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

On Saturday afternoon, Gu Tong'an did not go home, but went directly to Yao Xing's rented room.

The school provides a monthly subsidy of 17 yuan. He saves every penny and uses the remaining 5 yuan to buy a pound of mushrooms for 30 cents, a potato for 2 cents, and two eggs for 5 cents at the vegetable store.

He wanted to buy meat, but he didn't have any meat coupons.

Every time he came, Yao Xing would cover all the food and drinks, which made Gu Tong'an feel bad. He wanted to go home early, cook dinner, and wait for Yao Xing to get off work so they could eat together.

Carrying a small amount of groceries home, I heard a voice calling from Zhang Man's house, "Is anyone home? Is anyone home?"

Gu Tong'an was shocked; something must have happened to Zhang Man's mother.

Gu Tong'an pushed open the courtyard gate and rushed into the house. Zhang Da Niang fell off the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Auntie, are you alright?"

After putting down his schoolbag and groceries, Gu Tong'an quickly picked up Aunt Zhang.

Aunt Zhang must have fallen very hard, because she was grimacing in pain.

"Ouch, it's all my fault, I'm useless now. I just wanted to grab a towel to wipe my mouth, and it fell down. Ouch, be gentle, my bottom hurts a little."

"Auntie, let's go to the hospital. You've hurt yourself badly."

Gu Tong'an gently placed Aunt Zhang on the mattress and said.

"No, no, don't tell my daughter when she gets back. She's already a burden on me, and going to the hospital will cost her even more money. She only makes thirty-odd yuan a month, and she has to support me and my younger brother."

"But you're in a lot of pain."

"It doesn't hurt much, just my buttocks are a little sore. My legs are fine, I don't feel any pain in them, I can't feel them."

Aunt Zhang tried her best to prove that she hadn't fallen too badly, gently twisting her waist.

"See, you're alright now, young man."

Gu Tong'an didn't know what else to say, so she said, "Auntie, let me pour you a glass of water."

"Okay, okay, my throat's practically burning from shouting."

Gu Tong'an took the tea mug from the kang (a heated brick bed) and went to the kitchen to look for it. There was a pot of cold tea on the cabinet.

This little courtyard has just been renovated; the windows are clean and the furniture is bright. It doesn't seem like a poor family's home.

I poured the tea and hurriedly served it to Aunt Zhang, who drank it all in one gulp.

"Young man, you're not from our shantytown, are you?" Aunt Zhang asked curiously.

"I'm looking for my classmate Yao Xing. I study at Huailin University."

"Oh, Yao Xing's classmate. He's a good kid; he comes to see me even though he gets off work early. What a handsome young man! How old are you?"

"I'm 23."

"23, a bit young. A college student? That's something else, they'll be government employees after they graduate."

"Sister Man is also a citizen of the country, and I also want to be a teacher." Gu Tong'an smiled.

"Do you know my daughter?"

"I saw her when she brought spicy radishes to Yao Xing last time I came."

"Sigh, Manman is a good girl. I've been a burden to her. Otherwise, she wouldn't be 25 and still single. Sigh..."

"Auntie, there's no rush, your destiny hasn't arrived yet."

"If we don't hurry now, we'll be too old."

Gu Tong'an felt her face getting hot and said, "Auntie, I'll go back and cook the rice first, and then I'll come to see you again later."

"No need to come anymore, Manman is about to get off work. You go ahead and do your work, thank you, young man."

"Goodbye, ma'am."

As she was carrying some groceries and preparing to go back, a melodious voice rang out in the courtyard: "Mother, I'm back."

Zhang Man entered the room, saw Gu Tong'an, paused for a moment, and then hurriedly asked, "Mom, did you fall?"

"No, I didn't fall."

Zhang Man ignored Aunt Zhang's explanation and focused on looking at her waist. She gently pressed on it, and Aunt Zhang cried out, "Ouch!"

"Mom, let's go to the hospital."

"I'm not going, I just twisted my waist."

"Every time you fall, you say it doesn't hurt and silently endure it, but you have to go to the hospital."

After saying that, Zhang Man went to get the things she needed for hospitalization.

Gu Tong'an understood. This wasn't the first time the old lady had fallen. There must have been a stranger in the house because the old lady had screamed that she was in a bad way, which is why they came to check on her.

"Sister Man, I... I'll help you," Gu Tong'an volunteered.

"You... I know you. You're Yao Xing's friend?"

"Yes, I'm looking for Yao Xing and I'm just passing by your house."

"Thank you, but no need. I'll take my mom to the hospital by bicycle."

"But there are also buckets and towels."

