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

Zheng Fenglin fell ill from anger. His ten Angora rabbits were about to produce their first batch of fur when Zhao Jintao sent them all to the county's agricultural technology station.

The cut-off of the capitalist tail left Zheng Fenglin heartbroken. The fur of one rabbit could sell for twenty yuan, so ten rabbits would be two hundred.

Zheng Fenglin's aunts and uncles chased Zhao Jintao for three miles, cursing his ancestors for eighteen generations, but the rabbit was still loaded onto the tractor and taken away along with dozens of Angora rabbits from the whole village.

Third Aunt returned home furious, took a big gulp of well water, and said to Zheng Fenglin, "Zhao Jintao is an ingrate! He wants to marry my daughter? Dream on!"

"Mother, is the rabbit Zhao Jintao is going to catch? The commune has issued a notice that if he doesn't catch it, someone else will."

"Hey, couldn't you just keep one?"

"If we leave one, the villagers will find out and beat Zhao Jintao to death. It's better to arrest him; it'll save us from the trouble of seeing him."

He was saying hurtful things, but tears were streaming down his face.

"What did you say? Raising pigs and rabbits is fine, isn't it? How come all of a sudden..."

"The land in the village hasn't been taken back, and Zhao Jintao has already taken a lot of responsibility. Mom, please don't scold Jintao anymore."

"Jin Tao, Jin Tao, you idiot! What's so great about Jin Tao? You're just protecting him, ugh..."

The third aunt couldn't vent her anger without scolding him a few times.

"Third Aunt, are you home?"

A humble voice came from outside the half-built earthen wall.

"Jin Tao's mother? What's she doing here?"

Auntie San was startled. Jin Tao's mother usually looked at the sky when she walked and looked down on Auntie San. Why did she come to visit today?

Zheng Fenglin jumped off the kang (a heated brick bed), quickly smoothed his hair, and opened the door in his cloth shoes: "Auntie, you're here. Come in, come in."

Third Aunt rolled her eyes. "A daughter is like a tree that grows up and leaves home. Jin Tao's mother is still your mother-in-law, look how much you fawn over her."

Once inside, Jin Tao's mother smiled apologetically: "Jin Tao took your Angora rabbit. Feng Lin can't be angry with Jin Tao; it was an order from above, and Jin Tao had no choice."

"Auntie, I know, it's not Captain Zhao's fault."

Zhao Jintao put in just as much effort as Zheng Fenglin into this batch of rabbits.

Feeding the rabbits medicine, giving them injections, pulling weeds, cleaning the rabbit hutches—Zhao Jintao helps out whenever he's home.

The rabbit hutch is also a testament to the love between Zheng Fenglin and Zhao Jintao. If anyone is to blame, it's the policy, which doesn't want ordinary people to have enough to eat.

"Third Aunt, I've come today to talk about the marriages of the two children. They're both getting on in years and it's time for them to settle down."

Jin Tao's mother smiled hypocritically on her sharp face.

"Hey, isn't your Jintao going to marry a city girl?" Auntie couldn't help but retort.

"mother……"

"What the hell? He's just a squad leader, does he really think he's some big shot?" Auntie San said indignantly.

"Hey, Third Aunt, my son is handsome and a high school student. He could easily find a girl from the city. It's him, it's him who likes your Fenglin. I came to propose in person, and you're still not happy?"

"Jin Tao is a good boy, but I just don't like your arrogant attitude. You need a matchmaker for a marriage proposal, and the process has to be done properly. What kind of nonsense is it for you to come knocking on their door to propose?"

"Hiring a matchmaker costs twenty yuan, you pay for it."

"You, your family is too calculating!" Auntie stomped her foot in anger.

"Fenglin, I'm just asking you, do you agree or not? If you don't agree, I don't care anymore, you can get married if you want."

Jin Tao's mother became unreasonable, convinced that she could keep Zheng Fenglin at bay.

"Mom, forget about all the procedures. Twenty yuan is enough to buy three kettles."

Zheng Fenglin didn't care about the rules; she just wanted to marry Zhao Jintao.

"You, you silly child, you're already being overshadowed by her. What good days will you have in the future?" Auntie San was so angry that she jumped up and down.

"Third Aunt, you're wrong. Why would I pressure my own son and daughter-in-law? Once they give birth to a big, healthy grandson next year, I won't bother with their messy affairs."

"You, my daughter isn't a baby-making machine."

"If a woman doesn't bear children, is she just there to be displayed?"

"I...I don't agree to this marriage..."

"If you disagree, then you disagree. Do you think my son won't be able to find a wife?"

……

Auntie San disagreed during the day, but happily agreed in the evening because Zhao Jintao came to visit with gifts.

