“Well now, it seems you’re quite the considerate wife, aren’t you? Your husband is a lucky man indeed!”
Jiang Fuseng folded her arms and looked at the woman with a half-smile.
“You bet! You should learn a thing or two about looking after your own husband! ” The woman failed entirely to detect the sarcasm in Jiang Fusheng’s tone.
Jiang Fusheng blinked her sparkling eyes and nodded like a chick pecking at grain. “Yes, yes, yes. You’re simply brilliant. It seems I must award you a certificate for ‘Best at Pampering Men’—otherwise, I’d be doing a disservice to all your concern!”
Perhaps the sarcasm in her earlier remark had gone unnoticed, but now her tone and manner were unmistakable.
The woman, still oblivious, lifted her head proudly and began lecturing, “Let me tell you, men work hard to earn a living and support the family. As his wife, it’s our duty to look after them and care for them. If you save the money you’d spend on clothes, you could buy him several good meals of meat.” ”
Jiang Fusheng pursed her lips, glancing at Xiao Changhe and then back at the woman, looking pitiful and as though she’d been struck a blow. “How did you work out I don’t care? Has my husband been complaining to you?”
Xiao Changhe’s face darkened as he hastened to explain, “I don’t know her!”
With that, the woman’s earlier words suddenly seemed entirely superfluous.
The woman clenched her fists. “Comrade, I’m just standing up for you! You’re a grown man, after all. I can see you work hard for your money; if your wife keeps spending like this, she’ll run your household into the ground sooner or later!”
Xiao Changhe: “Mind your own business.”
A deafening silence fell over the crowd.
A few seconds later, thunderous laughter erupted.
“Ha ha ha!”
‘The man isn’t grateful, and she’s just butting in!’
“This is a private matter between husband and wife. All her rambling boils down to jealousy!”
“Exactly!”
The woman’s face turned as red as a monkey’s bottom from the mockery. Fuming, she glared at Jiang Fusheng. “If you don’t care about your husband like this, watch out—your mother-in-law will scold you to death!”
“Well, thank you for the warning. My mother-in-law is lovely. Before I left the house, she even gave me fabric coupons and money to buy a few nice dresses!” ” Jiang Fusheng shrugged, patted her bulging pockets, and looked both defiant and boastful.
The woman: “……”
Ah!
It’s infuriating!
Comparing oneself to others is a sure way to drive one mad!
Unable to out-argue Jiang Fusheng, the woman turned and stormed off in a huff.
And so, this little farce came to an end.
The shop assistant had watched the spectacle, her curiosity satisfied, and proceeded to gather and pack up everything Jiang Fuseng needed.
Jiang Fuseng took the opportunity to browse the other electrical goods.
A Panda-brand television, 500 yuan.
Which meant that the television she’d previously obtained from the system’s blind box was also worth 500 yuan.
In this era, one needed ration coupons for everything. She was currently unemployed and couldn’t obtain any; in the village, it was even more difficult, as the People’s Commune had to allocate the coupons first, and then the production brigade would distribute them—making it all the more arduous.
She couldn’t even find a reasonable excuse to bring out the television she’d won.
Perhaps… she could find an opportunity to resell it for some money?
“Darling, do you want it?” Xiao Changhe followed her gaze and spotted the television.
“No, I don’t.” Jiang Fusheng shook her head. “We’ve got our things, let’s go!”
Xiao Changhe slung all the bags onto himself, casting one last lingering glance at the television on the shelf before they left.
He had the money, but no ration tickets.
He’d have to think of a way to get hold of a few more ration coupons so his wife could buy the things she liked!
After leaving the supply and marketing cooperative, Jiang Fuseng looked at the brand-new bicycle and was overjoyed.
In this era of poor transport links, having a bicycle made getting anywhere a breeze.
“Brother Changhe, is there only one ration coupon for a ladies’ bicycle at home?”
“Mm.”
Jiang Fusheng’s eyes twinkled. “Then I’ll find a way to get you a voucher for a 28-inch men’s bike. I’ll buy it for you, so you can go wherever you like!”
