Chapter 19 Wedding Farce

What the heck?!

A refund?!

This is truly unprecedented; it's the first time I've ever seen someone return money after giving it as a gift!

Zheng Haiyang and Jiang Qiubai were both anxious and hurriedly tried to appease everyone, "No, no, neighbors, it's my fault for not entertaining you well, but it's not that bad. Please calm down, please calm down!" If they really backed out, they would become the laughing stock of the entire Xiaohuaihua Hutong.

But his mother, Chang Dafeng, wasn't one to think that far ahead. The moment she heard someone demanding a refund, she jumped up, pointing her finger at the troublemakers and launching a tirade of insults.

"You little bastards, you worthless cowards! You dare cause trouble in my house? You think I'm being lenient with you? So what if I gave you noodles? So many people would love to eat something this expensive! You think you can have delicacies with the two cents you gave as a gift?! Giving you noodles is just me being kind and generous! Oh, now you've eaten the noodles and drunk the wine, and you want to just walk away and ask me for a refund? You're all so dreamy. Let me tell you, a refund? No way!"

Zheng Haiyang's vision went black.

Damn it, didn't you hear him trying to calm people down?

Why are you stirring up trouble? Why, ah?!

His mother is always holding him back!

Zheng Haiyang was in despair. How did he end up with such a domineering and unreasonable shrewish mother?

Sure enough, everyone got emotional upon hearing this and immediately erupted in anger.

What is that?

They all chimed in, "Aunt Chang, what do you mean?! Let's not even talk about whether your noodles with who-knows-what-added-to-the-tables and watered-down-liquor are worth two cents. We didn't eat or drink either of those things, so we didn't take advantage of you in the slightest! Besides, if it weren't for Zheng Haiyang coming to invite us, would we have come? We came to give gifts and eat at your feast to give you face. If we had known you weren't so welcoming, we wouldn't have come!"

Two cents for a bowl of plain noodles at a state-run restaurant, with an extra egg—isn't that better than Zheng's rotten egg noodles? Since Chang Dafeng isn't willing to give them face, why should they support Zheng Haiyang?

Chang Dafeng didn't care about saving face; once the money was in her pocket, she wouldn't take it out again.

She spat disdainfully, "I didn't ask you to come! A bunch of beggars!" In Chang Dafeng's mind, these people were nothing but a group of starving ghosts who came to her house to beg for food. They thought they could have a table full of meat dishes for just two cents? They were dreaming!

They had never seen such a shameless person. Everyone was so angry that their faces turned red. It was clearly her family who were hosting a wedding banquet to make a good impression, but now she was turning around and accusing them, the neighbors, of being beggars. This was intolerable.

One by one, their faces darkened, they shouted, "Refund our money! Refund our money now, or don't blame us for being impolite!"

"No retreat! No retreat! No retreat!!" Chang Dafeng jumped up and down, yelling and cursing.

Trying to get money out of her pocket? Just three words: Impossible!

Zheng Haiyang was afraid that these people would actually ask for a refund, making him the first person in Manbeicheng to be asked to return a wedding gift by guests at a wedding banquet.

He was afraid that his mother would really anger everyone, since the whole family was still living in the yard, and he didn't want things to get too tense. He could only try to persuade both sides, but neither side would listen to him. He was so anxious that he was sweating profusely in the middle of winter.

Zhu Ziqiang could still hear Chang Dafeng's vulgar curses echoing in his ears. Looking at the bland noodles and rotten black eggs in front of him, he deeply regretted not going to the Yu family's banquet.

He could smell it; the aroma of meat was coming from the east wing!

That's right, the smell of meat actually didn't come from the Zheng family!

Zhu Ziqiang cursed under his breath.

That's real meat! It's much better than this dark, rotten egg in front of you!

His 50 cents! He even gave 50 cents to curry favor with Zheng Haiyang!

Suddenly, with a loud crash, someone overturned the table, and the noodles in front of Zhu Ziqiang were smashed to pieces.

Wishing you self-improvement, "!!!"

His 50 cents!!

The bowls and plates on the table shattered and broke all over the floor.

The situation developed so quickly that no one expected it.

Everyone was so frightened that they all hid to the side.

"ah!"

Oh my god!

"Who is it, so despicable..." He stopped mid-sentence and fell silent, staring in shock at the person who had overturned the table.

This man was Zhou Tiezhu, a bachelor who lived in the backyard. He was a blacksmith at the machine factory, and he swung a hammer every day. He had a bad temper, was tall and strong.

At this moment, he exuded a fierce aura, his bull-like eyes glaring, looking quite intimidating.

Upon seeing this menacing figure, Aunt Chang, who had been shouting just moments before, immediately fell silent. She was shrewish, but not stupid; when faced with someone she clearly couldn't beat, she knew to back down.

Zhou Tiezhu only came to the Zheng family to give gifts because they worked in the same factory, but at this moment he just wanted to curse his bad luck!

What the hell?!

