An Accidental Military Marriage

An Hui looked at Jiang Moli’s beautiful and delicate face, surprised and astonished.

She had originally thought that Jiang Moli was the one shamelessly pestering and fawning over her son.

But from the way Jiang Moli had accepted and eaten the canned fruit, it was obvious her son was the one trying to please and humor her.

As his mother, she knew better than anyone how proud and picky her son was.

All the girls introduced to him before were talented, beautiful, and well-mannered, yet her son could always manage to find a laundry list of faults with them.

But now, with Jiang Moli, who was full of bad habits, he was completely obedient.

It just went to show that everyone meets their match.

’Although Jiang Moli is willful, reckless, and utterly unrestrained, judging by how she handled her stepsister, she’s not completely brainless.’

An Hui stood up. "I understand the situation now. Allow me to say a few words to be fair. Zhang Jia Ming rescued someone first; he is a good comrade."

"Exactly! If Jia Ming hadn’t happened to be passing by, Xiao Qing would have been a goner in that river," Jin Yulan chimed in hastily.

An Hui said, "It is precisely because Zhang Jia Ming is a good comrade that he found himself in a difficult position over this matter. That’s why he sought out his superior, who is my son, Xiao Cheng. Xiao Cheng, being considerate of his subordinate, stepped in to help negotiate the annulment. That is how Xiao Cheng and Moli met."

In just a few simple sentences, she had not only explained how Lu Cheng and Jiang Moli met but also cleared Jiang Moli of the accusation that she had been seducing a man.

"In my opinion, this is simply heaven’s way of making things right. One rescue has resulted in two happy couples. This is a good thing."

This conclusive statement convinced the vast majority of the neighbors present.

However, a small portion still felt jealous and that it was unfair for Jiang Moli to have latched onto someone of high status.

None of them had ever encountered such good fortune. Why did it have to happen to Jiang Moli of all people?

"The Jiang family has a joyous occasion today. Thank you all for coming to offer your congratulations. Please come get some wedding candy and share in our good fortune."

Lu Cheng carried a bag of fruit drops outside the courtyard and passed them out, giving a handful to each person.

The sweet treat did its job, and the neighbors all left with smiles on their faces.

The more Jiang Dahai looked at his son-in-law Lu Cheng, the more satisfied he became. Sighing that his ancestors must have accumulated good karma, he was about to go out and buy some good wine and food to entertain his new in-law.

Lu Cheng told Jiang Dahai not to bother, as he had already booked a table at the Guanghua Restaurant across from the machinery factory before he arrived.

Because it was close, the factory’s leaders often went there for entertaining and social engagements.

By arranging the meal at the Guanghua Restaurant, Lu Cheng was clearly giving Jiang Dahai a great deal of face.

For years, Jiang Dahai had been ridiculed because of his daughter, Jiang Moli, with people saying she’d never get married.

Now, not only was Jiang Moli getting married, but she was marrying a military officer. Jiang Dahai could finally hold his head high.

Jiang Dahai wanted to invite the Zhang Family along. Leaving aside the marriage proposal, he and Zhang Tiesheng were sworn brothers. It didn’t make sense for him to go out for a nice meal and leave Zhang Tiesheng’s family at home.

But the Lu Family had booked the meal, so he couldn’t make the decision on his own.

An Hui noticed his hesitation and smiled, extending an invitation to the Zhang Family. "Please, join us. It’s rare that we’re all together like this."

Although Zhang Tiesheng was the head of the household, he was a quiet man, so Jin Yulan was the one who usually spoke on their behalf.

In her heart, Jin Yulan wanted to go. After all, she had lived for half her life and had never once set foot in a restaurant.

But she politely demurred, "Oh no, you all go ahead. I see Hongying has ingredients prepped in the kitchen. We can just cook something simple for ourselves."

Li Hongying quickly said, "That won’t do at all! How can we let our guests cook for themselves? I’ll stay home and keep you company, sister-in-law. You all go eat."

Jiang Dahai urged, "Please come with us, sister-in-law. Tiesheng and I haven’t seen each other in over half a year. This is a perfect chance for us to share a drink."

Only then did Jin Yulan gracefully accept.

Jiang Xiaoguang and the few young soldiers who had helped deliver the betrothal gifts were left behind to guard them in the courtyard.

Lunch was easy enough to sort out. There was rice and vegetables in the kitchen; Jiang Xiaoguang and the others would just have to cook for themselves.

Jiang Dahai felt bad about it and specially took out his treasured Tuopai Daqu liquor for Jiang Xiaoguang and the others to drink, but Jiang Xiaoguang politely refused.

