Chapter 231: Rural Absurd Past Events Chapter 231: If You Don't Drink, Then You're Not Giving Face

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

This banquet was very lively, with a strong atmosphere.

Halfway through the meal, guests came one after another to toast Wang Zhanggen.

Wang Zhanggen smiled and answered them one by one:

"I just recovered from a serious illness not long ago and can't drink alcohol, so I'll use tea instead of wine!"

Most guests just laughed it off and didn't make a fuss.

After all, everyone knew Wang Zhanggen had just been discharged from the hospital not long ago.

However, at this moment, Yang Xiaocai came over to toast.

"Wang Zhanggen, congratulations on having such a fine son. I was in the wrong before. Let's drink this cup and let bygones be bygones. How about it?"

Actually, Wang Zhanggen hadn't invited Yang Xiaocai to this banquet this time, yet Yang Xiaocai came uninvited.

Wang Zhanggen was happy today, and since Yang Xiaocai hadn't caused trouble, he didn't want to quibble too much with him, so he smiled and replied:

"Good, good. Then I'll use tea instead of wine. Let's finish this cup, turn swords into jade and silk, and everyone get along harmoniously from now on!"

But Yang Xiaocai was not willing at this time:

"Wang Zhanggen, I specially came to toast you and apologize to you, yet you still won't touch a drop of alcohol. Isn't that too disrespectful? Do you look down on me? Or did you never think of reconciling with me at all?"

Hearing this, Wang Zhanggen was stunned.

He was put on the spot and didn't know what to do for a moment.

Yang Xiaocai then said:

"Just drink one cup, just one cup, it won't kill anyone. Don't be so stingy!"

Saying this, Yang Xiaocai also took out a red envelope.

"There are five hundred yuan in this red envelope. It's my gift to you today. Is my sincerity enough? Now it depends on whether your sincerity is enough."

The guests in the courtyard were all watching.

Wang Zhanggen really couldn't refuse, so he had to nod and compromise:

"Good, good. Then I'll drink one cup. Yang Xiaocai, we'll be friends from now on. Let's not quibble over past matters anymore!"

Wang Zhanggen poured out the tea in his cup and filled it with wine.

He toasted Yang Xiaocai, then raised his cup, preparing to drink it all in one gulp.

However, just then, Wang Xiaohua was quick-eyed and quick-handed, and snatched the wine cup from his hand.

"Do you want to die? Drinking alcohol is the biggest taboo for cerebral infarction!"

Wang Xiaohua's small body glared at Yang Xiaocai, because he could tell at a glance that Yang Xiaocai had ill intentions.

"Yang Xiaocai, if you insist on making my father drink, then please leave here!"

Saying this, Wang Xiaohua also took the red envelope he had just given from Wang Zhanggen's hand and stuffed it back to him.

Yang Xiaocai immediately felt very disrespected, and said with a displeased face:

"I came to congratulate you sincerely and wanted to turn enemies into friends. Is this your attitude? Do you have to give me no face like this?"

Wang Zhanggen felt a bit embarrassed and scolded Wang Xiaohua in a low voice:

"Get aside. Adult matters, what does a child like you know?"

But Wang Xiaohua's attitude was very firm, not even giving his father face:

"Is your brain sick? If your cerebral infarction recurs, all the money spent on treatment before will be wasted. You don't care about your own body, but shouldn't you care about the money spent?"

Wang Zhanggen was speechless.

Wang Xiaohua then said to Yang Xiaocai:

"You want face, right? I'll drink with you. Is that enough face for you?"

Wang Xiaohua raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp.

He had never drunk alcohol before, and now this cup of strong liquor went down his stomach, directly causing a burning sensation in his stomach, making him feel very uncomfortable.

However, he didn't stop because of this, because he knew that doing this couldn't completely shut Yang Xiaocai's stinking mouth.

So he took the initiative to pour another cup and drank it all in one gulp again.

Then he poured another cup and drank it all in one gulp again.

"I've never drunk alcohol before, and now I've toasted you three cups. Is that enough face for you? I won't force you to drink the same amount. Drink or not, it's up to you. I never force others to do things they're unwilling to do. But I'll put my ugly words first: don't cause trouble in my home. Either sit down and eat properly, or get out! Don't say my home doesn't give you face. Face is something you give yourself!"

