Ruan Tang took out the items—there were two dresses, one with a light blue peter pan collar and another with white background and floral patterns, both featuring waist-cinching designs that were quite beautiful.
There was also a pair of black leather shoes. Ruan Tang tried them on and found they fit perfectly. So that was why Jiang Ye had asked about her shoe size—to buy her shoes.
She hadn’t expected him to be so thoughtful.
Surprisingly, the bag also contained two bras, the kind she had only ever seen at the department store.
During puberty, as her breasts developed, they would ache sharply during physical education classes whenever she moved vigorously.
Classmates had mentioned that wearing bras would help alleviate the discomfort and prevent embarrassment. She had asked her mother to buy her one, but her mother said they were too expensive, insisting that in her day, they made do with undershirts and endured through it.
At the time, Ruan Tang thought her mother made sense and didn’t bring up buying bras again.
She never expected Jiang Shu to buy them for her.
Touched, Ruan Tang carefully examined them, even secretly holding them up to her chest to compare.
Her cheeks flushed pink involuntarily.
Besides those items, Jiang Shu had also bought her hairbands, hair ribbons, hair clips, snowflake cream, and two pairs of white stockings.
Jiang Shu had thought of everything a girl might need.
Ruan Tang marveled at Jiang Shu’s attentiveness and kindness, silently vowing to remember her generosity.
After organizing everything neatly, Ruan Tang started preparing dinner.
Since Jiang Ye had bought meat today and it couldn’t be stored in the hot weather, she decided to make braised pork with potatoes.
Ruan Tang first simmered the soup on the coal stove, then began cutting the meat and vegetables.
By the time Ruan Mu returned from work, Ruan Tang had already finished cooking.
The moment Ruan Mu stepped inside, she spotted the items on the table and her cheerful expression instantly faded.
Suppressing her irritation, she said, “Tangtang, I gave you that money not for you to spend it all at once. Look at you—couldn’t you spend it more sparingly? Why did you have to buy so many things?”
“And these clothes—return them tomorrow. It’s not like you don’t have clothes to wear.”
Ruan Mu went on lecturing at length.
Perhaps because she had anticipated this reaction, Ruan Tang didn’t get angry, though her tone turned somewhat flat. “Mom, Jiang Ye bought the rice, flour, meat, and pastries. The clothes and other things were gifts from Jiang Ye’s third sister.”
Ruan Mu’s jaw dropped in shock.
Instead of feeling ashamed, she breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, as long as you didn’t buy them.”
A smile returned to her face.
“By the way, what did Jiang Ye come for? Why did he buy so many things?”
Without waiting for Ruan Tang to respond, Ruan Mu added, “After you get married, you’ll need to learn to be more diligent, sweet-talk people, avoid being so blunt, and learn to read situations—think before you speak.”
Having heard similar advice countless times, Ruan Tang didn’t argue. Instead, she recounted Jiang Mother and Jiang Ye’s visit.
Then she added, “The Jiang family will come tomorrow to propose marriage and discuss our wedding. You’ll need to be home then.”
Ruan Mu smiled warmly. “Of course. We’ll just have your brother request a half-day leave for us tomorrow morning.”
Ruan Tang had no objections. They only began eating after Ruan Fu and Big Brother Ruan returned from work.
When Ruan Fu learned about Jiang Ye’s generous purchases, he praised him briefly.
“It seems he’s not entirely useless after all—at least he understands basic social graces. Perhaps once you’re married, he’ll start earning money.”
Jiang Ye’s plan to improve his image had succeeded, yet Ruan Tang felt vaguely unsettled.
Somehow, her parents seemed different from before.
Jiang Residence.
After dinner, the daughters and sons-in-law of the Jiang family rushed back upon hearing Jiang Ye was getting married.
The eldest, Jiang Qin, true to her name, was diligent and unpretentious. Without a job, she managed household affairs at home. Her husband Wang Zhiqiang was a chef at the State-Run Restaurant. They had two sons and lived a relatively comfortable life.
