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

Unpacking the refrigerator, Zhou Wenjing exclaimed excitedly, "500! Mom, my dear Mom, 500 refrigerators aren't even in stock yet! I had to ask a classmate for help to get one. It was so hard! As far as I know, even the Huailin City Supply and Marketing Cooperative doesn't have refrigerators. My dear Mom, my dear brother, and my dear sister-in-law can finally use a refrigerator!"

Luo Meiyun nodded in satisfaction. This child was uneducated, but his words were quite charming.

Qiaoqiao forcefully opened the refrigerator door and said in astonishment, "Wenjing, you...you bought a cupboard for five hundred yuan? Isn't that too expensive?"

Zhou Wenjing laughed heartily: "Sister-in-law, you're right. You could say it's just a cupboard, an electric cupboard."

Annie smiled with her head down. Qiaoqiao didn't know what she had said wrong. Wasn't this just a cupboard?

Zhou Wenhui rolled his eyes at Zhou Wenjing and said gently, "Qiaoqiao, this is a refrigerator. After you plug it in, the top shelf is the freezer. If you put your popsicles in there, they won't melt for a month."

"Is it like the freezers in an ice pop factory?"

"Yes, yes, a family-sized freezer. The bottom shelf is for preservation. When the weather is hot, leftovers will spoil in a day, but if you put them in the freezer, they won't spoil the next day."

Zhou Wenhui patiently explained it to Qiaoqiao.

"I understand. I... I've never seen a refrigerator before. It's in books, but there's no detailed description." Qiaoqiao blushed.

"If you haven't seen it, you naturally won't know, and there's nothing shameful about it. For example, many people haven't seen guns and cannons and think they're toys. Zhou Wenjing, have you ever seen a cannon?"

"Brother, I didn't say anything. Why are you protecting your sister-in-law so fiercely?"

Zhou Wenjing rolled his eyes at Annie. Who told you to laugh?

"Don't think that just because you went to the Soviet Union you've broadened your horizons. I've dealt with Soviets, Americans, and Germans, and there's nothing special about them."

Zhou Wenhui said coldly, making it clear that no one in this family is allowed to look down on his Qiaoqiao.

Qiaoqiao tugged at Wenhui's clothes: "Don't be so fierce, we're all family."

Luo Meiyun smiled and said, "Wenjing, you're back. Give your food expenses to Qiaoqiao. Qiaoqiao is in charge of our household. Give her the money, and she'll arrange for Xiao Hu to buy groceries."

"Mom, are you even my real mother? The Zhou family, a family of high rank and prestige, has their son and daughter-in-law having to pay for their meals?"

"Not only do you have to pay, but you have to pay more. Your father and I have sent you all our money. Your brother has been supporting the family expenses all these years."

"Mom, here you go again. I did scam some money, didn't I? I bought a refrigerator and a color TV back with it."

"Your behavior was wrong. From now on, Mom and Dad will give all their salaries to Qiaoqiao to make up for their sacrifices."

"Mom, you're being biased too."

"I treat both of you sons fairly and justly."

Sigh, I should have never come back. It was so much better in the Soviet Union, with good food and drink, and I could even scam money.

"Mom, actually, my sister-in-law can also be in charge," Qiaoqiao hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

"No, we can't change our family's original order just because they're back. If they're not happy, they can move to their work unit's apartment," Luo Meiyun said seriously.

Annie pouted, "I'll listen to Mom."

"Never mind, never mind, let's take the TV apart. We'll install the antenna this afternoon, and then we can watch TV tonight. CCTV-1, I guarantee it's Dad's favorite."

The family was busy taking apart the TV and the washing machine. Zhou Wenjing installed the antenna, and Zhou Wenhui taught Qiaoqiao how to use the washing machine to wash clothes.

Pour half a bucket of coat into the washing machine, add water and laundry detergent, and the washing machine will start automatically.

