An Accidental Military Marriage

The special supply counter was a bit like the mini-marts of later generations. It had a full range of goods—food, daily necessities, tobacco, alcohol, candy, and so on—but the quantities were very limited. The quality, however, was much higher, and there were many imported products like milk powder, perfume, and cameras.

Jiang Moli wasn’t particularly interested in anything else, but the sight of sanitary pads stopped her in her tracks.

At the time, sanitary pads weren’t yet a domestic product in the country. When women had their periods, they generally used toilet paper or menstrual belts.

"How much are these?"

The salesclerk was currently helping two elegantly dressed customers.

Hearing her ask the price, the clerk gave her a sideways glance, sizing her up. Only after spotting Lu Cheng in his military uniform beside her did she deign to speak:

"2.5 yuan a pack. Cadres at administrative level three or higher are limited to two packs per month."

A price of 2.5 yuan was undeniably exorbitant for the times, especially when pork was only 0.7 yuan per jin.

However, the salesclerk’s attitude annoyed Jiang Moli. "Ha, 2.5 yuan? Why should foreign goods be so expensive? Forget 2.5 yuan—I wouldn’t take them even if you gave them to me for free! We must resolutely refuse to bow to capitalism and never worship foreign things!"

The two ladies had been about to buy the sanitary pads, but after hearing her passionate speech, they quickly put them down and went to look at something else.

The salesclerk was angry that Jiang Moli had ruined her sale, but the slogan Jiang Moli shouted was so politically righteous that she couldn’t find any fault with it.

Hearing the sound of Disdain Value being credited to her account, Jiang Moli felt a sense of satisfaction.

After they left the special supply counter, Jiang Moli turned to ask the man something, only to find him already looking at her, his eyes filled with admiration and delight.

"Your political consciousness is quite high."

"You’re overthinking it. I just couldn’t stand that salesclerk’s high-and-mighty attitude and deliberately wanted to tick her off."

Jiang Moli’s frankness shattered Lu Cheng’s illusion, but he wasn’t angry. On the contrary, he felt that his wife was being genuine and unpretentious with him.

"What’s your administrative level?"

Hearing her ask, Lu Cheng guessed what she was thinking. "You want those?"

Jiang Moli nodded. "They’re expensive, but they’re useful."

"I’ll have them delivered to your house in a couple of days."

Jiang Moli wasn’t stupid; she guessed Lu Cheng probably didn’t meet the purchasing requirement himself. But since he had promised her, she wasn’t going to worry about the details.

Not far away, Meng Wei watched in a daze as Lu Cheng patiently accompanied Jiang Moli while she shopped. Her heart twisted in agony.

In all her life, she had never seen Lu Cheng be so patient and considerate with a woman.

Logically, she knew that secretly following them was shameful. She should turn around and leave—out of sight, out of mind.

But she just couldn’t swallow her indignation.

She and Lu Cheng had grown up together, and she was a hundred, a thousand times more outstanding than Jiang Moli in every aspect.

She couldn’t understand where she had lost.

...

Jiang Dahai stood in the doorway with his hands on his hips, looking at the courtyard full of betrothal gifts. He was both overjoyed and overwhelmed.

He was overjoyed that his daughter was finally getting married, and marrying up at that! His son-in-law was a military cadre!

He was overwhelmed because there was no place to put the courtyard full of gifts—there were simply too many!

Besides the excessive number of betrothal gifts, two whole pork hind legs also presented a problem for Jiang Dahai.

Usually, they couldn’t get meat even if they wanted it, and now they had more than they could eat.

If it were autumn or winter, it would have been fine; he could rub them with salt and sun-dry them to make cured meat.

But in this scorching weather, the fresh pork wouldn’t last. He could only cut it into small pieces and trade it with the neighbors for grain and ration tickets.

As for the sixteen live chickens and ducks, Jiang Dahai planned to borrow a tricycle and send them back to his hometown for his older brother and sister-in-law to raise. When Jiang Moli’s wedding came, they would be used for the banquet.

The tobacco, alcohol, candy, pastries, and canned goods were stuffed under the bed. The dining table was moved into the courtyard to make room for the sewing machine and bicycle.

After a busy afternoon, Jiang Dahai and Li Hongying were drenched in sweat, but they had finally managed to put all the betrothal gifts away.

...

Jiang Moli and Lu Cheng returned, their arms full of purchases.

The moment the jeep stopped in front of the family residential area gate, it immediately drew gazes from all directions.

A group of children, fascinated by the rare sight, swarmed around the vehicle.

It couldn’t be helped. In those days, a four-wheeled vehicle was just that rare. The effect was no less than a Rolls-Royce suddenly pulling up in front of an ordinary residential complex in the twenty-first century.

