An Accidental Military Marriage

"Aunt Hongmei, these dumplings aren’t cooked through."

Ma Hongmei smiled at her. "Xiao Jiang, you should say that these dumplings are raw."

"Raw? They’re raw and you’re serving them to me? Aunt Hongmei, do you have a problem with me?"

Ma Hongmei hadn’t expected Jiang Moli’s train of thought to be so unconventional. She quickly explained, "Xiao Jiang, it’s a custom. It’s something every new bride does on her first day with her husband’s family."

"My family doesn’t have a custom like that. Cook them properly for me."

Speechless, Ma Hongmei looked toward An Hui and Lu Deyao.

Lu Deyao waved his hand, signaling for Ma Hongmei to take the dumplings away.

’Forget the raw ones then.’

’With a personality like that, any child she gives birth to would probably be a handful anyway.’

Jiang Moli wasn’t stupid. Of course she knew the symbolic meaning behind Ma Hongmei giving her raw dumplings.

’It’s just that I’m planning to leave this place in a few months. I can’t exactly run off with a baby bump, can I?’

...

"Xiao Jiang, here’s a detailed list of all the expenses for today’s wedding banquet. Take a look."

Jiang Moli took the thick stack of papers from Lu Deyao and flipped through them for show. ’Are my in-laws hoping I’ll use the betrothal money to cover the banquet expenses?’ she secretly wondered.

’If the old couple really wants me to pay, I’ll pay.’

’I’m going to divorce him and leave sooner or later anyway. When that happens, I’ll return the betrothal money to the Lu Family in full.’

Just as her mind was wandering, she heard Lu Deyao say, "The third son was planning to pay for the banquet himself, but your mother and I discussed it. We’ve decided to cover the expenses. The gift money received today is for you two to keep, as a little support from us old folks for your new family. When your two older brothers and their wives got married, we also paid for their banquets. All three brothers are treated the same, so there’s no favoritism."

Jiang Moli was surprised that Lu Deyao and An Hui would go this far.

After all, An Hui seemed to genuinely dislike her as a daughter-in-law.

"This is the list of gifts from today. In total, we received 1,586 yuan in cash, plus some jewelry and other presents. You can keep the jewelry and gifts yourself. As for the cash, let your mother hold onto it for you for now. You can ask her for it whenever you need it. You’re still young, and we’re worried you won’t be able to control yourself with so much money on hand."

Jiang Moli could understand the old couple’s concerns.

After all, every single thing she had done really did make her seem unreliable.

"Okay, no problem."

Her reasonableness clearly made the couple sigh in relief.

Once everything was settled, Ma Hongmei had dinner ready.

To be fair, the food at the Lu family’s home was far better than at the Jiang family’s.

Not only were there scrambled eggs and braised pork ribs, but also a pot of old hen soup.

In truth, the Lu family’s daily meals weren’t usually this lavish. They typically had two dishes: one meat and one vegetable.

The reason there were three meat dishes on the table today was partly to accommodate Jiang Moli—a new daughter-in-law who had just married into the family deserved a proper welcome—and partly to help An Hui replenish her strength.

An Hui had been busy managing everything for the past few days, not eating or sleeping well, and had even injured her back. That was why Ma Hongmei had specially stewed an old hen for her.

Ma Hongmei first ladled a bowl of fresh chicken soup for everyone, then lifted the whole hen onto an empty plate.

It was a genuine free-range chicken, stewed until the skin was splitting and the meat was falling off the bone.

With a gentle tug, a fragrant, golden-yellow drumstick came away from the chicken’s body.

Ma Hongmei gave the first drumstick to An Hui.

As she pulled off the second drumstick, she looked at Lu Deyao, then at Jiang Moli.

Normally, the second drumstick always went to Lu Deyao.

"Give it to Xiao Jiang," Lu Deyao said, deferring.

Jiang Moli covered the top of her bowl with her hand. "I don’t want it."

Perhaps not expecting Jiang Moli to refuse the fragrant, juicy drumstick, all three of them stared at her.

Lu Deyao was a little moved. "Xiao Jiang, you have the drumstick. Look how thin you are. Eat more meat and build up your strength."

"You didn’t take it, so I won’t either. Aunt Hongmei, just give me a chicken wing."

...

’What a waste of sentiment.’

’So you were just being picky after all.’

That being said, when Lu Deyao exchanged a glance with his wife, they could both see a trace of relief in each other’s eyes.

This young daughter-in-law might be a troublemaker who got on everyone’s nerves, but her basic character wasn’t bad. She knew to show deference to her elders.

...

After dinner, Jiang Dahai counted the gift money received that day.

The Jiang family had many relatives from the countryside. For ten tables at the banquet, they had only received a little over 400 yuan in gift money. After deducting the banquet expenses, there wasn’t much left.

Jiang Dahai counted out the largest portion, preparing to use it to pay off debts the next day.

More than half of the money for the banquet had been borrowed from neighbors and colleagues from the factory, with the promise that it would be repaid right after the event.

After settling the accounts, Jiang Dahai asked about Jiang Qing’s plans.

Jiang Qing’s original plan had been to hold her banquet the next day. It wouldn’t be a big affair, just a simple meal with relatives from both sides.

