@vamp
You may also consider to use a simple shift register as a port expander like I did in this project branch
https://github.com/ThFischer/OpenSprinkler-for-ESP12F_Relay_X4/tree/NODEMCU_74HC595/NodeMCU-74HC595#readme
Just search for NODEMCU_74HC595 in the source code to see the necessary changes
salute
Thomas