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

Lin Jie's main concern is the position of section chief.

Zhao Weiguo has already provided the clues, so the section chief is now a sure thing.

Lin Jie called Luo Jianming into his office.

Unlike Zhao Weiguo, Lin Jie trusted Luo Jianming and decided to promote him to one of his own.

Zhao Weiguo is an impeccable person; people who are too cautious are actually harder to handle.

Luo Jianming's true intentions were written all over his face; his flattery and fawning were blatant, and he was happy to gain even the smallest advantage.

Lin Jie sat down timidly and asked, "How many people in the security department are you really close to?"

Luo Jianming squinted and said timidly, "Section Chief Lin, we're all colleagues, we're all in the same boat."

"Luo Jianming, you have to tell the truth today, otherwise, we have nothing to talk about," Lin Jie said seriously.

They only gave us a few pounds of meat coupons, why are they turning their backs on us?

"Just, just two or three." Luo Jianming lowered his head and stole a glance at Lin Jie.

Yes, Lin Jie really liked that flustered look when he lied.

"How many exactly?"

"Three or five? Six or seven? Oh dear, Section Chief Lin, don't scare me. Everyone has a few friends." Luo Jianming was about to cry.

"Okay, tell them privately to come to my house at eight o'clock tonight."

Eight o'clock in the evening? Isn't that too late to invite someone to dinner?

"Remember, just say you're coming to my house. If you say even one more word, you'll be in big trouble."

"Yes, yes... Section Chief Lin, has Zhao Weiguo done something wrong?"

Gathering the security team at 8 PM? No wonder they're catching thieves!

"Zhao Weiguo is fine, he's alright. Your friend is my friend too."

"Alright, Section Chief Lin, I'll get on it right away. If word gets out, I... I'll be your grandson."

"What use is a grandson like you to me? Go and inform them."

Lin Jie smiled, and Luo Jianming was completely relieved by that smile, and happily went to issue the notice.

The office fell silent. Lin Jie made himself a cup of tea, but couldn't do anything. His mind was completely occupied by Zhang Man.

What is she busy with? It's early in the morning, she must be in class.

Her students must really like her; she's so pure and charming.

Not necessarily. That time I bumped into her, she was quite fierce, and I was scared like a second-grader.

How should her house be repaired?

The roof tiles need to be replaced, and the windows need to be replaced with new ones. She's a woman and doesn't know how to fix houses, so I'll find someone to help her.

No, no, we absolutely cannot let Luo Jianming know about Zhang Man's existence.

Before the divorce, he and Zhang Man were just ordinary friends. As more people found out, it damaged her reputation.

Should I go see her at noon? No, she won't go home for lunch, and she doesn't want me to go to school. Should I go see her tonight?

That won't work either, she's at school at night.

No, no, I have to catch thieves tonight, I don't have time.

Lin Jie's heart was like a cat's claws, longing to see Zhang Man immediately, but there were many difficulties.

How about we go see Zhang Man's mother?

Yes, let's see Zhang Man's mother and buy her some food.

Lin Jie couldn't sit still for a moment, so he got up and left the security office.

The security department's work schedule is very casual. The chemical plant is so big that it takes half a day to patrol around it. If you don't see anyone in the office, it won't arouse suspicion. They must have gone on patrol.

Year after year, day after day, Zhang Man's mother lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), doing handicrafts.

Sometimes he would paste matchboxes together, sometimes he would sew shoe soles, and sometimes he would make cotton shoes.

If her neighbors had any odd jobs, they would bring them to her house and pay her a small fee. She could earn five or six yuan a month.

Lin Jie arrived early in the morning, much to Zhang Man's surprise: "Comrade Lin, is there something you need?"

"It's nothing, I was just passing by and thought I'd drop by to see you."

Lin Jie placed a pound of apples and two cans of food on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Every time you come, you bring something. Look at my family, we're so poor we don't even have anything to give back to you," Zhang Man's mother said with a smile.

"It's a receipt from my workplace, nothing valuable. Auntie, what are you having for lunch? I'll go cook some rice for you."

"No need, we have rice and vegetables."

Zhang Man's mother took a lunchbox out from under the small blanket: "Xiao Man won't be back for lunch, so I heated it up this morning and put it under the blanket. It'll be just right for lunch."

"Then, won't it be cold in winter?"

"It won't get cold. We'll heat the kang (heated brick bed) in winter; it'll be even warmer. My daughter is so considerate and sensible. Comrade Lin, you don't have anywhere to eat lunch? Why don't you cook some rice? We have plenty of dishes at home; you can eat there."

As she spoke, she opened the lunchbox and said, "See? Seafood, ribs, chicken. Where have I ever eaten such good food before? It was a gift from Xiaoman's friend."

Zhang Man's mother boasted that they were all leftovers brought back by Lin Jie.

"Auntie, I don't want to eat. There's food in the cafeteria."

Although there were five boxes of food, Zhang Li was at the age where he was growing and could finish them in just two meals.

"Comrade Lin, I've been thinking all morning, who would send such nice food? Do you think someone's pursuing Xiaoman?"

"Maybe..." Lin Jie didn't know how to answer.

"Comrade Lin, sometimes I really want to take some medicine and just die. Xiaoman's father died because of me. He had to take medicine all year round, and his salary was so low. He saved every penny and worked hard on Sundays to earn a dollar or two. When he got home, there wasn't even a hot meal. He still had to cook and buy groceries. I worked his father to death. I can't let Xiaoman die from the stress."

Every time Xiaoman and Xiaoli had suicidal thoughts, they would cry. They wouldn't have a father anymore, and they wouldn't have a mother anymore; their home would be gone. Comrade Lin, my Xiaoman is a truly wonderful woman, it's such a pity she was born into such a dilapidated family.

Zhang Man's mother spoke with tears streaming down her face, saying that living is hard, but dying is not easy either.

"Auntie, please don't think such things. Don't you still have me? From now on, I'll take care of you and Xiaoli."

"No, no, you have a family, you have to take care of your wife and children."

"Auntie, I have a high salary and good benefits at work. I only have one child, so I don't need much money. Man... Zhang Man is suffering too much. As a friend, I should help her out. How about this, I'll bring you lunch every day at noon. That way, Zhang Man won't have to run back and forth."

"How can that be? We're already very grateful that you deliver meat and food to our house, how can we expect you to deliver meals?"

"You look down on me because I'm an outsider, huh? How about this, I'll recognize you as my godmother, and it'll be perfectly natural for you to bring me meals every day."

"No, that won't do. I'm not fortunate enough to have that opportunity. Comrade Lin, you're a good boy, I can't trouble you."

"Godmother, our cafeteria always has so much leftover food. I'll bring you some; it's free, and I won't pay for it myself either."

"Is that so?"

"The canteen and the vegetable shop are top-notch jobs. Look at any kitchen worker craving meat. I'm the section chief, after all; I can take advantage of these little things."

"Well, I'll ask Xiaoman first."

"I don't care, I'll bring you food every day, even if you don't eat it. It's only right to be filial to my godmother."

"You silly child, in just a short while, I've gained a son for nothing."

"Godmother...we're family now."

From now on, we really are family.