An Accidental Military Marriage

Jiang Moli returned to the Lu Family home.

Seeing her return, An Hui anxiously asked if the dispute with her mother’s side of the family had been resolved.

"It’s resolved."

An Hui breathed a sigh of relief. "How did you resolve it? Have your uncles left?"

"They haven’t left yet, but once the factory takes the house back, they’ll naturally get lost."

An Hui was in disbelief. "This is what you call resolved?"

"They were stubbornly refusing to leave, trying to use the house to get ahold of my dad. Now that the house is gone, I’d like to see what they can do to us."

’This isn’t solving a problem, it’s just shooting yourself in the foot.’

An Hui was at a loss for words. "You’re so reckless. How can you just give up a house like that? It wasn’t easy for your father to earn this apartment after working for so many years."

"Don’t worry, 40 is the perfect age to be ambitious. With my dad’s skills, if he works for another eight or ten years, he’s sure to be allocated another apartment."

"..."

’What a great, filial daughter!’

When word of this reached Lu Deyao’s ears, he couldn’t help but shed a sympathetic tear for Jiang Dahai.

’He’s toiled for most of his life, and just when he’s old enough to start enjoying it, his house is gone.’

’He knew it. His third daughter-in-law was bound to do something outrageous, and she certainly hadn’t disappointed him.’

...

When Zhou Weiguang got home from work, he was immediately dragged into the back room by Wang Lianhua, a grim look on her face. "What’s the deal with Mr. Jiang? That family of his is still living there. Is he just not going to do anything about it?"

Zhou Weiguang said, "How should I know? Mr. Jiang didn’t even show up at the factory this afternoon. But he promised the factory director to his face that he’d have it resolved by noon tomorrow."

"And what if he doesn’t?"

Zhou Weiguang lowered his voice. "Then if the factory wants to take the house back, he won’t have a leg to stand on."

Wang Lianhua was skeptical. "His son-in-law is a military officer, and his in-laws are high-ranking officials. Even if the factory doesn’t care about him, they have to respect his connections, right? They can’t actually take his house, can they?"

"This has been going on for days and they haven’t shown their faces once. It’s obvious they don’t want to get involved. To put it bluntly, Jiang Moli doesn’t have much standing with her in-laws."

This news made Wang Lianhua feel exceptionally pleased.

’Just as I thought. How could a lazy good-for-nothing like Jiang Moli ever live a good life?’

’She’s probably just like a donkey dropping—all shiny on the surface.’

「The next day.」

Outside the office of the machinery factory director, a crowd of gawking employees had gathered.

Inside the office, Jiang Dahai was pleading with the factory director in a low voice. "...Please, just give me a little more time. I’ll try to think of something else."

"Jiang, you personally promised yesterday that you’d resolve this within a day. I even gave you a half-day off. The entire factory is watching this. Don’t put me in a tough spot, alright?"

Yang Zhigang’s tone was still relatively mild.

After all, Jiang Dahai had a military officer for a son-in-law and a high-ranking official for a relative-in-law; he couldn’t afford to offend them.

Jiang Dahai looked miserable. "I’ll go back one more time and try talking to them again."

Yang Zhigang glanced at his watch and said with resignation, "Then please be as quick as you can. Don’t let it affect your work."

"Thank you, Factory Director Yang."

Watching Jiang Dahai leave the factory, dejected, the workers began whispering amongst themselves.

Some sympathized with Jiang Dahai.

Others blamed Jiang Moli.

And still others praised the Lu Family’s integrity, noting they weren’t the sort of corrupt people who would abuse their power for personal gain.

Otherwise, if the Lu Family had stepped in, wouldn’t arranging jobs for a few uncles have been a piece of cake?

...

"Fu Qiang, the factory has issued its final ultimatum. If you keep staying here and refuse to leave, they’re going to take the apartment back."

Hearing that the factory was going to reclaim the apartment, Ruan Zishan and Chen Guifen couldn’t help but feel anxious.

