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

When Yang Zheng arrived at the Liu family's house, he was truly terrified.

A large table of dishes, including fish, meat, and chicken soup, was served, but Yang Zheng arrived empty-handed.

"Brother Liu, are there other guests?" Yang Zheng was too scared to sit down at the table.

"There are other guests, it's you."

Liu Dabao pulled Yang Zheng to sit down, and Aunt Liu came out with dishes, smiling: "Yang Zheng, you're here, have a seat. Dad, the guests have arrived."

"Auntie, there are too many dishes." Yang Zheng was so embarrassed that he didn't know what to do.

"You and Da Bao are friends, but you usually just share a bowl of noodles, a steamed bun, and some leftovers. I've never formally treated you to a meal before."

Aunt Liu smiled broadly, growing more and more fond of Yang Zheng the more she looked at him.

"Noodles and steamed buns are fine, but this is such a feast. I... I've never eaten so many dishes in my life."

To be honest, Yang Zheng said that during the Chinese New Year, his family would only have two or three meat dishes at most.

"Sit down, Yang Zheng, sit down. Da Bao, go get the wine." Uncle Liu came out of the kitchen.

"No, no, I have things to do in the workshop, I can't drink." Yang Zheng waved his hands repeatedly.

"Dad, I found him in the workshop. He really has something to do and can't drink." Liu Dabao helped Yang Zheng out of the predicament.

"Okay, let's eat then."

"Where are the older women and their younger sisters?"

"Never mind them, let's eat first." Yang Zheng had already been dragged to the table by Liu Dabao.

Uncle Liu first served Yang Zheng a full bowl of chicken, saying, "Eat up. Live chickens are hard to buy these days. Your aunt went to the surrounding rural areas to exchange them for cloth coupons."

"There's too much, I can't finish it all."

"Look at you, a grown man, can't you finish a bowl of chicken? Eat up, eat big bites."

Unable to refuse such hospitality, Yang Zheng could only lower his head and eat the chicken.

The free-range chicken has a rich flavor, and the aroma fills your mouth.

Yang Zheng's family also raised chickens. The brigade stipulated that each household could only raise three chickens, but they dared not kill them to eat. They were to keep them to lay eggs and exchange for kerosene money.

Last time, when Commander Zhou and Director Luo went to propose marriage, Yang Zheng's parents killed a dog, but he didn't eat it; he left it for the guests.

Soon, Aunt Liu, Liu Xiaocao, and little sister Liu Xiaolan all sat down at the table.

Aunt Liu asked, "Yang Zheng, how does the food taste?"

With his mouth full of oil, Yang Zheng said, "Delicious, so fragrant."

"It's all made from grass, eat more."

Yang Zheng glanced at Xiao Cao, who blushed and lowered her head to eat.

The first time he met her, she blocked him and Da Bao at the door, being quite mischievous. But today, she exuded a touch of womanly charm.

"Little Grass, your cooking is really good. Thank you for your hard work."

Yang Zheng praised her, and Aunt Liu was overjoyed, constantly putting meat, fish, and pig's feet on Yang Zheng's plate.

Yang Zheng ate three bowls of rice and countless dishes, but his stomach was simply too full.

The dishes at his sister's house were also plentiful, but Yang Zheng was in a depressed mood and didn't eat much.

This was the most enjoyable meal I've ever had.

After finishing his meal, Yang Zheng was about to go to the workshop. Liu's parents didn't try to stop him, only saying, "Come again next time, you must come!"

Liu Dabao escorted Yang Zheng downstairs without saying a word.

Back in the workshop, Chen Yan was still studying the movable screws on the foot interface when Yang Zheng, burping, said, "Master, Brother Liu's family cooked a huge feast, and I went empty-handed. What do you think I should buy as a return gift?"

"You don't need to reply with anything," Chen Yan said coldly.

"How can that be? Right, don't we get meat and cloth coupons every quarter? I'll send them all to Brother Liu."

The company provided many benefits, including meat coupons, cloth coupons, popsicle coupons, and grain coupons.

