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

Zhou Wenhui and Yang Zheng drank from dinner until lights out, finishing two bottles of liquor.

Zhou Wenhui kept calling him "brother-in-law," while Yang Zheng kept calling him "brother." Together, they went from disliking each other to becoming best friends for the sake of a common goal.

Qiaoqiao didn't stop them, letting them drink to their hearts' content. Drinking can resolve the barriers between men.

Zhou Wenhui tends to talk nonsense after drinking, and this time, he didn't mention Cheng Zhaoying at all.

"Qiaoqiao, we need to have two children, the eldest a boy, and the second and third daughters."

"Why can't the eldest child be a daughter?"

"Daughters need brothers, otherwise who will protect them? Look at your brother, he really touches my heart."

"My brother has always doted on me since I was a child."

"He went to great lengths to make me a prosthetic leg; it's not because of my kindness, it's because of your kindness."

"Nonsense, he respects you a lot, you're a hero."

"Heroes are honors, things that are out in the open. Like my dad, everyone respectfully calls him Commander Zhou, but the only people who truly care for him like family are probably the few police officers around him."

"Is Songming Dad's police officer?"

"Yes, Liu Songming is almost like his son."

"No wonder Songming doesn't speak to you as respectfully as Yu Fu."

"When I wasn't a hero yet, I made a mistake and he chased after me to beat me up. Now that he's lost both legs, he's become much more polite and distant. After returning from the front lines, many friends have distanced themselves from me, afraid that what I said might upset me," Zhou Wenhui said emotionally, holding Qiaoqiao's hand.

"Dad said there are many things in the world more important than legs. Once my brother makes a prosthetic leg and you can walk freely, you can go to work. With a job, you'll have something to rely on."

Qiaoqiao sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Zhou Wenhui with deep emotion by the candlelight.

"Yes, when we have children, how happy we will be to see them running around in the yard."

"You want children that much?"

"Of course, don't you want it?"

"Yes, you know what? When Aunt Fang came to my house to propose marriage, my mother's biggest worry was that you wouldn't be able to have children." Qiaoqiao lowered her head and smiled.

"What does my injury have to do with having children?"

"I'm afraid it'll break."

Qiaoqiao blushed. Zhou Wenhui hugged Qiaoqiao tightly and asked, "Did you say it's broken? If you think it's broken, I'll try harder..."

"You scoundrel, you shameless scoundrel."

"The rites of Zhou Gong are a serious matter, how can you be so shameless? Come, come, hurry up and give birth to a son so your mother can rest assured."

"No, your breath reeks of alcohol, it stinks, it stinks..."

Yang Zheng is going back this morning from Wuxi; he hasn't reported to the factory yet.

Just like last time, Qiaoqiao packed a lot of dried vegetables, as well as dried fish pieces, salted meat, pickled cucumbers, chili sauce, and soybean paste.

Yang Zheng looked at the several large bags of things and said, "Qiao Mei, that's enough, it's too much."

Qiaoqiao turned her head and smiled: "It's not for you, it's for my brother's master. He's not related to my family, but he's been so good to you and even helped you make a prosthetic leg. We should be grateful to our master."

"Yes, a teacher for a day is a father for life; a master is the same as a father."

"I packed the pickled cucumbers, bean paste, and chili sauce into separate small bottles for my colleagues. These two big bags are for my mentor. By the way, bro, how's that little grass you mentioned last time?"

"Nothing much. I won't get married until Wenhui gets a prosthetic leg." "Brother, what are you saying? If Grandpa and Grandma hear this, they'll be furious."

"Alright, Wenhui is still sleeping, so I won't say hello. I'll catch the first bus, go deliver some things to my master's house, and then report to the factory."

"Okay, I'll take you there."

"Don't bother seeing him off. Wenhui suddenly woke up and couldn't find anyone in the bathroom."

"Okay, brother, it's settled that I'll come pick you up for the Mid-Autumn Festival."

