Su Dazhuang entered with his wife and Su Wenmao, grinning as soon as he crossed the threshold, “Wensong, you didn’t even give us a heads up about your big day today. I only heard about your wedding from the neighbors. Your parents passed away early; if there’s anything happening at home, why did you keep us at arm’s length?”
Most of the colleagues who attended Wensong’s wedding today were from the Bun Shop and the cooked food courtyard. They all knew the Su Family situation well.
When the trio entered, the previously bustling hall quieted down.
Su Dazhuang seemed to have forgotten all past conflicts, walking forward with a smile while pulling out a red envelope from his pocket.
“Is this the bride? Meeting for the first time. This is a little gift from your uncle and auntie. Look at how lovely this little girl is. We’ve always known our Wensong is blessed. Now he has become a factory manager and married such a beautiful wife. Your parents’ spirits in heaven must be at peace.”
Sun Lanlan glanced at the red envelope held up to her but didn’t take it.
Despite Su Dazhuang’s outwardly warm words, she didn’t miss the jealousy and resentment in Su Wenmao’s eyes beside him.
She had long heard from Wensong about how Su Wenmao’s relationship fell apart and his tendency to shirk work at the mechanical factory.
He was caught slacking off by Xu Changping not long ago and was promptly fired.
Xu Changping is now the deputy manager of the factory, and firing an intern like Su Wenmao was just a matter of a few words.
As the saying goes, a weasel’s New Year greeting to a chicken carries no good intentions.
Having been bullied by Su Dazhuang’s family so much before, Sun Lanlan had a bad impression of the entire family.
Still, they were ultimately part of the Su Family. Lanlan was unsure of what Wensong and Granny Su thought, whether they would consider familial ties or, due to the wedding, might not want to escalate the situation too badly and maintain a superficial facade.
Sun Lanlan’s refusal to take the envelope caused a momentary stiffness in Su Dazhuang’s smiling face, and Mrs. Su at his side immediately showed discontent.
“You child, how come you don’t know to accept a red envelope from your elder?” Coming from the countryside, being inexperienced in the world, not having any manners, what use is beauty?
Despite thinking this, she still took the red envelope from Su Dazhuang’s hand, intending to stuff it into Sun Lanlan’s hand.
For the sake of her and her son’s future employment, she still had to maintain appearances.
However, just as her hand was about to reach out, a large hand abruptly grabbed her wrist, stopping her action.
Following this large hand, she met Wensong’s gloomy gaze.
“What… what are you doing? This is a little token from your uncle and auntie. Let go, don’t make our new bride think it’s a joke.”
“What uncle and auntie? I don’t recall having an uncle and auntie.”
Upon hearing Wensong’s words, Su Dazhuang suddenly felt uncomfortable and at a loss for face.
“What nonsense are you saying? We of the Su Family are all from one branch. Do you not recognize your own blood uncle? On such a great joyful day, don’t let the townsfolk laugh at us,” he said while signaling to Wensong with his eyes.
Wensong just sneered, “Haven’t the townsfolk seen enough of our jokes? When my blood uncle kicked my parents when they were down, did he think about us being from the same Su Family branch? He is my father’s true cousin, and my grandfather is his father’s true brother, how come my uncle has forgotten already? If it has been too long and uncle can’t remember, shouldn’t he at least remember trying to take my job and my house?”
Su Dazhuang didn’t expect Su Wensong to really disregard all face. He thought today, being Su Wensong’s big day, even for the sake of his own wedding and bride, Su Wensong would give them some respect.
People often say, you don’t slap a smiling face. They all brought red envelopes to attend his wedding, in front of colleagues and neighbors, and he, as the manager of the food factory, couldn’t be more clueless?
As long as he accepts their red envelopes, afterwards, he could just have Su Wenmao apologize to him, and casually arrange a job for Wenmao. It wouldn’t be difficult.
Having Su Wensong, his brother, as the manager, Su Wenmao wouldn’t suffer in the factory.
But unexpectedly, Su Wensong didn’t offer any respect at all.
Not only did he bring up their job-stealing incident, but he even let out the previous generation’s issues.
“Oh, why say so much? Back then, your uncle was helpless too; that’s all in the past. Isn’t it enough if I apologize as your uncle? We’re family, so there shouldn’t be talk of two sides. Whatever misunderstandings there were, we can gradually clear them up later. Let’s not bring them up on such a wonderful day of yours.”
“I don’t accept your apology,” Su Wensong flatly refused, “I’m not in a position to forgive you on behalf of my parents. As for misunderstandings, I believe there are none between us. Calling you ’uncle’ is not out of respect but rather the upbringing my parents gave me. In fact, I’d rather call you Su Dazhuang.”
He coldly looked at the newcomer, “Su Dazhuang, there’s no need for us to pretend to be confused. The harm you’ve done to my parents, to my family, I will never forgive you in this life. Please leave.”
Su Dazhuang didn’t expect Su Wensong to actually send him away directly, seeing the looks from people around, his face burning.
Especially the way ’Su Dazhuang’ was uttered by the younger generation, enraging him to the point of trembling.
“You… you…”
He struggled for a long time, failing to utter a complete sentence.
Su Wenmao, seeing Su Wensong in a brand-new suit with a beautiful wife beside him, had long been insanely jealous.
Now hearing him not giving them face at all, he became furiously embarrassed, “Su Wensong, who do you think you are to send us away, acting all high and mighty just because you’re a lousy factory manager…”
“Jia Liang, Houzi, show them out!”
Jia Liang and Houzi desired to lay hands as soon as they saw the visitors. Now hearing Su Wensong speak, not only them, but also Pang Yongli, Qin Wu, and Qin Han stepped forward and shoved the people out.
While pushing, Houzi also gave a few kicks to Su Wenmao.
What a joke?
Su Wenmao screamed out when kicked, and as he turned his head and saw Houzi and Jia Liang, the previous shadow of being beaten instantly struck him, forcing him to obediently shut his mouth.
The brief episode didn’t affect the liveliness of the wedding, but Su Wensong’s eyes held a trace of pain as he looked at Sun Lanlan.
Such a beautiful girl, he should have given her the most perfect wedding, but because of his so-called family, it turned into a spectacle for everyone.
After the wedding ended, Su Wensong eagerly pulled Sun Lanlan aside, speaking earnestly, “Lanlan, I’m sorry. I know our wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, I shouldn’t have argued with Su Dazhuang’s family to the extent of affecting our wedding, but I just couldn’t swallow this insult. I’d rather be laughed at by everyone than have any more ties with that family.”
Sun Lanlan smiled carelessly, “Old Su, actually what you did was exactly what I wanted to do. Seeing Su Dazhuang and his family, I wanted to do the same, and I was worried you would endure it for the so-called face. Our wedding should be about our happiness. If we had to suppress ourselves on this day, wouldn’t it be too stifling for the rest of our lives?”