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

In the living room, Zhou Wenjing poured tea for his father and Liu Songming.

"Brother Songming, I heard you're going to be a father soon, congratulations!" Zhou Wenjing said politely.

Actually, he dislikes children, otherwise he wouldn't have stayed married for so many years without having any.

"Yes, the due date is next May Day. A baby born at the end of the 1970s, the Year of the Sheep."

Liu Songming said happily that his mother had been waiting for this child for far too long.

"Oh dear, pregnant women need to pay attention to nutrition. You brought meat to my house, do you have any more at home?" Zhou Zhonghai asked worriedly.

"Old Chief, do you think my mother would mistreat her grandson? However, she has many restrictions. She doesn't allow him to eat mutton, and he can't eat much beef. Fortunately, Zhong Yao doesn't like mutton. There are dozens of chickens in the yard, all prepared for Zhong Yao's postpartum period. Zhong Yao eats very little, saying that if she gets too much nutrition, it will be difficult to give birth."

Liu Songming recounted the story with a cheerful smile.

"Your mother is indeed capable and meticulous. When my Qiaoqiao was pregnant, it was the most difficult time for our family, and she suffered a lot," Zhou Zhonghai sighed.

"Fortunately, it's all in the past now. Old Chief, Zhong Yao and I joked that if we had a daughter, we should arrange for her to marry Wen Hui."

"Haha, I think it's a good idea. However, Xiaowei is very mischievous, and I'm afraid he might bully your daughter."

"Don't worry, it's good that he was naughty when he was little. Zhong Yao and I both like Xiao Wei."

"Alright, that's your business, young people. I, as your grandfather, have no objections."

"What era are we living in? Still arranging marriages between children." Annie rolled her eyes.

"Zhong Yao is pregnant. Aren't you going back to your hometown for the New Year? Why don't you come to my house for the New Year?" Zhou Zhonghai suggested.

"No, that won't do. My brother and his whole family are coming to the city for the New Year, and my second uncle's family is coming too. We'll need two big tables, so we can't disturb the old leader's peace and quiet. I'll come to wish you a Happy New Year on the first day of the Lunar New Year."

There are indeed too many people. My own family already has a large table, so it's not appropriate for the two families to combine them.

"Alright, I'll be waiting for you to come and pay your respects on the first day of the Lunar New Year. But don't bring any cigarettes or alcohol, or I won't let you in."

"Then I'll come empty-handed."

"Okay, okay, it's good that you're empty-handed."

The two chatted and laughed, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation.

Not long after, Gu Quan brought Zhao Jintao and Feng Lin in.

"Hey, Jin Tao, Feng Lin, come inside quickly."

Zhao Jintao and Feng Lin called out, "Uncle Zhou."

"Sit down, Fenglin. Qiaoqiao is in the kitchen. Go see if she needs any help."

"Yes, Uncle Zhou."

Two more people arrived, crowding Annie so much that she had nowhere to sit. Not wanting to work anymore, she simply went upstairs.

Zhou Wenjing looked at Zhou Zhonghai and asked, "Dad, who is he?"

"Yang Zheng's friend, Zhao Jintao from Dashui Village. Jintao, my youngest son Zhou Wenjing, just returned from the Soviet Union."

Zhao Jintao quickly stepped forward to shake hands: "Hello, Wenjing."

Wenhui has a younger brother? Zhao Jintao was surprised to learn this for the first time.

Hello, hello.

Liu Songming shifted his position and said, "Jin Tao, come sit next to the old leader."

Zhao Jintao sat down next to Zhou Zhonghai, who looked him up and down and said, "Hmm, you've gotten quite muscular. Xia Lei has been praising you a lot."

Zhao Jintao said humbly, "It is you and my teacher who have been so understanding of me."

"I don't tolerate anyone. Good is good. Without your help, Xia Lei wouldn't have made it. It's also my fault for digging a big hole for him, haha..."

Zhao Jintao also smiled, wondering if Minister Xia would argue with Uncle Zhou if he heard this.

In the kitchen, Qiaoqiao was cooking a fish offal and pickled cabbage hot pot.

"Sister Hu, try it, is it a little bland?"

Qiaoqiao picked up a piece of fish offal with her chopsticks and stuffed it into Sister Hu's mouth. Fenglin called softly from the kitchen doorway, "Qiaoqiao."

