An Accidental Military Marriage

The weather was nice today.

Jiang Moli borrowed a needle and thread from Tang Xiaoyue, strung up the mushrooms, and hung them under the eaves on one side of the balcony.

By the time her family visit was over and she headed back, the mushrooms would probably be dry.

"Xiao Yueyue, is there anything fun to do around here?"

Being called "Xiao Yueyue" by Jiang Moli made Tang Xiaoyue’s cheeks burn. "If you want to have fun, you’ll have to go to town, but don’t go by yourself."

The security near the border was poor, and there were a lot of bad people around. A young, beautiful woman like Jiang Moli could easily become a target.

Jiang Moli rested her chin in her hands. "Then you can come with me. I’ll treat you to something good to eat."

Tang Xiaoyue blushed and shook her head. "We can’t go out without permission; we need approval from the leadership. Besides, the ox cart has already left for the day."

The ox cart to town only made one trip a day. If you missed it, you had to walk or wait until the next day.

After chatting idly with Tang Xiaoyue for a bit and confirming the safe areas nearby, Jiang Moli put on her straw hat and went out.

The troops and their families were largely self-sufficient when it came to food.

Spreading out in all directions from the center of the camp were all sorts of farmland.

Most of the farmland belonged to the military. In addition to training and missions, the soldiers had to work the fields every day.

Besides the crop fields, the military also had a pig farm and vegetable gardens.

For the accompanying families, the military not only provided housing but also allocated a certain amount of land to those willing to engage in agricultural work. They also encouraged families to clear their own land.

The military didn’t collect taxes on self-reclaimed land and would even provide rewards in the form of seeds and fertilizer.

In the distance, a few women were gathering peanuts in a field.

Peanut plants have dense root systems, so some were always missed during the harvest.

In the harvested fields, families were allowed to go in and glean what was left. Whatever they found, they could keep.

Someone saw Jiang Moli walking toward them. "Hey, isn’t that the new wife of Camp Commander Lu from the Second Regiment?"

The women gathering peanuts all looked up.

"It really is her."

Jiang Moli also smiled and greeted them. "What’s everyone busy with?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just picking up a few scraps."

A woman replied, her eyes sizing Jiang Moli up and down.

’She really is pretty. Her eyes are well-defined, and her nose is shapely.’

’No wonder Camp Commander Lu dotes on her like a precious jewel, bringing her food and drinks every day.’

Jiang Moli stepped down into the field and walked up to the woman who had answered her. "Gathering peanuts, are we? Not bad, you’ve got almost half a basket. Can I have some?"

Without waiting for an answer, her "paws" had already reached into the basket and grabbed a handful.

"Thanks."

"..."

’Did I say you could have any? And you just took them!’

She glared daggers at Jiang Moli’s back, but in the end, she didn’t say anything to get the peanuts back.

She couldn’t have people spreading rumors and calling her stingy.

『Disdain +1. Account credited: 10,000 yuan.』

Jiang Moli found a shady spot, quickly finished the peanuts in her hand, and then went back down into the field.

"Come on, come on, let me see who’s gathered the most peanuts. Whoever has the most, I’ll eat theirs."

The group of women: "..."

One woman subconsciously covered her basket with her sweat towel, but Jiang Moli’s sharp eyes caught it. "Aha! You must have the most. You’re even hiding them. Are you afraid I’ll see?"

The woman said awkwardly, "The peanuts in this field are free for the taking. If you like them, you can just grab a basket and gather some yourself."

"I may be a glutton, but I’m also lazy. Squatting in the fields under this scorching sun to gather peanuts? That’s so exhausting."

’So you *do* know it’s tiring to gather peanuts, but you sure don’t hold back when it comes to getting a free meal.’

『Disdain +2. Account credited: 20,000 yuan.』

Someone couldn’t help but retort, "You really are just like your stepsister said—young, greedy, and lazy!"

Instead of feeling ashamed, Jiang Moli took it as a compliment. "She’s not wrong. I’ve been lazy since I was a child; I never did any chores at home. She’s completely different from me. She’s been hardworking since she was little, so I let her do all the housework. If you ever have chores you can’t finish, you should ask her for help. She’s kind, enthusiastic, loves to work, and enjoys working."

