I was married off to a disabled hero in lieu of marriage; my in-laws doted on me and I aspired to gr

Qiaoqiao sat on the stone millstone in the yard, watching the ants on the ground crawling orderly past her feet.

One, two, three...

Qiaoqiao took a small stick and deliberately pried the ants apart, then covered them with mud. The ants' formation was disrupted, and they rolled around and quickly formed a straight line again.

It's going to rain, Qiaoqiao thought to herself.

The little yellow dog at my feet is curled up against its owner, lazily dozing off with its eyes half-closed.

Qiaoqiao looked back into the room, wondering how their conversation was going.

Bored, I picked up a small stick and started poking at the ants again, my anxiety even more chaotic than the ants themselves.

On the kang (heated brick bed) in the main room, Qiaoqiao's grandparents and parents had furrowed brows and solemn expressions.

Fang Guiying, the commune's women's federation director, whom Qiaoqiao called Aunt Fang, anxiously awaited the results.

"What are you thinking? Give us a straight answer. The groom's family is getting impatient," Aunt Fang urged impatiently.

Grandpa Qiao took a deep drag on his cigarette, the smoke making him cough twice. He seemed to have many questions to ask, yet he couldn't utter a single one.

It was Qiaoqiao's mother who spoke up: "Auntie, why didn't you ask if she was capable in that area?"

Aunt Fang looked troubled: "Qiao's mother, how can we ask her this? Even her own mother wouldn't be able to bring herself to ask. The hospital report says that the man's function is not impaired, and he is likely still able to have children."

"But how do we know there's no injury if there's no leg?" Qiaoqiao's mother stammered.

"This is a gamble. It would be a lie for me to guarantee there won't be any problems. Sigh, our tall, strong son got injured in both legs on the front lines. Otherwise, with such a good family, we would never have had a chance."

This is the truth. The boy is a college student, and his parents hold high-ranking official positions. Qiaoqiao, on the other hand, is just a rural girl who toils in the fields and comes from a poor family background. If the boy hadn't been disabled, the Yang family would never have been able to marry into such a good family in eight generations.

"If you can't have children, your children are ruined." Qiaoqiao's mother's eyes reddened.

That's the truth. We're well-off now, so we can't just live like widows, can we?

Grandpa Qiaoqiao remained silent, puffing on his cigarette.

He weighed the pros and cons, torn between his family's livelihood and his granddaughter's lifelong happiness, finding it incredibly difficult to decide.

"I've made myself clear to you. Don't underestimate him just because he's lost his legs; there are plenty of girls who want to marry him. It's Commander Zhou who has taken a liking to your Qiaoqiao. You need to think carefully about whether it's a blessing or a curse. I'm just passing on the message; whether it works out or not is up to you."

"If there's no problem in that area, my family is willing. It'll give us something to look forward to when we have a son or daughter in the future." Qiaoqiao's mother steered the conversation back to the conflict.

"Look at you, how are you going to get any answers to this?" Aunt Fang said, getting a little angry.

A deathly silence fell, and everyone looked worried.

The door opened, and Qiaoqiao came in.

"Aunt Fang, I'm willing to marry her."

"real?"

Everyone looked up in surprise.

"Yes, he is a hero who protects the country. They risked their lives for the safety of the people. I am proud to take care of a hero. Please tell Commander Zhou, Aunt Fang, that I, Yang Qiao, am willing to marry his son and follow him for life, and my heart will never change." Qiaoqiao said sincerely and earnestly.

Aunt Fang clapped her hands happily: "Oh my, look how well Qiaoqiao speaks! No wonder she's the granddaughter of the private tutor, so sensible. Uncle Yang, Qiaoqiao is willing, so you should agree."

Grandpa was still unsure, but Qiaoqiao said, "Grandpa, I really want to marry him, without any regrets."

Grandpa finally made up his mind, extinguished the cigarette in his hand, and said in a deep voice, "Since she is willing, let's agree."

"Alright, I'll go back to the commune right away and call Commander Zhou."

