1940s: I supported my wife and sister-in-law by hunting.

Outside the courtyard, Chen Gaoshan had just finished chopping a pile of firewood, stacked it neatly, and piled it on top of the woodpile.

He flung aside the thick curtain hanging above the door and entered the west wing.

Sunflower immediately came to greet him, reached out to help him take off his cotton-padded coat, and casually hung it on the wooden hook by the kang (a heated brick bed).

Then a basin of steaming warm water was brought over and placed in front of him.

"Gaoshan, wash your hands."

Chen Gaoshan washed his hands with hot water, and Kuihua immediately handed him a towel, serving him very well.

She was about to wipe the mat on the kang again.

"Stop running around. The mat on the kang is wiped every day, there's not that much dust. Take a break."

"Keep it clean, it's hygienic, and it's more comfortable to live in."

After she finished speaking, she looked up at Chen Gaoshan.

"Gaoshan, I think it's hard to clean the mud floor in our house. Could we buy some red bricks and cover the whole floor with them? I can mop the floor every day and the house will be much cleaner."

That damn woman is really obsessed with cleanliness; she keeps the house spotless.

He nodded.

"Okay, wait until spring when the bricks thaw, I'll go to the town's brick kiln to ask about prices, and I'll make sure it's laid for you."

Sunflower instantly beamed with joy, her eyes filled with laughter.

"Thank you, Gaoshan, you're so kind."

Chen Gaoshan waved his hand, turned around and pushed open the door to the south room, intending to check on the children.

As soon as I entered, I saw this scene: Da Hua was behind Er Mao, sticking out her tongue to lick the child.

In the blink of an eye, he strode forward, raised his hand, and shoved the dog aside.

Big Flower was terrified. It immediately tucked its tail between its legs and shrank back against the wall, its ears drooping and its round eyes staring innocently at its owner, too afraid to move.

"How could you let a dog lick a child with dermatitis? A dog's mouth is full of bacteria, it's filthy. If it were a boy, it would be fine, you can raise any kind of child, but our Er Mao is a boy."

I specifically bought toilet paper beforehand, and we don't lack paper at home. From now on, I'll use toilet paper to wipe my bottom, and I won't let the dog lick it.

Lianhua was both amused and exasperated by his dramatic reaction. She turned around, grabbed two sheets of toilet paper, and used them to wipe Er Mao's bottom.

"You're just being high-profile. Which kid in our village didn't grow up rough like this? When a country kid poops, he either wipes himself with a clod of dirt or tears off a corn husk or bean leaf."

Letting a dog lick it is the easiest and cleanest way, without wasting anything. Besides, didn't you grow up like that when you were a kid?

Dahua watched the two puppies grow up. They're very docile, never bite or hurt anyone. Dogs are just playful creatures, so letting them eat poop is no big deal.

Chen Gaoshan reached out and pushed open the door, waving at the big flower huddled against the wall.

"Get out, go back to your den."

After dismissing the lackey, he turned back to continue arguing with Lotus.

"We used to do things like that because we were poor and couldn't afford to be fancy, so we just made do. Now that our family is doing better and better, we can't do that anymore."

"How disgusting! It's so unhygienic. Besides, we're not short of dog food; there's no need to let it eat poop. If it eats poop and then licks you, and you're rubbing against me, I'd feel disgusted."

Lianhua leaned against the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), watching her husbands being so serious, and found it both stubborn and funny, secretly holding back her laughter.

She quickly nodded in agreement with him, coaxing him gently.

"Fine, fine, I'll listen to you, okay? Look at you, throwing a tantrum over such a small thing. I'll remember this. From now on, I absolutely won't let Da Hua lick the babies, nor will I let them eat poop. If they sneak food behind our backs, well, there's nothing I can do about it."

Hearing her agree with him, he felt secretly pleased, but still maintained a certain air of superiority.

He had already decided in the yard that he didn't have enough fun yesterday, and he wanted to continue the fun tonight.

So he deliberately put on a stern face.

"I'm in a bad mood and I'm angry. You guys have to make sure to comfort me tonight."

I was just holding Simao and feeding him, my clothes were open, there were no outsiders in the house, and besides, my father-in-law would just call out at the door if he needed to find them, he never came inside, so there was nothing to hide, they were all family.

She then opened her arms and comforted the baby.

After burping Simao, I placed the baby on the kang (a heated brick bed) covered with a small mattress and fastened his clothes.

