145, burning with rage, eyes wide with shock.

The people sitting not far from Liu Fangfang were all from the educated youth dormitory. Those who lived under the same roof knew Liu Fangfang well and deeply detested her arrogance and haughtiness. However, they were also aware that she had connections, came from a better background than they did, and was rumored to have influential relatives. Since they could not afford to offend her, they usually tried their best to tolerate her, only occasionally retorting when they could no longer hold back.

Today, everyone had come in response to the village captain’s announcement. They were happy to join in the festivities and enjoy a sumptuous meal, but they had not expected Liu Fangfang to be unable to keep her mouth shut, blurting out nonsense once again.

"Liu Fangfang, if you don't have a shred of gratitude or well-wishes for someone offering a free banquet to everyone, you don't have to come! Nobody forced you!" Yu Mei said with a cold sneer. As the group leader of the educated youth, she was the only one who could use her position to put Liu Fangfang in her place.

"That's right! If you can't stand it, then don't come!" Jiang Li added in a soft mutter.

"Alright, enough arguing. The groom is coming out!" the male group leader interrupted. Women were such a nuisance.

His voice instantly silenced the group. Those who had been cracking melon seeds stopped, and curious gazes turned in unison toward the gate of the Gao household, waiting for the groom to appear.

Through the haze, they caught a glimpse of green. Several sturdy men surrounded a tall, imposing figure as he stepped out of the gate. In truth, not everyone in the village had seen Gao Shen before; they only knew of his existence. Since moving to the First Production Team, he had spent almost all his time recovering indoors, hidden from public view. It was only as his injuries gradually healed that some had caught a glimpse of him.

The villagers who had helped carry his stretcher previously had only felt the chill radiating from him; his expression was solemn, his eyes piercing as if they could see right through them. Consequently, no one had really examined his appearance, and the stories passed around focused on his deeds rather than his features.

Liu Gang and Zeng Lin were both dressed in military uniforms. Standing on either side of Gao Shen as part of the wedding procession, all three were clad in green. Though they all stood straight, one could still immediately notice Gao Shen in the center; he was taller and more imposing, exuding an undeniable presence that commanded attention.

Following behind were Li Dahu and several other young men from the village, who had spontaneously joined the procession to add to the excitement and popularity of the event. Gao Shen did not object and accepted it silently; today was meant to be a lively day, after all.

When Gao Shen fully revealed himself to the crowd, the onlookers’ eyes widened.

"What a handsome groom!" This was the collective exclamation in everyone’s mind.

Liu Fangfang, standing in the crowd, saw Gao Shen’s handsome face and gripped the arm of the person beside her, Zhang Yun, so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her lips were pursed, and the jealousy in her eyes was unconcealed.

Why hadn't anyone told her that this soldier was so incredibly handsome? That crisp military uniform made him look so powerful and tall. Had she known he was such a dazzling man, she would have gone over to take care of him herself. Then, there would have been no room for that detestable woman!

Heaven was truly unfair. How was she any worse than that woman? To think such an outstanding, handsome man was matched with her!

No one noticed or cared about the jealousy in Liu Fangfang’s eyes or her slightly twisted expression.

At this moment, Gao Shen had only one direction in his heart and mind: the gate of the Li household next door. Inside was the girl he was to marry, the treasure he would cherish for the rest of his life.

The young village girls, the young wives, and even the middle-aged women could not help but stare at Gao Shen. The crowd was boisterous, but they had never seen a man in such a sharp military uniform, so handsome and majestic. They blushed, and in their hearts, his image became infinitely tall and noble.

Most importantly, the dashing Gao Shen had a faint smile on his lips and was holding a bouquet of red roses—which were actually the roses Jing Qingxin had planted in her courtyard, though the villagers were unfamiliar with them.

For these women, the sight was the stuff of their dreams, a scene straight out of a romance novel. A man holding flowers, full of deep affection and tenderness, walking with steady, confident steps along the red path, moving step by step toward the woman he loved most in this life.

The young girls’ eyes twinkled with excitement, as if the heroic man holding the flowers were walking toward them. The sound of his steady footsteps seemed to land right on their heartstrings, making their hearts flutter.

Watching her heroic youngest son in the crowd, Cao Shuyuan felt a surge of joy, her eyes welling with gratified tears. Her son’s leg had healed, and she was witnessing him start a family; she was content.

Beside Cao Shuyuan, however, Su Lijuan was burning with resentment.

She and her husband had finally persuaded Father Gao to attend Gao Shen's wedding banquet. They knew Father Gao wanted to come but was held back by pride and couldn't find a way to step down. The couple had carefully analyzed the situation for him: the most important thing now was to mend relations. Since Gao Shen’s leg was healed, he would surely return to the military, and wouldn't his future salary be theirs to claim?

Father Gao agreed with his eldest son and daughter-in-law. Since the marriage with the Ji family had fallen through, he felt that as Gao Shen’s father, he was rightfully entitled to the benefits and status that came with it.

And so, the family, each harboring their own hidden agendas, had changed into the new clothes Gao Shen had sent and arrived early at his small courtyard.

Gao Wei and Su Lijuan had intended to use their status as Gao family members to stand at the door and collect the gift money, only to discover upon arrival that Gao Shen and his bride were not accepting any gifts at all. Their family had been completely unaware!

This left the scheming couple stomping their feet in fury. But since they had already arrived, there was no way they were leaving empty-handed.