Aunt Fang couldn't wait a second longer and rushed out the door. Qiaoqiao's mother quickly got off the kang (a heated brick bed) to see her off.

After Aunt Fang left, Grandma finally spoke, "Qiaoqiao, are you really willing? That boy has no legs, and we don't even know if he can have children."

"Grandma, I really do want to. I'm willing to marry him, not for any hero, but for our family. I don't want my brother, who is educated and has ideals, to be stuck in the countryside, working himself to the bone and still not having enough to eat. I don't want Grandpa to be scolded and insulted at his advanced age, and I don't want to see my parents unable to hold their heads high in the village."

Qiaoqiao had so many things she didn't want to do. Her brother had graduated from high school, but he was always the one who couldn't get a job in the city.

Before liberation, my grandfather was a poor private school teacher. He was honest and upright all his life. Now, however, he has become a member of the "XX" movement, and everyone can curse him and kick him while he's down. His life is harder than anyone else's.

Grandma was sick all over, and the pain kept her awake all night. She also didn't have the money to buy medicine.

For the sake of this family, Qiaoqiao would be willing to work like a slave in the Zhou family.

"Child, I'm so sorry to have wronged you..." Qiaoqiao's father didn't finish his sentence before his face contorted with worry.

"Grandpa, Dad, don't worry about me. I'll make a living no matter where I am. You're only thinking about the bad side, but there's also the good side. Commander Zhou's son is educated and knowledgeable, so he definitely won't bully me. Commander Zhou is a high-ranking officer in the army, so he's sure to have plenty to eat. Who knows, I might even get to eat white flour."

Qiaoqiao smiled, and Grandpa nodded: "We can eat meat every now and then."

"That's right, having meat to eat is such a blessing. Grandpa, stop worrying, let's make it a deal, then no one will ever bully my family again."

With the protection of military family members, who would dare to bully our family?

The head of the family was the grandfather. He wiped away his tears, got off the kang (a heated brick bed), and said, "It's still early. I'll go and earn another half a work point."

Grandpa and Dad went to the fields, and Mom came into the house, hugged Qiaoqiao and cried, "Silly child, you're still young. This is a lifelong matter. What if that place breaks down and you don't have a child? How will you get through it?"

Qiaoqiao hugged her mother and said, "Mom, if we don't have children, we can always adopt one. Our family is bullied and discriminated against in the village, so what kind of good family can we find? If we end up with a lazy and good-for-nothing, life will be even harder."

"Qiaoqiao's mother, don't cry, it's all fate. Go to the field and cut some cabbage to feed the chickens."

Having three hens at home and raising four is illegal; you'll have to cut off their tails.

Sobbing, Qiaoqiao's mother dared not disobey her mother-in-law's orders and went out with her basket.

"What a coincidence! Go light the stove, Grandma will make you some cornbread."

"Okay, Grandma, how about adding some sesame oil?"

"Okay, add sesame oil."

An old man and a child, together with cornmeal, started a fire to cook.

Qiaoqiao watched the flames flickering in the stove, just like her anxious and uneasy mood.

Grandma skillfully kneaded the dough, added a few drops of sesame oil to the pot, and after thinking for a moment, added a few more drops.

Instantly, the earthen kitchen was filled with a delicious aroma. Qiaoqiao inhaled the fragrance deeply and said, "Grandma, it smells so good! When my brother goes to work in the factory and earns money, I'll make sure you can eat sesame oil pancakes every day."

Grandma gave a bitter smile: "Okay, okay, Grandma is waiting."

This family is having a really tough time. My brother is already of marriageable age, but because of family problems and being looked down upon, matchmakers won't even come to the door.

My grandfather is over sixty years old and has to work in the fields every day. He earns ten work points a day, which only pays him 35 cents.

Qiaoqiao was beautiful and charming. Zhao Jintao, the village team leader, liked her, but he didn't dare to propose marriage because his mother wouldn't allow him to marry a girl with a problematic background.

Rather than being stuck in Dashui Village, it's better to go out and get out. No matter how tough it gets, it can't be worse than it is now, right?