"Okay, I'm leaving then."

"I'll see you out of the hospital."

This time, Qiaoqiao didn't cry behind her brother, nor did she feel lonely, because the compound was also her home, and her lover was there.

The first bus departs at 6 a.m. and after a bumpy forty-minute ride, we arrive at Huailin Machinery Factory.

Carrying large and small bags, Chen Yan went to his master's house first. Only then did he get up and was startled to see Yang Zheng: "Why are you back so early, kid?"

Yang Zheng chuckled: "I came from my sister's house, Master. My sister brought you something."

"Pickled vegetables? I'm really craving them! Do you have any pickled cucumbers?"

"Yes, it's a huge jar. We need to eat it quickly, it's hot, I'm afraid it will spoil."

"Okay, okay, your teacher's wife cooked some porridge. Have a bite before you go to work."

"I've already eaten. I had fried dough sticks and millet porridge for breakfast."

"You must be hungry carrying so much stuff. Eat some more."

The master and apprentice were in the living room, hurriedly opening the bag, finding the pickled cucumbers, and Chen Yan picked one up and took a satisfied bite.

"What are you two doing so early in the morning?" The teacher's wife came in carrying porridge and steamed buns.

"Delicious, pickled cucumbers, made by Yang Zheng's sister." Chen Yan said with a smile.

"You brought pickled cucumbers again, Yang Zheng. Your sister is really skillful; her pickled vegetables are delicious."

After saying that, he also picked up a pickled cucumber.

Yang Zheng took out the dried goods one by one and said, "Master's wife, this is salted meat and salted fish. Hanging it in the wind, it will last for half a month without any problem. There are also dried green beans, eggplant peels, and white chili pepper peels. My sister said she doesn't know if Master's wife will like them, but they were all dried at home."

"Oh dear, Master's wife, you can't help but love it! These things are priceless. Your master gets one pound of meat coupon a month, while Gangzi, Honghong, and I each only get half a pound. It's gone in one meal."

The master's wife happily put the things away, treating them like treasures.

"Brother Zheng, you've brought pickled cucumbers again? My dad nags me every day, saying you're unfilial and that you still don't bring pickled cucumbers."

Chen Yan's twelve-year-old daughter, Chen Hongcai, got up and said while rubbing her sleepy eyes.

"You brat, where did I say that?"

"I said it, I said it. You also said that although Brother Zheng got in through connections, he's a reliable and smart person," the girl retorted.

Yang Zheng smiled awkwardly, and Chen Yan got up to spank her.

"Honghong, hurry up and brush your teeth and wash your face, you're going to be late." The teacher's wife pulled Chen Hong to wash her face, while Chen Yan led Yang Zheng to eat breakfast.

"I'm not eating anymore, I'm full."

"Have a bowl of porridge and some pickled cucumbers." Yang Zheng had no choice but to sit down.

"What did you gain from this study trip to Wuxi?" Chen Yan slurped his porridge and ate pickled cucumbers with gusto.

"The steel plant in Wuxi is much bigger than ours, and its technology is more advanced. All of its equipment is imported."

"Sending you out to learn about advanced equipment means our factory will probably need to replace its equipment too."

"That's what Lu Han said too. The steel plant renovation plans he designed were prepared for the replacement of equipment."

"You need to thoroughly understand and master the blueprints Lu Han gave you. Once the factory is renovated, those things will be yours."

"How can that be? Isn't that plagiarism?"

"What plagiarism? I'm your mentor, and teaching you things, is that plagiarism? If you understand it and you can do it, then you've learned it. Lu Han left the blueprints with you because he wanted to give you a helping hand in your career."

"I……"

"What else did you gain in Wuxi?" Chen Ya changed the subject.

"Master, I went to Shanghai and met a master craftsman who makes prosthetics. He also gave me a set of blueprints."

"Really, look, take it out and let me see."

The master and apprentice skipped their meal and took the prosthetic limb blueprints to the living room.