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

Qin Xueru couldn't suppress her smile when she saw her future daughter-in-law arrive: "Xiao Rui, why didn't you call and tell me beforehand?"

As she spoke, she grabbed He Meifeng's hand: "Oh, your hands are so cold. Yanjing is not like Las Vegas; you need to wear a cotton coat there."

"Hurry up and go inside! Everyone, go inside!" Niu Dazhuang reminded them.

The eldest son's wife, Linlin, pouted. Although she had some minor conflicts with her mother-in-law, she was usually the apple of her mother-in-law's eye. Now, the third son had brought his girlfriend home, and she, the old woman, was sidelined.

Everyone returned to the main room. Some surrounded the prospective daughter-in-law, asking her all sorts of questions, while others surrounded the second and third brothers, asking for gifts.

Qin Yueru didn't seem happy at all. After the commotion subsided for a while, she said to Niu Dazhuang with a cold face, "Call your precious son. I have something to say to you."

Niu Dazhuang immediately knew what was going on: "It's the New Year, can't we talk about this after the New Year?"

Niu Chengzhi quickly smiled and coaxed his mother, "That's right, let's talk about it after the New Year. Mom, look at what I bought you, the most fashionable suit in Hong Kong right now, and look at this brooch..."

"Even if you give me Yunnan Baiyao now, it won't heal my wounded heart. Do you want to have a peaceful New Year? If not, then don't come here." With that, he left with a gloomy face.

The Qin sisters knew why she was unhappy and understood. After the three of them left, it didn't affect the lively atmosphere in the main room at all.

The father and son followed behind Qin Yueru. Every few steps, Niu Dazhuang would kick Niu Chengzhi, muttering, "You're such a grown man, and you still make your mother worry. You're making me suffer too."

"Dad, it's not that I don't want to find someone, I've been looking all along, but I just haven't met the right one. You warned me again that I'm not allowed to marry a woman from the entertainment industry, so now I'm stuck single."

"You bastard, don't think I don't know what you've been up to just because I don't go to Hong Kong Island often."

You've practically hooked up with half the women in Hong Kong's entertainment industry. You're always thinking about dating these female celebrities, how can you possibly focus on finding a serious partner?

As they spoke, the three arrived at the courtyard where Qin Yueru usually lived. Just as they were about to close the gate, Qin Hefei ran in. This was also Qin Yueru's daughter, born in 70. She was now 16 years old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning).

She's all grown up now, even taller than her mother. Seeing her mother come out with her father and brother, looking unhappy, the clever little girl followed along.

Although she has so many siblings, this is the only brother she shares the same mother with. Of course, the little girl cares about him.

Qin Yueru has always been straightforward; she says whatever she thinks.

Once inside, he immediately launched into a tirade against Niu Dazhuang: "Honey, you've been meddling in everything after the eldest son's marriage, but you can't possibly ignore what's going on with the second son, Xiaozhi! I know Xiaozhi won't listen to anything I say, but..."

You have to discipline this kid properly today. If he doesn't behave, you're leaving him at home...

The father, son, and daughter all knew what kind of temper Qin Yueru had, so they obediently listened to her rambling for a long time.

The girl, Hefei, even poured her mother a cup of hot tea, sitting detachedly beside her as she watched her father and brother being scolded by their mother.

When Qin Yueru got tired of talking, Niu Dazhuang also sided with her, helping her to scold Niu Chengzhi: "Look how angry you've made your mother. You're such a grown man, and you still cause your parents no peace of mind. I'll suffer the consequences because of you. If you don't listen to me..."

Just like your mother said, after the New Year, you should stay at home. You can go out when you get married and want to. If you don't want to go out, you can go help the eldest son...

Niu Chengzhi muttered under his breath, "If I'd known it would turn out like this, I wouldn't have come back!"

"Old Niu, listen to what he's saying! He's not coming back yet! Do you even want this family anymore? What kind of monster did I give birth to?!" she said, looking around for a feather duster.

The little girl, Hefei, quickly took the feather duster out of the plum vase and hid it behind her back.

"Give it to me. If I don't beat him up a few times to vent my anger today, I won't have a proper New Year."

Niu Dazhuang quickly stopped him: "Alright, the child is all grown up now, and hasn't made any serious mistakes. Remember this beating for now. If he doesn't bring you a daughter-in-law by next year's New Year, you can beat him again. You don't even need to lift a finger then, I'll do the beating, okay?"

"After all that talk, you just complain that I didn't bring you a daughter-in-law. As long as your dad loosens his grip, I can bring you a few in no time, and you can choose whichever you like."

This time, Niu Dazhuang stopped stopping her. Since Qin Yueru didn't have anything to hit him with, she could twist his ear instead.

Many years later, Niu Chengzhi's ears were filled with the same tragic memories.

While holding his mother's hands, Niu Chengzhi kept talking: "What did I say wrong again?"

"We're a respectable family. How could you even think of marrying an actress? Actresses are the lowest of the low. Don't you know that prostitutes are heartless and actors are ungrateful?"

"They're after you for who you are, they want to spend their lives with you, they're after our family's money..."

"I know they're after my money, and I'm after their beauty and bodies. It's fair, everyone gets what they want!"

"Pah! On your own, without your dad backing you up, who would even know who you are!"

"Hehe, I'm lucky to have a rich dad."

He learned his shamelessness perfectly from Niu Dazhuang.

Stop grinning at me. Qin Yueru loosened her grip on his ear and sat back down. It was just a matter of venting her anger; she really couldn't bear to pinch her own son.

"Your father is right not to let you marry an actress. There are so many girls from wealthy families in Hong Kong. Can't you find one yourself?" These words were ostensibly said to himself, but were actually meant for Niu Dazhuang.

"Your son is a household name in Hong Kong. No decent girl would want to marry him. If all else fails, look for someone on the mainland, find a more capable girl."

There's one more thing Niu Dazhuang didn't mention: Hong Kong places more emphasis on social status than the mainland when it comes to marriage, which makes Niu Chengzhi's background a bit awkward. Also, this kid's methods are too flashy.

To outsiders, it was clearly the behavior of a spendthrift. Considering all these factors, no prestigious family would proactively propose marriage to Niu Dazhuang.

Niu Chengrui is different. Although he is the third child in his family, his biological mother is Niu Dazhuang's lawfully wedded wife. In ancient terms, he is the legitimate son.

The gambling king's family has no one left in the first branch. The remaining three branches are all square-headed. The second branch, that is, He Meifeng's branch, is the one that the gambling king values. That's why he rushed to arrange a marriage with Niu Dazhuang. The marriage was with Niu Chengrui, not Niu Chengzhi.

"I think we should just leave it at that. You can go out after you get married."

"This is an arranged marriage. A marriage without love is a tomb!"

"We didn't arrange anything. You can freely fall in love in China, and get married when you're in a good relationship. We shouldn't have sent you to Hong Kong in the first place; you got too wild after a few years there!"

"I... I haven't found someone to take over my work in Hong Kong Island yet, I need to find someone to take over!"

"No need, the company will run even better without the separation!"

"That's so hurtful!"