An Accidental Military Marriage

Jiang Moli gazed out the car window at the familiar streets, sighing to herself. ’It’s good to be home.’

She couldn’t help but think about how it had only been about three months since she’d transmigrated. Besides the month she’d spent living on the army base, she’d only been in Rongcheng for two months.

Yet now, looking at this city, she felt a surprising sense of coming home.

For a brief moment, a thought flashed through her mind: ’You know, spending the rest of my life here wouldn’t be so bad.’

When she arrived back at the Lu family home, Ma Hongmei was already waiting at the front gate.

Seeing her get out of the car, she beamed, her eyes crinkling shut. "Xiao Jiang, you’re back! You’re finally back! How did you get so thin?"

Ignoring whether it was true or not, what woman doesn’t like being told she’s gotten thin?

"Auntie, I’ve missed you so much these past few days."

Ma Hongmei was delighted by her sweet talk. "You must be exhausted after a whole day on the train. Go on inside and rest. I’ll get your luggage."

Lu Deyao waved his hand. "No need. Xiao Jiang left her things at the base. She’ll have to go back there eventually anyway."

Ma Hongmei nodded quickly. "That’s right. But you don’t have many clothes here at home. Xiao Jiang, when you have a free moment, go back to your parents’ house and pack some more clothes to bring over. The weather is turning cooler, so bring your thicker clothes over, too. We can air them out while the weather’s still nice."

"Okay!"

Lu Deyao said, "What’s the big deal? We’ll just go to the department store tomorrow and buy her a few new outfits."

"That’s true."

While Lu Deyao and Ma Hongmei were chatting animatedly, a few women watched the commotion from a short distance away.

"Is that troublemaker from the Lu family back from her visit to the base?"

"Looks like there goes the peace and quiet in the compound."

Two of the women were relatives visiting from out of town. Hearing everyone’s disdain for Jiang Moli, they couldn’t help but ask about her.

The women took turns, one after another, criticizing Jiang Moli from head to toe for a good half an hour.

[Disdain Value +2. 20,000 yuan credited to account.]

Back in the house, the first thing Jiang Moli did was call the base to report her safe arrival. Then, she took the dried mushrooms out of her bag.

They were the wild mushrooms she had picked in the mountains earlier.

Of course, she still had no idea that Lu Cheng had already swapped them out.

What had been over two pounds of fresh mushrooms now weighed only a few ounces after being dried.

Although there wasn’t much, both Lu Deyao and An Hui were delighted.

Their daughter-in-law had personally gone into the mountains to pick the mushrooms, dried them herself, and carried them all the way back. That sentiment was far more precious and rare than the mushrooms themselves.

Ma Hongmei soaked the dried mushrooms in hot water, planning to cook them with pork belly for dinner that evening.

By the time Jiang Moli emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered, lunch was already set on the dining table.

There was a dish of stir-fried cucumber, another of green peppers stir-fried with pork, and the staple was rice cooked with long beans.

Lu Deyao said to her with a smile, "We’ll just have a simple lunch. Your mother has invited your sisters-in-law and their families over for dinner tonight. Your aunt is going to cook a table of fine food, partly as a belated Mid-Autumn Festival celebration, and partly to welcome you and Tingting home."

Jiang Moli didn’t comment, focusing only on her food.

The meal Lu Deyao called "simple" was a delicacy the soldiers stationed in Menghai couldn’t even hope to eat for the New Year.

At the same time, Lu Tingting’s family was also having lunch.

Fan Wenfang had cooked a large pot of pig’s trotters, which were plump and glossy with fat, their meaty aroma filling the air.

Lu Tingting was gnawing on them with great relish. In no time at all, she had eaten half the pot, and the pile of bones in front of her had grown into a small mountain, leaving her family staring dumbfounded.

Although the pig’s trotters had indeed been cooked for Lu Tingting, and she did love them, eating half the pot in one go was still a terrifying sight.

Fan Wenfang said with concern, "Tingting, eat some rice. Don’t just eat meat, you’ll get indigestion later."

Lu Haoyu complained in disgust, "Sis, can you be a little more civilized? You look like you were a starving ghost in your last life."

Lu Tingting slammed a clean-gnawed bone onto the table. "CLACK." "Lu Haoyu, don’t make me slap you while I’m eating."

Lu Haoyu wasn’t scared at all. His sister was all talk.

"You’re eating more than the rest of the family put together. If you’re such a glutton, be careful that no family will want you as a wife."

