I have ten trillion licking dog gold

six o'clock.

The banquet started on time.

After all, it's winter, and night falls early. By the time the three groups sat down at the table, the sky outside was already a hazy gray.

However, it's insignificant.

The manor was naturally magnificent and resplendent.

This Song Dynasty-style lacquerware mother-of-pearl inlaid round table features a rosewood body, lacquerware crafted using intangible cultural heritage techniques, and is inlaid with deep-sea luminescent mother-of-pearl. The tabletop is also decorated with a painting titled "A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains," with some sections featuring dazzling outlines, presumably made of gold leaf.

A single table perfectly illustrates the Shi family's wealth.

Such a family.

My daughter actually wants to become a concubine?

No wonder Shih Chen-hua was indignant.

"Miss Lan, how about we drink yellow wine? Yellow wine is perfect for this weather, and more importantly, it won't harm your health."

Some genes are only activated at a certain stage of life.

For example, health preservation.

When you're young, you'd never bother with anything, but as you get older, you start to behave and begin soaking goji berries in your thermos.

"Row."

Lan Peizhi nodded amiably.

Again.

The guest is the host.

After obtaining Lan Peizhi's consent, Shi Zhenhua surprisingly didn't bother to ask Jiang Chen's opinion and directly ordered his servants to fetch the wine.

What's there to ask?

Don't actually think of me as a guest, do you?
No way?
It's not quite a Manchu Han Imperial Feast, but the priceless Song Dynasty-style lacquerware mother-of-pearl round table is crammed with various dishes, enough to satisfy everyone's taste.

What can be clearly perceived is...

Sichuan cuisine is the most common.

“Miss Lan is from Sichuan, so I asked the chef to prepare some famous Sichuan dishes, hoping they will suit Miss Lan’s taste.”

How do you say that.

It's not scarcity that's the problem, but inequality.

That's so unfair!

Before anyone could even speak, Lan Peizhi actually started to defend him.

"Chairman Shi didn't prepare any Hubei dishes?"

"It's ready. Isn't this it?"

Everyone's attention, including Jiang Chen's, was focused on a dish that "returned to simplicity".

"Shacheng fish cake is the most distinctive dish of Hubei cuisine."

Shi Zhenhua gave a very serious introduction.

Jiang Chen's eyelids twitched.

Shi Qianqian tried hard to purse her lips and clench her hands, suppressing the laughter that she almost couldn't hold back.

Unlike other dishes that are exquisitely presented and can be considered works of art, this plate of fish cake on the table seems to have only undergone simple heating, making it unremarkable and even somewhat out of place.

but.

Perhaps this is the chef's greatest dedication to craftsmanship tonight.

High-end ingredients often require only the simplest cooking methods.

"By the way, this fish cake was brought by Xiao Jiang. Miss Lan, Miss Duanmu, you two must try it later."

What does it mean to insult someone without using profanity?

They didn't say a single harsh word, yet they managed to make people so embarrassed they wanted to dig their toes into the ground.

Presenting fish cakes as a gift, and even writing about it in front of other guests, would make most people lose their heads, but Jiang Chen is no ordinary person; he sat very upright.

"Yes, I brought ten pounds, so you can eat as much as you want, there's plenty."

Ok.

He even added something else.

Shih Chen-hua was speechless.

Shi Qianqian finally couldn't hold back anymore, turned her head away, and her delicate shoulders trembled.

Even Meng Meiling's lips curled into a slight smile.

When they first met, when the other person was still a college student, he was able to argue with her calmly and firmly, which shows his strong will.

Not to mention now.

"Having known each other for so long, I've never tried Shacheng fish cake before. I really have to give it a try."

Those present are all ancient foxes.

Lan Peizhi's implied meaning was clear to everyone.

"Xiao Jiang, that's not right of you. You and Miss Lan are friends, how could you forget to send some to Miss Lan as well?"

Faced with the complex situation, Jiang Chen tried his best to remain calm. He had no choice but to deal with each move as it came. "If Miss Lan finds it delicious, I will personally deliver it to Miss Lan's residence afterwards."

Lan Peizhi remained noncommittal and did not elaborate further, thus ending the topic.

Jiang Chen didn't relax. Who would unleash a powerful move right from the start?
The battle has just begun.

The rice wine was delivered.

"Would Miss Duanmu like some?"

Lan Peizhi remained silent.

As the "guardian," Jiang Chen was certainly not in a position to speak in this situation.

So Master Duanmu made the decision himself.

"Drink a little."

She nodded.

Foodies will never refuse to try new foods.

"Hehe, Miss Duanmu is a straightforward person too."

All six people at the table were served wine without exception.

"Please start eating, don't be shy."

Although Shi Xixi can be infuriating at times, she can also be incredibly cute and heartwarming at other times.

