Chapter 436: Going to the Feast or Not?

Of the six half-grown boys, Wang Youjian took the hardest beating.

Because he was the one who led the charge.

The fuse, washed clean of mud, was stained with blood on the cowhide paper wrapped in hemp rope. Ye Anning's clothes hanger was bent, straightened, then bent again; straightened, then bent again.

I don't know how long the beating lasted, but in the meantime, Ji Wangshu had prepared the sauce, and Jiang Yanfei had rolled out the noodles.

After waiting for Lin Sicheng and Ye Anning to finish applying medicine to the little fat boy and helping him out of the bedroom, the whole family sat at the table.

Glancing over, Lin Zhangqing and Lin Chengzhi nodded secretly: he had been held down and hammered for nearly half an hour, and even a pig on a chopping block wouldn't have squealed as happily as he did, yet this kid hadn't shed a single tear?

The key was that after coming out, he was all smiles, cheekily trying to get close to Lin Sicheng: "Senior Brother, the noodles are ready, I'll go serve them for you!" "No need, stand there and behave!"

"Ah, can't I sit?"

"You can!"

The little fat boy was half-doubting, staring at Lin Sicheng's face. Confirming that he wasn't being sarcastic, he pulled over a chair and carefully touched the edge. But the moment his backside touched the chair, he let out an "Ow!" and jumped up as if electrocuted.

Lin Sicheng let out a "Hmph": "You thought I was joking when I said you'd be standing for class next week?"

The little fat boy gave a sheepish grin.

"Don't run around, wait to eat!"

Lin Sicheng gave an instruction and ran off to serve the dishes.

Seeing his bitter expression, Lin Chengzhi teased him on purpose: "Youjian, does it hurt?"

How could it not hurt?

"Uncle Lin, didn't you see that fuse? It turned red, didn't it?"

"Then are you angry at your Senior Brother?"

Wang Youjian shivered, shaking his head like a rattle-drum: "Uncle Lin, don't set me up..."

Lin Chengzhi laughed happily: this little fat boy was quite sharp.

"Do you want Uncle to help you get revenge?"

The little fat boy froze for a moment, a look of terror flashing in his eyes: "Uncle Lin, have mercy on me!"

Even Lin Zhangqing couldn't help but laugh out loud.

This kid might be small, but his brain was smart. He had basically already guessed: for the next seven or eight years, or more likely ten or so, Lin Sicheng was the person he should "revere" the most.

Looking for trouble when there is none, asking for a beating when not being beaten—isn't that just being an idiot?

While they were enjoying themselves, Zhao Da and Zhao Er brought out the dishes, and Lin Chengzhi stood up to help.

They were all home-cooked dishes, but they were so fragrant they could make one bite their tongue: Stewed Mutton, Braised Pig Trotter, Dry-fried Chicken, Eight Treasure Duck.

The Mistress made her signature Steamed Basin, and Ye Anning made a newly learned Milk Soup Pot Fish.

The staple food was Sausage Noodles, the soup fresh and the noodles bright, wafting with an enticing vinegar aroma.

Everyone sat down, and Zhao Da and Zhao Er each served a bowl to Lin Zhangqing and Lin Chengzhi; the little fat boy followed suit and served one to Lin Sicheng: "Senior Brother, I'll cool it down for you..."

Ye Anning placed the tray on the table and let out another "Hmph": the noodles are in the bowl, the bowl is on the table, isn't it the same whether you cool it or not?

The little fat boy ignored him, picked up his chopsticks to stir a few times, and puffed out his cheeks, blowing continuously.

Ye Anning snorted and exchanged a look with Ji Wangshu, who nodded slightly: knowing how to act cute is the right thing to do.

According to Wang Qi Zhi's plan, if even Lin Sicheng couldn't keep him in check, he would send Wang Youjian to Beijing.

With Wang Youjian's thick-skinned nature and the old master's family style, he would have to take at least two beatings every three days...

Lin Zhangqing picked up his noodle bowl and said, "Let's eat," and the others raised their chopsticks.

Immediately, like thunder, came the sounds: "Slurp~ slurp... slurp~ slurp..."

