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

After putting the money away, Yu's mother asked, "What does the other party do? Why didn't you send a matchmaker to propose marriage? Isn't it a bit hasty?"

"Mom! Don't cause any trouble for me. Go ask around here, which family gives a bride price of thirty?"

The most I ever gave was five yuan! If you want to do it the old way, fine, but give me back my money first. I'll buy you everything you need—ten large steamed buns per pound, towels, washbasins—before he comes to propose marriage!

Yu Li had her eye on her mother's money; once it was in her hands, it would be impossible to get it back out without the sun rising in the west.

"That's barely worth anything. And it's so early? You're going to spend your whole life with this person. If you like them, that's fine. As for the wedding banquet..."

"Why are you still throwing me a wedding banquet? Are you going to pay for it?"

"But we should at least let the neighbors know, all the aunties and older women in the Yu family, right? We're just getting married quietly like this?"

"I'll go out and buy a pound of sugar in a bit, and I'll give it to them."

"Alright, by the way, is there any word on your salary for your wedding? It cost the family a lot of money to find you a job, and you agreed to it back then."

"Mom, do you still think I'm an immature child? Back then, to find me a job, my dad went to the neighborhood committee a few times, and at most he brought two bottles of wine."

I've been working here for a little over a year now. Of my salary this year, I only keep about five yuan for pocket money each month; the rest I give to you.

"I'm married now, and you're still eyeing my salary? How can you be like this?"

"It's fine if you don't pay my salary, but you'll have to help with the bride price when your younger brother gets married."

"I'm doing well, of course I'll help my family, no need to tell me!" Yu Li would also make empty promises.

With things settled at home, Yu Li bought a pound of candy and distributed it to the children in the courtyard. Seeing her handing out candy, the neighbors casually asked, "Were these wedding candies?"

"Yes, wedding candy."

This told the neighbors that she, Yu Li, had gotten married.

I made a trip to the Yu family's ancestral home nearby, and gave the children a few pieces of candy; that was enough to inform them.

After visiting all the places, it got dark. At eight o'clock the next day, Yu Li waited at the entrance of the neighborhood committee on time. After taking the marriage introduction letter, she got on the bus and returned to Changping.

After getting off work that evening, Yu Li slapped the marriage introduction letter on her shoulder and said, "You handle it!"

"Hehe, that's easy to say. Tomorrow I'll take you to our hometown commune and get your marriage certificate."

"Can you get another marriage introduction letter from your village's production brigade?" Bai Hongyan asked, puzzled.

"Don't ask me that, I have my own way." Niu Dazhuang remembered that when he sold wild game in the city two years ago, he asked for a few extra blank sheets of paper with the brigade's official seal on them.

Then why not just write whatever you want? I've already thought of a name: Niu Daqiang.

Marriage certificates these days don't require photos, just the two people's names. They're not online, so no one checks if you're committing bigamy.

The next day, Yu Li and her husband both took leave and went to the commune where Niujiazhuang was located to retrieve their marriage certificate.

When Bai Hongyan saw that this could work, she became restless and kept pestering Niu Dazhuang for it that night.

After a storm

"My family is pressuring me too!"

"Don't join in the fun. Since you're all pregnant, I'm going to become a monk."

"Isn't there Sister Su?"

"She's even more anxious than you are."

"What's wrong with you? You have no plan at all. You're the youngest one and you're the first to get pregnant. We're really worried, but you're not worried at all. If you don't get pregnant, that's fine too. We can still get a marriage certificate. I've even thought of a name for you: Niu Ben."

"Your situation is different. If we get our marriage certificate, I'll have to visit you during the New Year! And your sister has seen me before. That would give us away."

"We can just get a marriage certificate. You don't need to visit relatives during the Spring Festival. I can handle it myself." Bai Hongyan was really going all out for this certificate.

"I waited a while before I got my marriage certificate, and then went back to get it a couple of days later, but they didn't even recognize me!"

"That's true! Then take the letter of introduction and we'll go to the street office where my household registration is located to handle it."

Well, in less than a week, Niu Dazhuang got married twice.

Bai Hongyan returned happily with her marriage certificate in hand.

That evening, Niu Dazhuang rushed to comfort Su Wan again.

"How about we get one too?"

"I don't need it. If people's hearts have wandered away, having a certificate is useless. You know my situation. Although my daughter was given to me, she didn't grow up with me and isn't close to me. Her grandmother is still raising her."

My position is fixed; I'm unlikely to move for at least a few years, so...

"You want to have children too?"

"Well, in a few years, you won't be able to have children even if you want to. I know you can control that thing..."

"No regrets?"

"Absolutely no regrets. Come on, go ahead and torment me, do whatever you want tonight..."

While others transmigrate to build careers and make money, I transmigrate to develop my family and expand the Niu family line.

Niu Dazhuang was a well-known hunter in his hometown, with excellent marksmanship.

In April, Su Wan got her wish. She also experienced dry heaving.

This really angered Bai Hongyan.

The ear-twisting skill is back online: "Well done, Niu Dazhuang, you really do treat people differently based on their status."

It had been more than half a year since his ear had been twisted, and Niu Dazhuang was grimacing in pain.

"How am I not as good as those two? I'm the one in the most suitable age to have children, okay!" Bai Hongyan was really getting angry, and she wasn't afraid of offending Su Wan and Yu Li anymore. She started shouting loudly in the yard.

Niu Dazhuang could only bow and beg for mercy: "Oh, my dear aunt, please be gentle, let go first, let's talk this out."

"Listen to me properly! I've begged you so many times, but you just won't listen. Do you have to make me lose my temper?!"

"You're really getting impatient. Hongyan, my wife!" Niu Dazhuang's way of calling her that now is actually quite appropriate, since they're married now.

"Stop with the nice talk. If you don't give me a straight answer today, I'll teach you a lesson! Come inside and talk." Bai Hongyan dragged Niu Dazhuang by the ear into her room.

Yu Li leaned against the window, watching the commotion with a grin.

Su Wan was pale from morning sickness and had no energy at all. She couldn't be bothered with their business and stayed in her room the whole time.

Once they reached the west room, Bai Hongyan finally let go of his grip, sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) with her legs crossed, and said, "You'll be standing here talking to me today."

"I'm telling the truth, please don't be angry?"

"Go ahead and say it, I'm not angry."

"Yu Li and Sister Su can both make their own decisions without much opposition from their families, but you can't. I'm afraid if your two brothers found out, they'd skin me alive, not to mention your father who's a vice minister. Just thinking about it gives me the creeps!"