For example, at this moment, she picked up her chopsticks and first picked up a piece of fish cake from a pile of delicious delicacies, put it in her mouth, and took a bite.

"Mmm, it's delicious."

Jiang Chen was both amused and exasperated, and at the same time, he couldn't help but feel a little touched, but he was also completely baffled.

This old lady is clearly on his side.

But why do I always like to cause him trouble and annoy him?
If he had been told earlier, this complex and difficult situation would never have arisen.

"Eat slowly, watch out for the thorns."

after all.

Boss Jiang still chose to let bygones be bygones; why should he be so petty with his woman?

Sitting next to her daughter, Meng Meiling listened silently, but her expression softened gently.

Seeing that Shi Qianqian was eating with relish, Duanmu Liuli also reached out with her chopsticks and picked up a piece of fish cake.

That's right.

Leaving aside Lan Peizhi, even Duanmu Liuli, who lives in Chunqiu Huafu, has never tasted the flavor of Shacheng fish cake.

Therefore, it's clear that this person put a lot of thought into what gift they brought when they visited.

"Chairman Shi, Mrs. Shi, thank you for your hospitality."

Lan Peizhi took the initiative to pick up the glass.

Ignoring her inappropriate form of address, Shi Zhenhua and Meng Meiling raised their glasses one after the other.

"Miss Lan, you're too kind. We should be thanking you for your hospitality. I'll drink this, Miss Lan, please feel free to drink as you please."

Not only Shi Zhenhua, but even Meng Meiling drank it all in one gulp.

He knew Lan Peizhi's drinking capacity; he had always seen her carry a gourd with her, and she was the type to drink wine like tea. But Meng Meiling?
"Didn't you say your mom doesn't drink?"

Jiang Chen chirped softly.

"Yes."

Shi Qianqian showed no embarrassment, put down her chopsticks, and turned her head with a straight face, "Even monks talk about being free from worldly desires, but they still have many wives and concubines and have children."

Jiang Chen was speechless.

So, this couple treats people differently based on who they're dealing with?

"Xixi, have a drink with Miss Lan and Miss Duanmu."

Shi Zhenhua interrupted his daughter's private conversation with someone.

Shi Qianqian put down her chopsticks and stood up, showing full courtesy. "When I was little, my father often mentioned Miss Lan to me. At the time, I doubted that there could be such a wonderful woman in the world. Later, after meeting Miss Lan with my own eyes, I realized that my father was still conservative. I am very fortunate that there is such a person as Miss Lan among us women, and it is also an honor."

If it weren't for the inappropriate occasion...

Jiang Chen really wanted to applaud her. That's so well said.

After saying that, Shi Qianqian tilted her head back and finished her meal in one go, looking heroic and spirited.

As the saying goes, don’t hit someone with a smiling face.

With such a barrage of flattery, even if Lan Peizhi harbored some displeasure, he could only vent it in one direction.

Jiang Chen was completely unaware that after Shi Qianqian sat down, he secretly gave her a thumbs-up under the table.

"Yes."

Shi Zhenhua chimed in, looking with a sigh at the woman who shone like the bright moon in the sky, a woman who had defined an era, and was filled with emotion.

"I am old and frail, but Miss Kelan remains as charming as ever."

"puff--"

It's not Shi Xixi.

It's Jiang.

Even the strongest willpower has its limits.

His loss of composure caused Duanmu Liuli to turn her gaze towards him, and a strange emotion surfaced in her vast and ethereal eyes.

it seems that.

Worried?

She said that just a few days ago.

If you tease your senior about her age, she'll get angry.

"why are you laughing."

Before Shi Zhenhua could lash out, Lan Peizhi spoke first. This was the first time she had formally spoken to someone since she entered the room.

Shi Zhenhua's expression changed slightly; instead of gloating, his heart involuntarily tightened.

His identity dictates that his stance will be quite complex.

I don't want someone to have it too easy, but I also don't want to see them be too "miserable".

In their era, filled with passion and strife, there were many brilliant and extraordinary individuals, but the unspoken consensus was that one should never provoke Guanyin.

"Miss Lan..."

Shi Zhenhua wanted to interrupt—well, interrupt, not save the day—but Lan Peizhi ignored him, her expression calm and unreadable as she watched Jiang Chen, who was laughing, and repeated herself once more.

"why are you laughing."

Shi Qianqian could feel the force of those words, as if they were hitting her heart, and she couldn't help but become nervous.

It shouldn't be.

It stands to reason.

They should know each other quite well; they shouldn't get angry so easily.

She began to understand why someone had been so terrified earlier.

Also.

This woman was unpredictable, difficult to fathom, and ruthless.

Even Shi Qianqian, who was on the periphery, felt immense pressure, let alone Comrade Jiang Chen, who was in the eye of the storm. He knew this meal would not be easy, but he did not expect the storm to come so suddenly.

