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

Gu Tong'an only had 17 yuan a month for food expenses. He worked at the newspaper and earned 30 yuan a month.

After much hesitation, I finally mustered up the courage to go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy a bag of apples, ten pounds, for five yuan.

Huailin apples are very expensive, costing only 50 cents for two or three. Except for the Lunar New Year, very few people are willing to buy them.

Holding a bag of apples, I returned to that familiar yet unfamiliar home.

The person who opened the door was Fang Yi, her half-sister.

"sister……"

"Sister" is usually a warm and affectionate term, but Gu Tong'an's use of the word came across as stiff and bitter.

"Gu Tong'an? What brings you here?" Fang Yi asked, somewhat surprised.

I'm back at my own home, and it turns out it's you. What brings you here?

"Dad, Mom, Gu Tong'an is here."

Fang Yi walked into the house, said hello, and went back to her room.

Gu Tong'an, holding the apple, hesitated before entering the house.

"Aunt Yang, Dad..."

"Hey, why did you suddenly come back? Your Aunt Yang and I were planning to go to her house for the New Year," Gu Yongqiang said, frowning.

"I'm just here to take a look, I'll be leaving in a bit."

Gu Tong'an put down the apple. There were many snacks piled up in the living room, which must have been taken to Yang Yun's parents' house.

"I thought you went to Beijing for the holidays. What, didn't your mom invite you to Beijing for the New Year?"

While busy wrapping the fish meat and putting it into a woven bag, Gu Yongqiang asked.

"No!"

Gu Tong'an stood there, the sofa was covered with things, and there was nowhere to sit.

"Hmph, I thought she cared about you a lot, but it turns out she doesn't even want you to come for the New Year." Gu Yongqiang sneered.

"Dad, I don't have anything else to do. You guys go ahead with your work, I'll be going now."

Gu Tong'an didn't want to listen to them fighting like dogs.

Gu Yongqiang came to his senses and decided it was best not to bring up the argument he had had with his mother last time.

When Gu Yongqiang asked, Yang Yun's face immediately fell, and she was very unhappy.

"No need, I'm going to my classmate's rented apartment for the New Year. Everything is ready," Gu Tong'an said casually.

"In that case, it's all good. You're with your classmates, so you can talk. Tong An, there are a few eggs left in the kitchen. Take them and add them to your dish."

Gu Yongqiang said that Yang Yun's brows, which had just relaxed, furrowed again.

"No need, my classmate has vegetables at home."

"Well, you see, I'm quite busy too, you should go back."

Gu Yongqiang dropped the pretense and directly ordered them to leave.

Happy New Year, Dad.

After Gu Tong'an finished speaking, she turned away blankly, without any lingering affection or disappointment.

Gu Yongqiang was stunned for a moment, and Yang Yun shouted, "What are you daydreaming about? Hurry up and pack your things, my mom is waiting for us to have lunch."

Gu Tong'an ran downstairs in one breath. The community's loudspeaker was playing: "On every street and alley, on everyone's lips, the first thing they say when they meet is 'Congratulations!' Winter is coming to an end, which is really good news. The warm spring breeze is about to awaken the earth."

The vast ice and snow melt away, plum blossoms begin to bloom, the long night passes, and a rooster crows... After so many difficulties, so many trials, so many hearts longing for the news of spring... Congratulations, congratulations...

This song, originally a celebration of the victory against Japan, has now become a New Year's greeting.

Gu Tong'an let out a long sigh of relief, feeling an indescribable sense of ease.

That's good. Since there's no father-son relationship, maintaining politeness and decorum is a good thing.

Gu Tong'an wrapped her cotton coat tighter, looked at the sky, and sang loudly: "Congratulations, congratulations... Gu Tong'an, congratulations, Happy New Year..."

As she cried out, her nose stung with tears, and she quickly suppressed them.

Gu Tong'an longed for family affection, like Teacher Zhou and his father, drinking together and discussing the national economy.

Gu Tong'an longed for her mother's warmth so much. Director Luo was so busy, yet she never missed showing love to the children.

There's also Yao Xing, who was expelled from school. His father scolded and beat him, but he also loved him.

I, Gu Tong'an, got into university on my own, which should have been something my parents were proud of, but my father only felt disgust towards me.

That's life, isn't it? It can never be perfect, no matter what.

A fair-skinned, tall boy, trudging through the thick snow, tried to smile as he hurried home.

That wasn't his home, but there was a warm kang (heated brick bed), leftover mutton from a friend, and hot tea that had been brewed.

Humanity is absurd, yet also fair.

He had no family ties, but he gained a wealth of genuine friendships.

Back in the shantytown, Gu Tong'an saw a familiar figure—Zhang Man.

"Zhang Man? What are you doing here?"

Gu Tong'an went to greet her. Zhang Man, who was standing outside her own courtyard gate, turned her head, saw Gu Tong'an, and smiled gently: "It's the New Year, I came back to visit. Yao Xing went back to his hometown? Why didn't you go home?"

"Yao Xing went back yesterday. I... I'll help him look after the house; the kang (heated brick bed) can't get cold."

Gu Tong'an lied; she didn't want to talk about family matters with outsiders.

"Come inside, it's warm inside." Gu Tong'an opened the courtyard gate, and Zhang Man followed him inside.

"Why are you still living here? The house next door is much brighter."

Zhang Man sold her house to Yao Xing for 500 yuan, and it has been empty ever since.

Firstly, it would be troublesome for several single men to move around. Secondly, Yao Xing was worried that Zhang Man would redeem the house, so he wanted to give her some time.

"You really don't want the house next door?" Gu Tong'an poured tea for Zhang Man.

"It's been sold to Yao Xing, so it's his now. My workplace has dormitories, which are quite nice," Zhang Man said with a smile.

"Where is he?" Gu Tong'an asked hesitantly.

"he……"

Zhang Man looked out the window. She had come back this time hoping to see him, but she hadn't even gone inside the house.

Lin Jie's apartment building was occupied by his mother and her entire family.

Lin Jie wasn't home, and nobody knew what he was doing.

"You two didn't have a fight, did you?" Gu Tong'an asked.

"No, I was transferred from No. 2 Primary School to the suburbs. At first, he went every week, but later he went less often. The school has been on holiday for a month, and he hasn't gone. So I thought I'd come and ask him where he's spending the New Year."

"He's a section chief, and it's almost the end of the year, so he always has some social engagements. I'll cook, you can eat at home, and after you eat, you can go visit the Lin family."

Gu Tong'an got to work. Before Yao Xing went back, she left him a lot of food. At noon, she made a mutton and radish soup. After drinking a bowl, he felt warm all over.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony. I'll do it, and you can help me."

"Okay, let's eat mutton."

Zhang Man washed rice and cooked it. She chopped half a pound of lamb bones, put them in an earthenware pot, and waited for the lamb to cook until it was tender before adding radishes.

"Zhang Man, there's still a lot of mutton left, add more!"

"That's enough, save it for tomorrow's New Year's Eve dinner."

"It's hard to buy mutton at the vegetable store, but you actually managed to buy it."

"It was given to me by my classmate Yang Qiao."

"Yang Qiao? Teacher Zhou's wife."

"Yes, you know Teacher Zhou?"

"Yeah, he even helped me get my essay published through connections. I was so happy back then."

Zhang Man smiled bitterly. Yes, back then, there was no love, only her mother and younger brother.

I was so happy back then. I thought Lin Jie was my support, but little did I know, he would be my disaster.

"You can write it now. I work as a temporary editor and I can help you get it published."

"Really?"

"real."

The fire that had been extinguished in Zhang Man's heart seemed to have reignited.