An Accidental Military Marriage

"Dammit! Who is it?"

Jiang Peng whipped his head around, annoyed. Seeing it was his own older sister, he immediately dropped his aggressive posture. "Sis, you’re back?!"

Shi Yu and Zhang Lei also hurried to suck up to Jiang Moli. "Sister Moli, it’s only been a few days, and you’ve gotten even prettier!"

Jiang Moli pulled a pack of cadre cigarettes from her bag and tossed it to them. She’d swiped it from Lu Deyao’s cigarette case on her way out.

"Xiao Peng is busy today. You guys go have fun on your own."

"You got it!"

The two of them caught the cigarettes and left happily.

Jiang Peng watched them go with envy. "Hey, leave a few for me..."

Before he could finish, Jiang Moli grabbed him by the ear.

"Let you off the leash for three days and you’re already tearing the house down, huh? Going behind your old man’s back to call someone else ’Dad’? Jiang Peng, I think you’re asking for a beating!"

"Ow! Go easy! Sis, I was wrong, I was just kidding!"

"A real dutiful son, you are!"

Jiang Moli let go and gave him a kick from behind. "Get going. I’ll deal with you at home!"

"Don’t kick me! These are new pants, it’s the first day I’m wearing them! The shirt’s new too, made from the fabric my brother-in-law bought. What do you think? Handsome, right?"

Jiang Peng bantered with Jiang Moli as he brushed the dust off his clothes.

Ma Hongmei watched this scene, finding it strangely familiar.

’Isn’t this just like her sister-in-law when she was young?’

’Just as feisty, with a fiery temper. It’s true what they say, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.’

Jiang Peng’s eyes lit up as he stared at the high-end cigarettes, alcohol, and sweets Ma Hongmei was carrying. "Sis, did you buy all this for Dad?"

Jiang Moli introduced Ma Hongmei. "This is our aunt. Greet her."

"Heh heh, hi Auntie."

Ma Hongmei smiled and nodded.

Jiang Peng eagerly went up to Ma Hongmei to help. "Auntie, let me take those for you."

"Auntie, let him carry them."

Hearing Jiang Moli say that, Ma Hongmei handed both mesh bags she was holding to Jiang Peng.

Jiang Peng tied the two bags together, hung them around his neck, and puffed out his chest, head held high. He looked as proud as if he were wearing two gold ingots around his neck.

Jiang Moli was amused. "Are you nuts?"

"Those old gossips can’t stand to see you doing well. They were saying your brother-in-law doesn’t care about you since he didn’t even show up on the wedding day. They’re all waiting for you to be despised by your in-laws. I have to show them that you’re having a great time with your new family, and even brought back all this good stuff for Dad. That’ll piss them off!"

Jiang Moli glanced around. Sure enough, quite a few people were looking their way, whispering to each other.

"Isn’t that Jiang Moli?"

"Yeah, it’s her ceremonial visit back home. Look at the cigarettes, the alcohol, the tea... that’s all high-quality stuff! The Jiang family’s luck has really turned. From now on, they’re going to live a blessed life."

Someone saw the fine cigarettes and liquor hanging from Jiang Peng’s neck and was green with envy.

"How come she’s by herself? Her husband didn’t come back with her for the home visit?"

"He didn’t even show up to get the bride on the wedding day, and now he’s not here for the home visit either. I bet this marriage won’t last!"

"Exactly! Making her come home by herself for the visit, it’s obvious they don’t value her as a daughter-in-law."

Although the siblings couldn’t hear the neighbors’ discussion, they could guess it was nothing good.

"Those old gossips are definitely badmouthing you again."

"Let them talk."

’The more they talk, the more my Disgust Value rises.’

’Unfortunately, I’ve pretty much tapped out this family residential area. It’s getting hard to harvest any new Disgust Value.’

’I can probably farm the Military District Courtyard for another couple of days, but that’s not enough. My mission progress isn’t even a third of the way done.’

’I need to figure out a new way to do this.’

"Sis, our uncles are here. If they ask to borrow money later, whatever you do, don’t agree."

From Jiang Peng’s expression and tone, it was clear he held a deep grudge against his uncles.

Normally, the relationship between maternal uncles and their nephews and nieces is very close.

Jiang Moli raised an eyebrow. "Do they come over to borrow money often?"

"Nine times out of ten. Anyway, nothing good ever comes of them visiting."

Jiang Moli called out to her system, "How much do the Ruan uncles owe the Jiang family?"

