Nan Qingqing’s face instantly flushed red.
It looked as if she had applied rouge.
In both her lifetimes combined, no man had ever patted her head and called her a child.
It was strangely embarrassing.
Lu Baiyang pulled Nan Qingqing toward the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
Nan Qingqing tugged at the corner of Lu Baiyang’s clothes and whispered, “My stepmother and my father don’t deserve my filial piety. They don’t deserve to eat too much of what I buy, and they certainly don’t deserve my money.”
Lu Baiyang was momentarily stunned.
Only then did he remember that Nan Qingqing’s mother was her stepmother, while she was Nan Honghong’s biological mother.
From what happened at yesterday’s wedding,
it was clear that Nan Honghong must have been more favored at home than Nan Qingqing.
Otherwise,
no young woman would dare to do something as dirty as having an illicit affair with her sister’s husband at her sister’s wedding.
Hearing Nan Qingqing’s words now,
Lu Baiyang could almost imagine what kind of life Nan Qingqing had endured growing up in that household.
He turned around
and stood in front of Nan Qingqing.
There was about a twenty-centimeter height difference between them.
When Lu Baiyang spoke to Nan Qingqing, he always unconsciously bent down. “If you don’t like them, just limit your interactions with them in the future. But today is a special occasion. If the gifts we bring back are too shabby, people will laugh at us. They’ll say your husband’s family doesn’t value you.”
Nan Qingqing pouted and said, “I don’t care.”
Lu Baiyang asked for her opinion, “Can we do it my way this time?”
Nan Qingqing: “…”
Nan Qingqing watched in astonishment as Lu Baiyang bought ten jin of pork, five jin of white sugar, ten jin of rice, and one jin of White Rabbit milk candies. She was dumbfounded.
Nan Qingqing said, “This is really too extravagant.”
Lu Baiyang smiled. “Just this once.”
What he didn’t say was
that at yesterday’s wedding,
he had already noticed that this young woman was actually someone who would repay every slight, no matter how small.
When he was at home, he had specifically gone into the kitchen to see what his elder sister-in-law had prepared for Jianguo’s return gifts. At that time, he thought that what they brought back must be more than what Lu Jianguo brought. Otherwise, this young woman would be overshadowed by Nan Honghong again.
Although he had never liked such competitive behavior,
he didn’t want his young wife to feel unhappy on the very first day of their marriage.
It was just a matter of spending a little more money.
And this amount of money
was something he could easily afford.
Nan Qingqing shrugged and reluctantly compromised, saying, “Fine.””
Just as they stepped out of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative,
a car pulled up in front of them.
The driver got out of the car
and immediately saluted Lu Baiyang, saying, “Sir, this car has been assigned to you by the town!”
Lu Baiyang returned the salute
and took the car keys.
He said, “Thank you for your hard work.”
The other man stood at attention, chest out, and said, “No hard work, sir. Please use the car.”
Lu Baiyang put the items in the car
and opened the door. “Comrade Nan Qingqing, get in.”
Nan Qingqing uttered an “Oh” and sat in the passenger seat.
When Lu Baiyang got in,
Nan Qingqing asked curiously, “Whose car is this? Why are we allowed to use it?”
Lu Baiyang said, “The town mayor knows I’m home these few days and lent it to me for transportation. Sit tight.”
Nan Qingqing looked at Lu Baiyang in shock. “When you went to the town government earlier, didn’t you say you were borrowing a phone?”
Lu Baiyang smiled. As he turned the steering wheel, he said, “I borrowed the phone from the town mayor’s office.”
He paused.
Lu Baiyang earnestly told Nan Qingqing, “The town mayor was my former Company Commander from another unit. After being discharged due to injuries, he returned to work in town and has been promoted to mayor these past few years. Don’t mention this to anyone else at home.”
Nan Qingqing made a zipping motion over her lips and said, “I guarantee I’ll complete the mission assigned by the chief!”