Qiaoqiao was stunned for a moment, as if the voice came from another world.

"Feng Lin?"

Qiaoqiao stuffed the fish offal directly into Sister Hu's mouth, which burned her so much that she cried out, "Hot, hot!"

Qiaoqiao put down her chopsticks, jogged away, not caring that she was covered in oil, and the two of them hugged each other.

"Fenglin, I miss you so much."

"Qiaoqiao, I miss you too."

Without saying much, tears streamed down their faces.

Yang Zheng and Sister Hu watched without disturbing them, letting them have a good cry.

"Fenglin, you've gained weight, but you look even better than before."

Qiaoqiao loosened her grip on Fenglin's arm and looked him up and down.

When Fenglin was hospitalized, he was so emaciated that he had no flesh left.

Now, Fenglin's face is rounder, and her hands are fuller.

"Yes, Jin Tao and I are doing very well in the provincial capital. Jin Tao is good to me." Feng Lin nodded with tears in her eyes.

"Fenglin, this is my Fenglin, beautiful and confident."

Today, Fenglin wore a blue wool coat and looked particularly radiant.

"Qiaoqiao, thank you, thank you for giving me a second life."

"Your second life was given to you by Brother Jintao, you should thank him." Qiaoqiao smiled while wiping away her tears.

"Yes, thank you Jin Tao too." Feng Lin smiled, tears streaming down her face.

"Feng Lin..."

Seeing that the two had calmed down, Yang Zheng greeted them.

"Hey, Yang Zheng, you're back too?"

"Yes, I just got home this morning."

"Yang Zheng, Jin Tao is in the living room. Go and talk to him. You don't need to do the work in the kitchen; I'll take care of it."

"Fenglin, go and rest. I can handle it."

"That won't do. You go and keep Uncle Zhou company. I'll take care of it."

As she spoke, she pulled Yang Zheng to the living room, took off her coat, took Yang Zheng's apron, and went into the kitchen.

"Fenglin, come on, try my fish offal hot pot."

Qiaoqiao picked up some fish offal and fed it to Fenglin.

"It's a bit bland; fish needs enough salt to bring out its flavor."

"I also think it's a bit bland, Sister Hu, add some more salt."

"I'll do it, I'll do it. I'm better at cooking than Qiaoqiao."

Feng Lin took the spatula from Qiao Qiao's hand and started cooking.

"Okay, you two sisters get the rest of the dishes ready, and I'll help Chef Li roast the lamb."

Hu Xiaomei said with a smile that she was in Dashui Village when Fenglin had the accident.

That poor girl survived and is in good spirits; it's truly remarkable.

"Where's Xiaowei?"

Fenglin found his place in the kitchen and did his job very well.

"Last time my family slaughtered a pig, my father took it back with him and refused to come back. Tomorrow, Secretary Gu will take you back and bring him back."

Qiaoqiao said while washing the vegetables.

"The pork in Dashui Village is delicious. If you cook it with the pickled cabbage you brought, a big bowl of it will be finished in one meal."

"Right? I also think this pickled cabbage is delicious. When you go back home after the New Year, I'll make you some extra to take with you."

"How is Dashui Village?"

When Fenglin asked about Dashui Village, she was actually asking about her family background and her husband's family.

"Your third aunt is very nice. As for your mother-in-law, I heard she's become much more low-key."

"Have you sold both the pigs and the Angora rabbits?"

Why are you still worrying about your pigs and Angora rabbits?

"No, your mother-in-law wouldn't bear to part with you. Fenglin, are you staying at your parents' house this time?"

"Jin Tao told me to go back to my parents' house to stay."

"That's fine. Your mother-in-law is too formidable. It was the right thing to avoid her. I was originally going back to Dashui Village for the New Year, but Zhou Wenhui's younger brother is here, so I have to go back on the second day of the New Year. Come to my house for dinner on the second day."

"Okay. Hey, was that guy in the suit Wenhui's younger brother?"

"Yes, the one with the wavy perm is my sister-in-law."

"I was so busy looking for you that I didn't say hello to them."

"It's alright, Fenglin. Feel at home here, make yourself at home."

"Hmm, Qiaoqiao, bring the greens over. What other vegetables are there?"

"No, we don't have any left. But Chef Li makes mutton, we can't do that."