Wen Ci's words all hinted at the hard life she would lead after moving to the military base. Her father was about to say something more, but he stopped short.
"I hear you aren't planning on holding a banquet in Beijing?"
Huo Jingyuan nodded. "My leave isn't long enough this time. I can stay in Beijing for one more day at most, so I was planning to hold the ceremony back in the Northwest."
The moment he finished speaking, Jiang Zhenjun, sitting at the head of the table, frowned. His gaze landed on Wen Ci. "No. The wedding banquet must be held here. I've already made arrangements with the manager of the state-owned restaurant. We're holding it tomorrow, no matter what."
Even though he didn't feel much affection for Wen Ci.
But Wen Ci was his own biological daughter, who had been lost all this time.
A daughter of the Jiang Family had to have a grand and impressive wedding. What's more, his own flesh and blood was marrying the grandson of Old Commander Huo.
Everyone in the compound knew that Old Commander Huo's greatest wish was to see his grandson get married and have children.
Su Guilan tugged at her husband's sleeve.
"Xiao Huo, the Old Commander has been waiting for you to get married for so long. We absolutely must hold this banquet. You two don't have to worry about a thing. Just be there tomorrow at noon."
Jiang Zhenjun's expression was stern, but his tone softened slightly. His whole demeanor was that of a father speaking earnestly to his child.
Listening to her biological father, Wen Ci couldn't help but think to herself. 'He has a point. The reason Huo Jingyuan finally agreed to this marriage...'
'...was to fulfill his maternal grandfather's last wish.'
'Now that I'm the wife of the Huo family's maternal grandson, we really should have a ceremony.'
Wen Ci met Huo Jingyuan's eyes and nodded. "We should have a ceremony in Beijing, after all."
"Mm."
_
That night, a phone call shattered their plans.
Huo Jingyuan had been planning for Wen Ci to wear the wedding attire his maternal grandfather had commissioned long ago. But after he took the call, his expression became unusually grim. "Wen Ci, it looks like we might not be able to hold the banquet in Beijing tomorrow."
"What is it?" Wen Ci asked, seeing his solemn expression.
Huo Jingyuan took a deep breath. "Headquarters in the Northwest bought us tickets for the last sleeper train. They want me back at the military region immediately to handle some things."
"Then let's go right away!"
This was the 1980s, and many places were not at peace.
'For them to buy him a ticket back to the Northwest overnight, something major must have happened.'
Wen Ci said, "Then let's hurry to the train station."
She didn't have much luggage to bring, so she could leave Beijing with Huo Jingyuan at a moment's notice.
"I'll talk to Uncle Jiang then."
"Okay."
That evening, Wen Ci and Huo Jingyuan left Beijing by train. They were in the same sleeper car, which was separate from the cars with regular seats.
By the time Jiang Zhenjun got the news, he had already sent out all the invitations. However, as a minister-level official, he was also well aware of the situation in the Northwest.
He couldn't blame the young couple.
They ended up holding a wedding banquet without the bride and groom. The guests, almost all of whom were officials from the compound, understood why Huo Jingyuan had been recalled by the Northwest Military Region.
-
When Wen Ci woke up, she felt for her money pouch. Inside were the 1,500 yuan and the golden bracelet. Seeing that the money was still there, she breathed a sigh of relief.
She'd had a dream last night that a thief had snuck into the sleeper car and stolen all her money.
"What's wrong?"
Huo Jingyuan asked, seeing her flustered state.
"It's nothing." Wen Ci let out a slow breath. "I just had a dream last night that a thief came into our sleeper car and stole my dowry and the golden bracelet."
"I'm here," Huo Jingyuan said.
Wen Ci met the steady gaze in his eyes, which was enough to make her feel completely safe. She had almost forgotten that Huo Jingyuan was a soldier.