Grandma is sixty years old, this is naturally a big thing. A few days ago, Zhao Yu Zhen and her two sisters discussed buying new clothes and longevity peaches for their mother.

  The rural people's birthday customs can be seen as "preferring boys over girls". Zhao Gang is in charge of several tables of wine and can collect a lot of gift money, making a stable profit. However, Zhao Yuzhen and her sisters, Zhao Yulan and Zhao Yu'ying, have to spend money buying things like longevity peaches, new clothes, a gold ring, and even gifts for the guests to bring back, such as longevity bowls. All in all, they spent quite a bit of money.

  This is still considered mild; in some places, there's a custom of buying red basins and red buckets as gifts for the birthday girl, which results in the daughter suffering from severe menstrual bleeding.

  Zhou Xiaoyun was very much against this custom. No wonder people say that daughters are worthless, and even after getting married, they still have to take some things back to their parents' home.

  Three sisters got everything ready and spent over 200 yuan per household, which made people marvel. Zhou Guoqiang didn't dare to speak out at this time, but fortunately there were three sisters; if there was only one daughter, they really couldn't afford it.

  A few years ago, Zhou Xiaoyun's grandmother had a birthday, and Zhou Fang, who only had one daughter, made her pay for everything. Zhou Fang spent all the money Wu Youde earned from driving a tricycle for half a year.

  No wonder rural people like to have many children, this is not enough! They want sons to carry on the family line and inherit property, but also want daughters to be filial and take care of them, often buying things back for their parents. Every household has two or more.

  It's rare to have four siblings like Zhou Xiaoyun.

  Later, the family planning policy became stricter, and it was promoted every day that having only one child is good. If you have two children, you must submit a report for approval, and if you secretly give birth to a child without permission, you will be fined. Of course, the fine is not lifelong, and when the extra child grows up to 13 or 14 years old, no one will come to ask for the fine anymore.

  The Zhou family has a serious over-quota birth, and is a key target for fines under the planned parenthood policy.

  Zhao Yuzhen said bluntly: "Anyway, I've given birth to this child, and I couldn't strangle him to death one by one. If you want to fine me, just say the amount, if it's too much, I don't have it, but the child can't starve to death."

  The economy of the Zhou family has improved over the past two years, and the director of the family planning department has been running around more frequently. Every time Zhao Yu Zhen managed to get some things done with great difficulty, Zhou Xiao Yun, being a girl, basically didn't have to pay any fines, but Xiao Bao and Er Ya's share was unavoidable.

  It doesn't matter, which family hasn't been fined? Haven't you seen that Production Team Leader Xu Dashan has three kids? Xu Meili has an older brother and a younger brother too!

  What's even more interesting is that the head of family planning has two children at home. When he comes to collect fines, villagers often mock him: "How much do you fine your own household? We have just as many kids as you do, so we can't be fined more than you."

  Head of Family Planning Shi Yongnian, also known as Stone's dad, usually just smiled and didn't answer, implying that the villagers should pay some money to settle the matter.

  Zhao Yuzhen valued her son more, while Zhou Guoqiang loved his son in his heart but doted on his daughter. He often said: "Dajie and Erjie, when you two grow up, be sure to buy some wine for your father to drink from time to time. Your father has only this one hobby in this life. You are my little wine jars."

  Daughters are often jokingly called "mom's tea and food basket" or "dad's small wine jar", as if their main purpose in life after growing up is to buy good food and drinks, plus cigarettes and liquor, and bring them back home.

  Zhou Xiaoyun usually smiled and said, "Dad, when I grow up, I'll buy you wine to drink every day, and I'll also buy new clothes for mom to wear."

  Look, just a few words and they've won over my parents' hearts. It's even more effective than what I did last time, she's really born to be a bootlicker! Zhou Xiaoyun thought to herself with a pout.

  "When I grow up, I want to be like my sister, capable and excellent in everything." Er Ya's solemn words immediately made Zhou Xiao Yun abandon her previous impression of flattering her, and she pulled Er Ya to buy her food.

