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

"Oh! So you two have it pretty tough?"

Upon hearing his father's tone, Niu Chengqun immediately replied, "It's no trouble at all, I'll give it my all tonight."

Niu Chengqun knew perfectly well that if he didn't speak up today, his father would definitely say, "Since you're both so tired and it's delaying my time to hold my grandson, then you two can stop watching the hotel project. I'll find someone else."

I, Niu Chengqun, am also a young man with ideals and ambitions. How can I always stay at home?

"At least you know what's good for you. You're a grown man, and you can't even be the boss of your own woman, huh!"

"You seem to have the final say!" Niu Chengqun muttered under his breath.

Niu Dazhuang was unhappy to hear this: "I'm too lazy to get involved in family matters. Even if I can't make decisions for your mother, I haven't let your family line die out. For a family, this is a matter of utmost importance. In the face of such important matters, your mother still respects my opinion."

"Okay, okay, you're right. We'll be going now."

"Set a good example for your brothers and sisters!"

Niu Chengqun, who was about to get up and leave, sat down again after hearing this: "Dad, you've been telling me this since I was little. Being your eldest son is actually quite tiring. I envy the second son and his family. They can live however they want without having to be a role model for anyone."

Niu Dazhuang patted his eldest son: "It's tiring, so be it. Complaining won't change anything; your brothers are even envious of you. Alright! Go complain to your wife!"

The young couple left their child here and took a big bowl of the meat, ribs, fried yellow croaker, and ribbonfish they cooked that day back with them.

Now, the courtyard where Guan Da Meiren lives at the entrance of the alley has almost become a dedicated parking lot. Apart from Niu Dazhuang, who doesn't own a car, the seven Qin sisters each have an imported car.

Qin Huairu is the oldest, and she's learned to drive too...

"What did your dad say to you?"

"What else can I say? They're urging me to have a grandson."

"What did you say?"

"What could I say? I had to agree. If I hadn't, we would have been stuck at home. My dad, when he gets serious, he's capable of anything. He's not like my mom, who's all talk and no action."

"Hmph! What kind of father-in-law is this, meddling in his daughter-in-law's bed?"

"Linlin, don't argue with him. He said if the problem lies with you, he'll talk to your parents. You're not incapable of having children, so why are you arguing with your mother?"

"I don't want your mother to interfere in everything I do."

"Now look what happened, they've brought my dad into the picture."

"Your dad won't be home for more than a few days..."

"Hey, don't think like that. When he comes back next time and sees that you still haven't gotten pregnant, my mom will just add fuel to the fire, and we'll be settling down for old age."

"Retirement? What kind of retirement?"

"They won't let us do anything anymore. They'll just give us money for food and drink. Even my dad can't handle this. My younger siblings are all watching. I've set a bad precedent. Do you think he'll let us off the hook?"

Linlin sighed and said, "Sigh! When will we be able to make our own decisions about our own lives?"

"If you want to be in charge, that's fine too. We can each find a job and support ourselves."

"That won't do. You only earn a few dollars a month working, not even enough for your monthly cigarette and alcohol expenses."

"That's settled then. Don't hold a grudge against Mom. Just have the baby."

"What if it's a daughter?"

"Then keep having children until you have a son. Linlin, think about it, I'm not the eldest brother for nothing, and my mother's position isn't just for show."

Speaking of the current situation at home, why not divide up several hundred million in cash, not even including assets?

Think about it, if we don't have a son, he'll all go to our son-in-law in the future, are you willing to accept that?

"Your daughter isn't your biological child..." Linlin's voice trailed off as she spoke.

In the following days, the young couple would spend their free time making babies.

Before we knew it, it was the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month.

"Don't go! Your parents want us to have another baby soon! How am I supposed to have a baby if you leave?"

After five or six days of relentless work, Niu Chengqun was no longer his father; his legs were trembling, and his eyes were dark-rimmed.

"Linlin, are you doing this on purpose? Even the donkeys in the production team need to rest. I'm not even as good as the donkeys in the production team."

"Hehe... This isn't my fault, it's just that you're incompetent!"

The man wouldn't listen to that: "You wait here, I'm going to my grandfather's."

Niu Chengqun arrived at Niu Youliang's courtyard and, without saying a word, went into the east room, calling out, "Grandpa, where's the medicinal wine you made?"

"Why are you drinking medicinal wine when you're so young?" Niu Youliang followed in, leaning on a cane.

"My parents are pressuring me to have a second child. I've been trying for four or five days straight, and I'm starting to feel the strain."

Niu Youliang nudged his shin with his cane: "You silly boy, you can't just do this by brute force. If you're tired, take a few days off."

"Grandpa, just give it to me. It's not about having a child anymore; it's about whether I can hold my head high in front of your granddaughter-in-law."

"You can't do it this way, it's too bad for your health. You should go ask your father for a solution. I heard him mention it a few years ago."

Do you know the background of your uncles, Da Xiong, Da Yong, and Da Yu?

"Why have they withdrawn them again?"

"Back then, your father must have received some inheritance from their master, probably related to that kind of thing. Otherwise, how could your father have found so many stepmothers for you, and why were these stepmothers so determined to follow him?"

"Oh, is that so? I've never heard of that before."

"Your mom and your aunts probably know, haven't you noticed, that they all look much younger than their peers!"

"Damn! Sir, you really are my sir. Aren't you supposed to have presbyopia? How could you notice this?"

"Back in my day, your grandpa was a scout too. Alright, stop joking around. Go ask your dad for a solution. Your dad's the same—he didn't pass it on to you, he's taking it to his grave!"

Niu Chengqun never expected such an unexpected gain; what men care about most is the happiness of their little brother!

Without saying a word, he turned around to go find Niu Dazhuang, but before he could even step out of the door, Niu Chengqun returned.

"Grandpa, who are my three god-uncles?"

"You grew up in the Yonghe Temple area, so what kind of background do you think you have?"

"Oh, is that so? How do I tell Dad?"

"You're father and son, what's there to be embarrassed about? How could you even bring it up with me just now?"

"I'm so close to you!"

"Haha...you little rascal, you really know how to talk. Go ahead, just say the same things to him as you said to me."

Niu Chengqun drove up to Niujia Hutong again, only to find it empty!