Chapter 69 Watch

Before leaving, Shen Yi turned to his parents and solemnly instructed them: "Father, Mother, the betrothal gifts we prepared in the city may be delivered later. Please help us receive them then."

Zhang Xiuying waved her hand with a smile: "Okay! You can go ahead without worry!"

The three of them went out together. It seemed that everyone in the village had gone to the Lu family to see what was going on, so the road was quiet.

Upon arriving in town, Shen Yi didn't go directly to the commune; instead, he pulled her into the supply and marketing cooperative.

"What are we doing here? Aren't we going to get our marriage certificate?" Liu Zhixia asked, puzzled.

"I'll buy you something." Shen Yi's reply was taken for granted. "I've already taken care of the furniture, but I think you should choose the watch yourself."

"A...watch?!"

Liu Zhixia exclaimed in surprise. That was a watch! She never dreamed that she would own such a "luxury item" in her life.

“Since it’s a wedding, these things are necessary.” Shen Yi held her hand, leaving no room for refusal. “We’ve already made things so rushed, so we can’t skimp on these aspects.”

"But...this is very expensive, isn't it?" Liu Zhixia was still a little hesitant.

“Just pick what you like,” Shen Yi said, looking at her with a smile in his eyes. “You don’t need to worry about the money.”

Xu Zhigang, standing nearby, chimed in, "Sister-in-law, don't try to save money for him! Old Shen is notorious for being a tightwad in the army. We all joke that he saves all his money for his future wife! If you don't spend it now, when will you?"

Hearing this, Liu Zhixia felt a sweet warmth in her heart. She looked up at Shen Yi with a beaming smile and said, "Alright! Then I won't be polite!"

The three of them had just reached the watch shop when they witnessed a good show.

Gu Mansheng was grabbing Lu Huaiyuan's arm, making a scene in public:

"No betrothal gifts! No bride price! Lu Huaiyuan, what family tries to get a wife like you, getting her for nothing!"

Lu Huaiyuan, however, arrogantly crossed his arms, his face full of disdain: "Don't you even know who you are now! It's your honor that I'm willing to marry you! You want a dowry? You're not worthy! This marriage is yours to have. If you don't want it, get out now!"

"Huaiyuan, you weren't like this before!" Gu Mansheng's eyes instantly reddened, and she pleaded in a soft tone, "I can give up the 'three turns and one sound' (referring to a set of three watches and a radio), I just want a watch!"

As more and more people gathered, Lu Huaiyuan lost face and grabbed her arm, dragging her outside: "Aren't you embarrassed enough? If you keep making a scene, I'm not going to get married!"

Gu Mansheng was dragged and pulled out of the supply and marketing cooperative by him.

Liu Zhixia pulled Shen Yi aside and they were not discovered.

Xu Zhigang watched with great interest, winking and saying, "You two take your time choosing, I'll go along and see what's going on!"

After saying that, he excitedly chased after her.

"Come on, let's go pick out a watch." Shen Yi took Liu Zhixia's hand.

"good!"

The two walked to the counter. The sales clerk, who had just finished watching the commotion, immediately greeted them warmly when she saw Shen Yi in military uniform.

"Comrade, what would you like to see?"

"Could you please show us your latest women's watch?"

"Okay!"

The sales clerk quickly brought out an exquisite women's watch and introduced it, "This is a Seagull brand, a well-established domestic brand! It just arrived a few days ago and it's selling very well! The one who just left crying wanted to buy this too!"

"Really? Then it does look quite good." Shen Yi's smile deepened as he turned to Liu Zhixia. "How about we buy this?"

Liu Zhixia took the watch; it did indeed look exquisite.

She glanced furtively at the price tag, her heart skipped a beat, and whispered to Shen Yi, "How about... we look at something else?"

Her eyes held a hint of embarrassment and heartache.

This price of 130 yuan can cover several months' worth of household expenses.

Shen Yi saw through her thoughts and said softly, "Try wearing it first."

Before she could respond, he gently took her wrist and carefully put the watch on her wrist.

"It's so beautiful." He held her hand and examined it carefully.

Looking at the saleswoman's doting smile, Liu Zhixia felt her cheeks burning.

Do you like it?

Shen Yi leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her, making her ears turn bright red.

Her mind went blank, and she didn't hear what he said at all. She could only nod repeatedly involuntarily.

“Okay,” Shen Yi said to the sales clerk, his eyes practically brimming with laughter, “I’ll take this one.”

By the time Liu Zhixia realized what was happening, Shen Yi had already readily paid for the money and the ticket.

As the sales clerk gave them their change, she couldn't help but look at them with envy: "This guy really dotes on his wife! A watch that costs 130 yuan, and he didn't even blink! He's a world apart from that stingy man from before!"

She then looked at Liu Zhixia and teased, "Girl, you're so lucky!"

Liu Zhixia and Shen Yi exchanged a glance, both seeing sweet smiles in each other's eyes, and said in unison, "Of course!"

The sales clerk burst into laughter at their antics: "Look at their chemistry! They're a match made in heaven!"

After the sales clerk gave him the change, Shen Yi casually stuffed all the money into Liu Zhixia's hand.

"From now on, all the money in the house will be managed by your wife. You keep it safe."

Liu Zhixia didn't stand on ceremony and accepted it generously.

"Let's go get our marriage certificate!"

Shen Yi took her hand and strode towards the commune.

As soon as the two arrived at the door, they saw Xu Zhigang waiting for them with an excited expression, clearly having just heard some juicy gossip.

"How is it?" Shen Yi asked.

Xu Zhigang pointed inside and pursed his lips: "Those two, like enemies, went their separate ways after getting their marriage certificates without saying a word."

Shen Yi and Liu Zhixia exchanged a smile, then walked in hand in hand.

When they came out again, each of them had a brand new red booklet in their hands.

Liu Zhixia looked excitedly at the marriage certificate, where her name and Shen Yi's name were right next to each other, stamped with a bright red seal, silently declaring that they were now husband and wife.

She couldn't help but gently stroke it with her fingertips, her eyes welling up with tears.

Shen Yi looked at her excited expression, his eyes filled with doting affection. He also carefully placed his own book into his breast pocket, as if it were a priceless treasure.

He turned his head and smiled gently at Liu Zhixia, his voice filled with unprecedented satisfaction:

"Wife, let's go home."

"Okay!" Liu Zhixia nodded vigorously, carefully putting away the certificate. "Let's go home!"

As the two walked hand in hand out of the commune gate, Xu Zhigang snapped to attention and gave Liu Zhixia a crisp military salute, his voice booming like a bell:

"Hello, sister-in-law!"

Liu Zhixia burst out laughing at his sudden remark.

She took Shen Yi's arm tightly, smiled, and pulled a large red envelope from her pocket, stuffing it into his hand: "With such a sweet tongue, you're bound to get some benefits! Come on, let's go home! Let's have a big meal!"