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 stayed at home to take care of Zhou Wenhui.

He got up, went to the toilet, took a shower, and then lifted Zhou Wenhui up with one hand.

"Mom and I went back to the military headquarters today. Qiaoqiao can take good care of you."

In front of outsiders, Zhou Zhonghai is domineering, but only in front of his son does he speak gently, revealing a father's deep remorse for his son.

What is there to feel guilty about? I feel guilty about that battle. I should have let him go. Even if he lost an arm or a leg, I would have had no regrets.

But soldiers don't have choices; they fight wherever the country tells them to, and whoever is sent to fight, goes to fight.

If given a choice, the soldiers' parents would all be willing to take their children's place.

"Is the war still not over?" Zhou Wenhui asked after a long silence.

Having miraculously survived and returned to China for treatment, Zhou Wenhui never inquired about the situation on the front lines again.

"Yes, our division hasn't received any orders to participate in the war yet. We're on standby and ready to depart at any time," Zhou Zhonghai said while tidying his son's bed.

"Where's Mom?"

"A group of them are medics; they've already set off. Dad went, but Mom probably won't," Zhou Zhonghai said casually.

"You... all must be safe..." Zhou Wenhui said stiffly.

Zhou Zhonghai sat down on the edge of the bed, hurriedly took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, lit one, took a puff, and asked Zhou Wenhui, "Want a smoke?"

"No, I don't want to learn."

"Yes, smoking is no good. Wenhui, Qiaoqiao is also a child who has suffered a lot. I hope you can treat her well. Dad knows what you're thinking..." Zhou Zhonghai explained tactfully, but didn't know how else to say it.

"I will get along well with her," Zhou Wenhui said calmly.

"I'm sorry to have to trouble you, son. Zhaoying is a good girl, but... it's a lifelong commitment, we can't keep her." Zhou Zhonghai smoked heavily.

"I know, I accept my fate."

"Son, it's not about accepting fate, but your parents just want to protect you, maybe that's wrong..." Seeing his son's reckless attitude, Zhou Zhonghai felt very sorry for him.

"I understand. She's so beautiful and proud; she'll be ruined if she's with me," Zhou Wenhui said calmly.

Zhou Zhonghai patted Zhou Wenhui on the shoulder and said with difficulty, "Actually, my mother and I also visited Zhaoying's parents. We tried, but her parents were very firm in their stance. Wenhui, you have to live your own life. How will you know Qiaoqiao isn't the right person if you don't try?"

For their son's sake, Zhou Zhonghai and Luo Meiyun brought a lot of gifts to Cheng Zhaoying's parents' house, but they refused to accept them. They repeatedly said that as a college classmate, Cheng Zhaoying should visit Wenhui, so how could she accept their gifts?

His words praised Zhou Wenhui's heroic deeds, but he made no mention of the relationship between the two children.

Zhou Zhonghai was very frustrated, so he made a tough decision and started arranging Zhou Wenhui's marriage everywhere, also to make him give up his hopes.

Of course, the reason they were in such a hurry to get Zhou Wenhui married was because they were afraid that if they went to the battlefield, they would never come back.

He's not coming back, what will happen to his son?

With Qiaoqiao by his side, he could feel half at ease.

If he could have a grandson or granddaughter, he could die in peace.

Sigh, I'm thinking too far ahead. Who can predict every step of life?

"Old Zhou, dinner's ready! Qiaoqiao made braised pork belly with vermicelli, it smells amazing!" Luo Meiyun's voice broke the silence between the father and son.

Zhou Zhonghai got up and pushed the wheelchair, saying, "Let's go eat."

In the dining room, there was rice, steamed buns, fried peanuts, and a steaming pot of braised pork belly with vermicelli, which also contained tofu and cabbage.

"Wenhui, with such a sumptuous meal, have a drink with your father." Zhou Zhonghai said as he reached for a glass of wine.

Luo Meiyun set out the bowls and chopsticks, then called out, "Qiaoqiao, stop busy, come and eat."

"Qiaoqiao made today's dishes, and my mouth is watering," Luo Meiyun said, glancing sideways at Zhou Wenhui.

Zhou Wenhui did not react.

The family of four, Zhou Zhonghai and Zhou Wenhui, were drinking, while Luo Meiyun kept putting food on Qiaoqiao's plate.

"Eat, it smells so good, Lao Zhou. I haven't had such authentic home-cooked food in almost ten years."

"Qiaoqiao has such skillful hands! These vermicelli noodles are soaked in broth, soft and delicious. Wenhui, come on, have a sip."

Zhou Wenhui remained mostly silent, quietly raising his wine glass.

"Qiaoqiao, your mother and I are heading back to the military headquarters tonight. Thank you for taking care of things at home. If you encounter any problems, contact the logistics department. Xiao Liu is coming back to the unit with me."

"Yes, Mom has already told me everything."

"Okay. Your mom and I will probably be back in a month or two. You can make us glass noodles again next time. Hahaha..."

"Okay, I'll make it anytime my parents like it."

Zhou Wenhui sipped his wine and ate his food in small bites, his melancholy eyes calm and profound.

He'd eat anything, as long as his parents returned safely.

The large pot of braised pork belly with vermicelli was finished. Zhou Zhonghai and Zhou Wenhui both drank alcohol and went for their lunch break.

Qiaoqiao quickly cleared away the dishes, found a hoe, and went to dig in the yard.

Luo Meiyun then helped gather grass, dried it for two days, and burned it to make natural fertilizer.

"Qiaoqiao, are you tired? Why don't you take a rest?"

"I'm not tired. I feel restless if I don't work all day," Qiaoqiao said loudly.

People are strange. In Dashui Village, they work in the fields from morning till night, but all they want to do is escape.

Now that we're in the city, we eat well, dress well, and we feel uncomfortable if we don't have to dig in the ground.

"Mom, do we have any envelopes at home? I want to write a letter to Fenglin."

Qiaoqiao suddenly remembered something. She wanted to write a letter to share everything in the city with her parents, and also to write to Fenglin.

"Yes, after you finish writing it, give it to the comrades in the logistics department, and they will mail it out for you."

"Okay, Mom, may I write to you?"

Qiaoqiao smiled, revealing a row of white teeth on her dark, round face.

"No, Mom will call you when she has time," Luo Meiyun said with a slight smile.

"Mom, I'll write a diary, recording what Wenhui did each day, and you can take it to the military headquarters to read next time you come back."

"That's great, Qiaoqiao. You have to keep your word, you absolutely have to write it."

There were two large plots of land in the yard, and only a quarter of them had been turned over when the military arrived.

Luo Meiyun and Zhou Zhonghai were about to return to their unit, so Qiaoqiao quickly put down her hoe and said, "Mom, I'll go cook. We'll eat before you leave."

Back in my hometown, eating is the most important thing.

"No, the army won't lack food. I'll go wash up, you keep digging." Luo Meiyun said with a calm smile.

"I'll make you a pot of tea and bring it with me."

It seems like I'll feel sad if I don't do something.

"Okay, then go and fill a flask with tea for me. Qiaoqiao, Mom will be back soon."

Ever since learning about the cruelty of war, Qiaoqiao felt a sense of panic about life and death separation whenever her parents-in-law left, as if she would immediately rush to the front lines.

Soon, Luo Meiyun changed into her military uniform, went to the study to see her son, and then, carrying simple luggage, boarded the bus with Zhou Zhonghai.

"Qiaoqiao, Wenhui is begging you."

Luo Meiyun held Qiaoqiao's hand again and again, saying, "Country and family, the country comes first, then the family."