An Accidental Military Marriage

After realizing the "unidentified species" in the car was Qiao Wenjing, Jiang Moli snapped out of her shock and waved Lu Cheng over from the other side.

"Get over here."

Lu Cheng walked around the front of the vehicle to stand before her.

Jiang Moli kicked him in the shin, pointed at Qiao Wenjing in the car, and yelled, "You even dared to pick up someone who gets carsick? What if she drops dead in the car halfway through the trip? Are you going to bury her?"

Qiao Wenjing’s face darkened with rage. "Jiang Moli, what’s wrong with you? Even if you’re a commander’s family member, cursing at a soldier is a punishable offense!"

Jiang Moli pointed at her. "Stop your squawking and trying to scare me. If you’ve got the guts, get out of the car and say that to my face! Hiding in there like a turtle in its shell. If you’re so tough, then stay in there forever!"

Qiao Wenjing was so mad she could spit. She got out of the car and stomped over to Jiang Moli. "Who’s a turtle in its shell? You wouldn’t dare touch me, would you?"

If Jiang Moli actually dared to strike her, it would be considered obstructing a public official and would be punishable!

Jiang Moli suddenly raised her left hand.

Qiao Wenjing instinctively flinched, turning her head to dodge.

Jiang Moli seized the opportunity to slip into the passenger seat and slam the door shut.

By the time Qiao Wenjing realized what had happened, all she could do was glare helplessly at Jiang Moli in the passenger seat.

"Doctor Qiao, the Jiefang truck behind us has a passenger seat too. Or you could just ride on the roof. You’ll get 360 degrees of ventilation. I guarantee you won’t get carsick."

Qiao Wenjing looked pleadingly at Lu Cheng, hoping he would help her.

Lu Cheng went straight back to the driver’s seat and prepared to drive off.

Seeing this, she hastily pulled open the back door and got in.

...

On the road, Qiao Wenjing deliberately talked to Lu Cheng about missions and military matters, as if intentionally trying to isolate Jiang Moli.

However, it was mostly a one-sided conversation. Lu Cheng would only respond with a one- or two-syllable grunt now and then.

Jiang Moli sat quietly in her seat, not interrupting.

She had spent all day yesterday picking mushrooms, and then they’d had two rounds last night. Her back was sore and her legs felt like jelly; all she wanted was to get some sleep.

If Qiao Wenjing was willing to be a free chatterbox, it saved her the trouble. She wouldn’t have to worry about her man getting sleepy on the overnight drive.

...

By the time Jiang Moli woke up, the sky was already bright.

A semicircle of a golden-red sun, like a shy maiden half-hidden among the clouds, created a hazy, beautiful scene that resembled an oil painting.

Seeing her sleepy-eyed, looking adorable and dazed, Lu Cheng couldn’t help but whisper, "Have some water to wake up. We’re almost there."

"Mm."

Noticing his voice was a little hoarse, Jiang Moli finished her drink and handed him the water canteen.

"You have some too."

"Okay."

Lu Cheng took the canteen with one hand, his eyes still on the road. He tilted his head back and took several large gulps before handing it back to her.

As Jiang Moli took the canteen, she noticed the fiery glare from Qiao Wenjing in the back seat and couldn’t help but laugh.

"What are you laughing at?"

"You just look so amusing. Like a walking joke."

Qiao Wenjing sputtered, "Jiang Moli, I haven’t done anything to you! Can’t you have a little class?"

"Sorry, I was in a rush this morning and left my class at home. You’ll just have to deal with it."

With that, she suddenly turned around and looked Qiao Wenjing up and down at her leisure. "Say, Doctor Qiao, how old are you?"

"Is that any of your business?"

"Let’s just chat. It’s not like we have anything better to do. You’re twenty-eight, right?"

Qiao Wenjing almost choked on her own fury.

’Am I that old?!’

"I’m only twenty-three!"

"Twenty-three isn’t that young. Do you have a boyfriend?"

Before Qiao Wenjing could answer, Jiang Moli answered for her. "I’m guessing you don’t. Still single at your age... you must have saved up a lot of money, huh?"

"What’s it to you?!"

"You’ve got a temper like a powder keg. You should work on that, or you’ll have a hard time getting married."

Qiao Wenjing was about to lose her mind. "Jiang Moli, can you please shut up? I don’t want to talk to you."

Jiang Moli blinked. "Well, I saw you chattering away with my Lu all trip long, so I figured you liked to talk. Just wanted to keep you company."

