Today, Jiang Guangzong had gone all out for his wedding procession.
He had specifically invited several of his coworkers from the Steel Factory's driver team to serve as his groomsmen, and they even drove one of the factory's large military-green trucks to fetch the bride. He looked immensely proud of himself.
Before arriving, he had already made up his mind.
Today, he would make sure Su Yun saw exactly how enviable it was to marry him.
Unfortunately for him, Su Yun had already gone to work. She couldn't be bothered to attend his wedding.
---
By noon, the area around the Jiang family's apartment building was decorated with bright red silk ribbons, creating a festive atmosphere.
More than a dozen banquet tables had been set up in the open space downstairs.
Some guests chatted leisurely, others exchanged greetings, while servers moved busily among the tables, pouring tea and carrying refreshments.
Widow He and her son deliberately chose one of the best tables.
Ignoring Madam Jiang's gloomy expression, they leisurely cracked sunflower seeds, ate peanuts, and enthusiastically struck up conversations with everyone nearby.
Not far away, however, the elderly women who had been flattering Widow He earlier were stopped at the entrance.
One short-haired woman wearing a brightly colored floral blouse proudly lifted her chin and declared to the security guard,
"We were personally invited by Sister He! How dare you refuse to let us in?"
The guard replied expressionlessly,
"Who's Sister He? I don't know anyone by that name."
The woman was immediately speechless.
After noticing the Security Department uniform he was wearing, she wisely decided not to argue.
Just then, she spotted Widow He sitting nearby.
Excitedly waving her arms, she shouted,
"Sister He! Sister He! We're over here!"
Seeing this, Widow He immediately turned her head away guiltily, pretending she hadn't seen them at all.
---
At another table, Deputy Factory Director Jiang escorted several senior leaders from the Steel Factory to their seats.
The first thing he did was respectfully pour tea for Factory Director Qin before bringing up the incident involving Su Wenshan from several days earlier.
"Director Qin, today is my son Guangzong's wedding. It proves that Director Su truly misunderstood me that day. As it happens, I've also invited Director Su today. Later, would you be willing to help mediate between us and let us reconcile?"
Director Qin nodded approvingly.
Turning to everyone at the table, he said,
"See? This is exactly the kind of broad-minded attitude our Steel Factory needs more of."
"Deputy Director Jiang has been wronged, yet he still values harmony above all else."
"When you get down to it, the disagreement between him and Director Su was just a misunderstanding. After all these days, I believe Director Su has surely realized his mistake."
"Since Deputy Director Jiang has already expressed himself so sincerely, I'll take the liberty of acting as mediator today."
No sooner had he finished speaking than someone laughed.
"Speak of the devil! Look over there. Isn't that Director Su and Section Chief Xia?"
Indeed, Su Wenshan had arrived.
Or rather, he had been practically dragged there by Xia Xingguo.
Along the way, Xia Xingguo had repeatedly tried to persuade him.
"Old Su, you have to come today."
"It's Deputy Director Jiang's son's wedding. He even sent you an invitation."
"If you don't attend, people will say you're petty."
"Besides, refusing to come will only make it look like you have a guilty conscience. Wouldn't that make Jiang Zhengyi even more smug?"
Su Wenshan answered in a low, gloomy voice.
"I just can't understand it."
"How could Deputy Director Jiang lie straight to my face?"
"He threatened me with my own ears listening. I'm not deaf. There's no way I misheard him."
Xia Xingguo sighed and patted him on the shoulder.
"Old Su, let it go."
"His son is getting married today, which means their family won't be thinking about Su Yun anymore. You can finally stop worrying."
"Besides, the whole matter is already over."
"If you keep refusing to let it go, everyone will only think you're making trouble over nothing."
"And remember, he's still our factory's Deputy Director. Offending him won't do us any favors."
"If he decides to make life difficult for you later, won't you be the one who suffers?"
Those words made Su Wenshan think of his children living in the countryside.
Left with no choice, he gritted his teeth and forced himself to come.
---
As soon as Xia Xingguo and Su Wenshan arrived, Deputy Director Jiang immediately stood up with a warm smile.
"Director Su, sit here beside me so we can have a good chat."
With an awkward expression, Su Wenshan stiffly took the seat beside him.
His entire body felt uncomfortable.
He didn't know where to put his hands or feet.
