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

In the kitchen, the two men got busy.

Zhao Weiguo seemed to be good at everything. He could clean fish, cut meat, and prepare vegetables with ease, which even Lin Jie admired.

"Zhao Weiguo, is there anything you can't do?"

"Brother Lin is joking. After my parents were imprisoned, I lived alone. If I didn't know how to cook, I would starve to death."

"Doesn't your uncle take care of you?"

"My uncle's abilities are limited. He has three children and none of them have a formal job. He occasionally gives them some money; they're all struggling financially."

"If you were in ancient times, you would definitely be a person in the imperial court."

"Brother Lin, you flatter me. I just want to live a better life; I don't want to be an official."

Things will get better and better.

The stove fire was slow, and after a pot of fish was stewed, Zhang Man finished get off work.

"None of you go to work?"

Zhang Man was quite surprised to see two men cooking in the kitchen.

"I'm on shift change, and Section Chief Lin has taken leave. To celebrate Section Chief Lin's return to single life, I've prepared a sumptuous lunch. Sister-in-law, hurry up and get ready to eat."

Zhao Weiguo spoke frankly, and Zhang Man's face instantly turned red.

"I'm divorced, Zhang Man."

Lin Jie carefully handed the divorce papers to Zhang Man, who turned and left, saying, "Who wants to see this? Let's eat."

I was genuinely very happy.

Zhang Li returned after wandering around outside. He didn't want to go to school and had nowhere to go. He wanted to find Yao Xing, but was afraid of disturbing Yao Xing at work.

"Eat your food, Zhang Li..." Zhang Man called out, thinking Zhang Li had just finished school.

At the dinner table, Zhao Weiguo and Lin Jie were drinking. Lin Jie was about to pour some for Zhang Li when Zhang Man stopped him, saying, "What kind of child would drink alcohol?"

"Look at him, he's already 1.7 meters tall, he's not a child anymore."

"I have to go to school this afternoon, so I can't drink."

Lin Jie had no choice but to take back the bottle.

Zhang Li seemed to have made a decision, looking at Zhang Man and saying, "Sister, I haven't gone to school since Mom fell off the bed last time."

"What did you say?" Zhang Man was so shocked that her mouth dropped open.

"I'll leave in the morning, and after you go to work, I'll come back to take care of Mom, or go find Yao Xing. Sister, I don't want to go to school anymore, I want to earn money," Zhang Li said resolutely.

Aunt Zhang, Lin Jie, and Zhao Weiguo ate their food in small bites, heads down, waiting for the storm to arrive.

"You, Zhang Li, why? Why did you do that? The country has reinstated the college entrance examination, what a great opportunity! Why didn't you study?"

Zhang Man couldn't hold back her tears; her voice was hoarse and filled with despair.

"Sister, you're a teacher, you should understand that studying requires talent. I'm not good at it, all I think about is making money. Please let me go home. At least I can support myself."

Zhang Li also cried; he had let his sister down.

"You're only fifteen, what can you do? Society is developing, you can't get by without education."

Zhang Man loved reading and literature, but she didn't have the opportunity to take the college entrance examination. She was the pillar of her family.

"Isn't Yao Xing doing pretty well? He makes 35 yuan a month and gets to eat pig's head meat every day. I don't believe I'm doing worse than him."

"Why do you only look at Yao Xing and not his friend Gu Tong'an? Look at him, he's poised and elegant, and speaks with refined manners. He's a completely different person from Yao Xing. If you don't get into university, you're like Yao Xing; if you do, you're like Gu Tong'an."

Lin Jie's heart tightened. Who was Gu Tong'an?

Zhao Weiguo felt a deep sadness; he was just like Yao Xing.

"Alright, alright, what Yao Xing, what Gu Tong'an, Manman, what's wrong with Yao Xing? He cooks dinner and brings it over in the middle of the night, and he's a reliable worker. If he knew you were talking about him like this, he'd be so upset."

