money player

The next day.

Sin Yiu-man got up at 3:30 a.m., did some morning exercise, and then went to the dining room for breakfast.

Except for the pregnant woman, everyone else in the family was present.

The previous wedding of the two brothers was not a proper traditional ceremony. It did not adhere to auspicious times and dates, and many procedures followed Western rules, so it could not be considered dignified or complete.

Although this was a concubine's wedding, the rules were basically the same as those for a wife's wedding. The bridal sedan chair from the Guo family set off at five o'clock sharp, taking two hours on the road. It entered the Xian family's gate at seven o'clock. There was no wedding ceremony or ancestral worship. Tea was served to the main wife, Zhong Jieling, and the formal status was established, and that was the end of it.

Xian Yaowu took a bite of a sweet glutinous rice ball and suddenly said, "Big brother, Guo Biting and Xu Wanyi are both pregnant."

Sin Yiu-man was not surprised at all. Back in August, Sin Yiu-man had his sperm motility checked and the result showed that he was very fertile and could easily conceive. As long as the woman's health was not too bad, he was practically a walking seed-planting machine.

"You better behave yourself for the next year. The children's healthy growth depends on their father. We're already stretched thin with five children. If we have any more, we'll have to let them grow up on their own. We won't be able to take care of them all."

"understood."

Perhaps because he's about to become a father, Sin Yiu-man felt that Sin Yiu-wu had matured a lot in just over a month.

"Don't just eat glutinous rice balls, have some lotus seed and red date porridge too." He reached into the pot and ladled out a bowl of hot porridge, placing it in front of Xian Yaowu. Then he ladled out a bowl for Cai Jinman and said gently, "Jinman, have some too."

Cai Jinman responded softly, her eyes lowered, her face full of shyness and gentleness, making her exceptionally beautiful.

She is currently ovulating, and tonight the master will stay in her room, hoping to conceive a son on the first try.

Su Lizhen was a little jealous. She was the first to enter the family, but she was ranked last in the list of those trying to conceive. This time it was Cai Jinman, but who knew who would be next, or when it would be her turn.

Wang Xiamin was also filled with melancholy. Although she had shared a bed with the master several times, they had never consummated their marriage. The master always said that they should choose an auspicious day, but she was no longer willing to wait a long time. She just wanted to fulfill her wish as soon as possible, no matter what the date was.

During breakfast, everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts and didn't eat much, keeping Xian Yaowu company.

After eating, we got busy.

Xian Yaowu went back to his building to get ready, while Cai Jinman went to the temporary kitchen to keep an eye on things. There were many hearty dishes for the lunch banquet, including one bear left paw per table, and many dishes made with South China tiger as an ingredient, such as braised tiger cubs with deer tendons and sea cucumber, tiger penis stew, tiger skin chili peppers, salt and pepper tiger ribs, and a jar of tiger bone wine per table.

The lions we brought from Africa have arrived. We'll make braised lion's head meatballs and lion meat stew with old ginger.

Other rare and precious ingredients include abalone, shark fin, sika deer, roe deer, grouse, wild boar stomach, wild ginseng, sable, raccoon dog, and snow frog...

Anyway, they brought out an eight-person sedan chair and served sixty-four dishes. In the past, only royal weddings were qualified to do so. Anyone who dared to overstep their bounds would either be executed along with their entire family or have their whole clan wiped out.

In addition, there was a table specifically for foreigners, where a standard seven-course British state banquet was arranged, consisting of 17 dishes from appetizers to desserts and drinks. Compared to Chinese food, there were no particularly expensive ingredients, and the budget was mainly spent on drinks.

Su Lizhen went to work. The Christmas season of Jinzhao Group has started. Three cargo ships set sail today, two of which are destined for Eastern Europe. She has to keep an eye on the newly acquired clients.

Wang Xiamin followed Xian Yaowen, and the two went to the kitchen for a quick look before entering the study to continue working on the documents that hadn't been finished the night before.

They were busy until 10:30, and Xian Yaowen hurriedly led Wang Xiamin downstairs.

According to the old wedding customs in Lingnan, the wedding day is divided into two banquets, one at noon and one in the evening. The noon banquet is the formal wedding feast, also known as the noon wedding banquet, which mainly focuses on ancestor worship, entertaining relatives, friends, neighbors and fellow villagers, and the etiquette is solemn and traditional.

