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

Niu Dazhuang finally realized what was happening and cursed inwardly, "Damn it, I'm practically becoming Fan Wei's apprentice. I get tricked every single day, and it's always the same."

She stopped calling me Zhen'er: "Cousin, isn't this inappropriate? The neighbors might think I'm a man. My family just got married."

"Ugh, aren't you my man? We slept together last night, and you kept me up all day."

"No, cousin, I drank too much last night, it's all your fault..." He was only halfway through his sentence when Xu Huizhen covered his mouth with her delicate hand.

"No matter what, you slept with me, you can't deny that, can you?"

"I..." Niu Dazhuang's cultivation was still incomplete.

"I admit it, but Huizhen, I have more than one woman outside of my life. Can you accept that?"

"Oh, I see!" Upon hearing this, Xu Huizhen stopped snuggling in his arms and sat up straight.

Then he started pouring himself a drink again. He even secretly glanced at Niu Dazhuang's facial expression.

Seeing that she was silent, Niu Dazhuang continued, "You might not necessarily enjoy a good life if you follow me. I think Cai Quanwu is quite good. He's honest and not domineering. If you follow him, you'll be the one calling the shots at home."

"Are you even a man? Pushing your woman away! Cai Quanwu is nothing but a spineless coward who wouldn't utter a word."

Dazhuang, to be honest, before you came, that's what I thought too, but it was a last resort. I swear to you, I absolutely didn't let him touch a single hair on my head.

Niu Dazhuang steeled his resolve and said, "You can come with me, but I'll be upfront: I can't give you any official status, and I can't be with you every night. Can you accept that?"

"Oh, I see! Let me think about it." Xu Huizhen hesitated.

"No rush, that's all for tonight. I have to go back now." With that, Niu Dazhuang got off the kang (a heated brick bed), put on his shoes, and left briskly.

Back home, Niu Dazhuang thought about what he had done these past few days. He had been spending all his time with women and hadn't done anything productive. This couldn't go on.

And there are three burdens too.

Since making money through legitimate means was slow, Niu Dazhuang started thinking of crooked methods.

The next day, after breakfast, Niu Dazhuang was too lazy to go out. He took a nap and didn't come out of the house until after 10 o'clock. He stood at the door and stretched.

The backyard was relatively quiet, but the middle courtyard was much more lively. I strolled over to the middle courtyard, and sure enough, he was the only young and strong man there.

The women who stayed at home were also busy, either pasting paper boxes or twisting hemp rope. Now even Jia Zhangshi has started making shoe soles.

They kept talking as they worked.

"Aunt Jia, why hasn't Huai Ru gone out for two days? Is she sick?"

"No, she's busy at home making clothes for her brother-in-law. We have a sewing machine at home, you know. I asked Huai Ru to make a dress for her brother-in-law, so she's been working overtime to finish it. If any of you need anything, you can ask Huai Ru."

"Oh, is that so? When did you become so generous, Old Jia? Is it free?" Aunt Qi knew exactly who Jia Zhangshi was.

"The old man in the front yard gets peanuts and melon seeds for writing couplets for the New Year. How can you let us work for nothing!"

Hearing them chat, Niu Dazhuang didn't want to stay in the yard for even a moment longer, so he walked straight out.

"Hey, Dazhuang, didn't you go out?" Niu Dazhuang was stopped by someone.

Niu Dazhuang looked at the person who called him, completely bewildered.

Madam Jia did something worthwhile: "Dazhuang, she's from the Qi family in the west courtyard. Just call her Aunt Qi. You can wander around the courtyard whenever you want. You've been here for so many days, and you still don't recognize everyone. That won't do."

Niu Dazhuang nodded and called out to Aunt Qi.

Aunt Qi didn't stand on ceremony either, "Aunt Jia is right. A close neighbor is better than a distant relative. We'll all be living in the same compound from now on. Everyone has their moments of need, and it's easier to get things done once you know each other."

"Aunt Qi is right."

Are you alright now?

"It's nothing, I'm just going out for a stroll."

"Perfect timing, I'm out of cardboard boxes to glue. Could you take the glued boxes to the cardboard factory for me, and also bring back some raw materials?" Aunt Qi was really not polite at all.

Niu Dazhuang was very unhappy. It was his own fault for being so talkative and saying it was nothing.

"Okay, how can I take it with me?"

"Wait a minute, I'll go to the alley entrance to borrow a cart." With that, Aunt Qi hurried out the door.

"That shameless old woman is bullying you, the newcomer. Don't help her with chores anymore; there are plenty of men in her family." Madam Jia couldn't stand it anymore.

Niu Dazhuang pretended to be generous and said, "Anyway, I have nothing to do. Aunt Jia, is there anything you need? I'll take care of it for you."

Madam Jia became wary again. "My family doesn't employ people for free."

The Dongcheng District Paper Box Factory is not too far from Nanluoguxiang; it takes about twenty minutes by tricycle to get there.

Aunt Qi skillfully opened the door and called over the inspector. They were old acquaintances, and after a general inspection, the quality was approved.

"Take it to the warehouse and have Sun count it."

"Let's go to the warehouse." Aunt Qi led the way, with Niu Dazhuang following behind on a handcart.

Sun, a man of short stature and in his forties, was about half a head taller than Niu Dazhuang when they stood together.

Although this statistician, Sun, didn't talk much, Niu Dazhuang felt awkward listening to him and casually asked, "Statistician Sun, are you from the South?"

"This comrade looks unfamiliar?" Sun asked warily.

Aunt Qi quickly said, "Niu Youliang's nephew from our compound has only been in Beijing for a few days."

"Comrade Sun, I was just asking casually, is there any need to be so nervous?" Niu Dazhuang said nonchalantly.

"Am I nervous? Aunt Qi, why are you giving out receipts to just anyone at our unit? The count is done, take the receipts and go settle your bill." After saying this, the statistician, Sun, tore off a statistics sheet, handed it to Aunt Qi, and left without looking back.

Aunt Qi awkwardly took the statistics sheet and went to the accounting office to get the money.

Once she received the money, Aunt Qi forgot all about the unpleasantness from earlier and happily got on the cart, saying, "Let's go."

Niu Dazhuang, pedaling his cart, turned around and asked, "Has this statistician, Sun, always had this attitude?"

"No, Dazhuang, don't take it to heart. Maybe something unpleasant happened at Comrade Sun's house today. Thank you for today!"

Niu Dazhuang felt something was off as he pondered it. He searched through the original owner's memories and confirmed that this was the first time he had met Comrade Sun.

Once home, Niu Dazhuang seemed to have guessed something.

"What a coincidence!" I got back just in time to make lunch. I was about to lie down and rest for a while after lunch when Qin Huairu came in with a beaming smile.

"Get up, try it on, and see if there's anything that's not right. I'll fix it for you."

"So fast?"

"I'm fine, so hurry up."

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The Pisces boss's update reminder. Bonus chapter!