Courtyard House: I, the eldest son of the Jia family, have returned from the battlefield.

She picked up the bottle and poured more wine into Jia Dongming's glass: "Brother Dongming, don't mind him, I'll keep drinking with you."

Seeing that Xu Damao had passed out drunk again, Jia Dongming thought of getting up to say goodbye.

Before she could even speak, Lou Xiao'e had already poured the wine.

At this moment, Jia Dongming had drunk quite a bit and did not notice the cold look in Lou Xiao'e's eyes when she looked at Xu Damao.

He hesitated for a moment, then advised, "Lou Xiao'e, Da Mao is already like this, how about... we drink again next time?"

Lou Xiao'e didn't reply, but simply picked up her cup and held it up to Jia Dongming: "Brother Dongming, this cup is for you."

Thank you for waking me up last night, which finally made me certain—I am not the "hen that can't lay eggs" that Xu Damao described.

She raised her glass forward and said decisively, "I'll drink this first as a sign of respect."

After saying that, he drank it all in one gulp and then promptly refilled his own glass.

When she spoke again, her voice was choked with emotion: "Brother Dongming, you don't know... In the past two years, because I haven't been able to get pregnant, it's one thing for people in the hospital to make fun of me, but even the way Xu Damao and his parents look at me is like they're looking at me with thorns."

"I used to think that not being able to have children was a woman's problem, so I put up with their attitudes."

Even if I find out that Xu Damao is messing around outside, I'll just pretend I don't know...

Lou Xiao'e drank the remaining wine in her glass in one gulp, then lightly tapped the bottom of the glass on the table, making a crisp sound.

"The doctors at Peking Union Medical College Hospital said that my body is the type most likely to have many children."

Her voice was calm, as if she were stating someone else's story, "The one who can't have children is Xu Damao."

She reached for the white porcelain wine bottle again, but as soon as her fingers touched the cool bottle, another hand gently pressed them down.

Jia Dongming took the bottle but didn't pour her any water. He just looked at her and asked, "Now that you know, what are your plans for the future?"

Lou Xiao'e paused, her gaze drifting unfocused to the dim lamplight. "Plans?"

She smiled slightly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "It's still the same, just getting by with him day after day."

That was a common night in the 1970s, when it was so quiet outside the window that you could hear the wind howling through the alley.

Jia Dongming was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I suggest Da Mao go see a doctor. Maybe... there's still a way."

Lou Xiao'e suddenly turned her face.

The alcohol flushed her cheeks, but her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.

"Brother Dongming,"

She called to him, her voice soft, "Tell me, am I considered fairly good-looking?"

Jia Dongming was speechless for a moment, hastily nodding, then immediately shaking his head. "You're drunk."

He stood up, but she grabbed his sleeve. "I'll help Damao to rest. You all should go to bed early too."

Before he could finish speaking, a pair of warm arms had already wrapped around his neck.

Her breath, carrying the scent of wine, brushed against his ear. "He's the only son in the Xu family… If the line truly ends, I will be a sinner to the Xu family."

Her voice lowered even further, almost a whisper, "The doctor said I'm very likely to get pregnant... Dongming, please help me, grant me this wish, okay?"

Jia Dongming froze, the words of refusal on the tip of his tongue were silenced by her suddenly close lips.

Warm and moist, with a resolute tremor, it burned into his mind like a fire that caught him off guard.

He stood there, stunned, letting the tingling sensation spread from his lips and teeth, instantly seizing his entire mind.

After an unknown amount of time, Lou Xiao'e leaned quietly against his chest, her breathing gradually becoming even and long.

With her eyes closed, a cold sneer surged in her heart: Xu Damao, Xu Damao, you're useless yourself, yet you lied to me that all men in the world are like this.

You deserve to be childless.

Jia Dongming's palm stroked her smooth, satin-like back, her body pressed against him so softly that there wasn't a single gap between them.

The night was quiet, the confusion from before subsided, and my thoughts became clear.

He lowered his eyes, looking at the trembling eyelashes of the person in his arms.

"Xiao'e,"

He spoke, his voice a little hoarse, "You had a falling out with Da Mao yesterday, and now that you've found out the truth, you should stay at your parents' house for a few more days."

But not only did you come back, you also brought deer blood wine and asked Da Mao to treat me to dinner.

