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

As the Spring Festival of 1979 approached, the streets and alleys of Huailin City were bustling with activity.

Huailin City is at the forefront of reform and opening up, with the rise of individual businesses. This year, there are many more supplies for the Spring Festival than in previous years.

Vegetable shops and supply and marketing cooperatives were still bustling with people, and even people from impoverished families could buy affordable sunflower seeds, peanuts, fish, meat, and other delicacies on the street.

School was on winter break, and Xiaoqi's family had no time to prepare supplies for the New Year; all their energy was focused on sauerkraut.

Early in the morning, Xiao Liu would ride his tricycle, carrying four or five buckets of pickled cabbage, to deliver them to his sister-in-law and second sister-in-law at the entrance of the residential area to sell in small quantities. Then he would go home and, together with Xiao Qi, deliver the pre-ordered pickled cabbage to various canteens.

Sister-in-law Xiaoqi and Sister-in-law Er are very busy. Only their family's pickled cabbage in Huailin City is golden yellow. Although it's not cheap at 50 cents a pound, a pound of pickled cabbage stewed with half a pound of meat makes the pickled cabbage taste even better than the meat.

Four or five buckets a day is not enough. After delivering the food to the cafeteria, Xiao Liu has to go back and haul another four or five buckets.

Business was so good that several times, Xiaoqi's two sisters-in-law were so busy that they forgot to embezzle money.

Yao Xing was even busier than Xiao Qi; the municipal party committee had entrusted him with the year-end disinfection work for all government offices.

I led a team out to disinfect in the morning and didn't get home until dark. When I got home, I ate a bite of food, didn't even wash my feet, and then fell asleep.

Yao Sixi felt sorry for her son, so she prepared a bucket of hot water, placed it on a stool, and let her son soak his feet.

Other people raise sons to wash their fathers' feet, but in this family, the father washes his son's feet every day.

Looking at the layers of calluses and new blisters on Yao Xing's feet, Yao Sixi wished he could do it himself and let his son rest at home for a day.

Qiaoqiao is busy too, but she's lazy when she's busy.

I slept until the sun was high in the sky, then took Sister Hu to the supply and marketing cooperative.

It's almost Chinese New Year, and she needs to prepare gifts for her grandparents and parents.

Last year when I went back to Dashui Village for the Spring Festival, I was worried that there wouldn't be enough vegetables at home, so I went to the vegetable store quite often.

This year is different. My family has two big, fat pigs, a bountiful harvest of potatoes, and the wasteland in the backyard has been cleared. We can't even finish all the vegetables we grow.

Qiaoqiao stopped bringing groceries home and prepared to buy some new clothes for her grandparents and parents for the New Year.

My brother called to say that he was also going home for the Chinese New Year, but he still had to finish a few sets of prosthetics before the New Year, so he hadn't set a specific date to go home.

Hu Xiaomei was even more proactive than Qiaoqiao. She visited the Yang family many times and got along well with Qiaoqiao's mother. She then treated Qiaoqiao's family as her own sister's family.

"Qiaoqiao, this padded jacket is good. It's inconvenient for rural people to wear a big cotton-padded jacket when they're working. Wearing a padded jacket and then an outer coat will keep you warm and make you more comfortable," Hu Xiaomei said, pointing to a black padded jacket.

"Alright, then let's buy Mother a little jacket. Comrade, could you please take that little jacket down so I can take a look?"

The sales clerk was in a complete mess and said irritably, "Can't you see we're too busy here? Why are you rushing me? Just wait a bit."

Qiaoqiao could only wait with a forced smile.

There are so many people buying clothes! Ordinary people have extra money, but the styles of clothing are monotonous.

No wonder sweaters and coats are so sought after in Fenglin; they're high quality and cheap. They'd be just as popular in Huailin.

"Look at these sales clerks, their attitude is terrible. Xiao Liu is much easier to get along with."

Hu Xiaomei muttered to herself, afraid that if she raised her voice she would offend the sales clerks, and if they got angry she wouldn't sell to them.

In times of scarcity, whether it was a vegetable shop or a supply and marketing cooperative, the sales staff were all known for their bad tempers.

Even if Vice Governor Zhou came, he wouldn't dare offend them.

