Chen Lan led Sun Xiaomei and her daughter upstairs to her room. As soon as she stood at the door, she saw the brother and sister, each holding a milk bottle, sitting on the bed drinking milk. The little feet of the siblings were still restless, and while they were gulping down the goat milk with slurping sounds, their feet were not still either, as they were kicking each other.
Their mother was trying to mediate in a small voice from the side, "Jiahui, you're being restless again. Why are you bullying your brother? Jia Yao, you're the elder brother, you should let your sister have her way..."
Chen Lan smiled wryly and stepped aside to let Sun Xiaomei enter the room first. Her mother and the brother and sister heard movement at the door and looked up to see strangers entering. They were all stunned. The three of them, grandmother and grandchildren, stared at the newcomers with wide eyes. The siblings stopped drinking milk and their feet stopped moving, no longer being mischievous.
Sun Xiaomei also stood awkwardly at the door, unsure whether to enter or retreat.
Chen Lan, carrying Bao Mei, came in from behind and saw the scene. She immediately began to introduce, "Mom, let me introduce you. This Comrade Sun Xiaomei is the wife of Battalion Commander Zheng Sanpao, Zheng. The one in my arms is their youngest daughter, Bao Mei. They also have two sons, who are about the same age as my two younger brothers. They are with my two brothers now, and I've asked my two brothers and Mingzhe to help take care of them."
When her mother heard that it was Battalion Commander Zheng's wife, she immediately got out of bed, put on her shoes, and stood up, warmly greeting her, "You're Sanpao's wife! Don't stand at the door, come in and sit on the bed."
Sun Xiaomei called out generously, "Hello, Auntie!" and walked over.
Her mother quickly replied, "Good! Good!"
Seeing Bao Mei in Chen Lan's arms, quietly drinking milk, her mother smiled and said, "Oh! This must be Bao Mei! What a good name! Bao Mei is so well-behaved! Unlike our two little rascals at home, who are very naughty."
At this moment, the dragon and phoenix twins saw their mother come in with someone else in her arms, and they immediately became upset. They stopped drinking milk, put down their bottles, and crawled towards Chen Lan, shouting, "Mom, hug! Mom, hug!"
Her mother, afraid they would fall, quickly reached out to stop them.
Chen Lan had no choice but to hand Bao Mei to Sun Xiaomei and take the cake she was holding and place it on the small table by the bed. By this time, Bao Mei had finished an entire bottle of goat milk, her little face was full of satisfaction, and she was beginning to feel sleepy.
Seeing this, Chen Lan quickly said, "Sister-in-law Zheng, hold Bao Mei and pat her back so she can burp. She was very hungry and drank her milk too quickly. I'm afraid her stomach will be uncomfortable later. Don't let Bao Mei sleep yet! I'll get you hot water to wash up."
After speaking, she turned, stooped down, and put her arms around the dragon and phoenix twins, gently coaxing them, "Jia Yao, Jiahui, you are both good children. Little sister needs to sleep. Mom is going to get hot water to wash her clean, okay?"
Jia Yao nodded obediently, let go of his mother, and stopped clinging to her. He crawled back, picked up the milk bottle he had dropped on the bed, and sat on the bed to continue drinking the remaining goat milk.
Jiahui was not so easily appeased! She still hugged Chen Lan's neck and refused to let go.
Chen Lan had no choice but to continue coaxing her. It was only after Chen Lan promised to wash her and dress her in a beautiful new outfit later that Jiahui reluctantly let go of her little hands.
Chen Lan quickly went to the bathroom and ordered washing supplies for the mother and daughter from the system. She also bought a new children's bathtub specifically for Bao Mei.
She soon came out of the bathroom and called the mother and daughter to wash up. She explained to Sun Xiaomei how to use the water heater, toilet, and other electrical appliances in the bathroom. Sun Xiaomei was very smart and quickly learned how to use them.
She handed the toiletries for both of them to Sun Xiaomei and helped her bathe Bao Mei in hot water. Then, she took Bao Mei out of the bathroom first, allowing Sun Xiaomei to wash herself thoroughly.
Bao Mei was indeed very sleepy. As soon as she was put on the bed, she began to snore softly. Chen Lan completely understood. After traveling for more than a month, even though such a young child was carried by adults, she couldn't move freely. Being held in the arms of adults all day must have been very tiring!
After Sun Xiaomei finished washing and went to sleep, Chen Lan and her mother washed the brother and sister. After settling them down and making sure they were asleep, Chen Lan quietly told her mother, "Mom, you go to sleep. You don't have to wait for me. I'm going downstairs to discuss some matters with Uncle De, Uncle Fu, and Brother Xiang Dong."
Her mother nodded and said softly, "Lan'er, you've been busy all day. Come back and rest early!"
Chen Lan nodded and said nothing more. She turned and quietly walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
Chen Lan went downstairs to the living room. Most of the lights in the living room had been turned off, leaving only two wall lamps on both sides for anyone who needed to get up at night.
Chen Lan looked towards the area where there was light and saw Uncle De and Uncle Fu sitting on the mat, chatting with some of Xu Mingxuan's comrades. Xiang Dong and Er Hu were also sitting beside them. Uncle De was happily saying something in a low voice, and everyone was nodding.
Chen Lan quietly called out to Uncle Fu, who was sitting nearby. When Uncle Fu looked up and saw it was Chen Lan, he immediately got up, put on his shoes, and walked towards her.
Chen Lan said a few quiet words to Uncle Fu, then walked out of the living room by herself and headed towards the pavilion.
In a short while, Uncle Fu came out with Uncle De, Xiang Dong, and Er Hu. Xiang Xi and her mother-in-law also followed. Chen Lan quickly invited everyone to sit down.
Xiang Xi mumbled groggily, "Little Lanzi, you've been busy all day. It's so late, and you're still not sleeping. Aren't you tired?"
Uncle Fu immediately reprimanded in a low voice, "Shut up! You talk too much. Let Little Lan finish quickly, and then you can go back to sleep. Won't that be enough?"
Xiang Xi immediately fell silent! He could only close his mouth and sit quietly without making a sound.
Chen Lan knew that everyone had been working hard for a long time. Xiang Dong and Er Hu's search for people had not been easy, judging by their appearance.
So, she didn't delay any longer and immediately gave instructions, "Uncle De, Uncle Fu, you two will continue to lead all the elderly men in the valley tomorrow to widen and lengthen the drainage ditch. I will send people with excavators to help you dig tomorrow.
The precast components for the drainage ditch will be placed on both sides of the ditch tomorrow morning. You just need to arrange for people to smooth the joints of the precast components with cement mortar to prevent leakage."
Uncle De and Uncle Fu nodded and said nothing.
Chen Lan continued, "Mother-in-law, there are too many people now, so the main kitchen will need to start operating from tomorrow. Lin Mai will no longer be working in the main kitchen from now on. She has more important tasks to do! You will need to assign someone else to be the head chef in the kitchen."