Courtyard House: Drunk and barging into the Xu family's house, I woke up numb.

"what happened?"

Just as Cao Xu was about to speak, he heard Xu Damao's voice coming from outside.

"Hey, Uncle, you're up pretty early today. Have you eaten yet?"

"I've eaten, Da Mao. You went to the countryside, didn't you? What local specialties did you bring back this time?"

Needless to say, the two people speaking were Xu Damao, who had returned from the countryside, and Yan Bugui, the third uncle of the front yard, known as Old Man Yan, nicknamed Iron Rooster.

Lou Xiao'e listened carefully and realized that the two had met outside the courtyard. She gave Cao Xu a wink.

"Come on!"

Cao Xu naturally realized that this was indeed not a good time to chat, as it would cause big trouble if someone bumped into them.

Early in the morning, just as dawn breaks, a man and a woman alone in a room, even if they are already dressed, people will still gossip.

As the saying goes, words can be deadly, and besides, none of the people in this courtyard are kind.

"Sister Xiao'e, you were amazing last night."

After saying this, without waiting for Lou Xiao'e's reply, Cao Xu opened the door and ran back to his own house in a flash.

Lou Xiao'e, who had been trying to remain calm despite her flustered demeanor, finally broke down at this moment. She walked to the door, her face slightly flushed, and spat at Cao Xu's departing figure.

"Little rascal!"

After closing the door, Lou Xiao'e couldn't help but recall what had happened last night, and suddenly felt her ears burning slightly.

Although Cao Xu accidentally barged in last night while drunk, it was ultimately she who took the initiative, as she was also drunk.

"You shouldn't have drunk alcohol last night!"

That's what she said, but Lou Xiao'e didn't show any regret on her face.

A few minutes later, Xu Damao entered the courtyard with a beaming smile, only to run into Liu Haizhong, the official-obsessed second uncle, in the backyard.

"Da Mao, these two old hens are nice, where did you buy them?"

Xu Damao said with a smug look on his face.

"Second Uncle, what are you saying? It's almost the end of the month, where would I get extra meat coupons to buy chickens?"

“I went to the Red Star Commune to show a movie for people, and this is a thank-you gift from the commune leaders.”

The projectionist is one of the eight key personnel. Xu Damao, as the projectionist of the steel rolling mill, usually earns quite a bit of extra money, and this old hen is one of them.

Although Xu Damao claimed it was a thank-you gift from someone else's leader, Liu Hai knew in his heart that Xu Damao must have gotten it from someone else.

Don't let Liu Haizhong's status as a level seven forging worker at the steel rolling mill fool you; he still has a fixed monthly meat ration, with each person receiving no more than half a jin (250 grams) of meat per month, and even in good times, it won't exceed one jin.

The two old hens in Xu Damao's hands looked to weigh six or seven pounds, which was equivalent to two months' worth of rations for his whole family.

Liu Haizhong looked on with envy.

"Da Mao, can you give me one of these chickens?"

“My eldest son’s wife is pregnant with her second child, and I’m planning to send her some to help her recover.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao's face darkened. If Liu Haizhong had found another reason, he might have given him one of each.

After all, he was the head of the backyard. He and the old man had often conspired to trick him, so currying favor with Liu Haizhong could be useful in a pinch.

However, Liu Haizhong actually said he wanted to give his pregnant daughter-in-law an old hen to nourish her body, and it was her second child.

As the saying goes, "Don't hit someone in the face, don't expose someone's shortcomings," Xu Damao's biggest worry in the past few years of his marriage has been not having a son.

Just yesterday, before going to the countryside, he and his wife went to his parents' house for dinner. His mother brought up again the fact that Lou Xiao'e hadn't gotten pregnant after several years of marriage and kept urging her to have a grandson.

Finally, Lou Xiao'e got really angry. She put down her chopsticks and left before finishing her meal, which strained the relationship between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law again.

He couldn't catch up with them yesterday because he had to go to the countryside to show a movie, but he got up very early this morning and came back with these two old hens.

The purpose, besides nourishing Lou Xiao'e's body to prepare her for pregnancy, was more importantly to atone for his sins.

Otherwise, based on his usual practice after an argument, he probably wouldn't be able to touch Lou Xiao'e for the next ten days or so.

"Second Uncle, I'm so sorry for what happened today."

