Chapter 15: Proposing Marriage
As Jiang Dahai was sizing up Lu Cheng, Lu Cheng was also discreetly observing Jiang Dahai.
’He looks a bit like her around the eyes, but his features aren’t the same. She must take after her mother.’
Lu Cheng extended his hand. "Uncle Jiang, hello. I’m Lu Cheng."
"Ah, good, good! Please, come in! Tiesheng, Sister-in-law, Jiaquan, come in and have a seat!"
Jiang Dahai shook Lu Cheng’s outstretched hand, grinning from ear to ear as he greeted the Zhang Family.
"Oh my, this courtyard is wonderful! So square and spacious."
"Our house is too small, so we can only offer you tea in the courtyard. Please don’t mind."
The parents from both families exchanged pleasantries.
Jiang Qing discreetly sized up the Zhang Family’s betrothal gifts: two bottles of Quanxing Daqu liquor, two cartons of Five Cows cigarettes, and double portions of pastries, white sugar, and tea leaves, along with a large cut of pork.
By the standards of city weddings, such betrothal gifts were undoubtedly meager.
But considering the Zhang Family’s circumstances, Jiang Qing felt relieved.
’After all, I’m not focused on the present, but the future.’
Composing herself, Jiang Qing brought out the freshly brewed tea.
As Jiang Qing served tea to the Zhang Family, Zhang Jia Ming’s eyes seemed to be glued to her, unable to look away for a long moment. He only shifted his gaze with a suppressed smile after she shot him a look.
’My wife looks so beautiful today.’
Lu Cheng sat ramrod straight, his eyes and ears taking in everything. Not finding Jiang Moli, he shot Jiang Peng a look.
Jiang Peng was quick-witted. "Dad, I’m going out to find my sister. She left early this morning, and I don’t know where she’s run off to."
’No wonder I didn’t see her when I came in. So she isn’t home.’
After serving the tea, Jiang Qing went into the kitchen to help Li Hongying prepare lunch, her eyes darting toward the courtyard from time to time.
Besides looking at Zhang Jia Ming, she also watched Lu Cheng.
’In my past life, Zhang Jia Ming was promoted several ranks in just a few short years, largely because he was supported by his superior.’
’If I’m not mistaken, that benefactor must be Lu Cheng.’
She secretly made up her mind. ’I must make a good impression on Lu Cheng today, to earn face for Zhang Jia Ming and make Lu Cheng value him even more.’
Outside the Jiang family’s courtyard, a crowd of curious neighbors had gathered to watch the spectacle.
As soon as Jiang Peng went out, he was surrounded by the crowd, who eagerly asked about the visitors’ identities.
"They’re here to propose a marriage, right? Which one is it?"
Jiang Peng proudly pointed at Lu Cheng for the neighbors. "See? The one in the four-pocket uniform."
An officer!?
The neighbors were practically dying of envy.
"Is he proposing to your stepsister or your real sister?"
"My sister, of course! I’m going to find her and bring her back right now!"
Based on what Jiang Peng knew, Lu Cheng was here today to propose to Jiang Moli.
It was because Jiang Moli had mistaken Lu Cheng for Zhang Jia Ming that Lu Cheng decided to play along, using the Zhang Family’s name to pay a visit.
Hearing that Jiang Peng was looking for Jiang Moli, a neighbor offered a clue.
Learning that Jiang Moli had left on the number 2 bus, Jiang Peng called over Shi Yu and Zhang Lei, and they set off to search along the bus route.
Back in the machinery factory’s residential area, the neighbors were buzzing with gossip because of what Jiang Peng had said.
How could such a handsome and distinguished soldier fall for a lazy slattern like Jiang Moli? Either there was something wrong with his eyes or something wrong with his body!
A lazy good-for-nothing like Jiang Moli only deserved to marry a defective man!
[Disdain Value +1+1+1. 30,000 Yuan credited to account.]
Jiang Moli was folding coarse toilet paper, two sheets per set, folding them in half and stacking them for easy use.
Hearing the system prompt, she couldn’t help but guess that ’Zhang Jia Ming’ had already arrived at the Jiang family’s house. ’Perhaps they’re discussing the annulment right now.’
「Back at the Jiang family’s home.」
After a few rounds of small talk, Mrs. Zhang brought the conversation back to the main topic. "Dahai, our families have known each other for decades, so I’ll be direct."
"Sister-in-law, please speak."
"That child, Xiao Qing, has been hardworking, reliable, and ambitious since she was young. She has a good temper too. Our whole family is very fond of her..."
Jiang Dahai quickly corrected her, "Sister-in-law, you’re mistaken. My daughter is Moli. Xiao Qing is my stepdaughter."
Mrs. Zhang waved her hand dismissively. "There’s no mistake. It’s Xiao Qing. We came today to propose a marriage between Jia Ming and Xiao Qing."
Jiang Dahai’s smile vanished. He looked at Zhang Tiesheng. "Tiesheng, didn’t you explain things clearly to your wife? The arranged engagement between our families was for Moli and Jia Ming."