Subconsciously, most of those who had raised their chopsticks stopped and looked toward the sound.

It was the kind of bowl used at home, just enough to be held in the palm of a hand; it wasn't big, but it definitely wasn't small.

Half a bowl of soup, half a bowl of noodles—if you had eaten the "one-bite-fragrant" noodles in Baoji or Xijing, where one bowl is just one mouthful, then this bowl was worth about ten of those.

But after about four mouthfuls from Zhao Da and Zhao Er, the bowl was empty, and they went for a second bowl.

And Lin Sicheng?

Just two goes: a slurp, another slurp, and then a drink of soup.

From start to finish, one bowl took at most thirty seconds... Wang Youjian was specifically serving him from the tray, and he actually couldn't keep up.

Ye Anning and Ji Wangshu were both stunned: how is this like someone who just got out of prison?

In all the time they had known him, they had never seen him eat like this.

Jiang Yanfei was also quite frightened: "Lin Sicheng, eat slower, there are still noodles... no, wait, Boheng, Zhongjiu, you two eat less noodles and more vegetables..." "Yes, Mistress..."

They answered with their mouths full, but their chopsticks kept moving, and in the blink of an eye, the two brothers had finished another bowl.

With a "Ha," Lin Sicheng finished the soup and put down the bowl with satisfaction.

Counting them up: there were seven empty bowls in front of him.

Zhao Da and Zhao Er were a bit slower, having eaten four bowls and already picking up their fifth.

Lin Chengzhi let out a "Hiss," with an expression like he had a toothache: "Lin Sicheng, is the food in Beijing really that hard to eat?"

"It's not that it's hard to eat, it's just that I'm not used to it: it's either rice, or if you want noodles, there's only beef noodles and soybean paste noodles. If you want hand-pulled noodles, you have to drive specifically to find them... and with the traffic in Beijing, by the time you find a noodle shop, half the day is gone..."

Why not make it yourself?

The words reached his lips, but Lin Chengzhi swallowed them back: with Lin Sicheng's work state, rather than doing it himself, he might as well hire a cook. "Then it's better to stay in Xijing in the future..."

Before he could finish, Jiang Yanfei glared at him: "Stop giving random advice, who can say for sure what will happen in the future?"

Lin Chengzhi curled his lip: he only went once and Lin Sicheng almost lost his life, how was that random advice?

He changed the subject: "You shouldn't be running out again before New Year's Day, right?"

"Hard to say, it depends on the project progress!" Lin Sicheng picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks, "But even if I go, it'll only be for two or three days."

"What about the school side?"

"The Center and the laboratory are basically running on schedule, nothing major!"

"I'm talking about classes!"

"Dad, the teacher isn't back until the week after next, who am I supposed to have classes with?"

Lin Chengzhi paused for a moment before he remembered: Lin Sicheng is a graduate student now, not an undergraduate. With Wang Qi Zhi away, who would he have classes with? Besides, even if there were classes, it's not certain who would be teaching whom...

"That's perfect, Siping is getting married next week, you go too. If you aren't busy, go help out for a few days, don't just hole up in the lab every day..." Lin Sicheng's chopsticks paused, and he looked up: "Dad, who did you say?"

"Lin Siping, your cousin!" Lin Chengzhi had a strange look on his face, "Hey, wait... you were in the same class in high school, how could you forget after only a few years?" Although they weren't first cousins, they were still within the five degrees of mourning, and besides, they had spent three years in the same class; of course, Lin Sicheng hadn't forgotten. He was surprised: "He's the same age as me?"

"That's right, born in August, twenty-two this year, the age is just right!"

The age is just right, but didn't he just graduate from university in June?

Subconsciously, Lin Sicheng recalled when he returned to the village during summer break, his cousin was hanging around the village entrance with his girlfriend, the two of them stuck together like glue.

"What is the cousin-in-law's surname?"

"Surname Hu!"

It was that same one.

It couldn't be: if they didn't get married now, would it start to show?

Recalling how the two looked when he saw them back then, Lin Sicheng's eyes darted around.

