Chapter 205: The Heart Decides What It Likes, the Mouth Can’t Explain It
Chapter 205: Chapter 205: The Heart Decides What It Likes, the Mouth Can’t Explain It
After finishing their peaches, Jiang Moli and Lu Cheng weren’t in any hurry to head back, continuing their walk toward the mountaintop instead.
It was nearly October, and the mountains and fields were blanketed in brilliant yellow wild chrysanthemums.
Inhaling the subtle fragrance of the chrysanthemums while strolling through the untamed mountain landscape had a certain charm.
By the time the two returned to Jiang Dashan’s house, the courtyard had been tidied up completely. Tea, fruit, and candies were laid out on the table.
In addition to the Jiang family, the village director, brigade leader, and a few other village cadres had all gathered at the Jiang house. They surrounded Jiang Dahai like satellites orbiting a planet, fawning over him and chatting amiably.
Thanks to his son-in-law, Battalion Commander Lu Cheng, Jiang Dahai’s prestige in Plum Valley was currently unrivaled.
It was obvious Jiang Dahai wasn’t accustomed to such scenes; he looked very uncomfortable.
Seeing Lu Cheng and Jiang Moli return, he shot up as if he’d spotted a lifeline. "Ah, it’s getting late. Shouldn’t we be heading back for the day?"
"Dahai, you so rarely come back. Stay and sit for a while longer."
"This is your son-in-law, isn’t he? Aren’t you going to introduce him to everyone?"
The village director, Guo Baogang, beamed at Lu Cheng, his intention to curry favor blatantly obvious.
Jiang Dahai was an honest man, but he wasn’t a fool. Of course he could see what the village director was after.
He didn’t want to cause trouble for his son-in-law, but he couldn’t afford to offend the village director either.
After all, he had to consider his parents and brothers back home.
As if sensing Jiang Dahai’s predicament, Lu Cheng proactively stepped forward to exchange pleasantries with Guo Baogang and the others.
"Hello, everyone. I’m Lu Cheng."
"Hello, hello! We hear you’re a high-ranking leader in the military. So young and accomplished!"
"I was just out for a walk with Moli. The industrial development in the village is very impressive. Director, your leadership is clearly effective."
"You’re too kind, too kind! HAHA!"
Seeing they wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon, Jiang Moli simply asked Yang Chunxiang for two large baskets, planning to pick some peaches to bring back for her parents-in-law.
Yang Chunxiang was savvy enough to get the hint. She called over her sons and daughters-in-law to help, instructing them to pick the biggest and best ones for Jiang Moli.
Considering the gifts her nephew-in-law had brought today, she wouldn’t have minded if they picked the entire hillside of peaches, let alone just two baskets.
Not to mention, having a battalion commander as a nephew-in-law would bring the Jiang family tangible benefits and favorable treatment in the village, and even in town, for years to come.
When Jiang Moli returned after picking the peaches, Lu Cheng made his excuses, saying they had things to do that afternoon, and announced their departure.
This time, the village director and his cohort didn’t dare try to make them stay. Along with the Jiang brothers, they escorted them to the edge of the village.
In the car, Jiang Dahai glanced back at Guo Baogang’s group, who were still standing at the intersection and waving at their vehicle. He let out a sigh of relief.
"Xiao Lu, sorry for all the trouble today."
Lu Cheng smiled. "Dad, you don’t have to be so formal with me. If you run into any trouble back home in the future, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll do everything I can to resolve it, and even if I can’t solve it myself, I’ll find a way to coordinate."
Was Lu Cheng some pushover who said yes to every request?
Of course not.
The only reason he was willing to be so accommodating to the Jiang family’s relatives was his deep and sincere love for Jiang Moli.
Jiang Dahai was well aware of this.
’I’ll have to burn more joss paper for the ancestors during the holidays from now on,’ he thought. ’I have to thank them for their blessings, for letting me find such a good son-in-law.’
...
Back home, neither An Hui nor Li Hongying were around; they had probably gone out to visit neighbors.
Lu Cheng started carrying the things they had brought back into the house.
In addition to two large baskets of honey peaches, there were also peanuts, walnuts, and some farm-fresh eggs.
Jiang Moli hadn’t eaten much for lunch, so she was starting to feel hungry.
