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

When Yu Fu arrived home the next evening, he was waiting at the Zhou family compound. The coal stove in the house was burning brightly, and the house was warm and cozy.

"Director Zhou, sister-in-law, I'll cook for you."

Yu Fu didn't ask too many questions. He hurriedly opened the stove's air vent and started washing and cooking rice.

"Yu Fu, thank you. Have you eaten?"

"I ate, I ate at the cafeteria. Sister-in-law, the bone and radish soup is simmering, it's hot. Director Tan from the publicity department came by and said you'd be back tonight, so I've been staying home."

Yu Fu opened a pot of steaming radish soup and said, "Have a bowl of soup first, the rice will be ready soon."

Zhou Wenhui and Qiaoqiao each drank a bowl of soup. The soup had been simmering since yesterday and was sweet and mellow, and very delicious.

"Sister-in-law, Commander Zhou, he..." Yu Fu only dared to secretly ask Qiaoqiao after Zhou Wenhui went inside to rest.

"There was a bullet, only millimeters from the heart. No one in the country dared to perform the surgery, so it was transferred to the Soviet Union, where there are top surgical experts."

This deadly bullet may be successfully removed, or a blood vessel may rupture during the surgery, causing the person to die on the operating table.

The surgery may be successful, but the person may never wake up.

All these uncertainties could cost Zhou Zhonghai his life.

"Commander Zhou took a bullet for his bodyguard, Liu Songming. Liu Songming was also seriously wounded and is receiving treatment at the front; he hasn't returned yet."

Yu Fu said in a low voice, “The commander shielded his own soldier from a bullet; what a profound sentiment that is.”

Qiaoqiao was stunned for a moment. She didn't know how her father got injured. It turned out it was because of Songming.

"On the battlefield, there are only comrades-in-arms, not superiors and subordinates. No matter who that person is, Dad will step forward," Qiaoqiao said quietly.

"Our soldiers are all saying that anyone who gets such a good leader is incredibly lucky," Yu Fu said, his eyes filled with admiration.

"Every life deserves respect. Yu Fu, I'm pregnant. You'll need to help me take care of Wen Hui from now on."

"Sister-in-law, you're pregnant? You're having a baby? Great, great! From now on, I'll take care of everything at your house. Does Commander Zhou know you're pregnant?" Yu Fu seemed even happier than Zhou Wenhui.

"I told Commander Zhou that he moved his hands while he was unconscious, and there were tears in his eyes. Dad heard it."

"Commander Zhou will definitely return safely. Grandpa loves his grandson the most. Sister-in-law, dinner is ready. I'll cook the vegetables. I bought some pork belly this morning." Yu Fu washed the pot and started cooking.

Qiaoqiao was vomiting badly and felt nauseous at the sight of pork belly, so she ate a bowl of rice mixed with pickled cucumber.

After finishing his meal, Yu Fu tidied up the house, took the front door key, and said, "Sister-in-law, I'll bring breakfast tomorrow. You can sleep in a little longer; you don't need to get up so early."

"Okay, thank you, Yu Fu."

"It's my job, no need to thank me."

Yesterday to today feels like an eternity.

Last night, Zhou Wenhui had a sleepless night, and Qiaoqiao vomited until midnight. Both of them were exhausted and went to bed early.

"Wenhui, do you think I'm carrying a boy or a girl?"

In the quiet night, Qiaoqiao asked.

"Maybe it's a boy, then I'll make things difficult for you," Zhou Wenhui said.

"It's good that he's been bothering me. If he hadn't, I wouldn't have known I was pregnant, and my dad wouldn't have heard such good news."

"Could he sense something?"

"Yes, he wants Grandpa to come back safely. Wenhui, there's only one month left until the New Year. Given my health condition, how about we bring my grandparents and parents to the city for the New Year?" Qiaoqiao missed her family.

"Sure, write back and tell them the good news, and ask them if they'd like to come to the city. They haven't been to my house yet."

"Okay, I'll write it tomorrow."

After a good night's rest, Zhou Wenhui and Qiaoqiao's condition improved a lot. Qiaoqiao drank a bowl of millet porridge and ate half a steamed bun in the morning.

After finishing his chores, Yu Fu took a basket and went to buy groceries. Qiao Qiao wanted something light, so he went to buy some chives, bean sprouts, and tofu.

Stir-fried chives and bean sprouts are delicious; adding an egg crepe makes it refreshing and nutritious.

