Chapter 72 : Are You Trying to Play with My Feelings?

He Feiyan pushed Jiang Yu, “Let’s go! Aren’t you still going to buy things? Don’t delay.”

Jiang Yu nodded. “Sorry for the trouble. I’ll head out now.”

She took Jiang Xin and first went to the department store.

She originally wanted to buy a thermos, but it required an industrial coupon, which she didn’t have.

Even a pillowcase required fabric tickets, which left Jiang Yu stumped.

“Why don’t you make a piece of clothing for Sister Zhaodi? She would definitely like it.”

Jiang Yu still had quite a bit of fabric left, and with some hard work over the next few days, she could probably make something nice.

But if she was going to make something, it had to be cotton clothing to be presentable.

However, she didn’t have any cotton.

She had planned to help her aunt make a cotton coat, but she still hadn’t managed to buy any cotton.

“Let’s go find Aunt. You can stay with her for a while, and I’ll go out to buy some things.”

Jiang Xin asked, “Buy what? Where? If the department store doesn’t have it, where else could?”

Jiang Yu didn’t elaborate, she wanted to check out the black market.

She had heard He Tingyue mention that there was a black market behind Daxin Alley, and she wanted to see if they had any cotton for sale.

She went to the street office to find Yao Xiangling, leaving Jiang Xin there for the time being.

Yao Xiangling didn’t ask what she intended to do, just said, “Go ahead, go ahead. Later, I’ll take Jiang Xin out for some noodles. If you can’t make it back in time, just grab something to eat outside.”

“Okay, thank you, Aunt.”

Jiang Yu felt a bit nervous, it was her first time going to the black market, like a child doing something naughty for the first time.

At the entrance of the alley, she encountered the blonde guy who had bullied He Feiyan last time.

“Hey! Sister! Sister! You remember me, right? What are you doing here?”

Jiang Yu shot him a glance. “What do you want? Don’t try to get close.”

“How could it be that? We’re just getting to know each other!”

Duan Yuzhen and He Feiyan had privately reconciled, he had been in the police station for a few days and was released.

The blonde guy grinned, “Sister, I’m Liu Zi. Where are you headed?”

He wasn’t doing this for Jiang Yu’s sake but rather because he knew He Tingyue had a good standing. It was better to stay on good terms than to offend someone.

“I want to go to the black market. How do I get there?” Jiang Yu asked quietly.

Liu Zi’s smile faded a bit, and his expression turned complicated. “What would a young lady like you be doing at the black market?”

Most people heading that way were older women; they looked safer.

Jiang Yu replied, “I want to buy some cotton.”

Liu Zi shook his head. “Cotton is in short supply not just at the supply and marketing cooperatives, but also at the black market. You’d be wasting your trip.”

Jiang Yu couldn’t hide her disappointment. “Can I exchange an industrial coupon there?”

Liu Zi waved his hand. “Why go through all that trouble? Just ask your man for it. Don’t fool me, last time I saw how capable your man was, I knew he wasn’t just anyone.”

Hearing him repeatedly say “your man” made Jiang Yu blush.

“Stop talking nonsense! We’re not even married yet!”

Liu Zi was taken aback. “Not married yet? I really can’t tell, he acts like a protective hen with you. If you really want an industrial coupon, wait here for a moment, and I’ll go ask. But you brought money, right?”

Jiang Yu nodded. “I did. If you can help me get one, I’ll remember your kindness.”

“Alright, wait here.”

Liu Zi was familiar with the area, and in just a moment, he turned into the alley and entered the black market.

Jiang Yu didn’t have to wait long before Liu Zi came back with an industrial coupon.

“This isn’t cheap, it’s five yuan each. Do you want to buy it?”

Jiang Yu bit her lip and handed over five yuan.

“I’ll buy it!”

The thermos at the department store was only six yuan fifty, and this industrial coupon for five yuan was indeed expensive.

But Jiang Yu was anxious and needed to buy it.

They exchanged money for goods.

“Jiang Yu!”

The angry voice startled Jiang Yu, almost making her drop the industrial coupon.

She hurriedly turned her back, panic-stricken, and looked at He Tingyue, lowering her head like a child caught doing something wrong.

Liu Zi raised both hands in a gesture of surrender.

“Bro, I didn’t do anything!”

No wonder he was so scared, the last time he had been hurt by He Tingyue, his arm was still sore.

He Tingyue got off his bike and walked straight up to Jiang Yu, his expression serious.

“What are you doing here?”

After returning home, he heard from He Feiyan that Jiang Yu had gone to the city.

When he asked at the street office, Yao Xiangling said she had dropped off Jiang Xin and left, not knowing where she had gone.

He had initially planned to wander around, hoping to run into Jiang Yu.

And now he had found her, right in the middle of a transaction.

Jiang Yu bit her lip. “I wanted to get an industrial coupon and asked him to help me exchange for one.”

Hearing this, He Tingyue’s anger flared even more.

“Why didn’t you come to me?”

Jiang Yu shrank back, looking guilty.

If she spoke her mind, he would surely be angrier.

But she felt she hadn’t done anything wrong, they weren’t married yet, after all.

He Tingyue glanced at Liu Zi and took hold of his bike.

“Get on.”

Jiang Yu thanked Liu Zi once more before turning to get on the bike.

Once they left Daxin Alley, He Tingyue finally asked, “What do you need the industrial coupon for?”

Jiang Yu replied, “A good friend of mine is getting married, and I want to buy her a thermos.”

He Tingyue was still a bit displeased, but he took her to buy the thermos first.

Then, he avoided the crowd and led her to the park.

Jiang Yu watched as he pulled out a wad of cash and tickets from his pocket.

“Here, take this.”

Jiang Yu’s eyes widened, her innocent expression making He Tingyue chuckle.

“Take it.” He directly grabbed Jiang Yu’s hand and stuffed the money into it.

It was a thick stack, with hundreds of yuan just in cash.

Jiang Yu nervously curled her fingers, feeling the money was too hot to handle.

“I can’t take so much money. I only need to buy one thermos, there’s nothing else I need.”

He Tingyue frowned, staring at her until Jiang Yu felt a shiver run down her spine.

“Jiang Yu, you’re not actually thinking about not marrying me, are you?”

His accusing gaze seemed to scream “abandoning me after using me.”

Jiang Yu’s cheeks flushed. She quickly defended herself, “I’m not! But we aren’t married yet! Aunt said you can’t ask a man for things before marriage.”

“What Aunt said is… correct, but you need to learn to analyze specific issues. Some men might mind this, but I don’t. If you’re willing to use my money, I’ll be very happy, because that means you’re willing to marry me and treat me as family. Conversely—”

He Tingyue’s gaze deepened. “If you don’t want to spend my money, does that mean you only want to play with my feelings and have no intention of marrying me? Jiang Yu, your attitude is very problematic!”

Jiang Yu was completely confused, not understanding how it turned into a discussion about “playing with feelings.”

“I’m not!”

“If you’re not, then accept it. From now on, you’re only allowed to use my money. Do you hear me?”

Jiang Yu replied with a dazed “Okay,” feeling that something was not right.