Refusing to marry a widower, I went on a crazy spree of sending my children to the army.

Those were truly tough times. We were always hungry and thirsty, and we were constantly getting injured.

If you don't receive timely treatment after an injury, you'll inevitably develop some health problems.

The woman couldn't have children, and the man understood. They had been together for over twenty years, supporting each other through thick and thin, until the man passed away.

Wang Defa respected Granny Qi, but also felt that she was too old to work hard in the fields, so he arranged for her to guard the pigsty.

On weekdays, the children in the team would cut pig feed and deliver wheat bran, and Grandma Qi only needed to chop and cook them to earn work points.

He Nian spoke up at the right time, saying that Granny Qi had been unwell lately and often dreamed of Wang Gui, so she probably wouldn't last much longer.

Wang Defa was afraid something bad would happen, and he also worried that Granny Qi was too lonely, which was why she was thinking about all sorts of random things.

Just as she was about to call a former educated youth to come and keep her company, Qiao Manman asked her a question.

Although He Nian is shy and introverted, she is efficient at her work and doesn't cause trouble. She is indeed suitable to keep Granny Qi company.

So I agreed.

He Nian had also heard about Granny Qi's deeds, so when she got home, she said to Qiao Runming with emotion, "I see that she is so old and lives all alone in the pigsty. It's so pitiful!"

Qiao Runming nodded: "Grandma Qi's righteousness and magnanimity are worthy of our respect."

When cooking lunch, the couple tacitly added an extra handful of rice, a piece of cured meat, a cucumber, and two bell peppers.

After preparing the food, He Nian ladled out a portion and put it into a lunchbox before jogging towards the pigsty.

"Grandma, have you eaten? I brought you some food!"

Grandma Qi paused in her cooking of wild vegetables: "No need, I'll just make some myself to fill my stomach."

He Nian stepped forward, snatched the wild vegetables from her, and stuffed the lunchbox into her hand: "This is the first time we've worked together, consider it my gift to you!"

I'll need your guidance on things I don't understand in the future!

Grandma Qi didn't stand on ceremony when she heard this, and opened the lunchbox: "You're so thoughtful!"

It was truly thoughtful of them to serve brown rice with stir-fried green peppers and cured pork, along with pickled cucumbers. The meal whetted her appetite, and she wanted another serving.

He nodded: "Better than the cooks'!"

She hadn't had such a delicious meal in years, which reminded her of the past!

He Nian smiled, got up and went to chop pig feed. By the time she finished, it was already past one o'clock. She told Granny Qi and went home to rest.

I returned to the pigsty in the evening. I not only helped tidy up the pigpen, but I also washed Grandma Qi's clothes and other things.

After she left, Granny Qi's eyes were wet with tears.

Meanwhile, Qiao Manman rode her bicycle, panting and groaning, to the machinery factory. Although she wasn't late, her legs were exhausted.

Looking displeased, he took out an enamel mug from his canvas bag, just in time to see Zhang Shuhan carrying a thermos: "Comrade Xiao Qiao, you've worked hard. Have some hot water and rest for a while!"

Qiao Manman smiled and thanked her, then took out a tea canister: "Would you like some?"

Zhang Shuhan didn't stand on ceremony with her, and so did the others. They all came over, picked a leaf or two, and put them in their teacups. Before long, a faint aroma of tea wafted through the office.

Qiao Manman took out the documents from the filing cabinet and continued her study.

When Yan Chengke came in, he joked with a smile, "Oh, you've all had some good drinks today!"

"Director, this was brought by Comrade Xiao Qiao, it smells amazing!"

Qiao Manman pushed the tea canister forward: "It was picked from the mountain. If the director doesn't mind, you can try some!"

Yan Chengke nodded, taking out the first draft and table of contents she had submitted yesterday: "Comrade Xiao Qiao, I think we can..."

Yan Chengke relayed the thoughts of the Miao garrison, which Qiao Manman noted down one by one.

A moment later, I got busy, revising my plans and consulting with my colleagues about the situation at the machinery factory.

She was a newcomer, and her understanding was very superficial.

Even with the experience of later generations as a foundation, we cannot simply follow the book blindly and detach ourselves from reality.

Qiao Manman's willingness to ask questions without hesitation has won her many fans.

Those who thought she got her job through connections shut their mouths and started gossiping.

After finishing her work in the morning, Qiao Manman and her colleagues went to the cafeteria for lunch.

Many people greeted her on the street: "Little Qiao, you're doing a good job!"

Qiao Manman smiled and nodded: "Hello, welcome home!"

They said things that were not very meaningful, but they actually brought them closer together.

Today she wasn't as high-profile as yesterday. She made a steamed bun and a serving of shredded potatoes, and sat in the corner to eat.

Many men cast shy, admiring glances at her, but Qiao Manman pretended not to notice.

After finishing her meal and washing her lunchbox, Qiao Manman strolled around the factory area for a while.

Look at the tall poplar and locust trees, and admire the tender wild grass and flowers.

I felt that the food I had just eaten had been mostly digested before I returned to the office.

The office was empty; everyone had gone home or to their dormitories to rest.

Qiao Manman sat on the chair for a while, then, feeling bored, took out some jerky to chew on.

After finishing chewing, I felt a little sleepy, so I lay down on the table to rest.

But the table was so hard. She was in a daze, but couldn't fall asleep no matter what she did.

After tossing and turning for more than ten minutes, I was exhausted.

I got up, made myself a cup of coffee, and, forcing myself to stay alert, continued working on the training program.

Qiao Manman sighed, lamenting how inefficient she was at this time. She had spent two days writing a proposal of several thousand words.

In later generations, a few keystrokes on a computer, some revisions, and a final draft can be completed in less than half a day.

Qiao Manman asked, "Tongtong, do you think I can build a computer?"

The system chuckled: "Host, don't you have some in your space? Just take them out and use them!"

Qiao Manman: "......"

If she could take it out, would she still be troubled?

"However, there are many books here. The host can study them diligently. Who knows, one day you might even develop a computer that is more powerful than the Milky Way, the Milky Way, and the Divine Might!"

Qiao Manman rolled her eyes, thinking to herself that she wasn't a genius, how could she invent such an awesome supercomputer just by reading a few books?

unless......

"System, can you perform a top-down empowerment?"

Is it like in novels, where powerful cultivators pass on their cultivation techniques and power to their disciples and grand-disciples before their death, instantly making me a god who can do anything?

The system shook its head: "Host, I am a scientific system, please stop daydreaming!"

Qiao Manman's eyes widened: "Are you sure? Which of the following—the Fertility Pill, the Truth-Telling Talisman, the Mutant Wheat, and the Mutant Rice—exists in the real world?"

The system remained silent, and Qiao Manman didn't investigate further.

After joking around for a while, I felt much better.

The plan was improved, and the training focus was also re-examined.

In the afternoon, Qiao Manman asked Zhang Shuhan to go with her to visit employees and their families to understand their living conditions and the legal difficulties they had encountered.

It was only after asking this question that I realized how many people are ignorant about the law.

The key point is that many people don't even realize they have a problem.

Just like the most common "preference for sons over daughters" and "freedom of marriage," as soon as Qiao Manman mentioned them, people would criticize her.

"Which family doesn't have boys to carry on the family line? Which family doesn't have boys to inherit the family property? Which family doesn't have boys to carry on the family line and break the family pot?"

In every family, marriages are arranged by parents and matchmakers.