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

When Qin Xueru got home from get off work, she couldn't wait to ask, "When was the decision made about going to the countryside?"

"It's settled. I'll be going down the day after tomorrow. I'm a little worried about you. Even though we're not allowed to come back in between, I'll definitely take leave to come back and see you."

"You're pregnant, which is a special situation, so your boss will probably agree."

"No need, Ningru is at home, and Yueru is here too. Just do your best!"

"I have my own plans, so don't worry about it. Also, even though you haven't been earning extra money for the past few months, don't be stingy at home. I still have some food coupons and money, so I'll save them all for you." This was what Niu Dazhuang was most worried about.

If you bring home some fine grains, she'll grumble a bit, saying you don't know how to manage money. But if you ask her to buy them herself, she'll be reluctant to spend the money.

No matter how much food coupons and money you leave her, she will save them and won't be willing to eat well.

"No need, I still have a few hundred yuan on me, it won't cost that much in a few months. You should take some with you when you go out, it will put my mind at ease."

"When I go to the construction site, the company provides food and lodging, so I have money but nothing to spend."

After washing up and changing into a pair of shorts, I went to the backyard with a cigarette in my mouth to tell the old man.

Qin Ningru and Yue Ru, the two sisters, only returned at this time.

It's not that we didn't want to come back sooner, it's just that the two sisters got confused. One said this way is the way to go, and we should go this way, while the other said that way is the east...

The two sisters had almost circled Beihai Park, but neither of them was shy enough to ask for directions.

When they got home, the two sisters were still blaming each other: "Ningru, you're really stupid, you can't even tell east from west."

"Seventh Sister, it's all your fault. Even though I can't tell which way is which, I know how to get there. But you insist that I'm taking the wrong route."

The two sisters bickered as they washed their hands and started cooking.

"Sis, let's have cold noodles tonight!"

"Okay, we're out of fresh meat at home, and the supply and marketing cooperative isn't selling it at this hour either. Ningru, go buy some pig's head meat."

We have eggs at home, let's buy another pound of tomatoes, and we'll have tomato noodles for dinner!

"I'll knead the dough!" Yue Ru couldn't just wait to eat.

He opened one jar and found wheat flour; he scooped out a bowlful; then he opened the second one and found rice; the third one contained corn grits; and another one contained sweet potato starch… Finally, he looked at all the jars.

"Yueru, what are you looking for?"

"Cornmeal noodles! They're made from sweet potato flour and water, they're too sweet and not tasty. Why don't you have any cornmeal noodles?"

"Dazhuang doesn't eat whole grains, so we haven't bought any cornmeal. The corn grits are for feeding the chickens. It's getting hot these days, and the hens aren't laying eggs much. When Dazhuang isn't home for meals, we make a pot of sweet potato flour and cornbread!"

"Ah! White flour and rice every meal!" Yue Ru knew his family was well-off, but she didn't expect them to be this well-off, as they hardly ate any coarse grains anymore.

"No, we also eat whole grains when Dazhuang isn't home."

"Sister, that's pretty amazing! You've hit the jackpot in one fell swoop! I'm so envious!" she said, scooping out three more bowls of white noodles.

"I should buy some cornmeal from now on; cornmeal is better than sweet potato flour for making cloth!"

"Then go buy it tomorrow. I've told Dazhuang a few times, but I don't know if he forgot or if he's doing it on purpose, he just won't buy cornmeal."

Yue Ru was rolling out dough, while Ning Ru, after returning from shopping, started making braised dishes.

Yue Ru was dumbfounded again. She saw Ning Ru take a large bowl and crack seven or eight eggs in a row before stopping.

"Ningru, you're really extravagant! The four of us are eating braised noodles, and you used eight eggs! Doesn't your brother-in-law say anything?"

"My brother-in-law said that when we eat braised noodles, everyone has to have two eggs. There are four of us, so two eggs each would make eight, right?"

While frying the eggs, she added four spoonfuls of peanut oil in a row, until Yue Ru became numb and stopped talking.

The noodles were cooked, and Ningru went to the backyard to call Niu Dazhuang back.

The table was already set, with a plate of braised pig's head and a smashed cucumber. Niu Dazhuang first drank two ounces of wine.

Ningru was the one who drank with them.

"Um... Ningru, you should have some too." Logically speaking, Niu Dazhuang should also call her "sister," but when he thought about how she and Xueru were the same age, both two years younger than him, Niu Dazhuang really couldn't bring himself to say it.

She couldn't be as glib as Qin Huairu, who talked for a long time but still called out his name.

Seeing that Xue Ru could drink, Qin Yueru thought it wouldn't be impolite for her to have a little herself, so she nodded.

Ningru handed her a small wine cup.

Niu Dazhuang raised his glass: "We're all family, order whatever you like. When I get back, I'll treat you all to hot pot."

"I'm afraid I won't be able to wait for you to come back, so I'll go home. There's no reason for me to stay at your house for several months."

"Then come again after winter. There won't be much farm work to do in winter."

"Brother-in-law, you also come from the countryside. You don't come after winter sets in, so you can easily earn work points. What would I do here?"

"Hehe, that's true! Then come over after your sister gives birth and the baby is a month old!"

"Forget it, they didn't even tell us when Xiaobanggeng turned one month old, so we can forget about this pregnancy."

"We'll let you know when it's a full moon, then you'll have to come," Xue Ru said.

"Alright then, send word and I'll come."

Qin Xueru's plan fell through. She hadn't expected that Niu Dazhuang would be going to the countryside so soon. He was no longer around, so how could she arrange a marriage?

After dinner, I went to the Intermediate People's Court for a chat and returned around nine o'clock.

As usual, Niu Dazhuang stood outside the door to keep watch for them while the three sisters took a bath inside.

Niu Dazhuang set up a bed board in the outer room and lay down.

Ningru, who was in the inner room, had something on her mind. She was now somewhat addicted to being carefree. In the past, whenever Niu Dazhuang was home, she would get carefree several times.

Now Yue Ru lives at home, and Niu Dazhuang lives elsewhere. The key thing is that he's going to the countryside the day after tomorrow, and he'll be gone for at least two months.

How could Ningru bear it? Hearing that their breathing had become steady, Ningru quietly got off the kang (a heated brick bed).

Ningru was getting a little carried away; this was a bed frame, not a kang (heated brick bed).

That's the end of the fun.

With a loud "bang," the bed frame fell to the floor. It happened so suddenly that neither of them was prepared.

That's pretty harsh...

"Ah..." Qin Ningru couldn't help but let out a sound.

Even the soundest sleepers inside were awakened by the sound of the bed board falling to the floor.

Xue Ru turned her head and saw that Ning Ru was not there, so she knew what had happened.

"Eighth Brother, what's going on in the outer room?" Qin Yueru was dressed lightly, knowing that Niu Dazhuang was outside, and that she couldn't go out dressed like this.

"Dazhuang's outside, it's okay, go to sleep!"

"Where is Ningru?"

"He probably went out to use the restroom!"

Qin Yueru felt that Xue Ru was acting too calmly, which was strange. Since Xue Ru said it was nothing, what could a guest like her say?

Just close your eyes and go back to sleep!

Even in this state, the two were still reluctant to separate, holding their breath and listening to the sounds coming from the inner room.