After the sound of rustling pages, a voice reported: "[Book records indicate: Eldest brother-in-law Ruan Fuguo borrowed money 9 times, owing the Jiang family 135 yuan. Second brother-in-law Ruan Fuqiang borrowed money 7 times, owing the Jiang family 124 yuan. Third brother-in-law Ruan Fushun borrowed money 5 times, owing the Jiang family 80 yuan.]"

"After Jiang Dahai got injured and lost his job, did they pay any of it back?"

"[Negative. After Jiang Dahai lost his job and had no money for treatment, he went to their homes several times to ask for repayment. The three brothers not only refused to pay back a single cent, but they also kicked him while he was down.]"

In the original book, after Li Hongying was kicked out by Jiang Dahai, she took Jiang Qing with her to join her military unit in the Southwest, while Jiang Peng was far away serving in the army.

Jiang Dahai had lost the use of one hand. With no one to care for him and no source of income, he couldn’t make ends meet.

Jiang Dahai went to the three Ruan brothers to collect the debt.

Not only did the three brothers refuse to pay, but they also cursed Jiang Dahai, saying he had brought it all on himself. They claimed he had mistreated his second wife and stepdaughter while blindly doting on his own daughter, raising her to be stupid and spoiled. They even said that Jiang Dahai ending up with his family ruined and his life lost was his just deserts.

These words were a huge blow to Jiang Dahai. In the end, his injuries went untreated, and he died full of grief and despair.

If you asked Jiang Moli, Jiang Dahai was just too kind.

’If it were me,’ she thought, ’I’d drag those heartless bastards from the Ruan Family down with me, even in death.’

’What a bunch of scumbags!’

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, and she lifted her foot and kicked Jiang Peng.

Jiang Peng was completely bewildered. "Sis, what’d you kick me for?"

"Just looking at you pisses me off. You’re useless."

"What did I do?"

"When relatives who borrow money and don’t pay it back show up, you should just grab a broom and chase them out! You let them come back time and time again? Did you grow taller but not smarter?"

"You’re scolding me, but weren’t you the same? Every time our eldest aunt brought over peaches or apricots, you were the one who ate them most happily."

’The original owner of this body was so spoiled by Jiang Dahai that she didn’t know the hardships of life. She couldn’t appreciate how hard he worked to earn money, and she was vain on top of it all.’

’After a bit of flattery from her aunts, she really started to think her family were big landlords and even egged on Jiang Dahai to lend out the money.’

’She was so stupid, I want to slap myself just thinking about it.’

Jiang Moli turned to Ma Hongmei and said, "Auntie, can you do me a favor? When we get home, act on behalf of the Lu Family and tell my uncles to pay back the money. If they don’t, have them all arrested and thrown in jail!"

’Can she really say things like that?’

’No matter how powerful the Lu Family is, arresting people without cause is still against the law!’

Ma Hongmei looked at her, her expression hard to describe. "Xiao Jiang, I still have things to take care of at home. I should be heading back."

"We’re already at the door. Come in for a cup of tea before you go."

"No, I can’t. Next time, next time."

Before she finished speaking, Ma Hongmei had already turned and started walking toward the main gate, clearly wanting no part in the Jiang family’s domestic affairs.

Watching Ma Hongmei’s hasty retreat, Jiang Moli chuckled to herself.

’I wasn’t actually expecting Ma Hongmei to help. I was just looking for an excuse to send her away.’

...

The alley outside the Jiang residence was especially lively today.

There were people playing with their grandchildren, people shelling beans and picking vegetables, and others drying things in the sun.

They all seemed to be busy with their own tasks, but in reality, they were all waiting to see Jiang Moli make a fool of herself.

They all knew that Jiang Moli had returned to her family home alone.

’Serves her right!’

The moment the siblings appeared at the entrance of the alley, all the neighbors turned to look in unison.

"Well, look who’s back. Moli, how come you’re all alone? We don’t see your man with you."

Looking at the woman’s gloating face, Jiang Moli pointed to her side. "Isn’t my husband right here?"

The woman stared at the spot she was pointing to for a long time, then rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

’There’s no one there.’

"If you can’t see him, then there must be something wrong with your eyes. Go home and gnaw on a few more carrots; it’s good for your eyesight!"

Jiang Peng, riding on his sister’s coattails, followed behind her and unleashed a taunt of his own: "How pitiful. So young and already blind!"

The woman was so angry she spat and cursed at the siblings, "Trying to scare people with your spooky tricks! You’ll get what’s coming to you sooner or later!"

Jiang Moli turned back. "Don’t worry. If that day ever comes, at your age, you won’t be able to see it."

The woman was so furious she nearly fell over backward.

[Disgust Value +2. Account credited: 20,000 yuan.]

Having successfully caught two fish that had slipped through the net, Jiang Moli felt much better.