But Ruan Fuqiang just sneered. "Dahai, do you take me for a three-year-old? Your son-in-law is a military officer and his father is a high-ranking official. Does the factory have a death wish, daring to take your apartment?"

Jiang Dahai said grimly, "I’ve told you before, the Lu Family owes me nothing. There’s no reason for them to be dragged down by my entire family."

Ruan Fuqiang was clearly impervious to reason. "Enough, Dahai. Instead of wasting your breath on me, you’d be better off figuring out how to get Jiajin a job."

Jiang Dahai’s expression turned cold. "Fu Qiang, this apartment belongs to the factory. Forcibly staying here is illegal trespassing. I can call the police, but I really don’t want to resort to that."

"Don’t you try to scare me, Dahai. I’m not afraid even if the police come! Moli herself said we could stay as long as we want. All the neighbors heard her!"

The last glimmer of hope in Jiang Dahai’s heart was extinguished. He turned and left without another word.

Ruan Fuqiang grinned triumphantly at his retreating back.

Chen Guifen asked worriedly, "Fu Qiang, the factory isn’t really going to take back Dahai’s apartment, is it?"

"Ma, don’t worry needlessly. Dahai is just trying to scare us. Relax. Once Jiajin has a job, you and Dad will be able to live a life of comfort with him."

Ruan Zishan had also been worried that the apartment would really be taken back, but hearing his son’s words, he was instantly relieved.

...

Staring at the gate of the police station across the street, Jiang Dahai took a sharp drag from his cigarette, choking until he coughed.

He rarely smoked—cigarettes were expensive, after all—only having one when he was particularly troubled.

’If the police step in, I can definitely get the apartment back.’

’But the Ruan Family won’t just let it go. They’ll probably come back to cause more trouble later.’

’Should I just listen to my daughter and let the factory take the apartment back for now?’

’When they build new staff apartments in the future, with my seniority, it shouldn’t be too hard to qualify for one.’

’Worst comes to worst, I’ll just have to work a little harder and get promoted to section chief or department head.’

’Plus, if the factory takes the apartment, it gives me a way out with my relatives.’

’If I can’t even hold on to my own home, they can’t possibly come asking me to arrange jobs for them anymore.’

Having thought it through, Jiang Dahai brushed the ash from his clothes, wheeled out his bicycle, and headed back to the factory.

...

The factory leadership was shocked by Jiang Dahai’s decision.

The factory workers would fight tooth and nail for an apartment, yet Jiang Dahai was just giving his up?

Although they didn’t understand his reasoning, they acted with surprising speed.

Half an hour later, a group of officials from the union, the general affairs department, and the logistics department arrived at the Jiang family’s apartment, ordering Ruan Fuqiang to leave immediately.

"This is Dahai’s apartment! He personally promised we could stay here! Jiang Dahai, if you’re a man, stop hiding like a coward! You think bringing these people here is going to scare me?"

Ruan Fuqiang refused to believe that Jiang Dahai was giving up the apartment. He thought Jiang Dahai had simply found people to put on an act with him.

Faced with Ruan Fuqiang’s shameless obstruction, the factory officials wasted no more words and directly called the police.

After a warning and a "re-education" from the police, Ruan Fuqiang finally caved, leaving the residential complex utterly humiliated.

The onlooking neighbors clapped and cheered.

"They finally got rid of that scoundrel. Maybe we’ll have some peace and quiet around here now."

"Poor Mr. Jiang, though. How’s he going to manage without his apartment?"

"He has only himself to blame. He spoiled that daughter of his rotten, and now she’s caused this huge mess."

"What a shame!"

『Disdain Points +1 +2 +3...』

...

"Chen Xue! Chen Xue!"

Seeing Zhou Xiaoqing waving at her, Chen Xue pretended not to notice and kept walking.

Zhou Xiaoqing, who had always been thick-skinned, affectionately linked her arm through Chen Xue’s. "Are you still mad at me? I came all this way to tell you some good news! It’s about Jiang Moli!"