The evening banquet is a social gathering, specifically for entertaining people with whom one has connections and business dealings. To put it bluntly, the core purpose is to collect gifts and red envelopes from all sides.

Downstairs, at the entrance to the banquet, stood a gate adorned with red couplets featuring dragons and phoenixes and decorated with gold velvet flowers. This gate was named the "Gate of Many Sons and Many Blessings." The plaque above the gate, inscribed with the words "A Match Made in Heaven," shone brightly in the sunlight, complementing the red silk hanging on either side of the gate and further intensifying the festive atmosphere throughout the courtyard.

Xian Yaowu stood on the left side of the gate, his navy blue silk robe hanging straight down to his ankles, with the collar buttoned up neatly. He wore a black satin jacket over it, with auspicious cloud patterns embroidered on the fabric, exuding a refined elegance of a wealthy family in a low-key manner.

He wore a black satin melon-shaped hat with a small gilded red flower tucked into one side of the brim, echoing the large red silk flower pinned to his chest, which added a touch of solemnity to his already handsome features, making him appear more like a man preparing for a grand wedding.

His fingers were slightly bent, maintaining the gesture of cupped hands. His gaze was gentle yet polite. Whenever a guest approached, he would bow slightly. Every gesture he made was the proper demeanor of a scion of a prominent family.

Guo Biting, standing to the right of the main gate, is even more eye-catching.

She wore a bright red dragon and phoenix dress. The red satin fabric was shimmering and colorful. The front and collar were embroidered with golden peony branches. The dragon and phoenix embroidery on the sleeves was three-dimensional and raised. The golden phoenix spread its wings and the jade dragon leaped. The stitches were fine and dense, showing the exquisite craftsmanship of Chaozhou embroidery.

Her bright red horse-face skirt was elegantly draped, with pomegranates and mandarin ducks embroidered on the skirt's front, symbolizing many children and blessings, and marital bliss. The tassels on the skirt swayed gently with her subtle movements, adding a touch of liveliness.

She wore a simplified phoenix crown, with red pom-poms and beads intertwined. The kingfisher feather ornaments gleamed warmly in the sunlight. A bright red veil partially covered her eyebrows and eyes, revealing only a section of her fair chin. A faint smile played on her lips. She bowed her head dignifiedly, not speaking easily. Only when she raised her hand did the jade bracelets on her wrists gently clink together, making a crisp sound, which made her appear even more gentle and dignified.

Her red satin embroidered shoes were hidden under her skirt, with a pair of small mandarin ducks embroidered on the toes. She stood on a red carpet, her feet not touching the ground, untouched by the outside world.

From the last time they met at Ritz Garden, Sin Yiu-man knew that this younger sister-in-law was no pushover. If he didn't keep her in check early on, she would become a troublemaker sooner or later.

Fortunately, on this joyous occasion, she behaved herself and didn't cause any trouble.

My gaze shifted from Guo Biting to the four bridesmaids. Whether it was because it was hard to find suitable brides of the right age or it was intentional, none of the four bridesmaids looked particularly attractive.

In comparison, the four groomsmen were much more presentable.

He looked behind the best man and saw Zhou Ruoyun sitting in a grand chair, playing the role of the groom's parent.

Instead of walking over, he went to the campfire in the corner.

Logically, since the parents were not present, the eldest brother and sister-in-law should have greeted the guests on their behalf. However, he could not go. The etiquette for "marrying a wife" could not be too elaborate, otherwise it would embarrass Zhong Jieling. This aunt was still angry, and he could not provoke her further.

Roast suckling pig is a must-have dish at wedding banquets, symbolizing the bride's chastity. As the cook slices the pork, Sin Kin-chi, holding Sin Yan-mei, secretly picks up a crispy piece and stuffs it into her mouth. Sin Yan-mei stretches out her small, delicate hands, grabbing at the air in a desperate attempt to get more. Camilla and Aisha squat nearby, holding bamboo skewers, digging out charred sweet potatoes from the embers of the charcoal fire.

Camilla spotted him first, quickly skewered a piping hot sweet potato on a bamboo stick, handed it to him, and softly called out in her native Sian language, "Tiens! Gote! (Here! Try it!) It's delicious."

“Oh, merci mon amour (Oh, thank you, my little darling).” Sin Yiu-man picked up Camilla and kissed her on the cheek. “Looks delicious.”