No one knows a son better than his father; Lin Chengzhi knew exactly what he was thinking the moment he saw him, and he coughed with a straight face.

It would have been fine if he hadn't coughed, but the moment he did, Lin Sicheng knew he had guessed right: "Hehehehe..."

Seeing that the father and son weren't thinking of anything good, Jiang Yanfei glared at them.

Lin Sicheng reined in his smile and kicked Ye Anning's chair: "Cousin Ye, are you going to the wedding feast?"

Ye Anning was stunned for a moment, then feigned composure, "I... I don't know them!"

"I know them... Gu Ming is definitely going too: my cousin-in-law is his cousin."

Actually, she was his cousin's stepmother: the former cousin-in-law passed away due to illness, and later, Grandpa and Gu Ming's father played matchmaker for the cousin...

Ye Anning didn't speak, but nodded once.

"Senior brother, I want to go too..."

The little fatty had just raised his hand when he was swatted back down by Ji Wangshu, "Midterm exams are the week after next, have you finished your homework? Have you reviewed?" Like a leaking balloon, the little fatty visibly wilted.

Indeed, he couldn't be brought along: he was entering middle school next year, and the teacher and his wife were putting all their effort into preparing him to get into a prestigious school...

After finishing his noodles, Lin Sicheng opened some liquor. He hadn't intended to drink, but Lin Chengzhi said he had something to say and pressed him down.

Seeing this, under the guise of clearing the table, Ji Wangshu and Jiang Yanfei stood up, with Ye Anning following closely behind.

Zhao Da and Zhao Er were also very observant and quickly stood up to help.

Once they were gone, Lin Chengzhi poured a glass of liquor for Lin Sicheng. Lin Sicheng went to take the bottle, but Lin Chengzhi didn't let him.

"I originally only intended for you to go and make an appearance, but since you've already asked Anning, explain it to her when you go back later."

"Ah?" Lin Sicheng was stunned, "She can't go?"

"It's not that she can't go; your grandfather, your mother, and your Gu Shu's family will all be there, but there are hidden circumstances..."

Lin Chengzhi told the story, and Lin Sicheng held his glass, taking shallow sips, his eyes blinking rapidly.

The cousin-in-law and Gu Shu are first cousins; she and the cousin were matched by Gu Shu and Grandpa, and the two families have a good relationship.

Then, during this year's Lunar New Year, the cousin's family went to pay a New Year's call at Gu Shu's house and happened to run into Gu Shu's colleague, Director Hu of the Qujiang Police Station, and his family.

In Qujiang, although the Lin family isn't a major clan, they are quite well-known. The cousin is a small construction contractor and also knows Director Hu, so the three families sat together and started drinking.

Halfway through the drinking, Gu Ming found them too noisy and said he would take the cousin and Director Hu's daughter downstairs for a walk. They were all young people, so the adults from the three families didn't pay much attention, just telling them to come back early.

They didn't play for long and did indeed return quite early, but no one knew—not even Gu Ming—that in those one or two hours, the cousin and Director Hu's daughter had taken a liking to each other.

No one knows what tricks the cousin used, but in any case, it wasn't long before he coaxed the girl into bed. He was also incredibly bold; during the National Day holiday, while Director Hu and his wife were on duty, he ran over to the girl's house.

It was also bad luck; for some reason that day, Director Hu returned home in the middle of the night and caught the two of them red-handed.

Well, that was that: with no name or status, what father wouldn't explode seeing his daughter being bullied like that?

The key was that he was also a veteran who had served in Southern Tibet, and he gave the cousin a good beating.

Then they called the parents of both sides, and upon asking: well, the two had been together for half a year already.

The mother pulled her daughter aside and asked again, and was so angry she trembled all over: she hadn't had her period for almost three months?

Taken to the hospital for a check-up: twelve weeks pregnant.

Well, now this marriage had to happen whether they liked it or not.

But Director Hu had been holding a grudge; for one, there was a slight gap between the two families: Director Hu and his wife were both civil servants, and his daughter attended Xidian University, passed the selection for public service in her senior year, and entered the District Court just after graduating last year.

