Chapter 26

Everyone was stunned by Lu Hongying’s sudden outburst!

Once they snapped out of it, Wang Dani quickly stepped forward to block Lu Hongying. “Hongying, stop joking.”

They hadn’t even invited Lu Hongying. How did she end up here?

“Aunt, you know how I feel about Brother Huaijing.”

Lu Hongying had told herself to stay calm, but seeing Lu Huaijing’s gentle treatment of Tang Wan had made her lose all sense of reason.

She wished she could take Tang Wan’s place.

Lu Huaimei, who was close to Lu Hongying, tried to step in. “Mother…”

“Shut up!”

Wang Dani sharply cut her off, her gaze fierce and intimidating.

Lu Huaimei, terrified, didn’t dare utter another word. Taking advantage of the moment, Lu Hongying dashed to the front of Lu Huaijing’s bicycle.

“Brother Huaijing, what does she have that I don’t?”

Lu Hongying pointed at Tang Wan. But when her gaze met Tang Wan’s stunningly beautiful face, she subconsciously rubbed her hands against her clothes, feeling inferior.

“You’re nothing compared to my sister!”

Tang Zhou, small but determined, pushed through the crowd and stood tall, his little face stern.

“My sister is not only educated but also beautiful. Brother Lu would have to be blind to choose you over her!”

Lu Hongying felt the sting of his words and retorted loudly:

“What good is being pretty? For us villagers, a wife needs to have wide hips and be good at bearing children. I’m hardworking! After we get married, I can take care of your meals, your clothes, and—”

“Lu Hongying!”

The village chief and his wife arrived in a hurry, their faces flushed with anger as they listened to Lu Hongying’s shameless remarks.

“Dad, Mom, is it wrong for me to courageously pursue my happiness?”

Lu Hongying’s eyes turned red as she cried, looking hopefully at Lu Huaijing, wishing he would change his mind.

But Lu Huaijing simply held Tang Wan’s hand tightly to reassure her. His cold gaze then fell on Lu Hongying.

“I don’t know you well. Stop saying ambiguous things, or my wife might misunderstand.”

“You held me!”

Lu Hongying’s face turned red and dark, deliberately raising her voice so Tang Wan could hear. “When you saved me, you accidentally touched me.”

Tang Wan: !!!

Even though she came from an open modern era, she wouldn’t have cared even if she were a woman from the 1970s. How could anyone mind Lu Huaijing helping someone in need?

“Honey, I didn’t!”

Lu Huaijing anxiously explained, afraid Tang Wan might misunderstand. But to his surprise, Tang Wan smiled calmly, looking as radiant as a fairy in a New Year painting.

“Even if you did accidentally touch her hand while saving her, I wouldn’t mind.

If saving someone means having to take responsibility for them, then who would dare help others in the future?”

She glanced at Lu Hongying, whose face had turned crimson. “If a married man saves someone, should he marry each person he rescues? What kind of logic is that?”

“Pfft…”

Someone in the crowd couldn’t help but laugh at Tang Wan’s reasoning. Tang Zhou stood even more firmly in front of Tang Wan.

“Sis, don’t worry. If anyone dares to bully you, I’ll fight them.”

“Thank you, Zhouzhou.”

Tang Wan couldn’t help but feel moved. For the first time, she felt like she truly belonged in this life as Tang Wan.

“I…”

Lu Hongying was left speechless by Tang Wan’s clear and logical arguments, but she clung to one point.

“I’ve waited for Brother Huaijing for three years. He owes me.”

Everyone in the courtyard was shocked by Lu Hongying’s boldness.

People had heard of someone trying to steal another’s spouse, but never on their wedding day.

How confident could she possibly be?

“Who would’ve thought the village chief’s daughter would be this shameless.”

“This young woman may be from the city, but she’s gorgeous. If she has kids, they’ll probably glow as white as her!”

“That Lu Hongying, dark and rough, doesn’t even have the sense to take a good look at herself in the mirror!”

Whispers and gossip filled the air, all of it reaching the ears of the village chief, who glared furiously at his wife.

“Your ‘well-raised’ daughter! Aren’t you going to take her home right now?”

“Hongying, let’s go home,” Wang Dingxiang, the chief’s wife, said as she tried to pull Lu Hongying away. But Lu Hongying refused.

“I’m not leaving!”

“Lu Hongying!”

The village chief was furious and slapped Lu Hongying across the face. “What have I told you? Are you so desperate you’d hang yourself on this one tree?”

“Why are you hitting her?”

Wang Dingxiang was heartbroken, hugging the sobbing Lu Hongying as tears streamed down her face.

“It’s not her fault that he has high standards and doesn’t want her! Why are you taking it out on your daughter?”

Deep down, Wang Dingxiang felt resentment toward the Lu family. Why did they have to marry someone from the city, ignoring her own daughter, who wasn’t lacking in any way?

“Father, you always said first come, first served. I clearly met Brother Huaijing first!”

Lu Hongying wept pitifully, as though Tang Wan had wronged her.

“Village Chief,”

Wang Dani couldn’t hold back anymore. She knew speaking out might offend people, but no one was going to slander her son.

“My third son’s engagement was decided when Jian Guo was still alive. The marriage was delayed because of the distance between the two families. If we’re talking about first come, first served, then Wanwan came first.”

These words made the village chief’s face flush with embarrassment, while Lu Hongying’s face stung even more.

“The wife of my third son’s grandfather once helped our Jian Guo greatly,” Wang Dani continued, her tone heavy with emotion. “If we’re talking about who deserves whom, it’s my third son who isn’t worthy of his wife. She’s such an outstanding young woman, and I’ve been so happy she chose him that I’ve lost sleep over it.

We’re all part of the same village. Let’s not let something like this ruin our harmony.”

“Mother,”

Lu Huaijing, unwilling to see his wife being bullied, stepped forward and addressed the village chief firmly.

“Uncle, I’ve never had any feelings for Lu Hongying. Please take her away so she doesn’t disrupt my wedding.”

As a soldier, Lu Huaijing’s words carried weight, and the villagers couldn’t help but respect him.

“Ah, it’s my fault,” the village chief sighed. He called his sons over.

“Take her back and lock her up!”

Wang Dingxiang, heartbroken for her daughter, silently cursed the Lu family as she left, glaring daggers at the radiant Tang Wan before leaving.

Tang Wan, puzzled by the glare, nearly rolled her eyes in disbelief.

After they left, Wang Dani cast a sharp glance at Lu Huaimei, who flinched in fear.

“Mother—”

“I’ll deal with you after the wedding!” Wang Dani snapped. She was furious enough to want to punish her youngest daughter but couldn’t afford to let anything ruin the wedding.

“Darling, I’m so sorry,” Lu Huaijing said, guilt written all over his face. Such an unpleasant scene on their wedding day—it was his fault.

“What are you even apologizing for?”

Tang Wan laughed lightly. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Helping someone back then was just your instinct as a soldier. How could I possibly blame you? Come on, weren’t you going to take me for a ride around the village?”

“Hold on tight, then!”

Tang Wan’s understanding and kindness made Lu Huaijing feel like he had found a true treasure. He pedaled the bicycle with all his might, sparks almost flying from the effort, his joy and energy boundless.

The entire Shiping Village wasn’t very large, and it was the end of the workday. Many people glanced over and saw Lu Huaijing happily riding his bicycle, carrying his beautiful new bride.