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

Although Bai Hongyan's father is a vice-ministerial level official, her family is large, with two older brothers and their extended families.

The extra money and food from my parents were all used to subsidize my two older brothers' families. As for myself, all that was left was for my mother to help take care of the children and do the physical labor.

Without the food and fruit Dazhuang sent, we wouldn't have gone hungry, but our standard of living certainly wouldn't be as high as it is now.

When Bai's mother was alive, she also noticed that every week, Bai Hongyan would bring back half a bag of rice, flour, fruit, vegetables, and sometimes cured meat on her bicycle.

It can be said that the eldest daughter's standard of living did not decrease at all due to the reduction in food rations.

Bai's mother also asked Bai Hongyan, but the woman simply replied, "Never mind." She didn't get any answers.

Niu Dazhuang returned to Yuan'en Temple and sat down to cool off for a while.

"Dazhuang, don't just sit there. The old man came over yesterday afternoon and asked you to go see him when you got back. It seems like something's wrong!"

"Oh, what a miserable life! I can't stay still for even a moment!"

"Serves you right for having so many romantic entanglements outside! Hurry up and go. Don't keep me waiting."

In this family, only Qin Xueru and Qin Yueru can talk to Niu Dazhuang like this.

Qin Yueru is outspoken and can say anything if you anger her!

Ningru poured Dazhuang a jar of cooled boiled water, which Dazhuang gulped down in one go. He wiped his mouth and then rode his bicycle to Daxing Hutong.

Since it was Sunday, Da Yong and the others were all there, but in the backyard.

Aunt Zhao wasn't there; she was busy earning subsidies.

The astonishing answer that Niu Dazhuang came up with mobilized the entire neighborhood, leading to door-to-door visits.

After seven or eight days of busy work, visiting all the streets under the jurisdiction of the street office, this is the last day.

Seeing Dazhuang push his bicycle in, Niu Youliang gestured to him, and the two of them went inside.

Grandpa Niu was never serious: "Did you do that?"

"No, I don't have that kind of ability." Niu Dazhuang denied it, partly because he didn't want the old man to worry, and partly because he couldn't explain how the two-hundred-pound gold nugget could just disappear on the spot.

"real?"

"Why would I lie to you?"

"At first I thought so, and I was worried you'd be caught red-handed. Your aunt and the others searched the whole of Kyoto, but they still didn't find a single clue."

Those gold nuggets were so big, dozens of them, and they just disappeared without a trace! You don't have that kind of ability!

"Then why were you in such a hurry to find me?"

"You brat, I was just worried about you! You don't know your own limitations when it comes to work. Behave yourself, or you've really angered those old money folks with plenty of cash. They've gone all out!"

"I know, I was busy with that for seven or eight days too, and I just had a day off."

"Yeah, I had Dayong and the others check out the black market last night. There were a lot more people loitering around!"

"I know, I won't sell anything I have for at least ten or eight years!"

"Better safe than sorry. You must remember this saying to the core!" With that, he took a stack of grain coupons from the drawer and tossed them to Niu Dazhuang.

"You have a large population over there, so take it!"

This is really kind of uncle. What kind of era is this? They still give out food coupons.

Although Niu Dazhuang had plenty of food, with enough grain stored in his space to feed dozens of people for three years, he still had to accept the old man's kindness.

After leaving the old man's room, I went to the backyard.

He added a few dozen yuan to the food coupons the old man had given him. He then gave them to Dazhi: "The old man and his family are reluctant to eat, so take these coupons and money and go buy some. Make sure you're full. If you run out of food while I'm not home, just ask your sister-in-law for more. Don't feel bad about it."

Also, your workplace has also stopped operating, so go for a walk around the streets and see if there are any houses for sale, but not large, crowded courtyards.

In two years, you'll both be of marriageable age, so we'll prepare a wedding house for you ahead of time.

The three brothers were incredibly moved.

After chatting for a while, Niu Dazhuang returned home for lunch. After lunch, he took a short nap.

I went to change shifts at 6 PM.

Life returned to normal, and even the sweltering heat couldn't dampen Niu Dazhuang's restless heart.

Sometimes, it wasn't that he had particularly strong desires, but rather that there were simply too many women. A whole round of this would take five or six days.

Early August, another Sunday. I spent half the night working at Ye Chunmei's place.

Ye Chunmei and Ye Chunlan greatly admired Niu Dazhuang's foresight. Now, in their hearts, Niu Dazhuang's image became even more imposing and powerful.

The next morning, after having twice-cooked pork, I rode my bicycle with satisfaction to the vicinity of Dongdan, behind the Ministry of Foreign Affairs compound, in a hutong (alleyway).

The courtyard gate was locked, but Niu Dazhuang skillfully retrieved the key from under a loose brick on the west side of the gate.

"Why have you become so diligent? Why did you go out so early?"

When Niu Dazhuang entered the house, he realized that something was wrong. The house was spotless, and the bedding on the kang (a heated brick bed) was neatly folded.

I went to check the kitchen again, and it was spotless, not like someone had cooked breakfast there.

"Did they go back to the tenement building?" He took out a cigarette from his pocket and looked at the grain in the earthenware jar.

The meat in the hanging basket is gone, and so are the eggs.

Full of suspicion, Niu Dazhuang was pacing around the house. A sweet voice came from the front door.

"Is this Comrade Niu Dazhuang?"

When Niu Dazhuang came out of the house and saw the girl standing at the gate, a name immediately came to his lips: "Xiao Tao Hong!"

"You've mistaken me for someone else. My name is Yu Beibei, not some Xiao Tao Hong. This is a letter Milan asked me to give you. I haven't read it, so please check it."

Niu Dazhuang took the leather envelope, opened it, and quickly glanced through it: "You and Milan are good friends?"

"I guess so. I've completed what Milan asked of me. I'm leaving!"

"Don't rush me. You've worked hard these past few days delivering my mail, haven't you? I have to show my appreciation! How about I buy you a soda?"

When Yu Beibei smiled, her eyes formed crescent shapes, which looked particularly festive. Based on Niu Dazhuang's understanding of women, this type of woman had deep-set eyes, large eyes, and when she smiled, her beautiful eyes could squint into crescent shapes.

Such women are usually small-mouthed but big-mouthed, and they are rare finds when it comes to men who are capable.

"I have made several trips these past few days, so it's reasonable for you to buy me a soda!"

"Judging from your tone, you're not too happy about being offered a soda?"

"Satisfied? Why wouldn't I be satisfied? You didn't even buy me a soda, but I still have to help you out. It's not like I'm doing this for you."

"Then how about you make another trip and buy the soda?" Niu Dazhuang said, taking out a dollar and handing it to her.