Under the dim light, Lu Chenyuan slowly approached, his breath falling on Su Wanxing’s face.
Her heart raced.
Though they had shared a first kiss before, it had been under urgent circumstances, and she barely remembered how it felt. This time, she was determined to make a beautiful memory.
But the warmth didn’t land on her lips—it landed on her eyes.
To be precise, Lu Chenyuan’s fingertip rested on Su Wanxing’s eye.
“You’ve got eye gunk.”
He wiggled his finger.
Su Wanxing opened her eyes, both embarrassed and angry!
The atmosphere was so intimate, she had clearly indicated her feelings, and he… just wiped eye gunk?
Was his brain missing a few screws?
“It’s late. You should head back,” Su Wanxing scowled, pushing him out and closing the door.
Lu Chenyuan could sense she was angry, but he didn’t know why. He didn’t mind a little eye gunk.
The next morning, just as dawn broke, several familiar sisters-in-law came knocking at Su Wanxing’s door.
People in this era were very warm-hearted. Experienced, they helped Su Wanxing change clothes, braid her hair, fold the blankets with red silk, and arrange longans and red dates.
Though the small room seemed crowded and noisy, everything was orderly.
Su Wanxing wore a festive dress, her hair pinned up with small curls framing one side of her face—a style of the era. A red “Bride” flower adorned her chest as she sat by the bed, waiting for Lu Chenyuan.
The young women whispered among themselves, planning how to behave when the groom arrived.
Su Wanxing didn’t hear a word, her mind blank with anticipation and nervousness.
When Lu Chenyuan arrived, her heart raced.
She remembered her previous wedding—she hadn’t smiled once, while Lu Chenyuan greeted everyone cheerfully.
But now, she was thrilled to finally marry him.
The wedding was simple, held in the military canteen.
A brief ceremony, a joyful feast, the atmosphere lively and warm.
Lu Chenyuan’s parents were grinning from ear to ear, but not a single member of Su Wanxing’s side appeared.
She had heard that Su Hongyi took Su Yaozu and her brother to stay with relatives in the countryside, distancing themselves from Su Wanxing.
As they were toasting, a commotion arose at the door.
Su Xueqing, wearing a faded blouse, burst in: “This marriage cannot happen!”
Pointing at Su Wanxing, she shouted, “Su Wanxing is a capitalist’s daughter! Part of the ‘Black Five Categories’! She cannot marry a soldier! She should be sent to the countryside for reform through labor!”
The room fell silent, but soon a rising murmur of voices erupted.
Lu Chenyuan’s face darkened like the calm before a storm.
The perceptive soldiers quickly grabbed Su Xueqing, trying to drag her out.
Today was the most important day of the groom’s life; no one could ruin it!
Su Xueqing struggled desperately. “Are you all blind? Su Wanxing is a capitalist’s child! Doing all the dirty work exploiting the laboring people! Shouldn’t she be arrested?”
Some high-ranking officials attending the wedding were present.
One sighed heavily, approached Su Xueqing, and waved to the soldiers to release her.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Su Xueqing.”
Su Xueqing, seeing hope, exclaimed excitedly, “You’re the most reasonable! Su Wanxing isn’t a good person! She ruined the Su family, lived outside unmarried, and we don’t know which wild man she’s messing with! She must not marry Brother Lu!”
“You’re also surnamed Su? What’s your relation to Su Wanxing?” the official continued.
Su Xueqing froze, unable to answer.
If Su Wanxing was a capitalist’s child, should she also be sent to the countryside for reform?
Absolutely not!
With her father and brother already in the countryside, she risked everything to come here, intending to ruin Su Wanxing’s wedding! She couldn’t drag herself into it!
“Leader, I’m not like her…”
Su Xueqing tried to explain.
But the official cut her off: “Indeed, you are different! Comrade Su Wanxing donated the entire Su family textile factory to the country. Such generosity—you don’t have that!”
“Donate… to the country? Hahaha!”
Su Xueqing felt like she’d heard the biggest joke: “That factory was clearly mortgaged to Chen Wanyi from Port City! And she wants credit? She’s a fraud!”
“Whether she’s a fraud is not for you to judge!”
The official turned to Su Wanxing and saluted. “Comrade Su Wanxing, for your righteous act, I thank you on behalf of the people!”
As he finished, a soldier brought over a certificate and a monetary award to Su Wanxing.
Su Wanxing, slightly embarrassed, said, “It’s nothing. As a citizen, it’s my duty to contribute to the country.”
Su Xueqing, unwilling to give up, snatched the certificate, and only after reading it did she collapse to the ground, powerless.
She suddenly realized: “It’s you! Chen Wanyi is you, right? Su Wanxing, you fraud! You took the Su family’s factory!”
The room fell silent.
Su Wanxing smiled faintly at her. “Evidence?”
“Evidence is…” Su Xueqing was speechless.
She had no evidence.
“No evidence, yet you dare slander a soldier’s family?”
An hot-tempered official slammed the table: “I’ve tolerated you long enough! You ruined a perfectly good wedding! Someone! Take her to the police!”
Soldiers dragged Su Xueqing away as she screamed: “Su Wanxing, you don’t love Lu Chenyuan! You still have Xu Wenbin in your heart! You only married him for his power and status!”
Unfortunately, no one believed her.
While living in the family compound, Su Wanxing and Lu Chenyuan laughed and talked every day—how could anyone say they didn’t love each other?
During his hospitalization, Su Wanxing had been with him constantly, preparing every meal—hardly a sign of indifference.
Fortunately, the wedding continued uninterrupted.
After the couple drank the cross-cup wine, everyone crowded around for hugs and cheek-to-cheek embraces, the atmosphere reaching its peak…
After toasts, a young soldier quietly approached Su Wanxing. “Sister-in-law, someone outside is looking for you.”
“Who?”
The soldier scratched his head, embarrassed, but finally whispered: “Your ex-boyfriend.”