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

When Qinling entered the room, he saw that Niu Dazhuang was also there. Why bother going up to the kang? He immediately gave Niu Dazhuang, who was sitting cross-legged on the kang, a big hug.

"Big brother, I missed you so much!"

Niu Dazhuang was so suffocated that he could hardly breathe. He struggled to tilt his head and press his face against Qinling's chest so that he could breathe more easily.

"Hehe, youth is great, you're always full of passion! Xiaoling, hurry up and let go of Dazhuang, look how red his face is."

"Hehehe... I was so happy I forgot." After saying that, she happily gave Niu Dazhuang a kiss on the cheek.

"Holy crap! Is this still the reserved and shy Qinling I know?" Niu Dazhuang exclaimed. This girl's personality has changed quite a bit in just over half a year!

At this moment, Qin Ling took off his scarf, picked up the white porcelain wine pot used for warming wine, filled Niu Dazhuang's wine cup, and drank a cup himself first.

"Tsk... Ah!"

"Home is the best. If you're too reserved, you won't get any food. Being shy won't put food on the table." As she spoke, Qin Huairu added a bowl and chopsticks for Qin Ling.

"This weather is so cold, it's freezing! Big brother, why don't you come inside?" Qin Ling sat down next to Niu Dazhuang.

Niu Dazhuang looked her over carefully: "Much stronger, and darker too!"

"Of course it's dark! I work in the fields every day. Look at my hands, they're calloused from all the work. Now I truly understand how tough it is for ordinary people like us."

It was tough being a sent-down youth in the countryside, especially in Yanqing. Just think about those who went to northern Shaanxi... tsk tsk... Big brother, did you foresee this coming?

Qin Huairu, unaware of the details, asked, "What's going on? What has Dazhuang figured out this time?"

"Big Brother Dazhuang is amazing. When I wanted to go to high school and then college, he persuaded me to join my mom's song and dance troupe as a temporary worker... Later, I hid in Niujiazhuang."

Given my background, I'm definitely going to be sent to the countryside in northern Shaanxi, where I'm sure I'll suffer a lot! I know this in my heart; I'm going to experience life there, and I have hope for the future. I still feel that these six months will be tough.

Those educated youth who went to the countryside didn't know if they would ever be able to return to the city. With no hope left, some simply gave up, while others got married or started dating locally.

The three of them tacitly avoided mentioning Qinling's father. Now, Su Ting and Niu Dazhuang have been together for over ten years, spending far more time together than with Qinling's father.

"Xiaoling, what are your plans?"

"As for me, I'd better go back to Niujiazhuang and hide for a few more years. I'll take advantage of these few years when I have nothing to do and have a few babies!"

Now, Niu Dazhuang gets a headache just thinking about having children; there are just too many of them. He only cared about having fun for a short time back then.

Now that family planning is no longer in effect, aside from those who are infertile, what woman doesn't have two or three children?

Only Haitang, that simpleton, stopped having children after giving birth to a son, focusing all her attention on fighting.

Niu Dazhuang had spoken to Yu Haitang several times, and she had agreed in person, but she still did the same thing at work. Now that the child is older, Yu Haitang cares even less; she's practically become a professional class fighter!

Niu Dazhuang stopped caring. As long as she didn't cheat on him, he let her do whatever she wanted.

Qin Ling recounted his experiences over the past six months while eating.

"Big brother, please give me some money. Aunt Qin, please make me a new cotton-padded coat. I can't wear this one anymore; I bet the cotton is full of revolutionary bugs."

"Revolutionary bug? What revolutionary bug?" Qin Huairu had no idea what they were talking about.

"Lice? Aunt Qin, you didn't have any when you were at your parents' house!"

"I had it when I was a young girl, it was in my hair. But after I moved to the city, living conditions improved, and water became more readily available, so it gradually disappeared."

"Aunt Qin, what do you think of me getting a short haircut? Long hair is too easy to get lice."

Qin Huairu straightened her long braid: "Having lice isn't about the length of your hair. Look at my braid, it's even longer than yours! Wash it more often, and you won't get lice. Your brother Dazhuang likes this kind of long hair!"

"Ah! Big brother, really, how come I didn't know? I only knew that every time he was doing something, he would go on and on like a crazy braying donkey."

They had fought against the Japanese together, so they didn't need to hold back when saying anything.

After dinner, Qin Huairu and Qin Ling went to the kitchen and boiled a large pot of water. Qin Ling then washed himself thoroughly from head to toe.

Perhaps Qinling hadn't tasted meat for half a year; her slender waist swayed rhythmically and for a long time, her long hair flying wildly...

From a gentle house cat to a wild little cat tonight...

Seeing such a big change in her, Niu Dazhuang realized that he had achieved his goal. His comfortable life had come too easily, and he didn't know how to cherish it.

It's good to be young; you have a strong ability to recover and adapt. Even though I was up until midnight last night, Qinling still ate twice-cooked pork the next morning. Maybe it's because I've been cooped up for too long these past six months.

With Qinling Mountain, his beloved mountain, waiting for him at home, Niu Dazhuang had even less interest in going to work.

Before we knew it, it was the 28th of the twelfth lunar month. The company gave us a holiday, and the three of us rode bicycles, each with a large bag on the back.

Niujiazhuang was bustling with activity once again...

Time flies, like a wild donkey that once it starts running, you can't hold it back.

Before we knew it, it was summer of 1974. Cai Quanwu’s disappearance caused no ripples. Four years had passed, and people had almost forgotten about him.

Xu Huizhen and Chen Xueru returned to Beijing first.

He didn't dare go back to his original home first, but instead stayed at Qin Huairu's small courtyard.

"Why are you back? Does Dazhuang know?"

"Of course I know. We discussed it during the New Year. Didn't he tell you?" Chen Xueru retorted.

Qin Huairu sighed softly, "Alas! Dazhuang is not the same Dazhuang he used to be. He hasn't come to visit much since he came back from the New Year."

"He must be keeping another vixen on the side!"

"I know you can control it! The tragedy of women aging and losing their beauty!"

The three women sighed together, "Who says it isn't true? Okay, let's not talk about this upsetting thing anymore. Huai Ru, is it alright if we stay with you for a few days?"

"We're all old friends, what's the problem? Make yourself at home. Maybe Dazhuang will come back a few more times after you come."

"I don't really think about that anymore. Right now, I'm just thinking about how to get our house and business back."

Chen Xueru immediately pointed out: "Huizhen, Huairu isn't an outsider, why say such insincere things?"

If you don't want to, who would believe you? We're all at the age where we can sit on the ground and suck up dirt. Now we don't have to worry about the kids anymore. I think about them every day, but it's a pity I can't reach them!

"Hey, Huai Ru, who is that little vixen? Have you seen her?"