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

Ye Chunmei said resentfully, "Are you in such a hurry? I still have things to tell you!"

She then pressed on, asking, "Don't you want to know what happened between that man and Sister-in-law Chen Xia?"

"Even if something like that happened, it's normal. After all, we're all human!" Niu Dazhuang said nonchalantly.

"Hey! This doesn't sound like something you'd say, Niu Dazhuang. Two years ago you even..."

Niu Dazhuang interrupted her, saying, "You were ignorant before, and you were a bit like a dog chasing a mouse!"

Ye Chunmei said with amusement, "What's wrong? Are you sad, or are you upset because you didn't get to eat meat?"

Niu Dazhuang said sternly, "Sister-in-law Chen Xia, although her husband is missing and we don't know if he's alive or dead, she's never been out of the house, so she's still a member of the Niu family. How can we let outsiders bully her!"

Ye Chunmei didn't understand.

Niu Dazhuang continued, "Now that I'm married, I know what it's like. As long as Sister-in-law Chen Xia is willing, why should I stop her? This is the new China, and marriage is a matter of freedom!"

"Wow! Looks like Qin Xueru's got some skills. She's made you, you blockhead, so insightful in just one night!"

Niu Dazhuang didn't argue, thinking to himself, "That's all thanks to Xue Ru; she's had a soul swap!"

In the early days of the People's Republic of China, this was indeed the case in rural areas. If a widow wanted to remarry, the clan elders had to give their approval; otherwise, no one would dare to marry her.

This is a disadvantage, but it also has advantages. Widows have limited labor capacity, so the clan provides them with some care in terms of daily life.

"Hey! Dazhuang, I have something important to tell you."

"Um."

My second sister wrote to me saying she's found me a job, and I can start working as soon as I get there. Should I go or not?

Niu Dazhuang's first reaction was that it was a lie. He frowned and said, "Your second sister? I've never heard you mention her before. Is she my biological second sister? How come she's so capable that she can find you a job?"

"Of course it's my second sister! Fine, I'll tell you everything. I used to think it was shameful for my second sister to be someone's concubine, so I never told you."

It's not that she's capable, it's that the man she's with is capable. My second sister broke up with that man's wife and moved out. As for the specifics...

I'm not entirely sure, but my second sister is starting to work now, and she found me a job too, so I'll have company!

What are your thoughts?

Ye Chunmei glanced at Niu Dazhuang with her big, dark eyes and said resentfully, "I have no hope staying in the village. I want to go!"

"Then go ahead, why are you discussing it with me!"

Ye Chunmei glared at him fiercely: "That's why I say you're a fool, humph! Fine, I'll go. I'll go to the brigade tomorrow to get the certificate!"

Niu Dazhuang thought to himself, "The original owner was a fool, but I'm not. However, now is not the time to eat you. Let's wait a bit..."

Niu Dazhuang had no choice but to continue playing dumb: "Oh, your second sister is in Beijing? What kind of job did she find you?"

"Hmph! Now you know to ask? Fine, I won't tell you."

"Fine, if you don't want to talk about it, then don't. Since you're already going to Beijing, you don't need me to bring anything back. I'm off. My wife's waiting for me at home!"

"Go away, go away, hurry up and go! Seeing you is all I need to do to everyone else!"

Niu Dazhuang had just stepped out of the house and hadn't even left the yard when Ye Chunmei, in a fit of pique, blew out the kerosene lamp.

Niu Dazhuang shook his head helplessly and quickly left.

This is so exhausting! I haven't had a moment to rest since last night. I'm probably the most miserable transmigrator ever.

Once home, he closed the courtyard gate and the house door. Qin Xueru had already prepared the water for washing his feet.

"Didn't I tell you not to wait for me? I can do it myself!"

"You've been working hard all day, isn't it your duty to wash your man's feet?" she said, helping Niu Dazhuang take off his shoes and white cloth socks.

Niu Dazhuang sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), enjoying a rare moment of happiness.

He thought to himself, "This era is so much better! If this were in later generations, I'd only be dreaming if I wanted to marry such a beautiful wife. A wife washing my feet? I wouldn't even dare to dream of it."

"Xueru, are you alright now?"

"What?" Qin Xueru asked warily. This bridal chamber wasn't what her sister-in-law had described, and she felt pain...

"Hehe, nothing much, just washing my feet and going to bed. I have to get up early tomorrow."

After washing his feet and getting into bed, Niu Dazhuang tried to crawl into Qin Xueru's bed again, but Qin Xueru firmly refused.

"My dear man, I'm begging you, please wait until after our homecoming, okay? Otherwise, I won't be able to go back to my parents' home the day after tomorrow."

Seeing her determination, Niu Dazhuang didn't insist any further. It was a good opportunity to familiarize himself with his own consciousness space.

It's been a busy day, and all I know is that God has given me some space, but I haven't had a chance to really enjoy it yet.

A wisp of thought was separated and entered the space of consciousness.

(ノ⊙ω⊙)ノ Wow, it's not small at all. It's as big as a football field and over 100 meters high. It should be a cube with a length, width, and height of 100 meters each.

It's just a bare cube, completely empty inside.

Niu Dazhuang was very disappointed. What about the spiritual spring that could change his constitution? What about the space that could be used for farming? All he got was a big empty shell, which was useless. It had no other functions.

Why is it that the version I got was a downgraded one?! Damn it!

He couldn't help but curse out loud. Qin Xueru, who was lying next to him, heard it and thought that Niu Dazhuang was angry.

He whispered, "Dazhuang, could you be a little gentler? Go...go a little slower!"

Niu Dazhuang stretched out his arm, realizing he had frightened her earlier. He patted her back and comforted her, "I wasn't scolding you, you were just half asleep."

"Oh, how come you fell asleep so quickly? You were just talking a moment ago."

"Of course you fall asleep quickly! You're always busy all day, so you'll fall asleep fast too!"

"Oh, then you should go to sleep. I slept too much during the day, so I'm not very sleepy."

"Hmm." After saying that, Niu Dazhuang fell silent and slept until dawn.

Qin Xueru woke up at the third crow of the rooster and quickly prepared breakfast, including two pancakes and a pot of hot water.

Wolfskin gloves, wolfskin knee pads, sheepskin coat, and dog-faced hat were all prepared.

Working at home is manageable, but when driving to the capital, I need to make sure I'm warm.

"Dazhuang, we can buy everything we need in the county town, why bother making the whole trip to Beijing?" Qin Xueru asked, puzzled.

"Normally, I wouldn't go to Beijing, but it's almost the end of the year, so I have to go see my uncle. Get those two wild pheasants hanging in the west wing for me."

"Oh, be careful on your way."

"Don't worry, I know the way well!"

We went to the team's livestock shed, harnessed the donkey cart, and set off.

The heavy snow blocked the mountain pass, not because of the heavy snowfall, but because the roads were difficult to travel, especially the mountain roads. Unlike later generations, which had paved roads, these were all dirt roads. These dirt roads could only be passed by horse-drawn carriages and donkey carts. It was difficult for a horse-drawn carriage to pass another one.

Along the way, Niu Dazhuang wasn't idle either. No matter how dissatisfied he was with the space, it was still his own. He'd test out its functions first.