“All right.” Xiao Changhe was deeply touched, but he also knew that, unlike him, she didn’t have any under-the-table connections—how on earth could she get hold of a voucher?
With only one ladies’ bike available, Jiang Fuseng thought it wouldn’t be right for her to ride whilst he walked.
So she simply tied the bulky items to the back seat, stuffed the smaller bits into the front basket wherever she could, and set off pushing the bike.
“You’re not riding? Don’t you know how?” Xiao Changhe asked, puzzled.
“I can, but I feel awkward riding it on my own,” Jiang Fuseng explained.
“Then I’ll push it,” Xiao Changhe said, snatching the handlebars from her hands.
It was just a pity that, given his height, pushing the low, petite 26-inch bicycle meant he had to bend over and hunch his back.
This sight made Jiang Fuseng giggle repeatedly.
“Brother Changhe, let me do it. You look a bit odd in that position!”
Xiao Changhe’s face flushed for no apparent reason. He stopped the bike and reached to untie the rope securing the sewing machine box.
“What are you doing?” Jiang Fuseng blocked his movement.
“It’s heavy. I’ll carry it.”
“It’s fine! It won’t take much effort for me to push it!”
“But…”
“That’s it. I said I’ll push it, so I’ll push it!” Jiang Fuseng said, her face set.
“Right.” Xiao Changhe had no choice but to go along with her, though he walked on the other side to help steady it.
It was one of the larger shops in town. She realised she still hadn’t bought the clothes she’d wear for the wedding, so she popped into the department store to have a look.
For the wedding, Xiao Changhe would need a tailored suit, and she would need a red one too.
Her red suit was available in her size, but his would need to be made to measure—after all, with a build like his, there wasn’t a second person like him in the whole city!
“Sir, your wife will have to wait for the tailor to come and take her measurements before the suit can be made. Would you like to try on some other styles for the wedding in the meantime?” ’ The sales assistant brought over several wedding outfits.
There were plain red suits with white shirts underneath, as well as red tulle skirts paired with red jackets.
“Go try them on.” Without waiting for Jiang Fusheng to speak, Xiao Changhe took the clothes and handed them to her.
“All right.” Jiang Fusheng took them.
She’d originally thought a single red skirt-and-jacket ensemble would suffice—simple and straightforward.
But since there were other styles available, she figured it wouldn’t hurt to try them on.
However, before she could even carry the clothes into the changing room, she heard a surprised male voice.
“Jiang Laidi?”
Jiang Fuseng: “……”
This town really is small; she’d run into acquaintances one after another today!
She hadn’t intended to pay him any mind; after all, the man calling out to her was a complete scoundrel.
But the scoundrel strode quickly towards her, stared intently at her face, and wore an odd expression. “Is it really you? I called out to you—why didn’t you answer?”
Jiang Fuseng took a step back. “My name isn’t Jiang Laidi.”
“That’s impossible. You are Jiang Laidi. You—”
“Stay away from my wife!” Xiao Changhe pulled Jiang Fuseng behind him to shield her, glaring coldly at the man in the suit and leather shoes who had suddenly appeared.
“Your wife?” The man in the suit and leather shoes looked as though he’d heard a joke. “She’s my wife!”
A sales assistant standing nearby couldn’t help but cover her mouth.
What a scandal!
Jiang Fuseng’s face darkened as she snapped, “Qian Weidong, you shameless scoundrel! Who’s your wife? We got divorced the day before yesterday! “If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll call the police and report you for sexual harassment!”
“Hah!” Qian Weidong chuckled lightly, ignoring Xiao Changhe as he reached out to grab Jiang Fusheng’s wrist. “Divorce is divorce, but as long as you’re willing, I can still…” “Aaaah!”
Before his hand could touch hers, his wrist was clamped in a vice-like grip, the sound of cracking bones ringing madly in his ears.
“Get lost!” Xiao Changhe said, his face expressionless, as he shoved him away with all his might.