Actually, Lu Cheng also felt a little uneasy.

At first, he didn’t think much of it, since the person in front of him was his wife.

But when his hands touched her waist, the soft sensation made his palms feel hot.

Now, hearing Lin Qingqing say that, he hurriedly let go but didn’t step away: “Get in; I’ll see if you need help. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Okay.” Lin Qingqing responded.

With a swift motion, he got into the car and, after sitting down, looked at Lu Cheng as if to show off.

Lu Cheng raised an eyebrow and said, “Not bad.”

He returned to the driver’s seat and started the engine.

The drive from the army base to the county town took half an hour on a bicycle, so the car was naturally much faster.

On the way, Lin Qingqing asked, “Lu Cheng, I want to save the 1500 yuan Aunt gave me for when we return home to give to Grandma. After all, this money is for the old mountain ginseng she gave me. Although Grandma said it’s for my dowry, it really belongs to the Lin family, so I shouldn’t take it for myself. What do you think?”

Lu Cheng had no objections.

Ever since Lin Qingqing privately took Aunt’s money and then confessed it to him yesterday, Lu Cheng’s opinion of her had changed.

She was an honest girl; seeing so much money at once, it was only natural for her to feel tempted to keep it as private savings.

However, she felt guilty about it and told him the truth, showing her kind-hearted and sincere nature. “You can decide what to do with it.”

Thinking about how this girl wanted to keep the 1500 yuan as her private savings, he added, “We have money in the family; I can give you another 1500 yuan as your private savings to keep hidden. After all, you’re a young girl; I need to be understanding, just like your sister-in-law said the other day. I’m not old—no, I’m in my prime.”

When Lin Qingqing heard Lu Cheng’s words, she was taken aback.

Oh my god, what kind of extraordinary man was this?

He was too good to be true!

So, was this really the aloof man from the original owner’s impression?

However, Lin Qingqing declined, “No need; I’ll ask you if I need the money.”

Lu Cheng’s offer of 1500 yuan was based on the premise that she was his wife, but she wasn’t the original owner; she couldn’t take the money without feeling guilty.

Otherwise, why would she bother saving that 1500 yuan to give to Grandma Lin in the future?

Lu Cheng thought she was just being shy and didn’t insist.

He figured he could just take it out for her later.

Remembering his decision from last night, he continued, “I’ve already told you about my family situation before we got married. My parents divorced when I was six, and shortly after that, my mother passed away when I was eight. Afterward, my mother entrusted me to my aunt, and she raised me.”

“Mm.” Lin Qingqing knew this from the original owner’s memories.

Lu Cheng initially told Lin Qingqing this to dissuade her from seeing him as a suitable match, hoping she would sell the old mountain ginseng to him directly instead of using it as a bargaining chip for marriage.

Little did he know, Lin Qingqing didn’t think poorly of him at all.

Now, as he mentioned his family situation again, his intention was different; this time, he was earnestly sharing his circumstances with her.

The purpose had shifted from not caring about her to valuing her presence in his life.

“After my mother divorced my father, she received a sum of money, which she has kept untouched all this time. Later, after I graduated from military school and joined the army, I started at the deputy battalion level. Since I had a salary, I sent my aunt 30 yuan every month—part for my daily expenses and part for her retirement. Now that I have brought my aunt to live with me, I still send her 10 yuan each month as retirement money.” Although my aunt is still young and not yet at retirement age, the 10 yuan is his way of showing appreciation.

Of course, Lu Cheng mentioned this because he wanted to hear her opinion.

Although the decision to send his aunt retirement money wouldn’t change, he believed there shouldn’t be secrets between husband and wife.

Lin Qingqing said, “That’s only right. Your aunt is like a mother to you. They say that teaching by example is more impactful than just words. I believe her influence on you must have been very positive, allowing you to grow into such an excellent person.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Cheng glanced at her, a smile involuntarily tugging at the corners of his mouth.

He didn’t know why, but she always seemed to say things he liked to hear.

While his aunt was a strong woman, her influence on him wasn’t as significant as his mother’s.

His mother, who appeared weak but was actually very decisive, understood the right balance and could weigh benefits and drawbacks.

Although she passed away when he was eight, her teachings had a lasting impact on his life.

“Thank you.” He was glad that Lin Qingqing recognized his aunt’s importance.

Although the influence of his aunt wasn’t large, he truly regarded her as his first mother.

Lin Qingqing smiled, “You’re welcome.”

The enclosed car was indeed a good place for conversation. “By the way, I have these tickets for you. I’ve written down the things I need to buy on a piece of paper. Once we reach the county town, let’s split up to shop. Otherwise, it might take too much time, and I’m afraid we won’t be able to make it back by noon. Also, could you help me keep this 1500 yuan?”

This was just an excuse; mainly, she wanted to go to the department store to buy intimate clothing, and going with Lu Cheng felt a bit awkward.

Lu Cheng didn’t think much of it, saying, “Sure.”

Before long, the car arrived at the bottom of the department store, and Lu Cheng found a spot to park: “It’s eight o’clock now. I’ll wait for you here around ten-thirty. Is that enough time?”

Lin Qingqing replied, “That’s enough, but since I don’t have a watch, I might misjudge the time. I’ll try to arrive early, but it’s possible I might be late.”

She wanted to clarify in advance.

Upon hearing this, Lu Cheng promptly took off his watch and handed it to Lin Qingqing: “You can use this to keep track of time.”

Their hurried wedding only allowed for a bride price of 800 yuan, which was also due to the old mountain ginseng; there was no preparation for gifts, and…

Lin Qingqing felt satisfied with her purchases.

