Volume 1, Chapter 19: Slapping Ji Wenqian in the Face

In the end, Song Yi could not dissuade Shang Chen, and he spent twelve hundred yuan on a Double Deer brand double-door refrigerator.

Shang Chen scheduled the delivery, then glanced at Song Yi, who was clearly wincing at the cost. The corners of his lips quirked up. "The second floor here has women's clothing. I’ll take you to buy a couple of outfits."

Song Yi quickly waved her hands. "I have enough clothes to wear. I really don't need any."

Shang Chen raised an eyebrow. "I’m not the one who decided this; it was arranged by Grandmother. Would you like to call her and tell her yourself?"

He was not lying to Song Yi; Grandmother had indeed arranged it. Her exact words had been that no young girl could resist pretty clothes, and since people are judged by their appearance, dressing in rags would inevitably lead to being looked down upon.

Shang Chen was a rugged man who only kept four or five outfits throughout the year and didn't think much of it, but he felt that since he had finally managed to marry a wife, he ought to cherish and pamper her so no one would treat her with disdain.

Unable to refuse any longer, Song Yi went up to the second floor with Shang Chen. After browsing several shops, she finally picked out a dress, a collared short-sleeved shirt, and a black high-waisted skirt.

The salesclerk praised her sincerely, "Comrade, you look truly beautiful in these."

The high-waisted skirt had been hanging on the rack every day, and she had never thought there was anything special about it. Yet, once this woman styled it, it suddenly looked exceptionally elegant. Even the hair accessory the woman was wearing was a style the clerk had never seen before; she had no idea where it came from.

Song Yi smiled, pursing her lips. "Thank you."

Seeing that Song Yi liked them, Shang Chen took the receipt to pay. The department store was crowded, so the checkout was naturally slow. With nothing to do for the moment, Song Yi chatted with the salesclerk while browsing the racks.

"Song Yi, what are you doing here?"

A somewhat familiar voice sounded from behind her. Song Yi turned to see Ji Wenqian, who was glaring at her with a deep frown.

*Is today just a bad day to go out? Or is An City so small that I keep running into people looking for trouble?*

Song Yi said coldly, "Can I help you?"

Ji Wenqian noticed the bags in Song Yi's hand at once and, seeing the salesclerk still attending to her, said indignantly, "Don't tell me you’re using Brother Shang’s money to buy random things for yourself again?"

She had heard from Sister Wang that Song Yi was a spendthrift—that she had bought bags of stuff on her first day, and then fish and ribs the next. Now, on the third day, she was actually at the department store buying high-end clothes.

She didn't dislike people buying things, but she felt it was a waste for Brother Shang. How much could his monthly salary be? Yet Song Yi dared to squander it like this.

Song Yi couldn't help but find it amusing. "Shang Chen and I are husband and wife. Even if I use his money, what business is it of yours?"

"Of course it’s my business!" Ji Wenqian nearly jumped. "Brother Shang doesn't make money easily. What right do you have to spend it so callously?"

She couldn't stand Song Yi, who had no skills and clung to Brother Shang like a dodder vine. Most importantly, Song Yi was from the countryside; for all she knew, the woman hadn't even finished high school. Someone like that didn't deserve to be married to Brother Shang—she was the only one who was a match for him.

Song Yi raised her delicate eyebrows. "I am his spouse; why shouldn't I feel entitled to it? As for you, what are you to Shang Chen that gives you the right to criticize me?"

Ji Wenqian was rendered speechless by the retort. She turned to the salesclerk and snapped, "You cannot sell these clothes to her."

The salesclerk knew Ji Wenqian; while she didn't know the exact details of her status, she could tell from her consumption levels that her family was well-off. But so what? No one was above the people. Even the Chairman had emphasized that the country belonged to the people and that no one should seek special treatment.

"I’m sorry, Comrade Ji, you have no right to interfere."

"You..." Ji Wenqian’s eyes reddened with anger. She pulled out a stack of money. "Then tell me how much it is. I’ll pay more. I’ll buy her clothes instead. That should be fine, right?"

The salesclerk frowned. "Comrade, what is wrong with you? Are you trying to use your status to cause trouble here?"

Her words hit like a bucket of ice water. Ji Wenqian instantly calmed down, though she still felt aggrieved. She stared at Song Yi with teary eyes, feeling both angry and hurt.

Just then, Shang Chen walked in. He glanced at Ji Wenqian and asked, "What happened?"

Ji Wenqian’s eyes lit up as if she had found her backbone. She grabbed Shang Chen’s arm and complained, "Brother Shang, I told you Song Yi wasn't a good person. Look at her—she’s wasting your money again."

She was so anxious that she didn't even stop to wonder why Shang Chen was there too.

Shang Chen pulled his arm away and stood beside Song Yi, his dark eyes cold and solemn. "Is there a problem?"

Ji Wenqian stomped her foot. "Of course there’s a problem! She doesn't do any productive work all day and only knows how to spend your money. She’s nothing but a parasite."

Song Yi tilted her head and said to Shang Chen, "I think Comrade Ji has a point. Maybe we should return these clothes." She didn't lack clothes, and she didn't like having Shang Chen spend money on her; it made her feel uneasy.

"No returns." Shang Chen spoke with cold finality, then turned his dark gaze toward Ji Wenqian, his expression stern. "Apologize."

"What?"

Shang Chen coldly repeated, "Apologize to my wife."

Ji Wenqian blinked, and tears spilled out. "Why! Brother Shang, are you mistaken? I’m helping you." She was condemning Song Yi’s behavior for his own good; why was he making her apologize?

Shang Chen’s handsome face was icy. "Because you called my wife a parasite. Furthermore, I bought these clothes for her of my own volition."

"What? You did it voluntarily?" Ji Wenqian was devastated, her face turning pale.

"That's right, I did. Now, apologize to my wife."

The onlookers began to gossip.

"Is that woman sick? A man is buying clothes for his own partner—what does that have to do with her? She’s meddling in everything."

"Maybe she’s mentally ill? Why is she getting on her high horse about a married couple's business?"

"Maybe she just can't stand seeing a couple getting along and is looking for trouble on purpose."

Ji Wenqian could take no more. She cried out in a breakdown, "You don't know anything!" She was doing this for Brother Shang’s own good, to keep him from being deceived by Song Yi.

With tears streaming down her face, she took one last look at the cold, unfeeling Shang Chen and ran away, wiping her eyes. It was all Song Yi’s fault—all that vixen’s fault for bewitching Brother Shang. She would never let Song Yi get away with this.

Song Yi didn't take Ji Wenqian’s words to heart, but she was somewhat worried about Shang Chen. "Are you really okay after treating Ji Wenqian like that? What if Chief Ji finds out and gets angry with you?"

She had heard from Li Wan that Chief Ji only had one daughter. Even if he didn't show it on the surface, he was deeply attached to her deep down.

Shang Chen raised his eyelids, his voice still low and cold. "The Chief is not that kind of person." He paused, then added, "Are you concerned about me?"