Reborn in the 70s: Pampered by Regiment Commander-Chapter 28 - Bluffing

28: Chapter 28 Bluffing

28 -28 Bluffing

Under her delicate black crescent brows, those large watery phoenix eyes twinkled with slyness, and her rosy lips were slightly pouting… Chuxia, exuding an indescribable charm and playfulness, caught Zhou Mikang off guard as he averted his gaze somewhat awkwardly, “Lin Chuxia, have you always been so self-admiring?”

“Weren’t you asking about my situation with Luo Hongqi?

I thought you were curious about how I found a husband’s family at such a young age.

What do you plan to ask me now?

No, that’s not right, you should give me the food coupons first.” Chuxia counted on her fingers, stretched out two, then another two, and finally reached out with her little hand, “Fair, isn’t it?”

“Compared to the price of those two dumplings, it’s fairly reasonable.” Zhou Mikang pulled out a stack of food coupons and handed them to her, “Don’t let your mind wander too much when you’re dividing them.”

“Am I that kind of person?” Without even counting them, Chuxia shoved the food coupons into her pocket and stealthily gestured a victory sign to Luo Xiaoqiong, her mouth still busy, “What did you want to ask me?

Go ahead, ask.”

“Never mind.”

Chuxia eyed him suspiciously, “Once you leave this village, who knows when it’ll be possible again?

Next time we meet could be in the distant future.”

“Nag!” Zhou Mikang glared at her and waved her away disdainfully, indicating she should leave.

“So stingy…” Chuxia muttered as she pulled Luo Xiaoqiong to leave.

Once the two were outside, Zhou Hanliang cautiously glanced towards his boss, “Commander, why… did you just chase her away?”

Zhou Mikang snorted, “You can’t let that kid get too comfortable, she’ll definitely take it too far if you do.”

Zhou Hanliang meekly agreed but inwardly snickered to himself, She only bosses us around because you’ve been spoiling her.

When have you ever been so easy-going?

Just like that, sixty taels of food coupons given away…, Commander Tongzi, some of those were mine, you know!

…

“Chuxia, did my mother’s chicken really earn twenty taels of food coupons?” Luo Xiaoqiong counted the small stack of food coupons in her hand, her expression one of disbelief as if in a dream.

“Here, take another ten taels.” Chuxia counted out ten more taels from her own stack for her, “Adding what we got this afternoon, that makes sixty taels in total.

We’ll split it half and half.”

Luo Xiaoqiong, holding onto Chuxia’s hand, hurriedly pushed the money back, “No, no, these twenty taels are already burning a hole in my pocket.

If you give me another ten, I won’t be able to sleep at night.”

Chuxia didn’t insist, “Then I’ll hold onto it for now.

When it’s time to buy something, I’ll share it with you.” She glanced out of the corner of her eye as Hongqi followed Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan, shuffling in like a zombie.

Chuxia nudged Xiaoqiong, “I want to have a word with your brother.

Bring him in for me.”

“Okay.” At the moment, Xiaoqiong admired Chuxia so much that she would do whatever she was told.

She saw Xiaoqiong go outside and whisper to Hongqi, who then stiffly entered the room, angrily glaring at Chuxia, “What is it?

Spit it out!”

“Do you want to join the army?” Chuxia asked with a mischievous smile.

Hongqi replied gruffly, “What’s it to you?”

The smile on Chuxia’s face grew wider, “I’m your fiancée, doesn’t that make it my business?”

“Let me make it clear, I will never treat you well in this lifetime.

You can marry me if you want.

I won’t stop you,” Hongqi said with a stony voice.

Chuxia blinked her large eyes, “Luo Hongqi, do you really, really dislike me that much?”

“What do you think?” Hongqi turned his head away awkwardly.

“That’s great!” Chuxia quickly peered outside, ensuring Luo Xiaoqiong was keeping watch in the courtyard, before whispering confidently, “I don’t like you either, and of course, I have no desire to marry you.

But, after what I said in front of my uncle’s family, my parents think Uncle Gangshun and Fat Auntie will gossip if I don’t marry you.

I had no choice but to go along with their wishes.

“As for what you said about doing it for your family’s food supply, you’re overthinking it.

I, Lin Chuxia, would never sell myself just for some food, and besides, I have food coupons.” Saying that, she took out the food coupons from her pocket to show Luo Hongqi, “In the future, once I start working, our family’s condition will get better and better.

Do you think I would covet your family’s food?”

“Where did you get those food coupons?” Luo Hongqi looked at Chuxia with disdain, “Lin Chuxia, don’t tell me you’ve even picked up a habit of stealing?”

“It seems your prejudice against me is not just a little deep.” Chuxia helplessly curled her lips, “I don’t feel like explaining the details to you, but I got these food coupons legitimately.

Not only do I have them, Xiaoqiong does too.

When you’re free, ask her about it, she’ll tell you everything.”

Luo Hongqi gave her a suspicious glance but said nothing.

Chuxia ignored him and continued, “What I’m about to say is very important, you must do exactly as I say, no questioning and no objections, otherwise, I would rather suffer myself than marry you.”

Luo Hongqi, who had wanted to retort, had no choice but to nod, “Alright, speak.”

“The reason why I suggested getting married after I turn 22 is because I see clearly that you don’t like me, I don’t want to marry you, and also, it gives you a chance to back out.

For now, we can pretend to be engaged.

Once you meet a girl you like, we can call off the engagement.

Don’t worry, when the time comes, I’ll cooperate with you.”

“Fine.”

“But right now, you must cooperate with me, pretend you don’t dislike me that much.”

“Why?”

“To get the elders to let their guard down, so it will be easier for you to meet a girl you like.

Otherwise, with Uncle Gangshun beating your butt every other day, where will you find a girl willing to be with you?”

Luo Hongqi, whose sore spot had been hit, flushed with embarrassment, his lips quivered, and it took a long while for him to stammer out a word.

“I know what you’re thinking: why didn’t I tell you sooner?

Think about it, I had to make Fat Auntie and Uncle Gangshun think I was unreasonable first, to make it easier to call off the engagement later.

Do you think I was really being reckless not caring for my life over steamed buns?”

“I don’t understand.”

“Forget it, you don’t need to understand.

Just do as I say; I definitely won’t trick you into marrying me.” Chuxia stood up, tiptoed, and patted his shoulder, “Trust me, you won’t regret it!”

Luo Hongqi, frightened, took a step back, “I can’t trust you.”

“Look at how timid you are.

Aren’t you aspiring to be a soldier?

If you act so immature, who would take you?” Chuxia rolled her eyes at him, “Why would I bring this up now if I could have said it at any other time?

Would I be saying this now if I didn’t care about delaying you?”

“Really?” Luo Hongqi’s eyes were full of struggle, “Lin Chuxia, why do I feel like you’ve become a different person?”

“That’s your illusion.

I’m still me; it’s just that I’ve always been selfish, always thinking about myself first in any situation.

I didn’t talk much before, but now I talk a little more, and that’s probably why you feel uncomfortable.

Get it?”

“I don’t understand.” Luo Hongqi was even more confused.

“Never mind, you don’t need to understand.

How could someone as selfless as you understand my thoughts?

Just remember what I’ve said, from now on, be polite to me, understood?”

“Alright.” Luo Hongqi, who had been successfully bamboozled, left Luo Xiaoqiong’s house with his eyes swirling with confusion.