"Auntie, Fenglin and I have been together for over a year. We were planning to get married after graduating from the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, but now that I've been expelled, I'm coming to propose marriage ahead of schedule."

Auntie, everyone in the village knows my mother's personality. If you get angry with her, it's not worth ruining your health.

I, Zhao Jintao, am poor and have no ability, but I promise to treat Fenglin well and won't allow my mother to bully her. Of course, I can't out-argue my mother, and Fenglin probably won't stand a chance. Why don't you help me by scolding her?"

Zhao Jintao spoke earnestly and sincerely, but Zheng Fenglin burst out laughing: "You're not proposing marriage, you're inviting me to a fight!"

"I...my mother..." Zhao Jintao stammered.

Third Aunt looked at Zhao Jintao and said to Fenglin's father, "Tell me, how could his mother, with her shrewish nature, raise such a good child? Jintao, your aunt likes you from the bottom of her heart, unlike your mother, who wanted to find a city girl after going to the Academy of Agricultural Sciences. I know that you are devoted to my Fenglin."

"Your aunt and Fenglin's father have no objections to your relationship. You two can handle it as you see fit. My family is poor too, and Feng'an needs to go to school. Didn't we pay fifty yuan for the Angora rabbit? My family doesn't need a dowry; the fifty yuan will be Fenglin's dowry."

"No, no, Auntie, the betrothal still needs to be arranged. I can't let the villagers laugh at Fenglin."

"Alright, good boy, then you take care of it. No matter how well you do, your aunt and uncle won't say a word against it."

"Thank you, Auntie. Thank you, Uncle."

"No need to thank me, we're family from now on."

Zheng Fenglin lowered her head shyly. If Zhao Jintao hadn't been fired, their marriage would probably have faced many difficulties.

Jin Tao's mother was such a shrewd woman. On the very first day her son came home, she was already thinking about getting his marriage to Feng Lin done as soon as possible. If she dragged it out any longer, it would be hard to say whether he could even find a good girl, let alone a city girl.

Fenglin is good-looking, hardworking, has a big bottom, and can have grandchildren. She's much better than that spoiled Qiaoqiao.

By the reservoir, Zheng Fenglin looked at Zhao Jintao with infatuation and said, "No matter how I look at you, you're a city person, with fair skin and handsome looks."

Zhao Jintao smiled gently: "They'll get fair-skinned at school, but after a few days in the fields, they'll turn dark again."

"You look good even with a tan. You're just like the characters in the book, the kind of upright person you are when you stand in a crowd."

Zhao Jintao laughed heartily: "Fenglin, you really know how to compliment people."

That's just how it is.

"Fenglin, Yang Zheng wrote to me. He said that the country may resume the college entrance examination, and he and Qiaomei are both studying for it."

Zheng Fenglin was startled and stood up, then slowly sat down again, saying, "Do you want to take the exam?"

"Yeah, I'd like to give it a try. Yang Zheng sent me some review materials, and I still have my high school books."

"If you pass the exam, you'll truly be a city dweller."

Zheng Fenglin had mixed feelings. Taking the college entrance exam was a good thing, but for her, it was definitely not a good thing.

Are you willing to learn?

"I can't do it. I failed every subject in school. I can't compare to Qiaoqiao. You take the exam, I support you," Zheng Fenglin said insincerely.

"Are you afraid I'll change my mind? Fenglin, if I can get into university, I'll go to agricultural university and return to Dashui Village after graduation."

"Why did you choose to attend an agricultural university? Wouldn't it be better to be a factory worker in the city like Yang Zheng?"

"Yang Zheng is focused on industry, while I prefer agriculture. I don't believe that farmers can't have a good life after working hard all year."

"Industry needs talent, and so does agriculture. Take Angora rabbits, for example. When we send them to the agricultural technology station, they are all amazed, wondering who can raise such good Angora rabbits. With the technology, grain production can be increased, and Angora rabbits have good wool quality, so they fetch a good price."

Zhao Jintao stared intently at the shimmering water.

"They know we raise them well, but they don't even give us a few extra dollars. In less than a month, my ten Angora rabbits will be ready for shearing, which will cost a full two hundred dollars."

"It's a pity. We'll raise them again once the central government's document comes down. With me, a technician, you can raise whatever you want," Zhao Jintao chuckled.

"That's right, you're a walking treasure. Jin Tao, if you get into university, will you leave me?"

"I was afraid you'd worry, that's why I rushed off to propose. Fenglin, I won't be a heartless man like Chen Shimei."

Fenglin believed in Zhao Jintao. In the village, the brigade, and even the commune, many women liked Zhao Jintao, as he seemed to have only agriculture on his mind.

Of course, Qiaoqiao had been in his heart.