Chapter 28: Utterly Shameless
Jiang Dahai was sitting in the courtyard, flipping through an almanac. He hadn’t even gotten to the page for the 20th when Jiang Moli walked in.
"Didn’t I tell you to see Xiao Lu off? How are you back so soon?"
"Your son-in-law felt bad for me. He was afraid I’d get tired, so he didn’t want me to walk too far."
"You’re a young woman, have you no shame talking like that?"
Jiang Moli plopped down on a stool, a curious look on her face. "Are you just finding out today that I’m thick-skinned?"
Jiang Dahai was speechless for a long moment, then decided to ignore her.
He didn’t want to be angered to death.
Jiang Moli carried the two sets of clothes she’d bought that afternoon into her room, intending to try them on to see if they fit.
In this era, the concept of "the customer is always right" didn’t exist. You couldn’t try on clothes before buying them. You just picked a style and size, paid, and could only try them on after you got home. If they didn’t fit, you couldn’t return or exchange them; your only option was to find a tailor to alter them.
As she was taking off her pants, she felt something in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw it was the red envelope Lu Cheng’s mother had given her at noon.
Jiang Moli opened the envelope and glanced inside. It was exactly 101 yuan.
’One in a hundred?’
She had to admit, the Lu Family was very proper with their etiquette, even though An Hui didn’t seem to like her as a daughter-in-law.
...
"Xiao Qing, wait for me!"
At the entrance to the family residential area, Zhou Xiaoqing panted as she caught up to Jiang Qing, her face a mask of gossip as she started asking about Jiang Qing and Zhang Jia Ming.
"My mom said you stole Jiang Moli’s man—that Zhang Jia Ming. Are you two official now?"
Jiang Qing clearly disliked Zhou Xiaoqing’s choice of words. "Jia Ming broke off his engagement with Jiang Moli before he got together with me. Our relationship is completely above board and proper. Stop talking nonsense."
Zhou Xiaoqing was unconvinced but softened her tone. "Alright, alright, my bad. I misspoke. But my mom also said that Jiang Moli caught the eye of Zhang Jia Ming’s boss? Hmph, she has some dumb luck. That guy must be ancient, old and ugly. He’s probably a divorced guy with kids, too. Jiang Moli will be marrying him just to be a stepmom..."
While badmouthing Jiang Moli’s partner, her eyes roved up and down, sizing up Jiang Qing.
"Hey, that’s a nice dress. When did you have it made?"
"Just recently."
"No wonder I’ve never seen it before. I have a matchmaking meeting in a few days. How about you let me borrow it?"
Jiang Qing didn’t directly answer whether she would lend it, instead asking who Zhou Xiaoqing’s meeting was with.
Zhou Xiaoqing was successfully distracted. "A lathe worker from my dad’s factory. His family’s situation is pretty good. Both his parents are official employees..."
The pride in Zhou Xiaoqing’s voice was hard to miss.
In those days, marrying into a family with two official employees was the envy of many unmarried women.
Zhou Xiaoqing wanted to see that envy on Jiang Qing’s face.
Although Jiang Qing had married a soldier, he was from the countryside. His family’s circumstances were far worse than those of her potential match.
However, Jiang Qing didn’t seem to be listening, instead staring intently ahead.
Puzzled, Zhou Xiaoqing followed Jiang Qing’s gaze and saw a tall man in a military uniform walking toward them.
As the man drew closer and she got a clear look at his face and uniform, Zhou Xiaoqing’s eyes were glued to him.
’Oh my god, he’s so handsome! And a young officer, too!’
Zhou Xiaoqing’s maiden heart began to beat wildly. THUMP THUMP THUMP.
"Mr. Lu."
Lu Cheng stopped, gave Jiang Qing a polite nod, and made small talk. "Did Jia Ming head back?"
"Yes. Thank you for agreeing to be the witness at our wedding. We’ve already set the date and hope you’ll be able to come and celebrate with us."
"Of course. Congratulations to you both."
"Thank you."
Seeing that Jiang Qing knew Lu Cheng, Zhou Xiaoqing hurriedly sidled up to him.
"Hello, sir. Xiao Qing and I are good friends. Our families are neighbors."
Hearing that she was his wife’s neighbor, Lu Cheng also offered Zhou Xiaoqing a "Hello."