"Such a grand display. I wonder which big leader it is?"

"Hiss... I think that’s Jiang Dahai’s son-in-law."

Someone recognized Lu Cheng.

You couldn’t find a second young man in the entire neighborhood as tall and handsome as him, let alone one wearing a four-pocket military uniform.

"Which of Jiang Dahai’s sons-in-law?"

Thanks to Jiang Moli, Jiang Dahai was also quite famous in the area. Everyone knew he had a lazy, gluttonous daughter and a hardworking, dutiful stepdaughter.

"The one for his own daughter."

"No way. How could a young and promising military officer like him possibly fall for that lazy good-for-nothing?"

The words had barely left the speaker’s mouth when Jiang Moli stepped out of the jeep’s passenger seat.

"It really is her!?"

[Disdain Value +1 +1 +1...]

The moment Jiang Moli got out of the car, the Disdain Value started to climb.

If an outstanding, upright, and kind woman married into a better life, everyone would only be envious and offer their blessings, feeling it was a reward she deserved.

But why should a wicked woman of inferior character like Jiang Moli get to marry so well?

If lazy, gluttonous, and vain people could enjoy a comfortable and happy life, then what was the point of their own daily hard work and diligence?

This resentment toward life and the unfairness of fate all transformed into hostility toward Jiang Moli.

Then, they saw Lu Cheng trailing behind Jiang Moli, loaded down with bags large and small. He was clearly a tall, strong man full of righteous spirit, yet Jiang Moli was treating him like a lackey.

Meanwhile, Jiang Moli had her hands empty, not helping in the slightest, putting on the airs of a pampered young lady who’s never had to lift a finger. This intensified everyone’s dissatisfaction and disgust.

How could such an ungrateful person exist in this world?

[Disdain Value +1 +1 +1 +1...]

Listening to the ever-increasing Disdain Value, Jiang Moli couldn’t help but start humming a tune.

Lu Cheng clearly sensed Jiang Moli’s happiness.

He subconsciously assumed she was happy because she had bought things, and from this, he formulated a personal theory: ’As long as I spend money on my wife, I can make her happy.’

Jiang Dahai came out to greet them from a distance. "You child, how could you let Xiao Lu carry so much by himself? You should have helped."

"It’s fine," Lu Cheng said. "It looks like a lot, but they’re all light things that don’t weigh much."

Jiang Dahai had been around the block; how could he not tell that Lu Cheng was siding with his daughter? He couldn’t be more satisfied with this son-in-law.

Back home, Jiang Dahai told Jiang Moli to pour Lu Cheng a glass of water.

For once, Jiang Moli didn’t act up. She poured two glasses of water, handed one to Lu Cheng, and drank the other one herself.

While drinking his water, Lu Cheng discussed the wedding arrangements with Jiang Dahai.

Learning that Lu Cheng had to return to his unit on the 21st, Jiang Dahai readily agreed to hold the wedding banquet on the 20th.

He couldn’t wait for his daughter to get married off sooner; he was worried Lu Cheng might call off the wedding.

Once everything was settled, Lu Cheng announced his departure.

Jiang Dahai wanted to keep him for dinner, but Lu Cheng politely declined, saying he needed to get home early to discuss the wedding plans with his parents.

"Moli, walk Xiao Lu out."

Jiang Moli couldn’t be bothered to move, so Jiang Dahai grabbed her by the arm and pushed her out the door.

From the looks of it, he wished he could just wrap Jiang Moli in a bedsheet and have Lu Cheng carry her home.

"Let’s go, then."

Lu Cheng was amused by her reluctant expression but was unwilling to give up the chance to be alone with her.

"Are you tired today?"

Jiang Moli shot him a glance. "Aren’t *you* tired?"

"I’m not tired."

"I’m speechless."

"Just hang in there. The next few days will be even more tiring. Remember to find a tailor tomorrow to get your wedding outfit made."

Jiang Moli nodded.

"Look around later, and if you find you’re missing anything, let me know right away."

"Oh."

Lu Cheng gazed at her fair, rosy cheeks, which looked even more tender than a freshly peeled egg. Her eyelashes were like two tiny fans, and with every blink, his heart melted a little more.

"Do you want to come see my place? I’ll take you back after dinner."

"Nope."

Seeing that she was truly tired, her voice lacking energy, Lu Cheng took a pen and notebook from his bag and wrote down his home address and phone number.

"Alright, this is far enough. If you need anything, come find me or give me a call."

Jiang Moli took the note and tucked it into her pocket. "Be safe on your way."

"Okay. Go on back."

Jiang Moli turned around without a second thought.

Lu Cheng watched her retreating back and smiled for a moment before turning and striding away.