The special supply counter was somewhat similar to the small supermarkets of later generations, offering a complete range of food, daily necessities, cigarettes, alcohol, candy, and the like. However, the quantities were limited, though the quality was higher-end. There were also many imported goods, such as milk powder, perfume, and cameras.  

Jiang Moli wasn’t particularly interested in most of it, but when she saw the sanitary pads, she couldn’t walk away.  

At this time, sanitary pads didn’t exist domestically. Women typically used toilet paper or menstrual cloths during their periods.  

“How much are these?”  

The sales assistant was attending to two well-dressed customers.  

Hearing her question, the assistant glanced at her sideways, sizing her up from head to toe. Only after noticing Lu Cheng in his military uniform beside her did she reply:  

“Two yuan and fifty fen per pack. Limited to two packs per month for cadres at administrative level three or above.”  

Two yuan and fifty fen was undeniably expensive for this era—after all, pork cost only seventy fen per pound.  

But the sales assistant’s attitude irritated Jiang Moli. “Hah, two yuan and fifty fen? Why should foreign goods be so overpriced? Even if they were free, I wouldn’t take them! I refuse to bow to capitalism—no fawning over foreign things for me!”  

The two ladies who had been about to buy the sanitary pads immediately put them down and went to look at other items after her impassioned speech.  

The sales assistant was furious that Jiang Moli had ruined her sale, but the slogans she’d shouted were so righteous that there was no way to criticize her.  

Hearing the sound of disdain points being credited, Jiang Moli felt satisfied.  

As they left the special supply counter, Jiang Moli turned to ask the man something, only to find him already looking at her with admiration and delight in his eyes.  

“Your ideological awareness is quite high.”  

“You’re overthinking it. I just couldn’t stand that sales assistant’s arrogant attitude and wanted to piss her off.”  

Jiang Moli’s bluntness shattered Lu Cheng’s illusions, but he wasn’t angry. Instead, he felt that his wife was being genuine and unaffected in front of him.  

“What’s your administrative level?”  

Hearing her question, Lu Cheng guessed her thoughts. “You want those?”  

Jiang Moli nodded. “They’re expensive, but they’re useful.”  

“I’ll bring some to your home in a couple of days.”  

Jiang Moli wasn’t stupid. She figured Lu Cheng probably didn’t meet the purchase requirement yet. But since he’d promised her, she didn’t bother worrying about it.  

Not far away, Meng Wei stood frozen, watching as Lu Cheng accompanied Jiang Moli, picking and choosing items along the way. Her heart ached as if being sliced by a knife.  

In all her life, she had never seen Lu Cheng be so patient and considerate with a woman.  

Rationally, she knew her behavior of secretly following them was shameful. She should turn and leave—out of sight, out of mind.  

But she couldn’t swallow her anger.  

She and Lu Cheng had grown up together. In every aspect, she was a hundred, a thousand times better than Jiang Moli.  

She couldn’t understand where she had lost.  

….

Jiang Dahai stood with his hands on his hips in front of the house, staring at the courtyard full of betrothal gifts, both delighted and troubled.  

Delighted because his daughter had finally married—and married well, at that! Her husband was an army cadre!  

Troubled because there was no place to put all the betrothal gifts filling the courtyard—there were simply too many!  

Aside from the overwhelming number of gifts, the two pig hind legs also gave Jiang Dahai a headache.  

Usually, they couldn’t get their hands on meat, but now they had so much they couldn’t finish it.  

In autumn or winter, it would’ve been fine—they could’ve salted and dried the meat into bacon.  

But in this scorching heat, fresh pork wouldn’t keep. They had no choice but to cut it into small pieces and trade it with neighbors for grain and coupons.  

As for the sixteen live chickens and ducks, Jiang Dahai planned to borrow a tricycle and send them back to his elder brother and sister-in-law in the countryside to raise. When the time came for Jiang Moli’s wedding banquet, they could use them for the feast.  

The cigarettes, alcohol, candy, pastries, and canned goods were stuffed under the bed. The dining table was moved into the courtyard to make space for the sewing machine and bicycle.  

After a whole afternoon of work, Jiang Dahai and Li Hongying were drenched in sweat, but they finally managed to organize all the betrothal gifts.  

…

Jiang Moli and Lu Cheng returned laden with goods.  

The moment the jeep stopped at the entrance of the residential area, it immediately drew attention from all directions.  

A crowd of children surrounded the car, marveling at the novelty.  

There was no helping it—in this day and age, a four-wheeled vehicle was just that rare. The effect was no less striking than a Rolls-Royce pulling up in front of an ordinary neighborhood in the 21st century.  

“Such a grand display—I wonder which high-ranking official it is?”  