Only after Xia Xingguo secretly tugged at his sleeve, signaling him to relax, did Su Wenshan cough lightly and manage to loosen up a little.
Throughout the entire exchange, Deputy Director Jiang maintained a warm smile.
He raised his wine glass.
"Director Su, let me offer you this toast."
"I sincerely apologize."
"My words and actions caused you to misunderstand me."
"That was my fault, and I've reflected deeply on it."
With that, he drained the glass in one gulp, looking completely sincere.
Director Qin immediately led the applause.
"Excellent!"
Everyone else quickly joined in.
Looking earnestly at Su Wenshan, Director Qin said,
"Director Su, you've seen how sincere Deputy Director Jiang is."
"Why don't you also have a drink?"
"Once you finish this glass, we'll consider the misunderstanding between the two of you settled. Agreed?"
Inside, Su Wenshan resisted strongly.
Deputy Director Jiang appeared to be apologizing, yet every sentence subtly portrayed himself as the innocent victim.
Which naturally implied that Su Wenshan had been the one in the wrong.
Keeping those thoughts to himself, Su Wenshan lowered his head, remained expressionless, and said nothing.
The atmosphere immediately became awkward.
Director Qin's face darkened.
He felt that Su Wenshan simply didn't appreciate the gesture.
Seeing the situation deteriorate, Xia Xingguo secretly kicked Su Wenshan under the table.
Su Wenshan merely shifted slightly without reacting.
Growing anxious, Xia Xingguo's eye twitched.
Finally, he stood up, raised his own glass, and addressed Director Qin.
"Director, Director Su is an honest man who isn't good with words."
"Actually, on our way here, he'd already admitted he was wrong."
"He's just too embarrassed to say it out loud."
"Please don't take offense."
Director Qin merely snorted dismissively and turned his head away.
The atmosphere instantly turned cold.
Xia Xingguo inhaled deeply, preparing to empty his glass.
Before he could, Su Wenshan suddenly grabbed it from his hand and drank it all in one swallow.
Thud!
He set the empty glass firmly onto the table and nodded.
"Yes."
Things had already come this far.
If everyone insisted he was wrong...
...then so be it.
Only then did Director Qin turn back toward him with a satisfied smile.
"That's more like it."
"We're all comrades working in the same factory."
"If there's ever another misunderstanding, just talk it out."
Deputy Director Jiang immediately echoed his words with a cheerful smile.
"The Director is absolutely right!"
"Let me be the first to promise that from today onward, I'll never have another conflict with anyone in the factory."
"If any misunderstanding ever arises, I'll explain it immediately and never trouble the Director again."
After hearing him speak so nobly, everyone else hurriedly raised their hands and made similar promises.
In the end, despite the bitterness filling his heart, Su Wenshan had no choice but to follow along and promise that he would never create trouble again.
---
Before the wedding banquet officially began, the groomsmen from the Steel Factory's driver team escorted Jiang Guangzong and He Hua downstairs.
Both wore large red wedding flowers pinned to their chests and smiled as they stood surrounded by the guests.
He Hua's smile was completely genuine.
She was finally marrying into the Jiang family and about to enjoy a life of luxury.
From now on, only others would envy her.
She would never have to envy anyone else again.
After getting married, she would no longer have to scrub the filthy public toilet in the alley every day.
She wouldn't have to wait on her older brother like a servant.
Nor would the neighborhood children chase after her shouting that they wanted to overthrow her.
Compared to her happiness, Jiang Guangzong's smile looked noticeably forced.
Ever since the incident at the guesthouse, he had been convinced that He Hua had deliberately set him up.
Otherwise, how could he explain it?
The moment they had finished sleeping together, someone had accidentally opened the wrong room—and that person had conveniently been accompanied by several people who all knew him.
But none of that mattered anymore.
His father was right.
Since He Hua had dared to scheme against him, she would have to bear the consequences.
Their marriage was already inevitable.
Once today's wedding was completed without incident, he would follow his father's advice.
After a short time, he would simply invent some excuse and divorce that despicable woman.
Then his father would carefully arrange everything and help him marry Su Yun instead.
Thinking of that, Jiang Guangzong's smile became increasingly smug.
Su Yun actually dared to reject me before.
Once she marries into the Jiang family, I'll make sure to teach her a harsh lesson...
I'll make her understand exactly where she went wrong.