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

The Huailin Daily organized a poetry and prose competition for college students. All submissions had to be sent to a designated mailbox; otherwise, they would be treated as invalid.

Qiaoqiao finally escaped from the troubles of interpersonal relationships, especially Wang Min, who wrote an article every day, as if afraid of driving Wang Min crazy.

"Yang Qiao, your husband is the editor-in-chief of the supplement, so he definitely has the right to decide the rankings. Please help me out, the first place winner gets a two hundred yuan prize."

At lunchtime in the cafeteria, Wang Min started pestering him again.

"Wang Min, take a good look at the submission details. The Writers Association chairman and members will jointly review the submissions. Zhou Wenhui has no authority over this. If you submit your work well, it will be selected."

Qiaoqiao used the rules and regulations to shut Wang Min up.

Qiaoqiao read a few of Wang Min's manuscripts and said they weren't well-written; they were full of ornate and elegant idioms, making them seem very noble.

While it's well-written, it lacks genuine emotion.

Poetry and prose need ornate language, but even more so, they need emotion.

Just like a person, no matter how beautiful they are, if they lack humanity, they can no longer be called a person.

Qiaoqiao didn't dare to offer her opinion. Wang Min was very self-centered and didn't easily accept other people's opinions. Even if she meant well, she would be seen as jealous. We absolutely couldn't let her become the next Han Dan.

"Wang Min, you're too ambitious."

Gu Tong'an really couldn't stand Wang Min forcing Yang Qiao to do things for her.

"Publishing an article can be put in your personnel file, which can help you get a good job when you're assigned to a unit later. Besides, I've asked Yang Qiao for help several times, and when has she ever helped me? We're supposed to be friends, but she's so impartial and doesn't care about her friends at all," Wang Min said dismissively.

"Wang Min, it's not that I don't want to help, it's that I can't. Zhou Wenhui took on a lot of pressure to give college students a chance to perform. Not allowing backdoors is the fairest thing to do in the competition. If everyone uses backdoors, you have even less of a chance."

"The principal, the dean of students, the counselors, and the children of various leaders, as well as the children of all your relatives, all went to plead for you. Everyone has more influence than you. Do you still have a fair chance?" Qiaoqiao said dissatisfiedly.

Gu Tong'an clapped: "Yang Qiao is right. Didn't you say that Yao Xing taking the exam for someone else was shameful? What's the difference between using connections and taking the exam for someone else? You have to rely on real talent and ability."

Wang Min was furious. She picked up her lunchbox and left, saying, "You guys are so annoying."

After Wang Min left, Gu Tong'an said with a smile, "You should have firmly refused Wang Min's unreasonable demands. She's too self-centered and wants to give her all the benefits."

"She's making things too difficult for me. Actually, the newspaper put a lot of effort into this essay contest for college students. If the essay is good, you can naturally win an award," Qiaoqiao sighed.

"I understand you. I will help if I can, like Yao Xing."

"Yao Xing? You..."

"Yes, I often stay at Yao Xing's house. You helped him find the job, and he is very grateful to you."

"Don't tell anyone about me."

"I know."

Why are you living at Yao Xing's house?

"Aside from the cheating incident, Yao Xing is actually a very good friend. He's loyal and doesn't hold grudges. I even helped him deliver the letters his family sent to the school. Every time I visited, he would cook a few dishes and thank me for keeping him company. He must have felt lonely in this unfamiliar city. Oh, and he even helped me find a summer job taking care of a sick person, earning three or four yuan a day."

"Are you short of money too?"

"I don't need anything. If I run out of money, I'll tell my family, and my dad will give me some. I'm doing summer jobs so I can enter the workforce sooner."

Gu Tong'an didn't tell Yang Qiao about his family affairs; it was his most private and shameful secret, something he didn't want others to see.

"It's alright, but taking care of the patient is not always consistent, sometimes one day and sometimes another."