Lu Baiyang glanced sideways at Nan Qingqing.
He smiled without speaking.
Four wheels were certainly faster than two legs.
Soon.
They arrived at Nan Family Village from town.
At Nan Qingqing’s home, a group of relatives had just come to terms with Nan Honghong marrying Lu Jianguo. Several women were gathered together, cracking melon seeds and chatting.
“Honghong, you’re saying Qingqing willingly married the third son of the Lu family?”
“Yes, my sister insisted on marrying Third Uncle. No matter how much I tried to persuade her, she wouldn’t listen.”
“Oh my! How old must that third son be? Still unmarried at his age—there must be something fishy going on.”
“Actually, Third Uncle isn’t that old. He’s less than ten years older than Qingqing.”
“Qingqing has never been sensible since she was little. You’re the lucky one. I think Jianguo looks sharp and capable, clearly someone who knows how to live well.”
“Thanks to your kind words, aunt.”
“I see you even came riding an Erba Dagang. That’s really something! Your blessings are still to come!”
Just then.
Young children in split pants ran in excitedly,
panting as they said, “There’s a little car in our village, and it’s running so fast, like it’s flying!”
Before their words faded.
More children rushed in.
Shouting hoarsely, “The little car stopped at the gate! I wonder whose house it’s visiting.”
The women also wanted to see the little car.
They had never seen what a car looked like before!
So after a quick discussion.
They all went to look.
As soon as they reached the gate.
They watched wide-eyed as Lu Baiyang opened the car door and helped Nan Qingqing out.
At that moment.
They forgot all about the melon seeds in their hands.
Craning their necks to see the scene.
After getting out of the car, Nan Qingqing smiled and waved at everyone, “Aunt, Third Aunt, Fourth Aunt, Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law Meixiang, long time no see.”
Everyone: “…”
How could it be Nan Qingqing?
Nan Qingqing came by car?
Was that tall, handsome, and impressive man her new husband?
Oh my!
That piece of meat in that man’s hand must weigh ten jin!
Didn’t Nan Honghong say Nan Qingqing married some scruffy, middle-aged old man?
Immediately after.
Lu Baiyang brought out white sugar and salt.
He said to Nan Qingqing, “Distribute the candy to the children.”
Hearing there was candy to eat.
The children quickly gathered around.
Only then did Nan Qingqing realize why Lu Baiyang had bought the candy.
She couldn’t help but scorn herself—having lived two lifetimes, she still wasn’t as socially adept as Lu Baiyang.
Nan Qingqing carried a cloth bag of candy and handed it out to the children one by one.
When did the children usually get to eat White Rabbit Creamy Candies?
Now, with two or three candies in hand, they felt like eating the wrappers along with the candy.
One little boy said, “Even Sister Honghong, as a new bride, didn’t give us candy. Sister Qingqing is much better.”
Nan Honghong was already trembling with anger.
Hearing the child’s innocent words, tears welled up in her eyes.
She felt she had suffered a great humiliation.
Turning around, she ran home crying.
Sister-in-law Meixiang couldn’t help but purse her lips, while the others chuckled lightly and remarked, “Qingqing, we heard from your sister that your husband serves as a cook in the army—the kind who specializes in stir-frying in the kitchen squad?”
Nan Qingqing’s smile didn’t reach her eyes as she replied, “If she says so, then it must be true, right?”
Hearing this.
The others suddenly realized.
Just moments ago, Nan Honghong had claimed Qingqing’s husband was a half-old man with a big head and thick neck—so how did that turn out?
Clearly.
Nan Honghong’s words couldn’t be trusted.
The crowd gave awkward laughs. “Qingqing is truly blessed—after calling off one engagement, she married someone even better.”
Nan Qingqing patted her thigh, feigning grievance as she said, “What choice did I have? My sister and Lu Jianguo were already sharing a bed—what could I do? Should I have let my sister give birth to a fatherless bastard?”