A few days ago, when the weather turned cold, Li Zhouzhou spread a thick layer of hay on the main bedroom of the chicken coop. The pigs were already strong, with thick skin and flesh that could withstand the cold, but the hens still needed to be paid more attention to. When Li Zhouzhou went over to see, his father had already hung up the fence and used hay to block the wind and snow.

　　Li Zhouzhou opened the fence and saw eight chickens huddled together inside. They were not very cold, so he took the eggs. When the weather got cold, the chickens were too cold to lay eggs.

　　There are only five eggs today.

　　Li Zhouzhou took five eggs, put two in a basket and saved them until the New Year. He didn’t sell them but ate them at home.

　　”Husband, how about having sweet water eggs today?” The children in the village all like to eat this way. I bought some maltose yesterday and cooked it with it.

　　Gu Zhao finished reviewing what he had memorized yesterday, nodded and said, “Would you like some sweetened poached eggs? Sure.”

　　My husband really loves sweet food, just like a child.

　　We didn’t eat breakfast in the living room. It was almost hot when we got there, so we ate in the kitchen. It was the same old three things: hot steamed buns, multi-grain porridge, and the boiled eggs were replaced with sweetened eggs.

　　Gu Zhao held the bowl and drank the water from the poached egg, which tasted slightly sweet. This maltose was fermented from millet and wheat, and its color was light yellow.

　　Maltose made from this kind of grain is cheap, although the sweetness is lighter. For example, sugar cubes are made from sugarcane, are red in color, and have a strong sweetness. This one is expensive and is rarely eaten on weekdays.

　　During festivals and New Year, villagers would buy maltose for children to sweeten their mouths.

　　”There’s more in the pot, husband.” Seeing that his husband liked it, Li Zhouzhou took a spoon and scooped another spoonful for him.

　　Gu Zhao adhered to the principle of not wasting food, and since the sweetness was not too strong and acceptable, he took the bowl over.

　　”It’s quite delicious.” Gu Zhao took a sip and praised his wife.

　　Li Zhouzhou was also happy, because he knew that his husband would like it.

　　As soon as the snow fell, winter came. Every household in the village started to stay indoors. Even when washing clothes, the river water was too cold, so they just drew water and mixed it with hot water to wash clothes. Of course, they were too lazy. They had been visiting relatives and friends during the slack season a while ago, and didn’t have much firewood stored. Now that it was snowing, they had no time, so they had to go to the river to wash clothes.

　　Li Zhouzhou is diligent. A while ago, he took advantage of the good weather to take apart, wash and dry all the large bedding at home. He also washed and hung the clothes that had been taken off, then folded them and put them in the suitcase. Now he is wearing quilted clothes.

　　”I’ll go to the village entrance to buy a piece of tofu and have cabbage stewed with tofu for lunch,” said Li Zhouzhou.

　　Gu Zhao saw that the snow outside had not stopped yet and said, “How about we wait until the snow stops before going?”

　　”Uncle Wang has a lot to cook every day. When it snows, every household eats cabbage. He can cook a big pot of stewed tofu. If I go too late, I’m afraid it will be gone.”

　　Gu Zhao didn’t stop him, but just said, “The roads are slippery in the snow, so drive slowly. Do you have a hat at home? Put it on and don’t get cold.”

　　”good.”

　　In the past, on snowy days like this, Li Zhouzhou went to the river to wash clothes or buy tofu, and he never wore a hat. When he came back, he would pat it off and it would be gone. But now he listens to his husband and wears it obediently.

　　The Li family’s home was close to the entrance of the village, and the road was slippery due to the snow, so Li Zhouzhou walked slowly. Before he reached Uncle Wang’s gate, he could already hear the villagers talking. They all came to buy tofu.

　　Li Zhouzhou hurried over, but before he got there he heard someone calling his husband’s name.

　　”…But it’s not true. I heard it with my own ears. Gu Shulang said ‘call her mother-in-law’. The boy Li Zhouzhou from your village really did call Li Guihua mother-in-law.”

　　”I didn’t go home late, you didn’t see it, your village’s Li Zhouzhou was sitting in the house talking to Gu Si just like the head of the family, but Gu Shulang was running around to serve him.”

　　People from Dongping Village have come to buy tofu.

　　The villagers kept expressing their surprise.

　　”I didn’t dare to believe it when I heard it. I didn’t expect Li Zhouzhou to actually call my mother-in-law and father-in-law.”

　　”Really like the boss? It really helps us brothers improve ourselves.”

　　”As a married man, you can see how Uncle Wang lives. He has to help with farm work during the busy farming season, because he is half a man. He can’t rest for a few days during the slack season. He gets up before dawn every day to grind beans and make tofu. He is also responsible for raising chickens, feeding pigs and taking care of children at home. Being a man is hard. Li Zhouzhou was also half Uncle Wang in the past, working like a horse.”

　　”You were talking about the past. Life is getting better now. Li Da was right in choosing a son-in-law.”