Actually, this wasn’t an isolated incident; whenever soone approached Yang Peimin with questions, she simply directed them to Shen Yiguang to handle the issue.
It was the sa with the people from the old house; no matter what they said, it went in one ear and out the other. As soon as they began talking about the matter or setting conditions, she told them to go find Shen Yiguang.
In this way, they managed to have the banquet go off smoothly and lively.
Zhang Minghua and the others stayed until the very end before leaving, saying they wanted to help clean up before departing.
The Shen family wouldn’t hear of it, insisting on not letting them do any work. Besides, those who ca to help had already quickly tidied everything up, so even Yang Peimin and her family didn’t need to do much. The wives from the village were extrely diligent. Yang Peimin felt sowhat embarrassed as she watched. Although it was their own family’s event, and they would have to help out at others’ in turn, she still took out a dozen boxes of face cream from her house and gave one to each of the won who helped.
Everyone left happier than if it had been New Year’s, laughing and chattering away.
Zhang Minghua took Yang Peiming by the hand, "We’ve been busy all day and hardly had a chance to chat. Will you co over tomorrow?"
Yang Peimin nodded. Tomorrow would be the second day of the new year, the day to visit her parental ho, which she had already arranged with Shen Yiguang.
Zhang Minghua’s face lit up with joy, reminding her, "Then co over early tomorrow. Your Third Uncle’s Peidi is also returning to her natal ho tomorrow. You should join the festivities."
Yang Peimin was surprised; he hadn’t realized Yang Peidi had gotten married too. But he nodded, "Alright, we’ll co over early tomorrow."
"Rember to pack all the kid’s clothes and such tomorrow. Don’t let my grandson catch a cold. And bring a couple of sets of clothes for yourself as well, stay for two nights at ho, alright?" Her eyes shimred with expectation at that last sentence.
Yang Peimin willingly agreed.
With that settled, Zhang Minghua returned ho happily with her family.
After all the guests had left, Yang Peiming heated so water for the children to wipe down their bodies and wash their faces. They had been run ragged today, having been models for the day, getting picked up and passed around even when they were asleep.
All three kids were clean and much cuter than the snotty-nosed children in the village.
Lele, who had been fed his fill of at, clutched his belly and started to doze off on the kang. Shen Erniu and his wife hurriedly picked him up, laughing but not without concern, "The child didn’t nap at noon, now he’s really tired!"
"Indeed, I don’t know who he takes after, just loves the buzz. Won’t sleep when there are people around."
"Well, aren’t all kids like that?" Shen Erniu said with a chuckle, his face glowing red, having had a few drinks in his rrint today.
Chen Guizhi gave him a stern look, "You better sit down, be careful not to drop my grandson."
Taking the children out truly requires packing a big bag full of bottles, milk powder, clothes, diapers, and the like. Yang PeiMin got the three children settled and started packing up their things.
Shen Yiyue also went to her room to help, "Sister-in-law, how about I go back with you? How can you manage those three by yourself?"
"There’s no need; my mom and the others are there too. It would be boring for you to follow and take care of the kids. Aren’t you also rarely off work? Go and et up with your old classmates and friends."
Shen Yiyue shook her head as she folded clothes, "I don’t know about my classmates and friends; most of them are probably married by now. Even the ones who aren’t, they’re either not around here or we’ve simply stopped talking. Talking about childcare experiences with them is even less interesting than helping you with the kids."
"Why have you stopped talking? Is it because you changed or they did?" Yang PeiMin teased.
"It’s not that anyone changed. It’s just that after I got into university, they started feeling like I was different than before, and that I was no longer one of them. Conversing with them isn’t as open and easy-going as it used to be, and it’s really quite dull. Do you think I didn’t go? I already went a couple of days ago," said Shen Yiyue with a sigh.
Yang PeiMin chuckled, reminded of her own old classmates. So of them were like that too. She couldn’t figure out why but, after a long ti apart, when they did get together, besides catching up on recent events, they often ran out of things to talk about and gradually drifted apart.
However, speaking of which, Shen Yiyue truly did love the three nieces and nephews at ho. In the two days since Yang PeiMin had returned, Yiyue had been by her side helping her out, sotis changing diapers or feeding milk powder even more conscientiously than PeiMin herself.
Since Shen Yiyue insisted on going along, Yang PeiMin was happy to have her. Even though her mother needed help with the kids, on the way there, in the car, PeiMin couldn’t watch all three by herself, so she was glad to have Yiyue’s assistance.
The next day, Shen Yiguang drove the car, taking his sister, the three children, and Shen Yiyue back to their mother’s ho.
Heeding Zhang Minghua’s words, they arrived at the Yang family’s house a little past nine o’clock in the morning.
They had just parked the car when Bai Hehua and her husband Jiang Erni ca out to greet them, "Minmin, brother-in-law, you’ve arrived. Co inside quickly."
The couple had thought that Yang PeiMin, with three children and so items to carry, would surely be unable to manage everything, so they ca out to help. Besides, it was the custom to welco guests warmly.
A married daughter returning to her parents’ ho is always a treasured guest.
The twins were carried by Yang PeiMin and Shen Yiyue, one each, while Lele was held by Shen Yiguang. Yiguang had actually wanted the child to walk on his own, but Yang Pei said that since there was snow and water on the ground, it would be best not to risk a fall.
The group entered the house amidst a lively buzz.
"Lele, Fanfan, Tuantuan, co inside!" Zhang Minghua called out hastily.
"Yiyue is here too, co sit down, sit down."
After sitting down and warmly catching up for a while, Zhang Minghua started talking about Yang Peidi, "...she got married a couple of months ago, to soone in town. It was Peiyan’s mom who made the introduction. The son-in-law has so mobility issues; he got injured working at the lumber mill when a log broke his leg, which delayed his marriage. Now he’s working at the lumber mill, and instead of compensation, he chose to stay on there. Nowadays, he oversees the storage, and the family is doing alright. His parents both receive pensions, and they live in a big bungalow. His siblings are said to be employed too. I saw him when Peidi got married, and his leg didn’t seem too bad, but he looked rather fierce, seemingly not too good-tempered. The betrothal gift was quite sizable; they gave US$ 300 and even threw in a bicycle. Your third uncle and Third Aunt approved mostly because of that. Initially, your dad and I didn’t know, they only told us after the engagent. Honestly, we didn’t expect much from Third Aunt anyway. To tell or not to tell, it’s not our daughter so we can’t control much. As long as she’s happy, that’s what matters."
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