Courtyard houses: Those who are capable are rewarded, and many children bring many blessings.

Holy crap, could it be that because of my appearance, Yu Li and he knew each other a few years ago?

According to the original script, they were supposed to get married in the 1960s. It's only 1957 now!

"A stevedore?" Niu Dazhuang asked casually.

"My life is tough, buddy. He's just a stevedore, and a temporary one at that."

"Your life is miserable, my foot! Before Liberation, your family was a small business owner. I was the one who was miserable. I wasn't even as tall as the chopping board when I became an apprentice." As he spoke, Sha Zhu stretched out his hands to show everyone.

"Look at my hands. They've only gotten a little better in the last two years. Every winter before, they were freezing. In the spring, they were so itchy they were unbearable."

"Come on, everyone's had frostbite on their hands and feet. If we're talking about hardship, I'm the one who suffered the most. You know how hard workers worked before liberation, right?"

"My family has many children, and I've never had a full meal. That's not all. When I was eight or nine years old, I went out to shine shoes for people. You've all seen that, right?" This is Liu Guangqi!

Well, everyone's story is more miserable than the last, it's practically turned into a grievance session.

"Liu Guangqi, how's your date going? Stop hiding it all the time!" Yan Jiecheng shifted the topic to women.

"It's not that I don't want to tell you, it's just that I went on several dates last winter, and none of them were a good match! There's nothing to say!" Liu Guangqi knew what kind of people these bad boys were.

In fact, Liu Guangqi's company had just hired several new employees this year, and he took a liking to one of them. Upon further inquiry, he discovered that she was the factory leader's daughter.

His coworkers all mocked him, saying he was like a toad trying to eat swan meat.

Liu Guangqi was Liu Haizhong's eldest son. Liu Haizhong was obsessed with becoming an official, and as the eldest son, he naturally also wanted to become an official.

He doesn't care what others say. As long as he wins over this woman, hehe! Becoming the class monitor won't be a problem at all.

"Sigh! This is boring!" Sha Zhu sighed and turned his gaze to Qin Huairu and her group of young wives.

"Hey, stop looking, she's pregnant, we'll have one less thing to do tonight! Let's go!" Liu Guangqi left first.

Sha Zhu found it pointless and took his stool back into the house. Niu Dazhuang also got up.

Yan Jiecheng pulled him away.

"Brother Niu, sit a while longer, I have something to tell you!"

With his arm being pulled, Niu Dazhuang had no choice but to sit down.

Yan Jiecheng's face was beaming with joy. Niu Dazhuang felt a chill run down his spine at the sight of his expression.

She quickly shook off his hand: "Let's talk this out! Your smile is creepy!"

Yan Jiecheng, who had been constantly smoking cigarettes, actually pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and handed it to Niu Dazhuang.

Niu Dazhuang was about to take it when he saw that Yan Jiecheng wasn't taking out any more cigarettes, so he withdrew his hand.

"It's just one root!"

"Hehe, I actually don't like smoking!"

Niu Dazhuang pulled out his own Daqianmen cigarette and lit one for himself: "What do you want to say?"

Yan Jiecheng moved closer, almost touching Niu Dazhuang's face.

"Hey buddy, are you some kind of 'rabbit god'? What are you two grown men doing getting so close together?"

"I'm not some gigolo, I'm a proper grown man, I'm just worried about people overhearing!"

"I won't hide my true feelings. If you don't say anything, I'm going back!"

"Tell me, Brother Niu, don't be in such a hurry. You know our house is in the front yard, and my dad likes to meddle in other people's business, so we know everything that happens in our compound when someone buys something..."

"Let's be manly, okay? Stop beating around the bush, just say what you want to say!"

"Brother Niu, I'll be frank then. You've only been working for less than a month, and you've only been on one business trip. Look at your son, he's doing so well."

Niu Dazhuang became wary: "Yan Jiecheng, what exactly do you want to say?" His tone was different from before.

Seeing that Niu Dazhuang was getting impatient, Yan Jiecheng stopped arguing and said, "Brother Niu, can you include me in this extra money business?"

Oh, so that's what it was about. Niu Dazhuang felt relieved.

"Take you under my wing? How can I take you under my wing? I still need my master to take me under my wing!" Niu Dazhuang thought for a moment and continued.

"You can earn extra money at the South Freight Yard too, it all depends on how well you build relationships. If you're like your dad, spending money like water, you definitely won't earn any extra cash. We're all new employees, so focus on building relationships with the senior workers; it'll definitely benefit you. You have to be willing to give! If you're not willing to give, how can you expect to gain anything! I'm only saying this because we're neighbors; I wouldn't tell anyone else!"

"Brother Niu, we stevedores can earn extra money? I've never heard them mention that!"

"You've only been working here a few days. You'll know once you're officially hired! Alright, I'm leaving!" Niu Dazhuang didn't want to waste any more words with him.

It's already past eight o'clock, time to go to bed. It's better to cuddle with my wife than to chat aimlessly with this tightwad!

Niu Dazhuang didn't go out tonight. Qin Huairu reluctantly returned to the Jia family home. When she got home, she didn't say a word, went straight to the inner room, got dressed, and got onto the kang (a heated brick bed). She covered herself with the quilt and pretended to be asleep.

When Jia Dongxu saw that his wife had returned home, he couldn't stay outside any longer. He tapped his pipe, blew on it, and took a small stool home.

Knowing his wife is a clean person, he washed her face and feet, and even brought in a chamber pot.

Seeing him like this, Jia Zhangshi didn't want to look at him anymore, so she took out two wads of cotton and plugged her ears. She turned her face to the wall.

After Jia Dongxu got onto the kang (heated brick bed), he rubbed his hands together and felt his palms burning. He missed the feeling of not being able to cover his hands with his own...

"Ouch!"

As soon as his hand reached out, Qin Huairu pinched it hard.

The pain made him quickly pull his hand back.

Jia Dongxu wasn't annoyed. He said gently, "Huai Ru, are you still angry? Don't be angry, it's all my fault, okay?"

Qin Huairu ignored him.

Jia Dongxu was right behind Qin Huairu, muttering to himself.

Qin Huairu found him troublesome, so she kicked him and said impatiently, "Aren't you annoying? Go to sleep."

"Okay!" Jia Dongxu listened attentively, lay down for a while, and then put his hand on Qin Huairu's hips again...

Niu Dazhuang's family is much more harmonious...

It's strange, Niu Dazhuang went to bed early and didn't exercise at all last night, but when he woke up the next morning, he was listless and kept yawning.

Breakfast didn't taste good anymore, so I just ate a steamed bun, two eggs, and a bowl of cornmeal porridge.

Niu Dazhuang only perked up when he arrived at the company gate and saw Bai Hongyan's back in front of him.

In the bicycle shed, Niu Dazhuang started striking up a conversation: "Director Bai, do you know anyone in our unit who speaks Russian?"

"What are you going to do?"

"I want to learn!"

Director Bai, who had nothing better to do, wanted to chat with Niu Dazhuang, so he wasn't about to miss this opportunity.

There are reasons why Director Bai likes to chat with Niu Dazhuang. Firstly, Niu Dazhuang is indeed good-looking and knowledgeable. In particular, chatting with her is very relaxing, like talking to an old friend who hasn't seen her for many years.

Unlike other comrades, who either stared at her nakedly, wishing they could take her right there and then.

Either he mistook her for a superior and couldn't speak fluently.