Chapter 4 : Are you jealous?

Jiang Yu felt speechless upon hearing that.

Who could she be jealous of? Certainly not Jiang Ting.

And she definitely wasn’t jealous of her marrying Fu Xiangyang!

But she didn’t argue back, Jiang Ting was acting like she was possessed, having never even met Fu Xiangyang, yet thinking he was perfect.

“Mom, didn’t you say we’d go buy clothes in the afternoon? You have to give me some money, right?” Jiang Yu spoke up.

Although the money wasn’t for her, Jiang Yu still wanted to stroll around the city.

Wang Meili searched through her things and finally pulled out a large bill, handing it to Jiang Yu.

“Here, take it. You have good taste, pick out a couple of nice things for your sister.”

The pants were all the same, either black or dark blue, so there was no need to buy those.

She could, however, pick out a couple of nice tops.

Jiang Yu frowned, ten yuan wasn’t enough.

Jiang Ting complained, “Why are you giving her the money to buy me clothes?”

Wang Meili shot her a glare. “With you acting like this today, how can I trust you with the money?”

It wasn’t a big deal to hit Yang Cuilan, but it was embarrassing to do it in front of so many people.

In the afternoon, Jiang Yu and Jiang Ting set out together.

As they reached the village entrance, Jiang Ting reached out for the money.

“Give me the money! I don’t need you to come with me, I can go on my own!”

Jiang Yu refused, “Mom said I have good taste and I should pick out a couple of nice things for you.”

“I don’t need your help!”

“Suit yourself anyway, this money is from Mom, so I’ll hold onto it,” Jiang Yu said, ignoring her.

When they reached the commune, they had to take a bus into the city.

Jiang Ting wore a sour expression, preferring to stand rather than sit with Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu looked out the window, breathing in the outside air. It was fine with her, after all, it wasn’t her who would be uncomfortable.

When they finally arrived in the city, Jiang Ting felt nauseous from the bumpy ride.

Especially in the heat, the smell inside the bus was overwhelming.

Jiang Yu rarely went to the city, mostly because she had no money.

But she longed for it, she wanted to dress beautifully like the city girls, not having to work in the fields or feed pigs and chickens.

Jiang Ting huffed, “Jealous? Regretting it? Too late now!”

Jiang Yu replied, “…Where are you going? Do you even know where the clothing store is?”

Jiang Ting didn’t look back. “There’s one in the department store. I’ll go straight there their clothes are nice.”

Jiang Yu paused, feeling increasingly suspicious.

Jiang Ting had been to the city less often than her, how did she know where the department store was?

Following Jiang Ting into the department store, Jiang Yu was surprised.

“You actually know where the department store is!”

Jiang Ting felt quite proud, even though her family was poor in her previous life, she had been to the department store a few times.

The department store had three floors and sold all kinds of trendy goods.

Across from it was the Friendship Store, where purchases required foreign exchange coupons. Only foreigners could shop there at first, and she had never been inside.

Suppressing her doubts, Jiang Yu arrived at the clothing section and started picking things out.

Jiang Ting’s skin was a bit dark, so she needed to avoid bright colors; otherwise, she’d look like a country girl.

“How about a white shirt? It would go well with your black pants, smart and stylish.”

Jiang Yu held up a cotton shirt against Jiang Ting.

The store did have polyester shirts, but they started at eleven yuan eighty, which they couldn’t afford.

Jiang Ting pushed her hand away. “I don’t want white! I’m going on a blind date, not a funeral! Why would I wear white?”

The salesperson, who was wearing a white shirt, looked offended.

Jiang Yu said, “…Fine, you choose then, I’m done.”

In the end, Jiang Ting picked out a pink floral shirt that cost seven yuan twenty, still not cheap.

But she really liked it; in her previous life, she had never been able to buy herself a red dress.

She didn’t even have a proper wedding with a decent banquet, let alone a red dress.

Jiang Yu thought about reminding her several times, but seeing how much Jiang Ting liked it, she gave her the money.

After buying the clothes and deducting the fare, they each ended up with a leftover yuan.

Jiang Ting scoffed, “You must have taken a lot of money from Mom and Dad when you came to visit Auntie.”

Jiang Yu ignored her snide comment, “If you don’t want it, just give the money to me.”

Of course Jiang Ting didn’t want to give it up, she had no money, and if she married Fu Xiangyang, Wang Meili certainly wouldn’t provide a dowry.

She needed to save some money for herself.

“I’m going to the National Cotton Mill No. 2. Don’t follow me,” Jiang Ting tossed this statement over her shoulder and walked away.

Jiang Yu felt once again speechless, as Jiang Ting seemed to act like she was quite familiar with the city.

Had she ever been to the National Cotton Mill No. 2? It didn’t seem like it.

She forced a smile and didn’t dwell on it, turning to head towards the local street office.

Upon arriving at the street office, Jiang Yu stood outside for a moment.

“Hello, comrade. I’m looking for Director Yao Xiangling. Is she in?”

The staff member who was stopped glanced at her. “Hello, who are you to Director Yao?”

“She’s my aunt. I’ve been here before, you must be a new staff member since I’ve never seen you.”

Jiang Yu had gotten to know the people at the street office well, visiting Yao Xiangling every time she came to the city.

The male staff member smiled, dropping his guard.

“Yes, I just started as a temporary worker. Let me go ask for you.”

The male staff member went inside, and before long, he came back out calling for her.

“Comrade, Director Yao wants to see you.”

Jiang Yu beamed, “Thank you! You’re so kind.”

The staff member was momentarily taken aback by her smile, his ears turning red.

Jiang Yu didn’t pay him any more mind and confidently entered Yao Xiangling’s office.

“Auntie!”

Yao Xiangling was Jiang Yu’s grandmother’s cousin, so they weren’t very close.

She had been married before, but after her husband cheated, she decisively divorced him, sending him away with nothing.

Perhaps that marriage had broken her heart, or maybe she just thought marriage was pointless, she remained single thereafter, with no children.

When Jiang Yu and Jiang Ting were born, she had helped in the hospital and even wanted to take Jiang Yu to raise, but Wang Meili refused.

How could they give away a girl they had raised, especially when she could bring a bride price?

Wang Meili was unwilling, so Yao Xiangling didn’t press the issue.

Over the years, she occasionally looked out for Jiang Yu.

“What brings you here today?”

Yao Xiangling had a serious demeanor, wearing dark glasses and a shirt with black pants, and she was very precise in her work, speaking without a hint of softness.

Jiang Yu explained, “Jiang Ting has a blind date, and Mom asked me to come along to help her pick out a few clothes.”

Yao Xiangling raised an eyebrow. “Who’s she going on a date with that your mom cares so much?”

Jiang Yu briefly mentioned the situation with the Fu family.

Yao Xiangling adjusted her glasses, looking thoughtful. “The Fu family?”

Jiang Yu’s eyes brightened. “Auntie, is there a problem with the Fu family?”

Hurry up and say it; maybe they could pull Jiang Ting out of this mess.

Yao Xiangling thought for a moment, then shook her head.

“The Fu family from the National Cotton Mill No. 2 has a decent situation, both parents work, and their youngest daughter is in vocational school. She’s probably close to graduating… or maybe she already has. Once she graduates, she’ll get a job, and then there will be three workers in the family.”

Having three workers in one family meant their conditions were indeed decent.

Jiang Yu pouted. “I heard Fu Xiangyang isn’t healthy?”

“That’s true, but I haven’t heard of any major issues.”

Jiang Yu didn’t ask further. After all, even if there were problems, the Fu family wouldn’t advertise it for the sake of their son.