Camilla chuckled softly, took out a delicate handkerchief from her pocket, carefully wrapped it around the scalding hot sweet potato, and gently rubbed it until a small piece of the crispy skin peeled off. She held the piece of skin through the handkerchief and gently brought it to Xian Yaowen's lips, saying softly, "Papa, eat, eat."

"Thank you, my good boy~" Sin Yiu-man opened his mouth and bit into the potato skin. With a gentle movement of his lips and teeth, he skillfully scraped off the soft, sweet potato flesh stuck to the crispy skin. "So sweet."

Camilla also rubbed off a piece of the crispy potato skin and put it in her mouth, her eyes crinkling with delight: "So sweet!"

Sin Yiu-man chatted quietly with the little girl, enjoying this warm and intimate family time while subtly assessing her vocabulary.

After the little girl ate half a sweet potato, I wouldn't let her eat any more, afraid that eating too much would cause bloating and indigestion. I carried her to the kitchen counter where the dishes were served, took a plate, and served her some freshly cooked food.

The little girl took a bite and asked, "Daddy, what kind of dish is this?"

"This dish is braised eel in black bean sauce, which symbolizes longevity and good fortune."

"Dad, it's so delicious!"

Upon hearing the little girl suddenly utter a sentence in Teochew dialect, Xian Yaowen asked, "Are you going to the rice shop to buy rice?"

"Yes, go see Auntie's little boy! He's so tiny, so...so cute!"

The little girl's outstanding language talent secretly shocked Sin Yiu-man.

People often mistakenly believe that Arabs are dull-witted, but few remember that for six hundred years, starting from the eighth century, Arab civilization stood at the pinnacle of human wisdom, leading the world's science, mathematics, and philosophy forward.

Ultimately, Islam was both its strength and its weakness. In its early years, the doctrine encouraged intellectual inquiry, critical thinking, and the study of logic, which led to its glorious golden age. However, after the Middle Ages, the doctrine gradually became conservative and rigid, clinging to dogma and suppressing independent thought.

The combination of early marriage and consanguineous marriage across generations, coupled with years of war and turmoil and chronic malnutrition among the people, has led to the slow decline and fall of a once brilliant nation.

Could it be that the little girl's ancestors included someone with exceptional talent and intelligence, and that in her generation, this talent has somehow reverted to its ancestral form?

He secretly pondered that if he observed the little girl for a while longer and found her to be exceptionally gifted and intelligent, he would bring her mother, Aria, to his side as soon as possible. A child's growth absolutely cannot be without a mother's presence; a prolonged lack of maternal love can easily lead to a flawed and extreme personality, leaving lifelong character defects.

"dad."

Before he could even process what was happening, Sin Kin-chi was already standing in front of him.

He snapped out of his daze, gently patted Sin Kin-chi's little shoulder, then lifted the mosquito net covering Sin Kin-chi's face and carefully examined the little girl's delicate and tender face.

As the little boy's features gradually developed, one could vaguely discern the likenesses of Chu Tianlan and Lin Keping. Both were already strikingly beautiful, and the little boy, having combined the best of both, naturally became even more exquisite and handsome.

After watching for a while, he covered himself with the mosquito net and said to Sin Kin-chi, "Isn't my little sister pretty?"

"Mmm." Xian Qianzhi nodded her head obediently and said seriously, "Renmei sister is a natural beauty."

Sin Yiu-man chuckled and patted Sin Kin-chi's forehead. "Speaking so maturely at such a young age is not at all befitting your age."

Sin Kin-chi stuck out her tongue and muttered playfully in a low voice, "That's true."

"You're absolutely right." Xian Yaowen ruffled her hair with a mixture of helplessness and affection, his eyes full of laughter. "Dad's flying to Tokyo the day after tomorrow morning. Do you want to come with me?"

"Tokyo?" Sin Kin-chi's eyes lit up instantly. She excitedly tugged at his sleeve and nodded vigorously. "Yes! I want to go with Dad!"

“Okay, Dad will take you with him.” Xian Yaowen nodded slightly and casually asked, “Dad wants to ask you, how much money have you saved up after being a street vendor for so long?”

Sin Kin-chi said shyly, "Not much, only a few hundred dollars."

