Chapter 49: Dongxu's Wedding 3.0

The little girl in Qin Dabao's arms only raised her head slightly when she heard someone praising her. Seeing Zhang Ping'an, she was slightly stunned, feeling that this person was very kind, and just stared straight at Zhang Ping'an.

Zhang Ping'an also found this little girl interesting; she didn't seem like a typical village child who would shyly burrow into an adult's arms upon seeing a stranger.

"That's right, my daughter Jingru. She's liked following Huairu since she was little. She insisted on coming along, and I couldn't say no to her, so I had to bring her. Jingru, this is your Uncle Ping'an." Qin Dabao looked like a daughter-doting father; otherwise, he wouldn't indulge her so much.

"Hahaha, little Jingru, Uncle has candy for you." Zhang Ping'an had prepared quite a bit of candy and cigarettes in his Space, all for coaxing children and asking for directions when visiting the countryside.

The little girl reached out halfway, then pulled her hand back. Only after seeing Qin Dabao nod did she take it with a face full of smiles.

"Thank you, Brother Ping'an."

"You should call me Uncle. Ping'an is an elder to your sister Huairu, and he is also your elder."

"But, but, he isn't as old as you."

"..."

Indeed, compared to the bearded Qin Dabao, Zhang Ping'an was indeed much more youthful.

"Hahaha, Brother Dabao, your little girl is quite interesting. Little Jingru, although I am not old, my seniority is high."

"It's all because I spoil her." Qin Dabao also smiled dotingly at the little girl.

"Oh, Ping'an... Uncle."

"That's right." Zhang Ping'an took another bright red apple from his pocket and handed it to little Jingru.

"What is this?" Little Jingru looked puzzled, but she couldn't help but take it because of the sweet fragrance the apple emitted.

"Little Jingru, this is an apple. It's very sweet."

"Ping'an, how come you have everything in your pockets?"

"Ahem, I originally brought it to fill my stomach, but you all were so enthusiastic, and I was stuffed at your place, so I didn't get around to the apple."

"Hahaha, you've felt the hospitality of our Qin Family Village, haven't you?" Zhang Ping'an's words not only changed the subject but also made Qin Dabao beam with joy.

Meanwhile, Qin Jingru was already gnawing on the apple. The moment she bit into the juice inside, her eyes lit up.

"Dad, Uncle Ping'an's is so sweet."

"You girl, there are still dishes coming."

"Oh." Little Jingru then remembered she was at a banquet, took one more bite of the apple, and put it down to focus on the delicacies on the plate.

Zhang Ping'an also walked away, made the rounds at the tables, and prepared another Tea Mug of Space Water for He Daqing and his son.

"Thanks, Ping'an." He Daqing was stir-frying while tasting the dishes; his own Tea Mug was indeed empty, and Zhang Ping'an's Tea Mug of water was truly a timely rain.

"Brother He, you've worked hard today. Later, let Dongxu come over to properly toast you."

"Hahaha, deal."

Seeing that the father and son were both busy, Zhang Ping'an didn't stay there to add to their trouble.

"I say brother, I'm the same age as you, I didn't expect you to be married already. Come, let's have another drink." Lou Xiaojun, already feeling a bit tipsy, draped his arm over Zhang Dazhuang's shoulder.

"Brother Dazhuang, what's the situation?"

"Ahem, this brother is a genuine person, doesn't hold back at all, it's just that his drinking capacity isn't great."

"???"

"It's like this, Ping'an. Xiaojun was introduced by you. We're all brothers, we got to chatting, and once we were happy, we naturally had to have a couple of drinks. And well, he ended up like this."

"I say Brother Ping'an, your group of friends is great, not hypocritical or pretentious, they suit my taste. Come, let's have another."

"Alright, alright, alright." Fearing he would drink too much, Zhang Ping'an hurriedly replaced the liquor in his cup with Space Water.

"Hm? This liquor, it's pure." *Thump*, he slumped onto the table.

The few of them looked at each other, and in the end, it was Zhang Ping'an who helped Lou Xiaojun to the guest room in his courtyard to sleep.

"Can't hold his liquor but still drinks so much," Zhang Ping'an muttered.

Actually, it wasn't Lou Xiaojun's fault; he rarely drank at home, and even when he did, it was only forty or fifty degrees, but today he drank the sixty-degree Grain Liquor that Zhang Ping'an had brewed himself.

