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

Last night, a group of people drank until very late. Qiaoqiao went to sleep, but they were still drinking.

I got up early. Today is Sunday. Qiaoqiao is going grocery shopping with Sister Hu, mainly to give her a gift.

A clay pot, a kettle, and four teacups were carried in two net bags, one for each person.

If we were to give the water vat to Sister Liu, we'd probably need three strong men to carry it.

"The water vat is good too; in winter, we can pickle sauerkraut. It's just that there are no vegetables," Hu Xiaomei remarked on the way.

"A water vat of vegetables must weigh a hundred or two hundred pounds, right? Ordinary families, who can get a hundred or two hundred pounds of vegetables? In winter, a family can only store twenty or thirty pounds of cabbage at most."

Qiaoqiao felt that the water tank was completely unnecessary and had no use at all.

"Last night I overheard that the supply and marketing cooperative signed a contract for 20,000 yuan worth of goods. From now on, if we need earthenware pots, we can just go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy them."

"Twenty thousand? That many?"

"With your father pulling the strings, anything can be accomplished. Qiaoqiao, Vice Governor Zhou is truly a good official, doing practical things for the people." Hu Xiaomei sincerely praised him.

"My father had two main characteristics: first, he served the people wholeheartedly; second, he was fiercely protective of his own. Tonggang County was like his child, afraid of suffering even the slightest injustice."

"That's also because Tonggang County has you."

"Haha, Sister Hu, you're right, that's why I said Dad is protective of his own."

The two arrived at the vegetable shop amidst laughter and chatter. Sister Liu spotted Qiaoqiao immediately and darted over like a sparrow.

"Qiaoqiao, you've gotten darker and thinner," Sister Liu said exaggeratedly.

"I went back to my hometown to harvest wheat and got a tan. Sister Liu, your son got into university, congratulations! I don't have much to give you, but I'll give you two useful things."

Qiaoqiao took out the earthenware pot, which was very large and could stew a whole chicken.

"Soup made in an earthenware pot tastes the best. Don't you often make soup at home?"

"Wow, this is a good find! You rarely see earthenware pots these days. Where did you get this?"

"The village next to my hometown makes clay pots. They gave one to my father-in-law, and I picked out two practical ones to give to you. There's also a teapot, which can be used to brew hot or cold tea."

Qiaoqiao and Sister Liu took the teapot out to look at it again.

"Great! Qiaoqiao, I love the gift you gave me. I only have a small glass teapot at home, which runs out of water after only a couple of cups. This big teapot is much more practical. I won't be shy, I'll accept it."

Sister Liu examined the earthenware pot from all angles, realizing it had so many uses; even if it wasn't used for stewing soup, it could be used to store lard.

"Your son is really amazing. This year's college entrance exam is much harder. If I were to take it, I might not be able to pass."

"Qiaoqiao, you're telling the truth. My child is also excellent. I have only one belief: if Qiaoqiao can pass the exam, my son must pass it too. In the past six months, I've used up so many pork ribs and pork belly to nourish my son's brain."

Sister Liu smiled smugly, while Qiaoqiao blushed, as if getting into university was as easy as buying groceries.

Actually, she went through a lot of hardship to get into the university.

"Take whatever you want, I can charge you less on the food coupons. Oh, by the way, doesn't your mother-in-law like red dates? We have some today, I'll get you a pound," Sister Liu said warmly.

You need vegetable tickets to buy any vegetables, but having tickets and money doesn't mean you can buy everything.

"Thank you, Sister Liu. I also need to buy some sugar, vinegar, and MSG. Sister Liu, could you please get me some sesame oil? It's so hard to get."

"Sesame oil is quite troublesome. We don't have any today, but I'll figure something out for you. I can get you two or three ounces at most."

"Sister Liu, how about a pound?"

"Oh dear, Qiaoqiao, you only need a drop or two of sesame oil. Why do you need a whole pound? You really want to use up all that oil?"

"Try to make as much as possible; two or three ounces is too little."

"Half a jin, just half a jin, that's the most I can do."

"Okay, thank you, Sister Liu."

