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

Su Wan nodded. "If I'm not mistaken, she should be pregnant."

Yu Li's face immediately turned pale: "How could this be? She was fine last year, how come she got pregnant after only a few times this year?"

Yu Li couldn't sit still any longer. After all, she was a bit younger, and she paced anxiously back and forth in the main room.

"What's the use of your anxiety? When Dazhuang comes back, ask him what his plans are. I want to get pregnant but I can't." Bai Hongyan revealed her true feelings at this moment.

Su Wan also started to think about her own situation. The marriage was over, and nominally her daughter was with her. However, it was inconvenient for Su Wan to work and take care of the child alone. She could only leave her daughter with her grandmother, sending her money every month.

After more than a year of getting to know Niu Dazhuang, she finally understood him. He was a heartless playboy. She was still young and could still go through his troubles, and he was still infatuated with her. But once she got old and lost her looks, he would definitely run away. She couldn't rely on this kind of person.

My own daughter grew up with her grandmother and isn't close to me...

"Oh dear, Sister Bai, people are so anxious they're practically turning the millstone in circles. And you're still joking."

"I'm not kidding. I've told Dazhuang about it a few times in private. He's afraid that if I get pregnant, my family will punish him, so he's been keeping an eye on me."

"That stinky Da Zhuang, Sister Bai wants to get pregnant, but you won't let her. I don't want to get pregnant, but you let me get pregnant first. What an unreliable man."

"Who's unreliable?" Niu Dazhuang lifted the curtain and came in.

"You're unreliable, you're the only unreliable one. Now that I'm pregnant, what are you going to do about it!"

"Of course we'll have the baby if we're pregnant. What else can we do? It's not like I can't afford to raise it," Niu Dazhuang said nonchalantly.

"You make it sound so easy. I'm a young, unmarried woman, and if I come home with a big belly, won't the neighbors gossip about me?"

"We live our own lives, what business is it of other people's business?"

Enraged, Yu Li pointed at Niu Dazhuang with her index finger, at a loss for words. "How...how could you do this?!"

Niu Dazhuang walked up behind Yu Li and pressed her down into a chair: "Don't worry, I won't let you suffer. You've given me a child, so you're mine for life. How could I not care about you?"

"That's not the issue right now. I... how am I going to tell my family about this?"

"Just tell your family that if you marry me, you'll have to give them your salary for five years, and the bride price won't be small either. Do you think your parents will agree?"

The parents of Yu Li must be the same kind of people to raise such a calculating daughter.

For Niu Dazhuang now, problems that can be solved with money are not problems at all.

"You can't make a living by marrying an ordinary worker, can you? Be honest, isn't it better to be with me than to marry a worker?"

Besides, you know how badly I've messed with you, don't you? And she's not stupid. If she saw you weren't a virgin on your wedding night, do you think she'd treat you well?

Niu Dazhuang used a combination of intimidation and coaxing.

"How could you do this? You ruined her life, and now you're using that against me. Sister Bai, Sister Su, have you ever seen such a shameless man?"

Su Wan and Bai Hongyan were both watching to see how Niu Dazhuang would handle the situation. Both women were shrewd; for Yu Li, today was tomorrow, and Niu Dazhuang's attitude would be crucial.

Although Niu Dazhuang's words were somewhat shameless, he didn't say he was irresponsible.

"Let's be straightforward, what do you say?"

After thinking for a moment, Yu Li said, "Then will you still come home with me to meet my parents?" This meant she agreed.

"If you can handle it on your own, I won't get involved. But if you can't and I need to step in, I can't be a coward!"

Yu Liyin raised her hand slightly, bit her lower lip, and said, "Fine, then don't show your face for now." Then she stretched out her hand and said, "I want a bicycle to use for commuting back to work. Also, give me thirty yuan as my dowry. I'll go home tomorrow."

He turned to Su Wan and asked, "Sister Su, are you giving me leave?"

"Of course I'll give it to you," Su Wan said, then turned to Bai Hongyan and said, "Then you can go and cook for Old Zhang for a day tomorrow."

"Okay! I must help my sister!" Bai Hongyan also expressed her opinion.

That evening, Yu Li went to the west wing alone with her bedding roll and chased Niu Dazhuang out.

Niu Dazhuang, carrying his bedding roll, looked to his left—it was Bai Hongyan's room—and to his right—it was Su Wan's room.

These two women appear to be on good terms, but they're actually competing with each other. Whichever side they go to first, the other will definitely be unhappy.

Suddenly, Niu Dazhuang had a brilliant idea. He put the bedding on a chair in the main room, took a pillowcase, and went into Bai Hongyan's room.

When Bai Hongyan saw Niu Dazhuang approaching, she couldn't hide her smugness: "You're smart to know what's good for you!"

"Hehe, how about we play a new game today?" Niu Dazhuang said with a sly grin.

"Since you behaved well today, I'll go crazy with you. So, how do you want to play?"

"My game is called role-playing, and I play a bandit..."

"You have so many tricks up your sleeve."

"Come on, close your eyes."

Bai Hongyan cooperated very well, but Niu Dazhuang was still not satisfied, so he covered her eyes with a pillowcase.

Niu Dazhuang said, lifting Bai Hongyan's chin: "This little woman is really something, I'll take her back to the mountains to be my mistress."

Bai Hongyan cooperated and said, "Your Majesty, spare my life!"

Niu Dazhuang picked her up and carried her into the east room. He quickly gestured for Su Wan to be quiet...

The issue of sequence has been perfectly resolved.

Everyone knows what's going on, but no one is willing to be the first to break the ice.

Bai Hongyan is alright, Yu Li isn't a blood sister, but Su Wan is not. She doesn't go to bathhouses much anymore and usually bathes alone at home.

She wanted to escape, but Niu Dazhuang wouldn't let her have her way...

Men have four pillars of loyalty, and women have the same. If you've been through thick and thin together, your relationship will definitely be stronger than before.

As for Yu Li, she took the early bus back to Beijing the next day.

I had already thought of what to say last night. When I got home, I called my mom, who was chatting idly, into the room.

He slammed the thirty yuan in his pocket onto the table: "I'm marrying myself off, this is the bride price."

Yu's mother seemed incredulous at what she heard: "What did you say?"

Yu Li said, word by word, "I said, I—married myself off. This is the bride price."

Yu glanced at the money on the table. "Girl, you're not kidding, are you? When did you two start dating? I've never heard you mention it before."

"We dated for more than half a year, and he got anxious as soon as he heard that I went on a blind date during the Chinese New Year this year."

"What kind of family is this guy from? You didn't even bring him back so we could give you our opinion before you got married!"

Yu Li didn't go along with her, saying, "Just tell me if you want the bride price or not!"

Yu's mother was quick; she grabbed the money from the table and put it in her pocket.