Chapter 180: Chapter 178: Wang Xinxin’s Wedding

Lu Xiao’s training assignment was primarily for his personal development.

The military offered these opportunities every year, but Lu Xiao had never applied before.

This time, it turned out to be a happy accident.

The higher-ups had assigned him to a six-month training course. It was a classified project, so he couldn’t even call Su Tang.

A little over a month after Lu Xiao left the Northwest, the Lu Family held a full moon celebration for Little Cheng’an.

After the lively event was over, it was Wang Xinxin’s turn to get married.

The whole Lu Family pitched in, buying all sorts of things for Wang Xinxin’s dowry.

Su Tang even contributed a red cheongsam she had bought for herself.

The rules weren’t as strict anymore, so wearing a cheongsam was perfectly fine.

This one didn’t have a high slit, and Wang Xinxin looked exceptionally beautiful in it.

According to custom, Wang Xinxin and Chen Zhengnian were not supposed to see each other before the wedding.

So, Chen Zhengnian could only go to Su Tang, having her pass messages back and forth from time to time.

Su Tang joked that she had become a regular spymaster, acting as the secret go-between for the two of them.

But after the excitement, Su Tang would find herself thinking of Lu Xiao.

She and Lu Xiao had never been apart for this long.

The distance between them brought an endless, aching sense of longing.

On the day of Wang Xinxin’s wedding, the entire area was unbelievably lively.

Wang Xinxin sat on the edge of the heated brick bed, which was covered with a bright red quilt. Her fingers toyed with the smooth satin of her cheongsam.

The vibrant red, cinched waist, and mandarin collar made her fair face glow with a rosy blush. She was breathtaking.

"Look at our beautiful bride."

Mrs. Wang came in, clutching a handful of wedding candies she hadn’t finished handing out, but her eyes were red-rimmed.

"This outfit... you look like you walked straight out of a painting. Tangtang has such good taste."

With that, Mrs. Wang stepped forward and pressed a thick red envelope into Wang Xinxin’s hand.

"Take this. When you’re part of his family, if you ever feel wronged or don’t have enough money, you can spend your own. Don’t let them look down on you."

It was half a lifetime of savings that Mrs. Wang had been putting away, waiting for the day Wang Xinxin got married.

Before her voice had even faded, a commotion loud enough to tear the roof off erupted from outside the courtyard gate.

The beat of gongs and drums thundered, mixed with the booming shouts and roaring laughter of men.

"They’re here, they’re here! The groom’s party has arrived to pick up the bride!"

Someone in the courtyard yelled at the top of their lungs, and the entire Lu Family’s little courtyard instantly erupted in a frenzy.

Chen Zhengnian was dressed in a crisp military uniform, a large red flower pinned to his chest.

Behind him was a line of young men in equally crisp uniforms, their eyes shining brightly.

They were all hand-picked, strapping young lads serving as his groomsmen.

With that kind of energy, it looked less like a wedding procession and more like they were about to storm a fortified position.

"Open the door! Ma’am! Hurry and open up! Our Brigadier Chen is here to get his bride!"

The groomsmen banged on the door—BANG, BANG, BANG—with enough force to break it down.

Inside, Su Tang led a group of girls and young wives from the compound in blocking the door. She shouted back through the crack, "What’s the rush? Where are the red envelopes? You think you can take our Xinxin without any? Not a chance!"

"We got ’em, we got ’em! Plenty to go around!"

Chen Zhengnian waved his hand, and a flurry of thick red envelopes were quickly slid under the door like snowflakes.

The girls shrieked and scrambled for them, but Su Tang remained perfectly calm, raising her voice an octave. "Red envelopes alone won’t cut it! You have to show some sincerity! Let’s hear a love song!"

There was a moment of silence outside, followed by an even bigger roar of laughter.

Asking a bunch of men from the Northwest, who were used to shouting military cadences, to sing a love song?

That was harder than making them run a ten-kilometer armed cross-country course.

Chen Zhengnian’s face grew hot. He cleared his throat and decided to just go for it. "My girl, you boldly walk on! Walk on! And don’t look back..."

