Chapter 6: Can't I Have a Soda If I Don't Have Money?

Jiang Xiaoguang had been ordered to deliver a message to Lu Cheng.

As it turned out, the moment he stepped off the vehicle, he saw Lu Cheng handing ten yuan to Jiang Peng.

While Lu Cheng was not a stingy miser, he was also not the type of person anyone could easily take advantage of.

Intuition told Jiang Xiaoguang that things were not simple, so once Jiang Peng approached, he intercepted him.

Seeing that Jiang Xiaoguang was dressed in military attire, Jiang Peng maintained a polite attitude. "What can I do for you?"

Jiang Xiaoguang pulled out a cigarette. "Want a smoke?"

Jiang Peng's eyes instantly lit up.

Peony—this was cadre-grade tobacco!

In this era, cigarettes were extremely rare and difficult for ordinary people to obtain. Peony, in particular, was a high-end brand reserved mostly for cadres and officials, which is why it was known as "cadre cigarettes."

Jiang Peng took the cigarette and tucked it behind his ear, declining Jiang Xiaoguang's kind offer to light it for him.

Having received such a fine cigarette, he couldn't wait to go back and show it off to his buddies.

"What is your surname, little brother?"

"My surname is Jiang."

"What a coincidence, mine is Jiang too."

"Brother Jiang, just say what's on your mind. I might not be able to help, though."

Jiang Xiaoguang was amused by his smooth way of speaking. "I'm looking for some information. Do you know my third brother?"

"Who?"

Realizing that Jiang Peng truly didn't know Lu Cheng, Jiang Xiaoguang inconspicuously changed the subject. "Never mind, I might have been mistaken. Brother Jiang, looking at you, you seem to be of age to join the army. Have you signed up yet?"

At the mention of joining the army, Jiang Peng straightened his posture.

In these times, what man wouldn't want to join the army? But not everyone could get in.

He had made it!

"I have! I enlist next month!"

"No wonder you look so familiar to me. We're kindred spirits..."

Just as they were chatting amiably, Jiang Peng felt two taps on his shoulder. He turned his head and immediately felt like bolting.

But with Jiang Xiaoguang blocking the front and Lu Cheng blocking the rear, there was nowhere to run.

"Hehe, brother-in-law!"

"Cough, cough!"

Jiang Xiaoguang was choked by Jiang Peng's exclamation of "brother-in-law."

After receiving a sharp glance from Lu Cheng, Jiang Xiaoguang silently took two steps back and quietly pricked up his ears.

"Brother-in-law, you look like a leader just by your aura. So, the money you gave out shouldn't be something you ask me to return, right?"

They truly were biological siblings—both loved money just the same.

This made things easy.

"I've already made arrangements with your sister. I'll be coming to her house to propose in three days, and there will certainly be a big red envelope for you then. So, you know how you should speak in front of your sister, right?"

Jiang Peng shook his head like a rattle. "I don't know."

"...Then don't say anything at all. The less you say, the fewer mistakes you'll make. If you don't speak, you can't be wrong."

"Oh."

"Go on back."

"Alright."

Jiang Peng turned to leave, but after a few steps, he returned, feeling uneasy. "Wait, who exactly are you?"

"My surname is Lu. Lu Cheng. Zhang Ming's superior."

Jiang Peng:!!!

"Superior, about Brother Ming and my sister..."

"I know everything."

"Then, regarding Brother Ming..."

"I will handle it."

Jiang Peng left, feeling relieved.

After watching him walk away, Lu Cheng looked at Jiang Xiaoguang. "What are you doing here?"

"The Commander ordered you to return home immediately. There is urgent business."

Lu Cheng let out a cold snort, his gaze falling on the Jeep parked nearby.

"It just so happens I have important business to attend to as well. Take me to the Political Department first."

Jiang Xiaoguang stood at attention. "Yes, sir!"

...

Once out of Lu Cheng's sight, Jiang Molly looked around. Seeing no sign of Jiang Peng, she headed toward the station alone, intending to go home.

