Chapter 32: Daughter-in-law, I Truly Can

Su YanHua dropped that harsh remark, glared fiercely at the bewildered Liu Wenbin, then turned and ran away crying, leaving Liu Wenbin standing alone in place, bearing the surrounding looks of either sympathy or contempt, like an abandoned clown.

Later, Jiang Ran, a thousand and one worries, personally rode a bicycle to bring Su Ruan back to the entrance of the Su Family's rundown Alley.

He carried a large bundle of items prepared for Su Ruan, his face grim as he knocked on the Su Family's door.

The one who opened the door was Wang Juhua; upon seeing Jiang Ran, a fake smile instantly spread on her face: "Oh dear, Ranran is here, come in quickly…"

Jiang Ran ignored her entirely, took Su Ruan's hand and walked into the Main Hall, his gaze like a knife sweeping over Su Dazhuang, who was smoking on a stool, and Wang Juhua, whose eyes darted away.

He set the items down, his voice cold as ice shards: "Uncle, auntie, I've brought RuanRuan back to you. Tomorrow I'll come to fetch her; if I find out she lost even a single hair strand, or suffered any grievance…"

He paused, the ferocity in his eyes making Su Dazhuang and Wang Juhua both shudder inside.

"You know the consequences," he didn't state outright, but the unrestrained ferocity was already enough to intimidate.

Su Dazhuang hurriedly assured: "Don't worry, don't worry! We'll definitely take good care of her!"

Wang Juhua also nodded repeatedly: "Exactly, exactly! How could we not!"

Only then did Jiang Ran lower his head to look at Su Ruan, his gaze instantly softening, pulling her hand with endless reluctance: "…Really, you don't need me to stay here with you? I could just set up a mat outside…"

Su Ruan was made to laugh, feeling warm inside, shook her head, and whispered: "No need, just for one night, it's fine. You go back quickly; tomorrow… come get me earlier."

"…Alright."

Jiang Ran gave her hand a firm squeeze, then gave Su Dazhuang and his wife a warning glance, before walking away, looking back every few steps.

Su Ruan also took her belongings back to her small compartment and slammed the latch shut.

In the Main Hall, Su Dazhuang and Wang Juhua stared at each other, both quite frightened by Jiang Ran's earlier gaze.

"That wolf cub… his gaze is truly terrifying…" Wang Juhua said, patting her chest in fear.

"Don't provoke him…" Su Dazhuang muttered.

The night was deep and quiet.

After the Su Family had all gone to sleep, a black silhouette slipped silently to the outside of Su Ruan's room.

It wasn't anyone else—it was Su YanHua.

In her hand she clutched a sharp pair of scissors, her face twisted with twisted delight.

She gently nudged the latch, found it latched, muttered under her breath, then tiptoed to the window.

The old wooden window wasn't tightly sealed; she carefully used the scissors to pry the bolt open, then slipped in like a cat.

By the faint moonlight outside, she saw the bulging cloth bag on the bed, her face breaking into a vicious grin.

Su Ruan, enjoy this!

Make you wear gold and silver!

I see you have no Wedding Dress tomorrow, how can you get married!

She pulled out the scissors, and on the bag went mad, cutting and tearing.

The "snick" of the fabric tearing rang especially clear in the silent night.

She imagined Su Ruan's panicked, tearful reaction tomorrow when she discovered her Wedding Dress destroyed, her heart filled with the pleasure of revenge.

Only after she shredded the bag's contents to mush did she stop, satisfied, and, just as she came, slipped back into her own room.

…

The next day, at the first hint of dawn, the Su Family became bustling.

Although both daughters were getting married at the same time, the atmosphere was completely different.

On one side were those sent by the Jiang Family; though the people hadn't arrived yet, the neighboring households all knew the ceremony wouldn't be small, and early on children and idlers gathered at the doorway to watch the spectacle.

The other side was the Liu Family, cold and quiet, with only a few close relatives coming to help.

Su YanHua had long since dressed up, wearing that dazzling Wedding Dress, her face coated with thick powder, deliberately strolling around the courtyard, enjoying the envious gazes directed at her.

"YanHua, your Wedding Dress is truly magnificent!"

"Indeed, it was made in Jinxiu, right? It's just different!"

"The bride looks truly beautiful today!"

Su YanHua proudly lifted her chin, feigning modesty: "It's okay, just average."

She occasionally glanced at Su Ruan's tightly shut door, her heart anticipating the drama to unfold.

As the auspicious hour approached, the Jiang Family's wedding procession hadn't arrived, but Liu Wenbin went ahead.

His complexion was somewhat haggard, but his eyes carried a sense of relieved ease.

He walked up to Su YanHua, and before the curious eyes of the crowd, he pulled a tiny red velvet box from his pocket.

"YanHua," he opened the box; inside was a small but gleaming gold ring, "I… I sold the old watch my father left me… to buy this for you. I'm sorry, before I was unable…"

The gold ring was tiny and simple in design, yet in the sunlight it still shimmered with sincere light.

Su YanHua looked at the ring, then at Liu Wenbin's reddened eyes and cautious demeanor; the resentment born of rivalry oddly eased a bit, a feeling of vanity satisfied replaced her anger.

She hummed, feigning effort as she extended her hand: "That's about right! Put it on me!"

Liu Wenbin quickly and carefully slipped the ring onto her finger.

Around them a chorus of flattering applause rose.

"Oh, Wen Bin finally has heart!"

"Gold Ring! YanHua, such good fortune!"

Su YanHua savored this moment of "glory", feeling she had finally won a battle.

At that moment, someone asked curiously: "Huh? Where's Su Ruan? Why hasn't she come out? The Jiang Family's wedding procession must be arriving soon, right?"

Su YanHua sneered inwardly, but pretended bewilderment and innocence on her face: "I don't know either, maybe my sister is still getting ready? After all… her Wedding Dress is so valuable, it must be well taken care of."

She deliberately emphasized the word "valuable", her tone of schadenfreude almost impossible to hide.

Wang Juhua grew a bit anxious, pounding Su Ruan's door: "RuanRuan, come out quickly! The hour is near!"

As the crowd chattered, speculating whether Su Ruan had encountered any trouble, Su Ruan's door creaked open gently from within.

Su Ruan walked out from inside.

There was no panic and confusion as the Su family had expected, nor any wailing and tears.

Su Ruan wore a Wedding Dress that no one had ever seen before.

It was a deep, rich red, the fabric shimmering with a watery luster, cut to perfection, perfectly outlining her slender waist and graceful curves.

A faint smile rested on her face, a delicate lotus gold necklace rested at her throat, an openwork vine‑flower gold bangle encircled her wrist, and the heart‑shaped Gold Ring on her finger complemented the Wedding Dress.

She stood there whole, like a meticulously polished pearl—warm, with restrained brilliance.

Yet she instantly made the Su Yanhua beside her, dressed in bright, sequined attire, look like a vulgar nouveau riche!

Everyone was stunned, the courtyard fell silent in an instant, leaving only the sound of breathing and awed gazes.

Su Yanhua's smug smile froze, her eyes bulged like copper bells, as she stared in disbelief at the Wedding Dress on Su Ruan, which was clearly countless times more exquisite and beautiful than her own.

What's going on?!

Shouldn't her wedding dress... have been ripped to pieces by herself!

Where did this come from?!!

Su Ruan's gaze calmly swept over Su Yanhua's horrified expression, the corner of her mouth curving imperceptibly.

She gently smoothed the nonexistent crease on her sleeve, her voice clear and gentle: "Sorry to keep everyone waiting; I'm waiting for Jiang Ran to come fetch me."