Lu Cheng’s marriage proposal undoubtedly shocked everyone present.  

All eyes were fixed on Lu Cheng in stunned silence, as if they had just heard a fantastical tale.  

Mother Zhang let out a strange, dry chuckle from her throat. “I must be getting old—did I mishear? My Jiaming’s superior wants to marry whom? Jiang Moli?”  

How could this be?  

A woman her own son had rejected was now being pursued by his superior?  

If the superior fancied her, didn’t that mean she was actually a good match?  

Wouldn’t outsiders laugh at the Zhang family for being blind to true worth?  

Jiang Qing was equally unwilling to believe her ears.  

Her fiancé’s superior had taken a liking to Jiang Moli?  

If Jiang Moli really married Lu Cheng, wouldn’t she lord it over Jiang Qing and Zhang Jiaming for the rest of their lives?  

No, absolutely not!  

Forcing a smile, Jiang Qing tried to confirm with Lu Cheng, “Sir, you must be joking, right?”  

It wasn’t just the Zhang family and Jiang Qing who couldn’t believe it—even Jiang Dahai himself was in disbelief.  

What was his daughter like? Scheming, lazy, gluttonous, slippery, and troublesome!  

If she could marry an ordinary soldier in this lifetime, he’d thank the heavens. How could he dare hope for her to climb as high as an officer like Lu Cheng?  

Next door, Wang Lianhua gritted her teeth in frustration: This man looks dignified and impressive, but he must be brainless if he fancies even a lazy good-for-nothing like Jiang Moli. Doesn’t that mean he might also take a liking to my Xiaoqing?

If that really happened, the Zhou family’s fortunes would take a turn for the better!  

Wang Lianhua immediately slipped out the back door and rushed to the guardhouse to call her daughter at the cotton mill.  

“Uncle Jiang, I sincerely wish to marry Comrade Jiang Moli.”  

Lu Cheng’s solemn expression, resolute gaze, and firm tone left no doubt about his seriousness.  

“Sir, we’re deeply honored by your regard, but my Moli isn’t worthy of you.”  

Jiang Dahai spoke these few words with great difficulty.  

Heaven knew how much he wanted to tie his daughter up and toss her onto Lu Cheng’s bed to make the marriage a done deal.  

But his remaining shred of rationality reminded him that once Lu Cheng saw his daughter’s true nature, he would surely regret it and call off the engagement—just like the Zhang family had.  

His daughter’s reputation was already in tatters, and she had already been jilted once. If it happened again, she’d truly never find a husband in this lifetime.  

Lu Cheng was undeterred by Jiang Dahai’s refusal.  

On the contrary, he admired Jiang Dahai’s integrity.  

He was far better than those opportunistic fathers who sought to climb the social ladder by pawning off their daughters.  

“I am unmarried, and Comrade Jiang Moli is also single. We are equals—there is no question of being ‘worthy’ or not. I swear on my honor as a soldier that if I can marry Comrade Jiang Moli, I will treat her with sincerity, protect her with all my strength, and give her a lifetime of security and stability.”  

These words struck a chord in Jiang Dahai’s heart.  

Wasn’t this exactly what he wanted for his daughter—to find a reliable man who could ensure she lived comfortably for the rest of her life?  

“Good, good! I agree to this marriage!”  

Jiang Dahai’s gloom instantly lifted, replaced by uncontainable joy.  

Meanwhile, the Zhang family, who had been all smiles earlier, now wore stiff expressions, not a single one able to muster a smile.  

Jiang Qing dug her nails into her palms, wishing she could loudly oppose the match.  

But she had no right to do so—nor could she stop it.  

Jiang Dahai couldn’t care less about the Zhang family’s feelings. He was itching to drag his daughter back right then and there, have her bow with Lu Cheng in marriage, and send them straight to the wedding chamber.  

Otherwise, Lu Cheng might come to his senses, regret his decision, and bolt.  

Striking while the iron was hot, he pressed, “Xiao Lu, when do you plan to come and propose formally?”  

“How about today? Since everyone is here, they can bear witness for us.”  

Today was perfect!

But when Jiang Dahai noticed Lu Cheng was empty-handed, he felt a pang of disappointment.  

Then again, he reminded himself—being able to marry his daughter off to a man like Lu Cheng was already an incredible stroke of luck. Everything else was secondary.  

