Chapter 8: Her Name is Jiang Moli

Lu Cheng, a tall man standing over six feet, was being chased and beaten by An Hui, who was barely five feet tall. The scene was comical no matter how one looked at it.

"Ouch, that hurts! Mom, take it easy! If you break me, your daughter-in-law will feel bad for me!"

Lu Cheng spent most of his time in the military, undergoing years of grueling combat training; a few hits from a feather duster were nothing more than a tickle to him.

"Feel bad my ass! Do you think I'm a three-year-old kid you can fool with a few words?"

The more An Hui hit him, the angrier she became, wishing she could beat her son to death.

Over the years, she had worried herself sick over her youngest son's marriage, losing sleep and eating poorly, trying every prayer and ritual to find a solution.

Yet her unfilial son refused to understand her heart as a mother and insisted on defying her.

The Meng mother and daughter were both embarrassed and shocked.

Although they had long heard of An Hui's reputation as a "tigress," she was always polite and gentle during their usual social interactions.

This was the first time they had ever seen An Hui fly into a rage.

Looking at her gentle and quiet daughter, Mother Meng couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.

With such a domineering and fierce mother-in-law, could her daughter ever have a good life after marrying into the family?

"It's true, Mom, I'm not lying to you. I really found someone. Why won't you believe me?" Lu Cheng defended himself.

"I'll believe you when pigs fly!"

An Hui was getting on in years, and her physical strength eventually gave out. After chasing him for two laps, she could no longer keep up.

She stood with one hand on her hip, panting as she said, "Show me the photo. If you show me the photo, I'll believe you!"

"What photo? In a couple of days, I'll take you to see the real person!"

Seeing that the mother and son were in an irreconcilable argument, Meng Wei spoke up softly to soothe An Hui's anger. "Auntie Hui, please calm down. Don't let this anger ruin your health. Let me have a proper talk with Third Brother."

An Hui shot her son a fierce glare and threw down the feather duster. "Go, take Weiwei out to eat."

Lu Cheng was reluctant. "I'm not going. I'll eat at home."

He was already a man spoken for; it wouldn't look good to go out to dinner alone with an unmarried young woman.

"There's no food cooked for you at home!"

Meng Wei spoke up, "Let's just eat at home. It's hot outside, and I don't want to go out either. We can just ask Auntie Ma to whip up an extra dish. Third Brother, let's go to the courtyard to talk."

She certainly knew how to talk.

Once in the courtyard, Meng Wei turned to look at Lu Cheng with eyes full of affection. "Third Brother, you don't have to lie to your elders just to reject me. In my heart, you are a figure to be admired, the most outstanding man in this world. I won't allow you to carry any stain on your reputation, even if it's because of me."

Meng Wei also didn't believe that Lu Cheng had actually found someone.

She had pined for Lu Cheng for twenty years. They were childhood sweethearts who knew everything about each other; in terms of family background, talent, and appearance, she was more than a perfect match.

There was no reason for Lu Cheng not to choose her in favor of some random woman.

"Third Brother, I understand your devotion to your country, and I understand that you don't want to be tied down by family. It's okay, I am willing to wait for you. But I still want to tell you that I will never become your burden. I will always stand behind you as your solid support."

Faced with such a sincere and passionate confession, it would be a lie to say he wasn't moved.

Lu Cheng sighed. "Xiao Wei, first, I really have met someone I love, and I intend to marry her. Second, I have always viewed you as a sister—I did in the past, and I will in the future. We can be siblings, we can be friends, but we cannot be husband and wife. I sincerely wish that you find your soulmate soon."

Meng Wei had summoned all the courage of her life, only to be met with a merciless rejection. The blow was devastating.

She swayed unsteadily, looking as if she were about to burst into tears, a picture of fragile beauty.

Unfortunately, the Lu Cheng standing before her was a textbook "straight man." He didn't even blink as he watched her about to fall.

Meng Wei steadied herself. "I don't believe it, Third Brother. I don't believe there is any other woman who could catch your eye."

"If you don't believe it, then fine. Let's leave it at that."

Lu Cheng didn't want to say more.