“Several hundred yuan is already a lot. Street vendors usually only make a net profit of seventy or eighty yuan a month.” Xian Yaowen put his hand on Xian Qianzhi’s small shoulder and said earnestly, “You need to carefully analyze what you did well and what you didn’t do well, identify the problems, summarize the problems, and come up with feasible solutions.”

"Dad, I can spot some problems, but I don't know how to summarize them."

"This is because you lack experience and knowledge. When you return from Tokyo, do not set up a stall for the time being. Travel all over Hong Kong, record all the street vendors, and then find the vendors who do the same food and whose business is the best and worst. Follow and observe each vendor for half a month."

The success of a street vendor's business depends on six factors: prime location, ability to avoid troublesome customers, affordable and delicious food, good weather, cleanliness and sanitation (including mosquitoes and flies), and competition from other vendors.

Sin Yiu-man patted Sin Kin-chi's head and asked, "Do you know what kind of rice we eat at home?"

“Hmm…” Sin Kin-chi tilted her head and thought seriously before answering, “At home we eat the silk rice we grow ourselves, and occasionally we also eat Siamese jasmine rice, Zengcheng silk rice, and Maba sticky rice.”

"Then what kind of rice do ordinary people eat?"

"It's just regular local Guangdong rice, like Siliao or Shunde Snow Rice."

“Very good.” Xian Yaowen nodded. “Dad is giving you a new task: earn 50,000 yuan through street vendors before the Lunar New Year.”

Sin Kin-chi pouted and said somewhat awkwardly, "Daddy, the smuggling business..."

“Don’t rush to say you can’t do it.” Sin Yiu-man interrupted her, his tone gentle but firm. “Think about it carefully. Your father has already made his meaning very clear. It’s just a thin layer of paper away from being understood. You’ll understand once you break through it yourself.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he reached out and took Sin Yan-mei from Sin Kin-chi's arms, then turned around and continued to patiently feed Camilla.

Sin Kin-chi stood quietly in the spot, lost in thought, two words swirling in her mind: street vendors and rice.

They formed their own little world here, while the women of the family ate in the dining hall. Fei Baoshu came, and Liu Wanqing came too.

At the reception area, guests from all walks of life arrived in an endless stream, crowding around the area.

The guests were divided into three groups. This wedding banquet was inherently delicate and special, and its status was questionable. So, the guests exchanged information and discussed things among themselves, and naturally, they agreed on the rules and etiquette for attending the banquet and drinking.

After the little girl finished eating, Xian Yaowen carried her up to the second floor of Xian Yuzhen's Building No. 6 and stood at the window in the corridor, looking towards the reception area.

From afar, Guo Lanchang and his wife Ye Shuwan could be seen taking a detour to the welcoming area. Ye Shuwan was holding her young son, nicknamed Ah Xiong, whose formal name was Luan Xiong.

The little guy is chubby-cheeked and full of energy; he looks like he'll have a blessed and promising future. Perhaps in a couple of years, we can find a free-range son to marry him off to, which would be a way of implementing the principle of uniting all forces that can be united.

Behind the three, Ip Man and the Shanghai woman walked together, with a strong and powerful young man beside them, who was probably his disciple.

The sudden rise of "Thirteen Orphans" ignited a martial arts craze in Hong Kong ahead of schedule, and the soft marketing of "Dragon Path" has already begun. Many serialized martial arts novels contain elements such as "All martial arts under heaven originated from Dragon Path", "Eighteen Dragon Paths save the Tang Emperor", and "Dragon Path burns down the Shaolin Temple, the den of traitors".

Regardless of whether it's true or false, or whether it's a case of misrepresentation, the more often it's said, the more the general public will believe it.

The next step is to selectively denigrate the boxing styles popular in Hong Kong, without telling lies, but only selectively telling the "unpleasant" truths.

For example, Wing Chun is a martial art created by women. On screen, Wing Chun is often associated with prostitutes—clients who hire prostitutes especially like those who know Wing Chun, and the way Wing Chun's small fists pound on the chest makes people itch with desire.

Sin Yiu-man felt sorry for Ip Man; the Dragon Path wouldn't have happened otherwise. It's all that old man's fault for being unreliable.

Lin Keping arrived, her belly bulging, round and plump, looking about six months along.

He didn't know if she wanted to see Renmei; if she did, he wouldn't stop her. However, she probably didn't. Having a new man and a new child, thinking about her old man's child would only make her uncomfortable. (End of Chapter)