She would have liked to wander around a bit more, but since her pockets were empty, she figured she might as well go home and catch up on sleep.

"Jiang Molly!"

After walking only a short distance, someone suddenly shouted her name from across the street.

Jiang Molly looked over and recognized the three young women calling her: Lu Tingting, Wu Meixia, and Song Ke.

All three were daughters from wealthy families.

Among them, Lu Tingting's family background was the most prominent, making her the leader of the group.

Don't misunderstand—the original owner of this body wasn't a friend of such high status; she was a sycophant who clung to them, eager to please and willing to be used as a lackey.

Jiang Molly walked calmly to the other side of the street.

"Jiang Molly, are you deaf? I've been calling you for ages, my throat is practically splitting!"

It was quite simple.

Jiang Molly pointed to the grocery store behind the three of them. "Let's go. My treat—I'll buy you some soda."

The three of them stared at her as if they had seen a ghost.

Jiang Molly had always been a shameless leech, clinging to them for free food and drinks. Today, she was actually being generous and treating them?

Given their family backgrounds, they naturally looked down on something as common as soda.

But since it was the first time Jiang Molly had ever treated them, and following the logic of "might as well drink it if it's free," the three followed her into the grocery store.

"Boss, four bottles of soda. Make them cold!"

The shopkeeper pulled four bottles of soda from an ice bucket. Seeing that Jiang Molly made no move to pay, he said, "5 cents a bottle, 20 cents for four. If you take them to go, give an extra 10 cents for the deposit."

Jiang Molly searched her pockets. "I don't have any money."

"No money? You have no money and you're asking me for soda?" The shopkeeper's face darkened with anger.

Jiang Molly said righteously, "Can't I drink soda if I don't have money?"

"If you don't have money, you can drink my ass! You're young and instead of learning good things, you're learning how to dine and dash. Get out now, or I'm calling the police!"

A chubby boy nearby, clutching 5 cents to buy a popsicle, threw a look of contempt toward Jiang Molly.

[Disdain value +2, 20,000 yuan credited.]

Jiang Molly turned to Lu Tingting and the others, who were staring in shock. "This boss has no class. If you don't have money, he won't let you drink soda. Let's go to another shop."

Would going to another shop allow them to eat and drink for free?

The three were speechless.

[Disdain value +3, 30,000 yuan credited.]

Seeing Jiang Molly talking to Lu Tingting and the others, the shopkeeper and the chubby boy also cast disdainful glances at the three girls.

Clearly, they had lumped the three of them into the category of "poor beggars looking for a free ride."

Lu Tingting had been pampered since childhood; she couldn't stand this.

"Forget it, I'll pay!"

She slapped a one-yuan note onto the counter in front of the boss.

Seeing a big spender, the boss hurriedly pulled the soda bottles back out of the ice bucket. Not only did he help insert straws, but he also used a rag to wipe the condensation dry from the bottles.

This attentive service finally allowed Lu Tingting to regain a sense of superiority.

To be fair, free soda did taste good.

It was cool, sweet, and had a rich orange flavor.

While Jiang Molly drank happily, Lu Tingting was nearly fuming with rage.

"Jiang Molly, I'm warning you! If you ever dare to act big just to embarrass me again, I won't let you off easy!"

Jiang Molly looked at the soda bottles the three were holding but not drinking. "Why aren't you drinking? Do you not like it? If you don't like it, give them to me. I'll take them home for my dad and brother to drink; they like it."

Disgust was practically written all over Lu Tingting's face. "Jiang Molly, in all my life, I have never met anyone thicker-skinned than you. I wonder what unlucky fool would ever marry someone like—"

Before she could finish, Lu Tingting's voice cut off abruptly as she saw a Jeep driving past.

In the next second, she panicked and hid behind Wu Meixia and Song Ke.

"What is it?"

"It's my third uncle!"

Jiang Molly turned her head and saw a Jeep with military license plates driving by.

To be able to drive a military vehicle, wouldn't that person have to be a significant figure in the army?

It seemed Lu Tingting actually had something to be proud of.