Without drawing attention to himself, he curved his lips slightly and stood up, walking over.
Seeing this, Zhou Qinglian shot Ning Xi a smug glance.
“Chengbei, I know you like Ning Xi, but this situation is different. She’s speaking wildly and showing no respect for elders. You can’t protect her like this. She’s already this arrogant before even marrying in once she does, won’t she turn the whole house upside down?”
“The one speaking wildly is you, Second Aunt.”
Jiang Chengbei walked over to Ning Xi’s side and gave her a reassuring look.
“Are you okay?”
Ning Xi nodded pitifully. “I’m wronged.”
“You’re the one who feels wronged now?” Zhou Qinglian was so angry her neck looked twice as thick.
She was the one being scolded how did Ning Xi end up playing the victim?!
Just as she was about to properly lecture Ning Xi on how to behave, Jiang Chengbei swept her with a cold, sharp look.
“Second Aunt, doesn’t Ning Xi have every right to feel wronged? I hunted the wild boar. She doesn’t deserve to eat the meat but do you?”
Zhou Qinglian was immediately left speechless. Her old face twisted as she choked on her words.
After dinner, Ning Xi taught Jiang Xiaoyu how to recognize characters.
Near the end, Jiang Chengbei came in carrying the medicated oil Elder Zhuang had given them.
“Elder Zhuang said to apply it once more before bed tonight.”
“Okay.”
Ning Xi responded and held out her hand. “Give it to me.”
“I’ll do it,” Jiang Chengbei said. “The oil smells strong you shouldn’t get it on your hands.”
Second Uncle and Sister Ning had things to do, so Jiang Xiaoyu didn’t interrupt. She quietly lay on the table, carefully writing each stroke. She wasn’t old enough for school yet, but Sister Ning had told her that studying hard was the way to leave the village.
The flame of the kerosene lamp flickered.
The three of them sat together, wrapped in a peaceful, settled moment.
After finishing her writing, Jiang Xiaoyu went out. Only then did Ning Xi bring up Cao Xinrou.
“Why do you think Cao Xinrou suddenly agreed to marry Jiang Chengnan?”
Jiang Chengbei thought for a few seconds and shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“Idiot.”
Ning Xi reached out and flicked his forehead.
“She’s definitely doing it because of you. If she can’t be your wife, she’ll be your sister-in-law instead. Either way, she wants to be tied to you for life. Battalion Commander Jiang, I really couldn’t tell you’re quite popular with young girls.”
In truth, she had a feeling.
Cao Xinrou wasn’t really planning to marry Jiang Chengnan. She must have a deeper motive.
And her target was probably still Jiang Chengbei.
When things were abnormal, there was always something lurking beneath she’d have to be extra careful.
Being flicked on the forehead out of nowhere made Jiang Chengbei feel inexplicably like Xiaoyu. His hand didn’t stop applying the oil, but a trace of helplessness flashed through his stern brows.
“I’m not popular with young girls at all.”
“Didn’t you really dislike me before?”
Ning Xi: “……”
Here we go again…
She suddenly felt like she’d dug a hole and jumped into it herself.
“Just pretend my brain got kicked by a donkey back then. You’re so good of course I like you. Handsome, great build, gentle, considerate, attentive so many strengths I can’t even count them all.”
With every word she said, the smile at Jiang Chengbei’s lips grew wider.
These past few days had felt unreal to him.
He couldn’t understand how Ning Xi had changed so quickly. Three months ago when he came home, she’d been cold and distant. This time, she was warm and passionate.
Like now.
Her smile was so sweet and radiant it nearly overwhelmed him.
“I’m not as good as you say.”
Ning Xi raised an eyebrow. “Don’t be modest. If I say you’re good, then you’re good.”
As soon as her words fell, Jiang Chengbei suddenly looked at her with burning eyes.
“This morning on the mountain… you said there’d be a reward.”
Only then did Ning Xi remember she’d said that deliberately just to irritate Cao Xinrou. She hadn’t expected this rough man to keep thinking about it all this time.
What kind of reward should she give?
She blinked and crooked a finger at him.
“Come closer.”
Jiang Chengbei’s heart raced as he obediently leaned in closer, and closer.
They were already sitting on the bed, not far apart. When he leaned in, the distance shrank even more. He could even smell the sweet, fresh scent coming off Ning Xi strong enough to overpower the medicated oil.
How could she smell so good?
What kind of reward was she going to give him?
