What kind of waves could a mere country bumpkin like Xiao Huai Dong possibly stir up?
Wu Juan handled the marriage certificate for Xiao Huai Dong and Xu Huaying as quickly as possible.
After receiving the certificate, the two immediately handed out wedding candies to everyone present.
As soon as Xiao Huai Dong and the others left, Director Fang suddenly felt dazed.
He shook his head, as if waking from a dream, his long face immediately turning grim.
Thinking back to how he had treated Xiao Huai Dong and Xu Huaying just now, he felt deeply regretful.
Normally, no matter who caused trouble here, right or wrong, he would always protect his own people.
Especially Wu Juan—she not only held many of his secrets but also had that kind of relationship with him in private.
Yet he had just threatened her! The more he thought about it, the more he regretted it.
Meanwhile, after getting their marriage certificate, Xiao Huai Dong and Xu Huaying brought Xiao Nanchu to the department store.
Xiao Huai Dong led them straight to the wedding dress section.
“Brother Dong? What are you…?”
When Xu Huaying saw the wedding dresses, her eyes instantly filled with tears.
Back when she married Dahuo’s father, the Gu family had said she was a capitalist young lady and didn’t deserve a wedding. Afraid her background would be exposed and affect their work, they only allowed them to register their marriage.
She had thought she would never have the chance to wear a white wedding dress in her lifetime. Yet the man before her still remembered what she once said.
“I heard this is the only place that sells wedding dresses. Pick one.”
Xiao Huai Dong took out a stack of money and ration coupons from his pocket.
“Brother Dong, this is our second marriage, there’s no need…”
Though Xu Huaying spoke words of refusal, the longing in her eyes was obvious—even Xiao Nanchu, who was usually oblivious, could see it.
“Huaying, no matter how many times we’ve married before, this is the first time you and I are marrying each other. We’ll do it properly and grandly.”
Xu Huaying was so moved that tears streamed down her face.
“Brother Dong, I knew you’re the one who treats me best!”
She pointed at a wedding dress with sequins and asked the saleswoman to take it down.
The saleswoman, cracking sunflower seeds, looked them up and down. “This wedding dress is imported—it costs at least 300 yuan plus five fabric coupons. If you can afford it, I’ll get it for you now. If not, I suggest you leave.”
To Xu Huaying, this amount wasn’t much. She was about to take out the money when Xiao Huai Dong had already placed the prepared cash and coupons on the counter.
The saleswoman immediately smiled, counted the money and coupons, and took down the dress Xu Huaying had chosen.
“I’ll wrap it up for you right away.”
Xiao Nanchu stared at her father in shock.
Since when did her dad have so much money?
Three hundred yuan in one go? Wasn’t he supposed to be living off someone else?
Could it be that Xu Huaying secretly gave it to him so he wouldn’t be looked down on?
“Come on, Little Bean Sprout, I’ll take you to the children’s clothing section and buy you a few outfits.”
When they walked out of the department store, Xiao Nanchu had completely changed her outfit—a white doll-collar shirt paired with denim overalls, and even red leather shoes on her feet.
Xu Huaying ruffled her permed hair affectionately. “Little Bean Sprout looks so cute dressed like this!”
A figure watched the three leave the store, muttering, “That sixth son’s wife really cares about that pretty boy and his burden. Buying so many things must’ve cost hundreds. No, I have to go back and tell Father and Mother—we can’t let her spend money on outsiders.”
That evening, after school, the three Gu siblings were stopped by Niu Erya as they left the campus.
“Dahuo, your grandma is useless. She couldn’t stop your mother from remarrying.”
Gu Dahuo was startled. “They registered their marriage?”
Niu Erya sighed. “They did.”
Gu Erhu clenched his fists in anger.
“I understand, Grandma. Even if they’re married, the three of us won’t acknowledge him.”
Niu Erya pretended to wipe her tears. “My poor grandchildren! If your stepfather mistreats you in the future, how heartbroken your real father would be in the afterlife!”
“Grandma, if the three of us run away from home, will you take us in?”
Gu Dahuo planned to leave with his siblings and live with their grandparents, to make their mother regret it.
Niu Erya was secretly delighted—the old man had predicted this.
As long as the three children weren’t on Xu Huaying’s side, wouldn’t their chance come?
Now things had finally reached this point.
“You are children of the Gu family. If you don’t want to live with your mother, it’s only natural to return to the Gu family. As your grandparents, how could we not take you in?”
Gu Dahuo happily held Niu Erya’s hand, tears glistening in his eyes. “Grandma, you treat us the best.”
On their way home, the three discussed when to leave.
“Brother, are we really going to Grandpa and Grandma’s house? Mom always means what she says. If we leave, we might never be able to come back.”
Gu Erhu still felt reluctant to leave Xu Huaying.
Gu Qingling pouted dismissively. “We’re Mom’s children. No matter what we do, she won’t abandon us. She was just trying to scare us. If something happens to us, she’ll be the most heartbroken.”
“Lingling is right. We’ll force Mom to make another choice—does she want that freeloader and his burden, or us? We’re her children. I don’t believe she’d really abandon us.”
Gu Dahuo smiled confidently. “Let’s go home first. Even if we leave, we’ll pick the right time.”
On Sunday morning, Xiao Huai Dong and Xu Huaying planned to take the children to the department store to buy wedding supplies.
Before they could leave, the postman knocked on the gate and delivered a letter.
Seeing Xiao Huai Dong’s name on it, Xiao Nanchu curiously leaned closer, wondering who had written to her father.
Could it be her grandparents, informing them in advance to prepare a room?
The next moment, Xu Huaying’s excited voice rang out.
“Brother Dong, it’s a commendation letter from the police for your brave act!”
As she spoke, she pulled five ten-yuan bills from the envelope.
“There’s also a reward!”
Though it wasn’t a large sum, it was an honor for Xiao Huai Dong.
Xu Huaying was overjoyed.
Xiao Nanchu finally felt relieved. As long as it wasn’t a letter from her grandparents, it was fine.
She feared they might come and cause trouble before her father had settled down here.
Two days later, Xiao Huai Dong and Xu Huaying got married. The house was decorated festively.
Xu Huaying invited her close friend Liu Fanghua and her family, several colleagues from the steel factory, and two neighboring families.
They hired a chef from a state-owned restaurant and prepared two tables of food, with one extra table as backup.
Just as the banquet was about to begin, Gu Dahuo brought the Gu family over.
Xu Huaying asked her friend Liu Fanghua to help receive the guests, while she and Xiao Huai Dong went to the courtyard entrance.
Those who came included not only Gu Weiguo and Niu Erya, but also Gu Dahuo’s uncle Gu Jie and his wife Liu Hongmei.
“Oh my, Sixth Son’s wife, we didn’t stop you from remarrying, but you should have told us!”
As soon as Niu Erya entered the courtyard, she dramatically slapped her thigh, her eyes scanning Xu Huaying in her wedding dress, clicking her tongue in exaggerated distress.