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

When Qin Huairu saw that her cousin had this idea, her heart, which had been clenched with worry, was finally at ease. Xueru wanted to find another woman for her man to share the burden, and Ningru was willing to accept that, so her cousin, as a temporary worker, would definitely be fine too.

Qin Huairu and Qin Xueru both lived before the liberation, and their attitudes toward marriage differed from those of women in later generations.

I've seen this kind of thing happen around me since I was a child. The Marriage Law, which was only promulgated in 1950, clearly stipulated the monogamous system, but there was no law against bigamy.

However, nowadays, cadres are all very upright, and none of them keep mistresses outside the home. Capitalists have also been educated and have all given up their concubines.

However, in rural areas, as long as both parties are willing, it is still quite common for a capable man to take care of a young widow's family.

"Shall I go back and give it a try?"

"If you can't talk to your fourth uncle directly, you can tell your fourth aunt about your situation first, and then ask Ningru's opinion. If all three of you agree, then it will be easier to talk to your fourth uncle," Qin Huairu suggested.

After thinking for a moment, Qin Xueru said, "I think we should wait a bit longer. Once Dazhuang goes to Beijing and becomes successful, I can then make an offer."

"We're overthinking it. Maybe you'll get used to it after a while."

"Sister, I thought the same thing a couple of days ago. It's like big feet wearing small shoes. You can walk in them, but it won't last long."

You heard him like that last night, it was just... ugh!

"Hehe, your analogy is a bit off; it's more like 'a big iron foot wearing small shoes.'"

"Yes, yes, that's exactly what I mean. I wish you wouldn't get married, sister."

"Don't even think about making a move on me. My relationship with your brother-in-law is great."

"I didn't say that, sis. Do you want to give it a try?"

"You little brat, you dared to set me up. Let's see how I deal with you." With that, Qin Huairu got onto the kang (a heated brick bed) and tickled Xueru's ticklish spot.

"Hehehe... Sis, I was wrong, now you don't want to anymore!"

Qin Xueru begged for mercy, and only then did Huairu stop. Lying on the kang (heated brick bed), she said, "If only things could be like this every day, without having to worry about food and clothing!"

"Doesn't your brother-in-law earn a good salary? Why are you worrying about food and clothing?"

"Well, we won't go hungry, but it's still impossible for your family to have white flour buns to eat every day like you do now. Also, living in a tenement building means the interpersonal relationships are too complicated, and you have to be careful every day."

"Then stay a few more days, we're not short of food for you anyway."

"Xueru, to be honest, I'm a little envious of your life now. You don't have to work in the fields, and Dazhuang does the housework very well. He's also very considerate."

"Well, as they say, every family has its own problems. My Dazhuang is great in every way, except..."

"Who can argue with that?"

Qin Huairu was also blinded by desire. She could hear the noise last night, so how could Qin Xueru, who was on the same heated bed, not hear it? Besides, Niu Dazhuang used much more force on Qin Huairu than he did on his own wife.

Young married women are much more powerful than new brides!

"Xue Ru, you rest. I'll go knead the dough and put it on the kang (heated brick bed) to steam white flour buns for lunch." Qin Huai Ru acted as if she were half the mistress of the house.

Men and women think alike; when they are satisfied in that area, their spirits are different, they feel comfortable, and they work with more energy.

Men who get married in this situation understand this best.

Seeing her cousin busily working and taking such good care of her, Qin Xueru became even more certain that bringing her younger sister over was a wise decision.

Who else is so sincerely looking after this family? It's a pity my cousin got married, otherwise she would have been the perfect match...

Qin Huairu kneaded the dough, placed it on the kang (heated brick bed), covered the basin with a quilt, and then lit two fires in the stove to prevent the kang from getting too cold.

"Xueru, are you alright? Staying indoors all the time must be stifling. Let me help you to the yard to see the snow."

The two sisters saw tall snowdrifts.

"This snow is quite heavy, sister. Just stay here and relax. The road back to Qinjiawa won't be passable for at least seven or eight days."

"That's all we can do."

The two sisters chatted and did chores, and time flew by without them noticing.

Grandpa Sun had climbed to the due south, but Niu Dazhuang still hadn't returned.

Before Qin Xueru could even panic, Qin Huairu was already worried: "Xueru, will Dazhuang be alright?"

"It's alright. With such heavy snow, he couldn't have made it into the deep mountains. He's probably just on a nearby mountain. The roads must be difficult to travel."

"Sister, there's still some mutton in the west wing. Go get some; we'll have mutton meatballs and radish soup for lunch. Heat it up for Dazhuang when he gets back."

"You really eat meat every day?"

Qin Xueru said in a low voice, "Last time the village organized a trip into the mountains, Dazhuang was more shrewd. He gave the village two wild goats and secretly kept two for himself. That should be enough for us to eat for a while."

"Ah, those two wild goats, with their hooves and heads, must have over a hundred pounds of mutton."

"Of course, so let's eat without worry," Qin Xueru said happily.

"You two live a more comfortable life than the workers in the city. Why would Dazhuang go to Beijing? He's not there just for a meal."

"Sigh, although we don't have to worry about eating meat, my family doesn't have much money, let alone ration coupons. I heard that we'll need coupons to buy something later, and Da Zhuang is really ambitious!"

Qin Huairu went to the west wing room and brought back a piece of mutton weighing about three jin (approximately 1.5 kg), and began chopping it into filling with a clanging sound.

After mincing the mutton, marinate it with peppercorn water. Then, grate the white radish into shreds, mince the radish as well, and mix it into the mutton mixture.

The mutton and radish meatball filling was ready. Qin Huairu lifted the quilt on the kang (heated brick bed), and the white dough had risen. She started steaming the buns.

After resting for half a day, Qin Xueru had almost recovered and also helped with the fire.

After the steamed buns were cooked, we started making mutton and radish meatball soup over the coal fire.

Eating something with soup on this day is the most comforting. The two sisters each ate two large white steamed buns and a big bowl of mutton and radish meatball soup.

The two sisters ate, their pretty little faces flushed. Qin Huairu also unbuttoned her collar.

"Xueru, if we eat like this every day, we'll all gain weight in a few days."

"Hehe, of course. My Dazhuang said that women look lucky if they're a little chubby. If they're as thin as sticks, they're obviously no good."

"You, all you ever talk about is your Dazhuang. Do you think the kind of fat men like is someone with a waist like a bucket, the same thickness from top to bottom?"

"There are different types of fatness, right?"

"Of course, this woman needs to be plump, like a gourd, not like a water jar, you understand?"

Qin Xueru glanced at Qin Huairu first, then looked down at herself: "I understand, that's exactly what we are, big butt, small waist, you can see your toes when you look down!"

"Hehe...you described it very well!"

"What are you saying, laughing so happily?" Niu Dazhuang said as he came into the house from the yard.

The two sisters worked together seamlessly. Qin Xueru helped sweep the snow off Niu Dazhuang, while Qin Huairu went to the outer room to heat up the food.

"You must be freezing!"

"It's alright. After we eat, we'll pluck the pheasants in the yard. The heavy snow just stopped today, so the wild animals can hold on. In a couple more days, when they can't find food, they'll be easier to catch."