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

"Hehe! I didn't bring that much money with me when I went out, so I borrowed some from around. These guys were all tempted when they heard I bought two ounces of deer antler for such a low price. What do you think, Brother Dazhuang?"

"Director Yang, I don't have much left. I'm saving it for my own use. How about this: when I go to the Northeast next month, just give me a quantity and I'll bring it back for you."

"Haha... I knew Brother Dazhuang was a straightforward person. It's settled then. I'll trouble you to make another trip before you go on your business trip!"

"Alright!" Niu Dazhuang took the money, put it in his military green backpack without even counting it, and was about to get up when Director Yang took out another package from the drawer and threw it to Niu Dazhuang.

Niu Dazhuang instinctively caught it with both hands

"I just made some jasmine tea leaves, you should try some!"

Niu Dazhuang didn't stand on ceremony. That's how social interactions are. He'd bring him some local specialties next time he came. Wild game wasn't rare for Niu Dazhuang, but it was a delicacy for others.

"Hehe, then I'll be polite. Director Yang, I'll head back now. Please stay!"

Director Yang didn't exchange any more pleasantries, saw him out of the office, and then went back inside.

These days, not many people drink tea at home all year round. This is related to their diet. If you don't have enough fat in your pocket, drinking tea will only make you feel uncomfortable!

Even during the Lunar New Year, guests are served brown sugar water.

After riding into the city, past the restaurants, Niu Dazhuang didn't want to go to the state-run restaurant and suffer the cold shoulder from the waiters, so he had no choice but to go home.

It's always good to be at home. When Qin Xueru and her sister heard that Niu Dazhuang hadn't had lunch yet, they quickly got to work. In just over ten minutes, a plate of scrambled eggs and a pot of white wine were on the kang table.

"Ningru, you have a couple of drinks with your brother-in-law. I can't drink anymore. I'll just watch the pot outside."

Niu Dazhuang added, "Are you out of peanuts at home?"

"Oh! I forgot in my haste."

"Sis, you sit down, I'll go."

Niu Dazhuang took a sip of wine, picked up a piece of scrambled egg and put it in his mouth: "It's still so comfortable at home! There's 25 yuan in my schoolbag, I just earned it, you can keep it."

"Oh, what did you do? How did you earn so much money all of a sudden?" Qin Xueru took the military green backpack, took out the money, and counted it.

"Dazhuang, the season is about to change, and Ningru still doesn't have any suitable clothes!"

"Okay, I'll pick up some more cloth coupons when I go to work tomorrow." Niu Dazhuang wasn't unwilling to give his wife money, but he was afraid that giving her too much would scare her. He would also have to ask her all sorts of questions.

They're doing pretty well right now; their family has enough to eat, and they even have some pocket money.

"You should get one made too! By the way, it seems like Big Bear and the others don't have any suitable clothes either. I'll have Third Sister take their measurements later, one set for each of them. If we don't have enough money, I'll figure something out."

In Qin Xueru's heart, the three brothers, Da Xiong and his brother, were definitely not as close as Qin Huairu. She'd already bought clothes for the three of them; she had to at least get a set for her third sister.

Niu Dazhuang saw through her thoughts, and before Xue Ru could speak, he spoke first: "It's not that I'm unwilling to spend the money, it's just that how this money is paid, what Jia Dongxu thinks, and what others think?"

Qin Xueru then fell silent.

"I went to see the apartment, but it wasn't suitable. I'll have to wait a bit longer!"

"Dazhuang, I heard that everyone is getting housing now? Why are you in such a hurry to buy a house? I think living in a tenement is fine. If we really lived in a detached house, my sister and I wouldn't know anyone, which would be so boring."

"Wasn't I just concerned about Ningru's reputation?"

"Brother-in-law, after all this with you, you still want to marry me off? You're really heartless!" Qin Ningru came in carrying a plate of dry-fried peanuts.

"I couldn't bear to part with you! I'd fight anyone who tried to marry you off!"

"That's more like it. Since I don't want to get married, why should I care what others say?"

Let's just close the door and live our own lives. People can say whatever they want!

"Then I'm sorry to trouble you!" Niu Dazhuang was somewhat touched.

"I've been wronged so much. My sister is a big liar too. She always talks about how great things are. I haven't had a single day of comfort since I arrived. I've already used two tubes of erythromycin ointment. Brother-in-law, please have some pity on me. I'll stop tonight, okay?" Qin Ningru put the fried peanuts on the kang table, then sat down on the edge of the kang herself.

Niu Dazhuang poured Qin Ningru a glass.

"Ningru, it was my fault. I didn't consider your feelings. Have a drink, as an apology."

Qin Ningru was also a good drinker. The two of them finished half a jin of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) in no time.

The flatbread was ready, and Niu Dazhuang used one flatbread to roll up the remaining scrambled eggs and ate it in big bites.

After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, they would smoke a cigarette, lie down on the kang (heated brick bed), and take a nap.

Qin Xueru draped a small blanket around his waist, and the two sisters went out.

"Sister, since brother-in-law is so capable and there are so many people in the family, why don't we buy our own sewing machine?" Qin Ningru had overheard Qin Xueru's conversation with Niu Dazhuang inside the house.

"Who knows how to tailor clothes, you or I?"

"I'm not afraid of anything. If my third sister can learn it, I'm sure I can too."

"Then talk to your brother-in-law when he wakes up."

"I'll say it then." Qin Ningru was now full of confidence.

The two sisters weren't idle either; they started preparing things for the little one: little clothes, little shoes, a hat...

Since her argument with Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu has gradually stopped coming over for meals and only comes over after she has finished eating.

Here comes Qin Huairu, carrying the cotton-padded clothes she had taken off with Xiaobang. The cotton-padded clothes taken off in winter all need to be taken apart and washed.

In those days, there were no thermal underwear; people wore them directly. If they had the means, they could wear a jacket over it; otherwise, they would just wear them as is for more than three months, until the cuffs were worn shiny from being rubbed.

Some of them still wipe their noses with their sleeves; you can imagine how dirty that is.

The little boy was especially bad!

Every year at this time, we need to take apart the cotton-padded clothes, starch and wash them, fluff the cotton inside, and then sew them back on in the fall. It's all done by hand!

This applies to children's and adults' cotton-padded clothes and thick quilts; they all need to be dried like this.

"Third sister, I've found you some work to do. Dazhuang asked me to buy some fabric and make spring and autumn clothes for everyone in the family." Qin Xueru said as she saw Qin Huairu coming over.

"It's too much trouble for us sisters to say it's troublesome. Who are you making these for?"

"Besides the father and son, everyone else got a set too. I was originally thinking of getting one for you as well, but I was afraid my brother-in-law would overthink it."

"You're right, cloth ration coupons are hard to come by these days. But since Dazhuang told you this, he must have a way." Qin Huairu highly recognized Niu Dazhuang's abilities.

Qin Xueru looked at Qin Huairu's facial expression but didn't see any sign of anger.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"