Chapter 25

When Xu Nian woke up, there was already a pile of grains in her space, all neatly packaged.

Swallowing her excitement, she thought to herself that if dreaming in this space could actually produce food, she’d have to do it more often.

While her life was going smoothly, things weren’t going well for Xu Xiuhong. That afternoon, as she went to work, she noticed that people who had been chatting in small groups would go silent as soon as she approached. The moment she passed by, they would start talking again, leaving her feeling restless with curiosity.

Xu’s father wasn’t faring much better. He had two scratch marks on his face from an angry woman, and whenever people glanced his way, he felt compelled to explain, “Oh, it’s nothing—I was just scratched while holding the neighbor’s baby.” The lunchtime gossips, however, only gave him knowing looks and replied, “Oh, really?”

His attempt to explain only made him look guiltier. All he could think was that he’d married a seemingly virtuous woman who had turned out to be trouble. Xu Xiuhong used to be so mild-mannered—who knew her true nature would be so terrible?

The next morning, as Xu Nian was heading out, she spotted Lu Huaijin waiting with something in his hands. When she approached, he handed it to her, saying, “Take this with you when you go to the countryside. Carry it whenever you’re out alone.”

Xu Nian eyed the black object in her hand. “Is this… nunchucks?”

Lu Huaijin smiled, took it back, and demonstrated its use. “It’s a stun baton. It’s not lethal, so if someone threatens you, hit them fast and get away quickly. Your safety comes first.”

Seeing the spark of interest in Xu Nian’s eyes, Lu knew he’d chosen well. She seemed to understand its purpose instantly.

She looked at the baton like it was a treasure—this was perfect. She had been planning to make a pepper spray from the space-grown peppers once they matured, but this would be much more effective.

“Does it run on regular batteries?” she asked.

“Yes, they’re easy to replace. It should last you the two months you’ll be away in the countryside.”

Seeing her wearing the same outfit she’d worn at their first meeting, he could easily imagine how rough her life must be at home with her stepmother around. “Hop in,” he offered.

It was rush hour, and news had spread through the community that Xu Nian had secured a great match. People had speculated that maybe her fiancé was short, unattractive, or had some hidden health issue.

However, seeing Lu Huaijin now—tall, strong, and holding a respectable job—gathered a crowd of onlookers who watched curiously. And the fact that he even had a car made it clear how well-off he must be. Very few people could afford a car in those days.

Some women whispered among themselves, “Xu Nian really got lucky. That other guy, He Conghao, just threw away a diamond for a pebble.”

“I wish my daughter were so sensible!”

“Look at Xu Nian, though. She’s grown more beautiful every year. I haven’t seen anyone quite so pretty.”

Just then, He Conghao’s mother, on her way to work, overheard the gossip. “Have you heard what Xu Ruhua is up to now? She’s already chasing another man. Poor Conghao—he’s going to get played again.”

“She snatched He Conghao from someone else back then; seems fitting she’d get dropped like this.”

The more He’s mother heard, the angrier she became. People were making her son sound like a fool. “Nothing’s set in stone yet,” she muttered, though she decided to write to her son that day. Xu Ruhua would not set foot in their home!

Meanwhile, Lu Huaijin brought Xu Nian to the second floor of a clothing store. “Pick whatever you like,” he said.

Xu Nian felt a little embarrassed. Was she taking advantage of his kindness? She didn’t have many clothes, though, and it wouldn’t be as convenient to shop for clothes in the countryside. “Are you sure I won’t bankrupt you?”

Lu Huaijin took a wad of cash from his pocket. “Here.”

Today, he was in uniform and had made a point of lingering at the neighborhood gate despite the onlookers. He’d done this deliberately to support her publicly, so she would be respected as a military wife and seen in a positive light by the community.

Xu Nian couldn’t help feeling grateful. She hadn’t expected him to be so thoughtful and considerate, and this realization made her feel even closer to him.

The department store was quiet that day, so she picked out clothes quickly, holding up two items for Lu Huaijin’s opinion. “How about these?”

It was the first time Lu had been asked such a question by a woman, and he simply nodded. Xu Nian picked out two more items. “How about these?”

He nodded again, though his usually stoic expression seemed a little uncertain.

Xu Nian found his straightforwardness amusing. Luckily, he was good-looking; otherwise, his reserved personality might have been hard to handle.

She noticed the store clerks’ attitudes. Far from the attentive service of high-end stores in later years, they behaved more like luxury salespeople with their noses in the air. Rather than paying attention to her, they kept glancing at Lu Huaijin.

Aware of this, Lu walked a little closer to Xu Nian. She overheard one of the clerks muttering in irritation, “She looks like a schemer, just like last time. She hasn’t snagged one man yet and is already cozying up to another.”

Xu Nian glanced around and saw that she and Lu Huaijin were the only ones there. The clerks were clearly talking about them. She knew she was attractive, but their comments were crossing a line.

Suppressing her annoyance, she strode over to the offending clerks and asked, “Were you talking about me?”

The clerk who had spoken looked tense but stood her ground. “Yes, I said it. So what? Just because you’re marrying well…”

“Apologize,” Xu Nian demanded.

The clerk stiffened. “I, Li Ru, have never apologized to anyone.”

Lu Huaijin’s gaze turned cold as he looked at her, his eyes devoid of warmth. His words were firm and direct. “Apologize.”