Mayor Tang had been serving in Pengcheng for quite some time now. He was no longer the outsider who needed to secretly visit grassroots levels with his driver due to various constraints when he first took office. Through his capability and political acumen, he had firmly established himself in Pengcheng. His authority had even grown so heavy that it threatened the top leader… even when mentioned in private, people would hesitate to discuss him directly.
Nothing could remain secret in the city government. When Ji Ya visited that one time, she did not attempt to hide her identity. Once one person knew, almost everyone with good connections knew about it. It wasn’t that people wanted to mock the leadership; knowing more about leaders’ private matters helped avoid taboo subjects.
“Really? I thought it was just a rumor—”
“Hush, it’s not a rumor.”
Foreigners were just recklessly bold, handling matters without considering face-saving customs. The same went for Mayor Tang’s ex-wife – she wasn’t even from Pengcheng, so why insist on holding the wedding here? She even invited many government department staff to attend the wedding banquet, deliberately making things uncomfortable for Mayor Tang. After this wedding, his personal life would surely become a topic of widespread discussion.
These people didn’t know that this fashionable newlywed couple had even invited Mayor Tang… such a provocative move was beyond their imagination.
In the room, Ji Ya changed into her wedding dress that had been air-shipped. She was beautiful down to every strand of hair, having received meticulous care for a week. Her skin was equally flawless – with skin treatment and careful makeup, even the lines around her eyes had disappeared. The makeup artist from Hong Kong highly praised Ji Ya’s elegance and beauty. This wasn’t mere flattery – Ji Ya in full bridal attire was truly outstanding.
George peeked at the door several times but was shooed away by the people inside. Zhen Wenxiu was both happy for Ji Ya and extremely anxious, as she was the only one who knew Ji Ya had invited Tang Hong’en. The pressure was overwhelming. As the wedding banquet was about to begin, with Ji Ya and George preparing to walk down the aisle for the priest’s ceremony, Zhen Wenxiu couldn’t help but slip away during a quiet moment.
Ji Lin was busy entertaining guests throughout the venue. Since Old Master Ji had passed away, many former disciples and old acquaintances had grown distant. This wedding provided an opportunity to reconnect, and quite a few people had come to attend. Ji Lin was naturally very pleased. The wedding was being held grandly, with George being generous – covering all guests’ accommodation and meals, ensuring no one would bear the financial burden of traveling to Pengcheng for the wedding.
Ji Lin had initially objected to holding the wedding in Pengcheng but now felt it was an excellent arrangement. Being away from Beijing meant fewer social constraints. Ji Ya hadn’t chosen wrong with her second marriage – George, this American brother-in-law, was making Ji Lin proud, with guests constantly inquiring about him.
Zhen Wenxiu couldn’t even get a word in with Ji Lin and had to find his wife instead. Aunt Ji Jiangyuan had been reluctant to come, only attending after Ji Lin threw a tantrum at home. At the wedding venue, she was trying to avoid attention as much as possible, showing clear signs of passive resistance. She just wanted the wedding to proceed smoothly – if Ji Ya wanted to be extravagant, so be it. After all, could she control how Ji Ya spent money?
When Zhen Wenxiu found Aunt Ji and told her the news, she felt as if an invisible hand was choking her: “Are you serious?”
Zhen Wenxiu nodded, “It’s true. With so many people here, my heart is pounding like a drum…”
Pounding like a drum? It was more like firecrackers going off in Aunt Ji’s ears! She felt short of breath and wanted to talk to Ji Lin, but he was standing among guests, full of vigor. Aunt Ji felt utterly frustrated.
She decided to find Ji Jiangyuan instead, thinking he would be more sensible than his uncle: “Jiangyuan, tell your aunt honestly, did you know your mother invited your father to the wedding?”
If Ji Jiangyuan knew and hadn’t said anything, she would feel she had wasted her affection on him.
Ji Jiangyuan was wearing a formal suit today, looking spirited and handsome. Many guests with daughters had their eyes on him. George’s parents, who had traveled across the ocean for the wedding, had quite a good impression of him. A child’s demeanor reflects their upbringing – George was completely smitten with Ji Ya, and seeing Ji Jiangyuan so outstanding, his mother must be quite remarkable too.
Because Ji Jiangyuan was making such a good impression, George’s parents had a favorable view of the Ji family. Since Ji Lin worked in the Foreign Affairs Department, the whole family was well-educated and could converse with George’s parents – an unexpected pleasure.
Ji Jiangyuan was in his element today, wanting his birth mother to marry peacefully. Hearing his aunt’s questioning, he also frowned slightly: “Aunt, I didn’t know. I wasn’t in charge of confirming the guest list. Who told you this?”
Aunt Ji was furious enough to stamp her feet: “Never mind who told me. She invited your father to the ceremony. Do you think this is appropriate? Look at all these guests – there are Ji family relatives and friends, local government officials from Pengcheng. If your father comes—”
Aunt Ji didn’t care if Tang Hong’en lost face. But if he did, how would that benefit the Ji family? Wouldn’t the blame still fall on the Ji family?
Ji Jiangyuan’s frown deepened. In America, this wouldn’t be an issue – some couples even throw parties for their divorce. But in China, it was problematic.
“Aunt, invited or not, it’s done. Let me handle this. When he arrives, I’ll make arrangements.”
Aunt Ji patted her chest, “You must handle this well. Don’t let your mother ruin your grandfather’s lifelong reputation.”
With Ji Jiangyuan, his son, going to handle it, Tang Hong’en could presumably be placated. Aunt Ji wanted to knock some sense into her sister-in-law’s head. Just get married quickly, marry George, and let him take you to America – out of sight, out of mind!
Ji Ya emerged in her white wedding dress. Elegant and beautiful, while George wore a suit – the Wilson family had good looks, and George maintained his figure well, truly looking compatible with Ji Ya. There were probably two to three hundred guests on the lawn, who had been chatting earlier but now fell silent, taking their seats as directed by the funeral director.
With the flower arch and the built ceremony platform, plus a foreign priest waiting, this wedding was indeed unique – so this was how foreigners held their weddings.
Ji Ya was holding Ji Lin’s arm. Since her father had passed away, Ji Lin, as the eldest brother, would walk her down the aisle and hand her over to the groom George – this was a necessary wedding ritual.
The wedding was about to begin, but Tang Hong’en hadn’t appeared. As the music started, both Zhen Wenxiu and Aunt Ji felt relieved.
Was Ji Ya just making things up, or had Tang Hong’en received the invitation but decided not to come?
Not coming was for the best – the wedding could proceed peacefully.
Ji Ya was quite disappointed – did Tang Hong’en not dare to come?
How boring if he didn’t come. Without having Tang Hong’en witness this wedding in person, Ji Ya would feel something important was missing!
Everyone was lost in their thoughts when a car drove directly into the resort and stopped beside the lawn. Who could have such prominence? Everyone turned to look. The government officials who had earlier discussed the bride being Mayor Tang’s ex-wife jolted, their bodies reacting faster than their minds as they immediately stood up:
“It’s the Mayor’s car!”
My goodness, the Mayor’s car appearing at his ex-wife’s wedding venue – today’s wedding banquet wouldn’t just be gossip for years, it would be talked about for a lifetime!