Chapter 209: Damn, My Home’s Been Stolen
Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Damn, My Home’s Been Stolen
In the coffee shop.
Chen Xue placed the menu in front of Lu Tingting, Song Ke, and Wu Meixia.
"Order whatever you want. It’s my treat today."
Seeing the joyful expression on her face, Lu Tingting and the other two couldn’t help but wonder.
"What’s with the sudden generosity? Did you strike it rich?"
Chen Xue tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, an unstoppable smile on her face. "I got a job! I’ll be selling watches at the clock counter in the department store. I start tomorrow. You guys can come visit me at the department store when you’re free."
For women of that era, a job as a sales clerk at the department store was considered quite respectable.
Song Ke and Wu Meixia were very envious.
But Lu Tingting thought of something. "The Liang family arranged this job for you, didn’t they?"
Chen Xue flushed and changed the subject, urging the three of them to order their drinks.
"How about we get coffee? And some peach pastries and a cream cake."
The coffee and desserts were quickly brought to the table, but Lu Tingting and the other two were in no mood to eat.
"Chen Xue, didn’t you say you looked down on Liang Fei? And now you’re accepting a job from his family."
"Yeah, if you accept a job arranged by the Liang family, doesn’t that mean you’re agreeing to the marriage?"
Being stared down and interrogated by the three of them, Chen Xue couldn’t help but look uncomfortable.
"I... I thought about it, and this marriage isn’t so bad. My mom said I get to keep half of the betrothal gift from the Liang family as my dowry, and they also arranged a job for me. I think it’s pretty good."
Lu Tingting was speechless.
Just a few days ago, she was crying her eyes out, refusing it to the death, and now she’s completely changed her tune.
’And to think I was seriously planning how to help Chen Xue refuse the marriage.’
’That damn Jiang Moli was right.’
’I shouldn’t have stuck my nose in other people’s business!’
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Looking at the coffee and desserts on the table, she completely lost her appetite.
Lu Tingting grabbed her bag and stormed out. "You guys can eat. I’m leaving!"
Song Ke and Wu Meixia were thick as thieves with Lu Tingting.
Seeing her leave, they also got up and left with her.
Watching the three of them leave, Chen Xue wasn’t angry. Instead, she seemed lost in thought.
’They’re angry because after I marry into the Liang family, my status won’t be a notch below theirs anymore, right?’
’My older sister was right. We act like friends on the surface, but who knows if they’re secretly jealous and can’t stand to see me do well.’
...
"Is Chen Xue out of her mind? One minute she doesn’t want to get married, the next she does. Is she playing us for fools?"
"Exactly! It’s just a stupid job as a sales clerk. And she had to come and flaunt it in our faces. It’s disgusting."
Song Ke and Wu Meixia were just as annoyed with Chen Xue for going back on her word.
Lu Tingting’s face was cold as she clenched her fist. "If I ever meddle in other people’s business again, then I’m a dog!"
Song Ke and Wu Meixia looked at each other.
Knowing their good friend as they did, she was probably destined to be a dog.
Did that mean they were destined to become the puppy-girl posse?
After saying goodbye to Song Ke and Wu Meixia, Lu Tingting ran to the Lu Family residence.
An Hui was looking at cloth ration coupons. Lu Tingting sat down next to her and asked curiously, "That’s so many cloth coupons. What are they for?"
"To have a couple of outfits made for your Third Aunt."
Lu Tingting pouted. "We just bought her new clothes a few days ago, and now you’re having more made for her. If she gets new clothes, I want some too."
An Hui shot her a glare. "Your Third Aunt joined the Song and Dance Troupe. She needs a couple of nice outfits to make a good impression. When you get a job, I’ll have some made for you, too."
Hearing that Jiang Moli had gotten into the Song and Dance Troupe, Lu Tingting said instinctively, "If she can get into the troupe, then I want to get in too."
"Your Third Aunt got in on her own merit. If you want to get in, you’ll have to pass the audition yourself."
"What merit could she possibly have? The troupe must have pulled strings for her because of Grandpa."
"Nonsense! You’re a grown-up now. Don’t you have any sense of what’s appropriate to say and what isn’t?"
