the new tenants won’t be like that troublemaker. Let’s hope they are easy to get along with.”

Aunt Yang was straightforward and had a hearty personality like many older rural women.

She wouldn’t go out of her way to trouble you unless you did so first.

However, like many from the countryside, she also had a touch of sensitivity and insecurity.

Ning Shu didn’t care much about who the new tenants would be.

If she could handle Ning Qin, dealing with anyone else wouldn’t be an issue. “We’ll see how it goes. If we get along, great. If not, we just won’t talk.”

Aunt Yang agreed, “You’re right, Ning. You’ve got a positive attitude.”

After chatting for a while, Lin Guodong returned with the two kids.

The sight of him carrying a basket of dishes, looking like a father from a reality show taking care of his adorable kids, was quite charming.

By now, no one was surprised to see Lin Guodong doing the dishes with the twins.

It had become a common sight, thanks to the influence of the kids from Class 3 at the nursery school.

Lin Guodong’s presence was still noticeable, and everyone had gotten used to it.

Of course, while most people had gotten used to it, there were still those who gossiped behind their backs.

Feudal thinking was still prevalent here.

When Aunt Yang saw Lin Guodong return, she stopped talking and went back to her own home.

Ning Shu took Sanbao into their courtyard. As soon as they entered, she said, “Comrade Zhang from next door is back. I just met him and greeted him.”

Lin Guodong raised his eyebrows and just responded with a simple “hmm,” then carried the basket of dishes into the kitchen.

Ning Shu leaned down to Yibao’s ear and whispered, “Where’s the thing you prepared for your dad? The one you traded the little red flower for.”

Hearing his mother’s question, Yibao remembered the item he had yet to give to his dad.

He said, “It’s in my little bag. I’ll go get it.” With that, he ran into the room and came out with his small hands hidden behind his back, looking quite mysterious.

Seeing this, Ning Shu called out, “Comrade Lin Guodong, your good son has something for you.”

Yibao’s heart tightened at his mother’s words.

Lin Guodong had just finished taking the dishes out of the basket and placing them on the table.

Hearing Ning Shu, he couldn’t help but feel curious.

He came out of the kitchen, looking at Yibao with interest. “Why is my son giving me something?”

Despite his words, the pleasure in his voice was evident.

The mere thought that his son had something for him filled Lin Guodong with surprise and delight.

“Brother, hurry and give it to Dad,” Erbao grinned. “Dad, we took out all our little red flowers and even borrowed two from other kids.”

Ning Shu teased, “That’s quite the big gift, Comrade Lin Guodong. You should cherish it.”

Lin Guodong couldn’t resist smiling and nodded, “I will.”

Yibao slowly brought his little hand forward, revealing a pencil in his grip.

Shyly, he extended it to Lin Guodong, “Dad, this is for you. You can use it to write.”

Lin Guodong was genuinely surprised.

He hadn’t expected it to be a pencil.

He took the pencil from his son’s hand carefully and seriously. “Thank you, Yibao. Thank you, Erbao. Thank you, Sanbao.”

Erbao asked innocently, “Dad, do you like it? Brother said you need a pen for work, so we got you a pencil.”

This innocent question revealed Yibao’s thoughtfulness.

If Yibao hadn’t thought about their dad needing a pen for work, Erbao and Sanbao wouldn’t have considered it.

“Yes, your brother is right. Dad needs a pen for work, and I really like this pencil,” Lin Guodong said, cherishing it so much that he didn’t want to use it.

This was the first gift his children had given him, more precious than his first commendation, bringing him unparalleled joy and significance.

Hearing their dad say he liked it, Yibao and Erbao were delighted.

“Mom and Dad, we’re off to school.”

Yibao and Erbao took Sanbao back to their room to grab their backpacks.

As soon as they came out with their backpacks on, the previously lying Da Mao and Tie Dan immediately stood up.

They knew that when the three kids had their backpacks, it was time for school.

Da Mao and Tie Dan had been accompanying the three kids to school for a while.

Every time the kids went into the nursery, the dogs would lie down at the gate, looking like the school’s “security guards.”

With the kids off to school, Lin Guodong put the pencil in the chest pocket of his shirt, where a pen should have been, but now it was a pencil.

Feeling the pencil there, Lin Guodong felt a surge of strength.

This was the power given by his family and children.

In the afternoon, Ning Shu had some free time.

