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Waste is shameful, thrift is honorable. Su Momo was just thinking about saving the leftover rice in a lunchbox to take back.
“Momo, are you full?”
Lin Xingchen noticed her staring at the half bowl of rice with a conflicted look. He guessed she must already be stuffed. The portions here were big; most women couldn’t finish them. For Momo, she’d already eaten quite a lot.
“I’m full.” She nodded. Any more and she might throw up.
Without another word, Lin Xingchen naturally pulled her bowl over, dumped the remaining rice into his own, and finished it all, without the slightest hesitation.
Su Momo’s cheeks flushed, but her heart felt oddly sweet. Eating her leftovers like this… wasn’t it the same as an indirect kiss?
Under the table, Su Tingjie gave Lin a discreet kick. The two men exchanged glances.
“That’s enough, you know. We’re in public. Show some restraint.”
“Big brother, what’s wrong with eating my wife’s leftovers? There’s nothing wrong with that.”
Su Tingjie rolled his eyes.
“What big brother? You two haven’t even gotten the certificate yet.”
“One day sooner or later, it makes no difference, big brother.”
After lunch, Lin and Su Tingjie escorted Su Momo to the guesthouse. The place was plain, but at least clean.
“I mailed a lot of luggage ahead. Tomorrow, after we get the certificate, let’s stop by the post office to pick it up.”
“No need,” Lin said. “Auntie wrote the unit’s address on the parcels. They’ll go straight to the receiving office. Tomorrow, once we’re back, you can collect them at the gate.”
Su Momo hadn’t realized the army had doorstep delivery. She’d thought she’d have to trek to the post office. That was far more convenient; her parcels held plenty: clothes, bedding, fabric, food, and more.
After dropping her off, Su Tingjie drove away. Lin took a room next to hers. Even being separated by just one wall, he felt more at ease knowing she was close. Tomorrow, after all, they would be husband and wife.
The next morning, Su Momo dressed in a bright red skirt paired with white shoes. Her skin glowed like jade, needing no foundation. A touch of brow pencil and pale lipstick was enough.
A knock came at the door.
“Momo, I bought breakfast. May I come in?”
Lin Xingchen had woken early, too excited to sleep, and gone to the state restaurant to buy buns, eggs, and soy milk.
When Momo opened the door, she greeted him with a smile like spring blossoms.
“Please come in. I’m ready. What do you think of this outfit for the wedding photo?”
She twirled in a full circle, showing off her carefully chosen clothes.
“Beautiful. Very beautiful.”
Lin had never been one to flatter women; he’d never even paid them much attention. But right now, in his eyes, Su Momo was the most beautiful woman in the world.
“All right, let’s eat.” She set the food on the table. “But I’m carrying valuables in this suitcase. It doesn’t feel safe leaving it in the room, and carrying it everywhere is inconvenient.”
In truth, most of the real valuables were tucked safely in her hidden space; the case only held ordinary things. Still, appearances had to be kept up.
“No problem. I’ll carry it. After we finish at the photo studio, big brother will pick us up. The house is clean now, but we’ll need to buy a lot of things. Aside from basic furniture, it’s empty.”
He thought about his little courtyard home: a bed, a table, some chairs, and a cupboard. That was it. He had installed a big iron wok, but hadn’t bought bowls, chopsticks, or bedding. He’d never had time, and besides, he worried Momo wouldn’t like what he chose.
“Don’t worry. My parcels are full of fabric and quilts. We’ll use those right away. After the photos, let’s stop at the supply and marketing cooperative for bowls and chopsticks.”
“Good. I’ve got the money and ration tickets ready.”
Being single, Lin had rarely used ration tickets. He usually traded them away to married comrades. But once his marriage was approved, everyone had been supportive; he now held tickets for bicycles, radios, sewing machines, and industrial goods.
They would buy a bicycle, a sewing machine, and a radio. Watches were also available, but seeing the good watch already on Momo’s wrist, he decided to wait until they reached a big city for a finer one.
After breakfast, they set off. Su Tingjie had already taken most of the luggage back yesterday; now they only had one suitcase left. In Lin’s hand, the large case looked like a toy.
He was a towering 1.87 meters. Even Momo, at 1.70, unusually tall for women of that era, only came up to his shoulder. In the Northeast, their height difference wasn’t so unusual, but elsewhere they would have stood out.
“Momo, let’s buy some wedding candy first. We can give it to the staff when we get the certificate.”
“Good idea.”
The supply cooperative was only a hundred meters from the civil affairs office. They quickly bought half a jin of White Rabbit milk candy and scoped out the shelves for later. The store was well stocked, perfect for furnishing their new home.
At the civil affairs bureau, they walked side by side. Hand-holding in public was unthinkable, but even so, their appearance turned heads.
The man was handsome, the woman radiant. Everyone inside gasped when they entered.
At the counter, Lin handed over the papers.
“For the people.”
“Hello, we’re here to register our marriage. This is our introduction letter and the marriage approval from the unit.”
Military approval carried enormous weight. The staff only asked the formality: “Are you both willing?”
“Yes.” They answered together.
And with that, the red marriage certificate was printed. It looked like a giant award certificate. For once, Lin’s stern face cracked into a smile.
“Here’s some candy to share.”
He handed out White Rabbit milk candy to every worker and every couple in line. It wasn’t a busy day, so one piece each left plenty to spare.
The room filled with cheerful chatter:
“What a perfect couple.”
“Of course! He’s an officer, and generous too. White Rabbit candy isn’t something people buy lightly.”
“And that girl… I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful. She looks like someone stepped right out of a painting.”
Lin and Momo, unaware of the murmurs, stepped out of the bureau together. Lin carefully tucked their brand-new marriage certificate into his pocket, as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.