A Quarrel

Possibly because she was accustomed to the modern and up-to-date trends, after browsing for a while, she did not find anything she liked. So, she decided to focus her attention on men's clothing.

In contrast, Ning Yan's eyes were sparkling with admiration the whole time.

Seeing this, Lin Fan suggested, "Sister Ning Yan, it's still early. How about we go inside and take a look?"

Ning Yan turned to look at Lin Fan and immediately agreed. She had just spotted a dress inside this very store!

The two of them entered the clothing store, and Ning Yan headed straight for a floral dress. She could not help but ask Lin Fan, "Sister, what do you think of this one? Isn't it beautiful? I set my eyes on it the moment I saw it outside the store."

Lin Fan took a look and saw that it was indeed a floral dress, but the whole dress was in dark colors, and Ning Yan was only in her thirties. It not only did not suit her but also made her look older.

"Sister Ning Yan..."

While Lin Fan was thinking about how to tactfully express this, an untimely voice echoed in their ears.

"Oh, I thought who it was. You two can afford clothes from this store?" Zhou Liu sarcastically twisted her body as she walked in, her disdainful gaze making her seem like she was the top of the world, with her nose almost reaching the sky.

"Oh, everywhere we go, there you are. Are you a ghost or something? Can't you just disappear?" Lin Fan rolled his eyes.

Seeing Zhou Liu, Ning Yan also got fired up. "What's it to you whether we can afford it or not? This store isn't your family's business, is it? You're really nosy."

Zhou Liu always had an air of looking down on others, acting as if she were better than everyone else, as if everyone owed her money.

Ning Yan did not usually engage in arguments with others, but she could not stand Zhou Liu's behavior. Zhou Liu dressed up extravagantly every day, her heart not focused on her husband, Jiang Tao. She seemed to be constantly thinking about other men, and it seemed like everyone in the military compound could tell that Zhou Liu had a crush on Yan Shun.

But Yan Shun was devoted to Lin Fan. How could he spare a glance for Zhou Liu?

"It's not like it's your family's money, so what's the big deal? Do you even know how much these clothes cost on average?" Zhou Liu sneered, extending four fingers provocatively towards the two of them. She continued, "40 yuan. Lin Fan, are you going to use half of Captain Yan's salary to buy this? And you, I bet your man doesn't have enough money to support your spending here."

In an instant, she had revealed all the details of Lin Fan and Ning Yan's family situations, and she even chuckled with a malicious grin on her face.

Indeed, Yan Shun's monthly salary was only 100 yuan. Buying a 40-yuan dress would almost be half of it. But he also had to send at least half of his earnings back to his hometown to support his parents and send his sister to college. Thinking about it this way, his finances suddenly seemed tight.

As for Ning Yan's husband, he only held a low-ranking position in the military compound and earned fifty yuan a month, which was barely enough for daily expenses.

These matters were not secrets within the military compound, but what infuriated the two of them was that today, in the bustling shopping mall, Zhou Liu had shamelessly aired their dirty laundry in public.

Ning Yan's face turned bright red, especially when she heard the prices mentioned. Her hands recoiled as if she had touched a hot potato.

Lin Fan stared coldly at Zhou Liu and quickly formulated a plan to deal with her. He smirked, "Who said we can't afford it? Could it be that you've set your sights on this dress and are saying all this just to make us give up?"

The smile on Zhou Liu's face froze, especially when she saw Lin Fan's confident expression. She began to panic.

Could Lin Fan really afford it?

No, it was impossible for Lin Fan to afford it. Yan Shun did not leave much money for Lin Fan each month, and besides, Lin Fan had already given the money to Li Wei, the freeloader, leaving her with no extra funds.

With this thought, Zhou Liu gained confidence and even straightened her back a bit. "I don't believe a word you're saying. Everyone knows your situations here. Who are you trying to fool by pretending to be wealthy?"

The sales clerk noticed the commotion and approached. After a quick assessment of Lin Fan and Ning Yan's appearance, she wore an unpleased expression. "You two must be from the countryside, right? It's clear that you don't come from well-off backgrounds. You should be more considerate and let this lady have the dress."