Zhang Tiesheng looked at his son. ’What’s going on? Didn’t you say the engagement was called off?’
Zhang Jia Ming, in turn, looked at Lu Cheng. ’Sir, say something!’
"Uncle Jiang, it’s like this. Jia Ming and Moli have already called off their engagement."
Jiang Dahai was shocked and furious, and in the moment, he didn’t notice that Lu Cheng’s way of addressing his daughter was inappropriately intimate.
In those days, people who weren’t well-acquainted, especially men and women, usually addressed each other as "Comrade" in public.
"Called off? When did this happen? How come I don’t know anything about it?"
"Just a couple of days ago. I was a witness," Lu Cheng replied.
’No wonder Zhang Jia Ming brought his superior with him. This is clearly using his authority to pressure me.’
If Lu Cheng hadn’t been here today, he would have definitely had a falling out with the Zhang Family.
’First they call off the engagement with my daughter, and the next moment they want to marry my stepdaughter. Do they think the daughters of the Jiang family are goods to be picked over at will?’
Jiang Dahai felt both angry and guilty.
His daughter’s engagement being called off was such a huge matter, yet he, her father, had no idea.
’My daughter has always been very concerned with face. She must have run off to hide because she was afraid of the humiliation.’
Wang Lianhua had been eavesdropping the whole time. Hearing that Jiang Moli’s childhood engagement had been broken and that the boy now wanted to marry Jiang Qing instead, she scrambled out the back door to spread the gossip.
"I knew it! With Jiang Moli’s gluttonous and lazy character, how could an officer possibly fall for her? Turns out the engagement was broken!"
"She acts all seductive and flirtatious all day, with her capitalist ways, treating her stepsister like a maid. Serves her right that he doesn’t want her and is asking to marry her stepsister instead."
Regarding Jiang Moli’s broken engagement, not a single one of the neighbors sympathized with her. In fact, many were clapping and cheering.
This just went to show how terrible Jiang Moli’s reputation and relationships were.
All the malice and scorn directed at Jiang Moli transformed into a continuous stream of disdain.
[Disdain Value +1+1+1... 70,000 Yuan credited to account.]
Jiang Moli stretched languidly, tore off two small pieces of coarse paper, rolled them into balls to plug her nostrils, and went into the latrine to flush the toilet.
Back at the Jiang’s, Mrs. Zhang called Jiang Qing into the courtyard and, in front of both families, stuffed a red envelope into her hands.
"Xiao Qing, if you have no objections, Jia Ming will submit the marriage application when he gets back. How about you two get your marriage certificate first?"
Jiang Qing nodded shyly. "Okay."
"Dahai, you’re Xiao Qing’s stepfather. You should state your position on this matter."
’State my ass!’
It was taking all of his self-control not to grab a broom and chase the Zhang Family out.
Jiang Dahai’s expression darkened as he looked at his stepdaughter. "Xiao Qing, let me ask you one thing. When did this business between you and Jia Ming start?"
He could accept his daughter’s engagement being broken, but if Zhang Jia Ming called it off because he was seduced by his stepdaughter, he would never forgive her.
Jiang Qing’s expression was calm, and her voice was firm. "Uncle Jiang, I have always acted with integrity and have done nothing dishonorable. As for Jia Ming and me, if we’re being precise, it was you who brought us together. Five days ago, you asked me to go back to our old hometown to deliver medicine to my uncle. I accidentally fell into the river, and Jia Ming saved me. It’s for this reason that Jia Ming said he wanted to marry me. The very next day, he formally proposed to call off the engagement with Moli, and Moli agreed. As for why Moli didn’t tell you, it was probably to save face."
After hearing the whole story, Jiang Dahai had nothing more to say.
’One can only blame the tricks of fate.’
Mrs. Zhang seized the opportunity. "Alright then, is the marriage between Xiao Qing and Jia Ming settled?"
"Excellent!" Lu Cheng stood up and clapped. "Comrade Jiang Qing, Jia Ming, congratulations on your union. May you have a child soon."
Led by him, the Zhang Family, as well as the curious neighbors at the courtyard gate, all began to clap and offer their congratulations.
Jiang Qing’s cheeks flushed red, her heart filled with immense excitement and joy.
’I succeeded!’
’Through my own abilities and methods, I’ve changed the fate of my early death in my past life.’
’Once Zhang Jia Ming gets promoted to an officer, and I become a military dependent, my life will be on a golden road to success.’
Amid the festive atmosphere, Lu Cheng spoke up, his voice low. "Everyone, I came here today not only to be a witness for Jia Ming, but also for another matter."
Everyone turned to look at him, filled with curiosity.
Lu Cheng turned, faced Jiang Dahai, and said seriously, "Uncle Jiang, since your daughter’s marriage agreement is now void, what I’m about to say shouldn’t be too abrupt. I am twenty-six years old and still unmarried. I believe Comrade Jiang Moli and I are quite compatible. I would like to marry her."