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

Cong Kongjian took out a skinning knife and, while it was still warm, peeled off the pigskin, then further processed the pork on the spread-out skin.

We need the pig offal, but not the intestines, since there's no water source nearby.

Seven days have passed since they entered the mountains. Niu Dazhuang took stock of his catch: sixteen adult blue sheep, a few more roe deer, twenty-three in total, and twelve elk.

This time there were the most wild boars, big and small, male and female, totaling more than thirty. Adult wild boars made up the majority, with only seven half-grown ones.

These creatures reproduce so quickly, with a litter containing anywhere from seven or eight to more than ten offspring. Otherwise, they would come down from the mountains every year and wreak havoc on the crops of the local people.

There's enough meat in these spaces to last three years.

With his two hundred bullets almost gone, Niu Dazhuang, upon seeing the village, carried a wild boar, weighing about a hundred pounds, skinned and gutted, into Qinjiawa.

I returned the M1 semi-automatic bicycle, put the wild boar meat on the back seat, tied it with hemp rope, and sped off to the construction site.

Big Blue Sheep, Silly Roe Deer, and Niu Dazhuang were reluctant to take them out.

For the past six or seven days, Niu Dazhuang deliberately didn't change his clothes or wash his face, making himself look dirty so that others would see him.

As Niu Dazhuang swaggered past the construction site pushing his bicycle, the key detail being that he had a whole pig on the seat, the workers all cast envious glances his way.

"No wonder everyone's desperate to work in Beijing; the benefits are amazing..."

"Who says otherwise? We're eating cornbread all day, while others are eating meat properly. Who can we complain to?"

Niu Dazhuang was helping to butcher meat in the kitchen when Su Wan arrived. She checked on Niu Dazhuang first, and seeing that he wasn't injured and was still grinning as he butchered the meat, Su Wan noticed he was fine.

The weight that had been hanging over me was finally lifted, and a strange sense of pride welled up within me.

"You're really something, you did a great job. Come to my office after you've had lunch!" After saying that, she turned and left, her steps feeling lighter, and her slender waist swayed more than usual.

Yu Li's eyes were practically sparkling when she looked at Niu Dazhuang. This man was incredibly capable; if he were working for her family, they could eat meat all year round.

Since there's a first time, there's bound to be a second time... Yu Li thought about it more and more and it made more and more sense.

In a year when people are eating cornbread all year round, the temptation to eat meat is incredibly strong.

Yu Li had long forgotten about leaving him in the county town, and even changed how she addressed him.

"Brother Niu, let me help you hold it up!" Yu Li's job is to cook in the kitchen.

No need, you can help Chef Zhang with the fire.

Chef Zhang is very experienced. When stewing the meat, he added a little over an ounce of white wine to mask the earthy smell of the wild boar.

Bai Hongyan, having finished her work, also came to the kitchen to watch the commotion. She arrived a little late; Niu Dazhuang had already finished butchering the whole pig and was squatting to the side, smoking.

"You're something else, kid! You must weigh over a hundred pounds!"

"It should be about the same."

"Next time, bring another person along. You're quite capable carrying over 100 pounds of meat out of the deep mountains and forests. Old Zhang, there are only about 20 of us, we definitely can't eat that much meat at once. Think of a way to make sure Comrade Niu Dazhuang's hard work doesn't go to waste."

"Director Bai, you don't need to tell me, I've already thought of it. This afternoon I'll smoke the rest of the meat with pine branches, so it can be preserved for a few more days."

The staple food is still cornbread made from two kinds of flour. With meat in the dishes, the cornbread becomes even tastier, especially when soaked in vegetable soup, it's incredibly fragrant.

The unit where Niu Dazhuang and his colleagues were stationed was next to the camp. They came over because of the aroma, and when they found out where the meat came from, they couldn't stay calm either.

There are demobilized soldiers in every unit. Since their transportation company can do this and even profit from it, other units can't fall behind.

After having lunch, Niu Dazhuang entered Su Wan's office with a big smile.

Su Wan looked at her little man with heartache, took out her handkerchief, and wiped Niu Dazhuang's face, which hadn't been washed for seven or eight days.

"Next time, don't go. Let them go. Take off your clothes tonight, and I'll wash them for you. It's getting cool at night, so don't take a cold shower. I'll tell Yu Li to boil a pot of water for you after dinner."

As they say, the eldest daughter-in-law knows how to care for her husband. Su Wan not only saw the wild boar meat, but also Niu Dazhuang's hard work over the past six or seven days.

What man could resist such tender care? Niu Dazhuang was no exception. He held her in his arms and looked deeply into Su Wan's big eyes: "Sister Wan, I'm not tired. This is all an act for others."

"Don't talk, let me feel your strong chest." As she spoke, Su Wan didn't mind the smell of sweat on Niu Dazhuang's body and pressed her head against Niu Dazhuang's chest.

They could feel each other's heartbeats and breathing.

Slowly, Su Wan's breathing became rapid, and she twisted her body, trying to break free from Niu Dazhuang's embrace: "Dazhuang, no, it's nighttime," Su Wan murmured.

"Did you miss me?"

"think."

"What did you think?"

"I've thought about it all."

"What did you miss about me?"

"I've thought of everything."

Niu Dazhuang was clearly dissatisfied with her answer and was about to take further action when he heard footsteps outside the tent.

The two quickly separated, and Su Wan hurriedly sat back down in her chair, even straightening her disheveled clothes.

Bai Hongyan lifted the curtain and came in.

"Oh! Dazhuang's here too, Vice President Su. These are the supplies that have been allocated. Please take a look." It turned out that Bai Hongyan had taken several vehicles to the city.

Su Wan glanced at the list. Below the list was an envelope containing several hundred yuan, a stack of grain coupons, and a letter.

The letter was written by Chen Jingshan, the Party Secretary who was stationed at the unit.

Su Wan didn't read the letter; instead, she pulled out a dozen or so industrial coupons from the top of a stack of grain coupons.

"Here you go, don't lose it. Find a chance to pay back the debt."

After the formalities were completed, Bai Hongyan patted Niu Dazhuang on the shoulder: "Comrade Niu Dazhuang, you're very capable! I heard about it as soon as I arrived at the construction site. Next time you go, be sure to take me with you. Come on, tell me about it..." Before Niu Dazhuang could even open his mouth, she pulled him out.

"Come walk with me!" Bai Hongyan's earlier cheerfulness had vanished, replaced by a hint of dejection.

This woman's face changes so quickly.

"Is this appropriate? Everyone's watching."

"You're the only one who thinks so highly of yourself. Who cares about us? They're all busy." After saying that, Bai Hongyan walked towards the back of the hill.

Niu Dazhuang had no choice but to follow.

After walking behind the hill, Bai Hongyan headed towards the patch of white grass.

Niu Dazhuang knew this road well. As he followed behind, he wondered to himself, "Could it be that Bai Hongyan saw me that night? Or was it just a coincidence?"

Bai Hongyan pushed aside the tall white grass with both hands and continued to crawl in. After a few steps, a large black rock shaped like a reclining ox appeared before her.

"This place is nice!" he said, turning around and sitting down.