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

Zhou Zhonghai calmly comforted Luo Meiyun, but in his mind he had already unleashed a torrent of machine gun fire.

Damn it, do you think the Zhou family has no one to rely on?

Liu Songming used a large truck and brought several soldiers to move all of Zhou's belongings from the military dependents' compound.

"Sir, this house...it's a Western-style building..."

Liu Songming's eyes lit up. No wonder the old commander was unwilling to return to the military family compound. The three-story detached house was much better than the one in the military family compound.

"Foreign my foot! It's just a concubine's house. Liu Songming, come here, I have a few questions for you."

Zhou Zhonghai led Liu Songming to the large tree, which he couldn't tell was a jujube or a pear tree, and asked, "Why couldn't we get through to the logistics department or the union on the day Qiaoqiao gave birth?"

Liu Songming was taken aback. His old commander was settling scores after the fact. Fortunately, he had already dealt with Li Bo.

"The communications platoon leader, Li Bo, deliberately didn't transfer the call," said the dignified Minister of the Armed Forces Department, his head bowed and his eyes downcast.

"Li Bo? A communications platoon leader, dares to ignore a phone call from his division commander's home?"

"Old Chief, the day I returned to the military family compound, it happened to be the day Qiaoqiao gave birth. Afterwards, I went to the logistics department, the trade union, and Zhou Wenhui's propaganda department."

During the time you were in a coma, Wenhui and Qiaoqiao had a tough time. The phone lines couldn't be transferred, and the logistics department and union kept making excuses. You and your wife were supposed to get three catties of meat coupons a month, but in the end, you only got one catty, and Qiaoqiao only got half a catty.

Not to mention meal tickets and groceries, he received the same amount as any ordinary worker outside. It was also to earn money that Wenhui traveled around giving speeches. Think about it, Wenhui wouldn't even stand in the sun, yet he went around giving speeches everywhere.

Rumors were circulating in the compound that you had no hope of waking up and would have to retire due to illness in less than two years. Who would care about a retired division commander? It was these rumors that emboldened Li Bo, who felt that Qiaoqiao's phone call was a waste of national resources.

"So, the two children are having such a hard time?" Zhou Zhonghai was somewhat moved.

"Wenhui has matured, which is something to be happy about. It's just that I feel very frustrated. People get cold when they leave, but you didn't leave, so the tea got cold."

Liu Songming was also very frustrated; Li Bo's arrogant attitude disgusted him.

"Is Tripoli still in the communications platoon?"

"No, sir. Although I'm not very capable, I'm still the head of the armed forces department, so I definitely have to deal with him. Of course, I don't have the power to dismiss him either. He was discharged early and went back to his hometown. I heard he became the secretary of the commune."

"Which county?"

"I don't know, I'll ask him when I get back. It's not appropriate for our armed forces department to interfere in military matters, so that kid got off easy. By the way, old commander, Li Bo had no grudge against your family, it was all because of Cheng Zhaoying, Wen Hui's college student girlfriend."

"What college student girlfriend? If my daughter-in-law heard that, she'd skin you alive. What kind of relationship do they have?"

"It's a long story. Cheng Zhaoying tried everything to get into the communications platoon for Wenhui, hoping to reconcile with him. But Wenhui is married, so how can they reconcile? She was resentful and would call your house, but you would always call her under the pretext of the line being busy."

While you were hospitalized in Beijing, Commander Pu called Wenhui, asking him to come see you, but the call couldn't get through. Fortunately, Commander Pu came to your house in person, and Wenhui and Qiaoqiao were able to see you before you went to the Soviet Union.

Commander Pu naturally investigated why the phone calls couldn't get through, and that led him to Cheng Zhaoying. He ordered Cheng Zhaoying's dismissal, but she pleaded with Wen Hui. Out of consideration for their past relationship, Wen Hui interceded on her behalf, only transferring her to the library. Li Bo, probably fond of Cheng Zhaoying, felt that Wen Hui was deliberately targeting her and harbored resentment.

"Cheng Zhaoying? Hmph, look at this, my son's taste is not as good as mine, what kind of girlfriend does he have?" Zhou Zhonghai sneered.

