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

The Zhou family seemed particularly fond of this marriage. On the third day, Aunt Fang and Zhang Wei, the secretary of the commune, brought Zhou's parents to propose marriage.

Huang Hongmin, the village women's federation director, rushed to the field to call for help.

Qiaoqiao didn't go back. Her grandfather would decide on the marriage. She would earn seven more work points for every extra day she worked.

Grandpa Qiaoqiao and her parents hurriedly carried their hoes home. Qiaoqiao's mother muttered all the way, "Aren't they in too much of a hurry? They've only been a few days and they're already proposing marriage."

"Now that it's settled, the Zhou family can rest assured."

"Now that it's settled, does that mean Zheng'er can go to the city?"

"Who knows? It's up to them to decide."

They arrived home quickly, where a jeep was parked in front of the door, and the village children were gathered around, looking at it with curiosity.

"Commander Zhou, Secretary Zhang, the people are here, they're back!" Huang Hongmin shouted enthusiastically.

Zhou Zhonghai and Luo Meiyun, who were drinking tea in the inner room, came out to greet them.

Grandpa Qiao put down his hoe. Before he could even wash his hands, Zhou Zhonghai stepped forward and grasped his calloused hands: "Grandpa, you've worked hard."

He then shook hands with Qiaoqiao's father: "My dear in-law, I apologize for my abrupt arrival."

Before the marriage was even arranged, they were already calling for the in-laws. Qiaoqiao's father was so nervous that he didn't know what to do.

It had to be Zhang Wei, bowing and scraping with a smile: "Old man, Commander Zhou, come inside and let's talk, come inside and let's talk."

Zhou Zhonghai waved his hand and said, "I'll go to the car and get the betrothal gifts first."

After saying that, he strode out of the yard, and Zhang Wei jogged after him.

Luo Meiyun smiled and said to Qiaoqiao's mother, "My dear in-law, you're all sweaty. You must be tired."

As he spoke, he rolled up the sleeves of his yellow military uniform and wiped the sweat from Qiaoqiao's mother's brow.

At that moment, Qiaoqiao's mother wanted to cry. In her entire life, she had never been respected like this.

"Farmers work on the land every day, they're not tired. Please come in, come in and have some tea."

Soon, Zhou Zhonghai and Zhang Hai moved the betrothal gifts onto the kang (a heated brick bed).

"My dear in-laws, here are ten catties of pork, a leg of lamb, two pieces of cloth, and five catties of candy."

As Luo Meiyun explained, she took out a thick envelope from her pocket and handed it to Qiaoqiao's father: "This is a thousand yuan. Thank you for raising such a good daughter. It's not much, but it's our heartfelt gift."

Qiaoqiao's father was too scared to accept the money. His family had worked hard all year, and after deducting food and drink expenses, they only had two hundred yuan left.

A thousand yuan is a huge sum of money these days.

Zhang Wei quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Uncle, please accept this. It's Commander Zhou's sincere gift."

Qiaoqiao's father had no choice but to accept the envelope, which was burning hot in his hand.

Zhou Zhonghai took a piece of paper out of his military uniform pocket and handed it to Qiaoqiao's father: "This is an employment introduction letter from the Municipal Machinery Factory. Yang Zheng can go anytime; someone will be there to receive him."

Qiaoqiao's father hurriedly waved his hand: "No, no, the children's marriage hasn't been arranged yet."

Zhou Zhonghai handed the letter of introduction to Qiaoqiao's father: "You're an honest man, and I'm a straightforward man too. Let's discuss the marriage later."

Qiaoqiao's father looked helplessly at Zhang Wei, who laughed it off: "Hurry up and accept it. Yang Zheng can report for duty tomorrow. He'll be a government official from now on."

"I...I..." Qiaoqiao's father smacked his lips and had no choice but to accept it.

Aunt Fang, Huang Hongmin, and Qiaoqiao's mother took the pork and lamb leg to the kitchen, then went to kill a chicken and start a fire to entertain their distinguished guests.

Inside the house, only Zhou Zhonghai and his wife, Zhang Wei, Qiaoqiao's grandfather, and Qiaoqiao's father were present.