Less than half an hour later, the washing machine stopped. Wenhui taught Qiaoqiao to put the clothes into the spin-dry tub, press them down, turn it on, and the water came out.

Then wash and spin dry, and a load of clothes is washed.

"Wow, this thing is amazing! It keeps my hands warm in winter," Hu Xiaomei said with curiosity.

"Yes, Sister Hu, it will save a lot of effort when washing quilts and coats in the future."

"It's wrong for the second son to cheat people out of money, but the things he bought are indeed quite useful."

Zhou Wenjing climbed up to the roof to fix the antenna, and after a while he called out, "Annie, try it, is there a signal?"

Annie, standing in the snow downstairs, replied, "Let me move a little further west and see."

"Okay, you watch and call me when it's ready."

"OK."

Luo Meiyun was staring at the TV in the living room when she suddenly exclaimed, "I've got it! It's CCTV-1, the channel you've been talking about!"

Annie quickly ran outside and shouted, "Zhou Wenjing, I've got it! I've got it!"

A figure emerged from a box.

"Wenhui, look, just like in the movies we watch, the people are coming out."

"A television is better than a radio; you can see images on it."

"Will they show a movie?"

"Probably not."

Zhou Wenjing came downstairs covered in sweat. Despite his quick wit and sharp tongue, he was a very serious worker.

"Sister-in-law, there are TV dramas to watch every night."

"TV drama?"

"Yes, it's different every day, just like the serialized articles in my brother's magazine."

What kind of shows do they perform?

"I saw in the newspaper that they'll be showing 'There Was a Young Man' for the New Year. It's about a young worker who studies science and technology during turbulent times. It's really good. Sister-in-law, I'll check the specific broadcast time later. There's also 'The Strange Case of Rose Fragrance' and 'Son of the Motherland.' My brother should like them."

Zhou Wenjing looked at his brother's legs and said meaningfully.

"Sons of the Motherland" tells the story of the brothers on the battlefield.

"This is amazing! We can watch movies at home now!" Qiaoqiao exclaimed with delight.

Hu Xiaomei quickly poured tea and handed it to Zhou Wenjing: "Second son, thank you for your hard work, have a cup of tea."

Zhou Wenjing was quite pleased with the admiring looks from his family. He generously took the water and drank half a cup in one gulp.

"Hey, sister-in-law, where's Zhou Xiaowei?"

I've been back for half a day and only now did I remember that I have a little nephew.

"We've gone back to Grandma's house. We'll go back for the New Year and then bring her back," Qiaoqiao said.

"Are you going back to your wife's parents' home for the Chinese New Year?"

"Yes, we also spend holidays at our parents' home."

"Then, then where are we, Mom? Where will Annie and I spend the New Year?"

Zhou Wenjing turned his head and called to Luo Meiyun, who was watching TV.

You've all gone back to your parents' homes, you won't leave me and Annie behind, will you?

"We'll discuss it when Dad gets back," Luo Meiyun said.

Yes, the two elderly people used to go with Qiaoqiao to freeload. Now that their youngest son and daughter-in-law have returned, they can't go back to freeload, can they?

"Wenjing, you should come too."

"I... I don't want to spend the New Year in the countryside."

Zhou Wenjing coldly refused, saying it was much better in the city, where it was warm and clean.

Qiaoqiao's face flushed red instantly.

"Fine, don't go then. I'll let you starve to death at home. Your sister-in-law kindly invited you, and you're acting all coy," Zhou Wenhui scolded.

"No, sister-in-law, I didn't mean that. It was so cold in the Soviet Union that I didn't want to go out at all; it was a stress response. Thank you for the invitation, sister-in-law. Oh, and Annie, we also have gifts for our families."

Zhou Wenjing shouted loudly, because he was most afraid of his father hitting him and his brother's cold face.

Even Dad is afraid of my older brother, so what reason does he have not to be afraid?

"Wenhui, it's alright."

Qiaoqiao knew Zhou Wenjing was outspoken, but she was still happy that Zhou Wenhui spoke up for her.