"The person who conducted the political review for Qiaoqiao at the Huailin University Academic Affairs Office is Cheng Zhaoying's brother." Liu Songming blurted it all out. "If you have a grudge, go and get your revenge, old chief."

"I'm risking my life on the front lines to protect my country, and these bastards are bullying my son and daughter-in-law in the rear. Just you wait."

Zhou Zhonghai's face turned fierce, and Liu Songming couldn't help but shiver. His old commander was rarely so ruthless.

"Alright, tomorrow you take people and a car to the newspaper's staff quarters. Wenhui still has some furniture to move."

"Yes, old commander. Should we have someone turn over this vacant lot in front? Qiaoqiao loves to grow vegetables."

"Moving is a public matter, growing vegetables is a private matter. How can we ask soldiers to do private matters? You can come and search when you're on leave. We must abide by discipline and not use public office for private gain."

Well, well, the old commander is right.

Zhou Wenhui has difficulty walking and cannot exert himself, so he takes care of the children.

Qiaoqiao and Luo Meiyun directed the soldiers to separate the books. Zhou Wenhui's books were placed on the third floor, and some medical books were placed on the second floor.

Most of the things belong to my in-laws and are kept on the second floor. Qiaoqiao's furniture will be moved tomorrow.

"Qiaoqiao, shouldn't we buy some furniture? Look, the room is all empty," Luo Meiyun asked.

"We need to add some furniture to each room. Mom, let's go buy some when the supply and marketing cooperative opens. Wenhui made a lot of money from his speeches, we have money," Qiaoqiao said proudly.

"Even if you have money, you can't spend it recklessly. Furniture isn't something ordinary people like us can just buy. You have to go to the furniture factory and get a certificate."

"What should we do then?"

"After the military headquarters were merged, a lot of old furniture was left behind. We asked Liu Songming to get a few sets of filing cabinets, which would be great for storing books and clothes."

"Mom, you really know how to manage a household." Qiaoqiao was a little surprised. Her mother-in-law was a very particular person, and she didn't care about old furniture anymore?

Luo Meiyun also wanted to buy new furniture, but she couldn't use her son's money.

In the later stages of Zhou Zhonghai's treatment, everything was paid for out of pocket. Her youngest son had borrowed a lot of money, and she herself was penniless. She could still use the old furniture, so she made do with it for now.

It's a pity that this exquisite little villa is filled with government-owned furniture.

After a busy morning, Qiaoqiao was starving when she discovered a major drawback: the small villa was not part of the residential area and had no canteen.

Liu Songming and his men went back to move the cabinets, so Qiaoqiao's family had to eat at a restaurant.

I cooked a few dishes, which cost 12 yuan, and they weren't very tasty.

Qiaoqiao felt bad; 12 yuan was enough to last her three days if she made it herself.

Zhou Zhonghai frowned as he ate, "This dish doesn't taste right. Qiaoqiao, you could be the head chef."

Qiaoqiao laughed, but her father-in-law also thought it didn't taste good.

Luo Meiyun ate in small bites, her eyes glazed over, and said, "Qiaoqiao, the most urgent problem we need to solve right now is to hire a nanny."

"We're in an unfamiliar place, finding a suitable nanny won't be easy, Mom. Do you know anyone here?"

Where can Qiaoqiao be found? She only has two friends, Sister Liu and Han Dan. She doesn't even know where Han Dan lives, and she doesn't know if Sister Liu is still at the vegetable shop.

"Mom, I don't know anyone here either."

Zhou Wenhui interjected, "My mom rarely even goes grocery shopping; the logistics department helps her. Qiaoqiao, why don't we go find Sister Liu?"

"It takes an hour by bus, and I don't even know if Sister Liu works at the vegetable shop anymore."

"Let's give it a try. We can't use someone who isn't recommended by a reliable person. Everyone's at work during the week; what if the nanny is a child?"

Upon hearing that the nanny would hit the child, Qiaoqiao immediately became nervous and wanted to go find Sister Liu.

After dinner, Zhou Zhonghai and Zhou Wenhui stayed at the small villa with the children, waiting for Liu Songming to bring the cabinet over, while Luo Meiyun and Qiaoqiao took the bus to find Sister Liu.