"It's okay, I can manage. Can you tell my brother we went to the hospital later?"

"good!"

"What's your name?" "Gu, Gu Tong'an."

"Gu Tong'an, thank you."

Zhang Man skillfully picked up the things, then carried Aunt Zhang to sit on the back of the bicycle. The bucket was hung in front, and Aunt Zhang sat on the back of the bicycle while Zhang Man pushed it slowly.

"Sister Man, let me take you there." Gu Tong'an couldn't bear to do it.

"It's okay, I always take them myself. Tell my brother we've gone to the hospital, and that he should do his homework. We'll be back soon."

"good!"

Gu Tong'an carried the groceries, closed the courtyard gate, and went to Yao Xing's rented room.

A woman who has to take care of her paralyzed mother and a younger brother—Gu Tong'an seems to understand the meaning of the word "not easy".

Everyone has their struggles, but Yao Xing's life is especially difficult. He was expelled from school and didn't even have the courage to go home.

He has it tough; he doesn't want to go home, and the oppressive atmosphere is suffocating.

But their hardships are insignificant compared to Zhang Man's.

Yao Xing is a man; he can do any dirty or tiring work, and he's content with just being fed.

Even if they don't want to go back, they won't go hungry because of the government's food subsidies.

Only Zhang Man had to earn money and take care of her mother and younger brother.

Upon entering the house, Gu Tong'an glanced at the rice bag in the kitchen. There was still more than half a bag of rice left. He decided to cook some more so that Zhang Man's younger brother could come over and eat.

Wash the rice and cook it. Wash the shiitake mushrooms and cut them into small pieces. Then cut the potatoes into shreds. Make egg and shiitake mushroom soup and stir-fry the shredded potatoes with vinegar. In no time, half an hour later, the meal is ready.

Just as I was about to go check if Zhang Man's younger brother had gotten out of school, a boy of about fourteen or fifteen was about to knock on the door.

"Hey, hello, is Brother Yao Xing home?"

"Hasn't he replied yet? Are you Sister Man's brother?"

"Um, my name is Zhang Li. Brother, have you seen my mother and sister? Did they go to the hospital?"

"Yes, your aunt fell off the kang (heated brick bed). Your sister invited you to eat at my house before doing your homework. I've finished cooking, why don't you eat first?"

"No, thank you, I'm going to the hospital."

Zhang Li turned and left. This was a family facing difficulties, but also a united one.

They weren't surprised that the old lady had fallen; they expertly took her to the hospital and calmly went about their business.

Gu Tong'an sat on the kang in a daze. After some time, Yao Xing returned.

"Hey, Gu Tong'an, you're back."

Yao Xing was overjoyed to see the courtyard gate open, as only Gu Tong'an had a key to his house.

Pushing open the door, the food was on a small table on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Oh my, this is wonderful! I can have a hot meal as soon as I get home. Gu Tong'an, I never expected that you, who are so delicate, could cook."

"Who says delicate people can't cook?"

"You really don't seem like someone who can cook."

Gu Tong'an went to serve the rice, one large bowl for each person.

"Try my cooking."

"A whole box of braised pig's head meat. I ordered extra because I knew you'd be coming."

Yao Xing opened the lunchbox he brought home; it contained a box of braised pig's head meat, emitting an enticing aroma.

"Yao Xing, does Aunt Zhang next door often fall down?"

"Did you fall again today?"

"Yes, Sister Man took her to the hospital."

"Perhaps, her fall wasn't accidental."

"What do you mean?"

"Aunt Zhang always felt she was a burden to her children and didn't want to live anymore. I saw her a few times, and she wouldn't let me tell Sister Man, saying she would fall again soon."

"This... I see she's in a lot of pain from the fall."

"Before Sister Man came home, she would shout loudly. Once Sister Man came home, she would stop talking. She shouted loudly because she wanted to get back to the kang (a heated brick bed) before Sister Man came home. She was afraid that if Sister Man saw her, she would be taken to the hospital."

"She doesn't have a boyfriend?" Gu Tong'an asked softly.

"No way? I've only ever seen her alone. Gu Tong'an, you don't like Sister Man, do you?" Yao Xing's eyes lit up.

"I was just asking casually."

"Sigh, Sister Man is the most virtuous woman I've ever met. She goes to work every day and takes excellent care of Auntie. It's just that she's too much of a burden. If you like her, you should think carefully. Love needs financial support."

"Nonsense, I didn't, I was just asking."

"Hey, Gu Tong'an, tell me about school."

Yao Xing left the school, but still enjoyed listening to stories about it.