Chapter 8: Her Name Is Jiang Moli
The sight of Lu Cheng, a man over six feet tall, being chased and beaten by An Hui, who was under five-foot-three, was utterly absurd.
"Ow, that hurts! Mom, go easy on me! If you break me, your daughter-in-law will be heartbroken!"
Lu Cheng had spent years in the army, undergoing grueling military training year after year. A few whacks from a feather duster were, at most, like a tickle.
"Heartbroken my ass! You think I’m a three-year-old? That you can fool me with just a few words?"
The more An Hui hit him, the angrier she got, wishing she could beat her son senseless.
For years, she had worried herself sick over her youngest son’s marriage, losing her appetite and her sleep. She had tried everything, from praying to gods to visiting temples.
This rebellious son had no appreciation for his poor old mother’s feelings and only ever did the opposite of what she wanted.
Mrs. Meng and her daughter were both embarrassed and shocked.
Although they had long heard of An Hui’s "tigress" reputation, she had always been polite and gentle in their past interactions.
This was the first time they had ever seen An Hui fly into a rage.
Mrs. Meng looked at her gentle, quiet daughter and couldn’t help but worry.
’With such a dominant and fiery mother-in-law, would her daughter have an easy life if she married into this family?’
"It’s true, Mom, I’m not lying! I really found someone. Why don’t you believe me?" Lu Cheng protested.
"Like hell I believe you!"
An Hui was getting on in years, after all. Her stamina gave out, and after chasing him for two laps, she couldn’t run anymore.
She stood with one hand on her hip, panting as she said, "Show me a picture! I’ll believe you if you show me a picture!"
"Why look at a picture? In a couple of days, I’ll take you to see her in person!"
Seeing the mother and son arguing relentlessly, Meng Wei spoke up softly to soothe An Hui’s anger. "Aunt Hui, please calm down. Don’t let your anger affect your health. Let me have a talk with Third Brother."
An Hui shot her son a vicious glare and threw down the feather duster. "Go. Take Weiwei out to eat."
Lu Cheng was not happy. "I’m not going. I’m eating at home."
’I’m already spoken for. Going out to eat alone with an unmarried young woman would look bad.’
"We didn’t make you any food!"
Meng Wei spoke up. "Let’s just eat here. It’s hot outside, and I don’t want to go out either. We can just ask Aunt Ma to add another dish. Third Brother, let’s go to the courtyard to talk for a moment."
Just talking was fine, though.
In the courtyard, Meng Wei turned and gazed at Lu Cheng with deep affection. "Third Brother, you don’t have to lie to our elders just to reject me. In my eyes, you are a figure to be looked up to, the most exceptional man in this world. I won’t allow you to be tarnished in any way, even if I’m the cause."
Meng Wei also didn’t believe that Lu Cheng had really found someone.
She had pined for Lu Cheng for twenty years. They were childhood sweethearts who knew everything about each other. In terms of family background, education, and looks, she was a perfect match for him.
’There’s no reason for him to choose some random woman over me.’
"Third Brother, I understand your sense of duty to the country, and I also understand that you don’t want to be tied down by a family. It’s okay, I’m willing to wait for you. But I want you to know, I will never be a burden to you. I will always stand behind you, as your steadfast support."
Faced with such a sincere and passionate confession, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t moved.
Lu Cheng sighed. "Xiao Wei, first, I really have met someone I like, and I’m going to marry her. Second, I’ve always seen you as a little sister. I did in the past, and I will in the future. We can be like brother and sister, we can be friends, but we will never be husband and wife. I sincerely hope you find a good man soon."
Meng Wei had mustered all the courage of a lifetime, only to be met with a merciless rejection. The blow was devastating.
She swayed on her feet, on the verge of tears, a truly pitiful sight.
Unfortunately for her, the man standing opposite her, Lu Cheng, was a textbook oblivious guy. He saw she was about to collapse and didn’t even blink.
Meng Wei steadied herself. "I don’t believe it. Third Brother, I don’t believe any other woman could possibly catch your eye."
"If you don’t believe me, fine. Let’s just leave it at that."
Lu Cheng couldn’t be bothered to say more.
After all, before he’d even left the house this morning, he had never once considered the matter of his own marriage.
