Chapter 5: I'll give you the bride price, I'll give you my salary, and I'll give you myself

The girl had a small, delicate face, fair and clean, with two beautiful braided pigtails. She wore a light blue dress, and as she walked, the hem swayed like a lily blooming amidst morning dew—pure yet alluring.

Lu Cheng couldn't quite describe the feeling.

It was as if a flower he had nurtured in his heart for twenty-six years had suddenly bloomed.

"Sis, Zhang Jiaming is over there!"

By the time Jiang Moli followed Jiang Peng's finger, Zhang Jiaming had already run off; all she saw was Lu Cheng.

The man was exceptionally tall with a wheat-colored complexion and a standard buzz cut. His features were handsome and sharp, and his gaze was somewhat piercing—the look of a hardened soldier who had been tempered by the fires of war.

As expected of a male protagonist, he certainly looked the part.

*Jiang Qing, that bitch of a female lead, really has it easy,* Jiang Moli thought.

Smacking her lips, Jiang Moli walked toward Lu Cheng with an air of arrogance.

Upon getting closer, she realized the man was even taller than she had imagined. She had to tilt her face up to look at him. "Zhang Jiaming, I'll get straight to the point..."

"Sis, he isn't..."

Jiang Moli cut Jiang Peng off. "Don't interrupt."

"No, he..."

Jiang Peng pointed at Lu Cheng, trying to say he wasn't Zhang Jiaming, but was interrupted by Lu Cheng. "Let your sister speak."

Jiang Peng: "...Who are you?"

"Your future brother-in-law."

Jiang Peng looked at Jiang Moli, then at Lu Cheng, and realized something.

*He's fallen for my sister?*

He sized Lu Cheng up. Judging by his attire, he was likely in the military, and the watch on his wrist was a Shanghai brand; his family background shouldn't be bad.

Jiang Peng's mind worked quickly. He knew the man was likely just temporarily blinded by Jiang Moli's face; once he learned of her true nature, he would probably run faster than a rabbit.

"If you want to be my brother-in-law, give me some pocket money first."

"How much?"

Unexpectedly, Lu Cheng was so straightforward that Jiang Peng froze for a moment before holding up one finger.

Without a word, Lu Cheng pulled out his wallet and handed over a ten-yuan note.

"Is this enough to spend?"

"Enough!"

*It's fucking more than enough!*

He only wanted one yuan, but the man actually gave him ten!

*Where did this idiot with too much money come from?*

"Sis, brother-in-law, you two chat. I have things to do, so I'll take my leave."

Jiang Peng bolted, moving as fast as possible for fear that Lu Cheng would change his mind and demand the money back.

To Jiang Moli, this dramatic scene felt perfectly natural.

She assumed: Jiang Peng calling "Zhang Jiaming" brother-in-law was because he thought "Zhang Jiaming" was going to marry her, and the reason "Zhang Jiaming" was paying out money was simply to curry favor with his future brother-in-law in order to marry Jiang Qing.

*As expected of the male lead, incredibly handsome and generous with money.*

She wondered if she called him brother-in-law, she could trade it for a ten-yuan note too.

As she was calculating, she heard "Zhang Jiaming" call her: "Moli."

"Hmm?"

"Say what you have to say. I'm listening."

The man's voice was deep, with a gravelly roughness.

Jiang Moli picked at her ear; it felt a bit itchy. *Could I be pregnant?*

She cleared her throat and said loudly, "I'm late, but only by half an hour. You can't blame me for that. If you had bought me a bicycle, I wouldn't have to wait for the bus, and I wouldn't be late naturally."

Passersby cast bewildered glances at her.

*You didn't leave early enough, you're half an hour late, and you're acting like you're in the right? And you're blaming him for not buying you a bike?*

『Disdain Value +2, 20,000 yuan credited.』

"That makes sense. What kind of bicycle do you like? How about we go to the department store now and you can pick one yourself?"

The man's reaction was clearly beyond Jiang Moli's expectations.

*What the hell?*

*This doesn't match the plot in the book.*

"Don't think a single bicycle is enough to marry me off. I want the 'Three Rounds and One Sound' [traditional dowry items], plus 500 yuan in bride price. My father has exhausted his savings raising me, and as for myself, I have no job and no income. Therefore, I won't be providing a single cent of dowry."

