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

Liu Dabao went back inside, where his parents and younger sister were selecting soybeans.

"Did Yang Zheng go back?" Aunt Liu asked.

"He went back. He works the day shift and gets up early in the morning." Liu Dabao also helped select soybeans.

"Yang Zheng is a really good kid. He's tall and strong, reliable and steady, and polite." Uncle Liu liked Yang Zheng from the bottom of his heart.

"His family background wasn't good; they were rich peasants."

"Rich? A farmer? Then how did he get into the machine factory?"

In an era when political background could be a death sentence, the political vetting process at the machinery factory was extremely strict. How could a "rich peasant" possibly get in?

Liu Dabao got his job at the factory by taking over his father's position. His two younger sisters didn't have any quotas, so they could only work in low-paying textile factories.

"His sister's father-in-law is a division commander in the military," Liu Dabao said.

Uncle Liu was even more surprised: "How could this be? A soldier marrying the daughter of a rich peasant?"

"I heard that some disabled soldiers in the military region marry girls with bad class backgrounds, partly because they are easier to discipline and partly because they are good at taking care of people."

"You mean, Yang Zheng's sister married a disabled man in exchange for Yang Zheng getting a job at the factory?" Aunt Liu asked.

"I don't know, he didn't say, I'm just guessing."

"Sigh, I can understand. Being labeled a soldier makes you look down on. His sister married a soldier, and the whole family benefited from it."

Aunt Liu sighed, and Liu Xiaocao muttered, "Who cares about class background? As long as you have ability, you deserve respect."

Liu Dabao teased, "Little Grass, how about I introduce Yang Zheng to you as your boyfriend?"

Liu Xiaocao blushed and playfully hit Liu Dabao: "Brother, what do you mean by teasing your sister?"

"Oh dear, aren't you usually so quick-witted? You can lecture me all you want, but now you're blushing."

"Dad, Mom, tell me about my brother." Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu were seriously selecting soybeans.

Suddenly, Aunt Liu said, "Da Bao, do you think Yang Zheng would like Xiao Cao?"

Liu Dabao looked at Xiaocao and said, "With his current status, it's a huge leap for him to date Xiaocao. Who knows what will happen in the future? So, Xiaocao, you only have one chance. Don't underestimate Yang Zheng just because he's an apprentice now, comes from a poor family, and is very poor. His future is bright."

Uncle Liu said somberly, "Xiao Cao, your brother is right. His sister is willing to marry a disabled soldier in exchange for her brother's future, which shows that they have a very good relationship. Yang Zheng became Chen Yan's apprentice as soon as he entered the factory, and his sister's father-in-law was willing to help him."

"A division commander in the military region, once transferred to a local post, will at least be a municipal party secretary."

"Last time we were detained in the police station, it was Commander Zhou who intervened to release us. Even Director Tang didn't have that kind of influence."

"For the sake of his daughter-in-law's brother, the commander personally offered advice; such kindness is truly rare."

The whole family looked at Xiaocao, who blushed and said, "Why are you looking at me? You guys decide."

"Dabao, next Sunday, invite Yang Zheng over for dinner. I'll go buy fish and meat. Oh, and try to find out his attitude towards Xiaocao from the sidelines."

"Okay, I'll take care of it."

Yang Zheng had never thought about his marriage.

With a monthly allowance of 35 yuan, over 20 yuan is spent on food and miscellaneous items.

It's not easy to save ten yuan a month if you're frugal.

How can you support a family on ten dollars?

My grandparents are getting old and are constantly getting minor illnesses. My parents don't earn many work points, and they have to send their ten yuan home.

Yang Zheng didn't touch the sixty yuan Qiaomei gave him. His unit gave him a day off on July 1st, plus Sunday, for a two-day holiday, which he planned to use to visit his sister.

Since his younger sister's family had no worries about food and drink, Yang Zheng wanted to buy her two nice Dacron shirts.

All the girls in the publicity department wear it, so it will definitely look good on my younger sister.

Last time, Lu Han said that he would first make a simple support for Zhou Wenhui so that he could walk with the help of crutches.

Steel is needed to make the support frame, and that costs money to buy.

Yang Zheng asked his master, who said that if he asked the workshop director for some scrap materials from the workshop, the director could help with the welding.

Yang Zheng thought it wouldn't work; state property couldn't be used for private purposes. Besides, Zhou Wenhui was such a meticulous person; he would definitely find the bracket welded to the edges and corners unacceptable.

With a heavy heart, I spent thirty yuan to buy two steel plates and asked a craftsman to help me weld them on Sunday.

On Sunday, Yang Zheng arrived at the workshop early in the morning, and his mentor was there too. The two simple supports looked easy, but they were not easy to make.

The connection between the steel frame and the thigh should use adjustable buttons.

"Master, can you really walk on these two frames?" Yang Zheng asked.

"Have you ever seen stilt walkers? Those long wooden poles at the bottom, people stand on them and walk. Ultimately, the principle is the same. The steel plate is more stable than stilts, and with the support of crutches, you can definitely walk. Yang Zheng, who are you making this for with all this effort?"

"I...my brother-in-law..."

Yang Zheng found it hard to say, but he didn't want to lie to his master.

After spending three months together, Yang Zheng came to respect Chen Yan as if he were his own father.

"Oh, the division commander we ran into at the factory gate that day, was he your brother-in-law's father?"

"Yes." Yang Zheng lowered his head uneasily.

"Take it and try it out first. If it doesn't work, I'll come back and adjust it." Chen Yan changed the subject and didn't ask any more questions.

Everyone has their own privacy; not asking is a dignified form of respect.

After working on just one foot all morning, Liu Xiaobao came to the workshop.

"Yang Zheng, I've been looking for you for ages! Nobody was in the dorm, so I figured you must be in the workshop, and you were right."

"Brother Liu, did you need something?"

"My mom cooked dinner and wants you to come over for a meal."

"Well... I have other things to attend to."

"Chengshi, come to my house for dinner. My dad's been thinking about you a lot," Liu Dabao warmly invited.

"I'm not going, Yang Zheng, you go. I'll think about it some more, and I'll just eat in the workshop canteen," Chen Yan said calmly.

"Master, why don't we go together? We can come together this afternoon."

My master helped me with something, so why would I leave him behind and go eat by myself?

"Stop babbling and get to eat." Chen Yan waved his hand impatiently.

"Well then, Yang Zheng, let's go," Liu Dabao said, pulling Yang Zheng along, also fearing Chen Yan.

"Master, I'll be right there after I finish eating." Actually, Yang Zheng didn't want to go either, but since Liu Dabao had already come to the workshop, it would be impolite not to go.

After washing his hands and changing his clothes, Yang Zheng wanted to buy some gifts, but Liu Dabao refused: "We're family, why buy gifts for a meal? Come on, come on, my parents are getting impatient."

Yang Zheng chuckled and said, "Aunt Liu's cooking is delicious."

"Xiaocao's cooking is even better; she cooked today."

"Oh, that's amazing! My sister's a great cook too."

Missing your family? From now on, treat my home as your home.

Yang Zheng said sincerely, "Brother Liu, your family is very similar to mine, warm and harmonious. My family has a bad class background, but we all live in harmony. My grandmother and mother never quarrel."

"If you miss home in the future, come to my house for dinner."

"it is good."

That being said, how could we actually bother other people's homes? Resources were scarce; even a bowl of noodles was a token of gratitude.