"It's okay, I'm just earning some money to pay for food. I'm quite happy being with Yao Xing."

"I haven't been to where Yao Xing lives yet. I'll go visit him when I have time."

"Let's go on Sunday. I'll go buy groceries and cook, and the three of us classmates can get together."

"Okay, I'll go with Zhou Wenhui, is that alright?"

"Welcome!" Gu Tong'an was overjoyed.

Hu Xiaomei has been discharged from the hospital. She can't do heavy work, but she can play with Xiaowei and guide Yu Fu in tending the vegetable garden.

Yu Fu was about the same age as Hu Xiaomei's son, and Hu Xiaomei liked him very much.

Yu Fu was gentle and got along with everyone. He would obey Hu Xiaomei's every request without any principles.

After being kidnapped last time, Zhou Xiaowei seems to have become more intelligent and has developed a fervent love for soil.

Yu Fu dug the ground with a hoe, and Zhou Xiaowei dug the ground with a rice scoop. If anyone tried to stop them from doing their work, they would cry their hearts out.

Qiaoqiao and Zhou Wenhui were very casual; if you want to dig, go ahead and dig. Only Luo Meiyun, a surgeon, would shake her head every day when she saw Xiaowei covered in mud.

After watching it a few times, Luo Meiyun chose not to watch anymore. Everyone in this family loves the land, and Xiaowei inherited that love.

With Yu Fu and Hu Xiaomei taking care of the whole family, Qiaoqiao was much more relaxed. She was mainly responsible for cleaning the house and taking care of Zhou Wenhui.

Every Sunday, Qiaoqiao would do a thorough cleaning of the upstairs and downstairs areas, and air out the quilts, blankets, and cotton wadding. The big family was clean, warm, and harmonious.

"Yu Fu, Zhou Wenhui and I are going out tomorrow, so we won't be cleaning. We'll do it next week."

After finishing their meal, Qiaoqiao gave Yu Fu some instructions.

"I can do it."

"No need. You have to tend to several plots of land; it's not easy for you."

"There's not much work left in the fields, just pest control."

"Yu Fu, we can do a thorough cleaning next week. A week's break is fine."

Zhou Wenhui then asked Qiaoqiao, "Do you have anything planned for tomorrow?"

"Okay, I'll go check on Yao Xing's place tomorrow. You can come with me."

"Okay, do you know the address?"

"I only know the general location; Gu Tong'an told me. Gu Tong'an often stays at Yao Xing's house and also works summer jobs. His family seems well-off, so why does he also do odd jobs?"

"Perhaps, it's about experiencing life."

Luo Meiyun calmly replied, "Yao Xing is doing quite well at our hospital. The doctors like him, and the patients like him too. That kid is observant; he'll help out even if he sees something he shouldn't do himself."

"He was a very kind person back in school."

"That child is very smart and quick-witted. I'm afraid that temporary worker at the hospital won't be able to keep him in check."

"Mom, Yao Xing quit?" Qiaoqiao exclaimed in surprise.

"No, such a shrewd and resourceful person will seize any opportunity that comes her way."

"But what can he do?"

"Times are changing, and you may not have noticed, but the individual economy is quietly emerging."

"Is it safe to do business now?"

Qiaoqiao was quite happy. When she was little, there used to be people going from street to street exchanging sesame candy, but she hadn't seen it since.

With the rise of the individual economy, buying things has become much easier.

"The spirit of the 13th Plenary Session of the 13th CPC Central Committee, issued last year, focuses on restoring the college entrance examination and the economy. This includes both agricultural and commercial economic development. The central government has clearly stipulated that some people will be allowed to get rich first. I think that within ten years, those with sharp minds will all accomplish great things."

Zhou Wenhui reads the newspapers regularly and has a clear understanding of the country's direction.

"Wenhui, tell Yao Xing tomorrow that if an opportunity arises, he must not give it up."

"Okay, I'll go convey the central government's message tomorrow," Zhou Wenhui joked.