Chapter 31: No Gold Ring, I Won

So the next day, Jiang Ran rode his two‑eight big carriage again, carrying Su Ruan, marching proudly to the gold and silver ornaments counter of the department store.

In the late 1980s department‑store jewelry shop, the counter was far less dazzling than in later times, the lighting was not very bright, but the rows of gold ornaments lying on red velvet still emitted a captivating glow in this still‑impoverished era.

The salesperson, upon seeing Jiang Ran and Su Ruan, especially noticing Su Ruan's outstanding looks and temperament, became unusually enthusiastic.

"Comrade, what would you like to see? Necklace, ring, or bracelet?"

Jiang Ran waved his hand grandly, full of confidence: "Everything! Bring out all your newest, most beautiful styles!"

The salesperson hurriedly brought out several trays, the gold ornaments inside were exquisite and fashionable.

There were delicate ripple‑pattern chains, pendants carved with simple floral designs, hollow filigreed bracelets, and rings with small, uniquely shaped faces.

"Which do you like? Pick any!" Jiang Ran whispered into Su Ruan's ear, saying boldly, his warm breath brushing her earlobe.

Su Ruan looked carefully.

Her aesthetic, having been forged in the information‑explosion era, found these styles somewhat of their time, yet she could still select the relatively simple and enduring ones.

She first picked up a moderately weighted necklace with a delicate chain and a tiny lotus‑shaped pendant, held it against her own neck, and asked Jiang Ran, "How about this?"

"Pretty!" Jiang Ran nodded without hesitation, "My wife looks good in anything she wears!"

Su Ruan also favored a pair of hollow bracelets engraved with intricate winding‑branch patterns; on her wrist they made it appear even more slender and fair.

"This one is good too!" Jiang Ran's eyes lit up.

Finally, she chose a ring whose face was a tiny heart, its edge polished smooth.

"That's the three items then," Su Ruan decided.

She didn't greedily take many; the styles she chose were delicate and refined, fitting the current situation while also balancing beauty and wearability.

The salesperson, while issuing the receipt, envied Su Ruan, saying, "Comrade, your lover is really good to you, such good taste!"

Jiang Ran heard that, felt sweeter than drinking honey, and cheerfully paid the money and the receipt.

After leaving the gold shop, Jiang Ran couldn't wait and had Su Ruan put on all the newly bought gold ornaments.

The delicate lotus necklace hung at her collarbone, the filigreed gold bracelet swayed lightly on her slender wrist with each movement, and the heart‑shaped Gold Ring rested on her long finger, simple yet striking.

"So beautiful!"

Jiang Ran held her hand, looking left and right, never getting enough of the view, a huge sense of satisfaction welling up inside.

Buying beautiful things for his wife and watching her dress up prettily turned out to be such a fulfilling thing!

He embraced Su Ruan's waist in the bustling department store, and couldn't help to lower his head and quickly kiss her cheek, prompting Su Ruan's coquettish glare and the surrounding people's good‑natured laughter.

"Come on! Wife! Let's go buy two more sets of new clothes to match your new ornaments!" Jiang Ran was full of vigor, as if he wanted to bring the whole world before Su Ruan.

The sunlight streamed through the department store's glass windows, shining on the two of them and also on the newly added gold ornaments on Su Ruan's wrist and neck.

Su Ruan looked at the big boy beside her who seemed ready to give her his heart, feeling the surrounding admiring or kind gazes, her heart filled completely with a simple happiness of this era.

These gold ornaments were not merely valuables; they were the Jiang Family's unconditional acceptance and affection toward her, and Jiang Ran's sincere, passionate sentiment.

She gently grasped Jiang Ran's hand again, a soft yet firm smile lifting the corner of her mouth.

Regardless of what thoughts or motives she had at first for wanting to marry Jiang Ran, now she only wishes to live a good life with Jiang Ran.

Jiang Ran embraced Su Ruan, and the two laughed and chatted as they left the department store, the newly added gold ornaments on Su Ruan's neck and wrist sparkling in the sunlight, making her smile bloom like a flower.

This scene, neither biased nor off‑center, happened to be witnessed squarely by Su Yanhua, who had also come to the department store looking for cheap fabric to make a new outfit, and Liu Wen Bin.

Su Yanhua's gaze, like a poisoned hook, fixed mercilessly on the glittering gold ornaments on Su Ruan, especially that tiny heart‑shaped Gold Ring, stabbing her eyes with pain!

Why?!

In her previous life she married Jiang Ran; not to mention the Three Gold, she didn't even have a decent copper ring!

Jiang Ran, that violent maniac and useless loafer, besides having a bit of filthy money, was stingy and harsh toward her!

How could it be Su Ruan, that scoundrel, who gets the luxurious Wedding Dress and brand‑new gold ornaments!

Is the Jiang Family blind? Or did Su Ruan give them some love‑potion broth?!

The intense jealousy and resentment erupted like a volcano inside her chest, burning away all reason.

She abruptly shook Liu Wen Bin's hand away, pointing toward Su Ruan, her voice twisted sharp with extreme anger: "Look, look at her, Liu Wen Bin! Look at how Jiang Ran treats his wife!"

"Necklace! Gold bracelet! Gold Ring! And me? What do I have?! I even had to shamelessly beg for a decent Wedding Dress myself!"

Liu Wen Bin was caught off guard by her sudden outburst, his face flushing red, and seeing the surrounding curious gazes, he felt so embarrassed he wanted to crawl into a crack in the floor, lowering his voice to plead.

"Yan Hua, keep your voice down… this… this in front of a crowd…"

"Why should I be quiet?!" Su Yanhua became even more agitated, tears of anger spilling, "I want everyone to judge! What am I, Su Yanhua, that is not as good as her Su Ruan?"

"She has everything, and you expect me to share a hard life with you? I don't care! I also want a Gold Ring! You must buy me one today! Otherwise… otherwise this marriage shouldn't happen!"

Her final sentence was almost shouted, bearing a decisive, all‑or‑nothing resolve.

Liu Wen Bin's complexion instantly shifted from red to pale, his lips trembling, both embarrassed and awkward, but mostly feeling powerless.

He clenched the threadbare wallet in his pocket, which contained only a few crumpled bills and this month's meager food money.

To afford that Jinxiu Wedding Dress, he had already emptied his savings, borrowing from every colleague he could, leaving no money left to buy a Gold Ring.

"Yan Hua… I… I really… have no money…" Liu Wen Bin's voice was choked with humiliation, almost crying, "Wait until later… when I get my salary, I'll definitely make it up to you, okay?"

"Later? Who knows when later will be!"

Su Yanhua looked at his pathetic demeanor, feeling even more disgusted to the extreme; compared with the radiant Su Ruan nearby and the doting Jiang Ran, she only felt a wicked fire shooting straight toward the heavens.

"No Gold Ring, then don't expect me to marry you!"