Jiang Lian felt that going to confront someone during work hours was a bit too conspicuous. “That’s not really appropriate.”

Jiang He urged her, “I’ve already taken half a day off. Time’s tight. Let’s ask her quickly so I can get back to work.”

Jiang Ling was called out of the office. When she saw her two sisters standing there with dark expressions, she suddenly felt like a student who had done something wrong and was being called in by her parents.

Jiang He’s eyes were practically shooting flames as she demanded, “Why didn’t you tell us you were getting married?”

Jiang Ling looked down and fiddled with her hands, offering a sincere apology. “I’m sorry. I forgot.”

Jiang He was furious. “How could you forget something like that?”

She was a little hurt too. She had always felt that the bond between the three sisters was even stronger than their ties with their parents. It made sense that Jiang Ling wouldn’t tell their parents, but not telling her and their eldest sister was just strange.

Jiang Ling really hadn’t treated the wedding like a big deal. The clothes she wore for the wedding were no different from what she’d worn the day before.

She said, “Next time I get married, I’ll be sure to let both of you know.”

Jiang Lian couldn’t hold back and gave her a light smack. “Don’t say nonsense like that. What do you mean, ‘next time’?”

Jiang He’s tone was sharp. “Since you’re already married, I won’t say anything else. Just make sure you two live well. If you ever need anything, come to me.” Her life was going well, and when she made bold promises, she did so with full confidence.

After speaking, she threw a piece of floral-patterned fabric into Jiang Ling’s arms. “Take this and make yourself a new dress.”

Jiang Lian hadn’t brought anything, and suddenly felt a bit uneasy. “Little sister, if there’s anything you need, your big sister will help.”

Her life wasn’t as comfortable as Jiang He’s. Jiang He’s husband was an only son, and her in-laws were kind and understanding. After getting married, Jiang He took charge of the household and had priority in everything.

Jiang He and her husband’s food and living expenses were all covered by her in-laws. Her husband’s wages were saved for emergencies, and Jiang He kept her own salary as pocket money.

Jiang Ling knew that Jiang Lian’s life after marriage hadn’t been easy. She couldn’t possibly accept anything from her. Jiang Lian’s pocket money all came from taking over shifts and doing odd jobs for her coworkers.

“I don’t need anything. I have my own salary, and Song Guanshu’s wages are quite good.”

Jiang He also said, “This isn’t a wedding gift. It’s compensation for the floral dress I took from her when we were kids. I was afraid she’d hold a grudge and stop speaking to me after getting married, so I’m making it up to her.”

She added, spoke briskly and directly. “Alright, if you really want to help her, take this fabric and make her a dress. Have it ready before summer.”

Jiang Lian agreed with a smile. She had never been stingy about putting in effort. It was just that money was tight—she couldn’t afford to spend, but she had no problem doing more work.

What Jiang He cared about most was her brother-in-law. She questioned Jiang Ling thoroughly about him.

Jiang Lian knew her second sister had a proud nature and worried she might look down on Song Guanshu, so she spoke up on his behalf. “Xiao Song is actually quite good. It’s just that he doesn’t have any parents, which isn’t ideal.”

Jiang He glanced at her. “How is that a flaw? That’s clearly a huge advantage. If you happen to marry into a family with awful in-laws who stir up trouble between husband and wife all day, someone like our Jiang Ling—so quiet and passive—would be bullied to the bone.”

Jiang Lian replied, “Actually, my in-laws are pretty good. They even help me take care of the kids. Without them…”

Jiang He cut her off. “Without them, you’d definitely be living better than you are now.”

She particularly looked down on Jiang Lian’s in-laws. They held some sort of leadership role at the Daily Chemical Factory, yet still bullied their daughter-in-law. In her view, it was only because her eldest sister was too soft and easy to push around, never able to stand her ground. If she had ended up with a family like that, even if it meant her own life would be harder, she absolutely wouldn’t have let them have an easy time.

The two sisters had come in a rush and left just as quickly. Jiang Lian hadn’t taken leave, so she needed to hurry back to her post.

Jiang He had taken leave, but only for a short time. If she returned too late, her pay would be docked.

The floral fabric Jiang He had brought was taken by Jiang Lian. She planned to take it home and sew a dress for Jiang Ling.

Before leaving, Jiang He said to her eldest sister, “Tell Xiao Ya that her second aunt will bring her an even prettier piece of fabric next time to make a dress.”

During work, Jiang Ling was worried that Song Guanshu wouldn’t wait for her after work, so she especially reminded him to be sure to take her home on his bike. Otherwise, she threatened, she’d tell every single worker in the factory bad things about him.

Song Guanshu might appear gentle, but at his core, he was proud and defiant, with a strong rebellious streak—he hated being threatened most of all.

But when he heard Jiang Ling’s threat, which sounded like something a primary schooler would say, it was hard for him to muster the urge to do the opposite out of spite.

In the end, he did go to the Accounting Section to pick her up after work. Since she wasn’t left behind, Jiang Ling was quite pleased.

The rest of the Accounting Section saw how well the two were getting along and felt genuinely happy for them.

Only Wei Ming shook his head. He pointed at their retreating figures in the distance with two fingers and said, “Look at her, so desperate. As soon as she sees her man, she throws herself at him.”

Li Chunjiao replied, “Oh come on, they’re newlyweds and still in the honeymoon phase. You’ve been through it yourself, haven’t you? You should understand.”

