TFRLTOP Chapter 44 Part 2

The two of them strolled shoulder-to-shoulder, chatting idly. They passed by a young man shopping with his parents for the “three big items” to prepare for marriage. Ming Ming felt a pang of curiosity. She wasn’t very solid on history—she knew the “three big items” and “four big items” had changed over the decades, but she couldn’t quite remember which belonged to which era.

One thing was certain: televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines were still at least ten or twenty years off.

Then again, maybe by the time Yan Junsheng married his childhood sweetheart, they’d already be upgrading to even fancier “three big items” to show off how perfect they were together… Wait—did those two even still have a chance?

Half-joking, Ming Ming said to him, “Right now, a wedding just needs a watch, a sewing machine, and a bicycle. But later on, who knows—you’ll probably need a house, a car, cash, and even three pieces of gold jewelry…”

…Hold on, which three pieces of gold were those again?

Yan Junsheng chuckled. “How do you know what the future requires?”

Ming Ming lifted her chin proudly. “Don’t forget, I’m a fortune-teller!”

“Is that so? Impressive.” He humored her with a smile.

Then he asked, “So what are the three pieces of gold?”

That stumped her. She honestly didn’t know—she’d never even thought about marriage before.

She blurted, “Probably a gold necklace, a gold bracelet, and a gold ring.”

Who would’ve guessed he’d take it to heart and immediately drag her toward the gold shop?

“No, no, no…” Ming Ming pulled back hard, waving frantically. She had some idea of gold prices in this era. They weren’t sky-high, but they definitely weren’t something you just bought on a whim. He’d given her five thousand yuan already—how much could he still have left on him?

But Yan Junsheng ignored her protests and insisted on taking her inside. He took one look around and saw that the workmanship in the small-town shop was pretty basic. He leaned in and said, “The selection is limited here. Later on, we’ll find someone to make you a proper set.”

The shopkeeper approached, pointing to a few pieces. “Comrade, if you want something fashionable, these traditional pieces of old gold are very popular, and the prices are fair.”

Yan Junsheng shook his head. “Not old gold. I want pure gold.”

The shopkeeper immediately realized he was dealing with someone who knew his stuff and stopped pushing, instead guiding them toward the solid gold counter.

Ming Ming hesitated, clearly uneasy. “Maybe we shouldn’t. It’s kind of expensive.”

Who just jokes about “three pieces of gold” and then actually goes and buys them?

Yan Junsheng said firmly, “If you won’t choose, then I’ll pick for you.”

Before she could object, he pointed out several designs and had the clerk bring them over. One by one, he tried them on her. When she kept shrinking her hands back, he simply lifted a necklace and slipped it smoothly around her neck.

He tilted his chin, studying her for a moment, then tried two more before concluding, “You’re still young. The thick ones make you look older. These two thinner chains suit you best.”

She was wearing a square-neck dress that showed off her collarbones, and with the delicate gold necklace, she looked elegant and refined—it really did suit her.

She glanced down at herself. Yan Junsheng gently guided her to the mirror and asked, “Looks good, doesn’t it?”

It did look good.

She didn’t answer, but he caught the flicker in her eyes.

He smiled faintly and told the shopkeeper, “We’ll take both of these. Let’s look at something else too.”

So generous—the shopkeeper’s smile widened as he eagerly brought out more jewelry.

“One’s plenty…” Ming Ming tugged at his sleeve.

Yan Junsheng took off the necklace and laid it next to the other, then put his arm around her shoulders, coaxing patiently. “If they were the same style, fine, we’d pick just one. But one’s a single chain, the other’s a double, and they both look perfect on you. I honestly can’t choose. Besides, I was planning to buy you the thick one—these two together don’t even weigh as much. You’re already saving me money.”

“R-really?” Ming Ming asked, doubtful.

“Of course. When have I ever lied to you?”

She looked back down at the two necklaces again.

Tempted.

“O-okay then… but we won’t buy anything else…”

Ugh, guess I really am at the age where shiny gold makes me weak in the knees…

Whoever thinks gold is tacky has no taste!

