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

It got dark, and everyone who had been working in the fields went home.

After washing his hands, Grandpa squatted in the yard and smoked.

Yang Zheng, who was the last to get home, put down his hoe, washed his hands hastily, and went into the kitchen.

"Milk, it smells so good! What's the occasion today? We're eating cakes!"

"Hurry up and take it to the kang (heated brick bed)," Grandma said, slapping Yang Zheng who was reaching for the flatbread.

A bowl of thin porridge, five cornbreads, and a bowl of cabbage constituted a very sumptuous dinner for the Yang family.

"Sir, my family has struck it rich! Why are we eating so well, even though it's not a holiday?"

Yang Zheng grabbed a piece of flatbread and stuffed it into his mouth, but he choked because he ate it too quickly. He then hurriedly drank a mouthful of porridge.

"Your sister's marriage is settled," Grandpa said calmly.

"What?" Yang Zheng put down his porridge and looked at his grandfather in astonishment.

"Didn't I say no? Are you trying to push Qiaomei into a fire pit?" Yang Zheng said angrily, refusing to eat anymore.

"Brother, I'm willing," Qiaoqiao said, pursing her lips.

"You're willing? What do you know? Zhou Wenhui is a college student with high aspirations. If he hadn't lost his legs, why would he have married you? Qiaomei, being looked down upon is worse than not having enough to eat or wear." Yang Zheng argued logically.

Grandpa slammed down his chopsticks: "Yang Zheng, he's a hero, how could you look down on him? This matter is settled, it can't be changed."

"Grandpa, Zhou Wenhui is a hero, and we admire him. But living life is a different matter. Heroes are also human. Suddenly becoming disabled can easily cause psychological distress. I don't agree to this marriage. If you can't bring yourself to say it, I'll go talk to Aunt Fang."

"How dare you? A gentleman's word is his bond. We promised, how could we go back on our word?"

"Why can't you back out? This isn't a feudal society with arranged marriages. Even if someone is a hero, you can't force someone into marriage, can you?"

In this family, the only one who dares to stand up to his grandfather is this grandson.

Unable to eat anymore, Qiaoqiao's mother started wiping away tears again, while Qiaoqiao's father lit a cigarette and smoked it sullenly.

"Brother, don't make things difficult for Grandpa. I married him of my own volition. Maybe he really will look down on me, but I don't care. With the title of military dependent, no one will dare to bully my family."

Moreover, the Zhou family promised that as long as they agreed to the marriage, my brother could go to the city to work as a laborer. Brother, our whole family has worked hard all year, yet we still don't have enough to eat or wear. Grandma is sick, and we don't even have money for medicine. Brother, our family has suffered enough; can things get any worse?

Qiaoqiao's words struck a chord with everyone. Yes, could there be anything more bitter?

"Qiaomei, I don't believe the world will always be like this. One day, things will get better. I don't care about the workers you traded your happiness for."

"You don't care, but I do. My brother is educated and knowledgeable. Why is it that when the brigade recommends you for university or factory jobs, you're the only one left out?"

"If you won't let me marry, then who should I marry? Zhao Jintao? Would he dare to propose? Even if he went against his mother's wishes and married me, with his mother being so cruel, I wouldn't have a good life. Brother, I'm not making a bad choice; I can make a good life for myself."

Yang Zheng stopped talking. Qiao Mei's words made perfect sense. Frustrated, he got up and went out to get some fresh air.

He needed some fresh air; he couldn't accept the glory that came at the cost of his sister's happiness.

The night passed without a word, and everyone felt a weight pressing on their hearts.

The next morning, after having a bowl of vegetable porridge, the whole family went to work.

After the argument last night, the family stopped mentioning Yang Qiao's marriage.

Before Grain Rain, the cornfields of the brigade need to be loosened and fertilized.

After Grain Rain, it's time to sow seeds.

Farmers rely on the weather for their livelihood; if they miss the planting season, their harvest will be greatly reduced.

Yang Qiao and the other women in the village were assigned to loosen the soil in a plot of land, each taking a turn and competing with each other.

"Oh dear, Qiaoqiao, still going to work? I heard you're going to be an official's wife."

The women in the village love to gossip, and when they saw Qiaoqiao going to the fields, they winked and made faces at her with ill intent.

"Yes, I heard that my father-in-law is a division commander. How high a rank is a division commander? I've only ever met the secretary of the commune."

"He must be even more powerful than the mayor."

"What a pity, if Qiaoqiao's husband were a division commander, then she would be a true official's wife."

"Qiaoqiao's husband is a hero. He has no legs, but the country is taking care of him. From now on, Qiaoqiao will also belong to the country."

Qiaoqiao kept quiet and focused on her work.

"Without legs, I wonder if I'll still be able to perform in that area?"

"You're so nosy. What about your father-in-law?"

"Hahaha... Look at your mouth..."

The women gossiped without restraint, and Qiaoqiao's tears dripped onto the yellow earth.

"You shameless old hags, you can have your own fathers-in-law if you want, why are you dragging others into this? Qiaoqiao's husband is a hero, and you're slandering the family of a hero. I'll report you to the police and have you all arrested."

A loud shout rang out; it was Qiaoqiao's best friend, Zheng Fenglin.

"Oh dear, where did this hero come from, trying to stand up for the weak? Fenglin, do you also want to marry a hero?" a woman said sarcastically.

"Yes, I want to get married, but I'm not as lucky as Qiaoqiao. He doesn't even want me. Heroes who protect their country lost their legs; they are lovable and respectable people. And you vulgar, vicious dogs, barking around here, have the guts to say it to Commander Zhou's face!" Zheng Fenglin straightened his back and retorted loudly.

Zheng Fenglin feared no one and single-handedly fought off more than a dozen gossipy women.

The women fell silent, muttering under their breath, "Look at you, so capable. Nobody said anything about you, it's none of your business."

Seeing that no one was laughing anymore, Zheng Fenglin moved closer to Qiaoqiao, and the two of them loosened the soil together.

"Did you cry?" Zheng Fenglin asked with concern.

"No, it's just dirt in my eyes," Qiaoqiao said softly, her voice trembling with tears.

"Don't pay attention to what they say, they're just envious and jealous. If it were me, I'd marry him too. Look at this barren land, they wake up in the morning and start digging, they've been digging for three generations, and they still can't get enough to eat. In a couple of years, I'll find a man who digs the land, marry him, have a bunch of kids, and then continue digging."

Qiaoqiao, I really envy you. Even if the city is a mountain of knives and a sea of ​​fire, I'm willing to go and try it.

Qiaoqiao laughed after Zheng Fenglin said that: "Fenglin, you really know how to comfort people."

"I'm not trying to comfort you, I'm just telling the truth. What do you think people live for? Is it just to dig in the ground and go hungry? Now that you've married into the city, your brother can also go to the city to work as a laborer. The fate of your Yang family has been completely rewritten," Zheng Fenglin said sincerely.

"Then, can you write to me in the future?" Feng Lin's words were exactly what Qiao Qiao was thinking. Since she was getting married with a purpose, why should she feel wronged?

"Of course you can, but what should we write? Should we write that the corn has been planted, the corn is ripe, and the corn is being harvested?" Zheng Fenglin laughed.

"Sure, you can write anything, as long as you write it."

"Okay, I'll write. I'll go without food or drink, but I'll still save the money for stamps to write you letters."

"Fenglin, I'm leaving. I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too, but I hope you fly farther and farther away and never come back. Dashui Village is our root, but it can't support us."