In today’s era, prices were nothing like those of later generations. Rice cost only 0.15 yuan per jin, cabbage just 0.02 yuan per jin. In the village, almost every household raised pigs and chickens and grew vegetables in their own yards, so daily living expenses were actually quite low.
What was expensive were industrial goods—sewing machines, bicycles, wristwatches. Leather shoes and wool coats were considered luxury items. A pair of leather boots could cost 50 yuan, and if a family owned a pair of real leather shoes, they could last for several generations.
“Where did you get so much money?” Lin Su didn’t want to doubt him, but even Old Madam Sun had spent her entire life saving and pinching pennies and only managed to save 600 yuan. Qin Zhoucheng was only 24 years old.
He had no parents, no family support—so where did all this money come from?
“After I started working, I received annual allowances. I’m considered a researcher, and I get specialist-level benefits,” he said calmly.
His allowances were indeed high. He held a military rank and was also a deputy professor in electronic engineering at a military academy. These details, tied to his real identity, were not something he needed to explain to her in full.
He had lived in a military compound since childhood, rarely spent money, and also had inheritance left by his adoptive family. His situation was complicated, but financially well-off.
To him, the amount he had taken out wasn’t much at all.
Lin Su’s eyes were already large, and when she was surprised, they widened even more—round and dark, lashes long and trembling slightly. It made Qin Zhoucheng’s palm itch, as if he wanted to reach out and touch the roots of her eyelashes.
He restrained himself.
“That’s… still too much,” Lin Su said, starting to wonder if she had married some hidden wealthy heir.
Could he really be the “big villain Qin Zhoucheng” from the original story?
He wore a dark military-style civilian uniform and simple liberation shoes. Even though he was strikingly handsome, his entire demeanor was upright and restrained.
He didn’t seem like that at all.
“I can’t take it. It’s too much,” she insisted.
“A normal city family’s bride price only needs four to five hundred yuan to cover everything. Why are you giving me so much?”
“This is basically all my savings from the past few years,” he said seriously. “If you don’t accept it but still insist on registering the marriage, that would be a bit like coercion.”
“…”
Lin Su was helpless. She was afraid he was too rigid and might actually go give the money to the Lin family instead, which would turn everything upside down. But holding it in her hands, it felt like a hot potato.
She took a deep breath. “Then I’ll hold onto it for now. If there ever comes a day, I’ll return it to you.”
She absolutely had no intention of touching a single cent of it.
Qin Zhoucheng nodded, quietly relieved. In any case, it was meant to be compensation for her. When he left later, she wouldn’t even be able to find him to return it.
A knock came from outside again.
Lin Su frowned. “Don’t tell me it’s more people bringing gifts…”
She opened the door—and saw the young girl who had followed Feng Xiuhua earlier: Lin Fen, her fourth younger sister.
She was alone this time, looking uneasy, twisting her fingers together and not daring to step inside.
“Fourth sister? What’s wrong?”
They were called sisters, but Lin Su had been sent away when this girl was only nine. They hadn’t seen each other in seven years. And Lin Su, not being the original owner, didn’t quite know what to say.
“You can come in and talk,” she offered.
Lin Fen shook her head quickly. “Third sister, I just came to tell you something.”
“Our mother already knows that brother-in-law has become the recruitment director for the relocation project. She’s making a scene at home and is planning to bring father and brother here tomorrow. She wants an explanation from you.”
She stole a glance at Qin Zhoucheng and lowered her voice even more.
“Mom… she won’t let this go easily. If she makes a scene at your husband’s workplace, it might become very difficult to handle. You should prepare yourself.”
After saying that, she quickly pulled out three yuan from her pocket.
“Third sister, this is my savings. Take it. Since you’ve divorced, no one in the family can help you. Mom only cares about arranging a marriage for my brother… she never thought about you at all. I’m leaving.”
She didn’t wait for a response and hurried away.
The three yuan in Lin Su’s hand consisted of small change—coins and small bills, clearly saved over a long time. Yet it felt strangely heavy in her palm.
“She does care about you,” Qin Zhoucheng said.
Lin Su rubbed the money between her fingers, worried. “She didn’t say much… how did she even manage to save this? I heard she’s studying at a normal school and gets eight yuan a month, but most of it must have been taken by the family.”
“If you’re worried, go see her,” he said.
“She’s in Haicheng for school. I’ll go visit her privately after she returns. I don’t want to get involved with that family.”
“If they really come to make trouble, ignore them. I don’t believe they can actually cause anything at your workplace. Tomorrow I’ll return all the gifts from Aunt Liu. You didn’t take bribes or anything—you have nothing to fear.”
Lin Su had already decided: if the Lin family truly caused serious trouble and got Qin Zhoucheng punished, she would divorce him immediately. She wouldn’t drag him down. She had already been divorced once—she wasn’t afraid of losing face.
“Don’t worry. It’ll be fine,” Qin Zhoucheng said, brushing her hair lightly.
The motion was so natural that Lin Su froze, startled. But he had already withdrawn his hand, as if nothing had happened.
Nothing seemed out of place to him at all.
Lin Su’s worries, however, didn’t come true.
Instead, people from the village came constantly—some asking questions, some bringing gifts. Lin Su refused all of them. She focused entirely on work, only tending to pigs and chickens, while even cooking gradually fell to Qin Zhoucheng.
He left early and returned late, busy all day. Lin Su assumed it was all related to the relocation project of the steel factory, not knowing he actually had other missions.
The dress for Miss Zhou had already been completed, and she paid the final balance very satisfied. Wearing it, she looked flattering without being overly revealing. The same floral dress, but hers looked far more fashionable than anything others had.
Lin Su’s craftsmanship, based on modern cutting techniques and design sense, stood out completely in this era.
Miss Zhou wore it to the supply cooperative and immediately attracted admiration and envy. She even ended up successfully matched with a young teacher from a well-educated family.
Thanks to her publicity, people in the cooperative soon learned that there was a tailor named Lin Su in Yujia Village whose skills were excellent. More orders started coming in, though they had to wait behind Wu Jianguo and his fiancée’s work.
His fiancée was very picky. The wool coat design was revised several times, and she ordered multiple outfits: wedding dress, sweaters, floral dresses, blouses, skirts—even Wu Jianguo’s suit was made by Lin Su.
Lin Su took it seriously. These were large orders. She even knitted sweaters by hand and often stayed up late to meet deadlines, sometimes skipping meals.
Finally, after a month of intense work, she finished everything and went to the county to deliver the goods.
This time, the moment she appeared, everyone was shocked.