The cousin's family had a little money, but not much. The cousin studied at Xidian University, and although it was a prestigious school, he still had to take exams.

But that was secondary; the main thing was that Director Hu had developed a professional habit and kept feeling that he had been schemed against by the cousin's family... In any case, the more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt, and the more he dwelled on it, the more he got stuck in a rut.

But it wasn't strange; if it were Lin Chengzhi, he would think the same: a fresh, crisp cabbage, and the parents didn't even know it had been trampled by a pig for half a year? The problem was that since things had reached this point, the relatives definitely had to be joined. Moreover, the two young people really did have feelings for each other, so Grandpa, Dad, and Gu Shu felt they should try their best to mediate.

Therefore, everyone would definitely be going when the time came.

Lin Sicheng didn't quite understand: "But what use is it if I go?"

"Who said it's useless?" Lin Chengzhi raised his glass and took a sip, "Among relatives, especially among the same generation, if there is someone successful, they can help out a bit in the future. Besides, Director Hu knows you too; if you and Siping act close, he might feel more comfortable..."

Director Hu did indeed know Lin Sicheng: it was during the fight last Lunar New Year that Director Hu led the team to make the arrests and handled the case.

Lin Sicheng, however, was somewhat dismissive: because of Grandpa, the relationships between the older generation of cousins were quite good. The cousin's nature wasn't bad, and as long as there was an opportunity, he would definitely help.

But to be honest, relying on anyone is not as good as relying on oneself. If he were the cousin: he was, after all, a top student from Xidian University, studying a top-tier major; if he gritted his teeth and put in the effort to pass the exams into some Provincial Department, wouldn't that be a hundred times better than looking for relatives to back him up?

He didn't believe that by that time, Director Hu would still look at this son-in-law with displeasure.

Hmm, he would give him some advice when the time came...

Thinking this to himself, he nodded again: "Then I'll definitely go, I'll tell Sister Anning when I go back!"

Actually, there was no need for him to say anything: in the kitchen, Jiang Yanfei had already told the story once.

Whether intentional or not, Ji Wangshu would glance at Ye Anning from time to time.

Knowing exactly what she was thinking, Ye Anning glared back.

Jiang Yanfei, however, misunderstood the intention, thinking Ji Wangshu was worried about Ye Anning, and couldn't help but sigh: "Lin Sicheng definitely won't; he hasn't even begun to understand these things at all..."

With a "whoosh," even with Ye Anning's strong composure, her face couldn't help but turn red.

She gritted her teeth and glared at Ji Wangshu again: Auntie Jiang, do you think my aunt is worried about Lin Sicheng?

Quite the opposite, she must be thinking: it has reached this point, the parents of both families have met and are as satisfied as they could possibly be, but why is Lin Sicheng still like a wooden post, showing no signs of movement at all?

It's not that she's saying Lin Sicheng needs to do anything specific, but even a little hint would be fine...

Sure enough, Ji Wangshu sighed along with her, a trace of melancholy appearing on her face: "Who's to say it isn't so?"

Ye Anning could no longer sit still: "Auntie, Aunt, I'm going to pour tea for Grandpa Lin and Uncle Lin."

"Eh?" Jiang Yanfei realized belatedly, her eyes brightening, "Lin Sicheng, we're out of vinegar at home, go buy a bottle with Anning..." In the living room, Lin Sicheng tilted his head and looked toward the kitchen: Are we out of vinegar?

How did he remember there still being a huge barrel of it?

Just as he was feeling suspicious, Ye Anning walked out of the living room with a red face, not forgetting to greet Lin Zhangqing and Lin Chengzhi.

Lin Zhangqing kicked him: "What are you standing there for? Go buy vinegar!"

Fine, if it's buying vinegar, then it's buying vinegar.

Lin Sicheng grabbed his jacket and left the living room.

Just as he stepped over the threshold, a foot kicked toward him, and Lin Sicheng dodged to the side.

Then came a fist, and Lin Sicheng grabbed Ye Anning's wrist: "Are we still going to the banquet or not?"

Ye Anning took the opportunity to punch him: "Yes!"