The second daughter, Jiang Qi, stood 1.75 meters tall and resembled Jiang Mother with her serious demeanor. She worked as an elementary school teacher, while her husband He Yingjie was employed at the local police station. They had a son and a daughter.
The third daughter, Jiang Shu, worked as a salesclerk at the department store. Her husband Wu Yaozong was a film projectionist. Though they had been married for five years, they had no children, which displeased his family greatly.
The fourth daughter, Jiang Hua, had secretly signed up to work in the countryside three years prior and had since married there.
As they entered the house, Jiang Ye scanned the room and frowned. He looked at Jiang Shu and asked, “Wu Yaozong didn’t come again? Isn’t he worried about your safety returning home at night?”
The others turned their attention to Jiang Shu as well, but she smiled indifferently. “It’s just as well he didn’t come. I’ll stay here tonight.”
With that, she nestled into the sofa. Noticing the others still watching her with concern, Jiang Shu rolled her eyes and said impatiently, “Why are you all back? Have you forgotten who the real focus is?”
Her reminder shifted everyone’s attention to Jiang Ye’s marriage plans.
Relieved that the focus was no longer on her, Jiang Shu secretly sighed.
Jiang Mother then briefed them on Ruan Tang’s situation. Jiang Ye listened quietly the entire time, saying nothing, though the corners of his mouth never stopped curling upward.
Noticing this, He Yingjie narrowed his eyes. It seemed his earlier suspicions might be correct—perhaps Jiang Ye had played a significant role in helping the young lady smoothly break off her previous engagement!
He couldn’t help but wonder: Had Jiang Ye already taken a liking to her?
Jiang Qin, after hearing the details, expressed concern. “Ruan Tang is marrying Jiang Ye just to stay in the city, and she doesn’t even have a job. What if she doesn’t settle down properly later?”
Jiang Ye was already enough of a troublemaker; if he married a wife with ulterior motives, how would they manage in the future?
Before Jiang Mother could explain, Jiang Ye cut in. Shedding his usual casual attitude, he spoke earnestly, “Ruan Tang’s character is beyond reproach. She’s a good, simple person without any ill intentions.”
“If she hadn’t mentioned it, how would any of you know she had a reason for marrying me?”
“Besides, what’s my reputation? Instead of looking down on me, she’s willing to marry me. You should all be grateful!”
Jiang Shu chuckled at this. “You’re quite self-aware. In that case, you’d better treat her well and cherish her properly from now on.”
Jiang Ye retorted, “Of course! Shouldn’t I be the one to cherish my own wife? Or are you volunteering?”
Jiang Shu’s smile widened. “If you’re willing, I suppose that could be arranged too.”
Jiang Ye’s face darkened. “Dream on.”
Jiang Qi, standing nearby, seemed about to say something, but He Yingjie stopped her. Leaning close, he whispered, “Your brother has feelings for her. Just wish them well and don’t cause trouble.”
Jiang Qi turned to He Yingjie, her eyes filled with surprise and confusion.
He Yingjie mouthed, “We’ll talk at home,” and she said no more.
If He Yingjie was one of the clever ones in the room, Jiang Mother was another.
She had remained silent, having noticed Jiang Ye’s little secret and observing him closely all along.
She had previously worried that Jiang Ye had agreed to marry on a whim, but now it seemed he cared more about this marriage than Ruan Tang did.
For her, this was an unexpected delight. As long as Jiang Ye had a weakness, the next steps would be easier to handle.
As the Neighborhood Committee Director, she had resolved countless disputes. She was confident she could get Ruan Tang to cooperate with her plan to “straighten out” Jiang Ye, this crooked-necked tree.
The more Jiang Mother thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed, and she couldn’t help but smile.
Jiang Ye noticed but paid no mind.
He was too busy feeling pleased about soon getting married.