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

The next day, Luo Meiyun took Qiaoqiao shopping.

The military family compound has armed guards standing watch at the entrance.

"Good morning, Director Luo!" Upon seeing Luo Meiyun, the guard stood at attention and saluted.

"Hello, thank you for your hard work."

Luo Meiyun waved her hand, then, remembering something, pulled Qiaoqiao aside and said to the guard, "Xiao Wu, this is my daughter-in-law, Yang Qiao. Please take good care of her."

The guard immediately saluted: "Hello, Comrade Yang Qiao!"

Qiaoqiao blushed. No one had ever treated her with such respect before, and she was somewhat at a loss for words.

Luo Meiyun took Qiaoqiao's hand and said, "Come on, let's go to the market first."

Leaving the military compound and walking one kilometer to the left, you'll find a bustling main street.

Rice shops, vegetable shops, supply and marketing cooperatives, shoe and umbrella repair shops, barbershops, and photo studios—all were readily available.

Qiaoqiao looked around curiously. The military family compound wasn't in the city center, but Qiaoqiao felt that this was a bustling city.

Luo Meiyun led Qiaoqiao into the supply and marketing cooperative. A row of glass counters displayed a wide variety of daily necessities on the shelves behind them.

"Qiaoqiao, what do you want most? Mom will give it to you," Luo Meiyun asked, holding Qiaoqiao's hand.

"I...I don't want anything, I have everything I need at home."

Qiaoqiao looked at the thermos on the counter; she really wanted it and wanted to give it to her mother.

The Zhou family had several military-grade thermos flasks; when boiling water was poured into them, it was still hot by evening.

In Dashui Village, there are no thermos flasks. When guests come to visit, people have to light a fire to boil water and then make tea.

Especially in winter, if there's no time to boil water, a sip of cold tea can freeze your stomach.

If we had a thermos, Grandma could drink warm water when she took her medicine.

The thermos flasks at the supply and marketing cooperative are prettier than those at the Zhou family's; they must be very expensive.

Luo Meiyun, unaware of Qiaoqiao's thoughts, directly pulled her to the clothing section.

"Qiaoqiao, it's getting warmer, how about we buy two dresses?"

The floral dress, hanging on the rack behind the counter, was dazzling.

"No, no, I've never worn a skirt before. My mother brought me some coarse cloth clothes for summer, that's enough."

Qiaoqiao waved her hands repeatedly, saying that she dared not wear such a beautiful dress no matter what.

Luo Meiyun thought for a moment and said, "I don't like skirts. I'll buy a shirt, a pair of polyester pants, and a pair of leather sandals."

Qiaoqiao resisted again: "Mom, I don't want to."

How am I supposed to work with such beautiful clothes on?

Luo Meiyun ignored Qiaoqiao's suggestion and directly told the sales clerk, "Sir, get her a set of that floral shirt and those light green trousers, in her size. Oh, and those black leather sandals, Qiaoqiao, what size do you wear?"

"Mom...I don't want to..."

Qiaoqiao was extremely nervous; this set would probably cost several tens of yuan.

"Size 36, let's try it on, it should fit." Luo Meiyun made the decision on her own.

Since clothes couldn't be tried on at the supply and marketing cooperative, Luo Meiyun held up a shirt to show off, and then had Qiaoqiao try on shoes, which fit perfectly.

"Comrade, please wrap this up for me. How much?"

"It costs forty-eight yuan in total, and we also need 16 feet of cloth coupons."

"Okay, thank you."

Qiaoqiao felt a chill run down her spine and couldn't help but tug at Luo Meiyun's clothes. They were too expensive. Her family spun their own cotton and made their own clothes. She had never seen such nice clothes before.

Moreover, forty-eight yuan is enough for her family's expenses for half a year.

Luo Meiyun patted Qiaoqiao's hand and smiled gently, as if to say, "It's okay."

Holding the clothes and shoes felt like carrying a ton of weight.

"Come on, let's go buy some vegetable seeds. When I come home next time, I'll be able to eat vegetables from my own garden." Luo Meiyun led Qiaoqiao outside.

