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

On my first day back at work, the company posted a notice announcing that the monthly ration for each person would be reduced from 32 jin to 28 jin, and for women, from 28 jin to 25 jin. The country isn't without capable people.

Niu Dazhuang didn't pay any attention to any of this; he glanced at it and went back to the security department.

This has little impact on drivers in the fleet, as their extra income is much higher than their salary. However, it has a much greater impact on those in the logistics department and those who work in offices.

These days, most couples who get married and have children have anywhere from three to seven or eight. This is especially true in single-income families, where having multiple children inevitably means one person stays home to care for them.

back kitchen

Qin Huairu started working last summer, and it's been more than half a year now. She's gotten to know the people in the kitchen well, so she doesn't hold back when she speaks anymore.

"Hey, Huai Ru, you've been working for so long, why haven't I heard you mention the men in your family?"

Qin Huairu didn't seem to care and casually replied, "I'm divorced! I live with my sister now!"

"That's not right. You always come to work looking radiant, and sometimes you even walk with a bouncy gait. We're all experienced women; you can't fool us." He then nudged Qin Huairu with his elbow.

He leaned closer and whispered, "Are you looking for someone to rely on outside?"

Qin Huairu was so embarrassed by the questions that she quickly shook her head and denied it: "No, I have a maid with me."

"So what? With your pretty face and figure that can seduce men, you'd have no shortage of men willing to take on any woman, let alone a daughter. Even if you had two sons, there would be plenty of men willing to take you on! So what if you're looking for a partner? Let me tell you, look at Sister Li, she's having an affair with our boss."

"That shouldn't be the case. I don't think Zhang Tou is that kind of person!"

"What Zhang Datou? Zhang Datou can only manage things in the kitchen. Sister Liu relies on Zhang Datou's connections. Are you even real?"

"Really not." This isn't happening in Niujiazhuang; we're trying to keep it a secret, so why would we admit it?

"How about I introduce you to someone?"

"My daughter is still young, let's wait a few years!"

"Huai Ru, it's not that I'm criticizing you, but a woman's best years are only a few. Once you're over thirty, it'll be hard to find a suitable husband. And you're raising a young girl. What will you do when she gets married and you're old?" This Sister Liu was being a bit too enthusiastic.

"Sister Liu, I really don't have that in mind right now."

Ever since Sister Liu learned that Qin Huairu had gotten divorced, the news spread throughout the workplace in just two days.

This caused quite a stir. Whether they were married or unmarried young men, as long as they weren't driving, they all wanted to line up at Qin Huairu's food window to get their meals.

Even at work, things weren't very peaceful. These people were always finding various excuses to come to the kitchen, but that's another story.

As for Su Wan, she can't be left unattended during her postpartum period. We can't expect Su Ting to take a month off to stay home and take care of her.

There was no other way but to bring my mother, who was over sixty years old, to live with us. My father was also a department-level official.

On her very first day there, Su Ma noticed that Niu Dazhuang and her daughter had an unusual relationship. How could any outside man be allowed into the postpartum room?

His own daughter was breastfeeding her baby in front of him, and so naturally. Even if they were very close, they shouldn't have done that. There's only one possibility left: the child is this man.

Every day after get off work, Niu Dazhuang would always go into the house to check on the mother and daughter. That's how Su's mother caught him in the act.

Niu Dazhuang sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and told Su Wan everything that had happened at work that day, down to the smallest detail. He then teased Xiao Chengyan before leaving.

"Farewell, Niu Dazhuang." Finally, Su's mother couldn't hold back any longer and voiced her question: "Xiaowan, your relationship with Niu Dazhuang wasn't just that of superior and subordinate, was it?" Su's mother asked rather tactfully.

Su Wan is over thirty years old; parents should also give their children face.

Unexpectedly, Su Wan admitted it quite readily: "Yes, it's exactly what you think."

Mother Su calculated the days with her fingers. Her expression didn't look good.

"Did you divorce Fan Yangwei because of him?"

"Not entirely. You know my situation with Fan Yangwei; we barely see each other a few times a year. I'm already tired of this marriage in name only. That's when Dazhuang appeared..."

"Sigh, sons grow up and are no longer under their fathers' control. She's already had someone else's child, what can I say? Just don't regret your choice!"

Since Su Ting's mother came, although both families have been in contact, Su Ting has never come over.

Su's mother heard the sounds of Su Ting fiddling with the stove.

"Su Ting, you don't need to cook for yourself tonight. Just bring Xiao Ling over for a bite."

"You don't need to worry about my daughter and me," Su Ting said coldly.

"It's been over two years, and you're still angry with us?" Mother Su was at her wit's end. Every family has its own troubles.

When Su's mother came, one task was to take care of her eldest daughter during her postpartum period, and the other was to ease the tension with her younger daughter.

"I'm not angry anymore. If you had interfered in my family's affairs back then, I wouldn't have such a good life now."

"Xiaoting, it's not like your dad didn't care back then. You know how much Yu Youyang sweared. Your dad has cleaned up his messes countless times."

He felt that with your dad backing him up, he dared to say anything at work, and even started gossiping...

The Anti-Rightist Movement was set by the higher authorities; how could your father possibly intervene? Did he dare to?

Su Ting had already calmed down and thought things through, but she was still a little embarrassed, and what she said just now was also the truth.

If he hadn't been exiled, she wouldn't have met a man like Niu Dazhuang.

"Xiaoting, come to my room to talk." Su Wan gave Suting a way out.

After leaving the Su family's house, Niu Dazhuang returned home, where Qin Ningru had also come home from get off work and started cooking dinner.

Usually, Xiao Dang eats dinner here, and then Niu Dazhuang takes the little girl over.

I'll also give Qin Huairu and Qin Yueru a good talking-to. I'll return around 10 PM. The next morning, Qin Huairu will bring Xiao Dang over again, and then the two of them will ride to work together on Niu Dazhuang's bicycle.

Back home, Xue Ru and Da Zhuang played with the children on the kang (a heated brick bed), while Qin Ningru and her husband cooked.

Xue Ru then told Niu Dazhuang about her fifth uncle's situation.

"Xueru, what do you mean?"

"That's why we told you, we were just unsure."

This afternoon I also heard that your monthly food rations for workers have been reduced, and since you're no longer driving long distances, I'm worried that if I bring people over, everyone will go hungry.

"Let me put it this way, your man is not only good at bedtime, but he's even better at making money."

However, now is not the time. Everyone is only half full. If we continue to blatantly support idlers in our family, won't that just invite trouble and get us written smear letters?

"How can you call them idle? None of the girls in our Qin family are lazy."