Chapter 77: Nobody's Coming? The Gao Xushi Family Are All Idiots

As for Lu Yuan also arranging a banquet, the eldest uncle already knew about it the previous night.

That night, the eldest aunt went home and said she wanted to come to Lu Yuan's place to present a gift.

But the eldest uncle didn't agree, after all, his relationship with the Gao family is what it is.

Besides, he isn't that particular about whether the food is good or bad.

After all, the eldest uncle's household is well off.

The eldest uncle merely thought Lu Yuan was a bad sort, deliberately holding a banquet together with the Gao family.

Isn't he just trying to outdo the Gao family?

The eldest uncle heard from his wife that Lu Yuan's banquet would feature good dishes and good meat.

In that case, wouldn't most of the people in the courtyard have to go to Lu Yuan's house to eat?

But as the eldest uncle of the courtyard, it's not really appropriate for him to intervene.

After all, who made the Gao family want to scheme against others first?

If I were to come out now and call a general meeting of the courtyard, wouldn't that be distancing myself from the masses?

So, the eldest uncle knows full well that Lu Yuan's banquet will surely be lively and the food will be good.

He's definitely going to outdo the Gao family.

Fortunately, the Gao family only set up two tables; if ten or eight people from the courtyard come, that's five or six per table, which is enough.

After all, we're all from the same courtyard, so we ought to save face; surely not nobody will come?

After Lu Yuan greeted the eldest uncle,

he then left the courtyard on horseback for the department store.

Watching Lu Yuan's direction, the eldest uncle couldn't help but frown, wondering if this kid was going out to buy a sewing machine?

Eh?

No, if he's buying a sewing machine, where's the money for the banquet?

Not long after Lu Yuan left, Gao Xushi came out of her house.

Gao Xushi needed to come out and see how many people had come to contribute money.

When she arrived at the eldest uncle's place and saw his ledger blank, with no one listed?

Gao Xushi was a bit dazed.

Although it's still early, surely not nobody has shown up?

After all, at nine o'clock they'll welcome the bride into the house, then after a slight delay, by ten o'clock everyone can basically take their seats.

At ten-thirty the banquet will basically begin.

How come nobody has come yet?

"Eldest uncle, hasn't anyone come?"

Gao Xushi came up to the eldest uncle and asked.

Before the eldest uncle could speak, a noisy clamor came from the gate.

When the two turned their heads to look,

they saw the men from the courtyard each carrying a bundle of bottles coming in from outside.

Nobody knew why Lu Yuan suddenly wanted to buy so many bottles—how could they possibly finish them all?

But nobody cared; anyway, come noon, everyone was going to have to chug a bottle each!

Seeing this, Gao Xushi was overjoyed and waved her hands repeatedly, saying:

"Oh dear, look, you people in our courtyard are really something—I just said yesterday I forgot to buy wine, and yet you brought your own; how embarrassing~~"

Gao Xushi was about to die laughing; originally she had wondered whether not buying wine for her own banquet would lead to gossip from the courtyard folk.

Gao Xushi also thought, if necessary, she could go out and buy two bottles, roughly one per table.

But she hadn't expected these people to actually bring their own, and so much of it.

If she were to secretly stash away a bundle or two while these folks are drunk, wouldn't that be making a fortune?

But the eldest uncle isn't as clueless as Gao Xushi; he knows this is for Lu Yuan's banquet.

After a quick glance at the crowd, the eldest uncle's heart gave a jolt.

How is it that all the masters from each household in the courtyard… seem to have gone?

What does that mean?

Could it be that everyone in the courtyard is going to Lu Yuan's banquet?

While the eldest uncle was starting to panic, Gao Xushi's face was full of joy.

Kou Yang wasn't about to put up with Gao Xushi; he immediately glared and said:

"I say, Gao Xushi, you're just wishing for good fortune—your family isn't buying wine for the banquet and yet you expect others to bring their own?

"We're buying this wine for my older sister Su's banquet!!"

Gao Xushi was stunned, and the eldest uncle beside her couldn't help but speak up, asking:

"So you're all going, then?"