Zhou Wenhui was reading a book, while Qiaoqiao was lying on the bed. For some reason, she wanted to lie down after eating.

The wooden gate to the courtyard opened, and Zhou Wenhui thought it was Yu Fu returning from grocery shopping. However, the people who came in were Cheng Zhaoying and a strange man in military uniform.

Is she trying to steal my man again?

Feeling unwell all over, Qiaoqiao jumped out of bed. "Cheng Zhaoying, are you ever going to stop? Zhou Wenhui is already a father!"

"You guys?" Zhou Wenhui asked casually.

Cheng Zhaoying lowered her head, her eyes red and swollen. The man in military uniform smiled awkwardly, "Director Zhou, I've come today to ask for your help with Cheng Zhaoying."

"Have a seat. What happened?"

Zhou Wenhui looked at Cheng Zhaoying. Was she also saddened by her father's injury?

Qiaoqiao came out of the house at the right time. Her morning sickness had stopped, and she said generously, "Sit down, I'll go make some tea."

Once inside the kitchen, he slowly brewed tea, his ears perked up, wondering what kind of trouble Cheng Zhaoying was up to this time.

"Director Zhou, my name is Li Bo, I'm a platoon leader in the communications company, and I'm Cheng Zhaoying's direct superior. Here's the thing, Cheng Zhaoying made a mistake, and the military wants to dismiss her. No one can help her except you."

The man in military uniform introduced himself.

Zhou Wenhui asked in a somber tone, "Platoon Leader Li, what exactly happened?"

Cheng Zhaoying glanced down at Zhou Wenhui, unable to utter a single word.

"The day before yesterday, the military communications company made several calls to your home, but Cheng Zhaoying hung up, citing a busy line. Yesterday, the military sent people down to investigate, and they found that Cheng Zhaoying did it on purpose. The military leaders were furious and wanted to dismiss Cheng Zhaoying. As you know, if she is dismissed, no unit will dare to hire her."

As soon as she finished speaking, Qiaoqiao rushed out of the kitchen, pointed at Cheng Zhaoying and said, "You? No wonder my brother said the phone was always busy. It turns out you were the one causing all this trouble. Cheng Zhaoying, I only thought you were a willful girl. I never expected you to take out your personal grudges on your work."

How could you be so cruel? If the military leaders hadn't come to our house, we might not have even been able to see Dad one last time. You're not human, you're a poisonous woman..."

Cheng Zhaoying looked at Qiaoqiao with a sorrowful expression: "I... I didn't know it was this serious. Wenhui, Yang Qiao, please forgive me? If you just call the leader and ask him not to pursue this matter, I won't be fired. Wenhui, if I'm fired, I'll have nowhere else to go but to die..."

Cheng Zhaoying was in tears, looking delicate and pitiful.

"My dad is bleeding and sweating on the front lines, and you're retaliating against his family from the rear. Cheng Zhaoying, have you fed your conscience to the dogs? What did my family do to offend you? My in-laws had to beg you to let him be with Zhou Wenhui, but it was your parents who disagreed."

Before I married Zhou Wenhui, you didn't insist on marrying him, did you? After he got married, you suddenly became hopelessly in love? You don't love him; you're just competitive, and what you've discarded, you won't allow anyone else to have.

Qiaoqiao vented her anger like a madwoman, expressing her deep hatred for Cheng Zhaoying.

"I...I was wrong, Yang Qiao, Wen Hui, I was wrong, please forgive me, I promise I will never bother you again."

Cheng Zhaoying cried, but she didn't realize her mistake; she was worried about her future.

Platoon Leader Li took a deep breath and said, "Director Zhou, please forgive her this time for the sake of your past relationship. Cheng Zhaoying is blinded by jealousy, and I, as her leader, also bear responsibility. I didn't know about her affair with you."

Qiaoqiao was so angry she felt like she was going to vomit blood. She said sharply, "What affection? Bah! Zhou Wenhui is getting married and is about to become a father. What affection is there left? It's Cheng Zhaoying who's being unreasonable and ruining the military marriage. I'm going to sue her."

Platoon Leader Li's face darkened, and he said, "This matter still needs Director Zhou to make the decision."

Cheng Zhaoying looked at Zhou Wenhui pitifully: "Wenhui, please forgive me just this once, okay?"

All three of them turned their gazes toward Zhou Wenhui.