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

Just as Niu Dazhuang was about to pack the half-pack of cigarettes, Bai Hongmin spoke up from behind: "You're so oblivious! Didn't you see there's a grown man standing behind you?"

These words left Niu Dazhuang bewildered. He turned around and asked, "Just say what you want to say. I'm straightforward, so don't beat around the bush."

Bai Hongmin stretched out two slender, white fingers, which then moved up and down nimbly in turn.

This is a typical gesture between men asking for a cigarette.

"What?! You want to smoke? Does your sister know? Do your parents know?"

"I'm eighteen already, I don't need their permission for everything. Why are you, a grown man, being so indecisive?" Before he finished speaking, he reached out and took the pack of cigarettes from Niu Dazhuang's hand.

He pulled out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, then pointed to the cigarette butt with his finger.

Now Niu Dazhuang understood, so he struck a match and lit it for the person.

Bai Hongmin took a drag and blew the smoke from her mouth towards Niu Dazhuang's face.

"How about it? Pretty cool, huh!"

"You'd look even more stunning in a cheongsam. I think you watch too many movies."

At this time, Bai Hongmin was a rebellious teenager, full of curiosity and longing for the adult world.

"Don't waste it if you don't know how to smoke!" After saying that, he quickly snatched the cigarette from Bai Hongmin's mouth, stubbed it out with his right foot, and put the rest back in the cigarette case.

"Hey, hey, I said, I smoked those, why did you put them back? You wouldn't happen to be...?"

"You big dummy, don't you know how shameful it is to waste things?" With that, he gave Bai Hongmin a good whack on the head.

Bai Hongmin covered her head with her hands, her eyes reddening from the cold: "How...how could you hit me!"

"This isn't hitting someone, it's loving education. If we don't teach you a lesson, you won't learn. Don't keep calling out 'Hey, hey' anymore."

If you don't know his name, call him "Master." If you know his name, add his name and call him "Master"! Also, don't smoke if you don't want to.

"I accept the first point, but I don't accept the second. Why can you women smoke, but we women can't?"

Niu Dazhuang thought to himself, "There are always women's rights activists in every era!"

"You can only represent yourself, not all women. I take back what I just said. If you like smoking, then smoke. Nobody cares." With that, he shoved the half-pack of cigarettes in his hand into her hand.

Bai Hongmin was a little confused: "Shouldn't you have argued with me?"

"I'd be arguing with an idiot like you if I had nothing better to do. Only your parents care about your life or death; it's none of my business!"

Bai Hongmin pointed at herself: "I'm an idiot. You, a stinky man who hasn't even had much schooling, actually call me, a high school student, an idiot. It's simply... simply a huge joke."

"Some people become dumber and worse the more they study. My lack of formal education doesn't mean I'm uncultured or lack wisdom. Wisdom and culture aren't defined by how many years of schooling one has."

"Damn! What you just said sounds even more convincing than what our teacher said! A man my sister mentioned must be extraordinary. Sigh... that Master Niu Dazhuang, right!"

Bai Hongmin's brain circuits are truly something else.

"That roasted chestnut wasn't for nothing, you learned your lesson in one go! So, what's up?"

Bai Hongmin tugged at Niu Dazhuang's shirt and said, "Let's talk in the car."

"What's going on? Why are you being so secretive?"

The two went up to the truck driver's building separately.

"Speak!"

Bai Hongyan was still worried, so she looked outside through the glass before asking in a low voice, "Did you do the injuries on my sister's body?" Her big eyes blinked as she watched Niu Dazhuang's facial expression.

"Your sister is injured? When did this happen? She doesn't look injured at all." Niu Dazhuang became wary at this moment.

"It really isn't you?"

"You'd better explain yourself clearly. Your sister is injured and you're not going to the hospital, so why do you need to investigate the killer?" Niu Dazhuang started playing dead.

"I... I just can't explain it to you! It's not the kind of injury you're describing. This..."

Niu Dazhuang chuckled inwardly: "Which kind of hand injury are you talking about? Why are you suspecting me?"

"Hehe... First of all, my sister has never mentioned any man's name at home in the past four or five years. You are the first."

Secondly, I've been secretly observing you since this morning. Although my sister seemed very polite and normal on the surface when she spoke to you, her unintentional glances betrayed her true feelings. Also, your attitude towards my sister was too casual.

And most importantly, why didn't my sister send another driver to take me out? She only sent you. This shows how much she trusts you.

Niu Dazhuang, with the attitude of "I'll never admit it unless I catch them in the act," said Niu Dazhuang: "Your analysis is very logical, but unfortunately, your starting point is wrong. So the more you think it makes sense, the less likely it is to be true."

"First of all, how your sister looks at me is her own business, and has absolutely nothing to do with me."

Secondly, that's just how I am; I don't fawn over leaders or flatter my coworkers. Thirdly, the reason your sister sent me to bring you out is because she trusts me, and I acknowledge that; I'm honored by it.

"I'm surprised that a big, burly man like you is so organized. Interesting!"

Then what was the reason you fought with that person this morning?

"For example, if you are a controversial fighter, and your male classmates are talking about a female teacher behind your back, a teacher who has a glorious image in your heart, what would you do?"

To add to that, discussions about female teachers always tend to be vulgar.

"If I heard about it, I would definitely find someone to beat them up. I wouldn't tattle on them!"

"I was the most popular student in school. There were at least a platoon or a whole company of boys who were willing to fight for me!" Bai Hongmin became particularly excited when talking about fighting.

"So, you've been in a fight before?"

"Why...why should I tell you? What if you betray me? If my mom finds out, I'll never be able to leave the house again." After saying this, Bai Hongmin realized she'd let something slip and quickly covered her mouth with her hand, looking adorable. This was practically an admission of guilt!

Seeing her adorable appearance, Niu Dazhuang chuckled.

"You're terrifying! Why am I telling you everything? If you lived before Liberation, you would definitely be an excellent political cadre!"

"There are two possibilities. First, it's definitely because of your sister's influence. Her trust in me has also affected you, which is why you're so trusting of me. Second, you're just a naive and innocent person who has absolutely no defenses against others!"

"Naive and innocent? What kind of term is that? Did you invent it? How can 'naive' and 'innocent' be used together? It's too contradictory."

Is this saying someone is stupid? Is the "sweet and innocent" part used to explain the "stupid" part? It's infuriating!