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

Sha Zhu acted like a big brother.

Xu Damao, on the other hand, spoke in a fawning tone: "Brother Niu, I've asked Uncle Niu several times already, and every time I ask, he says you're not home."

"You've been here for days and haven't even shown up to the brothers. This Sunday, we're chipping in to treat you to a welcome-back feast."

Yan Jiecheng was displeased. "Xu Damao, you suggested it, so you should treat us yourself. We brothers can also benefit from it."

Liu Guangqi chimed in, "Uncle Niu is a leader at your steel rolling mill, not one of ours."

Sha Zhu wasn't really stupid: "Hey! Xu Damao, you're underestimating my cooking skills. With a chef like me, why bother going out to treat everyone to dinner? That's just embarrassing me. Here's what we'll do: you buy some offal on Sunday, I'll provide the drinks, and we'll have a good time at my place, brothers!"

Yan Jiecheng and Liu Guangqi were naturally happy to agree, and quickly chimed in, "Yes, it's settled then, I'll provide the firewood." Yan Jiecheng quickly picked one that didn't cost him any money.

"Just eating meat won't do. My old man's apprentice sent some Northeastern black fungus that we haven't eaten yet. I'll also grab a cabbage." Liu Guangqi couldn't just eat for free, so he made up two dishes.

Xu Damao cursed inwardly, "What a damn bastard, he's got me all wrapped up in a nut." He forced a smile through gritted teeth and said, "Fine, but we can't possibly eat a whole pig's offal. How about this, I'll buy half a pig's head, a pig's stomach, and the liver. Pig lungs aren't very tasty..."

Pig's trotters aren't very oily, but I have a big rooster at home, I'll bring that over to make a dish, that should be enough! Sha Zhu, we've all spent a lot, don't try to fool us with cheap liquor!

"Hehe, buddy, I'm just doing this job. Two bottles of Erguotou should be enough, right?"

Niu Dazhuang looked at the four people with a smile. From this incident, one could see the personalities of each of them.

Yan Jiecheng, not content with his gains, said, "Shazhu, you're so stingy! Five people, and each person didn't even get half a jin (250ml) of liquor. You need at least three bottles, right, Guangqi?"

"Actually, well, I can't drink that much either. We're just having a good time together, celebrating the expansion of our young team." Liu Guangqi, like his second uncle, liked to speak in official jargon. But he was more articulate than his second uncle.

"Three bottles it is. Yan Jiecheng, if you can't finish them, I'll force you to drink them until you're dead!"

"Hehe, with so many people, how could we not finish drinking? Besides, Brother Da Mao can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk!"

Xu Damao, flattered by Yan Jiecheng, became arrogant and proudly said with his chin raised, "That's right, I can easily drink a jin (500ml) of liquor. What do you call drinking? Last winter, my father and I went to Niulanshan Commune to watch a movie, and the deputy director of the distillery personally accompanied us. What did you guys do then?"

Yan Jiecheng quickly chimed in, "What happened? Brother Da Mao, tell us quickly!"

"Five people at the table drank a whole jar of Erguotou, and it was even aged liquor," Xu Damao said proudly.

"That jar must weigh at least ten pounds!" Yan Jiecheng said to the grout.

Speaking of drinking, Niu Dazhuang thought of last night and said to himself, "Don't be fooled by how much fun you guys are having. When it comes to drinking, none of us can beat Xu Huizhen."

After showing off, Xu Damao put an arm around Niu Dazhuang's neck: "Brother Niu, you don't have any objections to this arrangement, right?"

"Thank you all so much. Everyone has put in so much effort, I can't be stingy. I still have a few pieces of cured pork that I gave to my uncle last year, I'll contribute one of them to add to everyone's meal!"

"That's great! During the New Year, I could smell Grandpa Niu's stir-fried cured pork and cabbage. It made my mouth water." When it comes to talking and acting, Xu Damao is the best.

Sha Zhu has a hard time even finding a wife, while Xu Damao married Lou Xiao'e, the daughter of Lou Bancheng.

Later, he slept with Qin Jingru, and more importantly, while sleeping with Qin Jingru, he also managed to win over Yu Haitang, a woman who was as erratic as the wind.

It's easy to imagine how eloquent Xu Damao is, and how clever and resourceful he is. With one move, he postponed Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu's marriage for ten years, allowing them to live a life of luxury for most of their lives.

Then look at He Yuzhu, he's thirty and still hasn't found a wife. He still acts like he's some kind of big shot.

Niu Dazhuang wouldn't pity him, but there's one thing: Qin Huairu is now practically a woman to him, so even if she becomes a widow in the future, she's not someone He Yuzhu can worry about.

"Brother Niu, aren't you planning to work at the steel rolling mill?" Xu Damao asked.

"What use am I? When it comes to work, I still have to rely on my uncle!"

"Brother Niu, let me correct you on one point. In our city, we call the city management officers 'Grandpa,' so we should respect local customs!" Yan Jiecheng reminded him.

"Yes, yes, it feels awkward when I hear you call me 'Uncle'," He Yuzhu chimed in.

"Uncle, grandpa, everyone knows what happened, that's all that matters. Grandpa Niu is the deputy section chief of our factory, arranging a job for Brother Niu is a piece of cake." Xu Damao tried to smooth things over.

After agreeing to drink together on Sunday, the conversation naturally turned to women. All four of us were young people with high hormone levels, and none of us were married yet, so the most frequent topic of conversation was definitely women.

"Brother Niu, I heard that people in your rural area get married early. Are you married yet?" Liu Guangqi also called out to Brother Niu.

"In my hometown, people don't get married late. I only got married last winter. My wife is Qin Huairu's cousin."

"Hehe, Brother Niu, you're really lucky with the ladies. Sister-in-law Dongxu is a famous beauty in our area, and your wife is her cousin, so she must be very pretty too," Xu Damao said slyly.

"It's just so-so."

Yan Jiecheng whispered, "Brother Niu, let me remind you again, even though you're Dongxu's sister-in-law's brother-in-law, don't chat with her idly when you're not busy. Jia Dongxu is fine, but..."

The key is Aunt Jia, she's a real shrew. She saw us talking to Sister-in-law Dongxu and her face fell so much.” Yan Jiecheng gestured with his hand as he spoke.

"Yeah, yeah, it's like he's trying to seduce her daughter-in-law," Liu Guangqi added.

"So you went to eavesdrop on her house at night?" Niu Dazhuang asked.

"Hmph! The more that old shrew guards against us, the less we should let her have her way," Sha Zhu said viciously.

"The daughter-in-law of the Tong family at the alley entrance is not bad either. They are not like that family. They are very generous," Liu Guangqi added.

"Guangqi, you're talking about Tong Fu'an's wife, right? She just got married last winter, and I even went to help out. She's quite pretty, but she lacks a bit of the spirit that Dongxu's wife had!"

Xu Damao said bluntly, "Silly Zhu, just say it directly, she's not as voluptuous as Qin Huairu!"

"Xu Damao, you talk too much. Tell me, who's better looking?" He Yuzhu asked, staring with wide eyes.

"I said they all look good, and if you let me sleep with them for free, I'd sleep with them all!"

"Why don't you just die of happiness? Get lost! You have no principles at all, Yan Jiecheng, what do you say?" He Yuzhu asked again.