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

Su Wan smiled helplessly: "A year? We've been married for ten years now. We were together for a month when we were newlyweds, and then we had our first child. After that, I only came back to visit twice a year."

The holiday is a bit longer, about a week, but sometimes I can't even come back because I'm on duty during the holiday. You do the math…”

"Sigh! What's the difference between this and living like a widow? Sister, I support your decision to get a divorce."

"My problem is solved, but what about you?"

"Even if he goes to jail, he'll eventually be released. I refuse to believe he won't come back!"

Seeing her resolute attitude, Su Wan didn't say anything more. She figured she'd find out what it was like to wait two years, and it wouldn't be too late to persuade her then.

"Why are you dragging me into this again, sis? Are you just going to stay single from now on?"

"I don't want to break up someone else's family, but I've had a deep conversation with that person. He opened up a different world for me, showing me that women can live like this. How could I possibly be attracted to anyone else after that!"

"Sister, you're in the prime of your life now. He likes you, but what about in five or ten years? You'll be much older than him then."

"I've thought about it, maybe there's some way, at worst I'll just have to live alone for a while! I can support myself."

By the time we women reach our fifties or sixties, we've all gone through menopause, so presumably we no longer have that kind of sexual desire. Life becomes much easier then.

"That's true! Since you've thought about everything, I won't say anything more."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Su Ting suddenly asked, "Have you ever thought about having a child for him?"

"Of course I've thought about it, but I'm divorced. How am I supposed to have this child?"

"It's not like there's no way out. Think about it, sis. You won't announce your divorce to outsiders in a big way, and no one will ask around if you're pregnant."

The best way is to get pregnant during this period.

"Ah... getting pregnant at this time, isn't that a bit too unfair?"

Su Ting said that if it was urgent, she should hurry up and get off the kang (a heated brick bed) to get some paper and a pen: "Write the divorce agreement now and send it out tomorrow."

"With your constitution that makes you so prone to getting pregnant, your ex-brother-in-law could get you in one go, so this other guy will be even more of a problem for him."

"You crazy girl, don't rush, let me think about it some more. I want to leave my son with him, and my daughter will come to live with me so I can raise her myself. Do you think it would be bad for her if I got pregnant now?"

"Sister, you saw what happened at the Intermediate Court today, right? Your wild man was so supportive! I felt so energized just watching him. With a man like that backing you up, you're not afraid of being bullied!"

So you have to have another son, so you'll have someone to rely on when you're old. Before, I was worried about my body changing shape, so I had a son, Xiaoling.

Today I finally understand: I can't do without a son. I need to have another one, and then I'll raise the two boys together. Let's see who dares to bully us then.

"Why are you acting so impulsively? Your husband's in a labor camp in Yanqing, how did you get pregnant and have a son?"

"That's true! Then you should have him first. I'll have him in two years."

"Screw you, believe me I'll write it tonight. I still need to think about having a baby."

Before the letter was even finished, Xiao Qinling went home to sleep.

After finishing writing the letter and tidying up the kang table, the two sisters lay down together. It was already past 11 a.m., and neither of them could fall asleep.

As Su Wan turned over, Su Ting whispered, "Sis, you're not asleep either!"

"Yes, I've been thinking about my married life over the past ten years, and I can't sleep. Why aren't you asleep either?"

"I think what you just told me is true, you really didn't lie to me. I don't think it's possible that Niu Dazhuang is really that powerful."

"I think you're just experiencing the stirrings of spring, and the burning desire in your heart is making you think all sorts of things."

"Really? Maybe so. It's been half a month since I've been touched by a man, and I'm starting to feel itchy."

"With your words just now, it's no wonder I couldn't sleep." Su Ting didn't hide anything from her older sister.

"You're so nonchalant!"

"I've told you everything since you were little. What's the big deal? It's just a basic human need."

"Just bear with it!"

"What else can I do but endure it! I'm thinking, if what you're saying is true, and it's really satisfying, it's like a back scratcher that can tickle you comfortably no matter where you itch."

"Stop talking! If you keep going, I won't be able to resist going to the backyard to find him. Besides, you meant well but messed things up today. Do you think I get drunk that easily?"

"Oh, I see. So, I really did keep you from seeing your lover. He's probably cursing me behind my back! How about I call him over for drinks tomorrow?"

"This is getting more and more absurd. Go to sleep, you have to go to work tomorrow."

Niu Dazhuang didn't curse anyone behind his back, but he regretted not putting some drugs in his drink.

Two days later, the two pregnant women, each carrying five feet of floral cloth, a pound of celebratory fruit, and a pound of candy, boarded the bus back to their parents' home...

We arrived at the west gate of Changping County around 10 a.m., where Niu Deshui was already waiting.

Upon seeing the two women, he quickly drove the donkey cart to them and took down a long bench. The two sisters climbed onto the donkey cart using the bench.

"Auntie, sit tight, we're off."

After more than half a year of training, Niu Deshui became more talkative. He recounted all the events that had happened in the village over the past six months, some trivial and some not.

The mountain road stretched for forty or fifty li, and it took the donkey cart two hours to sway and bump along before they arrived at Qinjiawa. Qin Xueru tossed Deshui a box of Hademen products.

The two sisters had already come up with a plan at home. As for Qin Xueru, as soon as she entered the fence gate, Ningru arrived, ran up to Xueru with a big smile, and grabbed her arm and wouldn't let go.

He quickly recounted to Xue Ru the details of Niu Dazhuang's last visit.

"Ningru, I'll ask you one more time: if you regret it, we can choose another path."

"Sis, stop testing me. I already miss my brother-in-law." That one sentence was her way of making her stance clear.

Qin Xueru patted her arm reassuringly.

"Mom! My sister is back."

"So what if she's back!" Clearly, Qin's mother was still angry.

After Qin Xueru entered the room, she said, "Mom, this is three lengths of blue-and-white brocade. You and Dad will have some new clothes made from it. This is..."

"Alright, I saw it, put it down!" Qin Xueru was interrupted before she could finish speaking.

"We've spotted them, heading east or west. Let's go!"

Qin Xueru sat sideways on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), her smile gone: "Mom, you're being a bit unreasonable."

Upon hearing this, Qin's mother reacted like a ruffled hen, immediately stopping sitting and sticking out her index finger to her nipple.

"If you weren't my own flesh and blood, I wouldn't even let you come to my door. I'm not even going to argue with you; how can you treat your own sister like this?!"

Qin Xueru raised her voice a few decibels, "How did I trick Ningru? Did I make her a concubine?"

"Once she comes to my house, she won't have any freedom anymore. Don't always be so domineering, imposing your ideas on us younger generation. Whether she's happy or not, you should ask the people involved! Ningru will be nineteen next year, right? Does that mean she won't get married into the family?"

"You still have the nerve to talk back! You've ruined Ningru's life, how is she ever going to get married?"

"I did this precisely to prevent her from marrying someone else!"