The crowd nodded repeatedly, saying, "Of course! Although the banquet is said to be for Lu Yuan, it's really just everyone getting together to eat and drink."

Everyone will definitely go—whole families, old and young.

And seeing the eldest uncle's reaction, someone couldn't help but ask:

"What, the eldest aunt didn't tell you?"

The eldest uncle, a bit dazed, said:

"I… I said a bit, but I didn't really listen carefully……"

The previous night, the eldest aunt came back and said Lu Yuan was also arranging a banquet, saying she wanted to go to Lu Yuan's house to present a gift, but the eldest uncle directly cut her off.

The eldest uncle simply didn't want to go to Lu Yuan's house for the feast, so afterwards they didn't let the eldest aunt speak.

In this society, it's the gentlemen who speak in the household, while the ladies only have the right to listen.

The eldest uncle simply said he wouldn't go; the eldest aunt felt it was a shame, but she couldn't say much more, after all, her own family really wasn't lacking that bit of meat.

The eldest uncle really didn't understand the situation, but looking at it now, what a fine bunch…

Could it be that everyone in the courtyard is running over to Lu Yuan's house to eat the feast?

What about the Gao family, then?

At this moment, even if Gao Xushi were even more stupid, she would have understood; she immediately panicked and said:

"This just won't do…… this just won't do…… If you all go to his Lu family's house, what are we supposed to do??"

As for Gao Xushi's words, these older men found it hard to speak bluntly and save face, but Kou Yang didn't care about that, and directly raised his eyebrows and said:

"Who knows how you'll manage it; figure it out yourself and invite others, you're holding a feast and didn't even buy a bottle of wine—who would go!!"

The people around didn't speak up, but they all thought the same.

Well, although everyone handled this somewhat improperly, who let the Gao family want to scheme against people first?

Besides, anyway, this matter was discussed and carried out together by everyone in the courtyard; no one fears that Gao Xushi will bear a grudge against anyone later.

Immediately, the crowd then headed inside.

And Gao Xushi was completely panicked, hurriedly following behind and saying:

"This can't be…… you can't do this…… we're all from the same courtyard…… you really can't do this……"

Whether these people eat or not doesn't matter; the problem is, if these people don't come to eat, then who are we supposed to get the gift money from?!!

We need to buy a sewing machine here, and we spent money on meat and vegetables, just hoping to recoup the costs from the gift money.

If no one comes to give gift money, we won't even have money to make dumplings for the New Year!!

This absolutely can't be allowed!!

Gao Xushi, while saying this, didn't forget to look back at the eldest uncle by the gate, hurriedly calling out in a mournful tone:

"Eldest uncle, please come and see, this can't be like this, please help us speak up……"

The eldest uncle sat there, somewhat speechless.

What should we say about this?

This was originally your Gao Xushi scheming against people first.

Furthermore.

Going to whose house to eat is also people's freedom.

Moreover, everyone in the courtyard went to Lu Yuan's house; at this point, if you step out and say anything, you're essentially standing against the masses.

This just can't be said.

"Lu Yuan must be deceiving you all—he simply couldn't possibly have money to host a feast; I just saw him go out to buy a sewing machine, so you definitely must not be taken in by his tricks."

Gao Xushi followed behind these people, shouting loudly:

Rather than improve oneself, it's better to belittle others.

What's more, Gao Xushi simply thinks Lu Yuan has no money to host a feast—where would he get the money?

Having bought a bed and still needing to buy a sewing machine, going to Lu Yuan's house to eat cornmeal noodles is worse than coming to our house to drink chicken soup!!

And those gentlemen also couldn't be bothered to nag Gao Xushi.

By the time Gao Xushi followed them to the backyard, everyone was dumbfounded.

Old Kou had already set up the big pot and started frying the meat!!

Meanwhile, those ladies were helping out on the side, taking out their own cutting boards to help chop meat and dice vegetables—what a busy affair!!

Gao Xushi was stunned.

This…… this…… where did Lu Yuan get the money?!!

Where did he get the money to put on such a big feast?!!

(End of chapter)