"I brought this chicken back specifically to help my wife recover; the locals fed it medicine."

Chapter 3 Xu Damao's Schemes, Couple's Discord

"As you know, we've been married for several years, and my mom is waiting to hold her grandson. When I was showing a movie and had nothing to do, I started chatting with her."

"The leaders of that commune really took it to heart and fed the chicken medicinal herbs for a period of time according to a folk remedy."

"As the saying goes, every medicine has some toxicity. It's fine for us to take it ourselves, but pregnant women definitely can't take it."

"If something goes wrong with the food and it delays your chance to hold your grandson, then that would be my fault, Xu Damao."

Liu Haizhong might not believe other reasons, but he was somewhat convinced by Xu Damao's reason.

"it's okay no problem."

Liu Haizhong waved his hand in a magnanimous manner.

"However, Da Mao, remember to bring back two for your second uncle next time you go to the countryside."

"Don't worry, Uncle Er will pay you, so you won't have made a wasted trip."

Xu Damao nodded hurriedly.

"Alright, Second Uncle, don't worry."

As they were talking, Xu Damao took a bunch of mushrooms out of the bag hanging on his bicycle and handed it to Liu Haizhong.

"Second Uncle, I'm so sorry for today."

"These were just dried this year, I'll add a snack to your drinks tonight."

Liu Haizhong accepted Xu Damao's gift with a smile, without any hesitation.

With a creak, the door opened, and Lou Xiao'e came out of the house.

Upon seeing Lou Xiao'e come out, Xu Damao forgot all about exchanging pleasantries with Liu Haizhong and presented the old hen to his wife like a treasure.

"E'zi, look what I brought back for you."

Lou Xiao'e glanced at Xu Damao and said in a flat tone.

"Oh, let's put it in the cage first, so it doesn't run away."

Xu Damao found two bamboo cages in a corner, stuffed the old hen inside, and weighed them down with wooden boards and stones.

"Don't worry, it can't escape."

"When I get off work today, we'll kill one and stew it to nourish you."

Liu Haizhong smiled as he held up a mushroom.

"Lou Xiao'e, Da Mao said that he asked someone from the commune to raise this chicken using a folk remedy."

"If you ask me, your Xu family will soon have an extra member."

Xu Damao bowed to Liu Haizhong with a joyful expression.

"Second Uncle, thank you for your kind words."

Lou Xiao'e frowned when she heard Xu Damao say "supplement" (a traditional Chinese medicine term for supplementing nutrition). Lou Xiao'e was the daughter of Lou Wanshan, the former major shareholder of the steel rolling mill. Was she malnourished?

Now that Liu Haizhong had said those words, her expression turned even uglier. Xu Damao's words were tantamount to pinning the blame for her inability to have children on her.

Watching Xu Damao and Liu Haizhong sing in unison, Lou Xiao'e felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She turned around and went back into the house without looking back.

Liu Haizhong said several auspicious words, but when Lou Xiao'e returned to her room without saying a word of thanks, he felt somewhat embarrassed.

"She is..."

Xu Damao knew that Lou Xiao'e was angry.

"I'm sorry, Uncle, my wife has a cold and her throat is sore. I'm thanking you on her behalf."

"It's quite cold today, I'm going inside to warm up first, see you later."

After casually greeting Xu Damao, he picked up his bag and went inside. However, once inside, Xu Damao was dumbfounded.

Inside the room, the bed sheets and duvet covers had all been removed, and even the pillowcases had been put into the laundry tub.

"E'zi, why are you taking apart and washing the quilt in this freezing weather? I remember you just washed it a few days ago."

Lou Xiao'e felt somewhat guilty about what happened last night, but Xu Damao's words outside had truly angered her.

Not only did he put a hat on her right in front of Liu Haizhong, but he also cursed her to get sick first thing in the morning.

"I had a fever when I came back yesterday, and I sweated a lot last night. The blankets smelled of sweat."

"Take advantage of a sunny day to wash it out, so that it doesn't pass on to you with the bad luck."

When Xu Damao heard that Lou Xiao'e was sick, he put down his bag, walked over, and reached out to touch Lou Xiao'e's forehead.

"You have a fever, are you still hot?"

Lou Xiao'e reached out and slapped Xu Damao's hand away, saying irritably.