In Jiang City.
Su Yueheng once again took a ferry with a group of people. She still felt a little uncomfortable, so she took out her cup and drank a sip of spiritual spring water. Only then did she gradually feel better.
Lu Mingjue had been observing her the whole time. Seeing her frown while drinking water, she asked with concern, “Yueheng, if you’re seasick, lean on Auntie. Close your eyes and rest for a bit—we’ll arrive soon.”
Su Yueheng forced a smile. “Thank you, Aunt Lu. I drank some water, I feel better now.”
She was nearly two heads taller than the old lady, and leaning would make both of them uncomfortable.
Seeing Lu Mingjue looking curiously at her, Su Yueheng simply took out her cup and said softly, “Aunt Lu, have a sip too. I added some sugar.”
The spiritual spring water was naturally sweet, like sugar water.
If she explained it this way, Lu Mingjue wouldn’t suspect anything.
Lu Mingjue didn’t stand on ceremony. She took a sip directly. The sweet water slid down her throat, and she immediately felt the fatigue of the past few days disappear. Her whole body became refreshed.
The old lady exclaimed in surprise, “Yueheng, this sugar water is so good! Do we still have white sugar at home? We should make it more often.”
“Yes.”
Su Yueheng smiled faintly. “I also brought tea and tea sets. By the time we return, they should have arrived. We can go check the post office in Jiang City.”
“Good idea. Xingzhou can come too—he’s free labor.”
Su Yueheng turned around and looked at Lu Xingzhou standing behind them. His tall figure stood like a wall, blocking others from crowding them.
She smiled lightly, her eyes curved like crescent moons. “I have quite a lot of things. Sorry for the trouble, Commander Lu. I’ll treat you to sugar water when we get back.”
Her voice was soft and slightly coy, gentle and polite, different from other female comrades he had met—without any deliberate affectation.
Lu Xingzhou curved his lips slightly. “We’re family. It’s what I should do.”
Ten minutes later, the group arrived at the Jiang City port.
It took another fifteen minutes to walk from the port to the station.
Lu Mingjue had a clear goal and directly led Lu Xingzhou and Su Yueheng to the state-run store.
The store was large and had almost everything.
The first floor had sewing machines, televisions, bicycles, and even refrigerators—large items shipped from Shanghai or Beijing. Some required coupons, some did not, all priced above one hundred yuan.
The second floor had rice, oil, salt, and wedding candies.
The third floor had fabrics, daily necessities, and stationery.
The fourth floor had various food supplies.
Since Lu Mingjue planned to buy everything needed for the wedding, they started from the first floor.
She and Su Yueheng went to look at sewing machines, while Lu Xingzhou was attracted to a women’s wristwatch—a pink, minimally decorated design, with only subtle details inside the dial.
The shop assistant, bored earlier while chatting, immediately perked up when she saw him. His serious expression didn’t matter—his face alone was enough to make her overlook everything else.
She smiled and approached. “Comrade, looking for a watch? We just got new men’s models. If you want, I can give you a special price.”
Lu Xingzhou pointed at the women’s watch. “I want this one.”
This color, worn on Su Yueheng’s slender wrist, would definitely look better.
The shop assistant froze. “Comrade, that’s a women’s watch.”
Could this handsome man already belong to someone?
Lu Xingzhou pointed toward the sewing machine section. “The female comrade over there is my fiancée. Do you think this watch suits her?”
He just wasn’t sure if she would like it.
The shop assistant followed his gaze and saw Su Yueheng standing with the old lady. Her delicate appearance, fair skin, and graceful hands made it obvious she had been well pampered since childhood.
She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.
She sighed in defeat. “Yes, comrade, it suits her very well. Oh, we also just got a new radio. Do you want to give one to her too?”
Since he already had someone, she might as well try to sell more goods to ease her disappointment.
Lu Xingzhou shook his head. “No need. Just wrap this watch. How much is it?”
The shop assistant smiled professionally. “One hundred and fifty yuan. No coupon required.”
He paid directly without hesitation.
Over on the other side, after choosing the sewing machine, Su Yueheng and Lu Mingjue saw him walking over with a box.
Lu Mingjue looked approvingly at him. “What did you buy? Why were you gone so long?”
Lu Xingzhou coughed. “I picked out a watch for Yueheng as an engagement gift.”
Su Yueheng was slightly surprised, then smiled. “Thank you, Commander Lu.”
Lu Mingjue frowned, trying to correct her. “Yueheng, he called you by your name. You still call him by his title—doesn’t that feel too distant?”
Su Yueheng blinked and looked at Lu Xingzhou. “Everyone calls you that. It sounds very formal and impressive, so I just followed… Should I change it? Xingzhou?”
Her soft voice made Lu Xingzhou feel as if countless little sparks were dancing in his heart—tingling and uncontrollable.
Lu Xingzhou replied, “Either is fine.”
Su Yueheng smiled and leaned lightly against Lu Mingjue. “Auntie, then I’ll call him whatever I feel like.”
Lu Mingjue could only sigh. “You two decide yourselves. Come on, let’s go pick fabric.”
Three hours later, their baskets were full of items—but all were being carried by Lu Xingzhou.
On the way back, Su Yueheng stopped by the post office and retrieved two large boxes.
She used her system to transfer items into them, making the empty boxes suddenly heavy.
Seeing this, Lu Xingzhou borrowed a vehicle and hired two people at the port to transport everything back in one trip.
By the time they returned to the island, it was 5:30 p.m.
Transport was easier on the island.
It took only fifteen minutes from the port to the family compound.
Just as Lu Xingzhou finished unloading the items, a distant, aggrieved cry came from ahead:
“Uncle Xingzhou… Uncle Xingzhou… sob sob, don’t stop liking me…”