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

On New Year's Eve, Qiaoqiao's mother got up early to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner.

Today I'm making pork and vermicelli dumplings, chive and egg dumplings, steamed eight-treasure rice, pan-fried carp, fried pork ribs, and steamed pork belly with rice flour...

Yu Fu came to help early in the morning, and his mouth watered as he smelled the aroma of meat wafting from the kitchen.

Qiaoqiao got up earlier than usual to help her mother cook the New Year's Eve dinner in the big stove.

Zhou Wenhui insists on walking for an hour every day, his whole body drenched in sweat. After taking a shower, he waits for lunch.

Yu Fu helped put up the couplets and also bought a long string of firecrackers. They would set off firecrackers during the New Year's Eve dinner to drive away the bad luck of the past year.

Before the food was even served, several leaders from the military arrived. Leading them was the old commander who had taken them to the airport last time, named Pu Shizhong, Commander Pu.

"My dad..."

Zhou Wenhui even forgot to greet him, staring stiffly at Commander Pu.

Qiaoqiao gripped the kitchen threshold with both hands, looking like she could collapse at any moment.

"Don't worry, your father has already had surgery."

Pu Shizhong patted Zhou Wenhui on the shoulder and sat down on the stool opposite him. The other leaders looked very serious.

"Is my dad awake?"

Although no one mentioned it at home, everyone was deeply concerned about Zhou Zhonghai.

"The surgery was successful, the bullet was removed, but your father hasn't woken up yet. Of course, that's normal; it takes time. Your mother and brother met up in the Soviet Union. They're both doing well, but they're worried about you and your wife. I hope you stay strong and live your lives well," Pu Shizhong said somberly.

Zhou Wenhui asked anxiously, "If he remains unconscious, when can we be transferred back to China?"

"Your brother and your mother hope to continue their treatment in the Soviet Union, since the medical standards there are better than in China. Your mother is a surgeon, and she understands surgical assessments better than we do. She has her reasons for wanting to stay in the Soviet Union."

Wenhui, I heard your wife is pregnant. As her husband, you should care for her. As for your father, with Guozhi around, he will definitely do his best.

"Thank you for your concern, Commander Pu. We will be strong." As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.

A simple "be strong" is just a way to comfort oneself and others; to truly be strong is incredibly difficult.

"Wenhui, now that the country is vigorously developing its economy, I may leave the military region to participate in another war in the local area. If you have any difficulties at home, contact the labor union and the logistics department. When your father returns, no matter where I am, I will come to see him."

Where will you go?

"Maybe to the provincial capital, maybe to Beijing, or Shanghai. There's no definite destination yet. Economic development is about improving people's livelihoods. Look at us, we've been fighting wars for half our lives, and the people still can't get enough to eat."

Even if your father hadn't been injured, he would have been transferred to a local position anyway. Your father is intelligent, decisive, and very familiar with grassroots work. It's a pity...

Pu Shizhong sighed and patted Zhou Wenhui on the shoulder, saying, "I'm leaving now. I was afraid you'd worry too much about your father, so I came to see you before the New Year."

Commander Pu stood up. Zhou Wenhui wanted to keep him, but his presence gave him confidence.

"Uncle Pu..." Zhou Wenhui couldn't help but call out.

"Good child, Uncle will write to you after I have a stable job."

Commander Pu turned around, his eyes red, and waved with a smile.

After seeing Commander Pu off, Qiaoqiao hurriedly asked, "What does it mean that Dad hasn't woken up? The surgery was successful, and once the wound heals, he can be discharged, right?"

"Perhaps, I will never wake up."

Zhou Wenhui knew that his mother was a doctor, and that if the surgery was successful but the person didn't wake up, it was a huge danger.

"How could that be? No, Dad loves his grandson so much, he'll wake up."

Qiaoqiao couldn't believe it; she couldn't believe that the forthright and resolute soldier would remain asleep forever.

"We all hope Dad will come back safely, but reality is reality. As long as he's alive, even if he never wakes up, I will still take care of him."

At this moment, Zhou Wenhui's mind was rapidly planning his future. Without anyone to rely on, he had to depend on himself.

"Qiaoqiao, didn't the publishing house say that several organizations want me to give speeches? After the New Year, we'll contact them; I want to give a speech."

"No, I can't. I'm pregnant, and it's inconvenient for me to go out. You wouldn't feel comfortable leaving me alone."

"The military's propaganda department will be the main body. They will invite Director Zhou of the propaganda department to give a speech, and my unit will send someone to accompany me. It's just that the pay will be less."

"Wenhui, isn't this too much work?" Qiaoqiao asked with a worried expression.

"It's not hard work. We need to plan for the children. Uncle Pu has already gone to the local area. The military may be reorganized, and most soldiers will be transferred to civilian positions. I'm worried that Dad's house will be taken back."

"Really? Then... then we don't have a house?"

"Yes, just like Lin Jie's family, a two-bedroom apartment. As long as Dad's in power, we can live however we want. He's been in a coma for a year, so there are still some connections we have; no one will kick us out. But what about two or three years?"

Zhou Wenhui was filled with worries. If his father remained unconscious for a year, the military would process his medical retirement, and he would have to go back to work. He couldn't stay on sick leave indefinitely. When a person is no longer in a position, everything will change.

"I'm not afraid, as long as I have a place to shelter from the wind and rain, that's fine."

"So, I have to make money."

Zhou Zhonghai protected his son, and now Zhou Wenhui not only has to protect his father, but also his own child.

In the distance of the city, the sound of firecrackers could be heard. Qiaoqiao's mother wiped away her tears as she prepared the New Year's Eve dinner, then forced a smile and called Yu Fu to light the firecrackers. No matter how difficult this year had been, tomorrow would be a new year.

Yu Fuqin diligently served the dishes, even commenting on each one: "Here it comes, carp leaping over the dragon gate, may your son be chubby and plump next year."

"Eight-treasure porridge, eaten from all directions, may your days be sweet and joyful."

"Fried pork ribs blow away all bad luck, leaving only good luck."

Qiaoqiao kept praising, "Yu Fu, you have such a silver tongue, it's a pity you're not a storyteller."

The three of them tried their best to create a joyful atmosphere, while Zhou Wenhui remained motionless, as if his thoughts had already drifted to his parents' side.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Yang Zheng returned to the city. He first went to his sister's house.

"Brother, why don't you spend more time with Grandpa, Grandma, and Dad?"

"They are all doing well. I came to see you all, and now I have to go back to my unit. My mentor didn't even get a break during the Chinese New Year, so I can't rest for too long either."

"Yang Zheng, have you made any breakthroughs in prosthetics?"

"I don't know yet. I also want to come back as soon as possible and discuss it with my master."

Three attempts were made to take a mold for the receiving cavity, but none were successful. They tried again before the Chinese New Year. Yang Zheng went home for the holiday, and his master stayed in Yang Zheng's dormitory to study the procedure.

"Don't rush, brother. It takes experts half a year to make a prosthesis. It's not easy for you to figure it out on your own."

"Perhaps only a prosthetic limb can help Wenhui cheer up."

Yang Zheng looked at Zhou Wenhui, who was depressed, and was very worried.

"He will get through this. After the New Year, he will go back to work and give speeches at various factories and schools. Wenhui has changed a lot since his father was injured."

"If only he could stand up and give the speech."