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

Cheng Zhaoying pressured her parents and used many connections to get her a job as a communications soldier in the military compound.

Cheng Zhaoying didn't want to join the army; she just wanted to get closer to Zhou Wenhui.

Serving as a communications soldier in the family compound meant simply transferring external calls from various leaders within the military compound; the responsibility was much smaller, and there was no need to go to the front lines.

After her falling out with Zhou Wenhui, Cheng Zhaoying lost interest in going to work.

"Hey, hey, Zhou Yingxiong's family is calling," his colleague Fang Qiong whispered.

Cheng Zhaoying was taken aback: "Who called Zhou Wenhui's house?"

"The brother of Zhou Yingxiong's rural wife." Fang Qiong was full of gossip.

"How do you know he's his wife's brother?" Cheng Zhaoying asked.

"You can know anything you want, just eavesdrop."

"Eavesdropping on a leader's phone calls? Isn't that a violation of military discipline?"

"You're so stubborn! Did you eavesdrop and then tell others?" Fang Qiong said dismissively.

"Then...can you let me hear what Zhou Wenhui said on the phone?"

Fang Qiong immediately adjusted the audio and handed the earphone to Cheng Zhaoying. Yang Zheng's excited voice came through: "Qiaomei, we'll be back in Huailin City in two days. I'll go to your house first, then go back to my unit."

"Okay, brother, I'll make you braised pork."

"Also, prepare a bottle of soju. I'm looking for a drink."

...Cheng Zhaoying handed the earphones to Fang Qiong, pouting and saying, "The whole family is shameless."

"Who, who's shameless?" Fang Qiong looked at Cheng Zhaoying in confusion.

"Who else could it be? Zhou Wenhui's wife and her family. That country bumpkin married into Commander Zhou's family, and even her brother came to the city with her. It's a marriage of convenience, and Zhou Wenhui treats her like a treasure. It's disgusting." Cheng Zhaoying was full of resentment.

"Cheng Zhaoying, you can't say that. There are many such marriages in military families' compounds. They were wounded on the front lines. Although they have honor, it's very difficult for them to find a reliable city girl."

Zhou Yingxiong is talented and virtuous, but he has no legs. If it were you, Cheng Zhaoying, would you be willing to clean up after someone and be trapped in the family for the rest of your life?

"I...I'm willing..."

"One or two days is fine, but what about a year, two years, ten years, twenty years, every day? Can you stand it? In the military family compound, the logistics department takes care of you. But after you transfer to civilian life, buying rice and coal, picking up and dropping off the children at school, cooking and buying groceries—everything will be done by women. I don't think you can stand it for even a day."

"I think these rural girls who are willing to give their all for heroes are truly great," Fang Qiong said sincerely.

Cheng Zhaoying was displeased: "How do you know Zhou Wenhui's family will be transferred to a local area?"

"I'm just telling the truth. Who knows how things will change in the future? Cheng Zhaoying, why are you so angry? Do you like Zhou Yingxiong?" Fang Qiong laughed.

Another person, Tian Xiaoli, who had just transferred the call, chimed in: "I heard that before Zhou Yingxiong went to the front lines, he had a female college student girlfriend, Cheng Zhaoying. Could it be you?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Cheng Zhaoying blurted it out, then froze, realizing she didn't even have the courage to admit she was Zhou Wenhui's ex-girlfriend.

"Oh dear, I knew it wasn't you. You're so funny, you even got angry when I teased you. You're so beautiful and cultured, how could you possibly be interested in Zhou Wenhui? But you should be careful, Platoon Leader Li has a crush on you."

"Nonsense! I'll tear your mouths apart!"

As she spoke, Cheng Zhaoying pretended to hit Tian Xiaoli, but Fang Qiong intervened, and the three girls burst into laughter.

Platoon Leader Li was transferred from the military communications department to the military family compound. When he wasn't smiling, he looked very dignified.

He was as nervous as a little boy when he saw Cheng Zhaoying.

Cheng Zhaoying had received several calls from Zhou Wenhui's family asking her to transfer the phone. She looked down on Qiaoqiao and even more so on Yang Zheng, who had gotten his job in the city through connections. Several times, she didn't transfer the phone to Yang Zheng and replied, "Sorry, the phone line for Commander Zhou's family is busy. Please call back later."

