An Accidental Military Marriage

Back at the Lu residence, Jiang Moli gave the old couple and Ma Hongmei a detailed, unabridged account of the brawl between the Zhang and Guo families.

After listening, the way Lu Deyao looked at Jiang Moli grew much kinder.

’My daughter-in-law is pretty good, actually. My judgment hasn’t failed me.’

"Dad, Mom, Xiao Peng is reporting to the army in two days. My dad is worried, so he asked me to go with him."

The three of them looked at each other.

"Xiao Jiang, you’re going to see our third son?"

"Yeah."

"Great!"

Lu Deyao slapped his thigh in delight and quickly asked Jiang Moli when she was leaving. He wanted to call Lu Cheng and have him arrange a proper reception.

Jiang Moli said, "He knows. Xiao Peng told him about it half a month ago."

Hearing this, Lu Deyao thought, ’That little rascal is getting better and better at keeping his cool. We’ve talked on the phone a few times since then, and he didn’t breathe a word about it.’

Even though she wasn’t leaving for two days, the family was already eagerly helping Jiang Moli pack her bags.

An Hui packed her clothes—innerwear, outerwear, tops, bottoms, thin and thick alike—filling two entire duffel bags.

Ma Hongmei was busy preparing food and drinks for the journey.

Lu Deyao walked around with his hands behind his back, pretending to direct everyone, but he was actually just getting in the way.

Jiang Moli sat on the sofa, munching on an organic tomato and watching the family bustle about.

「Two days later, at the train station.」

Jiang Moli patted Jiang Dahai’s shoulder. "Dad, I’ll be gone for a while. Take care of yourself. If anyone gives you trouble, just tell them my name."

Jiang Dahai: "..."

’You said my lines. What am I supposed to say now?’

Seeing his in-law looking so defeated, Lu Deyao felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

’So my daughter-in-law doesn’t just annoy me and my wife. She treats her own father the same way, sparing no one.’

Just as he was thinking this, Jiang Moli turned to him. "Dad, don’t worry. When you’re away from home, your reputation is what you make it. If anyone dares to bully me, I’ll drop your esteemed name."

Lu Deyao: "..."

’Great. At least she knows how to use my name to her advantage.’

Nearby, Lu Tingting was crying and making a last-ditch effort. "Grandma, I don’t want to go! Can I please not go?"

The Lu family didn’t feel comfortable with Lu Tingting traveling so far alone, so they had arranged for her to travel with new recruits who were also reporting to the army base.

They hadn’t expected Jiang Moli to be visiting the base as well, so it worked out perfectly for the aunt and niece to travel together.

An Hui looked at her with pity and tried to console her. "Stop crying. Just be good when you get there, be a good teacher, and you’ll be back by the end of the year."

She glanced over at Jiang Moli, who was joking around with Lu Deyao, and then added to Lu Tingting, "When you get there, stick close to your Third Aunt."

"I will not!" Lu Tingting refused without a second thought.

She already hated Jiang Moli, especially since it was Jiang Moli who had instigated her being sent to Menghai as a volunteer teacher.

She hated Jiang Moli so much it made her teeth ache. She would rather die than have to trail behind Jiang Moli!

"Behave. Your Third Aunt is quicker-witted than you, she’s more thick-skinned, and she has a sharp tongue. With her around, no one will be able to bully you."

Jiang Moli, who was standing nearby, heard her mother-in-law mention her and turned with a grin. "Don’t worry, Mom. I’m the only one allowed to bully my niece. If anyone else wants to try, they’ll have to get through me first."

Hearing this, Lu Tingting burst into tears of anger. "Grandma, look at her!"

"Are you weaned yet? Tattling to the grown-ups over a little argument. Did you remember to bring your baby bottle?"

"It’s none of your business!"

"But who made me so fond of you? I just love meddling in your business. I don’t bother with anyone else."

Watching the two of them bicker, Fan Wenfang and An Hui didn’t find it as annoying as they used to.

As long as their daughter/granddaughter was safe on this trip, a little bickering was actually a good thing.

WHOOOO—

After a long whistle, the train slowly began to move forward.

The people on the platform waved frantically at the carriages, while the passengers inside shed tears.

The sorrow of parting became palpable in that moment.

