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

These words struck a chord with Aunt Zhao.

"Today, the state issued new provisional measures for the retirement of government employees and measures for the retirement of workers and staff. From now on, your uncle and I will both have retirement pensions."

Your uncle and I both started working before the liberation of the whole country. By the time we retire, we'll be considered retired officials. You younger generations don't need to contribute to our retirement savings; it's just that we'll need your care when we get old and can't move around anymore.

"Our family has nothing but a lot of people, so taking care of you two shouldn't be a problem. It's settled then, I'll go talk to those two brothers tonight!"

Aunt Zhao still looked at Niu Youliang.

The old cow was pleased to have enough grain. He nodded with a smile.

"I'll go buy some things, and when the bears come back, the four of us brothers will go together!"

Aunt Zhao didn't understand Niu Dazhuang's way of doing things: "Why are you bringing so many people with you when you're going to arrange a marriage?"

"Chunni, don't worry about it. Leave this to Dazhuang and just wait at home for good news!"

"What kind of riddle are you two playing?"

"I'll talk to you after things are done."

"Hmph! So secretive. You two chat, I'm going to tidy up the backyard!" Aunt Zhao was also someone who couldn't sit still.

Grandpa Niu scooped out a bowlful from his pipe, and Niu Dazhuang rolled one too. The two of them puffed away.

"Dazhuang, are you still letting Dayong and the others collect old furniture? The backyard is already full. What are you doing with all that old furniture? You might as well save some hard currency instead."

Those three kids are a bit obsessed now. Whenever they have free time, they ride that beat-up tricycle out. They haven't saved a single penny of their wages; they've spent it all on these old gadgets.

"Okay, I got it. I'll talk to them when they get back. If they need more money, ask me for more!"

"In two years, these three will be of marriageable age. Since you treat them as brothers, you, as the eldest brother, should take care of this."

They'll only follow you wholeheartedly if you're kind and righteous. It's not right for them to act like lone wolves while you have a bunch of women at home!

"I know, I was prepared."

"Yes, once you get your diploma, go back to your hometown and visit. After all, our hometown is where we're rooted."

"I want to build a few more small courtyards in my hometown."

"Building a house in our hometown is great. When are you going to build it? I've saved up some money these past two years, and I'll give it all to you then."

"No need, I still have plenty. Things have been quiet for over a year now, and I'm thinking of doing it all again next year!"

"You went too far last time. These capitalists aren't stupid; they've definitely scattered all the good stuff."

"I know that. At worst, we can stay for another six months, figure out the situation, and resolve it all at once."

"Alright, you handle it. Just make sure no one gets killed!"

"Know."

The father and son chatted for a while longer, and then the afterglow of the setting sun shone into the courtyard, turning it a beautiful red.

Dayong pedaled his beat-up tricycle, with Dazhi and Daxiong sitting inside, and the three brothers returned, laughing and joking.

Seeing Niu Dazhuang come out of the main house, he quickly greeted him.

"I heard from the old man that you're all almost obsessed, you've put all your money into it. This won't do. From today onwards, you can start saving your own money. Whoever saves up 185 yuan first, I'll get them a bicycle ticket."

Dazhi stepped forward and whispered, "Brother, the old man only saw us spending money."

Actually, we made money! We slept around and earned more than our regular salaries. You miscalculated. We can come up with 185 right now.” He couldn’t help but laugh after saying that.

These three guys, who frequent the ghost market and black market, probably know how much bicycle tickets are worth now. Sometimes, even if you have money, you can't necessarily buy one.

They quickly settled the matter: "Brother, you have to keep your word. We're going to get the money right now!" The three brothers scattered in a flurry, each going to get their own hidden money.

With a wry smile, Niu Dazhuang turned to look at the old man sitting in the main room: "Grandpa, your eyesight isn't what it used to be! These three young lads hid so much money right under your nose, and you didn't even notice!"

Niu Youliang, with a pipe in his mouth, smiled without saying a word.

"Hey old man, you guys didn't team up to set me up, did you?"

Grandpa Niu quickly denied it: "We didn't set you up, you walked right into this yourself. You must have trouble producing three bicycle tickets all at once!"

Niu Dazhuang scratched the back of his head awkwardly: "It's possible to take it out, it just costs a bit more money!"

"Why waste that money? I can try to get one at my workplace at the end of the year, your aunt should be able to help you get one too, and you can figure out how to get one yourself. Isn't that enough?"

Niu Dazhuang immediately understood his uncle's good intentions.

In those days, some of the tickets for the "three turns and one sound" (a type of bicycle, a sewing machine, a radio, and a watch) were awarded by the workplace for good performance, while others were used by leaders to win people's hearts.

Niu Youliang tapped his pipe, still worried, and started lecturing again: "You're about to graduate from your full-time study program, go and report your thoughts to your superiors first!"

"I understand, I'll report to my supervisor tonight!"

"You brat, Su Wan is just a subordinate after all. You still need to go find Chen Jingshan. You've been there for over a year, and you haven't even paid him a visit yet!"

"When I first joined the company, did you get in through his connections? You should definitely pay him a visit!"

Niu Youliang doesn't deny it. "Good to know," he says.

Big Bear and his group came in one after the other, and as soon as they entered, they stuffed the money into Niu Dazhuang's arms, as if afraid that Niu Dazhuang would regret it if they were too slow.

Niu Dazhuang didn't even look at them before putting them into his pants pocket, which was actually his personal storage space.

"Let's go, I'm taking you to do something important."

Since it was a marriage proposal for the old man, a gift was essential, so we bought three boxes of pastries, one for each of the three young men.

"When we get to the old lady's house and see her two sons, they should read my mind. If we talk things out properly, we can all get along well. If they try to play games, we're not going to sit idly by. Understand?"

"Brother, if we beat up his two sons, won't Auntie be even less likely to come into our house?" Dazhi asked.

"You don't understand, some people are just being unreasonable. They don't understand human language, but a good scolding will make them behave!"

Aunt Zhao's two sons are both a few years older than Niu Dazhuang, and they are both married with children.

The two brothers also lived in a large courtyard. Niu Dazhuang had never met them, but he knew they disapproved of Aunt Zhao's marriage to his uncle.

The four brothers arrived at the courtyard and found their house after asking around.

Both brothers were there on Sunday.

Niu Dazhuang politely offered him a cigarette and placed the snack box on the table.

"Let me introduce myself first. I am Niu Youliang's nephew, and his only nephew. My name is Niu Dazhuang."

"My mother has mentioned you. My name is Liu Guangfu, and I'm the eldest. The third brother is Liu Guangxiang."