"Mom, the clothes are too expensive." Qiaoqiao hesitated, wanting to return them.

"I don't have a daughter, and I work in the military, so I can't wear brightly colored clothes. It's perfect for you to wear, and it will bring a different kind of color to the house."

Luo Meiyun spoke from the heart; her home had been gloomy for a long time, and wearing beautiful clothes would lift her spirits.

After leaving the supply and marketing cooperative, I went into the vegetable shop next door. There were so many vegetables!

At home, Qiaoqiao mainly eats cabbage, radishes, and eggplants that she grows herself. The vegetable store sells tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, soybeans, peanuts, etc.

Luo Meiyun looked at Qiaoqiao: "What do you like to eat? I can cook noodles, porridge, and stir-fry cabbage. I can't cook complicated dishes at all."

Smiling, Luo Meiyun looked somewhat sad: "After Wenhui got injured, he ate in the cafeteria. I only made him porridge a few times. Qiaoqiao, I'm not a good mother."

"You're busy with work, and besides, the food in the compound's canteen is delicious," Qiaoqiao comforted her.

"On one side is the country, on the other is home. The country is not at peace right now, and your father and I have neglected our family. In a few years, when the front lines are peaceful, I can retire. At that time, I will learn to cook and cook for you and Wenhui, and for our grandchildren."

"Mom...you've retired, I'll cook for you." Qiaoqiao blushed deeply. Even though they were married, Zhou Wenhui had never given her a second glance.

"Okay, Qiaoqiao will cook for Mom. Show us your skills today and see how well Qiaoqiao cooks." Luo Meiyun smiled, but her heart was filled with mixed feelings.

Qiaoqiao bought chili peppers, peanuts, tofu, vermicelli, and pork belly.

Qiaoqiao has limited cooking skills, so she plans to make braised pork belly with vermicelli and fry a peanut.

After buying the vegetables, I went to buy seeds: cabbage, radish, tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, and eggplants.

Luo Meiyun wanted to buy a little bit of everything, until Qiaoqiao said, "That's enough, Mom, there's not enough space."

"It's okay, we can plant them next year if we can't finish this year." Luo Meiyun was like a young girl who had just entered society; she wanted to buy whatever Qiaoqiao wanted.

One person carried two bags, their harvest plentiful.

"Qiaoqiao, I haven't been to a vegetable store or supply and marketing cooperative for at least ten years. I had a great time shopping today."

"So you're not even buying salt and soy sauce?"

"There's Xiao Liu. If you need coal briquettes or daily necessities, just tell Xiao Liu and he'll bring them over. Xiao Liu is your father's police officer. After Wenhui was injured, the military region transferred him to the logistics department, mainly to take care of about ten wounded soldiers."

"A dozen or so?"

"Yes, some have lost their feet, some have lost their hands, and some have developed mental problems, shouting 'Charge, comrades!' every day. They are all heroes. They are unable to take care of themselves, and the military region's logistics department will arrange some soldiers to take care of them."

"Mom, is war really that cruel?"

In Qiaoqiao's eyes, the cruelest thing was when her grandfather was called to a meeting.

"Our peaceful life is hard-won, and there have always been people silently guarding the border. For the country to develop and establish diplomatic relations with other countries, there are many things that cannot be said openly. My son, and the soldiers who sacrificed their lives on duty, are all people who make silent contributions. One day, the names of these people will be remembered by everyone."

Luo Meiyun's eyes were red, but she smiled bravely and said, "Qiaoqiao, our country will become stronger and stronger."

"It turns out that our peace and security were bought with the blood of soldiers. I used to complain that after working in the fields all day, I couldn't even get enough to eat."

Qiaoqiao whispered, feeling saddened by her own ignorance.

"Yes, so many people don't even have enough to eat. Once the war is over, the country will develop production. One day, our family can eat a big bowl of braised pork every day, okay?"

"No, eating this every day is too extravagant."

Even in her wildest dreams, Qiaoqiao wouldn't dare to imagine eating braised pork every day.