As soon as Wang Xiaohua said this, Yang Xiaocai's face was full of surprise.

He never thought that Wang Xiaohua, who was usually introverted, timid, and didn't talk much, would be so tough with him at this time and say such words.

Actually, not only Yang Xiaocai, but the surrounding guests watching were also somewhat surprised.

The atmosphere of the banquet became somewhat subtle.

Wang Xiaohua then said:

"I've drunk a bit too much, my words might be too direct. Please don't mind, Uncle Xiaocai!"

Yang Xiaocai could only give a dry laugh and hurriedly said:

"It's nothing, it's nothing. How could I possibly mind? What would I mind with a junior like you?"

Yang Xiaocai drank three cups in return, then returned to his seat in displeasure.

He drank these three cups too fast, and just as he sat down, he felt a bit dizzy.

Looking at Wang Xiaohua again, although his face was already red, he could still walk steadily to greet other guests.

"This kid, so short and small, yet his drinking capacity is actually this good?"

Yang Xiaocai muttered to himself.

He originally thought Wang Xiaohua was nothing but a bookworm, but after tonight's events, he had to change his view.

Actually, it wasn't just Yang Xiaocai; other villagers also began to look at Wang Xiaohua with new respect.

This child, besides being a bit short in stature, truly had no faults to pick.

Especially his performance in helping his father drink at the banquet—his sense of responsibility, his spirit, his attitude—he was destined to be promising in the future!

The banquet gradually dispersed, leaving behind the leftovers of twenty tables.

In the courtyard, a complete mess.

The people responsible for the flowing water banquet began cleaning up the scene, clearing tables, chairs, and pots and pans.

Li Xiulan was also helping clean up.

The flowing water banquet people wanted to take away all the leftover dishes and rice, but she wouldn't let them.

The boss of the flowing water banquet said that when they went to do flowing water banquets for others, they generally took the leftover rice and dishes away; this was the rule.

Li Xiulan argued her case:

"These dishes and rice were bought with my money; I spent money, so why should you take them away?"

The flowing water banquet boss laughed helplessly:

"Sister, it's all just leftovers; you can't eat them anyway, so what's the point of keeping them?"

Li Xiulan said:

"Keep them for my family's pigs and dogs to eat; it can save several meals' worth of feed!"

The flowing water banquet boss couldn't argue with Li Xiulan and finally compromised; if Li Xiulan wanted to keep the leftover rice and dishes, then let her keep them!

Anyway, if he took them back, he'd just resell them to pig farmers for a little money.

No need to ruin his reputation over such a small amount.

Wang Zhanggen sat at the tea table in the living room, a cigarette in his mouth, counting the red envelopes received at this banquet.

He opened one red envelope after another, taking out the money inside.

Most were fifty yuan, with a small number of one hundred and a small number of twenty.

That's how banquets work in this rural area; the gifts given generally aren't too high.

Just for the festive occasion.

And when a whole family comes to eat, they generally only give one red envelope.

Wang Zhanggen counted carefully twice, finally confirming that the total red envelopes received this time came to four thousand three hundred fifty yuan.

And the money spent on this banquet: twenty tables, four hundred yuan per table, that's eight thousand yuan, plus nearly one thousand yuan spent on cigarettes, alcohol, snacks, and such.

Calculating it this way, he discovered this banquet would lose over five thousand yuan!

Only then did Wang Zhanggen feel the pain:

"Losing so much; if I'd known, I wouldn't have held it……"

Wang Xiaohua, beside him, his head foggy from drunkenness, saw his own father's reaction and couldn't help but find it funny:

"I told you long ago not to hold it, but you refused to listen; now you've lost money and feel the pain, why are you so funny?"

Wang Zhanggen pulled a long face and said stubbornly:

"Even if I lose money, I'm willing; I've given the Wang family ancestors face!"

Though he said that with his mouth, his heart was bleeding.

Over five thousand yuan was no small amount to him!

Just then, Wang Zhanggen's mobile phone rang; he took it out and saw it was Wang Dashan calling.

……