After getting a lecture from An Hui, Lu Tingting felt sullen.
Although she bad-mouthed Jiang Moli, deep down she knew that Jiang Moli really did have some genuine talent when it came to drama.
As she thought about this, her eyes scanned the living room. "Where’s Third Aunt?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she wanted to slap herself.
’Stupid mouth, why did you say that!’
An Hui eyed her suspiciously.
It seemed her eldest granddaughter had been acting a little crazy ever since she got back from Menghai.
"Your Third Aunt is still sleeping."
"It’s so late and she’s not even up? She’s such a lazybones!"
With that, she got up and headed for the bedroom.
An Hui called after her, "Don’t go bothering your Third Aunt. Be careful, or she’ll be the one putting you in your place."
"We’ll see who puts who in their place."
An Hui shook her head and didn’t bother with her anymore. ’She’ll behave after she gets a beating.’
Arriving at Jiang Moli’s room, Lu Tingting raised her hand to knock.
The moment her hand touched the door, it swung open.
Usually, Jiang Moli would lock the door from the inside when she slept, but Lu Cheng had been home recently.
He was an early riser, and after leaving the room, he had merely pulled the door closed behind him without locking it.
Seeing Jiang Moli asleep on the bed through the crack in the door, Lu Tingting walked right in.
"Hey, get up!"
Jiang Moli groggily lifted her eyelids. Seeing who it was, she mumbled, "Get out," and closed her eyes to go back to sleep.
"Do you know what time it is? Still sleeping! Are you a pig?"
Annoyed by the noise, Jiang Moli grabbed Lu Tingting’s wrist, pulled her onto the bed, and hugged her like a bolster pillow.
Just as Lu Tingting was about to protest, Jiang Moli pressed a slender, pale finger to her lips.
"Shh, don’t be noisy. Be good."
After speaking, she even ruffled her hair.
Her lazy, charming voice was like a switch, soothing Lu Tingting’s restless energy.
Up close, the woman’s face was almost unfairly beautiful, like porcelain.
’For the first time, she thought this face wasn’t so detestable after all.’
’But wow, this damn woman’s eyelashes are so long.’
She stealthily reached out and flicked them with her index finger, like a little thief.
’Her nose is pretty too, high and defined. And her lips are as pink and tender as flower petals.’
Her nose picked up a faint, elusive fragrance, somewhat like osmanthus but not quite.
She sniffed, then looked around, only to realize the scent was coming from Jiang Moli herself.
’What on earth did this damn woman put on to smell so good?’
She had originally come over to tell Jiang Moli about Chen Xue.
But gazing at Jiang Moli’s serene and lovely sleeping face, she suddenly couldn’t be bothered to say anything.
A strange sleepiness washed over her, so she simply closed her eyes, tilted her head, and drifted off to sleep.
...
When Lu Cheng got home with the groceries, he saw it was about time, and happily went to his room to wake up his wife.
But when he entered the room, the scene on the bed instantly infuriated him.
’Damn it, I’ve been robbed!’
He marched over and yanked Lu Tingting up. "What are you doing in my room?"
"Don’t you ever set foot in my room again!"
Lu Tingting, still groggy, was thrown out of the room, landing hard on her butt.
By the time she scrambled to her feet, the door had already been SLAMMED shut and locked from the inside.
Furious, she kicked the door twice before turning on her heel and running to An Hui to complain.
Inside the room, Lu Cheng used a pillow towel to dust off the spot where Lu Tingting had slept several times. He then took the towel to the window and shook it out before carefully placing it back on the pillow. Only then did he lie down and pull the sleeping Jiang Moli into his arms.
’His wife was so fragrant and soft, so comfortable to hold.’
’His wife was his to hold, and his alone. Not even his own niece was allowed.’
...
「On the morning of the 7th.」
After breakfast, Jiang Moli went back to her room to change into the Lenin suit that An Hui had hired a tailor to rush-make for her.
It was made of army-green twill khaki fabric, worn with a light blue shirt underneath, square-heeled leather shoes on her feet, and her hair was in a single braid hanging down her back.
Dressed like this, she looked quite dashing and heroic.