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

A small pot of lamb bone and radish soup, and a bowl of rice for each person.

Gu Tong'an served Zhang Man some mutton: "Try it, it's good for ladies to eat more mutton."

"You should eat some too, there's plenty, you can't finish it all."

"I eat radishes, radishes are delicious."

Gu Tong'an picked up a piece of white radish for herself, which was wrapped in mutton soup and tasted delicious.

"Gu Tong'an, it would be better if you added some pepper," Zhang Man suggested.

"Pepper? Wait here, I'll go look for it in the kitchen."

Gu Tong'an jumped off the heated kang and went to find pepper powder.

Zhang Man was a little dazed; this was the first time she had eaten so peacefully since her mother passed away.

If I hadn't been with Lin Jie back then, would I be able to live a normal life?

Just like now, a few lamb bones, a pot of soup, simple and casual.

Unfortunately, he ruined his own life.

"Hey, there really is pepper. Since Yao Xing's dad came, we have a lot more seasonings at home. I don't usually cook, so I didn't know we had pepper."

Gu Tong'an took the pepper shaker, poured some into the soup, and asked, "Is that enough?"

"Just a little bit more."

"good!"

The hot mutton soup, seasoned with pepper, made both of them sweat.

"Eat up, eat more."

Gu Tong'an kept putting food on Zhang Man's plate. Zhang Man ate a bowl of rice and drank a bowl of soup, feeling quite full.

"I'm not eating anymore, I'm too full. You eat, I'll go make myself a cup of tea to cleanse my palate."

"I'll do it, I'll do it, you sit down."

Gu Tong'an was about to make tea when Zhang Man stopped her: "I'm not some rich young lady, do you think I don't know how to make tea? You keep eating, I'll go make tea."

Zhang Man got off the kang (heated brick bed), brewed a pot of tea as if she knew exactly what to do, and watched Gu Tong'an eat while she drank the tea.

If someone were to suddenly walk in right now, they would definitely think they were a happy young couple.

Unfortunately, time plays tricks on people, and they can only ever be two parallel lines, unable to intersect.

"Are you going to see Lin Jie this afternoon? I'll go with you," Gu Tong'an said.

"No need, I'll go myself."

Bringing a strange man to Lin Jie's place, who knows what trouble his mother will cause this time.

"Zhang Man, if you miss home, just come back. Yao Xing's parents will be here after the New Year; this is a big family here too."

"That's great. When Yao Xing first moved here, she didn't even have a pot to cook rice. In less than a year of hard work, she bought two houses and can take care of her family. You are all moving forward, while I... I lost my mother."

Things have changed, and Yao Xing has had a tough time, but he still made it through.

Why should I crave even a little bit of warmth?

If she could do it all over again, she would rather live a simple life with her mother and younger brother.

"Zhang Man, don't blame yourself. Aunt Zhang just wants you to be happy. The past is the past, look forward. Brother Lin is also a responsible person. I hope you two get married soon."

Gu Tong'an felt a pang of sadness. He liked the woman in front of him, but he was powerless to give her happiness.

"Gu Tong'an, there's a certain strength about you that always puts people at ease. Thank you for the lamb bone and radish soup; I'll always remember this meal." Zhang Man stood up to leave.

"Zhang Man, no matter how low things get right now, you'll get through it. You must be happy."

"Okay, I hope you'll be happy too."

Gu Tong'an escorted Zhang Man to the courtyard gate, watching her frail figure disappear into the wind and snow.

Back inside, Gu Tong'an's lonely heart was filled with joy.

Lying on the kang (a heated brick bed), he recalled Zhang Man's every smile and gesture. She was so beautiful; she shouldn't have gotten involved in that relationship.

I once talked to Yang Qiao about Zhang Man, and Yang Qiao strongly disapproved of Zhang Man's involvement.

But Yang Qiao had no idea that when people feel extremely insecure, they often make wrong decisions.

At this moment, Gu Tong'an is just like Zhang Man was before.

Although Yang Qiao was born in the countryside, she grew up surrounded by love.

Gu Tong'an and Zhang Man are both people who lack love.

Gu Tong'an lacks family affection, and Zhang Man lacks romantic love.

Humans are animals too; at certain moments, they may feel like moths drawn to a flame, willing to die without regret.

Zhang Man arrived in front of Lin Jie's small building. She couldn't understand how their once-vowed love had suddenly vanished without a trace.

When she first went to the suburban school, Lin Jie visited her frequently and took great care of her.

Later, I went twice a month, and then I stopped going even once a month.

Zhang Man doesn't believe Lin Jie will change his mind, probably because the pressure from her parents is too great.

She raised her hand, about to ring the doorbell, when a familiar voice sounded behind her: "Zhang Man? What brings you here?"

It was Lin Jie. Zhang Man turned around happily, and a pure-looking girl stood beside her.

"Sister Zhang Man? My name is Liang Luo. Brother Lin Jie often mentions you," Liang Luo said happily.

"Liang Luo?"

"Zhang Man, Liang Luo's brother, was a comrade-in-arms who sacrificed his life beside me."

Oh, Zhang Man knows. Lin Jie often suffers because of the sacrifice of his young comrade.

"Here's the thing, Luo Luo is having a hard time back in her hometown. She came to me a few days ago, and I wanted to help her find a job in the city. We just went to the textile factory, and she passed both the interview and the written test. The company agreed to hire her," Lin Jie explained hurriedly.

Lolo? What an affectionate way to address her. Perhaps he just sees her as a younger sister.

"Sister Zhang Man, thank you Brother Lin Jie for your help. Let's come inside, it's so cold outside."

As Liang Luo spoke, he took out his keys and opened the door.

Zhang Man didn't have the key, but Liang Luo did.

Upon entering the compound, Liang Luo sweetly called out, "Auntie, we're back! I got the job, and I'll be starting next week!"

The little girl called out to the house, her voice crisp and sweet, like a lark.

Li Chunlian led Hao Hao out, glanced at Zhang Man who was still outside the courtyard, her face fell, and she said to Liang Luo, "Come on, let's go upstairs. Hao Hao's cotton-padded jacket isn't finished yet. Can you help me with it?"

"Okay, ma'am."

She is pure, sweet, and poised; she should be the type that Lin Jie's mother likes.

Lin Jie smiled awkwardly: "Come in and sit down, I'll pour you some tea."

The two sat down, and Zhang Man asked, "Lin Jie, shouldn't we end this?"

"Manman, you're overthinking things again. I've just been too busy lately," Lin Jie quickly explained.

"If you want to end this, you have to tell me. This dragging on like this isn't going to work."

"Manman, I didn't, I really didn't."

"If you don't want it to end, let's get married."

"Really, you're willing to marry me? But, but..."

"Are you also worried that I can't get pregnant? Lin Jie, don't you have Hao Hao? Although he's not my biological son, I'll treat him well. As long as we're sincere, Hao Hao is enough."

"Yes, you're right, but... but my mom..."

"Lin Hao, you're not a child anymore. Do you expect your mother to make all the decisions for you?"

"Manman, why don't we wait a little longer? Let me talk to my mom."

"Alright, I'll give you half a month. If you don't give me a definite answer by the fifteenth of the first lunar month, then we'll call it quits."

Zhang Man stood up in disappointment. Lin Jie didn't try to stop her, but instead got up to see her out.

Zhang Man was extremely disappointed. Tomorrow was the Lunar New Year, but he didn't ask her where she was spending it, nor did he say he would spend it with her. He simply saw her out of the courtyard and then went back home.