The pedestrians who stopped were shocked by Jiang Moli's shameless remarks.

In this era, it was very difficult for an ordinary family to afford the "Three Rounds and One Sound."

Not only was Jiang Moli demanding those items plus a 500-yuan bride price, but she wouldn't contribute a single penny to the dowry herself.

How shameless did one have to be to say such things?

『Disdain Value +5, 50,000 yuan credited.』

"After marriage, you must hand over your entire salary to me, but you cannot control how I spend it. Additionally, I won't do housework, I won't live with my in-laws, and I won't have children. If you can't do these things, don't waste my time."

*You want the man to give you all his money but you won't let him control your spending? Why don't you just go to heaven?*

*You won't do housework, won't serve the in-laws, and won't even have kids? What's the point of marrying you? To worship you like a goddess?*

『Disdain Value +10, 100,000 yuan credited.』

Listening to the continuous influx of rewards, Jiang Moli couldn't help but lament that she had met the system too late.

If she had known it two months earlier—no, two days earlier—she would definitely be a billionaire by now!

System: 『Host, I admit you are very good at attracting hatred, but look around you. Are you really not afraid of being beaten up?』

Of course she was afraid.

That was why she brought Jiang Peng along to back her up, but who knew he would be so unreliable.

Anyway, her purpose in meeting "Zhang Jiaming" was to earn disdain value. Now that the task was complete, Jiang Moli prepared to run.

"If you aren't speaking, that means you disagree, right? Then let's call off the engagement. You go your way, and I'll go mine..."

Jiang Moli started running as she spoke, but she hadn't gone far before her wrist was grabbed. "What are you running for?"

*If I don't run, am I waiting to get beaten?*

"I'll give you the bride price, and I'll give you my salary too. But I can only come home once or twice a year. Can you accept that?"

Jiang Moli's pupils shook: *There's such a good deal??*

Lu Cheng was amused by her wide-eyed, adorable expression. "Since you aren't speaking, I'll take it as your agreement. It's settled then. In three days, I will come to your house to propose."

*Wait, are you serious?*

*What about your female lead?*

"You aren't marrying Jiang Qing anymore?"

"Jiang Qing? Who?"

*What a heartless, fickle scoundrel.*

Jiang Moli gave a half-smile. "Fine, I'll wait for you. If you don't show up, you're my grandson."

She wanted to see what kind of game this man was playing.

"I will definitely come. It's so hot; go home early. Do you want me to take you back?"

"Don't try to be charming with me; I don't fall for that. The bride price we agreed on cannot be a cent less, hmph!"

Jiang Moli jerked her wrist away and turned to leave.

The man's gaze behind her felt almost physical, following her closely, causing Jiang Moli to instinctively quicken her pace.

Only after seeing the girl's petite figure swallowed by the crowd did Lu Cheng withdraw his gaze and look down at his right hand.

The soft, warm sensation still lingered in his palm, leaving him craving more.

"Young man, with your good conditions, why pick someone like her?" An older woman approached Lu Cheng with a smile. "My daughter is 22 this year, a middle school teacher. Whatever bride price you give, we will match with a dowry. Do you want to meet her?"

"No thanks. I only like her type; I have no interest in anyone else."

The woman rolled her eyes and left huffily.

*Ignoring my excellent, hardworking daughter to pick a vain, lazy girl—you're no good yourself!*

『Disdain Value +1, 10,000 yuan credited.』

The dissatisfaction from being rejected by Lu Cheng caused the woman to feel resentment and dislike toward Jiang Moli.

As the onlookers dispersed, the "shameful" Zhang Jiaming returned to Lu Cheng's side. "Leader, did Jiang Moli agree to break off the engagement?"

Lu Cheng patted his shoulder, his expression unreadable. "Don't worry, I've handled it for you."

Zhang Jiaming breathed a long sigh of relief. "That's great! Leader, you are like a second father to me!"

Lu Cheng remained noncommittal. "You want to marry her elder stepsister, right? When do you plan to go there to propose?"

"In the next day or two. Leader, I'll have to trouble you to come with me again to act as my witness."

"That's fine, but I have urgent business for the next two days. Let's say in three days."

"Deal!"

...

Not far into his run, Jiang Peng was intercepted by a man in a military uniform. "Little brother, a word in private."