Speaking of which, Wei Ming felt especially bitter. He had indeed gone through the early days of marriage, but his experience had been quite different. While still a young man in his twenties, he had married a woman in her forties. The bitterness and hardship of that situation were things only he truly understood.

Living off a woman wasn’t as easy as it seemed. In short, back when Wei Ming had just gotten married, his days were utterly bleak. He simply couldn’t understand why young newlyweds liked to stick to each other so much.

Jiang Ling wrapped her arms around Song Guanshu’s waist. He reacted like a startled cat with its fur bristling. “What are you doing?”

Her playful voice reached his ears as her arms tightened around his waist. “Buying meat, buying meat.”

She wrapped herself around him and even gave his abdomen a couple of squeezes. “You know, your waist is actually quite slim.”

This was pure flirtation, no doubt about it.

But since they had a marriage certificate, even if someone reported them and they were taken to the Public Security Bureau, the officers would just treat it as a matter of marital affection and throw the case out.

For the first time, Song Guanshu experienced what it felt like to suffer in silence.

Through gritted teeth, he squeezed out a word: “Go.”

“Let go.”

Jiang Ling was exceptionally obedient. Whatever he said, she followed. “Alrighty, whatever you say!”

The bicycle turned around and headed toward the nearest supply and marketing cooperative.

There was a long line at the meat counter. By the time it was their turn, only offal was left. Jiang Ling pointed at the pig liver and said, “Half a liver, please.”

The store clerk brought the knife down swiftly. The pig liver was bagged.

Just as they were about to pay, Jiang Ling turned to Song Guanshu and called out sweetly, “Darling, pay up!”

Perhaps he had already expected this. Song Guanshu didn’t look particularly surprised. There were still people lining up behind them to buy meat, and he had no intention of getting into an argument with Jiang Ling in public. So, he pulled out the cash and ration coupons he carried with him.

Jiang Ling took the bag from the store clerk and smiled brightly as she praised, “Comrade Song Guanshu, you really are the best husband in the whole world—handsome, rich, charming, generous, kind…”

Countless compliments flowed from her mouth as if they cost nothing, all directed at Song Guanshu like a never-ending stream.

People back then were more reserved. The passing customers who overheard her felt their ears burn from embarrassment.

Song Guanshu, however, only responded with a cold and indifferent “Mm.”

He thought to himself, Jiang Ling is such a hypocrite. She’s clearly afraid of him, always on guard, yet she throws out compliments without a second thought.

Of course, thoughts like that remained buried deep in his mind, never to be spoken aloud.

Jiang Ling didn’t expect any real response from him anyway. As long as she got to eat meat today, she was satisfied—even if it was just pig liver.

All the way back to the steel factory’s family housing area, they turned this corner and that, and were almost home.

Song Guanshu was riding his bicycle and passed a couple walking hand in hand, when someone called out, “Xiao Song?”

Song Guanshu stopped the bicycle. “Brother Liu.”

“I thought it looked like you from the back, but since there was a woman sitting on the back seat, I wasn’t completely sure.”

“And this comrade here is…?”

Song Guanshu introduced, “This is my wife.”

Calling someone a partner could mean either a wife or a girlfriend, but using the term “wife” left no room for doubt—it meant they were already married.

He introduced Jiang Ling, “Brother Liu is the Section Chief of the Security Section at the steel factory. And this is his wife. They live in the courtyard just in front of ours.”

The slender woman standing beside Section Chief Liu, who was indeed his wife, asked, “Oh, Xiao Song, you’re married? When did that happen?”

“Just yesterday. We held the wedding at our factory.”

Han Ruixue nodded. “Truly a perfect match—handsome and beautiful.”

Jiang Ling beamed and replied, “Brother Liu and Sister-in-law are a great match too.” Though to be honest, they didn’t really look like a couple.

Section Chief Liu had a strong, upright appearance—tall and well-built—but he looked older, seemingly in his thirties just from his face.

His wife, however, was very pretty and appeared to be around the same age as Jiang Ling.

Perhaps some people were just born with a more mature look. After all, for him to already hold the position of Section Chief of Security, he definitely wasn’t just a young man in his twenties.

Han Ruixue smiled faintly and gestured toward her home. “Come visit us when you have time.”

After saying goodbye, Song Guanshu pedaled the bicycle the rest of the way home.

As they entered the courtyard, the resident of the east wing was hanging clothes to dry. She was in her thirties, with short hair, a squat and rounded figure, and a face that always looked sorrowful.

Song Guanshu greeted her politely. “Hanging laundry, Sister Li?”

The woman he called Sister Li shook the water from a garment, then spoke with a hint of insinuation. “Girls should have self-respect. Before doing anything, they ought to consider how their actions affect their families. I’m a mother myself. If my daughter grows up and starts sneaking around, I’d be so ashamed I wouldn’t know where to put my face.”

The east and west wings faced each other. The day before, while Li Jun was cooking in the kitchen, she had noticed what looked like a woman’s shadow pass through the opposite unit. She had crouched by her window watching for quite a while, and had even sent her younger son outside to listen.

In the end, she confirmed that Song Guanshu had brought a woman home in the middle of the night.

She had originally thought highly of Song Guanshu, seeing him as an honest and upright young man, and had even considered marrying her younger sister to him.

Although her sister only had a rural household registration, she was beautiful—easily the best-looking girl in the surrounding villages. On top of that, their parents were still alive, which gave her family a clear advantage over someone like Xiao Song, who had lost both his parents.

So when she saw Song Guanshu bringing a woman home, she felt deeply uneasy. She was now conflicted about whether she should still consider him as a match for her sister.