Chapter 466: Trouble at the Wedding Banquet

Yan Jiecheng saw Yan Jiefang's face flush to his ears and laughed, slapping him on the back of the neck: "You little brat, your hair hasn't even grown in fully yet, and you already know how to eye girls? Which one have you taken a fancy to?"

"N-no!" Yan Jiefang hurriedly looked away, "I was... I've just never seen such beautiful clothes before!"

Xu Damao narrowed his eyes, as if he had guessed something, and steered the conversation to smooth things over: "Heh, the He Family really knows how to make a scene! Which dynasty are these costumes from? They really look the part. It's like filming a movie!"

As he was speaking, He Yushui's clear voice rang out: "The end of the world is wind and sand, the stories of the mortal world are called attachments..."

The singing carried a dash of dashing, chivalrous spirit, instantly suppressing the noise in the entire courtyard. Everyone stopped their chopsticks, their eyes fixed in unison on the small stage.

Ding Li, Ma Yan, and Lou Xiaoe were dressed in red, holding long swords and dancing with fluid, effortless grace.

The half-grown boys at the table against the wall stared blankly.

Xu Damao nudged Liu Guangqi next to him with his elbow and lowered his voice: "See that? The way He Yuzhu is holding this wedding, it's really like a dog growing horns—just putting on a weird show!"

Liu Guangqi smacked his lips: "You can't say that. These girls in the courtyard haven't been wasting their time all these years; they sing really well."

"Hmph," Xu Damao snorted through his nose, "You tell me, doesn't this He Yuzhu look like a pimp from the old society, raising a troupe of young girls?"

"What pimp? You don't understand!" Liu Guangqi laughed, "The He Family is imitating the clans of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, raising retainers! You're just jealous!"

"Isn't it just reading a few books? What's so great about that?" Xu Damao sneered.

Yan Jiecheng suddenly interjected: "Didn't they say He Yuzhu knows a lot of big shots? How come not a single one came today? Looks like it was all just bragging!"

Liu Guangqi shook his head: "My dad said He Yuzhu went to Guangdong to be a Chief Engineer. To reach that position in his teens, if he didn't have connections, how could that be possible?"

Xu Damao gave a sinister smile, his voice dropping even lower: "I always feel like the He Family's wedding banquet today has the vibe of a funeral being celebrated as a joyous event! There's definitely something going on here."

Liu Guangqi thought for a moment and said: "If the leaders don't come... could it be that the higher-ups don't approve of this marriage at all? Chen Xueru comes from a small business owner background, and Zhuzi is already at the Deputy Bureau Level at such a young age with a bright future. By doing this, is he cutting off his own path?"

"Slap!" Xu Damao slapped his thigh, "That's exactly it! You're the one who reads more; your head is clear!"

Yan Jiefang stuffed a piece of candy into his mouth and replied vaguely: "My mom said He Yuzhu is just after the Chen Family's money."

As the song ended, He Yushui went back on stage and said: "Next, please welcome Liu Xiurong to sing 'Mu Guiying Battles Hongzhou'!"

"Standing in the army tent passing down orders, all the three armies in the camp listen carefully..."

As the Peking Opera singing began, He Yuzhu started leading Chen Xueru to toast the guests.

He walked to the table with Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong, raised his glass and said: "Uncles, thank you for coming to support us. I'll toast you all, I'll finish mine first!"

The group stood up and drank.

Liu Haizhong wiped his mouth, his voice booming: "Zhuzi, the way your family is holding this wedding is about the same as those old-society officials holding a grand banquet!"

He Yuzhu sneered inwardly; this Liu Haizhong really didn't know how to speak.

"Second Uncle, your information is outdated. Nowadays, when people hold weddings, this is the trend."

"That's right! Last time, I went to a colleague's house for a wedding banquet, and it was held just like this," Yi Zhonghai said.

Yang Ruihua had just swallowed a large piece of Braised Pork and reached her chopsticks toward the plate again, only to find it was already empty.

She put down her chopsticks and curled her lip: "The He Family is really stingy, only serving one plate of Braised Pork?"

The Deaf Old Lady glanced at her sideways: "At your Yan Jiedi's full-month banquet, there were only four dishes in total, and only one green pepper and shredded pork dish was a meat dish. Was that stingy or generous?"

"Why compare it to my family?" Yang Ruihua's voice rose, "My family only has Lao Yan earning a salary! What about the He Family? Everyone can earn money! I heard the new bride has a deep family fortune, and the wedding money was all paid by the woman's side!"

Yi Zhonghai's wife interjected: "Guizhi told me it was their He Family who paid the money and let Xueru handle the arrangements."

