"Do you want this?"
Samuel Smithson's sudden voice startled Lucy Sullivan, who glanced at him with a hint of annoyance and then shook her head. "I still have these things at home, no need to waste coupons on them."
In this era, coupons were precious. Firstly, Lucy still had plenty of vanishing cream brought from home, and secondly, she wasn't really used to using such things.
She glanced at the items in front of her and thought that earning money couldn't be rushed. She needed a plan, so she stopped hesitating. "Have you bought everything you need?"
Samuel raised his hand to show her what he had bought. "Everything is done, let's go home."
"Why did you buy so much?" The items were all wrapped up, so Lucy didn't know what Samuel had bought, but seeing the piles of packages made her wince. However, knowing that they were gifts for Samuel's family and that the money used was earned by him, she couldn't complain.
She reached out to take a few items, but Samuel dodged her. "I can handle it."
The salesclerk behind the counter couldn't help but express his envy. "Miss, your husband is really good, he's the kind who cherishes his wife."
Lucy's face reddened upon hearing this, but she still smiled at the salesclerk in a friendly manner, before followed behind Samuel as they left the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
Samuel placed the items on the bicycle, hung those that couldn't fit on himself and didn't let Lucy carry anything.
Lucy hopped on the bike, wrapping her arms tightly around Samuel. She couldn't deny being touched. Though it was just a series of trivial matters, it's the little things that best reflect a person's character.
The two of them rode the bicycle with the purchased items back to North Gorge Village.
On the way, they encountered many villagers who were shocked at seeing them together.
"Was that Samuel riding the bike with Ms. Lucy just now?"
"That's her, that's her. They seem so close, aren't they worried about the impact that may have on their reputation?"
"Let me tell you, but don't spread the word - someone saw Ms. Lucy leaving Samuel's house early yesterday morning, and Samuel was carrying her."
"Is that a marriage certificate she's holding? Did they get married?"
"It must be. Samuel took the day off from the Captain this morning, and my wife ran into him."
"Huh? But I thought Lucy liked Albert Hudson? How did she end up with Samuel instead? Could it be that she gave up and degraded herself?"
"Yeah, with Samuel's family situation. Lucy should at least look for a fellow city-educated youth or a capable farmer. She's so delicate; following Samuel, she'll definitely have a hard time."
"You don't know, she's willing. Wouldn't she want to find someone better? But who in North Gorge Village doesn't know her business? Which man would want her? Only Samuel, who can't find a wife, would take her. I think Samuel got the short end of the stick. What if Lucy makes a fool of him one day?"
"That's highly likely. Lucy is not a good person. What decent girl would chase men everywhere and marry just anyone so casually?"
People in the village were like this; with a shortage of entertainment, they took great interest in gossip. As the couple passed several fields, every person they ran into would essentially have the same conversation.
Lucy didn't care much. Some things couldn't be explained away, so she left it to time to slowly disprove the rumors. However, she could feel Samuel stiffening up. She imagined the dark expression on his face.
She didn't say anything but gently pressed her face against Samuel's broad back, rubbing it softly. She believed her silent comfort was worth more than any words.
Apparently, Samuel thought the same.
The woman's gentle movements were like those of a cat, causing Samuel's face to flush. He could only focus on suppressing the fire rising in his chest, with no time to care about the gossip surrounding them.
Lucy, with her face turned to the side, didn't see Albert Hudson on the other side of the road, book in hand, staring maliciously at the couple. When he saw the items on Samuel's bicycle, his resentment grew even stronger.
To him, there was no way the impoverished Samuel could afford these items. It must have been Lucy who bought them for him.