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

"Ah! Sister Bai, how do you know they're having a good time after marriage?" Yu Li appeared very naive at this moment. While speaking, she secretly glanced at Niu Dazhuang.

"You talk too much. Should you order yourself or should I order for you?"

"Could you order for me? I'm the first one here."

"One salad, three borschts, two hot pot dishes, creamed mixed vegetables, buttered rye bread, three cups of kvass, and three servings of vanilla ice cream." Bai Hongyan skillfully ordered the food for the three of them.

Then he gestured for Niu Dazhuang to go ahead, and Niu Dazhuang understood and got up to pay the bill.

When she got back, Yu Li asked for the bill and looked at the prices one by one. She also calculated the total bill.

"Do they need meat coupons and food coupons for this too?"

"Of course! Although it's called the Moscow Restaurant, it's actually run by the Kyoto government, and it mainly serves Soviet experts!" Bai Hongyan explained.

Niu Dazhuang couldn't get a word in edgewise. Although he had heard of it, he had never been here in his two lifetimes. This was quite an experience for him.

The cold salad was served first. Yu Li looked at it again and again, then asked softly, "Why aren't there chopsticks? Are we supposed to eat it with our hands?"

Niu Dazhuang wasn't exactly timid; he had eaten Western food a few times in his previous life.

Bai Hongyan smiled and began to pick up the fork beside her...

Yu Li followed suit, taking only one bite of salad and then stopping. "It's too filling; it's not as good as eating fruits and vegetables on their own."

The only thing Yu Li ate that she liked was the braised beef in a clay pot. She didn't like the buttered rye bread at all, but she enjoyed the kvass and vanilla ice cream.

As soon as they left the restaurant, Yu Li started giving her review:

"We spent so much money and didn't even get enough to eat, it's really not worth it. If I had known we'd eat like this, I would have gone for Peking duck. But that Ling brand was pretty good, and the kvass wasn't as good as Arctic Ocean soda! What do you think, Sister Bai?"

"I think it's alright, just a bit expensive."

"This isn't just a little expensive, it's outrageously expensive! How can ordinary people afford it!"

"This isn't for ordinary people like us. It's just so-so to me, not as good as a big bowl of stewed meat noodles. I'm not full either, how about we go get some more?" Niu Dazhuang finally chimed in.

"I'm done eating. You two can go on your own if you want."

"If Sister Bai isn't going, then I won't go either."

"Then let's go home."

It was already dark. Niu Dazhuang first took Yu Li, then sent Bai Hongyan home, and then sent Yu Li home.

Bai Hongyan was no longer a reliable source of light, and it was getting dark. Niu Dazhuang stopped riding his bicycle properly and started wobbling from side to side.

"Hey...hey...you haven't been drinking, why are you swaying back and forth?" At first, Yu Li was still holding onto the seat under her buttocks.

Every now and then, Niu Dazhuang would shake a few times, and Yu Li's little fist would hit Dazhuang's back.

She hit him once, and Niu Dazhuang swayed back and forth twice, which frightened Yu Li so much that she quickly grabbed the back of his clothes.

One hand isn't enough; you have to grab on with both hands at the same time to keep your balance.

Having achieved his initial goal, Niu Dazhuang rode the bicycle well for a while and then started making it move in a figure-eight pattern.

Yu Li grabbed Niu Dazhuang's waist with both hands and twisted it hard: "Are you ever going to stop? If you don't ride your bike properly, I'll walk home myself."

"Ouch... Do all women have a knack for pinching people? I've been riding my bike properly!"

"That's more like it. Don't try to play tricks on me. I can read your mind. If I'm with you, would you dare marry me?" Yu Li's brain is really sharp.

Niu Dazhuang hadn't expected Yu Li to expose him. He stopped riding the bike and used his long legs to prop it up. He turned around and said, "Get off, let's ride together for a while."

"How come I figured out your thoughts? You're not pretending anymore?"

"What am I pretending for? You guessed wrong. I just think we get along well, and you're a friend I can joke around with."

"You coward who dares to think but not admit it. I'm starting to look down on you." Yu Li began to use reverse psychology.

Niu Dazhuang has been with several women before; he's seen it all, so he's not susceptible to her advances.

"I don't have you either, and you're really not my type. Besides being good-looking, everything else..."

"Hmph! You men are all the same, not one of you is any good. You just like Bai Hongyan, don't you? Aren't you afraid of cheating on me?"

"Aren't you best friends? Why are you talking badly about her behind her back?"

"Why are you so protective? She's not even your woman yet, and you're already defending her. I don't know what she's thinking, getting entangled with a married man like you!"

"Aren't you also entangled with me in some complicated situation?"

"How am I entangled with you? Don't flatter yourself!"

"You're absolutely right, okay? Why think so much? Isn't it better to live life according to your own wishes?"

"That's true. In less than a month, we'll both be officially hired. Then I'll have a formal job, and I should be going on blind dates this December!" After saying that, she looked at Niu Dazhuang's facial expression.

The result disappointed her: "Then I'll congratulate you in advance!"

"Hmph! You can go now. It's not far from my house. I can walk back by myself."

A meal stirred the hearts of two young girls.

Yu Li stormed off alone in a huff.

Niu Dazhuang has a good attitude now. If it's meant to be, then so be it; if not, then let each other be. Anyway, he doesn't lack women.

It was another Sunday, and Xu Damao arrived early with Da Xiong and the others, where he directed them to dig holes and get to work.

Even though they didn't do much work, whatever their purpose, they had the intention, so Niu Dazhuang couldn't say anything.

He handed him a cigarette: "Come over for lunch, the two of us brothers, let's have a drink!"

"How could I possibly accept that!"

"Then forget it."

"No, let's leave it to each our own, whether we drink or not. I just want to chat with you alone for a bit, Brother Niu. My dad still has a bottle of Shanxi Fenjiu hidden away; I'll get the liquor for lunch."

"Aren't you afraid your dad will find out and punish you?"

"Hehe, that depends on who I drink with. If I drink with you, my dad definitely won't beat me."

In real life, people like Xu Damao are the ones who get along the best. Who doesn't like being fawned over?

"Okay, let's have some drinks at noon!"

After Niu Dazhuang finished setting up the pergola on his side, he went to the backyard to set one up in front of the old man.

Nowadays, setting up a pergola simply involves erecting two pillars and placing a reed mat on top. It's quite simple.

With the reed mats blocking out the sunlight, the room naturally became much cooler.

It was past ten o'clock when they finished their work. All five of them were covered in sweat and went home to take a shower.

Niu Dazhuang went out to the supply and marketing cooperative at the entrance of the alley and bought two catties of pig's head meat and a piece of smoked tofu.

When she got home, Qin Ningru had already prepared the peanuts.

I didn't eat breakfast, and started drinking around 10 a.m.

Xu Damao was still the same as always; the two of them shared a bottle of wine, and Xu Damao only drank about half a jin (250ml).

I didn't black out this time, but my speech was still slurred.

He put his arm around Niu Dazhuang's neck and started bragging.