’To be so brazen about being greedy and lazy... she’s so thick-skinned!’

『Disdain +3. Account credited: 30,000 yuan.』

Having earned enough disdain, Jiang Moli dusted off her pants and left.

Before she went, she didn’t forget to snatch another handful of peanuts.

The woman whose peanuts she had snatched stared at her retreating back, her lips moving silently, clearly cursing up a storm.

...

As the sun rose higher, the temperature gradually climbed. Jiang Moli decided to head back to the guest house to rest.

As she passed through the family residential area, she ran into Jiang Wenjuan, who was chatting with someone.

"Xiao Jiang, where have you been wandering?"

"Just taking a walk. Sister Wenjuan, want some peanuts? A few of the ladies over there gave them to me."

"No, thank you."

Jiang Wenjuan didn’t take her peanuts, but she smiled happily.

Since she’d run into someone she knew, Jiang Moli was in no hurry to go back. "What are you talking about? You seem to be having a good time."

Jiang Wenjuan was all smiles. "We’re talking about the kids’ schooling. They used to have to go to school in town, which was too far. Now that we’ve started our own school, it’s much more convenient for them."

"What’s the use of all that schooling for a bunch of girls?"

The one who complained was an old lady in her sixties.

Jiang Wenjuan tried to reason with her. "Granny Guo, whether they’re girls or boys, aren’t they all your dear grandchildren? If they get an education and have a good future, you’ll have reason to be proud, too."

Jiang Moli glanced at the little granddaughters clustered around Mrs. Guo Sr. like a troop of little ducklings and chuckled. "Granny, if you want a grandson, it’s not that hard."

Jiang Wenjuan and Mrs. Guo Sr. both looked at her.

Mrs. Guo Sr.’s eyes were particularly intense. "What is it, dear? Do you have a miracle remedy for bearing sons?"

’A miracle remedy for bearing sons?’

A few other family members passing by also swarmed over.

Jiang Moli pointed at the papaya in Mrs. Guo Sr.’s basket. "Give me a papaya to eat, and I’ll tell you."

Perhaps because she wanted a grandson so desperately, Mrs. Guo Sr. didn’t hesitate to pick out the biggest one and give it to her.

Jiang Moli tossed the papaya in her hand and said, "Just find a family that has a lot of grandsons and ask them for one. Simple as that."

Mrs. Guo Sr.’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. "What would I do with someone else’s grandson?"

"Didn’t you say you wanted a grandson? Someone else’s grandson is still a grandson, isn’t it?"

"You... you swindler! Give me back my papaya!"

"How did I swindle you? Didn’t I tell you how to get a grandson?"

"What kind of bullshit method is that? Are you just messing with me?"

The family members who had gathered to watch also looked at Jiang Moli with contempt and disdain.

’Seriously, what a waste of our time!’

『Disdain +5. Account credited: 50,000 yuan.』

Hearing that the disdain points had been credited, Jiang Moli returned the papaya.

She didn’t like papaya at all; she always thought it had a strange, stinky smell.

Once she had her papaya back, Mrs. Guo Sr. left with her granddaughters, muttering curses under her breath.

Jiang Wenjuan looked at Jiang Moli, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Xiao Jiang, you’re really something else. You can talk such nonsense."

"She was born from a woman, and she is a woman herself, yet she looks down on girls. What a piece of work!"

Hearing her say that, Jiang Wenjuan and the other family members let go of their disdain and dissatisfaction.

Life was already hard for women in this world. Looking down on girls was no different from looking down on themselves, was it?

At noon, Lu Cheng came back after getting their meal and saw the peanuts on the table. He casually shelled one and ate it.

"Where did these peanuts come from?"

Jiang Moli rested her chin in her hand and looked at him. "Are they good?"

"They’re good."

"Then you should eat them all."

Lu Cheng’s eyes gleamed. "Did you save them specially for me?"

"If there’s food, just eat it. Why ask so many questions?"

’She definitely saved them for me. My wife is just too shy to say it.’

’I get it.’

Lu Cheng happily watched her as he shelled and ate the peanuts. "Are you free tonight?"

Jiang Moli tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "For that kind of thing, we don’t necessarily have to wait until tonight."

Lu Cheng froze mid-chew.