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

Before we knew it, it was the second day of the second lunar month, the day the dragon raises its head. Luo Jianming pulled Lin Jie aside and said, "Section Chief Lin, the festival is coming soon. Here are a few jin of meat coupons to nourish the children."

Unlike his usual righteous refusal, Lin Jie chuckled and said, "What's up? You struck it rich?"

"Where did I get my fortune? It was Brother Zhao who gave it to you."

"Zhao Weiguo? He got me a bicycle ticket last time, and I haven't even properly thanked him yet. Why is he sending me meat tickets now?"

"We're all buddies, it's nothing, take it."

Lin Jie took the hostage and casually smacked Luo Jianming on the head: "Kid, go tell Zhao Weiguo that as long as there's a vacancy in the security department, I'll go to the factory to ask for someone. Right now, every available position is filled, so I can't really ask for help."

"Section Chief Lin, Brother Zhao admires soldiers and wants to be friends with you. As for work, we'll leave it to fate and there's no need to rush."

"Okay, then I'll accept it, thank you."

"Don't mention it. Just let me know if you need any tickets. Having more friends means having more options."

"Alright, I'll be friends with Zhao Weiguo."

Luo Jianming smiled with his head bowed, secretly overjoyed.

Brother Zhao is truly a genius; he was certain that Lin Jie would take hostages. Once you start, you'll do it again and again.

Who would be willing to work hard for something that comes too easily?

Last time, Luo Jianming received 600 yuan for two large barrels of resin. If Lin Jie also gets involved and gets one more barrel each time, he should get an extra 100 yuan, right?

My annual salary is only five or six hundred yuan.

Lin Jie took the meat ration coupon and went to the vegetable store after get off work. He bought five catties of pork belly, wrapped it tightly in oil paper, and carried it to Zhang Man's house.

Lin Jie had never been to Zhang Man's house, only knew its approximate location.

Zhang Man's family did not have a unit-provided apartment; they lived in an old shantytown area, in three small courtyards allocated by the community.

Zhang Man spends her days at school in a dormitory. She goes to school at night to grade assignments and goes home early the next morning to make breakfast for her mother before going to school for classes.

No wonder she said that bicycles are very important to her; it's inconvenient to travel back and forth without one.

After asking around, I finally found Zhang Man's house. It was called a small courtyard, but it was actually just a small mud-brick yard filled with coal briquettes and other odds and ends.

The three houses were brick and tile houses, but they were dark and low, and the inside was very damp.

"Is anyone home?" The door was open, and Lin Jie pushed it open and entered.

"Who is it?" A woman's voice came from the east wing.

Lin Jie pushed open the door and went in. An old woman was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), sewing shoe soles.

Who are you looking for?

"Excuse me, is this Zhang Man's home?"

"Yes, Manman hasn't finished get off work yet. Please have a seat, please have a seat."

The old woman bowed slightly and said, "I'm sorry, my leg is too weak to move. Please make yourself at home."

Lin Jie, holding a bag of meat, said, "Tomorrow is the day the dragon raises its head, so I brought you some meat."

"Meat? Oh dear, absolutely not! Meat is so precious, every family doesn't have enough, how can we eat your meat?"

"Auntie, this is what you've been given. Eat up!"

"Wow, that's a huge bag, it must weigh four or five pounds!"

"Keep eating, I'll bring more next time. Zhang Man isn't home, so I'll be going now."

Lin Jie got up to leave, and that familiar bicycle was pushed into the yard. That unsettling voice rang out: "Mom, I'm back."

The old woman chuckled: "Look, your daughter is back. Please sit for a while longer, and let her make some tea."

Zhang Man pushed open the door and entered. Upon seeing Lin Jie, she was taken aback: "Lin Jie, what brings you here?"

"The company allocated extra meat, so I got you some."

"Meat? I've never heard of giving meat as a gift. It's such a precious thing. Are you sure your sister-in-law and children are willing to give it up?"

"We have several kilograms at home, but there are only three of us, so we can't finish it all."

"Then I shall respectfully comply."

Zhang Man did not refuse and went into the kitchen, soon coming out with a gasp.

"Lin Jie, this won't do. I thought it was about the same weight, but you've given me so much meat. I can't accept it, I can't accept it."

"It just so happens that the security department got a pig today. Everyone got some, and we also have some at home. We'll give these to the old lady to help her recover."

"Then, I'll cut off a pound to keep, and you can take the rest back."

