Because she had no family of her own, she was never treated well by her mother-in-law after marrying her husband.
At her wedding, she didn’t even have a red dress to wear—she had to style her own hair.
Never did she imagine that one day, she would be the one to send her own daughter off to marriage.
For a moment, Lin's mother felt her eyes grow moist.
Si Nian didn’t have much emotional attachment to the Lin Family, as she hadn’t spent much time with them. But the Lin Family was honest and kind, treating her exceptionally well.
She, in turn, genuinely regarded them as family.
It wasn’t the kind of farewell where one sobbed uncontrollably, but there was still a touch of melancholy in her heart.
Soon, the groom’s procession arrived.
Outside, firecrackers crackled noisily, signaling the start of the banquet.
Far fewer guests had come from the Lin Family compared to the Zhou Family, so only a few tables were set up in the courtyard.
None of the extended Lin Family had shown up—because of a previous dispute over meat, they had severed ties, refusing to attend even their own granddaughter’s wedding, clearly intending to slight Si Nian.
The neighbors whispered among themselves, and Lin's father and Lin's mother looked uncomfortable, but Si Nian paid it no mind.
They were strangers to her—why should she care?
At that moment, the wedding car pulled up at the gate.
The vehicle was spotless, and behind it, men from Zhou Yueshen’s farm—tall, strong, and handsome—beat drums and gongs.
The young girls attending the Lin Family’s banquet blushed and averted their eyes, too shy to look directly.
Zhou Yueshen stepped out of the car, dressed in a crisp military-green uniform, a cap on his head.
He stood straight and tall, his figure imposing and stern.
His left chest was adorned with medals, arranged from highest to lowest rank.
As he stood before the car, the morning sun cast its light behind him, the breeze gently stirring. For a fleeting moment, his towering figure seemed almost divine, the interplay of light and shadow sharpening his chiseled features, his expression cool and detached.
The formal green uniform was buttoned up to his neck.
His entire demeanor exuded the disciplined, restrained aura of a century-old military officer.
No one had ever seen Zhou Yueshen like this before—they were stunned.
Everyone had heard he’d once served in the military, but no one knew the details, let alone that he had earned so many honors.
Now, clad in his uniform, he stood before them, bearing the weight of his achievements, here to marry the woman he loved.
Before this, people had assumed Zhou Yueshen was only offering so much money out of guilt—after all, he was older, and though he ran a pig farm, he had no real connections.
They believed he was just luckier than most, having stumbled into wealth.
But now they realized—Zhou Yueshen had far more than just money.
Though his days as a soldier had passed, his military spirit remained.
People had always revered soldiers, and in that instant, their respect for him deepened.
Zhou Yueshen gave a slight nod to the crowd in greeting.
Those who had been eager to play pranks on the groom now hesitated—no one dared step forward.
His stern expression, his cold gaze, the sharpness in his dark eyes—just one look was enough to make one’s legs weak.
Who would have the courage to cause trouble now?
Before Si Nian could even react, Zhou Yueshen had already reached her room under the crowd’s watchful eyes.
She stood in her wedding dress, her back to him.
From the onlookers’ perspective, the contrast between them—tall and short, strong and delicate—was like a scene from a breathtaking painting.
Hearing the commotion, Si Nian instinctively turned.
In an instant—her pupils contracted, her red lips parting slightly.
She was frozen.
By the time she regained her senses, Zhou Yueshen had already led her to the car.
Si Nian opened her mouth, watching her parents wipe away tears outside, before finally finding her voice.
"You… why are you dressed like this?" She knew Zhou Yueshen had once been a soldier, but hadn’t he been discharged?
The medals on his chest—any one of them was something an ordinary civilian like her could never hope to touch.
And he was an officer, no less…
She had never seen anyone wear a military uniform with such imposing grace.
At that moment, she felt the same way she had when she first saw Zhou Yueshen at the Zhou Family home.
Even then, she had sensed something different about him—an air of authority.
Now… it was confirmed.
Zhou Yueshen seemed to have anticipated this moment. His voice was calm. "I wasn’t fully discharged. Back then, I was severely injured, and my family had an emergency—the children had no one else. I couldn’t abandon them, so I requested discharge, but it wasn’t approved."
"My situation is complicated. It’s not something I can explain in a few words. But as long as I hold this rank, if my country calls, I will answer."
So that was why he wore his uniform to marry her?
Si Nian’s heart trembled.
As a citizen, she had an innate reverence for soldiers.
And he was one of the most exceptional.
"I’m sorry. Due to certain reasons, this couldn’t be disclosed, so I kept it from you."
"That’s why you kept asking me if I was sure?"
Zhou Yueshen nodded slightly.
Si Nian sighed. "How could I blame you for something like this? My husband is a soldier serving our country—I couldn’t be prouder."
Zhou Yueshen gazed at her beautiful face, a flicker of emotion passing through his dark eyes.
He had never imagined that at this stage of his life, he would meet a woman he would want to cherish for the rest of his days.
She was extraordinary.
If anything, he, Zhou Yueshen, was the one who had climbed beyond his station…
Just as the wedding car departed, the Si Family’s vehicle arrived, swaying unsteadily.
Si's Father and Si's Mother, dressed in formal gray suits and glasses, had missed the procession entirely.
Si's Father noticed the decorated wedding car heading toward another village and remarked in surprise, "Is there another wedding today? They even have a wedding car?"
His tone made it clear he found it hard to believe such a remote village could afford one—it never crossed his mind that it might be Si Nian’s.
Zhang Cuimei glanced over and said, "Probably someone from town. It’s normal for townsfolk to borrow cars."
Lin Sisi, however, frowned. That road didn’t lead to town—it went to Xingfu Village…
A thought flickered in her mind, but she refused to believe it.
Soon, their car stopped outside the Lin Family home.
Lin's father and Lin's mother still stood at the gate, their eyes red.
The arrival of the car drew everyone’s attention.
Then, Lin Sisi and her family stepped out.
The crowd was surprised to see her.
Even Lin's father and Lin's mother were taken aback, but they quickly composed themselves and approached.
"Lin Sisi, you came too? There’s still one table left—come inside and eat."
Before Lin Sisi could respond, Zhang Cuimei, who had no fondness for the Lin Family, spoke sharply.
"No need. We’re here to see Si Nian off. We raised her for eighteen years—we wanted to send her to her new life. We’ll leave after that. No need for the meal."
The rural banquet couldn’t possibly have anything good to eat. From what her daughter had said, the Lin Family could barely afford meat twice a year.
Her eyes filled with disdain.
She had raised Si Nian so well, yet her own biological daughter had to scrimp for even a bite of meat.
The thought made her sick with regret.
Hearing this, Lin's mother looked embarrassed and said, "Oh, well... Si Nian was just picked up by Zhou Yueshen. I didn’t expect you to come, otherwise I would’ve asked them to wait."
Lin's mother thought to herself—after all, the Si family had raised her daughter for eighteen years. It was only natural for them to travel all this way to see her off on her wedding day.
But they were just a step too late.
"What? She’s gone? When did they leave?" Si's Father frowned.
Lin's mother pointed toward the distant wedding procession and replied, "Just a short while ago. You can still see the car."
The couple followed her gaze and caught sight of the rear end of the very same small sedan they had been discussing earlier...