Luo Meiyun asked with a smile, "Where's Qiaoqiao?"

"When we told her to go home while she was in the field, she said she would work one more day to earn seven more work points," Qiaoqiao's father said truthfully.

"What a good child, such a good child, so down-to-earth and simple. Grandpa, in-laws, rest assured, once Qiaoqiao comes to my home, I will definitely treat her like my own daughter," Zhou Zhonghai praised.

In rural areas, which child doesn't work in the fields? In Zhou Zhonghai's eyes, that was all a virtue.

"Thank you for thinking so highly of my Qiaoqiao, Commander Zhou..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Zhonghai interrupted, "Hey, in-law, don't call me 'commander.' Sitting here today, I'm a father of a child, just like you."

Luo Meiyun took a photo out of her bag and handed it to Qiaoqiao's grandfather: "Grandpa, take a look, this is my son."

Grandpa Qiao looked at the photo. The boy was handsome and dashing. It was a pity he hadn't broken his leg.

"Commander Zhou, there have been battles all these years, so how come Wenhui..." Qiaoqiao's grandfather asked, voicing his doubts.

Zhou Zhonghai sighed deeply, his tone grave: "There are some things I cannot say. Old man, my son is a good boy, a man of integrity and upright character. You can rest assured about his character."

Grandpa Qiaoqiao naturally didn't understand what was going on, so he could only say, "They are good men who protect their country."

Zhang Wei said emotionally, "Today's peace and prosperity are thanks to those who have borne the burden for us. Today, we will only talk about our children's happy events."

Zhou Zhonghai laughed heartily: "Yes, in-laws, Comrade Fang Guiying should have explained my family situation in detail, right? If you have no objections, could we set a wedding date?"

Oh, so fast. Qiaoqiao's father looked at his son, unable to make a decision.

Zhou Zhonghai explained, "I only have fifteen days of leave to visit my family. If I go back to the army, I might not be able to go home for three to five months, or even half a year or a year. I'm taking advantage of this leave to get the wedding done so that I, as his father, can rest assured."

Grandpa Qiao said, "In that case, let's follow the teacher's instructions."

Zhou Zhonghai then asked, "How about the eighth day of next month?"

There are only ten days left.

"I'll take care of all the wedding expenses and supplies. Just give me a list," Zhou Zhonghai said.

"No, it's just a little too fast," Qiaoqiao's father stammered.

From the engagement to the wedding, it took less than half a month.

"Let's make it a date, the eighth day of next month. Commander Zhou is a citizen of the country, serving the nation. We can't let our children's affairs delay important matters," said Qiaoqiao's grandfather.

"Grandpa, please just call me Xiao Zhou, or Zhong Hai. At home, we call you Master, that's too formal."

For the first time, Qiaoqiao's grandfather smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay, then let's call him Zhonghai."

After meeting the Zhou family, Qiaoqiao's grandfather was completely relieved. They were so generous; the marriage wasn't even arranged yet, and they had already sent gifts.

The Yang family couldn't keep that money; they had to give it back to Qiaoqiao. But the Zhou family's attitude was reassuring.

In the kitchen, Grandma Qiaoqiao was tending the fire, Qiaoqiao's mother was killing a chicken, and Aunt Fang and Huang Hongmin were helping to cut the meat and wash the side dishes.

"Commander Zhou's temperament is truly unmatched by ordinary people."

"Look at Commander Zhou's wife. She's about our age, but she looks at least twenty years younger. She has fair skin and delicate features. She's a medical surgeon, and now she's been promoted to chief surgeon."

"Rongfang, Qiaoqiao will be living a life of luxury if she marries him. So many people would kill for that."

"Yes, Commander Zhou is selective. He said the elders of the Yang family are educated and reasonable. If they encounter someone who is unreasonable, even if you pay them, they won't be willing."

Qiaoqiao's mother was busy plucking chicken feathers, her mind preoccupied with a question: was her son-in-law actually good in that area?

If they can have a son or a daughter, the marriage will be perfect.

But she couldn't very well ask him directly; what mother-in-law would ask such a question?