Plus, Lou Xiaojun drank too fiercely; it would be strange if he didn't get drunk. Some people like to drink aggressively, while others can only drink slowly, and Lou Xiaojun was one of those slow drinkers.

Placing a bowl of water by the bedside, Zhang Ping'an went out to eat as well; he hadn't really eaten much since he started working.

Upon coming out, he saw San Jie Fu, Lao Jia, leading his son and daughter-in-law to toast He Daqing.

"Lao He, you've worked hard today."

"What are you saying, brother? I watched Dongxu grow up."

"Uncle He, I toast you." Jia Dongxu raised his wine glass, and Qin Huairu followed suit.

"Hahaha, good. Uncle He wishes you a hundred years of harmony and an early birth of a son."

"Thank you, Uncle He."

Around one in the afternoon, the banquet broke up. Zhang Ping'an, Zhang Xiaohua, and Lao Jia sent off the relatives from both sides before returning to the courtyard.

"Uncle Ping'an, I'll come find you to play next time!" Little Jingru waved from the donkey cart. She had a very good impression of this uncle who gave her good things, while Qin Dabao stood on the side with black lines on his forehead.

"Hahaha, good."

In the courtyard, each family was skillfully packing up their own pots, bowls, ladles, basins, tables, and chairs; there was basically no need for them to worry about it, they just had to clean up afterwards.

"Brother, this is the gift ledger and the money, please check it."

"Don't I trust you, Lao Yan?"

"That won't do, it's better to count it clearly face-to-face."

"That's fine." Lao Jia started counting. The previous words were just polite formalities; the rules here could not be broken.

"Done, it's exact, it all matches. Thanks, Lao Yan. Don't leave yet, let me get you two packs of cigarettes to smoke."

"That, that's too embarrassing."

"Eh~ how could I let you work for nothing? Wait here, I'll be right back."

In less than two minutes, Lao Jia returned with two packs of Qianmen and a bag of candy, handing them to Yan Bugui.

"Lao Yan, don't mind that it's a small amount."

"How could that be? I'm just looking for a bit of good luck."

"Hahaha."

Afterwards, Lao Jia took two packs of Qianmen, a bag of candies, and five hundred thousand in cash to He Daqing's house.

"Daqing, keep the cigarettes for yourself, give the candies to Zhuzi and Yushui to sweeten their mouths, and here is five hundred thousand."

"Brother, you're being too formal. The rules cannot be broken, but there is a 'friend's price.' How about this: I'll take three hundred thousand, and you take the rest back."

He Daqing was a head chef; he charged fifty thousand per table for wedding banquets he catered, so thirty thousand per table, while a friend's price, was already on the verge of breaking the rules.

"This..."

"Alright, brother. If it weren't for the fact that the rules can't be broken, I wouldn't even take this three hundred thousand. You've been my neighbor for over ten years; don't you know me by now?"

"Fine, Daqing. I won't argue with you anymore. If you need anything in the future, just say the word."

"Hahaha, good."

From this point on, Jia Dongxu's wedding banquet was completely over. Qin Huairu was playing with her sister-in-law, while Jia Dongxu, having drunk quite a bit at noon, was fast asleep, conserving his energy for the night's activities.

"Huairu, this is the wedding gift money. I'll put it on the table; you can put it away later."

"Dad, you should keep this money. I..."

"Huairu, this is the wedding gift money for you and Dongxu, and it's also the first sum of money you'll have after marriage. Dongxu has also saved quite a bit with me before; I'll give it all to you tonight," Zhang Xiaohua also said.

"This... I'll listen to Brother Dongxu."

"You silly girl, you're not happy even when given money to manage?"

"....."

At three in the afternoon, Lou Xiaojun finally woke up, and Zhang Ping'an was reading a medical book nearby.

"Awake?"

"Ugh..." Lou Xiaojun was dazed for a moment before he realized what was happening.

"Aha, Ping'an, sorry about that. But those cousins of yours can really drink."

"It's fine. They didn't cause any trouble when they were drunk; they just fell asleep, which is good. There's water by the head of the bed; drink if you're thirsty."

"Oh, okay."

"How are you getting back? Should I ride you home?" Zhang Ping'an asked only after Lou Xiaojun finished drinking.

"Sure, my place isn't close to here." Lou Xiaojun didn't stand on ceremony; he didn't want to walk back.

"Alright then, wash your face to sober up, and I'll go get the bike."

"Good."