She washed her hands and picked out a large, soft honey peach for a snack.
Just as she finished peeling it, An Hui and Ma Hongmei returned.
"Mom, here, have a bite of this peach. It’s super sweet."
Jiang Moli offered the peeled peach to her.
An Hui demurred gently, "I haven’t washed my hands. You go ahead and eat it."
"Oh, come on. I’ll feed you. Say ’ah’!"
At her urging, An Hui had no choice but to open her mouth and take a bite.
"Sweet, right?"
An Hui nodded. "It’s sweet."
"Of course it is! I picked both baskets myself, and I hand-selected every single one."
Hearing this, An Hui felt the peach in her mouth grow even sweeter, a sweetness that spread right to her heart.
Lu Cheng stood with his hands on his hips, watching his mother and wife. A wave of jealousy washed over him.
’His wife hadn’t even peeled a peach for him yet.’
When Jiang Moli started peeling a second peach, he saw his chance and sidled up to her. "Moli, I want some too."
"If you want one, grab it yourself."
"I want the one you’re holding. They only taste sweet when you peel them."
’The peach was large, and she couldn’t finish it all by herself anyway. It was nice to have someone to share with.’
Once it was peeled, she took a bite herself before offering the other, untouched side to Lu Cheng.
But Lu Cheng took her hand and deliberately bit right where her mouth had been.
Within two bites, the peach looked like it had been chewed on by a dog.
Jiang Moli, slightly repulsed, handed the peach to him. "Here, you can have it."
"You’re not eating any more?"
"I’m done."
Lu Cheng wasn’t stupid. "You’re disgusted with me, aren’t you?"
Jiang Moli gave a noncommittal answer. "I just don’t like eating after other people."
Lu Cheng laughed in exasperation. "Am I ’other people’? You don’t seem to mind when we’re kissing, do you?"
"That’s different."
"How is it different?"
Jiang Moli thought for a moment. "Wanting to kiss you is a decision made by the heart, something my mouth can’t really explain. By the same logic, not wanting to eat after someone else is something that can’t be explained, either."
Lu Cheng only heard the first part of her sentence.
’His wife liked kissing him, which meant his wife liked him!’
And just like that, he was appeased.
...
That evening, after dinner, An Hui took out her old gold jewelry and gave it to Jiang Moli.
"I’m getting old and don’t care for wearing these things anymore. It’s a waste to just let them sit here. You should take them and have a bracelet made."
The jewelry looked quite old, its color having dulled over the years.
Jiang Moli jiggled the pieces in her hand. "There’s not enough here to make three bracelets, though."
Hearing her say this, the entire family froze.
An Hui, in particular, was taken aback. If Jiang Moli hadn’t brought it up, she wouldn’t have even realized she was playing favorites.
It was just that she was so fond of her third son’s wife that she couldn’t help but want to spoil her, giving her all the best things.
"Why don’t we have three pendants made instead?" Jiang Moli suggested. "One for each of the Lu family’s daughters-in-law. We can have something engraved on the back and pass them down. That way, all your future children and grandchildren will remember you, their great-grandmother."
Her words won everyone over.
Ma Hongmei smiled. "I think that’s a great idea. Let’s do pendants."
An Hui immediately went back to her room and returned with a piece of raw jade the size of a pigeon’s egg, telling Jiang Moli to have it incorporated into the pendants.
Lu Deyao was very pleased with Jiang Moli’s tact and consideration for the family. He specifically called Lu Cheng out into the courtyard for a private word.
"You did well, marrying this wife of yours. Guess you’ve got some good judgment after all, kid."
"Better judgment than you, that’s for sure."
He was clearly still holding a grudge over Lu Deyao’s initial opposition to his marriage with Jiang Moli.
Lu Deyao didn’t hold his smugness against him and instead brought up their plans for the National Day holiday.
"Your eldest uncle called. He wants us to go back for National Day and bring Moli with us so your grandparents can finally meet her."
"Then we’ll go back," Lu Cheng said simply.
Hearing him agree so readily, Lu Deyao couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.
He had been genuinely worried that Lu Cheng would be stubborn and refuse to take Jiang Moli home.
Normally, bringing a new granddaughter-in-law to meet the elders was expected. But the Lu Family’s situation was rather unique.