Zhou Xiaoqing didn’t reluctantly tear her eyes away until Lu Cheng’s figure had completely disappeared from sight. She then hurried to catch up with Jiang Qing, who had already walked quite a distance ahead.
"Xiao Qing, Xiao Qing! Was that guy Zhang Jia Ming’s boss? Does he have a girlfriend?"
How could Jiang Qing not see Zhou Xiaoqing’s budding crush? With a wry smile, she said, "He does. And you even know her."
"Who?"
"Jiang Moli."
Zhou Xiaoqing’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. "Who? Jiang Moli? No way! Is he... is he blind, falling for Jiang Moli??"
Seeing the look on Zhou Xiaoqing’s face, as if she’d just eaten shit, Jiang Qing’s mood suddenly improved a great deal.
It wasn’t that she was so dark-hearted that she couldn’t bear to see Jiang Moli do well; it was just that the situation itself was hard to accept.
"Xiao Qing, if he can even fall for someone like Jiang Moli, do you think it’s possible he might fall for me too?"
"Who knows."
Zhou Xiaoqing missed the sarcasm in Jiang Qing’s tone. Instead, she cupped her cheeks narcissistically. "He even said hello to me just now. He was staring right at my face. Maybe he really is a little interested in me."
Jiang Qing fought the urge to roll her eyes. "You’d better not let Jiang Moli hear you say that. If she finds out you’re coveting her man, you’ll be in for it."
"Like I’m afraid of her!"
Zhou Xiaoqing sounded defiant, but inwardly, she wasn’t so confident.
Jiang Moli might look delicate and frail, but she had a big temper and was a fierce fighter.
She only dared to badmouth Jiang Moli behind her back; she wouldn’t dare provoke her to her face.
"Xiao Qing, since you and Jiang Moli both married soldiers, why don’t you introduce me to one, too? Preferably an officer."
Jiang Qing was rendered speechless.
’She hadn’t even managed to land an officer herself, and now she was supposed to introduce one to Zhou Xiaoqing? Was she crazy?’
...
In the Jiang family’s small courtyard, Jiang Dahai nodded repeatedly as he looked at the new clothes Jiang Moli was wearing.
"Not bad, not bad at all. Dressed like this, you look much more respectable."
Jiang Moli replied, "That’s a great compliment, Dad. Please don’t give me any more."
Jiang Dahai grinned, looking proud and relieved, as if he’d finally gotten the upper hand.
Jiang Qing and Zhou Xiaoqing entered the courtyard one after the other, their eyes both landing on Jiang Moli in unison.
"Xiao Qing, you’re back."
Li Hongying walked to Jiang Qing’s side, pointing at the clothes and leather sandals Jiang Moli was wearing. She was all smiles. "Look at the clothes and shoes Xiao Lu bought for Moli. Aren’t they lovely?"
Jiang Qing pressed her lips together, saying nothing, but her heart quietly soured with jealousy.
Jiang Moli had a good figure and fair skin. Wearing such a well-made outfit elevated her entire presence significantly.
Zhou Xiaoqing stared just as jealously at Jiang Moli’s new clothes and sandals. Then, thinking of Lu Cheng’s tall, handsome figure and his status as a military officer, she finally couldn’t hold it in anymore.
"Shameless hussy!"
The curse made everyone in the courtyard turn to look at her.
Jiang Dahai’s tone was still pleasant. "Who are you cursing at, Xiao Qing?"
Jiang Moli gave a wry smile. "She must be cursing Jiang Qing, of course. I’m not the one who stole someone’s fiancé. She can’t possibly be cursing me, can she?"
Zhou Xiaoqing quickly looked at Jiang Qing. "I wasn’t cursing at you."
Of course, Jiang Qing knew Zhou Xiaoqing wasn’t cursing at her, but she was in such a foul mood that she just coldly tossed out, "I’m going to start dinner," and went into the kitchen.
Zhou Xiaoqing shot Jiang Moli a glare and followed her into the kitchen.
"Xiao Qing, I really wasn’t talking about you..."
Inside the kitchen, Zhou Xiaoqing frantically explained herself to Jiang Qing.
"I know."
Seeing that Jiang Qing hadn’t misunderstood her, Zhou Xiaoqing relaxed and immediately started complaining about Jiang Moli. "Look at how smug she is. It’s just two outfits. It’s not like nobody else can afford them."
Then she asked Jiang Qing, "What did Jia Ming buy for you?"