  Still dissatisfied with her parents' flattering and fawning, she herself wasn't strong enough either. In the family, spoiling Er Ya and indulging Er Ya was most severe with Zhou Xiao Yun!

  On July 16th, Zhou Guoqiang and Zhao Yuzhen rarely stopped doing business, and early in the morning they took the children to their grandmother's house. When they arrived, Zhao Yulan and Zhao Yuying had already arrived, and Zhao Yulan also brought two long and large fish, which were placed on the long table with Shoutao.

  The adults talk together, and the children gather together too.

  Zhou Xiaoyun and several of her cousins weren't particularly close, so they didn't have much to say to each other. She went straight to her uncle's house to find her younger cousin.

  "Niang niang, niang niang," the eight or nine-month-old cousin was already able to sit there holding a rattle drum and shaking it back and forth making a "dang dang" sound, her small face full of smiles.

  Zhou Xiaoyun's eyes could no longer see anyone else, she rushed up and hugged Niu Niu, kissing her cheek fiercely several times: "I've missed you to death for so long."

  Auntie Qi Wan Ting smiled and said, "It's been a while since you've come, Niu Niu can already sit up and crawl. I reckon by the time we see her again next time, she'll be able to walk."

  This is also a regrettable thing for Zhou Xiaoyun, usually at home busy and rarely have the opportunity to go to her grandmother's house, last time was during Qingming Festival to burn paper for her grandfather, it has been more than three months since she saw Niu Niu.

  Little kids change in three days, let alone three months. The little girl with a big belly and bare legs has big eyes that spin around, not shy at all. When held in Zhou Xiaoyun's arms, she giggles and pulls on Zhou Xiaoyun's hair.

  Zhou Xiaoyun hugged Niu Niu with an exceptionally good mood, and even when a few strands of her hair were pulled out, she didn't feel any pain.

  Zhou Xiaoyun usually treasures her hair, not only buying expensive shampoo with her own money, but also often persuading Zhao Yuzhen to buy sesame seeds to roast and eat, plus the improvement of living standards and nutrition, her hair is no longer dry and yellow, but shiny and black.

  Zhou Xiaoyun washes her hair every other day, and her ponytail must be combed to be smooth and tidy.

  However, at this time, being pulled up by Niu Niu for a few strands is nothing, and Niu Niu wants to cut off a piece of Zhou Xiaoyun's hair without saying another word.

  A few days ago, when she knew that she was going to her grandmother's house, Zhou Xiaoyun sewed a few dolls at home and brought them to Niu Niu to play with.

  There were a few little ducks, this time Zhou Xiaoyun made for Niu Niu was a hen with three chicks, colorful and eye-catching. Anyway, Niu Niu held one in each hand and wouldn't let go.

  Qī Wǎntíng was very unexpectedly fond of this gift and thanked her repeatedly.

  "Uncle's wife, don't thank me again. As long as Niu Niu likes it, that's all that matters."

  Actually, looking closely now, this little girl doesn't look much like her own daughter after all, just a pair of eyes that are somewhat similar, but Er Ya looks even more alike, after all, she can see Niu Niu's shadow between her eyebrows.

  As soon as Zhou Xiaoyun saw Er Ya's face, her heart immediately softened and she couldn't bear to be harsh.

  The idea of "first come, first served" made Zhou Xiaoyun's concern and love for Xiao Niu overflow uncontrollably when she saw her, this affection had long surpassed the liking between cousins. Qi Wanting, as a mother, thought that her daughter was perfect and lovely in every way, and didn't feel that Zhou Xiaoyun's behavior was anything out of the ordinary.

  Still so proud of her beloved daughter!

  Qī Wǎntíng went out to work with a peace of mind, while Zhōu Xiǎoyún was happy to stay at home and play with Niūniū. Occasionally helping Niūniū pee brought endless joy!