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

Now, hearing a familiar voice calling her, she turned her head to look for it, and lo and behold, Milan, like a blooming balsam, was sobbing haphazardly in the spring breeze.

Niu Dazhuang quickly greeted his colleagues who were patrolling the street with him and walked over.

Niu Dazhuang walked up to her, and Milan pouted, muttering, "They say men don't cherish what they get easily, you heartless man."

Niu Dazhuang awkwardly tossed his hair: "Sorry, I've been too busy lately. Did you finish the food I left at your place? That shouldn't be the case!"

"Hmph! I'm never going to be friends with them again. They're so disloyal. When I have food, I let them eat with me, but now that I'm hungry, I ask them for some, and they all say they don't have any."

Niu Dazhuang looked around and saw that all the small restaurants were closed.

"Here are ten jin of meal tickets and five yuan. Go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy some ingredients you know how to cook. I'll go there after I get off work."

At that time, it was truly a case of having money but no ration coupons. Officially, the money couldn't be spent; every month, there were only a few food coupons available.

The black market is surprisingly prosperous, and the government is now turning a blind eye to it.

After getting off work that evening, Niu Dazhuang called home and then went to find Milan.

Once inside the tenement building, the usual lively scenes of cooking in the hallways were gone, as were the loud conversations; it was unusually quiet.

Upon entering the room, I saw Milan lying on his back, staring at the ceiling.

"What are you looking at? Is dinner ready?"

"Hey! Dazhuang, can you help me find a place? I don't want to stay here anymore."

"What's wrong?"

"When I came back, I bought two pounds of noodles. I had just started cooking when the kids in the building saw me, and I couldn't bear to..."

After saying that, she suddenly sat up and asked pitifully, "You won't blame me, will you?"

"Then you can go hungry!"

"Can I pay off my debt with my own flesh?"

"You were originally mine, how can I repay you? You're dreaming. You enjoyed yourself and now you're paying off your debt."

"Ugh!" she said, wrapping her arms around Niu Dazhuang's neck. She whispered in his ear, "Check me, have I gotten too thin from starvation?"

"You're such a charming little vixen, let me examine you..."

"Hehe...you tickled me..."

the next morning

"Is your school on holiday too?"

"That's right, there are plenty of teachers who have collapsed from hunger on the podium, how can they teach? This is perfect, they can just wait until July to get their graduation certificates."

"My man, please help me find a place to live. I feel so uncomfortable here."

"You're free, right? Go look for one, and I'll rent it once you find a suitable one."

"Um, I have something to tell you, but don't you dare yell at me!"

"What stupid thing have you done now?"

"You're the one who's clueless! I was starving, so I went to that little detached house you took me to last time. I really didn't know your wife was there. So..."

"Did you two have a fight?"

"There was no argument, but that straw-like guy was pretty fierce; he wouldn't even let us in at first." Milan didn't have a good impression of Haitang, so she gave her a nickname.

"You mean Yu Haitang, right?"

"I don't know her name, but she has really long legs and is quite fierce. The lady in the inner room is much easier to talk to. You won't be mad at me, will you?"

"What were you all talking about?" Niu Dazhuang asked curiously.

Milan then recounted what had happened.

Niu Dazhuang smiled slightly. "It's alright, it's good that you didn't quarrel. Next time you meet, you can openly admit that she's my woman."

"Oh, is your sister-in-law so magnanimous?"

"Your sister-in-law is more magnanimous than you think, but the one you met yesterday is just like you. Not only is she like you, but the 'straw' you're talking about is too."

Milan's mouth gaped open: "Ah! So they're like me, huh? Humph, just wait till next time I get my hands on her. Your taste is terrible too, dragging just any woman into bed!" Quite the vengeful one.

Upon hearing this, Niu Dazhuang slapped her big buttocks and said seriously, "Milan, I'm telling you this solemnly today, I don't want to hear such uncooperative words a second time."

If you two don't like each other, you don't have to see each other anymore. Don't speak ill of her in front of me, and I won't change my attitude towards her because of your attitude.

The slap stunned Milan, and then, hearing Niu Dazhuang's serious words...

Her pretty little face immediately turned unhappy. She pouted and turned her body away.

With so many women, how can things get going without some discipline? Otherwise, chaos will ensue. If this trend isn't stopped, everyone else will act like her, and there will be no point in meeting again.

Niu Dazhuang didn't try to comfort her. He got dressed on his own and, before leaving, said, "Go find a suitable place to live!"

Hearing Niu Dazhuang close the door, Milan sat up abruptly, muttering to herself, "Hmph, he's got guts, but he's too much of a womanizer. He openly admits to having affairs; is he hoping I'll learn from them? Or…?"

I sat on the bed and thought for a while, but I couldn't figure it out. I scratched my head and decided to stop thinking about it. I figured I might as well let him sleep since he was already asleep.

After washing up and eating something, I rode my bicycle to look for a place to live.

As for Chen Xueru, ever since she was threatened by Liao Yucheng that day, she no longer dared to live in her own home and moved to Xu Huizhen's house with her child and Zhang Ma.

"That heartless man! It's been over ten days, and he hasn't even come to see us!" Chen Xueru complained.

"He must be too busy to find the time. Haven't you heard? The streets aren't very safe these days." Xu Huizhen didn't join in the complaining, but instead changed the subject to the issue of public security.

"We've only had a few days of peace, and now disaster has struck again!"

"I also heard a rumor that people without Kyoto residency will be sent back to their place of origin. I don't know if it's true or not."

"It's probably true. Even if these people without Kyoto residency can buy supplies at high prices on the black market, it's still a burden!"

"Sister, can I talk to you about something?" Xu Huizhen said earnestly.

"What's wrong? Why are you so serious? Speak up!"

"Do you know that guy, Pian, who often comes to my place for drinks?"

"I remember, what's wrong?"

"He wants to sell his ancestral home, a two-courtyard house, and take the money to Northeast China. He asked me to help him find a buyer."

"Where is it located, and how much is it priced?" Chen Xueru perked up at this question.

"Near Dashilan, he's asking for a lot. There should be room for negotiation." Xu Huizhen said, opening her palm.

"Fifty thousand! He's really asking for that much. What, do you want it?"

"We don't know what the future holds. I'm thinking of buying it together, like we are today, so we can live together and take care of each other."