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

The second brother quickly explained

"I know, I was just joking. Da Chuan, you should hurry up and get married while the times are still young, or maybe you should marry a young widow. It'll save you trouble!"

"Hehe, that's what I think too. Young widows are so charming, much better than virgins."

Niu Dazhuang was surprised that Da Chuan actually had such a thought: "Are you serious?"

"Dazhuang, here's what happened. When we came back, didn't you tell us to divide the remaining food coupons and money between us?"

We bought some grain on the black market and on our way back, we happened to run into a young widow in Liujiahe..."

Da Chuan not only didn't feel embarrassed, but was also very proud: "She promised me that if I gave her ten catties of cornmeal before winter this year, she would bring her child and come live with me."

"You got on her bed."

"He'd love to keep them hanging on like this, and all the money he had left would go to cover his losses!" Erhe felt sorry for Dachuan!

"Hey buddy, let me give you some advice. If what she said is true, and you give her family ten pounds of cornmeal before winter, and they come to live with you and their kids, then treat them well."

If you take my corn noodles and then keep making excuses and delaying, then forget about it; we'll find somewhere else.

"I understand. If you dare to mess with me, humph!" As he spoke, Da Chuan's eyes flashed with a fierce light.

Niu Dazhuang didn't say much. He was quite satisfied with Da Chuan's reaction. What kind of man would he be without courage?

Having explained everything important, chatting with them was nothing compared to holding Sister-in-law Chen Xia in his arms. After seeing the two off, Niu Dazhuang hummed a little tune as he headed to the village entrance.

When Niu Dazhuang pushed open the door, he saw Chen Xia holding the stove to heat up his food.

This scene is both funny and heartbreaking.

He quickened his pace and patted Chen Xia's big butt: "Didn't I tell you before I left that you'd cook when I got back?"

"It's nothing, it's just that some things are getting a bit tedious, and I'm hungry too."

Niu Dazhuang didn't waste any more words with her. He supported her back with one hand and lifted her legs with the other, carrying her back to the kang (a heated brick bed).

Chen Xia looked at Niu Dazhuang with her two watery eyes, deeply moved: "Dazhuang, being able to sleep with you for two nights, even if I died now, I would feel that my life was worthwhile!"

Niu Dazhuang patted her again: "What are you thinking about? I should be the one saying that. Live well, you still need to give birth to a son in the future."

"You...you really want me to have your child?"

People in later generations may not understand the thoughts of women in this era, nor can they understand the importance of a son to a family in this era.

What feudal ethics and traditions, like "of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no offspring"? These are too abstract for ordinary people like us.

Having a son means the family has someone to work, they won't be bullied, and at least they won't starve in their old age. Everyone's counting on their son for old age. That's the most realistic thought.

Da Zhuang leaned down and kissed her cheek: "Of course it's true. When have I ever lied to you?"

"Then...then let's do it again tonight." Chen Xia bit her lower lip, having made a great decision.

"Forget it, there's a long road ahead. The door's almost closed, how can we come back then!"

"Well... who told you to be so hard to handle? I was about to collapse, but you were perfectly fine. I'm just curious, how does Qin Xueru usually live? Doesn't she just stay cooped up on the kang (heated brick bed) all day?"

"Hehehe... If the quality isn't good enough, quantity will make up for it. Haven't you heard how many girls from the Qin family have married into the city in the last two years?"

"Judging from your tone, could it be...?"

"That's right! They're all at my house!"

After thinking for a moment, Chen Xia said, "I've cut off all contact with my family these past few years. It's not that I wanted to, but they were afraid that I, a widow, would bring them trouble!"

Niu Dazhuang was taken aback. They were having a good chat, so how did the conversation suddenly turn to her parents' home?

"What are you trying to say?"

"I also have younger sisters on my mother's side, no fewer than those in the Qin family. It's just that I can't guarantee their humanity."

"You're overthinking it. I didn't mean it that way. With you back home, that's enough for me. Take good care of yourself. I'm going to check on the pot!"

I ate some leftover pork belly from last night for lunch, and then took a nap for over an hour. In the afternoon, Niu Dazhuang went into the mountains.

It's not that I didn't want to stay at home, it's just that seeing such a voluptuous beauty but not being able to have her makes me feel uneasy. So I simply went into the mountains.

Niu Dazhuang wasn't hunting, but rather gathering firewood, which was scarce before gas cylinders became widespread.

Although smokeless coal is used year-round in the city, firewood is still indispensable when cooking large pots.

With a large family, even something as simple as steaming cornbread or steamed buns could only be done in a small pot on a coal stove, and only a few could be steamed at a time.

The big iron pot in the yard is still the best.

That evening, Niu Dazhuang invited Erhe and Dachuan to have a couple of drinks. Before the commune members finished work, Niu Dazhuang returned carrying a load of firewood and two wild rabbits in his hand.

Chen Xia tidied herself up neatly. Niu Dazhuang looked at her; although her clothes were clean, they still had patches.

"My bad, I forgot about it." He said, pulling out a few supplementary tickets and ten yuan from his pocket.

"I don't want it. I'm not with you for your money! I'm doing just fine, no worse off than anyone else."

"Take it if you want it. How can my woman wear patched clothes!" Niu Dazhuang said domineeringly.

"I had clothes without patches during the Lunar New Year, you've seen them before."

"If you don't want it, then you're not on my side!"

"I don't want to be a burden to you."

"You only spend a few dollars a year, so take it if it's given to you. Don't spend it; save it for your son!"

"That's true, I need to save for our future son!"

It's true that women have unlimited potential. After resting for most of the day, she was almost fully recovered. Although she was still a little unsteady on her feet, at least she didn't need to hold onto the wall anymore.

Chen Xia took the money and cloth coupons, and put them away inside the house.

"Take a break, have a smoke, I'll do it!" Chen Xia was also quite skilled at skinning rabbits. She was efficient and quick at her work.

In the time it takes to smoke a pipe, a rabbit was skinned, and Niu Dazhuang didn't touch it again. But he wasn't idle either; he sawed the firewood he had brought back into roughly equal lengths and stacked it under the eaves.

"Da Chuan and Er He are coming over for drinks tonight, let's stew both rabbits!"

"Yeah, drink less tonight. Alcohol is bad for your health!"

While chatting, the two kept their hands busy with their own tasks.

Da Chuan hadn't finished work yet when he came over. He was carrying a small bundle of peanuts and soybeans.

"Sister-in-law, add some salt and boil it; it'll make a great snack to go with drinks!"

"Slacking off again? You're a grown man, and you earn the same number of work points as me. I'd like to see which girl would dare to date you!"

"Hehe, sister-in-law, I'm not looking for a young maiden, I'm looking for a young widow. By the way, isn't Liujiahe your maternal home?"

"You know that?"