Who can we blame?

He only has himself to blame.

Jiang Chen's brain was racing, trying to figure out how to deal with it, but that's how people are; the more anxious they are, the more chaotic their thoughts become.

Shi Zhenhua frowned and secretly gave his ex-wife a meaningful look, but this was just a desperate attempt to find a solution.

What could Meng Meiling possibly do?
"He's laughing at my senior sister for being too old."

Just when the brightly lit restaurant was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, Duanmu Liuli, who never liked to talk, spoke up unexpectedly.

Everyone froze.

This is just great.

It became even more lifeless.

Even Shi Zhenhua, not to mention Jiang Chen, started sweating at this moment.

Aged Shaoxing wine still has a strong flavor.

Jiang Chen's pupils contracted as he suddenly looked at the Taoist nun who was kicking him while he was down.

What about conscience?
Where is your conscience?
Over the past year, he has done his best as a guardian, hasn't he?

"Ah."

Just when it seemed that only a heartbeat could be heard, Lan Peizhi, who seemed about to transform into a man-eating monster, suddenly curled the corners of her mouth.

"Is being old funny?"

"It's not funny. Of course it's not funny. Who doesn't get old? Besides, the standard for judging a person has never been age."

Shi Zhenhua quickly seized the opportunity and immediately responded, secretly letting out a long sigh of relief while giving Duanmu Liuli, who seemed to be adding fuel to the fire, a deep look.

"As long as one's life roles don't evolve, it's difficult for a person to truly feel their age."

Meng Meiling subtly shifted the focus of the conversation by casually supporting her ex-husband at the dinner table.

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

What does it mean to be a family?

This is what a family should be like.

All the grievances I suffered before have vanished.

Jiang Chen knew that now he couldn't let down the woman beside him.

The three-way battleground has now become two-way battlegrounds.

Lan Peizhi could clearly sense this change. Her gaze swept across the faces of the Shi family members one by one, including the person who was being "protected," and she seemed to only then belatedly realize what was happening.

"I understand."

Understood?
Shi Zhenhua was eager to change the subject, so he asked, "What did Miss Lan understand?"

"It seems I should offer my congratulations to Chairman Shi and Mrs. Shi."

Shi Zhenhua was speechless. Just now, he was so majestic, like a father protecting his child. So even if he wanted to argue, he couldn't say anything and could only swallow his pride and acquiesce.

"I'm not particularly happy. I hope Miss Lan won't laugh at me."

A person who never jokes suddenly becomes incredibly funny and their wit is off the charts.

It's like someone who never lies suddenly lying.

Meng Meiling's meaningful remark, "Please excuse my rudeness," genuinely amused the other party.

"As long as it is Miss Shi's sincere choice, it is something to be happy about."

Lan Peizhi raised his wrist and grasped the wine glass. "Congratulations to everyone."

With the danger over, Shi Zhenhua finally relaxed completely, his expression softening, and then he put on a reluctant smile.

"Alas, daughters grow up and leave home; we parents can't do anything about it. Our only hope is that she can be happy."

Shi Zhenhua raised his glass, then noticed his daughter was still in a daze, and immediately reminded her, "Qianqian."

Shi Qianqian realized what was happening, quickly stood up, and at the same time, bumped into someone.

Yes.

He wasn't the only one who was stunned.

indeed.

She and her parents weren't the only ones receiving congratulations.

A joyous occasion can't be complete with just the bride.
Jiang Chen, who had just escaped a disaster, felt as if he weighed a ton. Every part of his body was stiff. He had just drunk a whole pound of wine by himself, but the wine that the nanny had just added seemed to be poisoned, and he couldn't drink it no matter what.

But in full view of everyone, it seemed that everyone was waiting for him.

He had nowhere to hide.

"Sorry, my leg is a little numb."

He steeled himself, picked up the wine with one hand, and held the table with the other, his gaze fixed on the Taoist nun who had just made a fool of herself.

"Then let's all do it together."

Fortunately, the Taoist nun was there.

Give him something to stand on.

The Taoist nun glanced at him, then silently raised her cup.

"Thank you for your blessing, Miss Lan. Let's all drink to this cup together."

Shi Zhenhua seemed to have let go of his inner turmoil, and his smile became hearty.

Even Lan Peizhi stood up this time, her movements graceful and gentle. Jiang Chen's gaze wandered aimlessly, and even if it did, it was only at Duanmu Liuli. But he always had a vague feeling that a pair of eyes were glancing at him.

"I am honored to be a witness."

Jiang Chen's heart sank.

"Haha, Miss Lan is joking. Cheers."

Shih Chen-hua, in a moment of youthful exuberance, brought his ex-wife's daughter to thank relatives and friends who came to congratulate him.

What the hell.

It looked just like a wedding. (End of Chapter)