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

"Yao Xing, who is that pretty girl?"

When it came to carrying linens again, Yao Xing was even more motivated.

"My classmate, that guy is her husband, and Dr. Luo is her mother-in-law," Yao Xing boasted without any attempt to hide it.

"You're lucky, kid, to have such a good classmate. Let me tell you, our waste disposal room has been short-staffed for a long time. I've gone to the personnel department several times, trying to get someone to come in, but they haven't agreed yet," Chen Erniu said with a laugh.

"Yes, everyone I've met has been a good person. Uncle Chen and Uncle Zhang are both good people."

"Haha, you have such a sweet tongue. Yao Xing, although you got in through connections, you're an honest guy, hardworking, and without any guile. I really like you."

"Thank you, Uncle Chen."

After the linens were moved, Yao Xing jumped into the car and, together with Chen Erniu, took them to the disinfection factory.

Yao Xing learned to drive from Chen Erniu. Chen Erniu drove there, and Yao Xing drove back when the car was empty.

"Yao Xing, my nephew is planning to start a company. If it really succeeds, would you be willing to join him?"

In the car, Chen Erniu tentatively asked.

"Isn't Brother Zhao working at a chemical plant? Why wouldn't you give up such a good job?"

"I can't lose my job, but I can't use his name for the company. I want to open it under my name."

"Uncle Chen, is it possible for an individual to start a company?"

"Why not? Aren't those medicine bottles and needles all from private companies? Of course, they can't be sold openly; they have to be sold covertly. If they're caught, they'll go to jail."

"Uncle Chen, the risk is too great."

"My nephew said that the central government has issued a document encouraging the opening up of the economy, encouraging ordinary people to do business, and allowing some people to get rich first. Once he gets the orders for waste materials from the chemical plant, his company can start up. Once my nephew's company is up and running, I'll have to leave these medicine needles to him."

"Encourage economic liberalization? Encourage business?"

"Yes, Yao Xing, you're a shrewd person too. You can't just stay in the sludge treatment room for the rest of your life, can you? We need to seize this opportunity and do something."

"Brother Zhao is a very intelligent man."

"That kid Weiguo, sigh, if his parents were still alive, he wouldn't have ended up like this. He would at least be a workshop foreman. My sister and brother-in-law, they died a miserable death. They were sent down to the mountains, where they had endless hard and tiring work to do and were beaten."

As Chen Erniu spoke, his eyes reddened.

"Now that he's been exonerated, what's the use? He's gone, the favors are gone, and Weiguo can only work shifts at the chemical plant."

"Uncle Chen, Brother Zhao is so smart, he'll make something of himself sooner or later."

"That's true, that child is quick-witted."

"Uncle Chen, are you planning to go to Brother Zhao's company?"

"Of course, if I, his uncle, don't help him, who will? Why don't you go too, and let's open up a new world for ourselves in Huailin?"

"I... I'm not good at that, but I'm good at odd jobs."

Yao Xing was reluctant to leave the hospital. He earned 35 yuan a month, and he could eat for free in the canteen during working hours. He could eat whatever he wanted for dinner. The rent and food expenses totaled 10 yuan. The quilts at home were old sheets and covers given to him by the disinfection factory, so he didn't have to pay for them.

If you're lucky, you might also find some washbasins, teacups, towels, and soap.

Since the hospitalized patients lived far from the hospital and it was inconvenient to take them home, they were left at the hospital and all of them were taken home by the cleaning staff.

Yao Xing had several basins and tea mugs, and he even gave some to Aunt Zhang next door.

"Scrap metal and waste materials, aren't they the same kind of work we're doing now? Yao Xing, following Uncle Chen, you'll never suffer any losses."

"Well, we'll see."

Unable to refuse, Yao Xing had no choice but to comply.

This delivery was delayed for a long time. Uncle Chen and the person in charge of the disinfection factory squatted in the corner and talked for a long time. The canteen had already opened for lunch, but Uncle Chen still showed no sign of going back.

Yao Xing's stomach was growling with hunger. He wanted to remind Uncle Chen, but felt it would be impolite, so he could only wait patiently.

Seeing that they were going to miss lunch, Uncle Chen and the person in charge finally got up. The person in charge brought a box of vegetables from the factory for Uncle Chen, which was probably pig's head meat again.