Aunt Zhang couldn't help but speak up.

Yao Xing brought food? Lin Jie's heart tightened even more.

"Sis, Yao Xing earns his living in the city with his own hands, what's wrong with him?"

"Zhang Li, I don't look down on Yao Xing, but I feel sorry for you not studying. You'll have to work as hard as Yao Xing in the future," Zhang Man explained weakly.

"How many college students are there in Huailin City? Aren't they all just ordinary people? Sis, don't force me, I'm not going to study anymore anyway."

Zhang Li became stubborn.

Lin Jie wanted to ease the tension but didn't dare to speak, fearing that Zhang Man would get even angrier.

"Being able to get into university certainly makes you a superior person, but not getting in isn't a dead end. Let's eat first, let's eat first," Zhao Weiguo said, forcing a smile and trying to smooth things over.

Zhang Man couldn't eat and sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) silently shedding tears.

"Zhang Man, how about this, I'll try to pull some strings and get Zhang Li into the army."

This is the most dignified way.

"Can Zhang Li join the army?"

Sure enough, Zhang Man's expression softened.

"You have to be sixteen to join the army. Zhang Li is almost sixteen, isn't he? I'll handle it. It shouldn't be a big problem." Lin Jie nodded confidently.

"Brother Lin, are you really letting me join the army?" Zhang Li's dislike for Lin Jie immediately disappeared.

"I'll try my best to find a way. If you can't join the army, I'll arrange a job for you. You and your siblings shouldn't argue about going to school."

"As long as I can join the army, I'll listen to whatever my sister says." Zhang Li wiped away her tears, her whole body filled with excitement.

"Being a soldier is good, being a soldier is good, now we don't have to fight anymore."

Aunt Zhang was very happy. Her son had joined the army, and now that her family was a military dependent, everyone in the neighborhood would look up to them.

"Zhang Man, let's eat. The fish will get cold and fishy."

Zhang Man picked up the bowl and slowly began to eat.

After finishing his lunch, Zhao Weiguo said he had to go to his afternoon shift and left in a hurry.

Zhang Li happily went to find Yao Xing to tell her the news of his enlistment in the army.

Aunt Zhang was tired and took a nap on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Zhang Man cleared the dishes, with Lin Jie helping her.

"Zhang Man, I know you like scholars, but you can't push Zhang Li too hard."

"Who said I like bookish people?"

"Your eyes lit up when you were talking about that Gu Tong'an," Lin Jie said, a little jealous.

"He's Yao Xing's friend, and I treat him like a younger brother. Aren't you being too petty?"

"I'm petty, but I won't be petty after we get married. Manman, how about we go get our marriage certificate tomorrow?" Lin Jie was eager to marry Zhang Man.

"No, you're getting married right after your divorce. What will people say? Lin Jie, you divorced for me, I won't change. Let's wait until Zhang Li's matter is settled before we get married, okay?"

"That's good. Zhang Li has gone to join the army, and my house should be ready soon. You and Mom can move to the new house together. The new house has a yard for growing vegetables and a separate toilet, which will be much more convenient."

"You're not even married yet, and you're already calling her 'Mom,' aren't you ashamed?"

"Manman, my heart has been yours for a long time. It was just a matter of time. Whether I said it sooner or later, it was all the same."

"Hate……"

The two flirted and teased each other, and the shadow of Zhang Li dropping out of school disappeared.

Han Dan and Lin Jie's marriage was a marriage of convenience. What about Zhang Man? If Zhang Man weren't burdened by her family, would she really like Lin Jie?

The husband she desired was a cultured man like Zhou Wenhui, while Lin Jie was nothing more than a rude man who could barely read.

When faced with self-interest, love becomes less important, and even shame becomes less important.

When Lin Jie revealed his intention to help Zhang Li join the army, Zhang Li forgave Lin Jie's affair with his sister and quickly accepted this prospective brother-in-law.