She had never been one to shy away from buying things for herself, and in this world, she wanted to embrace her femininity more openly.

As she moved through the department store, she appreciated the variety of items available.

She found herself captivated by the vibrant colors and intricate designs that were still present in the clothing, a stark contrast to the drab styles that would dominate in the years to come.

After selecting her underwear, she wandered over to the fabric section.

The rich textures and patterns of the fabrics caught her eye.

Despite not knowing how to sew, she felt a sense of determination to learn.

If she was going to live in this era, she wanted to participate in the crafting and making of her own clothes.

She picked out some soft cotton fabric in pastel colors and grabbed a pair of scissors, a needle, and some thread.

As she walked through the aisles, she also spotted a display of shoes.

Although she didn’t plan to buy any immediately, she made a mental note to come back.

Shoes were a necessity, and she could feel her old-fashioned sense of style blending with the practical needs of this new life.

After making her purchases, Lin Qingqing headed to the checkout.

She couldn’t help but think about the contrast between her previous life and the one she was living now.

In her past life, she had been so focused on survival and the bitterness of her circumstances that she had forgotten the joy of small pleasures like shopping or wearing pretty clothes.

Now, standing in the bustling department store, surrounded by the energy of shoppers and the scent of new fabric, she felt a sense of hope.

Maybe this time, things would be different. She would take charge of her life, one step at a time.

As she left the store, her arms filled with bags, she spotted a small café nearby.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, and she felt a pang of nostalgia for the cozy coffee shops of her previous life.

On a whim, she decided to stop in for a cup.

Sipping her coffee, Lin Qingqing reflected on her life choices.

She had been given a second chance, and she intended to make the most of it.

With the resolve to learn new skills and engage more with her surroundings, she felt ready to embrace whatever came next.

She went to buy cotton fabric, choosing white and gray, which she planned to use for making pajamas and loungewear.

She bought quite a bit of fabric, thanks to Lu Cheng’s ample fabric coupons.

She intended to make two sets of pajamas and two sets of loungewear.

Since it was June and the weather would only get hotter, she planned to make the pajamas with spaghetti straps and shorts.

However, the white cotton might be a bit sheer, so she would sew a bustier underneath the spaghetti strap top to ensure it wouldn’t be see-through.

The bustier would have elastic at the bottom to prevent sagging and movement.

Of course, the pajamas would also need a short-sleeve nightgown on top that would reach her knees.

When Lu Cheng was around, she could wear the nightgown over the spaghetti strap shorts, but if she was alone, she could simply wear the shorts and top.

Essentially, this would be a three-piece pajama set: one white set and one gray set.

The loungewear would be made from gray cotton, consisting of a long T-shirt and long pants.

Among the fabrics of this era, cotton was still the most comfortable.

After purchasing the cotton fabric, she went to look at ready-made clothing.

She bought a white shirt and a sailor shirt, which was a blue-and-white striped short-sleeve T-shirt.

In Lin Qingqing’s eyes, this sailor shirt was the most fashionable clothing of the time.

She also bought a pair of military green long pants and a pair of off-white long pants.

When Lin Qingqing first arrived in this world, the original owner had 200 yuan.

The day before, she had paid a 5-yuan deposit for the cabinet and spent 15 yuan at the market with Yu Xiuyiao, leaving her with around 180 yuan.

Today, she spent about 50 yuan, and now she only had 130 yuan left.

Having purchased these items, Lin Qingqing felt relieved.

She checked the time and saw it wasn’t yet ten-thirty, thinking about what else she could buy.

There were biscuits and milk candies at home, so she didn’t need to buy snacks for the little one.

She had also noticed during the cleaning a couple of days ago that the little one had plenty of clothes that were in good condition, so there was no need to buy any.

Then… she decided to buy a few children’s books for the little one.

Thus, she headed to the Xinhua Bookstore.

To be honest, Lin Qingqing didn’t know the history of the Xinhua Bookstore, but she was surprised to see that it existed at this time.

“Hello, comrade. What books are you looking to buy?” As soon as she entered, a staff member approached her.

There weren’t many people in the bookstore, but a few were browsing here and there.

Just as Lin Qingqing was worrying about where to find children’s books, the staff member came over.

She immediately expressed her gratitude, “Thank you, comrade! I’d like to buy some children’s books. Where can I find them?”

The staff member pointed, “Just over there.”

“Thank you very much!”

There were many children’s books published in this era.

Lin Qingqing selected one titled Seagull, published in September 1962.

She didn’t buy too many because if she bought a lot, the little one might get distracted.

Buying one book at a time and finishing it before purchasing another would help maintain the little one’s interest.

After buying the children’s book, she looked at the time and realized it was already ten o’clock, so she didn’t continue browsing.

As she was still in debt, she could only buy what she needed.

Once she earned money, she would buy things for the Lin family as well.

She also needed to make sure not to forget about Lu Cheng’s aunt.

After all, she was currently occupying the original owner’s body, and she should fulfill the necessary etiquette on the original owner’s behalf.

Lin Qingqing went to the spot where she had gotten off in the morning but didn’t see a car, realizing Lu Cheng hadn’t arrived yet.

She wasn’t in a hurry, so she stood there, looking at the city, which could be considered desolate from a later perspective.

However, it wasn’t long before Lu Cheng arrived.

Perhaps due to his profession, he placed great importance on punctuality.

Lin Qingqing was drawn to the items in the car. “Wow, there’s so much stuff!” she exclaimed, joyfully standing on tiptoe to get a better look.