His voice was booming, alright, but the tune was so far off-key it was lost, sending everyone inside and out into fits of laughter.

How was that a love song? Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought he was calling out a cadence.

"No way, no way! Brigadier Chen, your pitch has run all the way past Helan Mountain!"

The girls inside were doubled over with laughter. It wasn’t often they got a chance to tease Chen Zhengnian, and they were giving it their all.

At the stalemate, a clever groomsman’s eyes darted around. He suddenly started singing, "Listen, the bugle call for a new journey sounds..."

The powerful melody was instantly picked up by a chorus of loud voices, perfectly in sync and full of vigor: "The goal of a strong army summons us forward!"

The girls blocking the door were stunned by the sudden song, then collapsed into fits of laughter. After a couple more symbolic protests, they finally opened the door with smiles on their faces.

Chen Zhengnian was the first to rush in, his gaze burning as he headed straight for his beloved, who was sitting gracefully on the edge of the heated bed, her cheeks flushed.

He walked up to Wang Xinxin, looking at her in that dazzling red cheongsam.

The dress made her look more delicate and vibrant than a Gesang flower. His throat felt a little tight. After a long moment, he managed to force out a single, resounding sentence.

"Xinxin! I’ve come to marry you!"

With a sweep of his large arms, he steadily lifted his bride and carried her princess-style.

Wang Xinxin let out a small gasp and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. The corners of her mouth curved up, revealing a row of pearly white teeth in her smile.

The courtyard instantly exploded with noise—a mix of whistles, cheers, and the clang of gongs and drums.

Mrs. Lu laughed with a hint of exasperation. "Look at this silly boy! Putting all his strength into this!"

The wedding banquet was held in the large mess hall, with dozens of tables filled to capacity.

Mr. Lu had been chosen to officiate the marriage. Standing before a makeshift stage, he declared in a booming voice, "Comrade Chen Zhengnian, Comrade Wang Xinxin, from this day forward, you are revolutionary partners! You must respect and love each other, and advance together!" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

After the ceremony, the newlyweds went from table to table to offer toasts.

Chen Zhengnian, with Wang Xinxin by his side, started at the head table.

Seeing her daughter in the red cheongsam, protectively shielded by her tall and heroic son-in-law, Mrs. Wang couldn’t hold back her tears any longer, her voice choked with emotion.

"My Xinxin... my dear Xinxin... Zhengnian, you have to treat her well..."

Her words were so heartbreakingly sincere that the people nearby found themselves laughing and dabbing at their own eyes.

Wang Xinxin’s eyes reddened too, and she squeezed her mother’s hand tightly. "Mom..."

Chen Zhengnian stood ramrod straight. He raised his glass, his expression solemn. "Mom, don’t worry! I, Chen Zhengnian, swear on my honor as a soldier that I will never fail Xinxin in this life!"

He tilted his head back and drained the cup of liquor in one clean gulp.

Then, Wang Xinxin followed Chen Zhengnian to toast Mr. and Mrs. Chen. Mrs. Chen smiled and handed her a thick red envelope.

When they reached the table where Su Tang was sitting, she was holding Little Cheng’an.

The little one was wearing a festive red dudou, his big, grape-like eyes curiously watching the lively scene.

Su Tang passed her son into Mrs. Lu’s arms, then stood up with a glass of juice.

Her eyes twinkled with a mischievous smile as she deliberately tipped her chin toward the groomsmen standing behind Chen Zhengnian.

"Listen up, you all better keep a close eye on your Brigadier Chen. Our Xinxin is a married woman now. It’s not easy being a military wife, but our eyes are sharp!"

The young men in the groomsmen party roared with laughter, all talking at once and thumping their chests. "Don’t you worry, Ma’am!"

"With us around, he’s not going anywhere!"

"We guarantee mission accomplishment!"

Chen Zhengnian laughed along with them. With a grand wave, he downed another glass, but his eyes secretly landed on Wang Xinxin, full of tenderness.