She had just exchanged her industrial coupons, so she went to the department store in the city to buy a children’s tricycle.

Although the tricycle was light, it was difficult to carry on a bicycle.

She borrowed a basket from Aunt Yang next door, tied it to the back of her bicycle, and planned to put the tricycle in the basket for the ride home.

It didn’t take long to buy the tricycle and return.

After that, she went to the Moon Bay Production Brigade to order two chickens.

Even though chickens were valuable for their eggs, which could be sold, some families were still willing to spend an extra fifty cents to a dollar to buy them.

Just like last time, she placed the order for the chickens to be picked up on the morning of Yibao and Erbao’s birthday.

The family selling the chickens would have them ready by then.

In the blink of an eye, it was the day of Yi Bao and Er Bao’s birthday.

They were very excited because they were going to invite many friends to their home for a meal.

It was a day of anticipation and happiness for them.

In the morning, the three siblings, along with Da Mao and Tie Dan, went to school as usual.

Ning Shu first went to the Moon Bay Production Brigade to get some chicken and then bought some vegetables before heading home to prepare the ingredients.

Ning Shu had been looking forward to Yi Bao and Er Bao’s birthday since San Bao’s birthday last year, especially after the New Year.

She counted the days until their birthday, so the preparations were naturally abundant.

There were a total of 8 children, plus the three brothers, making it 11 children, just enough for one table.

Ning Shu also prepared ten dishes, symbolizing perfection.

She ordered two chickens, cutting the chicken breasts into strips for chicken fillets and using the other parts for braising.

Then she cut the potatoes into strips and fried them into French fries.

She also mashed sweet potatoes and made sweet potato cakes.

Next, she stir-fried mushrooms and other vegetables.

Egg and cabbage soup,

radish pork rib soup,

sugar-roasted baby potatoes,

soy sauce-roasted greens,

pumpkin with salted egg yolk made from home’s salted eggs,

braised eggplant,

cold tossed wood ear mushrooms,

vinegar-glazed shredded potatoes,

plus a few braised dishes, making it exactly ten dishes.

Chicken fillets, French fries, sweet potato cakes, those were snacks.

Unfortunately, there was no cake.

There were no cakes for sale on the app, and she didn’t know how to make one.

However, she made longevity buns.

At school,

Class 3 of the nursery was also lively today because it was the birthday of Yi Bao and Er Bao.

They invited their classmates to their home for a meal, and some of the more polite children’s parents also prepared gifts for them.

“Twins…” He Jiaxing entered the classroom and saw the twins already there, so he shouted loudly.

Yi Bao and Er Bao looked at him when they heard He Jiaxing’s voice.

They thought he was very loud.

“He Jiaxing, what are you doing?” Er Bao asked.

He Jiaxing ran up to them, then rummaged in his little school bag and pulled out two red envelopes. “Here, my mom said these are for your birthday red envelopes. Thank you for inviting me to your house for your birthday meal.”

The two red envelopes He Jiaxing took out shocked the other children.

“My family also has red envelopes during Chinese New Year, which is lucky money. He Jiaxing’s mom is so nice to give them for birthdays too.”

“Yeah, next time it’s my birthday, I’ll invite He Jiaxing to my house for a meal too.”

He Jiaxing saw everyone praising his mom and felt proud, puffing out his chest. “On my birthday, my mom and grandma also give me birthday red envelopes.”

Yi Bao and Er Bao accepted He Jiaxing’s red envelopes and thanked him sincerely.

Yi Bao hadn’t expected He Jiaxing to give them this, and he was quite moved.

Er Bao also decided that from today onwards, He Jiaxing would be his good friend.

Except for He Jiaxing, there were other children who also prepared birthday gifts.

“Twins, these are for you.” Yang Wenjie took out two erasers.

“Twins, these are for you.” Cheng Yingyong took out two pencils.

Among the 8 children, a total of three children prepared birthday gifts.

Seeing this, although other children didn’t prepare birthday gifts, they brought out snacks for today.

There were White Rabbit creamy candies, fruit candies, boiled eggs…

“Thank you all.” Yi Bao and Er Bao were especially happy today, not only because their mother celebrated their birthday, but also because their friends gave them gifts.

At noon, when the bell rang for the end of class, the three brothers, along with 8 children, and Da Mao and Tie Dan, went home together to have their birthday meal.