"Who would take something back after it's been delivered? How about this, I'll shamelessly ask to have a meal at your house, and I'll eat a couple more pieces of meat."

"Alright, you can sit on the kang (heated brick bed) and warm yourself by the fire. I'll pour you some tea and make you stir-fried pork with chopped chili peppers. I guarantee you'll eat three bowls of rice."

"Okay, okay, I'll wait."

Lin Jie got onto the kang (a heated brick bed), and Zhang Man's mother asked, "Young man, which factory do you work for?"

"Auntie, I'm in the security department of the chemical plant."

"Oh, a chemical plant? That's a great company. You can't even get in if you want to. No wonder the benefits are so good."

Lin Jie waved his empty left hand and said, "Auntie, I'm a veteran. The government takes care of me; otherwise, I wouldn't be able to get in."

"Oh dear, child, this hand...was left on the battlefield?"

"yes!"

"Oh, my children, you've worked so hard. That year, when the Japanese devils came into the city, they killed one with a single stab, and it was you who drove them out. I was already a teenager then, and my mother hid me in the cellar, starving me for three days without daring to come out."

"Auntie, now that the country is strong, there will never be another war."

"That's good. It doesn't matter if the food and lodging are worse. What we absolutely cannot do is fight a war, that would be terrible."

"The rest of the days will be good, please take care of yourself."

"I'm a burden to my daughter in this condition. I can't die, but my daughter has to go to work, take care of me, and we have a young child."

Zhang Man's mother wiped her eyes, saying, "These days are tough too."

Zhang Man poked her head out from the kitchen, smiling broadly, and said, "Mom, how am I a burden? As long as you're here, this is home. I'll bring my article back for you to see in a couple of days after it's published."

"Okay, okay."

He then looked at Lin Jie and whispered, "I just love writing. I never thought it would actually be published."

Lin Jie smiled and said that this family has a tough time, but the family is very united and loving.

Thinking of my home, where I had no worries about food and drink and my life was much better than most people's, why do I feel annoyed when I go home?

Zhang Man made braised pork with chopped chili peppers, stir-fried cabbage with lard, stir-fried eggs with chives, fried peanuts, and a bowl of pickled vegetables.

Zhang Man's younger brother, Zhang Li, came home from school, and the family gathered around the heated kang (a traditional Chinese bed-stove), eating with their mouths full of oil.

"Brother Lin Jie, the meat is so delicious! My family didn't eat this much meat even during Chinese New Year."

"Then eat more, I'll bring you more next time."

"Does your security department often slaughter pigs?"

"No, pigs are slaughtered during festivals like Chinese New Year."

"What kind of festival is the Dragon Raising its Head? Do they even slaughter pigs for it?"

"Um."

Lin Jie eats very little, saving some for the elderly and children.

Zhang Man only ate the pickled cabbage, and Lin Jie couldn't help but pick up a piece of pork belly for her: "You should eat some too, it's not like there's none left."

"I ate several pieces."

Zhang Man took a small bite, the aroma of the meat spreading in her mouth. So fragrant, so fragrant!

After finishing their meal, Lin Jie was about to leave, and Zhang Man saw him off at the intersection.

"Zhang Man, don't be so frugal. From now on, I'll send you two pounds of meat every month."

"How can that be? Let's leave it for your sister-in-law and her children."

"Zhang Man, I...sigh, I don't know how to say this. Actually, Han Dan and I didn't have any children," Lin Jie said with difficulty.

"Then, that child isn't yours?" Zhang Man asked, somewhat surprised.

"Yes, she was adopted. We will never have children. I lost my hands, who will marry me? My mother was very anxious and found her in the countryside. It's all for profit, I guess. We're just making do and living together."

Every time I go home, I feel depressed, but at your house, I feel relaxed. Zhang Man, I don't have any unrealistic expectations of you; I just want a friend, a friend I can talk to.

Lin Jie lowered his head. He didn't even have that ability, so what kind of delusions could he possibly have?

I just felt happy being with Zhang Man.

"Lin Jie, if you don't mind that my family is dirty and poor, and you're feeling down, come over for a meal and a drink."

"Okay, I don't mind. Zhang Man, if anything happens at home, you have to tell me. Just treat me like an older brother."

"Okay, then I'll call you Brother Lin Jie from now on."

"Okay, I'll head back now. You should go back quickly so your aunt won't worry."