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

Niu Dazhuang sat on the threshold, muttering as he smoked. As he sat there, he thought back to last night, to his experience at the Ye family's Black and White Duo.

I've learned a lot in this life; even sisters can be so different.

Qin Ningru's skin is just like her name suggests; it's as smooth and fair as cream.

The way they flew up into the clouds was different; Ningru's jet-black hair flew wildly...

"What are you thinking about, so engrossed?" Qin Huairu came over with a brown paper envelope.

"Heh heh, dreaming, huh? Who did you write the letter to?"

"Anyway, it's not for you. What about her and her sister?"

Niu Dazhuang tilted his head: "Inside the room!"

"Hehe, what did you do? Why did I kick you out?"

"You women are so fussy. It's not like we haven't seen it before; you even tell me to avoid suspicion when I'm just applying some ointment!"

"You shouldn't be avoiding suspicion, your wife is Xue Ru!" Qin Huairu said, glancing at the other families.

He whispered a reminder: "Do you think this is your hometown? You're the only family in the whole compound. Do you know if someone is secretly watching your house?"

"Now you know to avoid suspicion? Why didn't you avoid suspicion when you were at my house?" Niu Dazhuang was still unconvinced.

"You're so annoying! How am I not being discreet? I never dare to say a word, and you're still unhappy!"

"Third sister, come inside. Don't talk to him at the door," Qin Xueru called from inside the room.

Niu Dazhuang threw down his cigarette butt and followed Qin Huairu into the inner room. He hadn't even settled in yet.

He was kicked out by Qin Xueru again. Qin Xueru finally understood.

My husband is the kind of guy who can't live without women.

"What are you, a grown man, always doing cooped up at home? Go do something else!"

Niu Dazhuang knew Qin Ningru also needed to rest tonight. There was also a hint of spite in his voice, "Hmph! You don't need to kick me out, I'm just letting you know I'm not coming back tonight!"

"Oh! You're angry now! Dazhuang, you're never home, but now that Ningru's here, you can't bear to go out. What will outsiders think?" Qin Xueru said patiently.

"Let them think what they want!" Niu Dazhuang snapped, then stormed out of the house.

Every time Niu Dazhuang comes back from a trip, he rests for two days, regardless of what day of the week it is.

First, I went to the old man's house in the backyard, put on makeup, added a small mustache, and wore a hat. Then I changed into the clothes I used to wear back in my hometown.

I rode my bike to the vicinity of Hongxing Steel Plant in Shijingshan District, and it was almost noon when I arrived in Shijingshan.

I peered furtively at the gate from afar, my stomach growling with hunger, before I finally saw a jeep driving out of the steel mill.

I glanced at the license plate number; it was correct.

The jeep had just left the gate and hadn't even picked up speed yet when Niu Dazhuang, riding his bicycle, crashed into the side of the jeep's front.

"what……"

"Card……"

The bicycle's front tire was run over by the jeep. Niu Dazhuang also pretended to fall to the ground and not get up.

"Damn it, are you looking for death?!" The driver got out of the car.

"Fuck your mother, you pinned me down and even cursed at me!" Niu Dazhuang cursed as he stood up.

Upon reaching the driver, he lashed out with a stun gun. The driver was caught off guard; the man hadn't expected him to suddenly attack.

He got a black eye from Niu Dazhuang's punch.

The driver covered his eyes and squatted down.

Sitting in the car, Ma Xingbang was startled by the sudden turn of events. By the time he came to his senses, his driver had already been knocked down.

Looking back at the company gate, it was only forty or fifty meters away. His original intention was to get out of the car and go back to the company to let the security department handle the matter.

As soon as I opened the car door, I was grabbed by the collar and dragged out of the car.

"Good man, let's talk this out, let's talk this out." Ma Xingbang quickly begged for mercy.

Niu Dazhuang didn't say anything, but slapped him across the face, and then punched him twice, swelling his eyes.

That wasn't all; I grabbed his little finger and twisted it hard.

"Ah..." Ma Xingbang screamed in agony, his fingers connected to his heart, and he broke out in a cold sweat from the pain!

Niu Dazhuang glanced at the gate of the steel plant not far away and noticed two guards walking in his direction.

He picked up his bicycle and ran away.

The two security guards saw the man run away and quickly gave chase, but just as they reached the jeep, they heard Ma Xingbang shout, "No, stop chasing! Get me to the hospital right away!"

It may sound slow, but in reality, it only took three to five minutes from when the driver was knocked down and Ma Xingbang's little finger was broken.

Niu Dazhuang wasn't reluctant to part with the bicycle; it's just that modern bicycles all have a stamp, and by checking the stamp number, you can find the owner.

After running for more than ten minutes with the bicycle on my back, I turned around to look and, seeing no pursuers, put the bicycle down and found a repair shop.

I spent seventeen yuan to replace the wheel. I went to Ma Xingbang's house right away.

No matter how fast he rides, he can't keep up with the speed of a phone call.

When I arrived at Ma Xingbang's house, the gate was already locked from the outside. I knocked on the gate, but there was no response from inside.

After all that fuss, I still hadn't had lunch. I decided to fill my stomach first and found a two-meat restaurant nearby.

Two large bowls of braised pork noodles. I also drank two ounces of liquor.

After a satisfying meal, I lit another cigarette – so relaxing!

Look at the sky, it's still early. I'll go for a stroll nearby...

As dusk fell, Niu Dazhuang strolled back and looked at the Ma family's gate, only to find it still locked tight.

Niu Dazhuang smiled smugly. After it got completely dark, he climbed over the wall and entered Ma Xingbang's house.

Knowing that no one would be coming to his house anytime soon, he turned on the lights as soon as he entered.

This guy is truly a big capitalist; he's hanging a huge crystal chandelier that's practically glowing, illuminating the entire living room like it's daytime.

The cigarettes and alcohol in the living room wine cabinet, whatever they were, were all put away. Looking around, it seemed that apart from a sofa and a bookcase, there was nothing else that could tempt Niu Dazhuang.

A phonograph? That's too conspicuous, I'll skip it. A radio? Nothing special. This Big Ben, though, is nice, I'll keep it.

Niu Dazhuang didn't like the books in the carved bookcase, but he did like the bookcase itself, so he bought it.

The long table is nice too, and the vase on it is even prettier. I'll take it.

There was another door at the bottom of the stairs leading to the second floor. Niu Dazhuang opened it and almost burst out laughing. The man's favorite stuff: the whole room was filled with cigarettes and alcohol, all in cases. He took them.

Looking around the living room, it seems there's nothing there.

Going out the back door of the living room leads directly to the backyard, which leads directly into the kitchen of the south-facing room.

Everything that can be seen—stoves, rice containers, flour containers—is stored in the space.

After leaving the kitchen, he collected all the smokeless coal and dry firewood from the pile against the south wall. He even took the large pickled vegetable jar.

"Damn, why did they bring in the slop bucket too!"

He glanced around the backyard; there wasn't much there. Then he pushed open the doors to the two west-facing rooms.

"Damn it, I spent two days running around the black market, and I don't even have as much food as there is in one house. Are you that afraid of a famine?"

There were seven or eight bamboo baskets hanging from the roof; you could tell without even looking that they contained cured meat.