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

Just as the four were enjoying their drinks, Su Chengyan returned, his head steaming and his face flushed.

He pushed open the door and saw a man sitting there, a stranger who vaguely resembled him. Just as Su Chengyan was lost in thought...

Su Wan spoke up: "How could you forget your own father?"

Su Chengyan was a little embarrassed and scratched the back of his head: "I've almost forgotten it." As he spoke, he picked up the water ladle on the water tank behind the door, scooped up half a ladle of cold water, and gulped it down.

"No manners! Now that you've remembered, why aren't you calling for help?"

"Dad's sitting right there, he can't run away. You can have a drink of water before calling him." After saying that, he wiped his mouth with his sleeve and called out to Niu Dazhuang "Dad" in a serious and respectful manner.

"Haha...good son, want to try some?" It was Niu Dazhuang, the father, who was the one who didn't have any upright conduct.

Su Chengyan shook his head: "No, it's too spicy!" After saying that, he ran to the kitchen and brought back a set of bowls and chopsticks.

"Xiao Yan, are you still eating? Didn't you already eat four big steamed buns and a bowl of vegetables?" Qin Ling was worried he was overeating.

"Sis, seeing how much you're eating makes me hungry too!" There's no need to be polite at home.

She ate a few bites of each of the three dishes, then put down her chopsticks and said, "You guys eat, I'm going to bed."

They don't need adults to take care of them anymore; they wash their own face and feet, and fall asleep within five minutes of getting into bed.

I spent half the afternoon hanging out here, and I'm going to find Xu Huizhen and Chen Xueru tonight...

Xu Jingli is already thirteen or fourteen years old. In Niu Dazhuang's opinion, she is even more beautiful than her mother!

Niu Dazhuang cursed himself inwardly, wondering if he had been too beastly. But then he thought, Qin Ling and Su Ting are no different, so having Xu Jingli as well wouldn't make a difference.

You have to be wary of this stepson, Hou Kuidian. In the original drama, the two of them ended up together.

The two of them weren't particularly interested in the gold bracelet, but they found the little gold bell quite amusing...

On the third day, Niu Dazhuang didn't go to anyone's house. He had important business to attend to. He picked up a donkey cart from the production team, ostensibly to buy things in the county town.

In reality, they brought back the meat, oil, rice, and noodles they bought in Hong Kong Island.

The old house was halfway up the mountain. When the donkey cart arrived at the foot of the mountain, Niu Dazhuang didn't even need to ask for help. Everyone who saw it volunteered to help carry things up the mountain.

Niu Dazhuang was also very helpful; whenever someone helped out, he would slip them a box of Daqianmen cigarettes before they left.

The old house had many people, so five carts were fully loaded. Down the mountain, there were four families with fewer people, so donkey carts could reach their doorsteps.

One family parked a car first.

Niu Dazhuang, living in Niu Dazhuang Village, would bring food home during the day, not caring if the villagers came to borrow his grain.

After a busy day, we finally managed to fill all the kitchens.

The rest of the time was spent relaxing and having fun.

On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, a heavy snow fell, leaving the production team with nothing to do, as Niujiazhuang didn't have much land to begin with.

At Niu Dachuan's urging, Niu Dazhuang set up a card table at Ye Chunmei's house at the village entrance, claiming that he could play cards while also standing guard.

In Pai Gow, Niu Dazhuang is always the dealer, sometimes winning a few dollars, sometimes losing tens of dollars...

Everyone was happy.

Before we knew it, it was 1969.

Qinling expressed her desire to go out for a walk. She was the only teacher in the whole village, and the higher-ups had promised to send another teacher, but who knew when they would arrive?

Under the persuasion of many parents, led by Qin Xueru, Qin Ling had no choice but to agree to wait until the teacher arrived.

When they left, Bai Hongmin was naturally with them. Qin Huairu also brought Xiao Dang back with her this time, and the school resumed normal classes.

The road back to Sijiucheng from Niujiazhuang was mostly downhill, so by noon we had already arrived at the courtyard where Qin Huairu was staying.

This time, Bai Hongmin didn't bother Niu Dazhuang anymore and happily went home by herself.

Niu Dazhuang was still a little unaccustomed to it. He was still staring blankly at her departing figure.

"What's wrong? You can't bear to part with it?" Qin Huairu asked.

"No, something's strange!"

"What's so strange about that? Her period didn't come at the beginning of the month, and she was so happy she almost jumped for joy. She kept saying that Niujiazhuang was her lucky place. She said she wanted to have a child in Hong Kong Island but couldn't get pregnant for more than half a year. After going to Niujiazhuang, she got pregnant in less than a month."

That's pretty weird, isn't it?! You were the one who wreaked havoc on me in Niujiazhuang back then. So, Niujiazhuang must be my lucky place!

You're really something! By the time you went back, I bet everyone except me was pregnant. Were you deliberately trying to prevent me from having children?

"Hehe, yeah, they're all pregnant, who's going to keep them company? They're all back in their hometowns, just sitting around doing nothing. It wouldn't be bad to have a few more kids while everyone's not busy."

That evening, Qin Huairu enjoyed a private show... The scene was absolutely insane.

On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, work resumed as normal. The latest personnel appointments were posted in the most conspicuous place at the main entrance of the company.

Liu Dagen was transferred to the logistics department and given a sinecure position, where he could simply wait until he reached retirement age.

Niu Dazhuang was appointed as the head of the security section. Ma Yongsheng, the former squad leader of the first squad, was also promoted to deputy section chief.

The position of class monitor for Class One became vacant, waiting for Niu Dazhuang to appoint one.

Three years have passed in the blink of an eye since I last came to the office. Two new people have joined the security department, but the majority are still veterans.

Those ten brothers who were in the same class as Niu Dazhuang back then, especially those who were in the same class with Niu Dazhuang, led by Niangen, crowded into Niu Dazhuang's office that very morning.

"We've known each other for years, so let's not stand on ceremony. Get lost and go do whatever you need to do. Stay until the end of the year." After being scolded by Niu Dazhuang, they all grinned and left happily.

Niu Dazhuang tossed him a Daqianmen cigarette, which Niangen caught with both hands. He quickly pulled out a match from his pocket and lit it for Niu Dazhuang first...

"We heard before the New Year that a new leader was coming to our security department, but we never would have guessed it would be you!"

"I didn't expect this either. We'll just have to follow whatever arrangements are made from above. So, what's the current situation in our security department?"

"Nominally, we listen to the general manager, but Director Wang of the Revolutionary Committee often assigns us tasks... Ma Yongsheng is in cahoots with him..."

"Director Wang? What's his character like?"

"It's alright. After we brought down Chen Jingshan a couple of years ago, who knew Bai Hongyan would steal the credit?"

Later they became much more disciplined, and when large meetings were held, they were mostly just going through the motions.

"How many factions are there within our security department?"

"Well... it's hard to say there are different factions. When Director Wang asks us to do something, we all go. You wouldn't say we're all wholeheartedly support him, but Class One, led by Ma Yongsheng, is the closest to Director Wang. Among Class Three, Class Two is the least popular."

Who is the class monitor of Class 3 now?

"Liu Changhong! That's the one with the skinny eye!"

"Oh, I remember him. Go find him after work tonight and sound him out..." Niu Dazhuang may not know much else, but he makes many friends and few enemies, striking at opposing factions and winning over centrists.