Just as he was consoling himself, Lu Cheng suddenly called out loudly toward the outside, “Mom!”

Huh?  

The mother-in-law—the superior’s mother—was here too?  

Everyone in the courtyard hurried outside to greet her.  

In the distance, a procession was making its way toward the Jiang residence.  

Leading the group was a young man in military uniform, pushing a brand-new Phoenix women’s bicycle, its front basket adorned with a large red silk flower.  

Behind him, a line of uniformed soldiers carried gifts—none of them empty-handed.  

A sewing machine, a radio, two whole hind legs of pork, a full crate of Wuliangye liquor, stacks of fabric in every color, Peony brand cigarettes, imported fruit candies, gift boxes of pastries, canned fruits, and even live chickens and ducks—paired and tied together.  

The factory residential compound had never seen such a spectacle. Everyone’s jaws dropped in astonishment.  

“Good heavens! So many luxuries—how much money must this have cost?” 

“The ‘Four Big Items’ alone must be at least 400 yuan. Add in the liquor, cigarettes, and candies, that’s another 200. Then the pork legs and sixteen live chickens and ducks—another 100 at least. All together, it must be close to 700 or 800 yuan!”

“God, whose family is this dowry for?”

“Why are there so many marriage proposals today?!”

Wang Lianhua, standing among the neighbors, watched the long procession of gifts and nearly tore her hair out in frustration.  

That useless daughter of mine still isn’t back?! The golden bachelor is about to be snatched away by that damned Jiang Moli!

Nearly every idle person in the residential area had come to gawk. Many even trailed behind the procession, eager to see which family was the lucky recipient.  

An Hui, unburdened by gifts, walked faster and arrived at the Jiang household first.  

Her refined attire and dignified bearing made Jiang Dahai instantly recognize her status. Nervous about saying the wrong thing and leaving a bad impression, he tread carefully.  

“Uncle Jiang, this is my mother, Madam An Hui. Mom, this is Jiang Moli’s father, Uncle Jiang.”

“Madam An, please, come inside!”  

An Hui nodded politely. “Comrade Jiang, pardon the intrusion.”

“No intrusion at all! You’re most welcome!”  

Amid the pleasantries, the group entered the courtyard.  

Jiang Xiaoguang signaled to the procession behind him, and the young soldiers began filing in, carrying the gifts into the Jiang home.  

The neighbors who witnessed this scene erupted in chatter.  

“Why the Jiang family again?!”

“Last time, it was for Jiang Dahai’s daughter—so this time, it must be for his stepdaughter, right?”

“No, no! Last time was for the stepdaughter. It was originally Jiang Moli’s arranged marriage, but the groom wanted to break it off and marry Jiang Dahai’s stepdaughter instead!”

“What kind of mess is this? It’s too confusing…”

While the crowd argued over who the proposal was for, one thing was clear—the Jiang family had struck gold this time!  

Since the Zhang family’s betrothal gifts were already placed inside the house, Lu Cheng’s gifts were arranged neatly in the courtyard instead.  

Being well-trained soldiers, the men organized everything with precision.  

The “Four Big Items”—bicycle, sewing machine, radio, and wristwatch—were prominently displayed at the front. The liquor, cigarettes, candies, and meat were arranged around them. The sixteen live chickens and ducks were lined up in two rows by the wall, their beaks and feet tied with red string to keep them from making noise or running off.  

The small courtyard was so packed with gifts that there was barely any room left to stand.  

Jiang Dahai was so overjoyed he nearly fainted.  

Was he dreaming?

The Zhang family stood frozen in shock. Holy heavens, do city folk really have this much money?

Bicycles, sewing machines, radios, watches, cigarettes, liquor, tea, pastries, canned fruit—every single item was a rare luxury in the countryside, and yet here they were, all in one place!  

Just those two thick, fatty pork legs alone would last their family two years! 

Jiang Qing’s eyes burned with envy.  

Without comparison, there’d be no resentment.

Next to the lavish dowry from the Lu family, the meager gifts from the Zhangs inside the house felt like an insult.  

“Uncle Jiang, this is the betrothal money.”  

There was even a cash gift?!  

The Zhang family turned as one to stare at Lu Cheng.  

Outside the courtyard, the nosy neighbors craned their necks so far they looked like ducks lined up by the wall.