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

"You still remember Yang Qiao, right?"

"Yang Qiao? What happened to her?" Yao Xing's body stiffened.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Yang Qiao is doing just fine. She's married, has a child, and her husband is the editor-in-chief of a daily newspaper," Gu Tong'an said in a low voice.

"Oh, you know."

Yao Xing breathed a sigh of relief. So that's what it was. He already knew.

"Hey, Yao Xing, something's not right. Aren't you surprised that you know Yang Qiao got married?"

"Hehe, yes, to tell you the truth, Yang Qiao helped me find this job, and she told me not to tell my classmates." Yao Xing said with a little pride.

"Yang Qiao helped you find it? She really helped you?"

"Yes, otherwise I would be homeless. Yang Qiao is my benefactor."

"I see. I was saying, you have no relatives or friends in Huailin, how did you find such a good job so easily? Thirty-five yuan a month, that's really hard to find. Wang Min keeps pestering Yang Qiao to find a job for her husband in the countryside, but she keeps refusing."

"Gu Tong'an, please don't tell anyone about me, don't make things difficult for Yang Qiao."

"I know, I'm not stupid. Wang Min is scheming. She wants to bring the two children to the city. Helping her classmates is fine, but to help her whole family is even worse. I wouldn't agree to that either."

"Actually, helping a classmate is about friendship. I didn't expect Yang Qiao to take my situation to heart. When I was first expelled, I really wanted to die; I didn't have the courage to face all the gossip."

"After working for a few months, my mindset has changed. The country is at the forefront of reform and opening up, and opportunities are everywhere. As long as I'm willing to work hard, maybe I, Yao Xing, can make a name for myself."

"When you become rich, don't forget the friends who cooked and did your laundry."

"I can't forget, Yang Qiao is my benefactor, you are my spiritual nourishment. With you by my side, I suddenly feel that this city is lovely, hahaha."

"Hey, Yao Xing, I'm being serious. Does your sewage treatment plant need any summer workers?"

"You're not going back home for summer vacation either?"

"They'd be happier if I didn't go back. I want to work and earn some pocket money too."

"My place is definitely not suitable, but the hospital needs someone to stay with me. It's three yuan a day, 24 hours a day, and meals are included."

"There are such jobs?"

"Like Aunt Zhang, she can't take care of herself, her children all have jobs, and she can't be left alone, so they hire someone to stay with her. It's dirty and hard work, cleaning up after her, and the pay isn't much. Would you be willing to do it?"

"Go for it! Why not? It'll be three or four dollars."

"If you're willing, I'll keep an eye out for you when you're on summer vacation. It's good if you can work ten or so days a month, as only a few patients need to stay with you at the hospital."

"Okay, I'll go do it when I have time off. When I'm not doing chores, I'll stay home and cook for you."

"Why is it so awkward? Two grown men, actually living together?"

"Haha, two men in dire straits have formed a family. Are you going to work tomorrow? I'll come and help you."

"No, we take turns resting, it's my turn to rest this week."

After finishing the meal, Yao Xing washed the dishes, put the leftovers in a box, and soaked them in cold water to prevent them from spoiling. They would eat them the next morning.

The two grown men took a bath and sat in the yard to cool off; the weather was getting hot, and it was very stuffy inside.

"Zhang Li, give it another push."

Gu Tong'an was taken aback: "Sister Man is back. Let's go see her."

Gu Tong'an and Yao Xing walked out of the courtyard together. Aunt Zhang, who hadn't been hospitalized, was brought back.

Zhang Man exerts force from the front, while Zhang Li pushes from behind.

Gu Tong'an and Yao Xing helped each other out, and the bicycle was easily pushed into the yard.

"Sister Man, is the old lady alright?"

"Fortunately, no bones were broken, and the doctor applied a plaster."

Zhang Man wiped her sweat and said with a smile.

"I told you it was fine, but you had to spend that money."

Aunt Zhang complained, but Gu Tong'an easily picked her up and carried her back into the house.

"You haven't eaten yet, have you? We have some leftovers at home. Vegetables spoil easily in the summer, so it's good that you've eaten them."