Uncle Chen, carrying the groceries, jumped into the driver's seat: "Yao Xing, get in, we're going to miss lunch."

Yao Xing should have driven back, but Uncle Chen drove himself so he could make it to lunchtime.

"Uncle Chen, what are you talking about? You've been talking for so long."

"Nothing much, I was just bragging and lost track of time."

Judging from their expressions, sometimes their brows were furrowed, sometimes they were excited, they didn't seem to be bragging, they were really talking about very important business.

However, Chen Shu's business might be illegal, and Yao Xing was too lazy to inquire. The more he knew, the more tormented he felt.

Today was very busy. I got home around six o'clock. Yao Xing went to the vegetable store and bought some cabbage. He stir-fried it with pork head meat. We'll have one meal tonight and one meal tomorrow morning.

Actually, stir-fried pig's head with chili peppers is even tastier, but chili peppers are expensive, and Yao Xing can't bear to part with them.

To Yao Xing's surprise, he saw Gu Tong'an sitting at the door waiting for him.

"Didn't you say you had to work this Sunday? Why are you here?" Yao Xing quickly went to open the door.

"Is there a letter for me?" Yao Xing asked again.

Gu Tong'an said sullenly, "Can't I come if there's nothing wrong?"

"Sure, I'm at work. Why don't you come to the hospital to get the keys from me?"

"I've only been here a little while. I'll be sleeping at your place tonight."

"Aren't you going home again?"

Gu Tong'an lives in the city. Unlike Qiaoqiao, he stays in the dormitory from Monday to Friday, goes home on Saturday night, and goes to school on Monday morning.

"Yao Xing, do you know what it's like to have a stepmother?" Gu Tong'an asked unexpectedly.

"Stepmother? You have a stepmother?" Yao Xing asked in surprise.

"Um."

"Where is your biological mother?"

"Back in Beijing."

"You've divorced your father?"

"Hmm." "Gu Tong'an, your family is quite complicated. Did you have a fight with your stepmother?"

"No, I'm just in a bad mood and don't want to stay at home."

"Judging from your clothes, your stepmother probably hasn't mistreated you, has she?"

"You don't understand. She's kind and friendly in front of people, but cold and distant behind their backs. Dad's not home today, and she was telling my sister that some people just love to come home, like there's an endless supply of chicken, duck, and fish. The 'some people' she was talking about are me."

"Then why doesn't your sister protect you?"

"My sister was brought by my stepmother. She eats and lives at home every day, but I only go back once a week. I feel like I'm eating the family's food."

"Gu Tong'an, I understand why you hate Wu Zetian so much now. You hate your mother, don't you?"

Gu Tong'an lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes: "She was very career-oriented. After the divorce, I went to Beijing to live with my grandparents for a while and rarely saw her. Even when I did see her, she was indifferent. She hates my father and she hates me too."

I came back because of the college entrance exam. My dad hates me, and my stepmother hates me too. Yao Xing, what did I do wrong? Why do they all hate me?

"You didn't do anything wrong. Gu Tong'an, how about you come to my house on Saturday nights from now on, and I'll cook you something delicious. Actually, I'm all alone in Huailin City, and I'm very lonely."

Aren't you worried I'll eat your food?

"Look, what's this? Pig's head meat. It was a gift from the manager of the disinfection factory. Uncle Chen gave me so much. We'll stir-fry it with cabbage later. It'll be so juicy."

Yao Xing opened the lunchbox, which was mostly filled with glistening, oily pig's head meat.

"Yao Xing, thank you. Only you don't look down on me."

"Gu Tong'an, you have no idea how envious I am of you. You got into university on your own merit, and you have so many classmates there, discussing assignments and studying together. I'll never have that chance."

"Do you still want to take the exam? There's a college entrance exam every year. I'll help you review."

"I'm not qualified to take the college entrance exam anymore. Actually, I don't understand anything. I couldn't understand your discussion about the Wu Zhou dynasty. But I'm very happy to have met such good friends as you and Yang Qiao."

"Yang Qiao? You have contact with Yang Qiao?"

"No, no, I just think she's really nice. You wait here, I'll go cook for you."