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

Even after becoming Professor Dong's apprentice, Yang Zheng was still worried, fearing that he was just a figurehead and wouldn't have time to help him. But soon, Yang Zheng stopped thinking that way.

During lunch break, Yang Zheng finished eating in the cafeteria and was about to take a nap when a classmate called out in the corridor: "Room 508, Yang Zheng, answer the phone!"

"Yang Zheng in room 508, phone call, phone call!"

Just as Yang Zheng was about to lie down, his heart skipped a beat. A phone call? Could it be that something had happened to his master?

I ran quickly to the public phone in the corridor, picked up the phone that was hanging in mid-air, and my hands and feet went numb.

"Yang Zheng, hello, I'm your auntie."

It was Aunt Luo. She was my master's attending physician. She called me, so something must have happened to my master.

"Auntie... what happened to my master?"

His whole body was numb, his hands and feet were trembling, and Yang Zheng was too terrified to think.

"Yang Zheng, Master Chen is fine, don't be nervous," Luo Meiyun said quickly when she heard Yang Zheng's voice sound off.

"I...I thought..." Yang Zheng's eyes reddened, and his voice trembled with tears.

"I'm sorry, it's alright. With Auntie here, Mr. Chen will be fine. I called you because there's something I want to discuss with you."

"Please speak!"

As long as Master is alright, everything is negotiable.

"Well, Mr. Chen's wound is healing, and at this time, it is unbearably itchy and painful. I asked my former leader for some anti-itch pills, imported medicine, which is specially supplied to the military hospital. It is hard to find even a box of medicine. I need a large quantity. The military leader said that he would provide the medicine. Mr. Chen has to make a prosthesis for his friend."

"Master Chen definitely can't do it; his hand injury is serious. Can you make it?"

"Can!"

Yang Zheng did not hesitate for a moment. As long as he could get better medicine for his master, he would make a prosthetic limb even if it was just for himself, let alone with Professor Dong.

"Yang Zheng, I didn't expect you to agree so readily." Luo Meiyun breathed a huge sigh of relief.

"Auntie, I know Professor Dong, a prosthetics expert in Shanghai. I even visited him a few days ago. However, the patient needs to come to Shanghai to have a mold taken."

"That's no problem. The injured person is from the military hospital. He needs a prosthesis, but he has to apply and wait in line. He hasn't been able to get one yet."

"Let him come anytime. I can do it for him in my spare time. It's just that the cost of the materials..."

"One is one, two is two. I will also pay for the anti-itch pills. The cost of materials and labor for making the prosthesis will be covered by the military region."

"No need to pay for the work, I'll do it. Auntie, how's my master's mood?"

"Apart from the unbearable itching, everything else is fine. After a period of recovery, you'll have your first corrective surgery. Yang Zheng, don't worry, Master Chen is your mentor and Wenhui's benefactor. Your aunt will do her best."

"Auntie, thank you."

"Child, let's not stand on ceremony here. Take care of yourself in Shanghai, eat meat, and don't be too frugal."

"Okay, Auntie, how is everyone at home?"

"That's great. Your Uncle Zhou is full of energy, and Qiaoqiao is much more confident and cheerful than before. She's also made new friends at school. As for Wenhui, he's still the same as always, going to work every day. Oh, and Xiaowei can recite Tang poems now. When you come back, I'll have him recite them for you."

"Xiao Wei is really smart."

"Yang Zheng, call home if anything happens. We're usually home in the evenings."

"it is good."

"Then you go ahead with your work. I'll call you again once the military region leaders have made the arrangements."

"Okay, Auntie, you're busy now, goodbye!"

"goodbye!"

After hanging up the phone, Yang Zheng breathed a long sigh of relief, but was still somewhat worried.

Huailin's master is very good. I wonder if the master in Shanghai would be able to help make prostheses?

Whether or not he helps, he must make another prosthetic limb for his master, Huailin.

With the anti-itch tablets, Master Huailin won't be in so much pain.

That evening, I took a half-hour bus ride to Professor Dong's office.

"Hey, it's not Sunday, what brings you here?" Professor Dong asked, quite puzzled.

"Professor Dong... Master, I... I've taken on a job making prosthetics," Yang Zheng said with difficulty.

"What does it mean to have taken on a job?" Professor Dong frowned.

"I promised someone I'd make them a prosthetic leg, and I'd like to use your office..."

Before he could finish speaking, Professor Dong interrupted, "Yang Zheng, I admired your talent, which is why I took you on as my apprentice. And after only a few days, you're already using my name to take on jobs? We make prosthetics to serve important national personnel; it requires approval and a waiting list. You think you can just take on jobs like that? Yang Zheng, you've disappointed me greatly."

"Master, that's not how it is."

"Don't call me master. If you only care about profit, you won't be able to make good prostheses. If you take on one job today and another job tomorrow, what will happen to all the disabled people waiting in line? Won't they wait for a year and still not need a prosthesis?"

I needed your help to speed things up, but you've taken on the work yourself. Sorry, I don't lend prosthetics from my office. Any prosthetics that leave my office are made for lovely and respectable people.

"Professor Dong, I'm not doing this for personal gain, but to save my master."

"I'm perfectly fine, why do I need you to save me?"

"Yes, he was my master at Huailin Machinery Factory."

"He broke his leg?"

"No, he was burned."

"We're not in the burn unit, how can we save your master?"

Professor Dong grew increasingly angry as he listened, thinking, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Professor Dong, my master was injured while saving state property. He had a high fever and was in excruciating pain from the itching all over his body during his recovery. The military region has a special medicine, and the attending physician is familiar with the leaders of the military region and can get the medicine, but the medicine is strictly controlled... If we want the medicine, we have to make a prosthetic limb for his friend."

My mentor is someone I deeply respect and love. I can't bear to see him suffer so much, Professor Dong. I'm truly not doing this for personal gain. Please lend me your office; I'll work on it in the evenings. I promise it won't take up your time or require any of your office materials.

Yang Zheng gave a rambling explanation, and it's unclear whether Professor Dong understood it.

"I understand, you're doing this for your master... If you don't do it, there won't be any medicine..."

"Yes, when I joined Huailin Machinery Factory, I followed my master. He taught me the skills and cared about my life. The prosthetic leg I had last time was also made by my master and me together. Professor Dong, seeing my master lying on the bed wrapped up all over, if I could, I would really want to suffer this pain for him."

Yang Zheng lowered his head, his eyes reddening.

"He's quite a hero, Yang Zheng. Since we're both your masters, you can't treat us differently. If I ever need anything, you'll have to help me too."

Professor Dong, who always looked upright, felt inexplicably jealous.

"Professor Dong, you helped me, so you are my benefactor. I will be there for you whenever you need me."

"What Professor Dong? Call me Master... If you and he can make prosthetics, then I have no problem with it either. Let the patient come; it'll be a good opportunity to test your skills."

"Thank you, Master, thank you..." Yang Zheng bowed happily.

"You're coming to get your prosthetic leg made tonight, but there's no transportation back to school at night. What will you do?"

"I'll just take a nap in my office chair."

"Okay, it's settled then. You should go back now, or you might miss the last bus."

"Thank you, Master!"