Chapter 14: Buying Her a Bicycle

When Jiang Mi saw Wen Zongfu coming downstairs with a dark expression and Madam Wen looking slightly embarrassed, she felt somewhat puzzled.

After finishing breakfast, Madam Wen left for work as usual, but Wen Zongfu, unlike the previous day, did not leave immediately after eating; he only returned home by evening.

“Change your clothes. I’m taking you out to buy some things,” he said.

“Buy what?”

“We’re going back to your parents’ tomorrow. We need to prepare some gifts.”

“I thought Mom already prepared everything,” Jiang Mi said, looking at him.

Wen Zongfu replied calmly, “Mom is Mom, and I am me.”

He cared enough to do this, and Jiang Mi was happy to cooperate; there was no way she would spoil the mood. So after changing, she went out with Wen Zongfu.

He took her to the department store. For Jiang Mi, this was her first time visiting such a place in this era; in her previous life, she would have been stuck in the village at a time like this.

But having been influenced by the modern world, she remained calm in expression, merely browsing the goods with interest.

Her only impression was that everything was expensive—and required coupons.

“Pick out two outfits for your parents here, and for your brother, just choose a watch.”

Clothes and a watch—this set wouldn’t be cheap; the wedding money was all with her…

Seeing her hesitation, Wen Zongfu understood what she was thinking. He had gone out specifically yesterday to sell off his own belongings, as he hadn’t had time to dispose of them before the family forced the marriage.

He had exchanged everything yesterday to have cash for the gifts today.

Whether Jiang Mi cared about appearances or not, he didn’t know. But this was his first time accompanying his wife to her family, so he wouldn’t be stingy.

What his mother had prepared—nutritional supplements, milk powder, red dates—was appropriate but lacked thoughtfulness.

Wen Zongfu showed Jiang Mi his wallet, which was full of both money and coupons. Instantly, she felt assured but was also a little curious how he had managed to get so many so quickly.

However, now was not the time to ask; they were still not close enough.

Jiang Mi selected two outfits and a pair of shoes each for her parents—stylish, durable, and not too expensive—and chose a watch priced at a hundred yuan for her brother, which was also reasonably priced.

Altogether, it cost just under three hundred yuan. Wen Zongfu thought her choices were good and paid promptly. Even the sales clerks at the department store glanced at him more than usual, impressed by his generosity.

Jiang Mi thought they were done, but he pulled her upstairs.

“Do you want to buy anything else?”

“A bicycle for you.”

Jiang Mi was taken aback. “No need.”

The Wen family had given a generous dowry, covering everything except a bicycle. She hadn’t expected him to remember, but she felt it was unnecessary now and didn’t want to waste the money.

Wen Zongfu gave her a sidelong glance. “If others have it, you must have it too. When you go to school, it’ll be convenient. The earlier you buy, the sooner you enjoy it.”

That phrase, “the earlier you buy, the sooner you enjoy,” showed a modern consumer mindset. Surprisingly, Jiang Mi was persuaded.

But she thought he would just buy any ordinary family bike. Instead, Wen Zongfu had his eye on a pink ladies’ bicycle.

Jiang Mi tugged at him. “This needs foreign exchange coupons! You can’t buy it with money alone.”

And the price was four hundred yuan!

Wen Zongfu said directly to the clerk, “Open the invoice.”

“Wen Zongfu, don’t you want to reconsider?” Jiang Mi didn’t expect him to be so decisive.

“Don’t like it?”

“It’s not that I don’t like it…” How could Jiang Mi not like a beautiful ladies’ bike?

“Then buy it.” Wen Zongfu paid quickly, and Jiang Mi realized he really had foreign exchange coupons.

He had exchanged for these coupons in several places yesterday. Actually, when he had scoped out the department store, he immediately liked this bicycle, thinking Jiang Mi would look graceful riding it.

“Do you know how to ride?”

He had forgotten to ask.

Jiang Mi nodded. Since it was bought, she had to pretend she could ride, even if she couldn’t.

“You ride; I’ll hold you from behind.” Wen Zongfu followed carrying the bags. Seeing Jiang Mi’s slender waist and long legs, she got onto the bicycle easily.

The two of them were striking in appearance, and the man was generous in his purchases. Buying such an expensive bike on a whim made heads turn everywhere.

The city wasn’t very large to begin with, and Jiang Mi felt this was quite showy, which didn’t suit her nature.

But Wen Zongfu couldn’t care less about others’ gazes. If anyone dared to look too long at her waist, he would glare fiercely at them.

Wen Zongfu had been around the city for years; few didn’t know him. News spread quickly:

Wen Zongfu had bought his new wife a bicycle worth over four hundred yuan!