Had I Known, I Would Have Married Two Years Later

Song Haihua shot Song Anquan a subtle sideways glance. After quickly pouring the wine, he called out, "Everyone, dig in! What, you all need me to tell you to start eating? Come on, don’t stand on ceremony."

Only after he spoke did the others pick up their chopsticks and begin eating.

Su Yang had barely taken two bites when Song Haihua turned to him with a smile. "Xiao Su, here, let me toast you."

Su Yang was taken aback but quickly waved his hand with a laugh. "Ah, Uncle Song, how can an elder toast a junior? You’re putting me in an awkward spot! Let me toast you instead."

As he spoke, he picked up his glass, stood, and clinked it with Song Haihua’s.

"Good, good. Either way, since you helped Anquan secure the lead car for the wedding, I owe you a drink."

Hearing this, Zhang Lanfang, seated beside Song Haihua, chimed in with a smile, "So it was Xiao Su who helped Anquan find the lead car?"

"That’s right. And this isn’t just any car. By the way, Xiao Su, what kind of car do you drive again?" Zhao Pengcheng, sitting on the other side, asked with a grin.

Before Su Yang could answer, Song Anquan beside him cut in proudly, "A Rolls-Royce Cullinan!"

The room fell silent for a second. Then Zhao Pengcheng burst into laughter. "A Cullinan! Now that’s a proper car! Serious face!"

At this point, a middle-aged woman whose name no one seemed to know turned to Zhao Pengcheng and asked, "I’ve heard of Rolls-Royce, but what’s a Cullinan?"

Zhao Pengcheng paused, then gave her a sidelong look. "Seriously? The Cullinan is a Rolls-Royce model. Just know it’s a Rolls-Royce—no point explaining further since you wouldn’t get it anyway."

The woman awkwardly smiled at Su Yang. "Heh, we country folks don’t know much about these things. Don’t mind me, young man."

Su Yang shook his head with a polite smile. "No, no, it’s just casual talk. No worries."

Just then, Chen Qi’s father, Chen Zhaoguo, raised his glass toward Su Yang. "Xiao Su, let’s have a drink."

"Sure thing." Su Yang refilled his glass and downed it with Chen Zhaoguo.

Seeing Zhao Pengcheng about to propose another toast, Su Yang swiftly poured himself another drink.

"Uncle Zhao, let me toast you."

"Ah, good, good!" Zhao Pengcheng beamed, clinking glasses with Su Yang before draining his own.

The scene left the other women at the table bewildered.

They’d heard of Rolls-Royce, sure, but only in passing—just that it was expensive. Still, they couldn’t fathom why the older men were making such a fuss over a younger guy.

Zhang Lanfang, ever straightforward, turned to Zhao Pengcheng and asked, "Brother, didn’t Little He use a Mercedes as the lead car for his wedding?"

Zhao Pengcheng nodded. "Yeah, why?"

"How does a Rolls-Royce compare to a Mercedes?"

Before Zhao Pengcheng could answer, Song Anquan shot his mother an exasperated look. "Mom, come on, you can’t even compare the two. They’re not in the same league. Do you know how much my buddy’s car costs?"

Su Yang, flushing with embarrassment, tugged at Song Anquan’s sleeve and whispered, "Anquan..."

"Relax, man. I’m just educating them."

Zhang Lanfang raised an eyebrow. "How much?"

Song Anquan grinned and held up eight fingers.

"Eighty thousand?"

"Eight... eight million! Eighty thousand? I could probably save up for that in a few years."

"Eight million?!"

The women collectively gulped. Before hearing the price, brands like Rolls-Royce or Ferrari were just abstract names to them. But now, the number made it all crystal clear.

Su Yang sighed inwardly. Damn, it’s been a while since I’ve felt this awkward.

It wasn’t that he disliked showing off—he just didn’t see the point in doing it at Song Anquan’s place. The thrill of flaunting came from doing it in front of people who looked down on you or in special circumstances. Right now, he just felt uncomfortable.

Su Yang quietly focused on his bowl of rice.

Song Haihua cut in, "Enough of this. Let’s just eat!"

"Right, right."

The conversation shifted, and the group continued chatting, eating, and drinking in turns.

Soon, the women—along with Chen Qi and a few others—finished their meals and retreated to the living room next door to watch TV (and gossip). Only the men remained at the table.

"Come on, Xiao Su, let’s drink! Tonight, we go all out—no holding back!" Song Haihua raised his glass with a hearty laugh.

"You got it, Uncle Song."

As they drank and talked, Su Yang turned to Song Anquan. "What time are we setting off on the 15th?"

"Right after midnight, I think."

"Yeah, makes sense. It’ll take about five hours to get there, another five back—and that’s if there’s no traffic."

Song Anquan sighed. "Ugh, don’t remind me. I’m still annoyed we have to make this trip."

"Can’t be helped. Once these next few days are over, you’ll be free. So, where are you and the wife planning to go for your honeymoon?"

"Probably Ludao."

"Not bad. A seaside getaway sounds perfect."

Su Yang took a sip of wine before asking, "Are you holding the banquet in the city or doing a home-style feast here?"

"I wanted to book a hotel in the city, but it’s too last-minute. Most decent places are already full. And if it’s just some mediocre hotel, we might as well do it at home."

"So, a home feast it is?"

"Yeah, that’s the plan for now."

Su Yang thought for a moment. "Does the bride’s family know?"

"They do." Song Anquan took a bite of food before continuing.

Su Yang nodded. "Good. Wouldn’t want any misunderstandings leading to drama later."

"Don’t worry. Her family isn’t loaded either—they’re from a small town outside Hangzhou. A home feast is fine by them."

"As long as both sides are on the same page. Cheers." Su Yang refilled Song Anquan’s glass, and they clinked before downing their drinks.

"Here, Xiao Su, have a smoke." Chen Zhaoguo began passing out cigarettes.

Su Yang accepted one with a smile. "Thanks, Uncle Chen."

"No need for formalities. Anquan, you want one?"

Song Anquan shook his head. "No thanks, Uncle."

"At least you’ve got that going for you—never picked up the habit."

Song Anquan chuckled. "You all should cut back too."

"Yeah, yeah."

Su Yang lit his cigarette and turned back to Song Anquan. "What’s on the agenda for tomorrow?"

"Preparations, mostly. Slaughtering pigs and sheep, prepping ingredients for the feast the day after, decorating the rooms. Then a bunch of relatives and friends coming to help with the convoy will arrive, and we’ll have to host them for dinner."

Just hearing this made Su Yang’s head throb.

He rubbed his temples. "Sounds exhausting."

"Tell me about it. Should’ve waited a couple more years before getting married."

"Too late for regrets now. I’ll help you out tomorrow."

"You’re a real one, brother!"

Su Yang grinned, then remembered something. "Oh, right—tomorrow’s also the day we decorate the wedding car."

Hearing this, Song Anquan slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "Damn, I almost forgot about this big thing."

"No worries, we can still make it. Tomorrow noon, you and I will go downtown to get it done."

"Alright~ Let’s call my little sister to come with us tomorrow."

……