As Yao Xing spoke, he turned and went to serve the dishes and rice.

"Yao Xing, no need, we have vegetables at home," Zhang Man called out.

"I had already cooked your meal and was waiting for you to come back," Gu Tong'an said.

"Thank you," Zhang Man said sincerely.

"No need to thank me, we're all neighbors."

Soon, Yao Xing brought the rice cooker over. It was still a little warm, but since it was hot, cold rice was fine to eat.

Half a bowl of mushroom and egg soup, half a bowl of shredded potatoes, and half a box of braised pig's head meat were all placed on the kang (heated brick bed).

"Let's eat quickly."

Zhang Li smelled the aroma and kept swallowing: "It smells so good! I've never had mushroom and egg soup before."

Zhang Man served the rice and expressed her gratitude once again.

"You eat, and let me know when you're done, and I'll collect the bowls."

Fearing they would feel embarrassed, Yao Xing pulled Gu Tong'an back.

Aunt Zhang ate her rice slowly, soaking it in soup.

Zhang Li wolfed down his food, finishing a bowl of rice in no time, and then went to get more.

Zhang Man ladled out a small bowl, but seemed unable to finish it.

"Mom, please don't fall again. I'll put all the things you need on the kang (heated brick bed) for you."

"I...I didn't mean to," Aunt Zhang said, her eyes darting around.

"Life is getting better and better, yet you still mistreat yourself. Are you trying to kill your daughter with love? I don't have a father anymore, I can't lose my mother too." Tears streamed down Zhang Man's face.

"Look at that guy next door, Gu Tong'an, isn't he great? He's a college student. If it weren't for your mother, you could have married such a wonderful young man. Manman, your mother is just a burden to you."

"Mom, no matter how good they are, they are still themselves. I don't want to marry some college student. I only want you and my brother to be happy."

"You're already 25. If you don't get married soon, it will be difficult for you to have children."

"I'm not having any more children, but you've already had two. In the end, you're even going to die for your children. What's the point of having children?"

"I... Manman, I was wrong. Okay, don't cry. It won't happen again."

Aunt Zhang was heartbroken; she felt sorry for her two children, and the two children felt sorry for her.

She would rather her two children not be so filial, and that they could die peacefully by drinking a bottle of pesticide.

But they were so obedient, and yet so unfortunate.

Zhang Man was suffering inside. She wanted to find love normally, but who could accept her family background?

Lin Jie hasn't visited her in a long time; he wonders what happened to her.

I used to think that as long as we loved each other, it didn't matter whether he was married or not.

In reality, it was a grueling relationship.

When Mom fell and needed someone to rely on, he wasn't there.

He will not appear when the night is still and loneliness is deep.

Their love was destined to be kept secret, and they couldn't even tell their mothers.

Zhang Man had no right to make demands of him; she could only hope that he would occasionally think of her.

A tear fell into my rice bowl; I stirred it and swallowed it down.

"Sis, I've graduated from junior high school and I don't want to go to school anymore. I want to go and do temporary work with Brother Yao Xing."

Zhang Li ate two large bowls of rice and finally felt full. He put down his bowl and said...

"How can that be? The college entrance examination has been reinstated. What a great opportunity! You should take the exam."

"My grades are bad, and it's hard for me to get into university. Why should I waste another three years in high school? Look at Yao Xing, he gets to eat pig's head meat every day. I want to earn money to buy pig's head meat for my sister and mom too."

"No, you have to go to high school. If you don't study, your life will be ruined."

"If you don't pass the exam, don't blame me."

"Then study hard, you'll definitely pass the exam. Don't worry about family matters, just focus on your studies."

"Sis, you need talent to study. I'm not good at it, so why are you forcing me to do it?"

"You're only fifteen, what can you do?"

"I... I'll ask Brother Lin to find me a job, anything is fine."

For the first time, Zhang Li disobeyed his sister. He really didn't want to study anymore. Even if he did nothing, at least he could take care of his mother, which would save his sister a lot of trouble.