Jiang Chengbei stared blankly as Ning Xi’s flower-like, delicate face drew closer and closer. He unconsciously swallowed, and just as he thought she was about to kiss him, she suddenly let out a soft laugh.
“Forget it. I’m afraid if I reward you, you won’t be able to sleep tonight.”
That’s it?
Seeing Jiang Chengbei practically petrified, Ning Xi almost couldn’t hold back her laughter.
Why was he kind of cute…
Over the next few days, Ning Xi applied medicine and received massages on schedule, and her foot injury quickly healed. Returning kindness for kindness, she secretly added spiritual spring water to the water she poured for Jiang Chengbei.
He noticed nothing only that the water Ning Xi poured for him always tasted sweet.
Then… the consequence of drinking too much was that he got another nosebleed not just that, but also that, which made him sneak up in the middle of the night to wash the bedsheets, nearly getting caught by Ning Xi when she got up.
Ning Xi pretended she knew nothing.
After all, she had to leave someone a bit of dignity.
Still, she worried about bottling Jiang “Little Cheng” up too much. Fortunately, within two days, the army approved their marriage application.
The two of them began preparing for the wedding.
In this era, there was no trend of grand celebrations. Inviting close relatives and friends for a simple meal was enough.
Besides that, the most important things were the bride price and the “three turnings and one sound.”
The “three turnings and one sound” referred to a bicycle, a wristwatch, a sewing machine, and a radio.
Ning Xi planned to follow Jiang Chengbei after marriage. The original owner already had a watch, and buying the rest would be useless they couldn’t take them along and would only end up benefiting others.
“Once we get to where you work, we can buy whatever we’re missing then.”
Jiang Chengbei frowned. “Wouldn’t that be unfair to you? How about buying a new watch?”
He cared deeply about Ning Xi and wanted to give her the best.
Ning Xi smiled, her eyes curved, and pointed at the Plum Blossom brand women’s watch on her wrist.
“I already have a watch. Buying another would be wasteful. Let’s just buy one new outfit each. A wedding should feel fresh and new.”
“Alright. We’ll do everything your way.”
The next day, the two of them took the bus into town.
This time they didn’t go to the supply and marketing cooperative, but to the county’s only department store.
The name sounded grand, but in reality it was just a two-story building.
The first floor mainly sold candy, pastries, daily necessities, and watches and appliances.
The second floor had textiles, clothing, and shoes.
Ning Xi looked around curiously.
Every time she glanced at something, Jiang Chengbei asked if she wanted to buy it his hand already poised to pull out money, ready to pay the moment she nodded.
But Ning Xi was just looking.
When the original owner went to the countryside, her parents had given her 500 yuan. In later times, 500 yuan might only buy a meal, but in the 1970s it was a huge sum. Even with money, she couldn’t afford to be wasteful.
If she couldn’t find a job for a long time, having savings would give her peace of mind.
“Let’s go upstairs and take a look.”
On the second floor, Ning Xi went to the clothing counter and chose a fitted, waist-cinching army-green Lenin-style outfit. The style was simple, in line with the times, and the color matched Jiang Chengbei’s military uniform perfectly.
Jiang Chengbei also picked out a pair of low-heeled leather shoes for her.
At Ning Xi’s insistence, he tried on a pair of black leather shoes himself. There was no need to buy clothes he could wear his uniform for the wedding.
They bought one set of clothes and two pairs of leather shoes in one go, spending a total of fifty-three yuan.
In one stroke, they’d spent nearly two months’ wages for an ordinary worker.
Seeing their momentum, the sales clerk guessed they were getting married and became even more enthusiastic. She mysteriously took out a white, wide-strap undershirt from behind the counter, with a row of buttons sewn along the side to adjust the tightness.
To Ning Xi, it was just a camisole something students would wear.
But from the clerk’s mouth, it became the most fashionable, most popular undergarment.
“Miss, buy one. It’s comfortable to wear. With such a good figure, if you don’t support it, won’t it be uncomfortable with it bouncing around?”
Not supported…
Ning Xi felt awkward and subconsciously glanced at her chest.
She was actually wearing underwear it was just that her development was exceptionally good. Thin fabric lacked support and coverage, making things look rather… abundant.
She planned to buy fabric and make one herself.
So she smiled and declined the clerk’s pitch.
Unexpectedly, the clerk was persistent and turned her gaze toward Jiang Chengbei.
“Comrade, buy one for your wife.”