Jiang Moli hadn’t been feeling much of anything.

Until she glanced back and saw Jiang Dahai running after their carriage, and her eyes instantly welled up.

Jiang Peng was crying like a big idiot, leaning his head out the window and waving desperately at Jiang Dahai. "Dad, I’m leaving! Take care of yourself!"

...

CLACK-CLACK, CLACK-CLACK.

The train, like a giant steel insect, moved along the tracks at a steady speed.

The windows on both sides of the carriage were open, letting in a breeze. It wasn’t as stuffy as one might expect, just a bit noisy.

There was the sound of people chatting and bragging, children crying, and others snoring.

It was all within the range of Jiang Moli’s tolerance. Plus, she was on the bottom bunk by the window, so she could enjoy the passing scenery, which was a novel experience.

Lu Tingting was on the middle bunk above her.

After boarding and stowing her luggage, the young lady had climbed onto her bunk to play dead.

Jiang Peng was on the bottom bunk across from Jiang Moli.

His ticket, purchased by the army, was for a hard seat. Jiang Moli paid extra to upgrade him to a sleeper bunk, and then traded a pack of cigarettes to get the bunk across from hers.

Jiang Peng had a bit of a social butterfly complex.

He’d only been in his new spot for half an hour, but he’d already gotten the gist of everyone around them.

The top bunk above Jiang Moli and the middle bunk above Jiang Peng were occupied by two employees from the provincial steel factory, on a business trip to Kun City.

The top bunk above Jiang Peng was occupied by a young man in his twenties, who was the son of the auntie on the bottom bunk in the next section.

The mother and son were heading to Yicheng to visit relatives.

A short while later, the auntie from the neighboring bottom bunk came over to bring her son some water and struck up a casual conversation with the siblings.

The auntie’s surname was Shi, and she had three sons.

The eldest and second oldest had both been sent down to the countryside, where they had each started their own families.

Her second son had written a few days ago to say she had a new grandson, so she was excitedly taking her third son to the baby’s one-month celebration, and also to see her grandchildren.

Just as the conversation was getting lively, Lu Tingting, who had been playing dead, climbed down from her bunk to put on her shoes.

Jiang Moli eyed her. "Where are you going?"

"To the restroom!"

"Perfect, I have to go too. Let’s go together."

Having seen the endless variety of abduction tactics from a future era, Jiang Moli’s sense of caution was extremely high. She wouldn’t let herself or Lu Tingting be alone and give predators an opportunity.

Lu Tingting shot her a glare but didn’t say anything.

When the two returned from the restroom, Jiang Moli clearly noticed that the way Aunt Shi was looking at Lu Tingting had become much more fervent.

"Miss Lu, I heard from your uncle, Jiang Peng, that you’re a university student? No wonder you have such a refined temperament, a cut above the average person. I could tell you were an intellectual at a glance."

Aunt Shi’s flattery was clearly very effective on Lu Tingting.

She no longer went back to her bunk to play dead, instead sitting on the bottom bunk and chatting with Aunt Shi.

An innocent girl like Lu Tingting was no match for a shrewd operator like Aunt Shi.

If Jiang Moli hadn’t been interjecting with jokes and nonsense, Tingting probably would have revealed her entire family history, eight generations back.

Even so, Aunt Shi was incredibly pleased with Lu Tingting.

She called her son down from the top bunk to join their chat.

Aunt Shi was obviously taken with Lu Tingting and wanted to play matchmaker for her son.

The Jiang siblings, as well as the two factory workers, all saw what was happening.

Only Lu Tingting herself couldn’t see it, and she continued chatting enthusiastically with the mother and son like a fool.

"My Mingguo is also a fine, handsome man..."

Jiang Moli: "His limbs seem intact. Is he even 1.7 meters tall?"

Aunt Shi was clearly displeased but managed to hold back from showing it. "My Mingguo has a good personality. He’s an honest man..."

Jiang Moli: "Honest men are usually introverted and mild-tempered. Anyone can walk all over them. If you marry a man like that, you’ll spend your whole life feeling frustrated and wronged."

Aunt Shi couldn’t manage a smile anymore. "My Mingguo has a proper job! He’s a watchmaker at the watch factory, and he makes over 40 yuan a month!"