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

I wasn't really tired, but I was covered in the smell of sheep manure.

Niu Dazhuang returned to his small courtyard and was about to wash up with cold water when Qin Xueru came out carrying a thermos.

"It's so cold, use warm water! Two bowls of rice and stewed cabbage. I'm feeling better now, I can go to work tomorrow." Qin Xueru said as she swept the dust off Niu Dazhuang's cotton-padded coat with a small broom.

"No rush, let's talk about it tomorrow morning. Oh, by the way, I think I heard you say that your cousin bought the fabric for your big floral cotton-padded jacket?"

"Yeah, what's wrong? It doesn't look good!" Qin Xueru said, turning around in the same spot once more.

"No, my wife has a great figure, she looks good in anything. What kind of person did your cousin marry in Beijing?"

"She must be a worker. My cousin is really lucky. At least she doesn't have to do farm work from dawn till dusk anymore!"

Oh, by the way, you might even see my cousin during the Chinese New Year! Every year after the New Year, she goes back to her parents' home to stay in Chengzi!

"Don't envy her, I guarantee you're doing just as well as she is!"

"You're just bragging! I know you're capable, but you can't do the work of two people. I earn seven or eight work points every day!"

"No need, you can just cook for me at home every day, I can support the family!" Niu Dazhuang said with great enthusiasm.

Niu Dazhuang's boundless enthusiasm wasn't just boasting; although God didn't provide a sign-in system, He did provide a space.

With this space available at any time, there are many things to do. The more stormy the weather, the more expensive the fish. There's still a market now, and if I remember correctly, it won't be closed until the end of 1957.

With his personal space, Niu Dazhuang could easily resell supplies.

Although Qin Xueru knew he was bragging, she still felt warm inside and said with a bright smile, "Okay! Then I'll eat at home! Hurry up and wash up and eat. Oh!"

If I wasn't careful, it hurt again, so I quickly grabbed Niu Dazhuang's strong shoulder.

"What's wrong?" Niu Dazhuang asked quickly with concern.

Qin Xueru rolled her eyes at him, annoyed, and said coquettishly, "It's all your fault! Help me inside."

Niu Dazhuang scooped up his wife and carried her into the house.

Qin Xueru's pretty face turned as red as a bright red apple. She buried her head in her man's chest. "Ugh, it's so embarrassing if outsiders see us!"

"Hehe! I'm at home, hugging my own wife, why would I be afraid of others finding out!"

"Distorted logic!"

As they were talking, Niu Dazhuang had already put Qin Xueru on the heated kang bed in the inner room.

"Sit down, let's put the dining table on the kang (heated brick bed) to eat." Dazhuang felt the kang was a bit hard last night.

Looking at the kang (heated brick bed), it was only covered with a reed mat; how could it not be hard?

Uncover the large pot in the outer room. A ceramic pot containing two portions of cooked rice and millet, along with a large bowl of cabbage and potatoes, are placed on the sorghum stalks that form the steamer rack of the large pot.

Niu Dazhuang is very satisfied with his life now, but he is very dissatisfied with the food, the things he uses, and his living conditions.

If we want to eat meat this year, we'll have to wait until the Lunar New Year when the team slaughters pigs and sheep and distributes the meat. How can we accept that!

People these days eat a lot, but there's not much oil in the food, so how can they not eat a lot? But I can't worry about that now. After working all day, I'm starving.

After finishing his meal, he habitually reached into his pocket for cigarettes, only to find nothing. The original owner of this body did not smoke.

Quickly clear the table

"Just leave it in the outer room. Go and rest for a while. I'll tidy up after you leave!"

"No need, it's just a small matter!"

Having eaten and drunk his fill, Niu Dazhuang's wicked thoughts began to surface again. He rested his head on his wife's lap and asked cheekily, "Can you cooperate a little more?"

Qin Xueru feigned ignorance and asked shyly, "Cooperate with what?"

At this point, Niu Dazhuang's hands started to wander...

Qin Xueru quickly slapped away Niu Dazhuang's outstretched hand, saying coquettishly, "You're so annoying! I'm feeling a bit better now, I can't keep up with your crazy antics. You should take a nap, you still have work this afternoon!"

There was nothing he could do; his wife wouldn't cooperate, so Niu Dazhuang just dozed off. He didn't know how much time had passed when he heard the bell ring for work.

In the afternoon, I continued working on the unfinished tasks. Winter days are short; it gets dark as soon as the sun sets.

Just then, the team leader came over: "Old Zhang, give the donkey some extra black beans tonight." Turning to Niu Dazhuang, he said, "Tomorrow, you drive the cart to Beijing. The New Year is almost here; buy some New Year's goods for the commune members, and visit your uncle on the way."

I'm seeing the weather forecast, it looks like it's holding back a lot of snow. We don't want to wait until the snow closes the mountains and we won't be able to get out! Tonight, if you're free, go door-to-door and do a survey. That's all for now!

"My dear sisters-in-law, please tell me now, so I don't have to make another trip tonight!"

Ye Chunmei pursed her lips, about to say something, when Chen Xia spoke first: "We haven't decided yet, so would you mind making the trip tonight, brother?"

"Oh well!"

Chen Xia added, "Go and take stock of their household information first; I need to think about it carefully."

"Yes, yes, sister-in-law is right, then I'm even less anxious!" Ye Chunmei quickly agreed.

Niu Dazhuang is no longer the Niu Dazhuang of the past; how could he not see their intentions? He was practically ready to open his arms and welcome them.

But Niu Dazhuang had his own considerations. The village was small, and any slight disturbance would spread throughout the entire village in less than a day.

Besides, why would someone let you sleep with them for nothing? They must have something to gain.

In the past, Niu Dazhuang was a one-man family, with his uncle in Beijing helping out. Even considering Qinjiawa, Niu Dazhuang's family was considered well-off. He wasn't bad-looking and was quite strong.

Otherwise, Qin Xueru's father wouldn't have taken the initiative to spread the news that he had taken a liking to Niu Dazhuang.

Niu Dazhuang thought to himself, "Don't worry, I'll feed you all sooner or later!" For now, he could only pretend to be stupid.

He scratched the back of his head, feigning ignorance, and said, "Alright then! I'll visit both of your houses last! Old Zhang, what about yours?"

"I need to go home and discuss this with my husband."

"Alright then, everyone go back."

Evenings were even simpler. Qin Xueru steamed a pot of cornbread made from a mixture of wheat and water, and each person had a bowl of cornmeal porridge and a plate of pickled radish shreds.

After finishing her meal, Qin Xueru quickly cleaned up the dishes, not wanting to light the red candles from last night.

The kerosene lamp was lit.

Niu Dazhuang lay half-reclined on the bedding, his hands behind his head: "Xueru, I'm going to go door-to-door to tally up what we bought for the New Year. Do you think our family still needs to buy anything?"

"I don't need anything, just that we're going back to my parents' home the day after tomorrow, what do you think..." Qin Xueru was asking for her man's opinion.

"Do you want something that looks good on the surface, or something that's practical?"

"Of course, it has to be both good-looking and affordable."

"That's impossible; you can only choose one."

"Then let's go for something affordable!"

"Okay, when you go back to your parents' home, bring half a sack of millet!"

"If you send the grain to my parents' home, what will we eat? This won't do."