Ice pop coupons were used up by the individual, food coupons had to be exchanged for meal coupons, and only meat coupons and cloth coupons could be saved.

Actually, the cloth coupons could be used to buy clothes for Qiaoqiao, but never mind, let's give them to Aunt Liu instead. We can't just eat such a sumptuous lunch for free.

"Silly boy, they don't want your meat or cloth tickets, they want you as a person," Chen Yan said.

"You want me? I'm just a rough guy who eats a lot. What use am I?" Yang Zheng chuckled.

"Are you really that clueless, or are you just pretending? That girl has a crush on you."

"No way... No..."

Yang Zheng's mind raced. Liu Dabao had asked him why he didn't have a girlfriend, and he had told him that his family had a bad class background and was dirt poor. Why would the Liu family be interested in him?

"I've met his eldest daughter, Liu Xiaocao, a few times; she's a capable girl," Chen Yan stated bluntly.

"But, I... I didn't think about these things." Yang Zheng's mind was muddled; no wonder Liu Xiaocao was so shy today.

"You don't like her?"

"No, I haven't even considered it."

"Then you can think about it now."

"I have nothing."

"You've been hanging out with Liu Dabao for a month, and his family knows all about your background. The fact that they're interested in you means they don't care about your family's circumstances. Yang Zheng, you need to ask yourself if you should accept that girl," Chen Yan analyzed rationally.

"I... Master, I don't know." Yang Zheng truly didn't know; his mind was in a state of confusion.

"Marriage is the second most important thing in life. The first most important thing is career. Kong Xiange is one of the most beautiful women in the factory, but Lu Hanyi refused her outright. Why? Because he knows what kind of life partner he needs. Yang Zheng, you should think it through. If you make a mistake, there's no turning back."

Yang Zheng smiled wryly and said, "How can I compare to Lu Han? He is cultured, good-looking, and has the resources to choose."

Chen Yan pulled Yang Zheng down and made him squat beside him, asking, "Yang Zheng, do you really think I willingly took you on as my apprentice? Do you think Factory Director Tang would willingly give a private dormitory to a lowly worker from the countryside like you?"

"I...I know, it's because of Commander Zhou's influence." Yang Zheng blushed.

"There's nothing shameful about connections. Countless people want to build connections but can't. Commander Zhou is currently in the army, and he'll be discharged sooner or later. If he becomes the municipal party secretary, even if you, Yang Zheng, don't ask anyone for favors, people will naturally come to you to curry favor. So, you need to think this through." Chen Yan laid out the matter openly.

"Then, Master, what should I do?"

"If you like Liu Xiaocao, then treat her sincerely. No matter how high you fly in the future, don't be a Chen Shimei (a notorious figure in Chinese folklore known for abandoning his wife). If you don't have feelings for her, then decisively reject her to avoid embarrassment when you see Liu Dabao later."

"I...I need to think about it some more." Yang Zheng was sweating profusely; he really had no experience with this kind of thing.

In the days that followed, Liu Xiaocao visited the dormitory several times, bringing dumplings and helping Yang Zheng with his laundry.

With his master's guidance, Yang Zheng understood. He gave all his meat and cloth coupons to Liu Xiaocao, not knowing if it would be enough for that meal.

Then, he intentionally or unintentionally distanced himself from Liu Xiaocao.

Every day after get off work and after dinner, Yang Zheng goes to the Cultural Palace to read.

It's not that Liu Xiaocao is bad; she's very nice, with delicate features and a pretty and cute appearance. It's just that Yang Zheng doesn't know what kind of partner he wants, so he should calm down first.

What I'm most worried about is that if the marriage doesn't go through, I won't be able to maintain my brotherhood with Liu Dabao either.

Liu Dabao was quite understanding; after that meal, he never came to see him again.

Liu Xiaocao came to the dormitory a few times, but Yang Zheng was never there, and gradually she stopped coming altogether.

Before they knew it, it was July 1st. Yang Zheng borrowed cloth coupons from his colleague and bought two shirts for Qiaoqiao. Carrying his rough steel legs and crutches, he went to see his younger sister.