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

"What does this have to do with me, a new employee who just got promoted?" Niu Dazhuang was a little confused.

Bai Hongyan glared at him, annoyed by his lack of ambition: "Why are you so unambitious? Are you really planning to drive a big truck for the rest of your life? If you get selected, it will definitely be a bonus in the year-end individual awards!"

"You said it yourself, if I'm selected, how could a newbie like me, who just got promoted, possibly be selected!"

"If the Party Secretary were leading the team, you new employees would definitely have no chance. But it's Vice President Su leading the team. She's a young cadre herself, so of course she'll mentor the newcomers."

"With Vice President Su leading the team, I have even less hope. I've been helping out in the kitchen ever since, and she's the one who's punished me."

"Such a blockhead! She usually seems quite smart, but when it comes to this, she just stops thinking straight. She won't care about people she doesn't like."

"So, she punished me, and I have to thank her? How could I be so pathetic!"

"Are you trying to drive me crazy? Get lost! If you don't write the letter of challenge, don't talk to me anymore." Bai Hongyan said, crossing her arms and looking very angry.

"Fine, I'll finish writing it after the big meeting! I'm leaving now, you should rest too!"

"Hmph, you're smart to know what's good for you."

Bai Hongyan was still very happy; it seemed that he still cared about continuing their relationship.

Every day after get off work, Niu Dazhuang would come home forty or fifty minutes later than the others in the compound, and Qin Xueru was used to it.

Niu Dazhuang didn't bring it up, and she didn't ask.

When he lived at home, Niu Dazhuang would get up early every day to go to the nearby farmers' market for the morning market.

This has been going on since May, and I've stuck with it for over a month. I've been able to buy all sorts of fruits and vegetables, and I've stockpiled quite a lot in my online space. I roughly calculated that I've stockpiled more than I have of grain.

Watermelons, in particular, weigh over ten pounds each, and a hundred of them weigh over a thousand pounds.

Vegetables were cheap, averaging only five cents a pound, and the total cost was over three hundred yuan. The vegetables and fruits together amounted to over six thousand pounds.

Niu Dazhuang didn't plan to make money from this, so he stopped going to the morning market.

Qin Ningru was still a little unaccustomed to it. She had been tending to the jujubes all night, but this morning, the jujubes wouldn't go outside.

"Brother-in-law, aren't you going to the morning market?"

"I'm not going anymore. I've bought almost everything I needed." Since there were already people walking around in the courtyard, Niu Dazhuang didn't want to push his luck too far.

The two cuddled for a while before getting up.

Since Niu Dazhuang is at home, he doesn't need anyone else to empty the chamber pot.

After breakfast, Niu Dazhuang was about to leave for work when Qin Huairu came over, supporting her back. She was four months pregnant and her belly was already showing.

"I saw you chatting with a bunch of them last night, so I didn't go over. My younger sister, Yue Ru, is coming over this Sunday. You have a bicycle, so could you pick her up at the bus station near Deshengmen?"

"Okay, that's easy." He said, turning to leave. Seeing that Qin Huairu didn't move aside, he asked, "Is there anything else?"

At this moment, Xue Ru chimed in, "Yue Ru has arrived and will be staying at our house."

Niu Dazhuang was a little unhappy. She was staying at home, which meant it wouldn't affect his communication with Ningru.

The three sisters could all tell he was unhappy: "There are some things I can't tell you now. Just know it and go to work!" Qin Xueru was the most confident.

"Oh." Since his wife had said that, Niu Dazhuang had no choice but to put up with it, even if he was unhappy.

After Niu Dazhuang left

"Sis, why don't you just tell your husband the truth?"

"What if your seventh sister doesn't agree? To avoid awkwardness when they meet in the future, if Yue Ru agrees, we can talk about it later. If she doesn't agree, let's just pretend it never happened."

"That's true!"

Saturday arrived in the blink of an eye, and Niu Dazhuang's company held a company-wide meeting.

Similar to what Bai Hongyan said, it was about selecting people to tackle the key problems, which was still a political task. However, this team was personally led by Lu Wenjun, the Party Secretary and General Manager.

Deputy General Manager and Union Chairperson Su Wan led Team Two to Changping to prepare for the construction of the Ming Tombs Reservoir, which is scheduled to begin next year.

Finally: "Comrades, those who want to sign up to go to Changping should discuss it with their families. The conditions there are harsh, and we can't go home before winter."

Of course, you can take leave if there are family matters. Submit your application on Monday, and we'll have another meeting to discuss it. Meeting adjourned.

After the meeting, in Bai Hongyan's office, Niu Dazhuang wasn't in the mood to practice his spoken English either.

"Niu Dazhuang, you're not allowed to desert! I've already signed up to go to Changping!" Bai Hongyan said angrily, hands on her hips.

"I'm not exactly a deserter. I'm still contributing to the country from the city, even working on the construction of the Great Hall of the People. It's so meaningful!"

"Hmph! You're just a new employee, do you think you'd even be chosen!"

"Hehe, it's okay if I don't get elected. I'll contribute to the country through my work. It's not like everyone in the workplace can be contributing!"

"No, you have to sign up. You're a man, how can you be worse than a woman like me? You shrink back when you encounter difficulties."

"If you don't volunteer, I'll go to Vice President Su right now and have her choose the best candidate. Let's see what you do then!" With that, he walked out.

Niu Dazhuang grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Go and show your skills, why are you always dragging me along? I'm quite content with my life right now."

"I'm sticking with you. Whether you take the initiative or are forced to do it is your choice."

Niu Dazhuang was in a real bind. He looked at Bai Hongyan again, thinking, "This woman really knows what she's doing."

If I don't volunteer, I'll have to go if Vice President Su specifically asks me to.

The difference between doing work proactively and passively is like night and day.

"Meeting you is the worst luck I've ever had. I can't even live a peaceful life now!"

"Hmph! Without the new China, could you live a peaceful life? Now the country needs us, and we can't fall behind. It seems you new comrades need to attend more meetings and study more; you have no awareness at all!"

"Fine, I'm not aware of this, go ahead then. I'm risking my life to accompany this beauty."

Bai Hongyan's anger turned to joy: "That's more like it. It's just that the conditions are a bit tough, but it won't kill you. You're saying I'd risk my life for a beauty... Bah! Who's your beauty?!"

This is called the torrent of history; even if you are a time traveler, you can only go with the flow.

Niu Dazhuang was at a loss; he'd lost all interest in practicing Russian. There were so many women in the city; he'd be busy this Sunday.

Oh, and I still need to pick someone up.

After returning home and having dinner, Niu Dazhuang went out, first to the Ye family.

After Ye Chunmei became pregnant, perhaps it wasn't the right time yet, she didn't experience morning sickness, but she was very sleepy.

He told the two sisters why he had come.

"When are you leaving?"

"It should be soon, but the exact date hasn't been set yet."

"Oh, could you also go and look after the yard for us?" Ye Chunlan asked.

"Where is it located?"

"It's right in Daxing Hutong to the north."

"The location is good. As long as the property can be transferred and there are no tenants, it's fine!"

"We've investigated all of this and visited the yard."

"Then go ahead and buy it. If you don't have the money, I can sponsor you some."