After learning that soldiers weren’t allowed to drink, Jiang Dahai went back to the kitchen, grabbed a knife, and carved a large, fatty pork knuckle from the pig’s leg the Lu Family had brought, telling Jiang Xiaoguang and his men to braise it.

Only after getting a nod from Lu Cheng did Jiang Xiaoguang accept it with a wide grin.

’This piece is huge! It must be at least three pounds. We’re going to eat well for lunch today!’

The group of nine set out in a grand procession, attracting the curious gazes of their neighbors.

When they learned that Jiang Dahai was taking his in-laws to eat at the Guanghua Restaurant, every single one of them was green with envy.

In those days, getting to eat a meal at a restaurant was an even rarer treat than the New Year’s feast.

...

Jiang Dahai and An Hui walked side-by-side at the very front, chatting about their respective families as they went.

Li Hongying walked behind them with Zhang Tiesheng and his wife, Jin Yulan, talking about this year’s harvest.

Further back were Jiang Qing and Zhang Jia Ming, walking shoulder-to-shoulder in silence.

Jiang Moli and Lu Cheng brought up the rear, also not speaking.

Zhang Jia Ming kept glancing back at Jiang Moli and Lu Cheng, a strange feeling souring in his heart.

He had never dreamed that Jiang Moli was so beautiful, like a fairy from a calendar poster.

’If only he hadn’t mistaken the woman in the red dress for Jiang Moli that day...’

Just as he was thinking this, the hand hanging by his side was suddenly grasped by Jiang Qing.

Jiang Qing’s hand was smaller than his, her fingers long and slender, her skin smooth and soft.

Jiang Qing quickly let go, but the touch snapped Zhang Jia Ming back to his senses.

’Those thoughts just now were completely inappropriate. He should cherish a virtuous and capable fiancée like Jiang Qing.’

Lu Cheng watched Jiang Moli, who was trailing beside him like a little wife, and the more he looked, the more he liked what he saw.

Her face was like white jade, set with a pair of curved, willow-leaf brows. Her eyelashes were long and curled, fluttering like a butterfly’s wings when she blinked. Her cheeks had a rosy blush beneath their pale surface, and below her pert nose, her lips were plump and red.

Just looking at her made him want to steal a kiss.

Lu Cheng’s throat bobbed. He called out softly, "Wifey."

It took Jiang Moli a second to realize Lu Cheng was talking to her.

She rolled her eyes at him unceremoniously. "Don’t just call me whatever you want. I don’t know you that well."

Men are creatures born with a powerful desire to conquer, especially a man like Lu Cheng, a child from a military compound who had always had things go his way. Jiang Moli’s rebelliousness only excited him more.

He leaned down slightly, his deep voice a mix of gentleness and teasing. "Your dad has already agreed to our marriage."

"He agreed? Then you should marry him. I don’t mind having another stepfather."

Lu Cheng let out an exasperated laugh, but his mind couldn’t help but wander. ’It wouldn’t be so bad to have a daughter with my wife who’s just like her.’

...

The road to the Guanghua Restaurant was the same one that led from the machinery factory to the family residential area.

It was just when people were getting off work for lunch, and the road was full of factory workers. Seeing Jiang Dahai with such a large group, they couldn’t help but ask a question or two.

The news spread like wildfire. The moment Jiang Dahai stepped into the Guanghua Restaurant, the story of him taking his in-laws out to a restaurant had already circulated throughout the entire machinery factory.

Lu Cheng had booked a private room.

It had a large round table for ten, and the dishes had also been ordered in advance.

As soon as the nine of them sat down, four cold appetizers were served, along with a bottle of Wuliangye liquor.

An Hui said with a smile, "Let the men drink. We’ll have soft drinks. What kind of drinks do you have?"

The waitress expertly rattled off the names of several soft drinks.

An Hui let Mrs. Zhang choose first.

Mrs. Zhang waved her hands politely. "I’m just a country woman, what do I know about these things? You order. I’ll have whatever."

"I want hawthorn juice!"

Jiang Moli raised her hand and answered before An Hui could even ask her.

An Hui glanced at her, then turned to look at Jiang Qing on the other side.

Jiang Qing smiled. "I’ll just have water."

Li Hongying had little opinion of her own. Hearing her daughter ask for water, she said she would have water as well.

An Hui nodded and instructed the waitress, "Three bottles of hawthorn juice, and a glass of warm water for each of these two ladies."

’A couple of country bumpkins!’

The waitress gave Jiang Qing and her mother a subtle, disdainful look before acknowledging the order and leaving.

Beneath the table, Jiang Qing’s hands unconsciously curled into fists.

She had originally wanted to earn a reputation for being frugal in front of An Hui, but it seemed she had overdone it, and instead just came off as petty and provincial.