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

Aunt Zhao wanted to say a few more words, but the little guy, Qi Jin, started crying loudly.

With no outsiders present, Ningru handed the baby over, and Xueru lifted her clothes to breastfeed the baby.

The little one's crying is contagious, and Xiao Dang started crying loudly too.

Goodness, you have so many children and you're not afraid they'll go hungry? They're all so robust!

Huai Ru, you'd better keep an eye on the baby, or he'll choke. Life is better now, but back in our day, even adults couldn't get enough to eat. If adults couldn't get enough to eat, how much breast milk could we have? Everyone was pale and thin.

This child is weak after eating a lot, and any minor ailments disappear quickly...

Aunt Zhao naturally gave them a political lesson on remembering the bitter past and appreciating the sweet present.

Seeing that Aunt Zhao was getting into the conversation, Qin Ningru went back into the house and poured her a cup of hot water.

After drinking half a teacup of hot water, Aunt Zhao became even more enthusiastic, and before she knew it, it was noon.

Ningru and Yueru went to the kitchen to cook.

Since they were all family, Aunt Zhao decided to stay for dinner.

Aunt Zhao held a large, white steamed bun in her hand, then looked at a big bowl of radish strips stewed with cured meat. There were also four plates of various pickled vegetables.

Aunt Zhao ate a big steamed bun and then stopped eating.

Qin Xueru and Qin Huairu could both tell that the older woman was unhappy.

"Auntie, it's because you're here that we usually eat this. We usually just make cornbread with two kinds of flour. Dazhuang is a picky eater, so we made so many different kinds of pickled vegetables," Xue Ru explained.

"I'm not an outsider. When you first came, I praised you for being good at managing the household. How come you don't know how to be thrifty? There are so many people in your family. If you don't tighten your belt, you won't have enough to eat every month!"

"I'll change what the older woman said from now on!"

After finishing our meal, we finally saw the old lady off.

"My goodness! She hasn't even entered our house yet, and she's already interfering with us. We kindly offered her steamed buns, and she still managed to cause trouble." Qin Yueru didn't dare to talk back to her face, so she just grumbled a few words behind her back.

"Seventh Brother, you're something else! Say it in front of Auntie!"

"You're the head of the household, so it's my turn to chime in. But what the older woman says is true; she really does take good care of us."

I thought she'd be angry because I didn't go to the textile factory last time, but I didn't expect her to personally deliver the job posting to us today.

"This older woman may like to nag a bit, but she really treats us like family. Didn't you hear? Someone sued our family again!"

"Just thinking about it makes me angry. We're living a peaceful life, what's it to them? They're still secretly writing us smears. If they're so capable, they should do it openly! I'll scratch their faces until they're covered in bruises!"

"Hey! All the ladies are here! No wonder it's so lively!" Xu Damao said with a sly grin, standing outside the door.

"Xu Damao, I've told you many times, you can drink water however you want, but you can't say things like that, and you definitely can't call people names like that," Qin Yueru immediately retorted.

"Hehe, I didn't call you that. Qin Xueru and Qin Huairu aren't my sisters-in-law!"

Qin Huairu rolled her eyes at him and shooed him away, saying, "If you have something to say, don't just stand there at the door!"

"It's nothing. I just got back from showing a movie in the countryside. I heard it was lively in your house, so I thought Brother Niu was back!"

"Dazhuang won't be back until next week," said Xue Ru.

Xu Damao had no reason to stay any longer, so he went to the Intermediate People's Court to watch the commotion, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

It turned out that when I passed by the Intermediate Courtyard on my way back, I saw Su Ting from the adjacent courtyard bringing back a few bricklayers.

House repairs are usually done during this season, when it's neither too hot nor too cold, and it doesn't get dark too early. Before the rainy season arrives, the roof needs to be cleaned up.

Especially old houses, if they are not repaired, they will really suffer in the summer. When it rains heavily outside, they have to use pots and pans to catch the rain inside.

I don't know about other places, but in old Kyoto, the houses are all tiled. In autumn and winter, the northwest winds are strong, and a lot of fallen leaves will gather between the tiles. If you don't sweep them up, they won't leak. But if the drainage is not smooth over time, they will leak.

Not only did Xu Damao come over with a cigarette in his mouth to watch the excitement, but the neighbors who had nothing to do at home also came over to join in the fun.

"Su Ting, I think you should cut a door in the back wall; that would be more convenient."

It turned out that after Jia Zhangshi ran away with Xiaobanggeng'er, Su Ting went to the street office to inquire about it.

I was really worried about how to find a separate bedroom for Xiao Qinling, but this is perfect.

After finding out who owned the house where the Jia family lived, which was located on the street, Su Ting rented it without hesitation.

When Su Wan mentioned this, she simply moved in. It was convenient for the two sisters to live together, and they could even fight the Japanese together – how wonderful!

After being reminded by her neighbor, Su Ting thought it made a lot of sense. After communicating with the bricklayer, she learned that she needed a log to make a crossbeam.

As long as it can be moved, it's not a problem.

Su Ting possesses a unique charm that rural women cannot match.

After Qin Huairu moved away, Su Ting became the subject of gossip among Xu Damao and the other two.

Why are there three now? Liu Guangqi got married last winter and moved away. He's not hanging out with them anymore.

Not only were the roof tiles inspected, but the interior was also painted white. The window paper was also replaced with new ones.

The work took seven or eight days to complete. By the time Su Wan returned, it was finished.

Living in a clean and bright house, Su Wan's mood improved considerably. It was the peak of her morning sickness.

They would vomit whatever they ate, and even more ridiculously, they would vomit after smelling anything oily.

Morning sickness is something you can't hide; now the compound will have something to talk about tonight.

Xu Damao nudged Sha Zhu with his elbow and glanced at the west wing. "Hey, Sha Zhu, have you seen Su Wan's man?"

"Da Mao, you should ask Da Niu that. You haven't even seen it, how am I supposed to see it!"

"Tsk tsk... I hadn't noticed before, but I was already paying attention to Su Ting. Turns out Su Wan is the most feminine one." Yan Jiecheng has also become a bad influence.

"Hey, do you think it's a matter of feng shui? Look, from Qin Huairu at the beginning to Su Wan now."

"The east wing of the courtyard, which is back-to-back with the west wing, is the same. I think this place is a feng shui treasure." Xu Damao even resorted to metaphysics. He was cunning and couldn't afford to offend Niu Dazhuang, so he only mentioned the second half of his sentence vaguely.

Niu Dazhuang naturally went back with Su Wan. They ate at home and then came to the Intermediate People's Court. They couldn't stay away from the people for too long.

Once we got here, we started spreading smoke.

He huddled closer to Sha Zhu, who was sitting on the steps. "What are you guys talking about?"

Yan Jiecheng quickly chimed in, trying his best to flatter, "Da Mao just said that the west wing is a geomantically auspicious spot, producing nothing but beautiful women!"

Xu Damao quickly explained, "I was just complimenting Sister Niu on her looks."

Niu Dazhuang didn't pay much attention: "This place depends on who lives there. When I first rented the annex in the east courtyard, Aunt Zhao said that everyone in the courtyard thought the house was unlucky, saying that someone had hanged themselves there."

"They're all old-fashioned and feudal. In those old houses, which family hasn't had someone die?"