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

Upon hearing what Aunt Zhao said, Niu Dazhuang's mind started working: "Auntie, I see there's a fairly large empty lot behind that little courtyard. Why don't you just sell it to me?"

Deputy Director Zhao felt very comfortable being addressed as "Auntie." When others called her that, it was to curry favor. But when Niu Dazhuang called her that, it represented the recognition of her status by Niu Youliang, the only nephew who was the head of the family.

Now that he was one of their own, Aunt Zhao was even less inclined to cheat him, so she spoke without any politeness. She rolled her eyes at him and said, "You think what I just said is nonsense? Even though it's the new China now, and we don't talk about such things anymore, look around, how many families still live there?"

I understand your desire to buy some property; with me here, you're not worried about not finding a suitable yard!

Niu Dazhuang chuckled sheepishly, "Auntie, I'll buy it when I find a suitable place later. There's no rush now. It's not worth buying such a small courtyard on its own. Let's buy the back plot first and build the back one next spring. I've taken your advice to heart; living next to a temple is good for warding off evil spirits."

"I think you're really weird. I don't know where you got such great abilities. It's one thing to keep your sister-in-law at home, but how come you also keep your wife's cousin at home? You have money but nowhere to spend it, huh!"

Next spring, many light industrial factories will be hiring temporary workers. Don't just stay home idly; that's unacceptable. Everyone should go to the factory and become workers.

"Hehe, I was just wondering how to bring this up with you. Next year, let them all go to the factory and contribute to society. Which one..." Niu Dazhuang said, looking at Aunt Zhao expectantly.

"Say what you have to say! Hesitating isn't like you."

"Forget about textile factories and slaughterhouses, how about a supply and marketing cooperative or a garment factory?"

Aunt Zhao got even angrier: "You've gone and started picking and choosing? We'll see about that later."

"What about my plan to buy the land?"

"You're just like a donkey, why are you so stubborn? I'm not going to care about you anymore." After saying that, she turned to walk out.

"No way! You're closer to me than my own uncle, no matter what I do..." she said, grabbing Aunt Zhao's arm.

"Relax, selling collective assets isn't something I can decide alone. I have to ask the Party Secretary for you. You go back first, and I'll tell Xue Ru when I get news."

"Hehe, I forgot to tell you, Xue Ru gave birth to a new member to our family yesterday. I'll ask for a name after my uncle gets off work."

"You want your uncle to name the child? How could you even think of that?"

Niu Dazhuang smiled wryly: "Auntie, I can't do anything about it. When I tried to stop him from naming the child, he hit me with his pipe. You have to do something about it; he's too domineering, a fascist!"

"Sigh! You two are such a worry. You're so insistent on having this idea, just let him have it. You can name the child yourself when you have another one."

"Ah, so it turns out you two have a good relationship!"

"You silly child, go on your way if you have nothing else to do, I'm busy!" Aunt Zhao happily went to find the top leader to do something for Niu Dazhuang.

Niu Dazhuang left the compound and, seeing that it was still early, rode his bicycle to the Ye family's house. He found the door locked.

I took out my keys, went inside, and started preparing dinner. I thought that if they could have a hot meal when they came back, it would be a kind of compensation.

Ye Chunmei is now eight months pregnant, and her due date should be in January.

Since Ye Chunmei is already quite far along in her pregnancy, she doesn't dare to ride a bicycle to and from get off work anymore, so Ye Chunlan accompanies her on foot to and from get off work.

Unlike women in later generations who would rest as soon as they discovered they were pregnant, women at this time generally only rested a few days before their due date and went back to work after their postpartum period. Breastfeeding women had two time slots, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, to go home and feed their babies.

If the original job required physical labor, the position can be changed, which is quite humane.

After the two sisters finished work, they bought some bean sprouts from the supply and marketing cooperative at the entrance of the alley.

Seeing the courtyard gate open, they knew it was Niu Dazhuang who had arrived.

After entering the courtyard, Ye Chunlan closed the gate.

Ye Chunlan is no longer as shy as she used to be. Although she's not as enthusiastic as Ye Chunmei, she sat on Niu Dazhuang's lap during dinner.

For convenience, Ye Chunlan even made a special pair of trousers that didn't require unbuckling the belt.

"Sis, you used to tell me that women should be reserved, but where is your reserve? As soon as Dazhuang comes over, you cling to him and won't let go! You even forget to eat."

"Ah... I... I'm eating too."

"I give up." Ye Chunmei decided to ignore it. She ate her rice quickly, finished her meal, and went back to her room.

"My dear man, I've missed you so much! You haven't come over for half a month."

"Shall we take care of our business first, then have dinner?"

"No, this is more fun. Once we're on the kang (heated brick bed), you'll just bury your head in your work and start pounding, which isn't fun at all. This is better, so we can relax and have some conversation."

"You're having a good time, but I still need to change my pants."

"Hehe, it's not like we don't have any other pants at home, just change them, okay..."

They lingered there until after eight o'clock, and finally resolved the matter on the kang (heated brick bed).

"Chunmei, I think you should take sick leave and go back to work after you give birth." Before leaving, Niu Dazhuang went to the west room again.

"If others can do it, so can I. The doctor said that more exercise is good, so that I will suffer less during childbirth."

"Okay, go to the hospital as soon as you start to slim down, don't delay."

"I know, you've said it eight hundred times already."

Niu Dazhuang turned the corner after leaving the alley and arrived at Daxing Hutong, the two-courtyard house where the old man and his third son lived.

First, go to the main house to tell the old man the good news.

The old man took a couple of puffs of his cigarette, his face crinkling with a smile so wide it could trap a mosquito. "Having sons but no grandchildren doesn't mean you've settled down. But our Niu family has finally settled down now. I've already decided on a name: Niu Chengqun!"

"No, shouldn't their generation be the 'De' generation? How come..."

"To hell with the 'De' generation name! Outsiders may not know our family situation, but you certainly do!"

Just by hearing their names, you know they're all family. If one of them gets into trouble, it pulls a whole string of problems out of them. My grandson isn't going to get involved with them.

"So back then you guys..."

"Your father and I are both so smart, how could we have such a stupid son like you? To save your life, you can change not only your name, but even your surname!"

"Holy crap! This...this is just too outrageous!"

Niu Dazhuang picked up his pipe and smacked him on the head: "I told you to read more books, but you just won't listen!"

He's always chasing after women; I bet he'll die on a woman's belly sooner or later.

Niu Dazhuang covered his head and quickly moved away: "What does changing your surname have to do with reading books?"

"Fool, let's not talk about anything else, just look at those Eight Banners descendants from the Qing Dynasty. Which of them still used Manchu surnames? Zhang, Wang, Li, and Zhao, those major surnames, all share the same ancestor?"

"I can't argue with you. A herd of cattle, a herd of cattle, that's not bad either!" Niu Dazhuang gave in.

"If you have a son in the future, I've already thought of his name: Chengjia, Chengguo... Why are you running away? I haven't finished speaking yet."