He paused. "This whole thing tonight was something you planned all along, wasn't it?"

Lou Xiao'e opened her eyes, her gaze revealing not a trace of shame or anger at being exposed, but rather a calm and serene light.

"yes,"

She answered decisively, "I want to get revenge on him, and I also want to have a child."

But I will never hold you back—after tonight, I will not pester you for a title.

Jia Dongming looked at her and suddenly smiled.

He was not one to be indecisive, and besides, given the circumstances, the moonlight, and the warm, soft beauty in his arms, any further contemplation would seem superfluous.

He rolled over and pinned her beneath him, chuckling softly, "Even with a fertile constitution, you might not conceive on the first try."

If I'm going to help you, I should at least do it properly.

Late at night.

The old iron bed made a regular, muffled sound, mixed with intermittent breathing, floating in the cramped room.

It wasn't until late at night that the wooden door quietly slid open a crack.

Jia Dongming stood by the door, his gaze sweeping across the sleeping courtyard like a night hawk.

He turned around, put his arm around Lou Xiao'e's shoulder, and gently kissed her slightly swollen lips.

"E'zi,"

He whispered in her ear, "I live in a secluded courtyard, where it's quiet."

If you ever miss me, come quietly at night.

No matter how much noise you make, it won't get into this courtyard.

Lou Xiao'e leaned against the door frame, watching his figure disappear into the thick night, and gently pressed her lower abdomen with her hand.

As the wind blew by, she suddenly remembered a saying she had heard somewhere: a woman's soul must pass through a deep and secluded path before it can be truly opened.

As dawn broke, the warmth of last night still lingered on Lou Xiao'e's pillow.

The outline of that man's eyebrows and eyes, the strength of his shoulders and arms, and even the burning shiver when their skin touched, still resonated faintly in her veins.

She gathered her slightly damp hair at her temples, her fingertips trembling slightly as they brushed against the side of her neck.

"Brother Dongming."

With her eyes lowered, her voice as soft as a breeze brushing against a gauze curtain, she said, "From now on... if Xu Damao goes to the countryside, I will come quietly."

Jia Dongming nodded, his gaze lingering on her lowered eyelashes for a moment. "Okay, I'll head back now."

You should get some rest too.

The moon gate swallowed his silhouette.

Lou Xiao'e stood on the steps, the night breeze rustling through the crabapple trees in the courtyard.

She raised her hand to her chest, her heart pounding beneath her palm, yet the corners of her lips involuntarily curved into a smile—what is right or wrong in this world? It's just a matter of whether we met a moment too early or a minute too late.

When the morning bell rang seven times, Jia Dongming was still fast asleep.

Last night's entanglement had exhausted him, and this sleep was more sound than any night since he transmigrated.

Until a "ding" sounded deep within my mind.

A clear chime woke him: "Daily check-in is ready, confirm?"

He lifted his heavy eyelids, his mind not yet fully awake, but his thoughts had already responded: "Sign."

"Ding!"

"Check-in complete."

The recipient received a "Loyal Eyes" ornament, three pairs of young livestock—one pig, one cow, and one sheep—as well as ten dollars in cash.

Should I load the pupil technique?

Jia Dongming's mind cleared up.

A few days ago, when he noticed something unusual at the steel rolling mill, he considered using the security department, but gave up because he was new to the place and people's hearts were unpredictable. In the end, he sought outside help.

Yesterday, Zhang Huizi's identity was revealed. He originally wanted to rely on the police again, but then he thought that since it was a matter within the factory, he should have someone he could trust.

Just when I was wondering how to choose, this "Eye of Loyal Insight" came to mind.

They arrived at just the right time.

"Loading".

A thought suddenly occurred to him.

A warm current suddenly surged into his eyes, followed by a flood of information overwhelming his consciousness: This eye could discern the depth of others' affection for him; only when the affection exceeded fifty could his loyalty be seen.

When a woman reaches fifty, her heart begins to flutter; at seventy, she can be a companion; at eighty, she can be intimate; and if she is over ninety, he will value her more than his own life.

As for those under fifty, they are merely casual acquaintances; those under thirty are like strangers; and if they fall into negative numbers, they become enemies.

"Ding!"

"Pupil technique loading complete."

Should we release young livestock?

We just got good breeds yesterday, and today we have live animals—we won't have to worry about meat anymore.

