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

Niu Dazhuang chuckled and downed the hot tea in one gulp. He got off the kang (heated brick bed), slipped on his shoes, and went to the backyard.

I explained my purpose to the old man.

"Xue Ru is a good daughter-in-law. This family can't function without a woman in charge. Look how good it is now!" Old Niu Youliang was very pleased.

"The mending and washing are all done by women."

"Grandpa, stop reminiscing, bring out your cotton-padded coat too!"

"I don't need mine."

"Brother, someone already helped wash and return Grandpa's cotton-padded clothes and quilt. Sister-in-law, you were a little slow!" Big Bear said as he rummaged through his cotton-padded clothes in the outer room.

Grandpa Niu's face flushed slightly, but he quickly recovered and chuckled, scolding, "Big Bear, you talk too much, aren't you? All alluring, aren't you?"

"Hey! Grandpa, you're truly one of us from the Niu family." Niu Dazhuang, without any respect for elders, even gave a thumbs up.

"Dazhuang, you don't object?"

"What do I object to? I'm only happy for you, old man. I'm never home. I'd be more at ease if you could find a companion."

Niu Youliang sighed, "Alas! It's not that simple!"

Niu Dazhuang, ever the simpleton, blurted out: "Sir, could he be a married man?"

Upon hearing this, Grandpa Niu took his pipe and gave him a good whack.

"Ouch! Sir, you really went for it, it's all swollen!" Niu Dazhuang clutched his head and squatted down; it was incredibly painful.

"You little bastard, do you think I'm like you, indiscriminate in your desires! They're from a respectable family, and her child isn't too happy about it. I'm a little worried too."

"Grandpa, don't worry about our family. It's just these two houses! I have no interest in them. As long as you have a good old age, I wouldn't mind giving them all away!"

Niu Dazhuang is not the same Niu Dazhuang anymore; he really doesn't care about these two houses anymore.

"Look at you, thinking you're so capable! You've only been working for a few days! Your current apartment isn't rented; these two rooms are our own. I'm not leaving them for you, but for outsiders!"

"Sir, I went to look at houses this morning, but I didn't find anything suitable!"

"Big Bear, take the things to your sister-in-law!" Old Man Niu sent his three younger brothers away.

"You did this to Ma Xingbang's house, didn't you!"

Niu Dazhuang had previously had Da Xiong and his men keep an eye on Ma Xingbang. Knowing he couldn't hide it any longer, he readily admitted it.

Niu Dazhuang got hit on the head with a tobacco pipe again.

"Grandpa, why did you hit me again? I didn't leave any loose ends!"

"I hit you because you forgot the rules of our Niu family and made a deal. Instead of staying at home obediently, you went out and bought a house! Do you think your current income can afford to buy a house?"

I don't know what kind of upbringing your father had! Better safe than sorry, don't underestimate the authorities! You didn't tell your woman about this, did you?

Niu Dazhuang was sweating profusely, and he stammered, "No, I didn't tell her!"

"We're not completely naive yet. It's not that we don't trust Xue Ru, it's just that the fewer people who know, the less risk there is. Let's not have any ideas this year, and just wait a couple of years before making any decisions."

"What the old man said is true. I've been getting a bit cocky lately."

Seeing that Dazhuang had come to his senses, we can't keep criticizing him.

"Your methods are quite good; you managed to leave no loose ends despite taking so much stuff. Don't be so greedy in the future, taking everything away!"

"I was just trying to mislead people!"

"Forget it, I won't say anything more about you. Your methods are better than your father's, but your character is still lacking!"

"Okay, sir, I'll go to work obediently, alright?" Niu Dazhuang said, noticing that the old man's expression had improved considerably.

Remembering what had just happened, he asked, "Sir, who is this person you've decided on? Do you need me to talk to her children?"

"Go to hell! Did I even ask about your affairs? Stop meddling in my business! Get lost!"

Niu Dazhuang rubbed his head and muttered, "Grandpa, you're really getting senile. How can you curse yourself like that!"

Niu Youliang raised his large pipe again. Niu Dazhuang quickly ran away.

"You brat, you've really grown wings!" Niu Youliang was quite satisfied with his nephew.

Not only have they preserved their family's traditional skills, but they've even surpassed them in some aspects. They're also very filial to their parents.

Although the three little ones couldn't sew clothes, they could still take them apart. When Niu Dazhuang came back, the three little ones were taking apart a cotton-padded coat under Qin Ningru's direction, with one taking scissors and the other taking an awl.

Niu Dazhuang ignored it and took his small stool to the Intermediate People's Court.

Not only his family was doing this, but all the neighbors in the yard were taking apart and washing their cotton-padded clothes.

A bachelor like Sha Zhu, with no woman to take care of him at home, only washes his cotton-padded clothes every few years. And since he's a cook, how could he not smell in the winter?

This guy has his own methods; he's crouching down and washing cotton-padded clothes directly.

"Brother Dazhuang, you've come at the right time! Help me wring this out!" He said, handing one end of his cotton-padded coat to Niu Dazhuang.

"Why are you alone? Where are Xu Damao and the others?"

"Spring has arrived, the cats are meowing in heat, and they've even gotten their hair permed. They've gone to Beihai Park to look at the young women!"

"Silly Zhu, what year were you born?"

"You're 35 years old, why are you introducing your sister-in-law to me?"

"Get lost! I'm serious, why don't you find a wife?"

"Who wouldn't want that! But look at my family situation, what good girl would want me? I went on a few dates last winter, but they all backed out as soon as they heard I had a younger sister. I was really discouraged. I guess I'll wait a couple of years until the rains are heavier!"

Niu Dazhuang thought for a moment, and realized that in this life, without Qin Huairu causing him trouble, he should be able to get together with that teacher, Ran Qiuye.

Sha Zhu washed the clothes again and hung them up to dry.

Niu Dazhuang handed him a Daqianmen cigarette. The two squatted down in front of Shazhu's door and started chatting...

After Grandpa Niu banged on two tobacco pipes, Niu Dazhuang behaved himself and stopped going out partying at night.

Qin Ningru then suffered.

The little fists pounded Niu Dazhuang's chest, making loud thuds: "Brother-in-law, you broke your promise! You promised me during the day that you would listen to me, but now you've... forgotten."

The kang (heated brick bed) in the north is so nice! You don't have to worry about the rattling sound of a wooden bed, and it won't collapse no matter how much you move around.

May Day is just around the corner, and all the energetic young men have switched to summer clothes.

Niu Dazhuang gradually spent all his grain coupons, and the amount of grain in his space increased by more than 4,000 jin.

We were supposed to have a day off for Labor Day, and the company even organized a basketball game. Niu Dazhuang was itching to join in, but playing basketball didn't fit his background, so he could only watch them show off.

Director Bai is quite the lively one. No matter which side scores a goal, she claps and cheers. When the competition gets intense, she even jumps up and down.

Her hopping and skipping provided a feast for the eyes of the men watching the game.