He Xiaojie turned her head, her braids curling out in an arc as she enthusiastically showed off the bright red hairband on her head. "Is it beautiful? My colleagues exchanged it with me, and they all said that my mother's craftsmanship is excellent."

A few days ago, the department store received a batch of new plastic hair ties. He Ruixue thought they were a bit tacky, so she rummaged through the box to find some blue-green and orange-red plaid scraps of cloth, and instructed Wang Taozhi to make them into later-style bow hair ties and large intestine rings, which were simple and elegant in style.

He Xiaojie fell in love with it at first sight and asked her for several of them. She wore them in turn every day, which started a trend among her sisters.

Xia Lingqing couldn't put it down after receiving it. After carefully asking her how to make it, she made a lot of it at home and was obsessed with dressing up her daughter.

"Okay, you're so conceited, stand aside now, you're blocking your brother's way."

He Xiaojie turned around and saw He Xiaotuan leaning against the door looking at her. He smiled ingratiatingly and said, "Brother, are you busy with work recently? Let's go fishing in the river in a few days."

He Xiaotuan walked in, put away his electrical tools, and teased her, "The river just thawed, and you can't help it. Not this week. I need to take your sister-in-law to have her belly checked. A coworker recommended an old Chinese doctor to me. I heard his ancestors helped the empresses in the palace to have their pregnancies taken care of. He lives in the county town in the south, and it's a more than three-hour drive there and back."

He Xiaojie frowned. "Doctors these days wouldn't even dare to take the position of doctor unless they claim to be the heir of the Imperial Physician. How can they be trusted?"

"I don't know, but he's quite famous. I heard he was going to be demoted, but someone who had treated him in the past saved him. It wouldn't be a bad idea to go and have a look." This was his first time being a father, and no matter how cautious he was, he still felt unsafe.

Wang Taozhi had heard about this from him a long time ago and did not express any opinion.

She waved at him and said, "Xiao Tuan, you're back just in time. Go get some water outside. The tank is empty again."

"Xiaojie, don't be idle either. Come and help me light the fire and prepare to cook."

There are two pots in the kitchen. One is placed on the big stove for boiling water and cooking, and the other is placed on the coal stove for stir-frying. When cooking, both pots are used at the same time, which can save a lot of time.

The big pot was burned with firewood. Wang Taozhi was reluctant to buy firewood from people who collected it. Every autumn, she would take time to take her family to the small woods behind the textile factory to pick up branches and save up enough firewood for the whole winter.

Occasionally, if you are lucky, you may stumble upon a rabbit hole. Smoking the rabbit out will provide you with a rare snack.

“Hey!”

He Xiaotuan went out with the bucket of water, but he didn't come back until the pot was heated.

"This guy is unpredictable. He must be watching someone else's excitement." Wang Taozhi threw down the spatula and ran out to see.

I saw He Xiaotuan throwing the bucket aside, leaning forward to look towards the Zhao family opposite, his eyes fixed on them, and he seemed to be eager to get into someone else's house.

"What are you doing?"

"Mom, the Zhao family is arguing." He pulled her to watch with interest.

"How fresh! They quarrel every day. I haven't gotten tired of hearing it in all these years. Hurry and bring the water back!"

The two returned to the house and the sound of cutting vegetables was heard.

He Xiaojie sat on a bench and added firewood to the stove. He Ruixue found a book and sat under the eaves to read. A noisy sound came from the yard.

Turning my head, I saw that the eldest son of the Zhao family and his wife were arguing. It was quite intense and it looked like they were about to fight.

Speaking of the Zhao family, it's quite interesting. Old man Zhao is the oldest and most experienced person in the courtyard. He was born during the Guangxu period and is knowledgeable. Generally, everyone in the courtyard will ask him for advice on collective matters.

Du Chunhua, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zhao family, was the eldest daughter-in-law he carefully selected. Her family opened a small pub. Later, the public and private sectors were merged and the pub became a state-owned industry. Her family members all worked there and occupied most of the positions in the restaurant. Their conditions were considered good among the ordinary people.

Du Chunhua works as a waiter in a restaurant. She is loved by her parents and can occasionally pack up meals to bring home to bring honor to her family, so she is very confident.

Zhao Dashan, the eldest son of the Zhao family, is an honest porter who works hard to make money. He has strong limbs but is not good at speaking. He has never won an argument with his wife.

Zhao Erhe, the second son of the Zhao family, is completely different. He has no job and does odd jobs everywhere. In his early years, he was a broker, helping people buy and sell cattle and sheep. He has a good tongue and has never lost an argument with his wife.

Old man Zhao favors his steady eldest son, while old lady Zhao favors her clever youngest son. Not only do the couple not try to stop the quarrel, sometimes they even end up quarreling together.

Every time that happened, the Zhao family would be as lively as a team battle, with some people commanding, some acting as vanguards, and some cleaning up the rear. It was always a lively scene to watch.

"Du Chunhua, do you still remember that you are my wife? Why are you always staring at Fang Wanggui? Those eyes are almost sewn onto his body. I am ashamed for you!"

"Look at what's wrong. Xiao Fang is just more handsome than you. I've been wronged for so many years since I married you, and I can't even have a thought? You talk like a saint. Next time you see a pretty girl passing by, close your eyes and don't look at her."

His anger intensified. "You should act according to your conscience. How have I wronged you by marrying me?"

"I wanted to save face for you in front of outsiders, but you insisted that I tell the truth. When we first met, you looked quite presentable, but now your belly is bulging and your face is sagging. I don't even want to face you when I sleep at night, for fear of nightmares."

"You—how good are you?"

Du Chunhua raised her head and said, "Anyway, I'm better than you. I'm going out now, and some people still call me sister."

Zhao Dashan was defeated by her fierce gaze. He stammered a few times and directed all his fire at Fang Wanggui. "It's all your fault. You seduced my wife, pretty boy. Don't hang around outside my house anymore. You're so shameless!"

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