"I don't believe it!" Yang Ruihua's voice grew sharper, "Aren't the clothes those girls are wearing also made by the Chen Family? The He Family is really lucky. This isn't just marrying a wife; this is moving a gold mountain home!"

The atmosphere at the table suddenly stiffened.

They were all from the same courtyard; no one wanted to go against the He Family to their face.

Finally, everyone buried their heads, mechanically grabbing food and shoveling rice, just wanting to fill their stomachs quickly and leave this place of trouble.

He Yushui and her companions finished their performance and left the stage.

"Everyone, go eat! That table over there is reserved for you!" she called out.

The dozen or so girls had been hungry for a long time; hearing there was good food at noon, they hadn't dared to eat much in the morning. They giggled and walked toward the reserved table.

The moment Cheng Yu's eyes met Yan Jiefang's, she recognized him.

After her wallet was stolen last time, she and her mother went to the police station.

The old policeman listened to the account and said firmly: "The one standing next to you was the thief, and the one shouting was the cover."

Cheng Yu asked, puzzled: "But that child looked like he was only ten or so..."

The old policeman smiled: "They take advantage of adults not being on guard against children. Do you remember what that child looked like?"

Cheng Yu nodded. Of course she remembered, because that child was about her age.

Now, that thief was sitting not far away. Go over and point him out? But this was Yushui's brother's wedding; how bad would it be if a scene was made? Not point him out? That pent-up frustration was really hard to swallow.

He Yushui noticed her expression was off and hurriedly asked: "Xiao Cheng, what's wrong?"

"I... I..." Cheng Yu opened her mouth, but the words were stuck in her throat.

He Yushui leaned into her ear: "We are good friends, tell me if something is wrong."

Cheng Yu finally made up her mind and pointed her finger quietly: "Yushui... the one who stole the money I bought the accordion with... is that person."

He Yushui looked in that direction, and her heart sank—it was Yan Jiefang.

She steadied herself and whispered: "I have to ask my brother about this first."

Cheng Yu nodded vigorously.

As for Yan Jiefang, he was pretending to be calm on the surface, but his heart was already in turmoil.

At this moment, no matter how delicious the food served was, it tasted like wax to him.

Yan Jiecheng scolded: "Lao Er, what are you spacing out for? Why aren't you eating such good food?"

"... I want to go home." Yan Jiefang stood up to leave.

"Finish eating before you go!" Yan Jiecheng reached out and pressed him down.

On the other side, Yan Bugui was already flushed from drinking, his words filled with pride: "Although my family only has me earning a salary and the conditions aren't good, my children are promising! Take my second son, for example; he is especially good at math and can now tutor his classmates to earn money!"

Liu Haizhong looked envious: "Lao Yan, your children are indeed worry-free, unlike my second son, who is just a little devil."

At this moment, He Yuzhu came to the table where Xu Damao was sitting to toast them: "Little brothers, is the food to your liking?"

Wang Shucheng spoke up eagerly: "It's delicious! It's just that the portions are a bit small; if your chopsticks are slow, it's all gone!"

He Yuzhu laughed: "Don't worry, there's plenty more food."

He Yushui sidled up to her brother, wanting to say something but hesitating.

"Yushui, wait for me a moment," He Yuzhu said to his sister.

Xu Damao raised his glass: "Zhuzi, congratulations! You've married such a great beauty!"

"I also feel like I've gotten a huge bargain," He Yuzhu said with a smile, clinking his glass against his.

Yan Jiecheng suddenly interjected, his tone a bit strange: "Brother Zhuzi, I heard that this wedding was entirely organized by your wife? She provided both the money and the effort, shouldn't you toast your wife separately?"

He Yuzhu heard the implication in his words and recalled the rumors Yang Ruihua had been spreading everywhere about the "He Family living off a woman," so he simply said loudly: "You're right, I should! Xueru, come, let's have a cup of nuptial wine!"

"Great!" The young people at the table immediately began to jeer and cheer.

As soon as the wine was finished, Yan Jiefang suddenly stood up, trying to slip away.

He Yushui could no longer hold it in and shouted aloud: "Yan Jiefang! Don't you leave!"

"What for? I'm full!" Yan Jiefang said, not stopping his pace.

Suddenly, a large hand pressed down on his shoulder with slow, heavy force—it was He Yuzhu.

"Yushui, if there's something the matter, just say it," He Yuzhu said in a steady voice.

Cheng Yu also walked over at this time, pointing at Yan Jiefang, her voice clear: "He is a thief! The money I used to buy my accordion was stolen by him!"