Hearing Gao Shan's words, I felt a little worried and quickly tried to comfort him.

"What the hell? Shanzi, can you handle this? One person doing the work of four, you'd be a workhorse! You're young and full of energy, you don't feel tired now, but even the best physique can't withstand this kind of relentless work. No one can take it!"

"Take my advice, sister-in-law. Let's all keep quiet tonight, go back to our rooms and rest, and stop having these little meetings, okay?"

Chen Gaoshan didn't take it seriously. He picked up the latrine that Da Hua had already cleaned by the side of the kang, put it in the outer room, turned around and swaggered back, then plopped down on the edge of the kang.

"You all underestimate me. A person has to push themselves from time to time. If you don't push yourself, how will you know your limits? I'm just testing the waters so I can have a better understanding of my abilities."

Xinghua is old and thinks about everything. At night, everything is fine on the kang (heated brick bed) in the dark.

It's a little embarrassing to say this during the day, but she's the eldest sister-in-law, the most senior daughter-in-law in the family, and she has to say what's true to her.

"Shanzi, you have a great physique and plenty of energy. But everything in this world has its limits, and that includes your spirit and vitality."

"If you overwork yourself when you're young, you'll be depleted early on. When you get old, you'll be riddled with health problems and won't be able to use yourself anymore. Your sister-in-law really cares about you, so please don't abuse your body like this."

His sister-in-law was telling the truth, but he had already said it. It would be too embarrassing for him to back down on the spot. Besides, he knew what was wrong with his body.

"Xinghua, don't worry, I'm doing my job. We'll just have a small meeting today, and starting tomorrow I'll give you all a holiday. Don't worry, I guarantee you'll still be as happy as ever in your later years."

Hearing his words, I knew that Shanzi was going to argue with me. Men are like donkeys; you have to stroke their fur the right way. If you argue with them, they'll get angry. But thankfully, he listened to some of what I said.

We had no choice but to do as he said.

"Fine, I can't refuse you. Tonight I'll stew those two little pheasants hanging on the roof beam until they're very tender, and I'll warm up the tiger bone wine at home for you. Drink less every day these days, so you can replenish your strength. Don't overexert yourself anymore."

Lianhua hadn't said a word until now. "Shanzi, my sister is right, you have to drink this tiger bone wine."

Before they could finish talking inside, a dog suddenly barked in the yard.

Woof woof woof.

The three dogs in the house were barking loudly, but judging from the noise, it wasn't the kind of barking that comes from visiting acquaintances.

His dogs are all very intelligent; they never bark so fiercely at familiar people.

Such frantic shouting must be from a stranger, or someone who came with ill intentions.

When Sunflower heard the dog barking, she got up to open the door and was about to go out when Gaoshan stopped her with his hand.

"Don't go out, I'll go open the door."

He lifted the curtain and stepped out of the room. The cold wind made him shiver and he shrank his neck.

The three dogs immediately shut up when they saw their owner come out.

Chen Gaoshan stood in the middle of the courtyard. "Who is it?"

"Brother-in-law, it's me, Erzhuzi. I've brought my wife over for a visit."

Upon hearing that it was Erzhuzi, Chen Gaoshan frowned.

The woman this guy picked up is no good. Why is she coming over at this time? Wearing leather pants over cotton pants, there must be a reason.

It's bound to be bad news.

Just as I was pondering this, I heard footsteps coming from the main house across the street.

Old Chen, supporting his aching back with one hand, shuffled out.

"Shanzi, who's outside?"

"Dad, it's Xinghua and Lianhua's brothers, Erzhuzi and his wife. What's wrong with your back? Why are you holding on? Did you twist it?"

He coughed twice, pretending that nothing was wrong.

"Well, it's nothing serious. I just got out of bed this morning and twisted my ankle a little before I was fully warmed up. It's nothing."

As he spoke, he raised his voice and shouted towards the west room.

"Shanzi's mother has arrived at home."

On the kang (heated brick bed) in the west room, Chen Liushi was making fur coats with Shanzi's aunt and Xiaxia.

Holding needles and thread, sewing fur and fabric edges, they chatted idly.

Through the window, she saw her husband, clutching his back, moving about pathetically.

Hmph, these old codgers, that's all they've got!

He even blamed himself for not acting properly. He had only been active for a short while this morning, and he was already acting strangely, walking straight and afraid to exert any force.

This dead thing is still wandering around; we should just keep it on the kang (heated brick bed) to keep it healthy.

"understood."

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