Chapter 31: Making a scene at Xu Zhenhua’s wedding (1)

Jiang Hongmei glanced at the sky and said, “I think it’s about time. Let’s go.”

Su Meijuan gave a faint smile. “Thank you for your trouble.”

Originally, Xu Zhenhua and Wu Lifang had planned to hold their wedding in the military canteen, but the army hadn’t seen such a celebration for several years. Most soldiers held weddings in their hometowns. Only Xu Zhenhua and Wu Lifang, both being soldiers, chose to have the ceremony at the military district. Someone suggested holding it in the canteen of the housing compound so that military wives and children could join in the fun. Xu Zhenhua and Wu Lifang naturally had no objection.

By now, a central area in the canteen had been cleared and decorated as the pledge area, surrounded with some balloons and red ribbons. Xu Zhenhua and Wu Lifang, cheered on by their comrades, stood on the pledge stage.

Tang Wanning and Su Meijuan entered the canteen and saw this scene. They exchanged a subtle glance, and Tang Wanning began to build up her emotions.

In the next moment, tears streamed down her face like broken pearls, unstoppable. Tang Wanning choked out, “Zhenhua… it’s really you. You’re still alive.”

Though her voice wasn’t loud, Xu Zhenhua heard it perfectly. In an instant, his body froze, his face, which had carried a smile, stiffened. Impossible… it can’t be her. She should be in the rural hometown. How could she appear here?

Xu Zhenhua looked toward the canteen entrance in panic. When he saw that slender figure, he staggered and almost fell. Even though Tang Wanning had become thinner and tanner, Xu Zhenhua recognized her immediately.

His heart raced like a runaway engine, “thump-thump,” as if it might burst from his chest.

The once noisy canteen fell silent, everyone turning to look at the entrance—including Wu Lifang. There stood a dark-skinned, very slim girl, whose beauty was still undeniable. For a moment, the only sound in the canteen was Tang Wanning’s sorrowful crying.

Though Wu Lifang hadn’t seen Tang Wanning before, seeing Xu Zhenhua’s reaction gave her a rough idea. She realized Tang Wanning couldn’t be allowed to stay here; she had to be removed quickly. Suppressing her unease, Wu Lifang said gently, “Zhenhua, is this your relative? Go see what’s wrong with her.”

Xu Zhenhua snapped back to his senses. Sitting below, Bai Xiuying and Xu Dingbang shrank back, afraid Tang Wanning would notice them.

Xu Zhenhua hurriedly stepped toward Tang Wanning. “Wanning, why are you here? Come here, I… I need to talk to you…”

Before his hand could reach her arm, Tang Wanning, holding back her nausea, rushed into his arms and hugged him tightly. She couldn’t let Xu Zhenhua drag her away. Though Tang Wanning was strong, Xu Zhenhua had been a soldier for many years, and his skills were formidable.

Choking back tears, Tang Wanning confronted him, “Why didn’t you call home to let us know you were alive? Do you know how worried my parents and I were? When we heard the news of your death, I even wanted to go with you, but I couldn’t leave my parents—they’d already lost you. If I’d given up, who would take care of them? And the villagers… they all say that I brought death upon you. If that weren’t the case, why… why were you fine before our marriage, and only after we married did something happen to you…”

Tang Wanning wanted to continue, but Xu Zhenhua covered her mouth with his hand.

It was already too late; she had revealed their marriage. Instantly, the canteen erupted in heated discussion.

Jiang Hongmei, standing beside Su Meijuan, widened her eyes. She knew Tang Wanning liked Xu Zhenhua, but she hadn’t expected the two were already married. This was explosive news! Xu Zhenhua, a soldier, had married a woman in his hometown and now another woman in the military—this was bigamy!

Fortunately… fortunately he hadn’t chosen her niece at that time, or else Jiang Hongmei would have been scolded by her brother and sister-in-law. She patted her chest, relieved. But Xu Zhenhua was truly shameless—taking from both sides. Now it had all blown up.

While Jiang Hongmei was secretly relieved, one military wife leaned over. “Hongmei, I see you brought this girl in. What’s going on?”

“I don’t know,” Jiang Hongmei replied, stunned. “I just found out Little Tang is the woman Xu Zhenhua married in the countryside.”

Another wife looked skeptical. “Really? You brought her in and you didn’t know?”

“I really didn’t,” Jiang Hongmei said seriously. “But I suspected something unusual between her and Xu Zhenhua. I just didn’t expect them to be married.”

Seeing Jiang Hongmei’s serious expression, the wife believed her about seventy to eighty percent. Another wife asked, “Are they really married?”

“I think so,” Jiang Hongmei said firmly. “Look at Little Tang—her eyes are swollen from crying. And look at Captain Xu, he’s even covering her mouth. Clearly guilty.”

“Now that you put it that way, it does make sense. If Captain Xu weren’t guilty, why cover her mouth?”

“I agree,” said the wife, pausing. “Did you notice just now? When Little Tang spoke, Captain Xu’s face turned pale. That’s guilt, isn’t it?”

As more people joined the discussion, Xu Zhenhua and Wu Lifang’s expressions grew increasingly awkward. At this moment, they were cursing Xu Dingbang and Bai Xiuying in their hearts—they hadn’t been careful, letting Tang Wanning show up. Why, of all times, did she arrive just as Xu Zhenhua had informed his parents he was alive?

Su Meijuan, seeing her daughter’s mouth covered by Xu Zhenhua, exploded. “Xu Zhenhua, what do you mean by this? Why are you covering Wanning’s mouth? Do you know what my daughter has gone through this past year? She not only had to care for your parents and manage everything at home, but also endure the village gossip. Later, she even thought about following you. And you… you treat her like this? Have you no conscience?”