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

Outside, the driver carried several bags of things into the yard.

Yang Zheng hugged his mother's hand and said, "Mother, do you think I've gained weight?"

"I haven't gained weight, but I've grown taller."

"Mom, how old are you? You're still growing taller."

"You've just grown taller."

Yang Wenjin couldn't say a word, she just looked at Yang Zheng and chuckled.

"My dear in-law, this bag is full of vegetables, prepared by Qiaoqiao. Take them out first, lest they spoil."

Qiaoqiao's mother rushed forward to help and took the things into the kitchen.

Salted meat, dried fish, dried green beans, eggplant peel, salted eggs, pickled cucumbers—a whole big bag full.

Qiaoqiao's mother smiled with relief, no longer worried about not having any food for lunch.

"My dear in-laws, Qiaoqiao is so capable! I'm always busy with work, and I didn't even know she made so many dried vegetables. The pickled cucumbers are delicious; I ate some last night."

"This child can't stay still anywhere. His father, soak the eggplant peels and stir-fry them with salted meat."

Qiaoqiao's mother gave the instructions, and Yang Wenjin took the dried vegetables and went out.

Luo Meiyun grabbed Qiaoqiao's mother and whispered, "My dear in-law, you can rest assured about what you were worried about."

Qiaoqiao's mother was taken aback: "You mean? You can have children?"

Luo Meiyun nodded earnestly, and Qiaoqiao's mother was so excited her heart was about to jump out of her chest: "To have a child, to have a child! Oh dear, in-laws, I, I..."

"Don't cry, isn't this a good thing? If you have a grandson next year, the whole family will be in an uproar."

"It's great if they're making a huge fuss, I love kids."

This matter had been weighing on Qiaoqiao's mother's mind for half a year. Now that it was confirmed, she was happier than if she had eaten anything.

"In-law, please come inside and sit down. I'll cook." Qiaoqiao's mother pushed Luo Meiyun into the main room. She needed to have a good talk with Qiaoqiao's father.

"Okay, I'll go see Grandma first, and then I'll come help you start the fire later."

Luo Meiyun went out, and Qiaoqiao's mother sat on the stool, wiping away tears.

Inside the main room, everyone was chatting and laughing with Grandma, who had been ill for a long time, and suddenly her energy and spirits lifted.

Qiaoqiao left the house and went to the kitchen.

Seeing Qiaoqiao's mother wiping away tears, she asked with heartache, "Mother, we're all fine, why are you crying?"

Qiaoqiao's mother, her tears still wet on her face, chuckled, "You're not allowed to cry even when you're happy. My in-laws told me that I'm happy; a weight has been lifted off my shoulders."

"What is it?"

"It's not about the children yet."

"mother……"

"What's there to be ashamed of in front of your mother? I'll go tell your grandmother later."

Yang Wenjin brought in the soaked dried vegetables and asked, "What are you talking about?"

"Why are you, a grown man, asking about women's business?"

"Okay, okay, I'll start the fire and cook. Qiaoqiao, the team slaughtered a pig today, and they have the best pork belly."

"Father, Mother, I have plenty to eat at my husband's family home. But you two need to go to town to buy some meat every day."

"Eat, why don't we eat? We buy meat every month." Yang Wenjin blushed as soon as she lied.

"Mom, I brought you a thermos. It's so convenient. In winter, you can just fill it with hot water and have hot water to drink all day long."

"Why spend that money? It'll heat the kang (heated brick bed) in winter and provide hot water."

"The fire in the kang (heated brick bed) goes out in the middle of the night, and the water gets cold, so we end up drinking cold water. My in-laws have several thermos flasks, so I thought I'd buy one for you," Qiaoqiao said with a sweet smile.

"My daughter is so considerate of her mother; she bought it and kept it." Yang Wenjin chuckled.

"Qiaoqiao, is Wenhui easy to get along with?"

"He's easy to get along with. He was cold at first, but after we got to know each other, he became as childish as a child. Zhou Wenhui is good, and my in-laws are good too. They spoil me rotten. I manage all the money, meat rations, and everything else in the house. Mom and Dad, I'm so happy."

Qiaoqiao's parents saw that Qiaoqiao's happiness was genuine, not feigned.

"Mom, what's wrong with Grandma? How come she's gotten so sick in just six months?" Qiaoqiao asked.

"Hey, I'm getting old, I just need to take care of myself."

Qiaoqiao's mother kept it a secret; she absolutely couldn't tell the children what was going on at home.

"Mother, I saw you left five hundred yuan in the cotton wadding. Mother, aren't you breaking your daughter's heart? I don't need the money. Keep it for Grandma's medical treatment."

"You silly child, keep the five hundred yuan I gave you under Grandma's pillow. Grandma used your money when she was hospitalized last time."

"Grandma is still in the hospital? Mom, you didn't write to tell us."

"You're not a doctor, what's the use of telling you?" Qiaoqiao's mother said casually.

"Now that we're back, we have someone to rely on at home, Mom. From now on, you have to tell your daughter everything."