“Of course, we’ll buy more. We said three pieces—what’s the point of stopping at one?” Yan Junsheng grabbed her hand and slipped a bracelet onto each wrist. “Which do you like more, the polished one or the matte one?”

“Uh… either.”

“Sounds like you like both.”

“No, no,” she denied quickly. “Polished! The polished one!”

He held her hands up, studying them carefully. “You’re right, polished looks better.” He took off the matte bracelet and handed it back to the shopkeeper. “Thanks, we’ll pass on this one.”

Then he picked out a few rings—wide, narrow, solid gold, gold with jade inlay—and slid them onto her fingers one by one.

“Which looks best?”

Ming Ming spread her fingers, raised her hand, and said honestly, “This—just like this—looks best.” She burst out laughing at her own joke and waved her hand at him. “Don’t you dare say we’re buying them all, or I’ll be furious.”

Yan Junsheng’s eyes crinkled with a smile, all warmth and tenderness.

Half serious, half joking, Ming Ming sighed, “How am I supposed to work with all this jewelry on?”

The shopkeeper chimed in, “Miss, you’re blessed. Hands like yours are meant to wear jewelry, not to work.”

Ming Ming leaned against Yan Junsheng and teased in dialect, “We’re country folk. So much farm work every day—where’s the blessing in that? As the saying goes: the body of a lady, the fate of a servant.”

“Who says?” Yan Junsheng countered. “Wear it back home and show them. Our Juan’er is someone special—meant to be adorned with gold and jade, not breaking her back with chores.”

She stifled a laugh and shot him a sideways glance. “That’s just killing me with compliments. I don’t buy it.”

After some back and forth, they settled on a gold-and-jade ring. Truthfully, it wasn’t worth as much as the pure gold ones, but it looked prettier. Yan Junsheng wanted to get the pricier options, but Ming Ming shut him down with a simple point.

“You said yourself we’ll buy more later when we find better craftsmanship. These two are already solid gold—we can wait on the rest.”

He softened. “Alright, later then. I’ll buy you all sorts of jewelry in the future. Our Juan’er will always be beautiful.”

When it came time to pay, Ming Ming nearly choked on the astronomical sum for that era. But Yan Junsheng pulled out the money without hesitation, leaving her no chance to back out.

“Come on, let’s get lunch.”

Ming Ming trailed after him, complaining under her breath. “My god, you’re so reckless. Totally unsustainable. I’m warning you, you’d better not touch the household money. The fact you’ve managed to hold onto it this long is already a miracle.”

Yan Junsheng tucked the small bag of jewelry into the larger one, freed up a hand, and pinched her cheek. Through gritted teeth, he asked, “Ungrateful little thing—who do you think I just bought all this for? Hm? Who?”

She couldn’t stop laughing, clinging to his arm until her waist was bent with giggles. “Come on, let’s get you some clothes too! I brought money!”

“Food first, then we’ll shop again.”

As they strolled out, they passed a pawnshop. Yan Junsheng glanced inside casually. Ming Ming said something, and he turned his head to answer—but then, almost against his will, he looked back at the window display.

The shopkeeper wasn’t there, probably out for lunch. Through the window, Yan Junsheng stared a little longer. “That watch looks familiar.”

“Hm? What?” Ming Ming followed his gaze—and suddenly stiffened as something clicked.

He pointed. “That one—doesn’t it look like the same model your dad bought?”

“Uh… yeah, maybe,” Ming Ming stammered. “Come on, let’s go. I’m hungry, let’s eat.”

Yan Junsheng nodded. “I remember your dad even had the back of the watch engraved with our initials. Pretty stylish.”

He lowered his head, gazing at her warmly. “I didn’t get a good look back then. Let me see it properly once we’re home.”

Ming Ming nodded quickly. “Yeah, yeah, at home. Let’s go.” All she wanted was to drag him away.

Just then, the pawnshop owner came back from lunch. He spotted her right away and blinked. “Well, well. Little miss, it’s only been a short while, and you’ve changed so much I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Ming Ming forced a dry laugh.

The owner smiled warmly. “So, you here to redeem that watch?”

Ming Ming’s smile froze.