On this deep winter night, not only were the two generations of Zhang's family discussing matters in Zhang's courtyard, but several other families were also in a state of unrest. At Zhang Guofu's house, just over a hundred meters away.

In the bedroom, Huang Cuilan nudged her husband and asked, "Are you asleep?"

"Um."

Even though she couldn't see her man's expression in the dark, Huang Cuilan could feel a strong refusal to communicate. She pouted in grievance and reached out to grab the man's hand.

Zhang Guofu sighed inwardly. He knew if he didn't say something, he wouldn't be able to sleep well tonight. Finally, he said, "Are you worried about Xiao Zuo and Xiao You?"

"I'm not worried about those heartless sons. They've been away for so long and they can't even talk to me when they come back. Look at Little Stone, one moment he's asking about his mother's family, the next he's asking if Little Wheat Ear and the others have gotten into trouble at home."

Zhang Guoqiang laughed at the sour tone, "I think my son is doing well. He knows to bring gifts for you and Mai Miao when he comes back from going out."

Seeing him smile, Huang Cuilan felt relieved. "It's better not to buy it and save some money. Those two brothers are so ignorant. How come they don't see that you have lost a lot of weight from running around all day?"

In the darkness, Zhang Guofu didn't know how to respond. Even if he wanted to praise himself, there was no need to put his sons down. Whose son or daughter could earn tuition by collecting herbs?

"The kids cost Xiaowu and his family quite a bit of money this time. Before they came back, my sister-in-law asked me to buy some things and send them over. What do you say?"

This is a must. I have to buy more and send more things to make Xiaowu proud. Zhang Guofu suppressed his inner thoughts and asked softly, "What do you want to buy and send?"

Huang Cuilan paused. "Are you really buying it?" "I should have known not to bring up this topic." No, I have to. If the second brother and his wife send something later, who wouldn't know?

"My sister-in-law said she'd go back to the village one day when the weather is good to see who still has any left."

Zhang Guofu glanced at her. "How could you not understand this little thought of yours after being married for so many years?" He smiled and said, "Why? Can't bear to let go?"

"How could that be? Listening to the dishes they mentioned at the table, I guess Jiaojiao doesn't have much in stock right now. It's just that they can't send dried vegetables this time. As for meat, we women won't be able to find any."

"It would be great if Xiaowu was home. When have we ever bought meat? Xiaozuo said his uncle hasn't hunted in a long time. What a shame."

"Dad, it would be great if you could learn the craft from me when you were little."

"Haha..." Zhang Guofu didn't know how to continue the conversation. If he was as strong as his own Xiaowu, he might not be able to marry her.

How much older was he than Xiaowu? If he had that much strength, would his parents have to work so hard in the fields all day? In those years, there were more wild animals in the mountains, and buying and selling them was easy.

What else can you say about how good it is to have Xiaowu at home? No matter how good a hunter is, a careless mistake can still result in a loss of life. Now that Xiaowu is so successful, why should he care about these three or five misfits?

Zhang Guofu sighed, "Go to sleep. I'll talk to Lao Er about this tomorrow."

"Tired? I still have something to say."

"I'm so sleepy, let's talk later." To avoid getting angry after hearing too much! Zhang Guofu turned his back to her, closed his eyes, and deliberately made a childish snoring sound.

Huang Cuilan: "..." She hasn't mentioned the children's jobs yet. They have food and drink at home. Why can't she let her son go to the army?

A few hundred meters away, at Zhang Guoqiang's house, Zhang Laoer was also listening to his wife's nagging. The meaning was similar, but Lin Juhua's words were much more beautiful.

Listen to this...

"Dad, I finally understand why those families want to marry someone of equal status. Although Uncle Zhou doesn't care whether we return the gifts or not, and even less so what we give him, it would be embarrassing if we continued to send him cheap things like dried vegetables every day."

Zhang Laoer patted his wife in his arms and smiled silently. Of course, his little five is not a rabbit that only eats vegetables.

Lin Juhua glanced at his face. "I think after Shitou and the others went there, Jiaojiao probably won't have much left at home. She's always been generous, and the city isn't like the village, so supplies are rationed. Going to the black market right now is dangerous, and she's used to being cautious, so she won't let Xiaowu go there."

Zhang Laoer nodded. That's right! Xiaowu had already told him and his eldest brother that the future was not optimistic and everyone had to live a tense life.

He didn't have the guts to doubt his brother's judgment. Although the boy was a bit foolish, countless things had proven that he was a very good judge of facts.

"These days, I see she's not having a good time either. But if we really want to send some good stuff, like bacon, there's going to be a shortage of food after the first month of the lunar year, so not many people are willing to sell it. I can't bear to pay too much for it.

As for me, after thinking about it, I have to go find those hunters in Kaoshan Village. I won't buy them with money, but those tickets I saved up some time ago can really be used."

Zhang Laoer chuckled. He could understand that women were all stingy. Not to mention his wife, even he himself, apart from his parents and brothers, was unwilling to give out large sums of money.

"Leave this matter to me. I'll discuss it with my eldest brother tomorrow. You don't need to tell my eldest sister."

Lin Juhua was a little unhappy. Men were not as meticulous and lavish as women. She could still bargain.

"Don't feel bad. Look at how much Xiaowu has given to our family over the years. My eldest brother and I will go to see Old Man Wang. His younger generations are all good hunters, so they won't be short of good game. I said we'd send it to Xiaowu. Given Xiaowu's friendship with Old Man Wang, maybe he'll give Xiaowu some in addition to the low price."

"Dad, you are so smart!"

Zhang Laoer laughed proudly and said, "That's right! Among my three brothers, don't underestimate Xiaowu, the most promising and intelligent one. He is really your man. If he had my brain, without Uncle Zhou, he would have been successful in his eight lifetimes."

Lin Juhua laughed heartily. This man was truly a dyeing mill owner, given a little color. But her husband was truly clever, having known to go find Old Master Wang.

Poor Old Man Wang was now deep in sleep, how could he have known someone was targeting him? Even if he had known, he would have been happy to suffer a little loss. That was Zhang Guoqing. Not to mention their close friendship with the long-deceased Old Man Zhang, he also admired the child.

"Our Shitou is just like you. Even at this age, he knows how to ask his uncle to take him to visit the old man and the old lady at the Zuo family. Dad was really happy just now and drank that big bowl of wine in one gulp."

"I just don't know if it will cause trouble for Xiaowu and the others. Do you think those people will say behind Xiaowu's back that he's using the child to build connections?"

Zhang Laoer burst out laughing. What a joke! It seems his wife truly believes Uncle Zhou is no match for the Zuo family. This is good, it lets me live my life in peace and contentment.