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

After saying that, he rolled his eyes upwards and remained silent.

Niu Dazhuang was all too familiar with this kind of situation with women. He couldn't say he saw it every day, but he definitely saw it every time, and not just one.

Niu Dazhuang also noticed a phenomenon: some women look better with their eyes open than with their eyes closed, and Su Ting was an example of this.

Su Ting has large, deep-set eyes, and she doesn't look as good with her eyes closed as she does with them open. Yu Li also falls into this category.

The Qin Huairu sisters are also different; Ningru's eyes are not completely closed when she sleeps.

Qin Huairu always half-closes her eyes when she flies, and that's when she's most charming.

Qin Yueru, just like her personality, is aggressive and will often get scratched.

Xue Ru remained relatively quiet, even though she was extremely excited; she simply shook her head wildly, sending her beautiful hair flying.

Milan's eyes aren't small either; they're the kind that protrude slightly. She doesn't look as good with her eyes closed as she does with them open.

Shen Shang took the cigarette box from the side of the kang (a heated brick bed), lit one, and covered her with the quilt.

Milan woke up in the time it takes to smoke a cigarette.

"It's true, she's not your own wife, you don't care how much you torment her. Would you treat your wife like that?"

"What's wrong, Comrade Xiaomi? You want to marry someone else?"

"You're not going to marry me, so do you expect me to stay with you for the rest of my life?" Niu Dazhuang was speechless after hearing that.

"Even if I could agree, my parents wouldn't! You said the other day that you didn't care about forever, only about having it. What, you can't bear to part with it?" Milan said smugly.

"Nonsense, how could I bear to part with such a beautiful young lady? If you want to stay with me like this, I have a way."

"No way. You're such a womanizer, you probably have several other women on the side."

"Just wait. If I'm still not married by then, I'll come back to you!"

Niu Dazhuang flicked her little nose with his index finger: "Dream on!"

Milan said coquettishly, "Why not?"

"Of course not! How can I let outsiders ride my bicycle!"

"Ugh, you're the bicycle! Why don't you just ride a bicycle then?"

"Hehe, look, these bicycles are all different models and brands. There are 28-inch bikes and 26-inch bikes with a crossbar. Of course, I want to experience the differences between these different brands."

"Go to hell! You shameless bastard, saying that to my face like that, you really don't treat me like an outsider!"

"Hey, Little Red Pepper, are you trying to get me to pass out again?"

"Ouch...it hurts so much! If you do it again, I'm going to start cursing!"

Milan ultimately couldn't bring himself to utter the curse before fainting again.

The two bickered and teased each other, and three days passed in a flash.

When it was time to leave, Milan was a little reluctant to leave this place.

"Stop looking. I'll rent you another place, even quieter than this one, then we can do whatever we want."

"Why are you always thinking about that? I'm really scared of what you've done to me this time. Go find whoever you want, I'm not putting up with this anymore! Help me up."

Niu Dazhuang took Milan back to her own home in the tenement building, and Milan fell asleep as soon as she lay down on the bed.

I've never seen such a donkey before. For three days straight, day and night, all it did was sleep, eat, and cause trouble.

Milan was completely exhausted and slept soundly. She didn't wake up until the evening of the next day, hungry.

In this regard, once it's developed, women become even more addicted than men; it's only been a week!

Milan tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep, the scenes from those three days flashing through her mind from time to time.

After enduring three more days, Sunday finally arrived.

Niu Dazhuang didn't disappoint her; he arrived early in the morning.

Good times fly by, and before we knew it, it was almost December. Niu Dazhuang had successfully graduated and received his primary education graduation certificate.

After resting at home for a few days, Niu Dazhuang, like a lion, inspected his territory one by one, and then it was the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

As the saying goes, once the Laba Festival is over, the New Year is just around the corner, and preparations for the New Year begin. The children are also wearing the new clothes they've been looking forward to all year.

The occasional sound of firecrackers can still be heard in the streets and alleys.

"Sir, where's your tiger bone and deer antler wine? Give me a pot!"

Niu Youliang rolled his eyes at him, annoyed: "With your energy levels so high, why are you drinking that stuff?"

"Didn't you ask me to pay a visit to Chen Jingshan, the head of our unit? I've been thinking about it, and I think this medicinal wine is more appropriate. It's not flashy, and it's a favorite among middle-aged and older men!"

"That's true. You wait here, I'll go and force-feed you a gourdful!"

"Sir, are you acquainted with Secretary Chen from our unit?"

"Well, you could say we know each other. He was the one who led the reorganization of our surrendered troops back then. Show him some respect when you see him, don't be disrespectful."

Niu Youliang treasures this medicinal wine; it's essential for his happy retirement. He doesn't feel comfortable leaving it anywhere else, so he keeps it in his bedroom.

"Oh, I know. Where's your aunt?"

"Hey! Your auntie isn't the same auntie you used to be. Before she came into our Niu family, she was so virtuous and capable, keeping the house so tidy and organized."

When I got home, I could still have a hot meal. Now, it's all so busy with work, going from house to house, there's never a moment to rest.

"Hey! Old Bullhead, did I not clean the house properly? Or are you starving? You're not young anymore, but you're still like a child, always sticking together!"

"My goodness, when did you get back? I didn't see you." Old Niu finished his wine and came out of the east room.

"Hmph! Luckily I came back early, otherwise I wouldn't have known you had such a big problem with me."

Grandpa Niu blushed, a rare occurrence for him.

"Chunni'er, I was just venting," Niu Dazhuang said, his hair standing on end.

He quickly grabbed the gourd and ran away.

Zhao Chunni rolled her eyes at Grandpa Niu, annoyed: "You old rascal, what's wrong with you in front of the children?!"

Niu Youliang chuckled sheepishly, "He's a father of several children, what doesn't he understand!"

"Ugh! None of them are easy to deal with. Perform well tonight, and I'll give you another reward!"

Niu Youliang quickly shook his head: "No need, no need, once is enough!"

"Promising!"

On Laba Festival, it's customary to drink Laba porridge. Since the Niu family has a large population, they simply went to Qin Huairu's place and set up a five-spice pot in the courtyard.

The firewood below must be split wood; for a more refined approach, fruitwood may also be used.

Millet, rice, glutinous rice, red beans, peanuts, red dates, cowpeas, chestnuts.

Niu Dazhuang also added more than a pound of brown sugar.

First bring it to a boil over high heat, then simmer it over low heat for more than three hours. This Laba porridge will be soft and sweet.

Both little ones drank a bowl.

"Huai Ru, I haven't been to work for half a year. Is there anything new happening at work?"

"Every time you come over, I want to chat with you, but I always give others the chance to speak!"