“Hiss… I think that’s Jiang Dahai’s son-in-law.”  

Someone recognized Lu Cheng.  

In the entire neighborhood, you couldn’t find another young man so tall and handsome, let alone one wearing a four-pocket military uniform.  

“Which of Jiang Dahai’s sons-in-law?”

Thanks to Jiang Moli, Jiang Dahai was quite well-known in the area. Everyone knew he had a lazy, good-for-nothing daughter and a diligent, dutiful stepdaughter.  

“That’s his biological son-in-law.”  

“No way! That lazy, useless girl—how could such a young, accomplished officer possibly want her?”  

No sooner had the words been spoken than Jiang Moli stepped out of the passenger seat of the jeep.  

“It really is her?!”  

[Disdain Value +1, +1, +1…]

From the moment Jiang Moli got out of the car, the disdain value started rolling in.  

If an outstanding, upright, and virtuous woman married into a wealthy family, people would only feel envy and offer blessings, believing it was the reward she deserved.  

But how could a woman like Jiang Moli—with her terrible character—climb so high?  

If lazy, materialistic people could live a life of comfort and luxury, what did that say about their own hard work and diligence?  

This resentment toward life, this sense of injustice toward fate, all transformed into hostility directed at Jiang Moli.  

And when they saw Lu Cheng following behind her, carrying bags large and small—tall, strong, and exuding an air of righteousness—yet being treated like a servant by Jiang Moli, their dissatisfaction and disgust grew even stronger.  

Jiang Moli, meanwhile, walked empty-handed, not lifting a finger to help, acting like some pampered young lady who’d never done a day’s work in her life.  

How could someone be so shameless?  

[Disdain Value +1, +1, +1, +1…]

Listening to the steady rise in disdain value, Jiang Moli couldn’t help but hum a cheerful tune.  

Lu Cheng clearly sensed her happiness.  

He instinctively assumed she was so delighted because she’d spent money shopping, and from this, he developed a personal theory: “As long as I spend money on my wife, I can make her happy.”

Jiang Dahai rushed over to greet them from a distance. “You silly girl, why are you making Xiao Lu carry everything alone? Can’t you help?”  

“It’s fine. The bags look bulky, but they’re all light—not heavy at all,” Lu Cheng said.  

Jiang Dahai, as an experienced man, could tell Lu Cheng was siding with his daughter. He couldn’t have been more pleased with his son-in-law.  

Once they got home, Jiang Dahai urged Jiang Moli to pour water for Lu Cheng.  

This time, Jiang Moli didn’t cause trouble. She poured two cups, handing one to Lu Cheng and keeping the other for herself.  

As he drank, Lu Cheng discussed the wedding arrangements with Jiang Dahai.  

When he learned that Lu Cheng had to return to the military on the 21st, Jiang Dahai readily agreed to hold the banquet on the 20th.  

He couldn’t wait for his daughter to marry into the Lu family—he was even worried Lu Cheng might back out.  

After settling the details, Lu Cheng prepared to leave.  

Jiang Dahai wanted to invite him to stay for dinner, but Lu Cheng politely declined, saying he needed to return home early to discuss the wedding with his parents.  

“Moli, see Xiao Lu out.”  

Jiang Moli couldn’t be bothered to move, so Jiang Dahai grabbed her by the arm and practically shoved her out the door.  

At this point, he seemed ready to wrap her in a bedsheet and let Lu Cheng carry her home.  

“Let’s go, then.”  

Lu Cheng was amused by her reluctant expression, but he couldn’t pass up the chance to be alone with her.  

“Are you tired today?”  

Jiang Moli gave him a look. “Aren’t you tired?”  

“Not at all.”  

“My native language is speechlessness.”  

“Hang in there. The next few days will be even busier. Tomorrow, remember to go to the tailor and get your wedding dress made.”  

Jiang Moli nodded.  

“Let me know if there’s anything else you need.”  

“Mm.”  

Lu Cheng gazed at her soft, fair cheeks—smoother than a freshly peeled egg—and her long eyelashes, fluttering like little fans, making his heart melt.  

“Want to come to my place and take a look? I’ll bring you back after dinner.”  

“No.”  

Seeing how genuinely exhausted she was—her voice even sounded weak—Lu Cheng pulled out a pen and notebook from his bag and wrote down his home address and phone number.  

“Alright, you don’t need to walk me any further. If anything comes up, come find me or just call.”  

Jiang Moli took the note and stuffed it into her pocket. “Be careful on the road.”  

“Mn. Go back inside.”  

Without hesitation, Jiang Moli turned and left.  

Lu Cheng watched her retreating figure, smiling to himself for a while before finally turning and striding away.