Sesame oil is a magical thing; just two drops fill the whole room with fragrance.

Aside from the aroma, it can't actually change the taste of the dish, but that aroma can enhance the value of any dish.

Qiaoqiao wanted to give some to Xiaoqi, adding a couple of drops to her kimchi, which would make her vegetables sell much better.

After careful selection, Qiaoqiao bought everything she needed.

As long as Sister Liu is around, she can get even the hardest-to-find supplies on the market.

"Thank you, Sister Liu. Come visit me sometime."

Qiaoqiao was very satisfied and prepared to go home.

"I wouldn't dare go. Your father-in-law is such a high-ranking official; I'm terrified of him. If you need anything in the future, just come and I'll do my best to get it for you."

Sister Liu didn't try to hide anything and spoke frankly.

"My father-in-law may look serious on the surface, but he's actually a very nice person."

"I'm afraid of that, it's just that I'm too naive. Okay, you should go back now, come visit me when you have time."

"Alright, let's go back now."

Sister Liu is an ordinary person, but she also has her own principles for dealing with people. She maintains a relationship with Qiaoqiao that is neither too close nor too distant. She can only use Qiaoqiao's powerful family connections once.

This time, it can only be left to his son.

Back home, Zhou Wenhui was cleaning the room, while Luo Meiyun played games with Xiaowei and the little yellow dog.

Luo Meiyun dislikes dogs because she thinks they carry a lot of germs, but her grandson likes dogs, so she dislikes all dogs except for Xiao Huang.

"Mom, I bought a pound of red dates today. Luckily, we have an earthenware pot at home, so I'll make you a bowl of red date and egg soup to nourish your body."

Qiaoqiao showed the red dates to Luo Meiyun, who was a little jealous: "Qiaoqiao, Xiao Liu just favors you. I'll go buy some; I'll be lucky if he gives me half a jin."

"Mom, red dates are in high demand, so half a pound is quite good. Sister Liu's son got into university, and I gave her a clay pot and a teapot as a gift. She was only willing to give me extra red dates as a return gift. Sister Liu said, 'Qiaoqiao, your mother-in-law likes them, so I'll get you a pound.' It's clear that Sister Liu cares about you."

Qiaoqiao explained, and Luo Meiyun beamed, "You have such a silver tongue! Stew some more, Sister Hu can have some, and your father should have some too. He drank too much last night."

"Okay, I'm going to the kitchen."

Qiaoqiao and Hu Xiaomei went to the kitchen to prepare the lunch.

Luo Meiyun and Zhou Xiaowei were examining their new toy, a plastic toy gun. Xiaowei insisted on stuffing mud into it, saying it was bullets.

Luo Meiyun tried to teach him that mud couldn't be used to shoot anything, and it could even clog the gun muzzle, but Xiao Wei wouldn't listen and insisted on trying it, so Luo Meiyun had no choice but to let him go.

Zhou Xiaowei stuffed the gun hole with mud and shot at the little yellow dog, which trembled with fear.

Fortunately, it was impossible to fire; the muzzle was blocked.

Luo Meiyun took a small stick and helped her grandson clean out the mud. The two of them were busy and having a great time.

"Xiaowei, open the door, Uncle Yu Fu is back."

The iron gate in the courtyard creaked open, and Xiao Wei perked up: "Uncle Yu Fu is here!"

After saying that, he put down his gun and ran outside, with Luo Meiyun quickly following.

"Yu Fu, why are you back?"

Liu Songming's wedding is just around the corner, and the family is very busy. Why are you back?

"Dean Luo, it was the division commander who asked me to come back for lunch today." Yu Fu still habitually addressed the division commander.

"Come inside quickly, how are things going with Songming's preparations?"

"That's about it. I'm just running errands. Aunt Fang takes care of everything, big or small."

"That's right, Sister-in-law Fang Guiying is capable in both domestic and foreign affairs."

Once inside, Yu Fu didn't stand on ceremony and poured himself a cup of herbal tea.

"Yu Fu, you're back? We're having twice-cooked pork for lunch."

Qiaoqiao poked her head out from the kitchen. Yu Fu had long since become a member of the Zhou family.