Jia Dongming immediately agreed: "I'll throw it."

"Ding!"

"The young animals have been placed in the small world."

Piglets mature in fifteen days, lambs in twelve days, and calves in twenty days.

After confirming that all the livestock had been settled, Jia Dongming grabbed the clothes draped over the headboard and was about to get up when he suddenly felt a soreness in his waist.

He paused, the events of the previous night suddenly flooding back into his mind, and couldn't help but chuckle: "The old saying is really true... the land can be plowed without getting damaged, but the ox will be worn out."

He shook his head and muttered to himself, "Could it be that the gene serum forgot to nourish the kidneys?"

I dressed neatly and stepped out the door; the morning mist had not yet dissipated.

Looking up, I saw Qin Huairu carrying an aluminum lunchbox, about to walk out of the courtyard. She was probably going to the hospital to deliver breakfast.

With a slight thought, Jia Dongming activated his newly acquired pupil technique, his gaze falling upon her—

Qin Huairu, female, 29 years old, with a favorability score of 78.

When that thing called "The Eye of Loyalty"

His strange ability quietly activated, and the words silently appeared in Jia Dongming's mind.

"Good morning, Uncle!"

Qin Huairu, who was carrying breakfast and preparing to go to the hospital, ran into Jia Dongming coming out of the house in the courtyard and quickly greeted him with a smile.

Upon seeing the figure of 78, a hint of surprise flashed through Jia Dongming's mind.

His expression remained gentle as he casually asked, "Huairu, how's your father feeling these past few days?"

Qin Huairu's eyes lit up, her tone filled with gratitude: "Thanks to the supplements you bought for me last time, the doctor said my father is recovering very well and will be discharged the day after tomorrow."

Jia Dongming nodded, his tone kind and gentle: "That's good."

If there are any other difficulties at home, please don't hesitate to ask.

In the past, the Jia family was run by Jia Zhangshi. When Qin Huairu's family members occasionally came to visit, they rarely offered any help or even a kind word. They were often driven out with cold words.

This time, Qin's father fell seriously ill at night and went to the city penniless, so he could only come to find his daughter.

Even if Qin Huairu were short of money, given Jia Zhangshi's temperament, she would never be willing to give it to her in-laws, let alone allow her to bring meals from home to the hospital every day.

For this reason, Qin Huairu felt not only gratitude towards this uncle who suddenly offered help, but also a certain inexplicable dependence on him.

"Uncle, I've got it."

She responded softly, her eyes slightly moist.

After having breakfast, Jia Dongming hopped on his old bicycle, dropped Bang Geng off at school, and then headed towards the steel mill.

Good morning, Section Chief!

The two security guards standing guard at the factory gate saw him and immediately stood up straight and saluted.

Jia Dongming's gaze swept across the area, his eyes of loyalty working silently.

Xue Zhijun, male, 38 years old, favorability 65, loyalty 52.

Zhao Dahai, male, 42 years old, favorability 71, loyalty 52.

Seeing that both of them had more than half of their loyalty ratings, Jia Dongming felt somewhat relieved.

He stopped the car, pretended to fumble in his pocket for a moment, but actually took out two packets of "Da Qianmen" cigarettes from his system space.

He handed it over: "Zhijun, Dahai, take this and smoke."

Zhao Dahai's face immediately showed some embarrassment, and he chuckled awkwardly as he declined, "Section Chief, how could I possibly accept this..."

"I don't smoke much, and it's just sitting there anyway, so please consider this a favor to me."

Jia Dongming smiled and stuffed the cigarette into his hand.

Zhao Dahai then accepted it, repeatedly expressing his gratitude: "Thank you... Section Chief!"

Xue Zhijun, who was standing ramrod straight to the side, also smiled and said, "Thank you, Section Chief!"

Jia Dongming waved his hand, his tone turning serious: "Save your cigarettes for when you rest. Everyone should stay focused on their posts."

After saying that, he got back on his bicycle and rode into the factory area.

Good morning, Section Chief!

"Section Chief, you've arrived!"

"Good morning, Section Chief!"

As we walked into the security department's office building, the team members we met along the way greeted us warmly.

As Jia Dongming nodded in response, he discreetly observed the values ​​appearing above each person's head—the loyalty of most people was clearly visible, with the highest being seventy-three, and only a few showing only goodwill.