Chapter 14 : Please date me with the intention of getting married

In Jiang Li’s view, the man who had been so eloquent just a moment ago was now standing silently at the counter, not saying a word.

“How does this female comrade know Deputy Director Qi? They seemed quite close,” the salesperson at the food counter remarked with a hint of jealousy.

Deputy Director Qi had just reported for duty at the Wuyang Food Factory the day before. The gossip around him was that he had led a privileged life. It was said that he was a retired soldier, a true combat hero, and had won a second-class merit in the army.

He had started at the food factory just the day before, and today he was inspecting the food counter at the supply and marketing cooperative. All the young unmarried women who saw him along the way couldn’t help but blush.

However, Deputy Director Qi had a demeanor that made it clear he preferred to keep a distance from strangers. Apart from necessary work-related communication, he rarely spoke, which discouraged many women with intentions.

The salespeople at the counter watched as Jiang Li spoke with Qi Shaoqiang, seemingly having known each other for a long time, and they felt uneasy.

“You’re thinking too much. Maybe Director Qi just felt sorry for the poor girl and was being kind,” one said.

“Can Director Qi even marry a country girl?”

“Doesn’t matter how beautiful she is!”

Jiang Li ignored their comments and walked out of the supply and marketing cooperative, looking around.

In the county, there was a food factory, a machinery factory, a textile factory, and two state-owned restaurants, all employing many people. In addition to wages, they also distributed invoices.

Jiang Li wanted to exchange some food and cloth coupons.

Qi Shaoqiang followed Jiang Li, holding a paper bag, watching her wander around the textile factory’s residential area, bargaining with people to exchange food coupons.

He also inquired about the price of cloth coupons but found them too expensive, so he didn’t buy any and ended up going into a state-owned restaurant.

This time, Jiang Li ordered five meat buns and a bowl of pork chop noodles.

The original body was too thin, with arms as thin as bamboo poles, and a gust of wind could blow her over. She needed to replenish her strength.

Looking at the pork elbow trembling in the window, Jiang Li swallowed and held herself back.

The five meat buns cost one dollar, and the pork chop noodles cost one dollar and three cents.

Adding the cost of Qi Shaoqiang’s one piece and the egg cake costing eighty cents, it cost sixty cents to exchange for two kilograms of food coupons.

Jiang Li came out with only six dollars left.

Pork costs only seventy-four cents per pound, but unfortunately, the meat coupons are in high demand and regular people can’t get them.

Also, Jiang Li doesn’t know how to cook, so they have to eat out.

The golden fried meat steaks were piled high on top of the white noodles, and the glossy noodle soup was sprinkled with chopped green onions.

Jiang Li took a big mouthful of noodles and put it into her mouth. It was chewy and springy. Then she took a bite of the tender meat steak, and her hungry stomach was finally satisfied.

It was so delicious.

Jiang Li drank up all the soup and then started eating the buns in small bites.

She ate with good manners but quickly finished the three buns.

Jiang Li touched her still-empty stomach, feeling a little regretful. She wouldn’t be full at Jiang’s house tonight, so she saved two meat buns to supplement her diet later.

A bowl of red pork elbow was placed in front of her. Qi Shaoqiang sat down seriously in front of her and then pushed the pork elbow toward her.

“Comrade Qi, the pork elbow is still hot this time. Don’t you like it?”

Qi Shaoqiang pretended to stay calm as he drank water, but when he heard her, the water spurted out, and his ears turned red.

He met Jiang Li’s grape-like eyes and nodded as if possessed.

Although Jiang Li was tempted, she still pushed the pork elbow back and said, “I have no money left and can’t afford the pork elbow. You enjoy it, I’m leaving now.”

“Jiang Li!” Qi Shaoqiang called out, but when he saw her turn around, he didn’t know what to say. After a long pause, he finally said, “Your grandmother and uncle haven’t bullied you recently, have they?”

Jiang Li, being sharp, immediately realized that Qi Shaoqiang must have helped her behind the scenes. She recalled how he had unexpectedly appeared at the brigade headquarters that day and how the brigade captain, usually indifferent, had come to deliver her pension.

She understood it must have been Qi Shaoqiang’s doing.

She sat back down and asked, “Did you go to see the captain because of me? Did you help me out of pity?”

“No!” Qi Shaoqiang denied quickly, but his words faltered, and he couldn’t provide a clear explanation.

Instead, he handed her a small paper bag. “Here.”

Jiang Li looked surprised. “What is this?”

Without meeting her gaze, Qi Shaoqiang replied, “White Rabbit candy. Have a couple of bites when you’re hungry.”

“Comrade Qi Shaoqiang, you’re so nice to me. Are you pursuing me?” Jiang Li teased.

As soon as she spoke, Qi Shaoqiang stood up abruptly, knocking over bowls the food carried by passers-by. The dishes and chopsticks clattered to the floor, and he hurriedly cleaned up the mess, apologizing repeatedly. Fortunately, the dishes were empty, so no one paid attention.

Qi Shaoqiang’s face turned red as he sat back down, but he still nodded at Jiang Li’s teasing words. His clenched hands under the table showed his nervousness.

“Comrade Jiang Li, you can judge me,” he said, his voice serious. “I’m healthy, have no bad habits, love cleanliness, and can cook. I earn a decent income 98 yuan a month, with various allowances and subsidies.”

“I want to be friends with you with the intention of marriage.”

Jiang Li was taken aback by his directness. His gaze was so sincere and honest that she didn’t know how to respond. She took a moment to observe him.

Qi Shaoqiang was good-looking and met her aesthetic standards. He was kind-hearted and liked to get involved in other people’s matters. He was blunt and had made Jiang Hongmei cry the last time they argued. His job as deputy director at a food factory and his stable income made him an attractive candidate for marriage.

But she knew she couldn’t rush into such an important decision.

Jiang Li, always honest with herself, did have a good impression of him.

“Okay, but if you don’t pass the test, the marriage will be off.”

A smile broke out on Qi Shaoqiang’s face, and he struggled to contain his joy.

Once their relationship was confirmed, both felt a bit embarrassed and avoided looking directly at each other.

“Have you bought everything you wanted?”

“Aren’t you working this afternoon?”

The two asked at the same time. Jiang Li smiled and confessed, “I wanted to buy some clothes, but the cloth coupons are too expensive, and I couldn’t bring myself to exchange for them.”

Qi Shaoqiang took out his wallet, pulled out some cloth coupons and cash, and handed them to Jiang Li. “I just came back two days ago, so I don’t have everything ready. Take these cloth coupons for now and buy some clothes to change into. I’ll exchange more tomorrow, and after work, we can go shopping and get you some clothes.”