1970s, Textile Factory Family Compound.
“Oh my, why hasn’t the groom arrived yet? The wedding ceremony is about to begin!”
The matchmaker anxiously ran back and forth several times, but still couldn’t see any sign of the groom.
In the Lu family courtyard, the wedding guests had already started gossiping.
“Could it be that Lu Changzheng isn’t coming? For the groom to run away on his wedding day – what a slap in the face for the bride!”
“If you ask me, the Lu family never took Jian Ning seriously. She’s been part of the family for three years already, and only now are they holding the wedding ceremony.”
“Tsk tsk tsk, this Jian Ning is really pitiful. To be looked down upon like this even before getting married – who knows how she’ll manage after the wedding!”
Inside the house, Lu Xiaomei comforted Jian Ning, “Sister-in-law, don’t worry. My brother was delayed by some matters, he’ll be here soon!”
Before the dressing mirror, Jian Ning slowly raised her head. Seeing the young, though quite plump, face reflected in the mirror, she couldn’t suppress her excitement, her hands unconsciously clenching into fists.
She had actually been reborn – and on her wedding day with Lu Changzheng!
In her previous life, she had loved Lu Changzheng desperately, marrying him against her family’s wishes.
After registering their marriage with Lu Changzheng, he immediately returned to his military unit and stayed away for three years.
He left her at home to care for his parents and younger siblings.
Lu Changzheng’s mother was bedridden year-round, his father was difficult and hard to please, and his younger siblings were still young. She had single-handedly held the family together.
After three years of hard work caring for them, Lu Changzheng finally returned from the army to hold their belated wedding ceremony.
But on this very wedding day, Lu Changzheng would make her the laughingstock of everyone…
Just then, shouts erupted from outside, “The groom is here! The groom is here!”
“He’s here, he’s here! Bride, quick, quick! The auspicious time is almost upon us, we can’t delay any longer!”
As she spoke, the matchmaker came over to escort Jian Ning outside.
Lu Xiaomei quickly followed.
Just as they reached the doorway, the matchmaker froze, “Groom, you’re…”
Jian Ning looked up.
Just like in her previous life, Lu Changzheng had returned. He wore the black suit Jian Ning had specially prepared for him, looking every bit the groom.
Except beside him stood a woman—
Wearing a red wedding dress identical to Jian Ning’s, her face exquisitely made up.
The two stood together, a perfect match – the talented scholar and the beautiful lady.
Why were there two brides?
The wedding guests were stunned.
Lu Changzheng, holding the woman’s hand, strode over to Jian Ning and stopped before her.
After giving her only a brief glance, he turned to face the crowd and declared,
“Everyone, listen. My late elder brother had an engagement with Hongyun. So today, I will not only marry Jian Ning, but also take Hongyun as my wife on behalf of my brother.”
His words caused an immediate uproar. “What? Is Lu Changzheng… planning to marry two branches of a family?”
“This is too humiliating! Would Jian Ning ever agree?”
“Jian Ning loves him so much she broke ties with her own family for him. What can she do even if she disagrees! Besides, she’s already been with the Lu family for three years – what other family would want her now!”
“To be honest, with an ugly, fat woman like Jian Ning, it’s already kind of Lu Changzheng to be willing to marry her. If it were me, I wouldn’t take her even if she paid me!”
“Hahaha, exactly! If she hadn’t been clinging to Lu Changzheng back then, with his qualifications, how could he possibly have wanted her!”
Jian Ning stood there, listening to these words, yet her heart remained unruffled.
Lu Changzheng watched Jian Ning with a cold gaze, a faint, mocking curve lifting the corner of his lips—tinged with disdain and contempt.
He was certain Jian Ning wouldn’t dare resist, which was why he hadn’t consulted her before directly bringing Lin Hongyun to the wedding ceremony.
“The auspicious hour has arrived, let the ceremony begin!”
Lu Changzheng glanced at the matchmaker and spoke, then took Lin Hongyun’s hand and strode forward.
Lin Hongyun, held by his hand, flashed a triumphant smile in her eyes—there and gone in an instant.
The matchmaker froze for a moment but quickly recovered, immediately tugging at Jian Ning. “Bride, the auspicious hour is here, let’s go over too!”
As she spoke, she tried to pull Jian Ning along.
Jian Ning stood rooted to the spot, unmoving. She turned coldly and fixed her gaze on Lu Changzheng.
In her past life, she had foolishly believed Lu Changzheng was a man of deep loyalty and affection. So, despite her minor grievances, she had endured.
She thought that if she just endured a little, Lu Changzheng would see her sincerity and treat her well.
Thus, on their wedding night, when Lu Changzheng proposed taking his sister-in-law Lin Hongyun with him to his military post, leaving Jian Ning behind to care for his parents, she had initially objected. But after he promised to bring her over as soon as possible, she had reluctantly agreed.
In the end, she waited until she had sent off both of Lu Jia’s elderly parents and raised his younger siblings before Lu Changzheng finally returned.
By then, she was forty-two years old—worn out from years of labor, aged and haggard, her health completely broken.
She stood in stark contrast to Lin Hongyun, who remained well-preserved by Lu Changzheng’s side.
It was only then that she discovered Lu Changzheng and Lin Hongyun had long been legally married and living as husband and wife.
The shock of this truth was too much for her to bear. She went mad on the spot, was committed to an asylum by Lu Changzheng, and ultimately met a tragic end.
The memories of her past life flashed before her eyes as vividly as if they were yesterday, yet separated by an entire lifetime.
Jian Ning clenched her fists, hatred surging through her heart instantly. In her past life, she had been too naive, too foolish.
Reborn into this life, she would indulge no one who caused her displeasure.
Seeing Jian Ning immobile, the matchmaker lowered her voice. “Bride, it’s bad to delay the auspicious hour. Let’s complete the ceremony first, and we can discuss the rest later…”
Jian Ning shoved her aside and strode decisively toward the banquet tables.
The crowd stared in stunned silence, unsure what Jian Ning intended to do.
Meanwhile, Old Man Lu had just emerged and was about to speak when he saw Jian Ning overturn a table with a single motion.
Weighing nearly two hundred pounds, Jian Ning possessed formidable strength—flipping tables was child’s play to her.
Instantly, chaos erupted. The scene was a mess, and the terrified guests scrambled back, staring in disbelief.
After overturning the first table, Jian Ning moved toward the second.
The people seated there recoiled in fear, someone unable to hold back a cry: “She’s gone mad! Jian Ning’s lost her mind!”
“Stop! Stop this at once!”
Lu Baishun’s face turned livid with rage, fury shooting straight to the crown of his head.
Jian Ning acted as if she hadn’t heard, overturning tables with swift, decisive movements—one after another, each flip bringing her immense satisfaction.
To her ears, the sound of shattering plates and bowls was exceptionally pleasing.
In her past life, she had suppressed herself for decades, lived meekly for decades, only to end up with cancer. What was the point?
In this life, she would live for her own satisfaction!
Looking at the mess in the courtyard, the complex expressions on the guests’ faces, and Lu Baishun’s trembling face flushed with anger.
Lu Changzheng’s expression instantly darkened as he rushed over to Jian Ning in a few quick steps, demanding coldly,
“Jian Ning! What do you think you’re doing!”
This was outright rebellion—wasn’t this just trampling their Lu family’s reputation underfoot and grinding it into the dirt?