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

"Sister Bai, there's plenty of firewood on the back hill. We can just go there after get off work every day and get some, enough to heat our kang (heated brick bed)."

"Yu Li, you're too young. If that's your thinking, the other villagers nearby are much quicker to act than you. Do you think the back mountain is unclaimed property? If I'm not mistaken, all that forest has been allocated to the production team."

"What you said is also a valid point."

No one can say anything if you go into the mountains to hunt, but if you cut down trees for firewood, people won't allow it.

The three of them were huddled around the stove, worrying, when Niu Dazhuang returned, humming a little tune.

"Dazhuang, you really don't care about your image. Why are you here at this hour?" Su Wan was a little unhappy.

On the surface, Niu Dazhuang and his four coworkers lived in the homes of ordinary people.

As soon as Su Wan said those words, she realized something was wrong. Wasn't this an admission of guilt? She observed the reactions of Yu Li and Bai Hongyan with her big eyes.

Bai Hongyan's face remained expressionless, while Yu Li stared at herself in astonishment.

Su Wan quickly added, "Even if Comrade Niu Dazhuang is very familiar with Hongyan, he can't come at this time. She's not the only one living in this courtyard; Yu Li is still a virgin."

"Hey! Sister Su, do you think I don't care about my reputation? I'm a grown woman, okay?" Bai Hongyan said the last part, sounding guilty.

But as long as she's not married, she's still a young woman. No problem, Bai Hongyan was still deceiving herself.

"Yes, you two are both grown women, okay?"

"I didn't check the almanac before leaving. Since none of you three welcome me, I'll just leave." Niu Dazhuang said this, but he had no intention of leaving and stepped into the house.

"Although Sister Bai paid for the rent, this was my idea, and we came to see the house together. Now, it's a bit much to not let me stay here."

Yu Li blurted out, "Vice President Su, don't listen to him. He's already made his home in the west wing. Before you came, he stayed here almost every night."

"I'm staying here, Yu Li, what do you want to do about it!" Niu Dazhuang was a little angry. If it weren't for Bai Hongyan's insistence, Yu Li definitely wouldn't have been able to move in.

Now look what's happened! You've moved in, and now you're complaining about me. I was planning to teach you a lesson slowly, but looks like that won't work. The best way to shut her up is to drag her down with me.

"You...you're shameless!" Yu Li knew he was shameless, but she didn't expect him to be this shameless.

"Hahaha. These days, you can get by if you're shameless. Sister Su, Sister Bai, now that we have a stove, let's chip in and set up a small kitchen."

Bai Hongyan was the first to respond: "How could I not have thought of that? I'll go buy a stove tomorrow."

Yu Li asked in a low voice, "How much does each person have to pay?"

Niu Dazhuang asked jokingly, "How much do you want to pay each month?"

Yu Li didn't answer directly: "We usually eat at work, and only have a snack when we get home in the evening. Is five yuan okay?"

Niu Dazhuang held out his hand to her: "Okay, now pay up!"

Yu Li blushed slightly: "Did I overspend?" She glanced at Su Wan and the other girl.

"It's nothing much, everyone just contributes five yuan, and we'll pool our money when we run out," Bai Hongyan said casually.

"I...I only get five yuan of pocket money each month, and the rest I give to my family," Yu Li said awkwardly.

"I forgot about that. You pay four pieces, and I'll make up the difference if it's not enough," Niu Dazhuang said generously.

Su Wan gave Niu Dazhuang a playful look. This kid's usually vengeful nature had changed today.

He glanced at Yu Li again. Her appearance was acceptable, but her figure... it shouldn't be his type. On the other hand, Hong Yan, with both her looks and figure, was exactly what this bad boy wanted.

Could it be that the two of them have already...? Su Wan recalled the past. This summer, Bai Hongyan would ask for a day off every few days, simply saying she wasn't feeling well.

Taking half a day off slowly, isn't that just...? Su Wan secretly cursed herself for being foolish.

Good bastard, he actually took care of the person right under my nose without letting me know a word.

Let's see how I deal with you tonight...

Thinking of how pitiful my younger sister looked a couple of days ago... I sighed inwardly. I was going to teach him a lesson, I should be grateful I didn't get taught a lesson myself.

Su Wan wouldn't be happy if she didn't teach him a lesson...

Hmph, once we get back to the city, I won't be able to handle it alone. With Su Ting by my side, we'll surely be able to fight back.

You think you're so capable? You think you're so greedy? I'll work you to death and see if you'll still do bad things in the future.

Su Wan was lost in thought when Niu Dazhuang reached out and put his hand on her chest: "Sister Su, what about you?"

"Oh, I'll go get it for you right away."

Niu Dazhuang handed the twenty yuan that everyone had pooled together to Yu Li: "Your work hours are more flexible, and you're staying in the county town, so the task of buying things is up to you, is that alright?"

"No problem, what do you want to buy? I'll write it down." Yu Li was really serious. She ran to the bedroom and took out a small notebook and a pencil stub.

"Pots, pans, and dishes..."

After explaining what he needed to buy tomorrow, Niu Dazhuang took out two decks of cards from his pocket.

Playing poker is the best form of entertainment these days.

This time there were four people. Su Wan and Niu Dazhuang sat opposite each other, and the four of them started their "double-lift tractor" game.

They didn't go back to their rooms until after nine o'clock.

Niu Dazhuang went to the west wing, washed up, and crawled into bed. He wondered who might sneak over tonight.

When will you get these two together? That way we won't have to go through all this trouble.

Once Li was fast asleep, Bai Hongyan tiptoed off the kang (a heated brick bed), lifted the curtain a crack, and peered into Su Wan's room across the way to observe the activity.

Bai Hongyan knew that Su Wan and Niu Dazhuang were having an affair. The two had been separated for six or seven days, and Su Wan would definitely sneak over tonight.

In the past, Su Wan might have secretly run over, but tonight she had figured things out. Given Bai Hongyan and Niu Dazhuang's relationship, Su Wan wasn't in a hurry anymore. She also parted the curtain and secretly observed their movements.

As it turned out, the two of them waited until midnight, neither of them wanted to go out, and Niu Dazhuang was getting impatient.

"Damn, what's going on?" He put on a coat and his shoes.

Since you're not coming, then I'll go instead.

Pushing open the main door, should he turn left or right? After thinking for a moment, Niu Dazhuang lifted the curtain on the right, which led to Su Wan's room.

"Why didn't you go to the other side?" Su Wan asked jealously.

"You knew?" Niu Dazhuang didn't deny it and readily admitted it.

"Hey, you're still single. Didn't I warn you not to touch Hongyan? She's not me."

"Isn't everything fine now?"

"I can't be bothered with you. The real trouble is yet to come. If you don't give her an explanation, her family will kill you!"

"Heh heh, I'm not ambitious, what, does his family think they'd kill me?"

"Ugh, what are you doing... How annoying, I had something to say."