After all, before he even left the house this morning, he hadn't even considered his personal life.

Whether one called it being swayed by beauty or not, he was determined to marry Jiang Molly.

Just the thought of her—so soft and delicate—marrying him and bearing him a bunch of children made him excited!

...

The Meng mother and daughter left without eating a single bite.

Lu Cheng, on the other hand, ate quite heartily, devouring his food.

An Hui's eyes shot daggers at him. "You still have the appetite to eat? What's wrong with Weiwei? She has the looks, the talent, and she's devoted to you. What more are you dissatisfied with?"

"If I marry everyone who likes me, won't I end up like an ancient emperor with a harem of three thousand beauties?"

An Hui spat in anger. "In your dreams! Have you no shame? Do you really think you're some kind of prize everyone is fighting over? Look at the people your age in the residential compound—every single one of them is married with kids. You're the only old bachelor left. It's embarrassing!"

"Don't be so impatient. In a few days, others will be envious of how you landed a daughter-in-law."

Lu Cheng spoke while eating, coughing a few times after being choked by the food.

An Hui felt a pang of sympathy. "Can't you eat slower? No one is going to steal your food!"

"I have things to do this afternoon."

"You've only been back for two days, and you're already running off everywhere."

"I really have things to do."

Lu Cheng took the soup the housekeeper ladled for him, drank most of the bowl in one go, and suppressed his cough. "Mom, give me my savings."

Since Lu Cheng was stationed at the border year-round, his food and housing were provided by the military, so he had very few expenses. Every month, he sent his full stipend home to be managed by An Hui.

An Hui didn't lack money for herself; she had saved it all as a "bride price" fund for Lu Cheng.

An Hui pulled out the bankbook she had kept for him. "It's all in here. What do you need the money for?"

Lu Cheng flipped through the bankbook and replied to her

"To pay the bride price and get married."

"You brat, can't you act with some dignity? If you keep talking nonsense to me, I'll call your father back to deal with you!"

Lu Cheng closed the bankbook and tucked it into his pocket. "Her name is Jiang Molly."

"Who?"

Lu Cheng grinned widely. "Your daughter-in-law. I've already submitted the marriage report. If you don't believe me, ask the old man."

Realizing her son was serious, An Hui's emotions fluctuated between joy and anger. "Such a huge matter, and you didn't even tell the family first? Do you think your father and I are dead?"

Lu Cheng retorted, "You didn't give me a heads-up when you had me, either."

An Hui was so angry she wanted to stab him with her chopsticks.

"If I knew you were this good at provoking people, I'd have been better off giving birth to a piece of BBQ pork! Get out! I'm not interfering in your business anymore!"

"Look at you. If I don't get married, you're unhappy; if I do get married, you're still unhappy. So what do you want from me?"

Although An Hui was angry that her son had acted without permission, she was naturally happy that he was finally ready to settle down.

"How did you two meet? Where is she from? How old is she? What do her parents do?"

An Hui asked seriously, and Lu Cheng answered seriously

"None of that matters. I only care about one thing when it comes to marriage: I love her."

...

In the Political Department office.

Lu Dezhiao, wearing his reading glasses, was reading a report word for word.

"Report!"

"Enter."

Jiang Xiaoguang closed the office door and walked up to the desk. "Chief, I have something to report regarding Third Brother."

Lu Dezhiao lifted an eyelid to glance at him. "What is it?"

"Third Brother has found a partner!"

"That's it?"

Lu Dezhiao's calmness puzzled Jiang Xiaoguang. "Weren't you praying day and night for a daughter-in-law? Aren't you happy that Third Brother is finally settling his personal affairs?"

"Which eye of yours saw me being unhappy?"

*Both of them,* Jiang Xiaoguang thought to himself.

Lu Dezhiao slammed the report onto the desk with a "thud." "That damn kid! He didn't even give us a heads-up before submitting a marriage report!"

Jiang Xiaoguang glanced at the report and finally understood why Lu Cheng had come to the Political Department.

That was certainly fast!

*Ring, ring!*

Jiang Xiaoguang picked up the phone, said "Hello," and then handed it to Lu Dezhiao. "Chief, someone is looking for you."