Chapter 12 – Don’t Bully My Wife

That cough was clearly a warning to the people behind: Don’t bully my wife! She may be new here, but I’m here too!

The person who heard Qin Ye’s voice immediately fell silent, shrinking into the corner like a quail, eyes darting forward uneasily.

Ye Qing also lowered her head and said no more.

After a long ride, Ye Qing felt as if her whole body had been shaken apart before the vehicle finally came to a stop.

Xiao Yan opened the carriage door. “Sisters-in-law, Regiment Commander Qin has quite a few things to buy today, so the schedule is more relaxed. Go ahead and shop—meet at the usual place when you’re done.”

The military wives got off the vehicle one after another. Xiao Yan turned to Ye Qing and said: “Sister-in-law, don’t get off just yet. The items Regiment Commander Qin wants to buy aren’t here. I’ll take you a bit further.”

Ye Qing looked outside.

It was a bustling vegetable market, packed with people and full of life.

Most of the families came here for household shopping, and this spot usually covered everything they needed, which was why the military vehicle normally stopped here. Today, because Qin Ye was with them, an exception had been made to take him further.

The vehicle stopped again at a department store. Qin Ye jumped out from the front passenger seat, first taking Nannan from Ye Qing’s arms, then helping her out of the car. Holding Nannan, he walked toward the department store.

Ye Qing was a little shocked. “Why are we coming here? The items I listed would be way too extravagant to buy here!”

Items at the department store were known for good quality and high prices. Without money, Ye Qing had never even considered shopping there.

Qin Ye walked ahead with Nannan in his arms. “I made a separate list for you and Nannan. We’re here to buy those first. The rest I’ve handed over to Xiao Yan—he’ll take care of the rest.”

Looking down at the list in her hands, she was stunned again. “I… I don’t need this much stuff!”

From clothes, shoes, and socks to cold cream, clam oil, shampoo, combs, hair ties, towels—everything was included.

Even modern women of her time couldn’t have thought of everything in one go, yet he had managed to fill an entire sheet just with these.

Ye Qing stared at him in astonishment. “Just this alone must cost a lot, right?”

Qin Ye had already walked into the department store with Nannan in his arms.

It was Ye Qing’s first time in a department store of this era, and she found everything fascinating. She looked this way and that, eyes full of curiosity.

The first floor sold household items: electric kettles, water boilers, iron pans, spatulas, and washbasins occupied one section. Turning the corner led to school supplies: fountain pens, pencils, erasers, ink, notebooks, and more.

Another section sold daily necessities. The cold cream, clam oil, and shampoo that Qin Ye had listed for her were all in this area.

At that moment, Qin Ye had already begun selecting items with Nannan in his arms. He pointed at several products and asked the shop assistant to bring them all out. Seeing him in full military uniform, the shop assistant became especially enthusiastic.

Pechoin nourishing face cream, Youyi brand skin lotion, clam oil in clam-shaped containers with eye-like labels—these were products she had only ever seen on TV. Now, seeing them right before her eyes, Ye Qing felt like she was dreaming.

Qin Ye noticed her staring blankly and didn’t bother asking for her opinion—he simply had the shop assistant pack everything up.

He then went to the household section and bought pots, bowls, basins, kettles, and other daily goods. After storing them with the shop assistant, he carried Nannan upstairs.

Throughout the entire process, Ye Qing was only responsible for watching. Her dumbfounded look made her seem exactly like a village girl entering the city for the first time.

The second floor sold clothing. The east side was the women’s clothing section, the west side was for men, and between them was a small area for children’s clothes.

In that era, most children’s clothes were made by altering adult garments. Since kids grew quickly, few people were willing to spend money on brand-new clothes for them. That was why the children’s clothing section was particularly small—so small it was barely noticeable.

Qin Ye, holding Nannan in his arms, walked straight toward the women’s clothing section. He pointed to a white little suit and said to the shop assistant: “Please bring that set for her.”

From a modern-day perspective, that little suit was quite stylish, and in this era, it was considered downright fashionable. The shop assistant immediately said: “Comrade, you really have good taste. This is a new arrival in our department store—just came in yesterday. Let me find your size.”

She handed the suit to Ye Qing and said: “There’s a fitting room here. You can try it on and see if it fits.”

Ye Qing had just opened her mouth to object when Qin Ye’s sharp gaze shot over like a blade. She swallowed her words.

When Ye Qing came out of the fitting room, everyone’s eyes lit up.

It was as if the suit had been tailor-made for her. The fitted waist perfectly showcased her slim figure, and the sharply structured top half added a hint of heroism to her otherwise gentle demeanor.

Qin Ye nodded. “Good. Just wear it. Please help pack up her old clothes.”

Ye Qing also thought it looked good, but such an outfit clearly wasn’t suited for doing chores. She tugged at the hem of the jacket and asked: “How much is it?”

While packing up her old clothes, the shop assistant replied: “This is a new arrival. Sixty-eight yuan for the set. A little pricey, but the craftsmanship and style are one of a kind. You look absolutely stunning in it!”

“Your husband really has a good eye!”

Ye Qing was a little stunned. At that time, a worker’s monthly salary was just over twenty yuan, and even a cadre made barely a bit over thirty. This outfit cost nearly three months of a worker’s wages.

She didn’t have that kind of money!

Just as she was about to say she didn’t want it, Qin Ye shot her another warning look.

When they went to pay and were about to leave, a female voice called out from behind Ye Qing, filled with surprise and delight: “Ah! Regiment Commander Qin? What a coincidence! Are you shopping for clothes with your wife?”

Ye Qing turned around and saw Li Lan standing behind her. Beside her was a girl around fifteen or sixteen, carrying a shopping bag—clearly also there to buy clothes.

Qin Ye nodded at her without saying much.

Li Lan warmly introduced them: “Ye Qing, right? We’ve met before. Let me introduce you—this is Regiment Commander Zhao’s daughter, Zhao Qingmei. And this is Ye Qing, the wife of Regiment Commander Qin, whom I’ve mentioned before.”

Zhao Qingmei stared at Ye Qing’s outfit with wide eyes. “Wow! That outfit looks amazing on you! Shop assistant, do you have another one? I want to try it too!”

The shop assistant shook her head. “Sorry, this was a one-size item when it arrived. Only one set in that size. We do have two in larger sizes, but I don’t think they’ll fit you well.”

Zhao Qingmei still had the assistant bring them out and tried comparing for a long while, but they were clearly too big and too loose.

At that moment, Li Lan was seething with envy.

She had overheard the price—sixty-eight yuan! Her own monthly salary was only twenty-one yuan. Even if she didn’t eat or drink for three months, she wouldn’t be able to afford it! And yet, Qin Ye had bought it without even blinking.

A rural woman like Ye Qing—where would she ever wear something this expensive? What a waste!

If I were the one wearing it, it would definitely look even better!

Suppressing the disappointment in her eyes, Li Lan lifted her head and said: “Qingmei, forget it if it doesn’t fit. You’ve already bought so much.”

“Didn’t you say you still wanted to get a shirt for Li Qiang? Hurry up, your uncle’s finishing up soon. If we delay any longer, you might miss his car.”

As she spoke, she pulled Zhao Qingmei along toward the men’s clothing section.

Ye Qing watched their backs thoughtfully. The book said Li Lan was reborn. Doesn’t she know what kind of person Li Qiang really is?

She and Zhao Qingmei had a good relationship. Later on, when Zhao Qingmei wrote her report letter, Li Lan was the one who helped her. Why didn’t she stop this from happening?