When he called again a while later, he heard the same thing, which made Yang Zheng hesitant to make calls, fearing it might interfere with his brother-in-law's important business.

Yang Zheng was like a spring breeze, bringing new vitality to Zhou Wenhui.

Yang Zheng took a sip of water and pulled out a stack of draft paper from his bag: "Wenhui, look, these are the prosthetic limb blueprints that Lu Han got for me."

Zhou Wenhui leaned closer, looking intently: "Is this the receiving cavity?"

"Yes, we made a movable screw retainer, which is really childish and ridiculous. The socket is made of resin, which is soft, lightweight, and wear-resistant. Wearing it will prevent any injury to your broken leg."

The lower support can be made of steel plate. The biggest problem now is the receiving cavity, but it's okay, I'll try a few more times and I'll get it right.

As he spoke, Yang Zheng took out several photos and said excitedly, "See? In Shanghai, many people are already using prosthetics. Look at them, they are no different from normal people."

"Can't the experts from Shanghai come to Huailin Hospital to help me with the receptive cavity?" Zhou Wenhui asked, puzzled.

"The process of making this kind of prosthetic is very complicated, and the materials are very expensive, which is unaffordable for ordinary families. Moreover, the prosthetics made by experts are under state control, and they cannot be bought just because you have money."

Yes, even eating meat requires meat coupons, and any material requires a certificate from the work unit to purchase. If it weren't for the work unit's official dispatch, how could the Shanghai experts have come to Huailin?

Zhou Wenhui quickly adjusted his mindset: "It's okay, Yang Zheng, you can do it for me. I trust you. I can wait a year or two."

"My master is an eighth-level fitter. Even if I can't make it, he definitely can. Zhou Wenhui, I promise you, within a year, you will be able to walk freely with a prosthetic leg."

"Okay, I believe you."

In the kitchen, Qiaoqiao was cooking while eavesdropping on her brother and Zhou Wenhui's conversation.

Upon learning that Zhou Wenhui would soon be able to move freely again, Qiaoqiao smiled and shed tears.

The best dishes are nothing more than braised pork, pan-fried tofu, and dried fish.

Qiaoqiao wanted to buy a free-range chicken, so she asked Sister Liu for help, but she couldn't find one.

Chickens are an important asset for every household.

Hens lay eggs, which can be exchanged for kerosene, matches, and salt. When the hens stop laying eggs, one is slaughtered for the New Year to improve the family's livelihood, and no one is willing to sell it.

Zhou Wenhui and Yang Zheng each drank a glass of baijiu. Today, there was no sorrow, only longing for the future.

It was rare for Zhou Wenhui to open up and have a long talk with Yang Zheng.

"When I was in college, my biggest dream was to become a teacher. But my dad said that national stability is achieved through force, so I joined the army. After I got injured, my dad still felt guilty, thinking that he had influenced me. Here, have a drink..."

After taking a big bite, Zhou Wenhui asked, "Yang Zheng, what is your dream?"

Yang Zheng smiled憨厚ly: "Going to university. But now my thoughts are different. I want to work in industry, learn well from my master, because industry is the foundation of the country."

"That's right. With advanced weapons, who would dare to bully us?"

Zhou Wenhui looked at Qiaoqiao and asked, "What are your dreams?"

Qiaoqiao, who was listening attentively, was taken aback. "What dreams do I have?"

Is the whole family full?

Is Grandma in good health?

Can my brother go into the city?

Now that most of them have been achieved, what dreams are left?

If I absolutely had to have one, it would be two children, right?

With her brother present, Qiaoqiao couldn't bring herself to say it.

Yang Zheng blushed and looked at Qiaoqiao, saying, "If possible, I hope Qiaoqiao has a job. Staying at home for a long time will make her disconnected from society."

"Brother, being a housewife is also a job. Growing vegetables and cooking are good things, aren't they?"

"Once Wenhui is able to move around freely, you can step out of the small confines of your home," Yang Zheng said earnestly.

Zhou Wenhui nodded in agreement: "Yang Zheng is right, Qiaoqiao, you should start thinking now about what you want to do most in the future."

What do you want to do? Going to the vegetable store to buy groceries like Sister Liu is quite enjoyable, or becoming a kindergarten teacher, surrounded by so many children calling her "Auntie," how happy that would be.