"Let's wait, we have time anyway."

Xiaowei wasn't home, and her in-laws, Zhou Wenhui, were having lunch at work. Qiaoqiao and Hu Xiaomei finished their meal with a bowl of noodles, since they had plenty of time and could wait patiently.

"Sister Hu, can my grandpa wear those cotton shoes?"

During her free time, Qiaoqiao pointed to a pair of high-top cloth shoes and said...

The outside is made of corduroy, and the upper is lined with cotton, making them warm to wear in winter.

"Sure, it's pretty."

"I also need to buy a pair of knee braces for Grandma, because her knees hurt terribly in winter."

"Those knee pads are great, they cover the whole foot," Hu Xiaomei said, pointing to a pair of floral knee pads.

"Okay, they all look very warm."

The knee pads were lined with thick cotton and tied around the legs, making them look like cotton-padded trousers.

Qiaoqiao's mother also makes knee pads, but she uses little cotton and mostly old cotton, so they don't keep the knees warm.

It was almost noon by the time I finished buying everything I needed to go home.

Qiaoqiao's father only liked to wear the military overcoat he brought back last year. Qiaoqiao didn't buy him any clothes, but she bought him a pack of cigarettes and two bottles of good wine.

"I'll need to buy some candy, cookies, and apples tomorrow, that should be about it."

"Everything is ready, but I don't know if Vice Governor Zhou can go back early. I'm already worried about Xiaowei," Hu Xiaomei said sullenly.

You may miss him, but he might not miss you.

Qiaoqiao smiled. She was quite at ease with her eldest son, as she hadn't raised him much since he was little.

I arrived home with lots of bags and packages, only to find my front door blocked by a pile of things.

Several workers in tattered clothes, a man in a suit, and a fashionable woman in a long wool coat with wavy hair were standing at the entrance.

"What are you doing?" Qiaoqiao asked in confusion.

The man in the suit and tie, with slicked-back hair, stared at Qiaoqiao with wide eyes and asked, "You, you're Yang Qiao, my sister-in-law?"

"I...I'm Yang Qiao. You're Wenhui's younger brother?"

Qiaoqiao was stunned. She knew that Zhou Wenhui had a younger brother in the Soviet Union, but she had never even seen a photo of him.

No, there are photos, photos of them wearing open-crotch pants.

"Oh, my dear sister-in-law, you're finally home! I'm freezing!"

Zhou Wenjing exaggeratedly opened his arms and gave Qiaoqiao a big hug.

Qiaoqiao was so frightened that she backed away repeatedly, saying, "I, I'll open the door right away."

"Annie, my sister-in-law is Yang Qiao, call her sister-in-law."

The woman with wavy hair bowed with a beaming smile: "Hello, sister-in-law."

"Okay, okay, Sister Hu, open the door quickly."

The door opened, and Zhou Wenjing waved his hand: "Big brother, just help me carry these things to the living room."

Several workers quickly lifted several large items from the doorway.

Once inside, Qiaoqiao pointed to several large cardboard boxes and asked, "Little brother, what are these?"

The room was heated. As Zhou Wenjing took off his clothes, he said, "TV, refrigerator, washing machine."

Television? Refrigerator? Qiaoqiao looked at Hu Xiaomei. She had seen these things in books, but had never actually seen them.

"Sister-in-law, this is a gift I brought home for our first meeting. Not many families in China have a three-piece set, and even fewer in Huailin. How is it? Are you satisfied?"

"I...I..." Qiaoqiao stammered, unsure if she was satisfied. "Please sit down first, Sister Hu and I will go cook."

Hu Xiaomei went to cook, and Qiaoqiao turned around and went into the study to call Wenhui.

Lunch was ready, and everyone in the Zhou family arrived home.

Zhou Wenjing was as enthusiastic as ever: "My dearest Mom and Dad, your lovely son is back home."

"My hero brother, you can walk freely now? I'm so happy for you."

"Dad, I brought you the strongest vodka."

Zhou Zhonghai had a sullen face, while Luo Meiyun looked at her youngest son with a face full of affection.

Zhou Wenhui watched his younger brother's exaggerated performance quietly; as expected, a storm was about to break.