Chapter 525 She was no exception.

From the start of the ceremony until the meal was served, Grandma Su sat obediently, cracking sunflower seeds and peeling peanuts, occasionally praising her grandson to the person next to her, "My grandson, isn't he capable?"

The guests next to them looked her and Su Lao Er up and down. Seeing that Su Lao Er's face did indeed resemble the old lady's, their smiles warmed up, and they chimed in, "The old lady has such a grandson, she can just wait to enjoy her life."

Seeing that she didn't say anything else but instead started to slander her mother and second brother, Su Hongmei's tense nerves gradually relaxed.

After the ceremony, the dishes were served, and the guests smiled and urged Grandma Su to start eating first.

Although it's unclear why the old lady didn't sit at the head table of her husband's family, the guests showed her the utmost respect given her presence.

Grandma Su was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling.

During the toasting ceremony, people at several tables near the door suddenly exclaimed in surprise, one after another, attracting many people to look up.

When they saw the people who had just come in, they also gasped in surprise.

"Hey, it's Mayor Yan. What brings him here?"

"It really is Mayor Yan; he has a really good relationship with the Xu family."

"This wedding banquet was definitely worth it!"

Many people whispered among themselves, and some even stood up to greet the person, making the scene a bit lively. Yan Shi simply stopped, smiled, and raised his hand to press the crowd down. After everyone quieted down, he said, "Everyone, there's no need to stand up. I'm just here as an elder to attend the wedding of the younger generation. Just think of me as the bride's second uncle. Sit down, everyone, eat and drink well..."

As soon as these words were spoken, many people in the banquet hall turned their attention to the Xu family.

Su Lao Er and Xu Ying quickly went to greet him, "Uncle Yan, my parents were just saying that you're busy with official business and might not be able to make it. They were thinking of having the hotel prepare a set meal and send it to your home later..."

"No matter how busy I am, I can always make time for a meal. I will definitely come to your wedding."

Yan Shi smiled, glanced at Su Lao Er, and patted him on the shoulder. "Min An, I'm entrusting Yingzi to you. Uncle Yan has no other requirements, just treat her well. Can you do that?"

"Yes! Don't worry, Uncle Yan, Xu Ying is someone I care about." Su Lao Er also smiled.

Mayor Yan raised an eyebrow, said "good" three times, took the box from his secretary, and handed it over, "This is my wedding gift to you two. I wish you a long and happy marriage and many children."

"...Uncle Yan."

Xu Ying blushed and called out with a smile.

Yan Shi laughed heartily, "Alright, alright, I won't say anymore, you guys continue."

Xu Ying and Su Lao Er led Yan Shi to the table where Xu's parents were sitting. The seat next to Xu's father had been empty until now. Someone had asked who that seat was reserved for, since the ceremony was over and the person hadn't arrived yet.

Everyone in the banquet hall was dumbfounded.

The guests at Grandma Su and Su Hongmei's table, not to mention the envy in their eyes when they looked at Su Lao Er, Grandma Su and Su Hongmei themselves were filled with indescribable excitement and admiration.

Grandma Su was puzzled. Although she enjoyed being looked at like that, she found it inexplicable and secretly asked the people around her, "Who is this Mayor Yan? Why do you all seem so eager to curry favor with him?"

The customer next to him twitched at the corner of his mouth, almost losing his smile, “…”

This old lady always speaks the truth.

The guest coughed lightly, forced a smile, and explained, "This Mayor Yan is the top official in our capital, the mayor!"

"What?!"

Grandma Su exclaimed in surprise, blurting out her dialect that she hadn't spoken in years, her eyes practically bulging out of their sockets, "My goodness! My second son has really made something of himself! Our Su family's ancestral graves are emitting auspicious smoke..."

She mumbled something and tried to stand up, but Su Hongmei exclaimed and pressed her down.

He whispered a reminder to her, "Grandma, today is Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law's big day. Don't cause any trouble. That's Yan City. If you cause any trouble, Second Brother will be finished..."

Grandma Su glared at her.

"I'm not stupid, I definitely won't cause trouble, I just..."

The old lady licked her lips and whispered to Su Hongmei, "The highest-ranking official I've ever met in my life is your father, the factory manager of the auto parts factory. I've never seen the top leader this close before. I want to go over and see him, and maybe I can shake his hand..."

Su Hongmei was speechless.

"Milk!"

Seeing that Su Hongmei's expression was not good, Old Mrs. Su tentatively asked her, "Can't you?"

"...Of course not."

Su Hongmei said, "It's already an exception that he was able to attend my second brother and sister-in-law's wedding. Didn't you see he was accompanied by a secretary and bodyguards? If you could rely on your status as the groom's grandmother, you could also shake hands with him, but you should think carefully. This was done without the consent of my second and third brothers..."

When Su Lao Er and Su Lao San were mentioned, Su Lao Tai's hesitant expression immediately changed.

"Then, I won't go. I'm just too happy..."

Grandma Su was a little disappointed, but she really obeyed and didn't go, even though she wasn't allowed to. She smiled at Su Hongmei and said, "Your eldest brother, second brother, third brother, and fourth brother are all successful. I don't have to worry about taking care of you in your old age or seeing you off when you die..."

She spat again and cursed Su Youfu, "...I shouldn't have listened to your father and gone to make a scene with your mother and the others. I was living a carefree life, but that incident completely ruined our relationship as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and I even had several arguments with your older brothers..."

The more Grandma Su talked, the more she regretted it. How could she have been so blinded by greed back then?

Su Hongmei listened quietly while eating, without offering any opinions.

After Grandma Su's voice faded, she looked up at Yan Shi, who was approachable and treated her second brother and sister-in-law with the kindness of an uncle. The shock she felt in her heart grew stronger.

Thinking of my second brother's ex-girlfriend, Cui Yuxia, she was a bad woman who only knew how to get my second brother to spend money on her, and who didn't like my second brother but still manipulated him.

My second sister-in-law is not only beautiful and from a good family, but she also has such a powerful network of connections. They are worlds apart.

She sighed softly, marveling at how her second brother, who used to only say things like "Mom, you're unfair! Mom, you're biased!", was now a grown man capable of standing on his own.

But then, thinking of her second brother's efforts and the sacrifice he made, almost losing his life, Su Hongmei clenched her hands again.

She recalled the words her teacher had said to encourage her: "The fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold, and the sharpest sword is forged through tempering. How can you see a rainbow without experiencing wind and rain? Everyone's growth requires paying a price..."

The second brother was no exception, the third brother was no exception, the eldest sister was no exception, and she was no exception either.

After the meal, the guests left in small groups, saying goodbye to their hosts.

Su Lao Er and Su Lao San saw the guests off at the door.

Grandma Su was taken away by Aunt Liu.

Su Hongmei went to the restroom and was about to leave when Xu Ying suddenly called her back.