’Call it lust at first sight, for all I care. I’m marrying Jiang Moli, and that’s final.’
The thought of her—so sweet and tender—marrying him and giving him a whole brood of children thrilled him!
...
Mrs. Meng and her daughter left without even eating.
Lu Cheng, on the other hand, ate with great relish, wolfing down his food.
An Hui shot daggers at him with her eyes. "You still have the heart to eat? What’s wrong with Weiwei? She has the looks, she has the education, and she’s completely devoted to you. What more could you possibly be dissatisfied with?"
"If I have to marry every woman who likes me, wouldn’t I be like an ancient emperor with a harem of three thousand beauties?"
An Hui was so angry she practically spat. "In your dreams! Have you no shame? Do you really think you’re such a prize that everyone’s fighting over you? Look at the other guys your age in the family compound! Which one of them hasn’t gotten married and had kids? You’re the only old bachelor left. It’s embarrassing!"
"Don’t be so anxious. In a few days, everyone else will be envious that you’ve got a daughter-in-law."
Lu Cheng said as he ate, choking on his food and coughing a couple of times.
An Hui’s heart ached seeing this. "Can’t you eat a little slower? No one’s going to steal it from you!"
"I have things to do this afternoon."
"You’ve barely been back for two days, and you’re already running off all the time."
"I really do have something to do."
Lu Cheng took the soup the housekeeper had ladled for him, drank more than half the bowl in one gulp to suppress his cough, and said, "Mom, give me my savings."
Lu Cheng was stationed at the border year-round. Since his food and lodging were covered by the military, he had few expenses. He sent his entire monthly allowance home for An Hui to manage for him.
An Hui didn’t need the money, so she saved it all up as a marriage fund for Lu Cheng.
An Hui took out the passbook she kept for him. "It’s all in here. What do you need the money for?"
Lu Cheng flipped open the passbook and replied:
"To prepare the betrothal gifts and get married."
"You brat, can’t you be serious for once? If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll have your old man come home and deal with you."
Lu Cheng closed the passbook and stuck it in his pocket. "Her name is Jiang Moli."
"Who?"
Lu Cheng grinned, showing his teeth. "Your daughter-in-law. I’ve already submitted the marriage application, too. If you don’t believe me, ask the old man."
Realizing her son was being serious, An Hui was a mix of happy and angry. "Something this huge, and you don’t even give your family a heads-up? Do you think your father and I are dead?"
Lu Cheng shot back, "You didn’t give me a heads-up before you had me, either."
An Hui was so furious she wanted to stab him to death with her chopsticks.
"If I’d known you’d be this infuriating, I’d rather have given birth to a piece of roast pork! Get out! I’m not getting involved in your business anymore!"
"Look at you. You’re unhappy when I don’t get married, and you’re still unhappy when I do. What do you want from me?"
Although An Hui was mad at her son for acting first and reporting later, she was still happy that he was finally willing to settle his personal affairs.
"How did you two meet? Where is she from? How old is she? What do her parents do?"
An Hui asked in earnest, and Lu Cheng answered just as earnestly:
"None of that is important. I only care about one thing when I choose a wife: that I like her."
...
「In the Political Department office.」
Lu Deyao, wearing his reading glasses, was silently reading the report in his hands, word by word.
"Permission to enter!"
"Enter."
Jiang Xiaoguang closed the office door behind him and walked to the desk. "Chief, I have something to report to you about Third Brother."
Lu Deyao lifted an eyelid to glance at him. "What is it?"
"Third Brother, he’s found someone!"
"That’s all?"
Lu Deyao’s calm reaction baffled Jiang Xiaoguang. "Haven’t you been wishing on every star in the sky to finally have a daughter-in-law? Aren’t you happy that Third Brother is finally willing to settle down?"
"Which of your eyes saw me looking unhappy?"
’Both of them,’ Jiang Xiaoguang thought.
With a THWACK, Lu Deyao slammed the report in his hand onto the desk. "That damn kid! He submitted a marriage application without so much as a word to us!"
Jiang Xiaoguang glanced at the report and finally understood why Lu Cheng had come to the Political Department.
’He sure moves fast!’
RING RING RING!
Jiang Xiaoguang picked up the phone, said "Hello," and then handed it to Lu Deyao. "Chief, it’s for you."