With both the bride and groom present, Factory Director Qin, serving as the officiant, immediately stood up. Smiling warmly beneath the portrait of the Great Leader, he led the couple through the wedding vows.
Meanwhile, just as expected, many residents from the courtyard had arrived for the banquet with their children.
Aunt Wang, in particular, had not only brought her three sons but had even brought along Grandma Gao's dog.
The lively group marched in together, picked an excellent table, and sat down.
The moment Madam Jiang spotted Aunt Wang, anger surged through her.
She had rarely lost a fight in her life, and the last time Aunt Wang had beaten her had become one of the greatest humiliations she'd ever suffered.
As soon as Aunt Wang sat down, she began stuffing herself with meat while loudly calling to everyone else,
"Come on, eat! Don't be shy! It's Deputy Director Jiang's banquet—if you don't eat, you're only cheating yourself!"
She laughed triumphantly.
Madam Jiang exploded with rage.
In a moment of blind impulse, she completely lost her reason and ordered her youngest son, Jiang Yaozu, to charge straight at Aunt Wang.
Bang!
The chubby boy crashed into Aunt Wang so hard that she fell flat onto her back.
"Ouch!"
"Mom!"
Seeing their mother knocked over, Aunt Wang's three sons didn't even bother helping her up.
Instead, they immediately turned on Jiang Yaozu.
"You fat jerk! You're asking for a beating!"
The children instantly began brawling.
Grandma Gao's dog became wildly excited at the commotion, barking nonstop as it circled the crowd.
Gao Tianci also seized the opportunity to jump into the fight, helping the Wang brothers beat up Jiang Yaozu.
Although Jiang Yaozu was much heavier, he was far too slow.
Within moments, the boys pinned him to the ground and pummeled him mercilessly.
He wailed loudly for help.
The entire scene instantly descended into chaos.
Seeing her precious son being beaten, Madam Jiang's eyes turned red.
With a shriek, she rushed forward, grabbed the youngest Wang boy—Wang Tongsuo—and began hitting him.
Furious, Aunt Wang jumped to her feet, rushed behind Madam Jiang, and grabbed a fistful of her hair.
"You shameless old hag!"
"Picking on little kids? Have you no shame at all?"
Madam Jiang screamed,
"Ah! You old bitch! You actually told your little bastards to beat my son! Let go of me!"
"Believe it or not, I'll have your husband's job taken away!"
Aunt Wang spat back,
"Go ahead and try!"
"I'd love to see whether Deputy Director Jiang's hands can reach that far!"
"Your family already tried to ruin Director Su's family, and now you're after mine too?"
"I dare you!"
As she spoke, she yanked out a huge clump of Madam Jiang's hair.
Madam Jiang cried out in agony.
Watching the fight, Widow He became strangely excited.
Still clutching the unfinished pork knuckle she'd been eating, she hurried over.
"Oh my! My dear in-law!"
"You're really suffering today!"
Turning to Aunt Wang, she added,
"Sister Wang, go easy!"
"My in-law is already nearly bald. Be careful not to pull out the few hairs she has left!"
After saying that, Widow He casually stuffed the pork knuckle into her pocket, wiped her greasy mouth with one hand, and dramatically shouted,
"Don't worry, my dear in-law! I'm here to help you!"
As she yelled, she deliberately smeared her greasy hands all over Madam Jiang's brand-new clothes.
Her exaggerated shouting finally drew everyone's attention.
Deputy Director Jiang frowned and turned toward the disturbance.
The moment he realized the troublemaker was his own wife, his face instantly darkened.
That stupid woman!
She actually dares to cause a scene today of all days!
Just then, Jiang Guangzong, who had been going around toasting the guests, also heard the commotion.
Seeing his mother pinned down by Aunt Wang, panic flashed across his face.
He sprinted over.
"Damn it! Let go of my mother!"
Without hesitation, he kicked Aunt Wang hard in the waist.
"Oof!"
She collapsed to one side.
Wang Jinsuo immediately released Jiang Yaozu and charged straight at Jiang Guangzong.
Opening his mouth wide, he bit down fiercely on Jiang Guangzong's wrist.
The pain made Jiang Guangzong jump around wildly, but no matter how hard he shook, he couldn't throw the boy off.
"You little brat!"
"You dare bite me?!"
His eyes filled with fury as he raised his leg to kick Wang Jinsuo.
But before he could move, Wang Jinsuo's two younger brothers each grabbed one of his legs.
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Grandma Gao's dog became even more excited, happily weaving through the crowd while wagging its tail.
Its barking soon attracted several other neighborhood dogs, turning the entire place into complete chaos.
