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

Jia Dongxu quickly clasped his hands together and begged for mercy: "If you had said so earlier, I would have understood sooner."

"You didn't even ask me!"

"I...I wanted to ask, but every time before I can even open my mouth, you say you're sleepy and going to bed!"

Qin Huairu pinched his ear hard again: "Do you understand now?"

"Ouch...ouch, I understand. Honey, let go!"

"Hmph! I'll let you off this time. We'll have a proper talk when we get home."

Jia Dongxu said with a worried look, "Oh, I'll have to bring this up again when I get home. Can this matter ever be put behind me?"

"Hmph! No way. Let's go, don't keep them waiting too long."

"Hey, get in the car, I'll give you a ride."

"Why are you pushing this vehicle? You're all sweaty. If you let the cold wind blow on you, you'll get sick."

"Hehe, my wife really knows how to take care of me!"

"So, will you still doubt me from now on?"

"No, my wife is the best, how could she possibly cheat on me?"

"As the head of the household, you need to be more discerning in the future. There are plenty of gossipy people in our compound, always stirring up trouble. If you hear anything like that again, use your brain." Qin Huairu began to lecture her, exasperated by her lack of self-control.

"I know, I won't listen to anything they say anymore. Let's just live our lives peacefully!"

Seeing how obedient he was, Qin Huairu felt a pang of guilt. She thought to herself, "I'll make it up to them tonight. Maybe I should just cut ties with them from now on..."

The two quickened their pace and caught up with Niu Dazhuang, who was waiting for them at the corner.

"Oh my! Third brother-in-law, you can't stand missing him after just one night apart," Qin Xueru teased.

"Hehe, Eighth Sister, it's not that I don't trust your Third Sister. I didn't go back with her last year for Chinese New Year. Now that I have time, I'm going back to see your Third Sister's parents."

"Your half-son is quite filial. Why isn't he going again?"

Jia Dongxu was speechless for a moment.

"You silly girl, why are you talking so much? Hurry up and leave." Qin Huairu gave Jia Dongxu a way out.

"Hehe... Third sister, look at your husband, he's all red-faced from asking me questions. You two have such a good relationship."

Well, Jia Dongxu's brain was already completely controlled by Qin Huairu, and now with the equally clever Qin Xueru added to the mix, Jia Dongxu is doomed. He's completely under the thumb of the two sisters.

Qin Huairu boarded the donkey cart and set off again, with Jia Dongxu and Niu Dazhuang following behind, pushing their bicycles.

Walking, those with four legs are faster than those with two legs. In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the two groups were already twenty or thirty meters apart.

"I heard you've found a job. Which company?"

"Kyoto Transportation Company. I won't be officially hired for another three months. My house caught fire for the first time tonight, so come over and let's have a good time."

"You'll have to ask Huai Ru about this. At home, I'm just responsible for going to work and earning money. I have neither financial power nor human rights."

"Third brother-in-law, I'm not criticizing you, but look at you, you can't even make a decision on something this simple!"

"Hehe, don't laugh at me. We'll see. Let's see if you can handle your wife. Didn't you see her mouth just now? She talked and laughed and shut me down! I think you're in for a tough time."

Actually, this is quite good; it saves us a lot of trouble.

"You're still enjoying it!"

"What's wrong with listening to your wife? It's not shameful."

If you don't listen to her during the day, she won't listen to you at night. If a woman doesn't listen to you at night, you're in for a world of trouble.

"Haha... Third brother-in-law, you're quite the character!"

"Don't laugh, this is advice from someone who's been there. During the Lunar New Year, Huai Ru went back to her parents' home early, and when she came back, she was angry. She hasn't cooperated at all lately, acting like she's mute. What's the point of that!"

Jia Dongxu got more and more excited as he spoke.

"Before this, your brother-in-law was quite well-known in the compound." As he spoke, he freed one hand and pinched his thumb, index finger, and middle finger together.

Niu Dazhuang also cooperated with him "seven times?"

Jia Dongxu nodded proudly: "And you?"

"I can't go on, it's not even over yet, and it's already dawn!"

"Holy crap! Holy crap! You're just bragging, why don't you just fly to the moon?"

"Haha... Third brother-in-law, you're amazing! I concede defeat!"

Jia Dongxu was being modest again: "It's not that I'm so great, it's just that my wife is beautiful. You've been living in this compound for a while now, look around, which woman in this area is as beautiful as my wife?"

"If anyone else had married such a beautiful wife, they would definitely be even more amazing than me."

"Third sister is quite good-looking!"

"Yeah, your wife is good too. Haven't you noticed how much she and her sister look alike? But you have to take it easy. I was pretty strong back then, but even that didn't work in the long run. My back was always aching. Eventually, my mom couldn't stand it anymore and moved me to the outer room."

"What's wrong with you today?" Niu Dazhuang began trying to get information out of you.

"Hey, it's all my mother's fault, she's always so suspicious. I'm easily swayed. I didn't sleep much all night, and as soon as it was light, I borrowed a rickshaw and rode over."

"The aunt suspects my third sister of cheating? That doesn't make sense; the aunt is always at home watching over her!"

"Sigh, don't even mention it. That's why I say she's paranoid. It's embarrassing to talk about it."

After walking for a while, Jia Dongxu's sweat dried, and the two rode their bicycles to catch up with the donkey cart.

Arrived outside Changping County

"Let's go, it's my treat. Let's have a meal first, then continue our journey," Niu Dazhuang offered.

Niu Dazhuang's efforts with Chen Xueru were not in vain; the price he got for exchanging the large yellow croaker was a full 100 yuan more than the bank's, where a single large yellow croaker would only fetch 1300 yuan.

Chen Xueru gave 1400. Considering that the average wage these days is only thirty or forty yuan, 1400 is a lot of money.

At noon, the five of us each had a bowl of noodles with soybean paste. A bowl of noodles with soybean paste only cost 17 cents. Although we weren't full, the hot noodles were enough to fill our stomachs.

Before leaving, Niu Dazhuang bought five large steamed buns and gave them to Niu Deshui: "You'll definitely be back late, so eat them on the way."

The donkey cart was slower than the bicycle, and they didn't get home until three or four in the afternoon. Niu Dazhuang and the others carried things, while Niu Deshui was busy feeding the donkey and giving it water.

Since he was already there, Niu Deshui had to get acquainted with the place, so he didn't stay long before hurrying back.

The three little ones went out and hadn't returned yet. Not only did Qin Huairu come over to help, but she also pulled Jia Dongxu over to help as well.

First, they lit the kang (a heated brick bed), then the stove. Niu Dazhuang and Jia Dongxu each took a broom and started sweeping from the inner room, especially the walls, cleaning up all the dust. After cleaning the inner room, the two of them went to the yard to smoke.

The two sisters then made their appearance.

Qin Huairu used a large copper ladle to make paste. She took newspapers from her workplace, including those from Niu and Liang. They started on the kang (a heated brick bed). Qin Huairu spread the paste on the newspapers, and Qin Xueru pasted them on.

Everything was cleaned up inside and out, and it was already dark.

"Third sister, you're very strict with your family. Even my brother-in-law didn't dare to make the decision to have dinner with me tonight, and he had to ask you for permission." Niu Dazhuang was starting to tease people.