Lu Tingting didn’t waste any words. She walked over and, quick as lightning, slapped Lu Haoyu across the face.

The entire family was stunned.

Lu Tingting had a bad temper and wasn’t gentle with her younger siblings, but she had never been vicious enough to actually hit them.

"You talk too much during a meal. If you don’t want to eat, then get away from the table. Keep whining, and I’ll beat you senseless!"

After her tirade, Lu Tingting returned to her seat, picked up her chopsticks, and continued eating.

Only then did Lu Haoyu react. He clutched his face and complained indignantly to Fan Wenfang, "Mom, Sis hit me!"

Lu Tingting shot back coldly, "That’s because you deserved it. Why didn’t I hit Nana?"

Lu Nana silently placed a piece of pig’s trotter in Lu Tingting’s bowl, her intention to curry favor obvious.

’If she already hit my brother, she can’t hit me too, right?’

Lu Haoyu was furious. "Mom, are you going to do something about her or not?"

Fan Wenfang snapped, "Who told you to provoke her? She’s your older sister. You have no respect."

Lu Haoyu angrily threw down his chopsticks. "I’m not eating anymore!"

Lu Tingting said, "Then get lost. No one’s begging you to eat."

And so, Lu Haoyu angrily got lost.

Although Fan Wenfang was shocked by her daughter’s transformation, she also clearly sensed that her daughter’s temper was different from its former spoiled arrogance. It had been replaced by the steady demeanor of a true older sister.

After eating her fill, Jiang Moli returned to her room to take an afternoon nap.

The room hadn’t been occupied for over a month, yet there wasn’t the slightest musty smell.

The blue floral-print curtains fluttered in the breeze, the duvet cover and sheets smelled of sun-dried soap, and the floors and desk were spotless.

’It’s a real blessing to have a mom~’

Jiang Moli relaxed on the bed and fell asleep, only to be woken by a knock on the door in the early evening.

She opened the door to find Lu Tingting.

"Do you know what time it is? You’re still sleeping!"

Jiang Moli yawned and said languidly, "If you’re so concerned with other people’s business, you should go work for the neighborhood committee."

Lu Tingting snorted. "Who’s worried about you? Grandma is calling you to dinner!"

By the time Jiang Moli had dressed and gone out to the living room, Fan Wenfang and Xu Xiuzhen had both arrived with their children. The two families filled the entire space.

To Jiang Moli’s surprise, Lu Cheng’s second brother, Lu An, was also back.

Lu An had been injured on a mission a few years prior and had retired to a non-frontline position. He was currently an instructor at the Ning City Military Academy.

Lu An was slightly shorter than Lu Cheng, and there was a faint resemblance between them. He had a calm and steady personality, but with an easy-going air about him.

Dinner was a sumptuous feast. Besides chicken, duck, and fish, there were also spicy crawfish.

Knowing how much all the "kids" loved them, Ma Hongmei had specially prepared two large pots, a full twenty-two pounds worth.

Lu Tingting ate until her mouth was slick with oil.

The last time, at the Zhong family’s house, she had refused to eat them out of prejudice and had needlessly missed out on a spectacular feast.

It just went to show that all prejudice stems from the limits of one’s own knowledge and perspective.

Only by overcoming that prejudice could one enjoy more of life’s pleasures.

Jiang Moli entertained the Lu family with amusing stories from the army base, and when she got to the part about Lu Tingting going into the mountains to pick mushrooms, the whole family roared with laughter.

Lu Tingting was annoyed, but thinking back now, she had to admit she’d been stupid enough to make a person cry.

She fumed on one hand and demolished the spicy crawfish on the other.

’How are these things so damn good!’

After dinner, since it was still early, Jiang Moli planned to head back to her parents’ house to check on her old man.

Just as she was changing her shoes to leave, An Hui stopped her.

She handed Jiang Moli a bag. "Your second brother brought this local specialty back from Ning City. Take it to your dad to try."

Jiang Moli didn’t stand on ceremony. "Thanks, Mom! Thanks, Second Brother!"

Lu An was in the middle of a work-related conversation with Lu Deyao and hadn’t noticed the exchange between Jiang Moli and An Hui.

When he heard his name, he looked over and saw Jiang Moli holding the bag, giving him a brilliant smile.

He was surprised that An Hui would give something he’d brought back to Jiang Moli to take to her parents, but he was impressed by Jiang Moli’s gracious and appreciative attitude.