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

It was dark and the roads were slippery, with thick snow, so Yao Xing and Gu Tong'an couldn't ride their bikes at all. They had no choice but to push their bicycles and wade through the snow to get home.

"Gu Tong'an, I'm so excited tonight, my blood is still boiling."

Once outside the Zhou family's house, Yao Xing felt much more at ease.

"I didn't expect the vice governor to be so approachable."

"Yes, look at Yang Qiao and Teacher Zhou, they are both very approachable. That's good upbringing, unlike my dad, who beats me all the time," Yao Xing said with a smile.

"Stop complaining, you have no idea how envious I am of you. My dad, sigh, never mind, let's not talk about it."

"Gu Tong'an, are you really not going home for the New Year?"

"I'll go back before the New Year, but I'll skip the holiday. Yao Xing, do you understand hypocritical acting? They clearly hate me, but if I don't go back, they can find a bunch of reasons to scold me for being unfilial and an ingrate. But if I go back, they can't wait for me to leave so as not to disturb their family's happiness," Gu Tong'an sighed.

"Uncle Zhou said that love is not just about loving the good things, but also about loving the hardships. Life is destined to have regrets. Gu Tong'an, follow your heart. If you feel at ease spending the New Year in my dilapidated house, I won't force you to go back to my hometown."

After the New Year, my mother will come to the city, and we'll move to Sister Man's house. This house of mine will then belong to you.

"Yao Xing, how about I pay the rent too?"

"Gu Tong'an, you're being too polite. If you're going to pay rent, I won't rent to you. You think I'm helping you, but actually, you've helped me a lot too. After being expelled from school, I wandered around this huge city like a lost soul."

When you came, my heart was instantly filled. I'm not a lost soul; I have friends. Everyone needs a pillar of support in life, and you are mine. Before, when Uncle Chen shared pork head with me, I only wanted a little bit. Later, I would ask for more because I wanted to save some for you.

"Yao Xing, it was clearly me who took advantage of you, but you're talking as if you took advantage of me."

"At least, we saved each other. You and Yao Hongbing are the only ones who fought for me and gave me advice. You are my brothers for life, unless you leave me."

"Yao Xing, the three of us will always be good brothers."

If it weren't a snowy night, and if Yao Hongbing hadn't gone home for winter break, they'd probably be swearing an oath of brotherhood in the Peach Garden.

"You're back? Oh, Tong An, Uncle made you dinner and waited for you until midnight, thinking you had gone home."

"Uncle, I'm sorry I didn't say hello. I'm going to Yang Qiao's house for dinner too."

That brat! I told you to take me with you but you wouldn't. Why did you take Gu Tong'an with you instead?

Wouldn't it be impolite to casually bring classmates to the vice governor's house?

Yao Xing saw through her father's thoughts and said with a smile, "Gu Tong'an went with Teacher Zhou. He arrived before I did."

"Teacher Zhou? You mean, the editor-in-chief Zhou that Tong An works as a temporary worker for is the vice governor's son?"

"Yes, he is Vice Governor Zhou's son and Yang Qiao's wife."

"Oh my, you two lads are really lucky. You've met a benefactor. No, you've met a deity, a great deity."

"Father, Yang Qiao has brought us lamb leg, beef, and ribbonfish. Take them inside."

"Was it a gift from the vice governor?"

"yes!"

"The governor gave gifts to you young upstarts?"

Before even stepping inside, Yao Sixi's mind was already spinning. A provincial governor giving gifts to farmers—this was unprecedented and would never be repeated.

Perhaps it exists, but Yao Sixi has never heard of it.

Upon entering the room, Gu Tong'an was overwhelmed by the pungent smell of cheap cigarettes and began to cough.

"Sorry, I was getting impatient waiting for you, so I smoked a few extra cigarettes. Tong An, why don't you sleep on my bed? The blankets are thick, you won't be cold."

Yao Sixi liked to sleep naked, but he was embarrassed in front of the children. When Gu Tongan and Yao Hongbing came, he would sleep on the small bed set up in the kitchen.

"Okay, I'm going to sleep now. I drank some alcohol and I feel a bit dizzy."

Gu Tong'an didn't even bother to wash her hands and feet before heading to the kitchen.

As soon as Gu Tong'an left, Yao Sixi lowered her voice and asked, "How did it go?"

"What, how is it?"

"Are you playing dumb, kid? The vice governor invited you to dinner, it couldn't just be dinner, could it be that he was inquiring about the disinfection plant's profitability?"

"yes!"

"Did you complain about being poor?"

"No, I told Vice Governor Zhou that we made a profit of 18,000 in three months."

Upon hearing this, Yao Sixi was completely stunned. "You brat, you're too young to be trusted. How could you have revealed all your family's wealth?"

Enraged, Yao Sixi reached for something to hit Yao Xing, but Yao Xing calmly asked, "Father, have you ever seen a leader who is truly selfless and dedicates himself to the people?"

Yao Sixi paused for a moment, then readily replied, "No."

"Yes, Dad, Vice Governor Zhou is such a leader. He inquired about my business situation, not to take advantage of me, but to encourage me to work hard to make the disinfection factory bigger and stronger. He also said that no matter what happens, he will stand firmly behind me."

"Dad, you're a leader yourself, and you've encountered leaders who abuse their power for personal gain, accept bribes, and are always scheming. But Vice Governor Zhou isn't like that. He's selfless and wholeheartedly nurtures and supports us young people. Dad, if I were to hide anything from Vice Governor Zhou, would I even be human?"

Yao Sixi was stunned. Could there really be such a person in this world?

He served as the brigade secretary for so long. Whenever the commune secretary came to the brigade, he would always take away a few chickens, a few pieces of meat, and even dozens of kilograms of corn cobs.

He himself wasn't a good official either; his subordinates slaughtered pigs, took offal, and pork belly—they accepted everything they asked for.

Why is it that when they get to the city and meet high-ranking officials, they are not corrupt?

"Dad, look at this mutton. It was given to Vice Governor Zhou by Minister Liu. Apart from the amount we ate tonight, he gave it all to us. With such a good leader, if I, Yao Xing, don't work hard and run the company well, I'll be unworthy of being a man."

"Son, I was wrong. I was short-sighted. Just by looking at this mutton, I can tell that Vice Governor Zhou is no ordinary person." Yao Sixi seemed to see a different kind of light.

"Dad, I want to be like Vice Governor Zhou, not get caught up in the quagmire of self-interest, but do real work. We'll share the spoils and the profits. Once I've paid off my debts and have some extra money, I'll open a disinfection equipment factory. I want to monopolize the disinfection industry in Huailin City."

Yao Xing's eyes lit up, but Yao Sixi wasn't so optimistic. Opening a factory was difficult enough for even a brick factory in the village, let alone a disinfection equipment factory.

However, Yao Sixi was still very pleased. At least his son had made money for the time being and was still the director of the disinfection plant. He would be back in Xiaowanzi Village tomorrow. Let's see who dares to look down on me.

Hmph, a lousy brigade secretary, who cares? My son is the factory director, the vice governor invited him to dinner and even gave him a leg of lamb.

Those opportunistic scoundrels could never catch up to the Yao family, not even in eight lifetimes.