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

"Why don't you take a nap too? You'll feel less agitated once you're asleep," Yu Li said to Bai Hongmin, who was also lying on her side in bed.

"This is so noisy. Do you have a bamboo pole? I'll go get those damn cicadas down."

Yu Li saw through her thoughts: "I advise you not to go. If that really happens, think about how your parents will react. Wouldn't that be harming Dazhuang?"

Bai Hongyan's little secret was actually seen through by Yu Li. She neither denied nor admitted it, and she had her own little scheme in mind.

When she first met Niu Dazhuang, her older sister repeatedly warned her not to have anything to do with him.

If this thin veil isn't torn, this might be how things will be for the rest of my life. Having Yu Li say it to her older sister is one way to resolve this.

"My sister's family can accept it, so why can't they accept mine? Aren't you and Haitang the same?"

"It's because your sister is ahead of you that you have no chance at all. Do you have any real-life examples like this around you?"

As for Haitang, my parents don't have the power to kill Dazhuang, so even if they knew, there's nothing they can do. You're different, do I even need to explain?

Bai Hongmin remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, "Sigh! That's all we can do. Where's Haitang? I haven't seen her."

"You could go talk to Nishiya."

"This isn't like her at all. We're here, so we should tell her what happened."

"Go ask her!"

Bai Hongmin actually went to the west room to ask.

She and Yu Haitang are the same age, only one year apart. Since they met, they have had a lot in common.

When Yu Haitang saw Bai Hongmin arrive, she smiled awkwardly and said politely, "Please, have a seat."

Bai Hongmin sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) with her legs turned to the side: "You're not usually like this. Your cheeks are flushed; you must be on your period!"

"No, you can stay calm after hearing that kind of sound?"

"I just couldn't stay calm, that's why I came to chat with you. So what's wrong with you?"

"That bad guy took care of me last night."

Yu Haitang is a bit of a blabbermouth; she tells Bai Hongmin a lot about things between men and women.

"Is it really that exaggerated? I've only heard of exhausted cows..."

"Sigh! I used to think so too, but I was unlucky enough to run into a beast like him. He's not like that at all. I even suspect he's some kind of wild donkey spirit. Otherwise, Sister Yan'er would have been taught a lesson by him!"

"No, you were inside, didn't you hear what my sister said about him?"

"You're young now, aren't you? Wait until lunchtime and see how Sister Yan'er acts. It will completely change your mind."

"You mean they can make it until noon..." he said, making a gesture with his two thumbs.

"Just you wait and see, at lunchtime, if you don't call them, they won't even come out!"

"That's pretty fierce."

"Don't forget, that beast came last night and beat me up like this."

"Didn't you say you'd gotten used to it a long time ago? Why can't you do it now?"

"Have you seen the water pump in the yard?"

"So what if you saw it?"

"Why don't you try betting for half a day?"

"I understand, you were just too greedy."

"No, I was punished. Last night I was talking to my sister without thinking, and that beast said I didn't know how to respect people, so he used family discipline."

"Oh! Is this how people are punished?"

"Only this beast could come up with such a wicked idea. I reckon you'll be keeping yourself busy these next couple of days."

"Why am I involved again?"

"Think about it, there's still at least an hour until lunchtime, ah..."

"Hey! Since they're in a good mood, let me take care of the two kids!"

"You have the body of a young lady but the fate of a maid. Just accept it!"

"Why should I? You're all so happy, letting me watch the kids." Despite their good conversation, Bai Hongmin wasn't as slurred as Yu Haitang, who would blurt out anything.

She had only just revealed a little of her thoughts to Yu Li, because she wanted to use Yu Li's words to test Bai Hongyan's attitude.

"You don't have to watch the kids, but you can make lunch today."

Bai Hongmin looked at Yu Haitang

"I'm already in this state, you can't expect me to do it!"

"Hehe... I've never really seen what a woman looks like when she's been out too much of a woman. Come on, walk around a bit, and I'll see if you're just faking it!"

"You want to see me make a fool of myself? No way! You've wasted your time being my friend."

"I'm just curious!"

"Even curiosity isn't allowed. Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Ask away!"

"You've known that beast longer than I have, tell me about him!"

"Are you kidding me? You're practically his woman now, and you're asking me, an outsider. At the very least, ask your sister!"

"My sister is such a clueless person. All she knows is what he's like at work. She's never asked about anything else, and he's never brought it up himself."

"You still have the nerve to talk about your sister? I think you're not even as good as Sister Yu Li. At least she knows what Da Niu is like at work. What about you? You don't know anything. You just got slept with by someone without even knowing it."

"I trusted my sister wouldn't harm me, that's why... You don't know what happened back then. Never mind if you don't want to talk about it."

"I don't actually know much either..." Bai Hongmin told her about Niu Dazhuang as she saw him.

Yu Haitang was greatly disappointed. She actually wanted to find out from Bai Hongmin whether Niu Dazhuang had any other connections so that she could help him find a good job.

No woman is without a cunning mind.

The two chatted for a while longer. Bai Hongmin glanced at her watch; it was already past eleven. Seeing that Yu Haitang gasped for breath at the slightest movement, she didn't press her further.

She went to the east room to look after the three little ones and asked Yu Li to make lunch.

Just as Yu Haitang had said, the two of them wouldn't come out unless someone called them. It was Yu Li who had prepared lunch and called them from outside the window.

Niu Dazhuang came out wearing only a pair of shorts and shirtless. He first went to the simple bathroom between the main room and the side room, washed himself, and then carried a basin of water into the side room.

When Bai Hongyan reappeared, the way she looked at Niu Dazhuang was completely different; it was full of love.

After eating a few mouthfuls of rice, Bai Hongyan went back to her room to sleep.

In the north, there's a custom of taking a midday rest in the summer. It wasn't until after 3 p.m. that Niu Dazhuang rode his bicycle home.

Bai Hongyan's voice was hoarse when she spoke again.

"Sis, the contrast is too much! You came in all high and mighty, but you're all wilted now that you're out of the room. The way you're looking at that person is practically drooling!"

"You've got some nerve, daring to tease me now. So what if he's drooling? He's my man!"

"Aren't you ashamed! Your man is so incompetent! He sent over so much food and fruit, how are we going to take it all back?"

"You're just being lazy. I'll make another trip tonight; it's not appropriate to bring it during the day."