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

Niu Chengrui tapped the kang (a heated brick bed) with his chopsticks. "It really is. I only found out recently."

The others are all hearsay, not specific enough. But the Yanjing Petrochemical plant I just mentioned is different; there are concrete objects right in front of us.

To date, the Yanjing petrochemical plant remains the largest petrochemical plant in North China. It not only refines refined oil products, but also has a complete range of downstream supporting facilities, including fertilizer plants, chemical plants, and more, covering a vast area.

This factory alone supports over 200,000 people; the area surrounding this petrochemical plant is comparable to a county town.

The salaries and benefits at this petrochemical plant are among the best in Beijing's many large state-owned enterprises.

"My God, this sounds like gibberish to me, hehe... So you, Niu Chengrui, are a fallen nobleman!" As she spoke, she pushed Niu Chengrui's shoulder.

Niu Chengrui smugly downed another cup: "Tsk...it's only been a few years, and the winds have changed so much. I remember when I was in college, the eldest brother was of marriageable age, and no one wanted to date him. It's laughable now that I think about it."

When I married you, I was afraid you wouldn't want to marry me if you knew about my family situation, which is why I didn't tell you so much.

"Oh, is that so? Come to think of it, it makes sense. At the end of the 1970s, when people found out your father had more than a dozen concubines, no girl would want to marry into such a family. So how did you end up as the eldest sister-in-law?"

"Hey! My dad even personally intervened for the sake of our Niu family's eldest son and daughter-in-law. I don't know the specifics, but I guess he agreed to some conditions."

"Oh, you said your older brother was in charge of some project?"

"We can't envy what our eldest son does. Although my family isn't that feudal, we can't be jealous of the way they raise and care for him. You must have this mindset."

"I understand what you mean. Let's just live our own lives. Besides, your dad is going to give you an important position now!"

"Well, from what my dad said, he doesn't want to build another plant as big as Yanjing Petrochemical. He just wants to do a good job with refining from the start. Our private business can't eat up all the profits from the upstream and downstream, otherwise it will be hard to establish ourselves in other places."

"Hmm, that makes sense. So it must have involved a significant amount of money, right?"

"Definitely, it must be in the hundreds of millions."

"How much?" Xiaoya's voice involuntarily rose in volume.

"Hundreds of millions, what's wrong?"

After confirming again, Xiaoya downed her drink and then downed two more cups, this time calming herself down: "Hundreds of millions... Cheng Rui, when you become successful, you won't dump me, will you?"

This is how women think.

"How could that be? We fell in love on our own. You didn't look down on me when we were dating, but now that I'm successful, you dump me? Am I even human?"

"That's more like it. Then I'll give up my secure job and go to Lüda City with you."

Although I trust your character, I can't help but worry about those vixens trying to seduce you. Plus, we live so far apart. If you're thinking about that kind of thing and I'm not around, it gives those vixens an opportunity. So, I have to follow you.

"I was worried you wouldn't come along. Let's wait a bit longer. During the Spring Festival, the top two officials of Shengjing will come to the capital. Let's see how my dad's talks with them go."

By the way, you can't tell anyone about my family affairs, not even your own family.

"Things are different now. I'm poor, but I'm proud!"

"My dad hates trouble and doesn't want to be famous. Me too. Think about it, if you reveal your family's affairs, you're bound to attract unwanted attention. Borrowing money is a small matter; aren't you afraid of being kidnapped? With your brother and sister-in-law's character, humph!"

"So many years have passed, and you're still angry? It's just because my brother and sister-in-law didn't like you back then, but they liked that little Yang from the grain station!"

"Your parents haven't even said anything yet, how come they're interrupting?"

"Cheng Rui, you're being a bit petty. They weren't doing this for my own good. Besides, my brother and sister-in-law helped me a lot to get me through university."

"The year you graduated, you gave half of your salary to your family, and you've almost paid them back."

"You can't say that. The money has been paid back, but how will the favor be repaid? If you continue like this, I'm going to tell your mother about this and let her judge whether I'm right or you're right."

Okay, stop being childish. I won't tell my family anything. But how am I supposed to explain that I quit my stable job to go to Lüda City with you?

That's how it was back in 1985. You can quit your secure job for no reason, and it's not something you can decide on your own.

Niu Chengrui, confident in his plan, drank another cup. "That's easy. I'll go there first, and after two or three months, you can say that living apart is definitely not an option, and tell your family that you're transferring jobs..."

"Isn't this a lie!"

"My dad said that this is called a white lie. Your family doesn't agree with you quitting your job because they're worried you won't be able to make a living. We'll just keep going."

"Hmm, what you said makes sense. My heart is still racing, feel it..." As she spoke, Xiaoya leaned closer to the kang table.

On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the Little New Year in northern China, Niujia Hutong is bustling with activity.

Nai Qing, whom Niu Dazhuang had almost forgotten, arrived carrying two boxes of pastries.

When Naiqing saw Niu Dazhuang, he was furious. After all, Niu Dazhuang was someone he had slept with, and Naiqing had just dumped him in Hong Kong Island and hadn't seen him even once in a year.

"Hey! Xiaoqing, you've finished your studies? Are you going to Hong Kong after the New Year?" Qin Xueru greeted her.

He glanced at Niu Dazhuang before saying, "The price I paid for this advanced study was a bit high. I'll be developing my career in China next year."

Grandma Qing didn't stand on ceremony and pulled up a stool to sit with Qin Xueru in front of the large stove where steamed buns were being made.

"Can I go back to my original workplace?"

"Yes, Sister Xue Ru. I'll have to rely on you a lot from now on. Men are all unreliable."

"Hehe... How did you get dumped by a man in Hong Kong?"

"No, I've divorced the man in my family."

"Oh, is that so!" Qin Xueru couldn't persuade her anymore; the marriage was already over.

At this point, Niu Dazhuang interjected: "Wait a few more years until the domestic entertainment market is opened up, and I'll set up a company specifically for you two sisters to invest in the entertainment industry."

Niu Dazhuang has his own agenda; in mainland China, he's still missing a role like Zhang Bingshan.

Back in Hong Kong, if any female celebrity in the entertainment industry was mentioned by Niu Dazhuang, Zhang Bingshan would invite them to her home within a few days.

Niu Dazhuang is trying to develop his relationship with women in this direction. Niu Dazhuang's principles for doing things have always revolved around money and women. It's been like this for so many years.