"Okay, okay, I'll tell you everything."

Grandpa Qiaoqiao returned carrying a bucket of water, covered in mud.

Qiaoqiao, with her sharp eyes, ran out and exclaimed, "Grandpa, I'm back!"

Grandpa paused for a moment, then tried to pull Qiaoqiao up, but his hands were covered in mud, so he had to give up: "It's good that you're back. Grandpa caught a little over a pound of loaches; we'll add some to our lunch."

"Grandpa, people go to that ditch to catch loaches every day, and you still manage to catch so many. You're really amazing."

"My daughter Qiaoqiao is so lucky to have such delicious food."

"Grandpa, Wenhui and his parents are here. They're in the main room talking to Grandma."

"Oh, the son-in-law and in-laws are here? I'm going to wash up."

Qiaoqiao took the loach into the kitchen to help her parents start the fire and cook lunch.

Before Qiaoqiao's grandfather even entered the house, Yang Zheng and Zhou Zhonghai came out to greet him: "Grandpa, Grandpa..."

The grandson and grandfather truly love each other; Yang Zheng picked up his grandfather and spun him around.

"Hey kid, put it down, or your old bones will fall apart."

"Sir, come inside, your brother-in-law is here."

"Old man, you don't even get a break during the holidays?" Zhou Zhonghai asked in a loud voice.

"Farmers don't care about holidays or not. Zhonghai, come in and sit down."

Luo Meiyun quickly reminded Zhou Wenhui: "Grandpa Qiaoqiao."

"Grandpa, hello." Zhou Wenhui greeted respectfully.

"Okay, okay, child, how are you?"

"I'm fine, thank you, Grandpa."

Grandpa Qiao looked at the son-in-law walking down from the painting and wanted to touch his face, but he was afraid that his calloused hands would hurt him.

"Child, I'm sorry to trouble you. Look at Grandpa's house, it's very shabby."

"Grandpa, it's nice, it feels very familiar, just like my hometown."

Zhou Wenhui also has a grandfather. When he was a child, he went back to his grandfather's house with his parents. It was also an adobe house.

However, his grandfather had already passed away.

No one mentioned Zhou Wenhui's leg; instead, the whole family doted on him, and he gradually relaxed from his initial restraint.

Everyone's face was beaming with smiles. Qiaoqiao's family felt at ease, genuinely happy that their child had found a good family.

Zhou Zhonghai and Luo Meiyun were also relieved. If they stayed on the battlefield, Wenhui would have an extra large family to rely on.

Zhao Gui didn't come to deliver the wastewater; it was Zhao Jintao who brought it.

There was a small section of pig intestine, a piece of pig liver, and a pig kidney, weighing more than a pound.

Seeing Qiaoqiao tending the fire, Zhao Jintao hesitated at the kitchen door.

"Jin Tao, you're back," Qiao Qiao's mother asked happily.

"Auntie, Zhao Gui left some wastewater for you." Zhao Jintao was inexplicably flustered.

"Brother Jintao, come in and sit down. My brother is back too." Qiaoqiao stood up and rubbed her hands together.

She's gotten fairer, she's gained weight, and her pink shirt looks really good.

The two looked at each other, with a thousand words unspoken.

"Qiaoqiao, take Jintao inside to meet your son-in-law," Qiaoqiao's mother nudged Qiaoqiao.

"Okay, Brother Jintao, come in and have a seat."

Qiaoqiao led Zhao Jintao into the main house and introduced him, "Mom and Dad, this is our team leader, Brother Jintao. He has always helped our family."

Zhou Zhonghai's eyes lit up: "You're Zhao Jintao, the squad leader of Dashui Village?"

"You...you know me?"

"I've heard of it. How's your studies at the Academy of Agricultural Sciences?"

"It really was you, thank you."

"He's cultured, responsible, and has a respectable appearance; he's a good young man," Zhou Zhonghai said, patting Zhao Jintao on the shoulder.

"Dad, do you two know each other?" Qiaoqiao asked curiously.

"I heard their county head mention it. Study hard; rural development needs young people with courage."

Qiaoqiao and Yang Zheng looked at each other, wondering what had happened.

Zhao Jintao walked up to Zhou Wenhui and extended his right hand: "Zhou Wenhui, hello, I'm Zhao Jintao, Yang Zheng's childhood friend."

Zhou Wenhui shook hands politely without saying much. Based on a man's intuition, he felt a pang of jealousy because he liked Qiaoqiao.

"Jintao, sit down and have some tea," Yang Zheng called to Zhao Jintao, inviting him to sit on the kang (heated brick bed).

"No, I have dinner waiting for me at home, I need to go back."

"Let's eat at my place," Yang Zheng said, pulling Zhao Jintao along.

"I'll come again after lunch. Zheng Fenglin is also coming to see Qiaomei."

"Qiao Mei? Is that what you call her?" Zhou Wenhui thought unhappily.

"Then come after you finish eating, I brought you a gift."

Since they were all strangers, it wasn't appropriate to force Zhao Jintao, so Yang Zheng had no choice but to let him go back first.