"I was discussing official matters with Camp Commander Lu! Stop trying to stir up trouble!"

"You’re right about one thing. I have no class, and I’m completely unreasonable."

Seeing Qiao Wenjing turn her head away, her face a mask of anger and refusal, Jiang Moli gloated inwardly.

’Heh, you little thing. Let’s see if I can’t rile you up some more.’

Besides being annoyed at Qiao Wenjing for sticking to her man like glue, she also wanted to use her to draw more hatred and earn Disdain Points.

What Jiang Moli didn’t know was that Qiao Wenjing had long been in cahoots with Jiang Qing, and had already helped her earn plenty of Disdain Points.

Qiao Wenjing was indeed furious.

In all her life, she had never met anyone more obnoxious than Jiang Moli.

’She just couldn’t understand it.’

’How could Lu Cheng possibly fall for a woman like Jiang Moli—a classless, uncultured, bossy, and unreasonable woman?’

Little did Qiao Wenjing know, Lu Cheng saw his wife through a filter thicker than a fortress wall.

She saw Jiang Moli as a sharp-tongued, caustic troublemaker.

But Lu Cheng just saw it as Jiang Moli loving him and caring about him, which was why she got jealous when he spoke with Qiao Wenjing.

’He decided he wouldn’t speak to Qiao Wenjing anymore.’

’He didn’t want to make his wife unhappy.’

...

「Upon entering the city, they first went to the trade market.」

Besides selling agricultural products like grains, oil, vegetables, meat, and eggs, the market also had a special area for trading mushrooms.

However, vehicles couldn’t enter the market, so they had to park outside.

The military unit was a regular seller at the market.

As soon as the Jiefang truck came to a stop, a few vendors crowded around.

Seeing the soldiers flustered, Lu Cheng got out to help. Worried that the two women would start fighting, he brought Jiang Moli along with him, leaving Qiao Wenjing alone in the car.

Jiang Moli sat on the curb, her chin in her hands, watching Lu Cheng haggle with the vendors.

Within two minutes, they had agreed on a price.

The vendor happily bought two baskets of matsutake mushrooms and bamboo fungus.

’She really hadn’t expected that a career soldier like Lu Cheng, who spent all his time at the base, would be so adept at handling shrewd and cunning merchants.’

’The more she got to know this man, the more she discovered that his inner qualities far outshone his handsome exterior.’

After selling another two baskets of mushrooms, Lu Cheng instinctively glanced over at Jiang Moli.

Seeing her sitting there so quietly and obediently by the roadside, just like a little girl, a gentle look appeared in his eyes.

The sweet aroma of cooked rice drifted over from somewhere.

Her stomach rumbling, Jiang Moli subconsciously looked around and saw a state-owned restaurant not far ahead, with a small window on the side selling breakfast.

She got up and walked over.

The window was selling pineapple rice and bamboo-tube rice. There was quite a crowd of customers circled around it.

Jiang Moli squeezed her way in. "Ma’am, how much for the pineapple rice?"

"You need ration tickets. Three liang worth for one serving."

Jiang Moli replied, "It’s my first time here, so I don’t know if your food is any good. Can I have a free taste?"

"No!"

The woman selling the food refused flatly, clearly thinking Jiang Moli was just trying to get a free meal.

Jiang Moli chuckled. "Ma’am, do you know who I am?"

"I don’t."

"If you don’t know me, then why should I listen to you? I’m going to have a taste!"

The woman’s eyes widened, and she rolled up her sleeves. "What, are you trying to dine and dash?"

The other customers all turned to glare at Jiang Moli with anger and disdain.

The woman said no, but she was still insisting. What a shameless rogue!

『Disdain Value +5. 50,000 Yuan credited.』

Lu Cheng hurriedly pushed through the crowd and pulled Jiang Moli behind him. "Sorry, Ma’am. She’s just come from the countryside and doesn’t know any better."

Jiang Moli played along, muttering, "You city folk are so stingy. You won’t even let someone have a taste. Back in the countryside, I can just walk into any house and eat."

All the city dwellers present felt offended.

’So we’re stingy just because we won’t give you free food?’

’What kind of person is she?!’

『Disdain Value +7. 70,000 Yuan credited.』

Lu Cheng clamped a hand directly over her mouth. "Be good now. Stop making trouble."

Watching Lu Cheng placate Jiang Moli like a father would his daughter, the food vendor spoke up. "Hey, buddy, you better keep a close eye on your daughter when you’re out. She’s so simple-minded, someone might just lead her away."