But plans couldn’t keep up with changes. Zhang Jia Ming had returned to his military post ahead of schedule.

Zhang Jia Ming didn’t have Lu Cheng’s skill or ability to arrange everything perfectly before he left.

Before he left, Zhang Jia Ming hadn’t even had the time to meet with her and talk things over.

The Zhang Family had come into town for the wedding celebration today and had mentioned the marriage to Jiang Dahai, suggesting they wait until Zhang Jia Ming returned to hold the banquet.

Jiang Dahai neither refused nor agreed. He had to see what Jiang Qing thought about it.

After all, his stepdaughter had always had a mind of her own.

"Since Jia Ming isn’t here, there’s no need for a banquet. I’ll go directly to the Zhang Family’s house tomorrow."

"How could you do that?!"

Li Hongying was the first to object. "If you just show up at their door without a banquet, your in-laws will look down on you, and outsiders will laugh at you."

Jiang Dahai also disapproved of his stepdaughter going to the Zhang Family’s home just like that.

He had thrown a magnificent celebration for his biological daughter one day, only for his stepdaughter to pack a bag and go to her in-laws’ house alone the very next. Who knew what kind of stories outsiders would spin about him, the stepfather.

He said to his stepdaughter, "Just wait a year or so. When Jia Ming comes back, even if you don’t have a banquet, he must be the one to personally welcome you into his home."

Li Hongying nodded. "That’s right. Xiao Qing, listen to your Uncle Jiang."

But Jiang Qing had her own ideas.

It was currently June. In three months, news of the reinstatement of the college entrance examination would spread throughout the country.

Then in December, the first college entrance examination since its reinstatement would be held.

Nearly six million people would apply for this winter exam, but fewer than 300,000 would be admitted.

With an acceptance ratio of 20 to 1, she had to fight for every second.

She had already made her plans. She would apply to a university in Kun City. That way, she could be reunited with her husband, Zhang Jia Ming, without delaying her own progress.

She insisted on going to the Zhang family’s house partly because she didn’t want to continue being a servant in the Jiang family, and partly because she wanted to focus on studying.

The college entrance exam wouldn’t be reinstated for another three months. If she started studying now, she would inevitably arouse suspicion.

Besides, Zhou Xiaoqing was still hovering around like a persistent ghost. She would absolutely not give Zhou Xiaoqing another chance to ruin her life.

Once she was at the Zhang family’s home, she could lock herself in her room to study, and no one would know what she was doing.

"Mom, Uncle Jiang, I’ve already decided. I’m leaving first thing tomorrow morning."

After saying this, Jiang Qing went into the inner room and closed the door.

This was to express her persistence and determination.

Li Hongying was so angry she started crying. "This child, why is she so stubborn? It’s not like we would ever harm her, is it?"

Jiang Dahai was also a little angry at his stepdaughter’s inability to appreciate their goodwill. "If she insists on going, then let her."

He counted out 66 yuan from the gift money and gave it to Li Hongying. "Give this to Xiao Qing. Consider it a small token from me, her stepfather."

Li Hongying took the money, clutched it in her hand, and wiped away tears, moved.

"Dahai, I thank you on Xiao Qing’s behalf."

"Even though Xiao Qing isn’t my biological daughter, since she entered this family, I’ve always seen her as my own child. I will do my best to do right by her."

"Meeting you was the greatest fortune for my daughter and me."

Through the door, Jiang Qing heard the conversation between Jiang Dahai and Li Hongying in the outer room, and a scornful smile touched her lips.

’Hypocrites!’

’If he really treated me and Jiang Moli equally, then why didn’t he give me the same dowry as her?’

...

Jiang Moli had just finished taking stock of her dowry.

The cash consisted mainly of the 888 yuan betrothal gift from Lu Cheng and two red envelopes from Jiang Dahai, one of them for 18.8 yuan.

Additionally, during the engagement party, An Hui had given her a 101-yuan red envelope. All together, it totaled a little over one thousand yuan.

The rest were physical items. In addition to all the betrothal gifts from Lu Cheng, which she was allowed to bring with her, Jiang Dahai had also given her four quilts, two sets of bedding, two trunks, a sewing basket, a flashlight, and other miscellaneous things. All told, he had spent nearly a hundred yuan.

It might not sound like much, but it was quite impressive for this era.

When many families married off a daughter, the bride’s parents would just pocket the betrothal money from the groom’s side.

For Jiang Dahai to not take a single cent of the betrothal money and even add a considerable dowry on top of it, despite his tight financial situation, already put him ahead of 99.9% of parents.

Counting her own dowry, the ’change-of-address’ money from the Lu family, and the red envelopes from Lu Cheng’s two older brothers, their wives, and other relatives, Jiang Moli had over 1,300 yuan in cash.

Jiang Moli counted out the loose change, setting aside the round number of 1,300 yuan. She planned to go to the bank tomorrow and deposit it into Lu Cheng’s passbook.

’In any case, when it’s time for the divorce, this money will have to be returned in full.’

She pulled open the bottom, lockable drawer of the vanity, intending to put the money inside. But as soon as the drawer opened, Jiang Moli froze.