He Hua came running over, screaming,
"Wang Jinsuo! Let go!"
"Hurry up and let go of my Guangzong!"
"If you bite his hand badly enough to ruin it, can you afford to compensate him?"
Of all places to bite, the boy had chosen Guangzong's hand.
His hands were how he earned his living as a truck driver.
If they were seriously injured, what would become of him?
After all, Wang Jinsuo was only twelve.
With both Jiang Guangzong and He Hua pulling at him together, he eventually released his bite.
The moment he let go, he made a funny face at them.
Ignoring him, He Hua quickly pulled Wang Yinsuo and Wang Tongsuo away before anxiously grabbing Jiang Guangzong's wrist.
"Guangzong!"
"Did that little brat bite you badly?"
Jiang Guangzong was just about to explode with rage when Madam Jiang's hoarse voice rang out.
"Damn it!"
"I'm going to fight every one of you little bastards today!"
She had just climbed to her feet.
Her clothes were filthy, her hair hung in complete disarray, and she looked ready to fight to the death.
"Enough!"
Deputy Director Jiang's thunderous shout immediately stopped her.
The instant she met his warning glare, Madam Jiang instinctively trembled.
A wave of fear washed over her.
She hurriedly stepped backward, trying to disappear into the crowd.
Taking advantage of the moment, Jiang Yaozu threw himself into his mother's arms.
His chubby face was filthy with dirt as he burst into loud sobs.
"Mom..."
"Those little bastards are too strong!"
"I couldn't beat them!"
"Waaah..."
"You have to avenge me!"
"I want to skin them alive!"
Madam Jiang's heart ached for her son as she hurriedly comforted him.
Widow He, who loved adding fuel to the fire, immediately slapped her thigh dramatically and ran over.
"My dear in-law!"
"You've suffered so much today!"
"I came too late and couldn't protect you!"
"But don't worry."
"Now that I'm here, let's see who dares bully you again!"
With an expression as though she were prepared to sacrifice her life, she spread her arms protectively in front of Madam Jiang and shouted to everyone,
"Listen up!"
"Anyone who dares pull my in-law's hair again will be making an enemy of me!"
"My name is Yang Jinhua, and I absolutely won't allow it!"
The repeated mentions of her baldness made Madam Jiang furious.
From behind Widow He, she spat viciously.
"Get the hell out of my way!"
"Everyone from your courtyard is rotten!"
"You're all snakes from the same nest!"
"A whole courtyard full of people who deserve to be shot!"
"Oh?"
"You foul-mouthed hag!"
"You're the one who deserves to be shot!"
The courtyard residents immediately united against her.
Not a single one looked pleased.
Especially Aunt Wang.
Supported to her feet by Grandma Gao and the others, she rubbed her aching lower back before loudly addressing the crowd.
"Everyone, come take a look!"
"This is the quality of the Deputy Factory Director's wife!"
"Look at that superior attitude!"
"If you didn't know better, you'd think her husband was a national leader!"
Grandma Gao and the others quickly chimed in.
"Exactly!"
"Look how arrogant she is!"
"As if she's someone important."
"Who even wants to eat at her banquet?"
"What rotten luck!"
Hearing the growing criticism, Deputy Director Jiang could no longer remain seated.
Behind him sat leaders from every level of the Steel Factory.
His wife's disgrace reflected directly upon him.
She might even drag him down with her.
Putting on a forced smile, he stepped forward to smooth things over.
"Everyone... everyone..."
"Today is my son's wedding."
"My wife may be a bit impulsive by nature, but surely she wouldn't intentionally cause trouble on such an important day."
"There must have been some misunderstanding."
Aunt Wang snorted coldly.
"What misunderstanding?"
"Deputy Director Jiang, you're really something."
"You're always talking about misunderstandings."
"According to you, you're right about everything."
"But everyone here saw exactly what happened today."
"The moment we from the courtyard sat down, your wife came charging over with that child and knocked me flat onto the ground."
"It happened in full view of everyone."
"I'm not lying."
"If you don't believe me, ask anyone here."
Several nearby guests immediately nodded.
"That's right."
"That's exactly what happened."
Deputy Director Jiang's smile froze.
Turning sharply toward his wife, he barked,
"What is wrong with you?"
"Today's Guangzong's wedding!"
"Did getting up too early scramble your brain?"
Then he quickly turned back toward Director Qin with an apologetic smile.
"Director..."
"My wife has been so nervous preparing for today's wedding that she hasn't been able to eat or sleep properly these past few days."
"I'm sure she didn't do it on purpose."