He glared at Chang Dafeng, his face flushed and neck thick: "Aunt Chang, give me my money back!"

Chang Dafeng: "!!!"

Chang Dafeng didn't dare to move. Trembling, she took out two cents from her pocket and quickly handed them over, afraid that if she was a second late, Zhou Tiezhu would smash her forehead with a hammer.

After receiving the money, Zhou Tiezhu left without even glancing at the Zheng family.

Seeing this, the others chimed in, "Aunt Chang, we want our money back too!"

The jinx was gone, and Chang Dafeng's expression quickly changed. With her triangular eyes gleaming menacingly, she said, "Return what? Go ask around, where in the whole of Beicheng do people return wedding gift money?"

Zhou Tiezhu couldn't beat them, and Chang Dafeng didn't even care about these little karaomis. She wasn't going to back down!

"You've already eaten at my house's banquet, and you still want a refund? Dream on!"

Someone said sarcastically, "We don't even know if your bowl of noodles is poisoned, we dare not eat it!"

Chang Dafeng arrogantly put her hands on her hips and said, "I don't care, I'm not backing out!"

That arrogant attitude is infuriating.

"Well done, well done! Your Zheng family is truly commendable!"

Everyone was furious. Some insidious person, remembering that Zhou Tiezhu had just received the money, immediately took the lead and overturned the remaining tables as well.

"Clanging and banging," "Crackling and popping"

"Aww!"

Chang Dafeng was dumbfounded. How dare these people? How dare they?

"My bowl, my noodles!"

They don't care about wedding banquets or anything like that. They'll let it go if they can't get the money back, but they have to get their revenge today!

The once lively wedding banquet venue was instantly turned into a mess.

So much stuff was wasted! Chang Dafeng's heart ached. She plopped down on the ground, kicking her legs and wailing, "Heavens above! These beasts! They won't let us live! These greedy bastards, they didn't even get to eat the meat, and they tore my house down! They have no conscience! How could they do this? We've been neighbors for so many years..."

"Enough!" Zheng Haiyang shouted angrily.

Chang Dafeng wanted to say a few more words, but seeing her son's dark face, she was startled and dared not utter another sound.

Although Zheng Haiyang was angry that his neighbors didn't give him face, he was even angrier than his mother!

If his mother hadn't made rotten egg noodles for people, would those people have been so angry?

If those people weren't angry, would their homes have become such a mess?

It's all his mother's fault!

Zheng Haiyang inwardly resented Chang Dafeng. It wasn't like he hadn't given her money to prepare a banquet, so why did she have to do something so shameful!

This is not only an insult to his neighbors, but also a loss of face for him.

He had originally hoped to outshine Yu Junsheng at the wedding banquet, but now, his wedding has turned into this mess, and he's probably become the laughingstock of the entire compound!

Jiang Qiubai stood to one side, his face pale and his whole body trembling with anger.

She never imagined that her mother-in-law would pull such a stunt at her wedding banquet. She didn't even dare to think about what would happen to her once this got out.

Upon imagining that scene, Jiang Qiubai could no longer hold back, covered her face, and ran into the inner room, sobbing.

...

The Yu family was filled with joy.

May you have a long and happy marriage!

May you have a son soon!

Yu Junsheng and Cheng Jiajia accepted everyone's blessings. When someone offered a toast, Yu Junsheng would drink it for her without Cheng Jiajia having to say anything. "Jiajia doesn't drink, I'll drink hers."

Someone jokingly remarked, "Wow, Junsheng really dotes on his wife!"

Yu Junsheng laughed frankly, "What are you saying? If I don't love my wife, who will?"

Everyone burst into laughter instantly.

Yu Junsheng had been drinking with everyone, his cheeks were flushed, and he was slightly drunk, but his eyes were still bright when he looked at Cheng Jiajia.

Today, Cheng Jiajia wore a new pink and gray floral-patterned cotton-padded jacket that the two of them had made together at the tailor shop. A touch of red on her lipstick made her look even more charming.

Looking at Cheng Jiajia's fair profile, he couldn't help but say, "Jiajia, let's live a good life together." Let's not be like in my past life in my dream, where we were all used as stepping stones, and once we were no longer useful, we were kicked aside.

Cheng Jiajia was taken aback, then realized what he was talking about, and she replied very solemnly, "Yes, our lives will definitely get better and better."

The two looked deeply into each other's eyes, and only they could understand what the other was saying.

To the guests present, it appeared as if the two were deeply in love, gazing affectionately into each other's eyes.

"Aww!"

He San'er, the boy who helped Yu Junsheng buy lime, let out an excited shout and led the cheering, "Give her a hug! Junsheng, give your sister-in-law a hug!"

Zou Qianjin's second son, who usually got along well with Yu Junsheng, also chimed in, "Yeah, Junsheng, give him a hug!"

Everyone was egging him on, and in this ambiguous atmosphere, Yu Junsheng acted impulsively and, in a moment of madness, reached out and hugged Cheng Jiajia, but it was just a light hug, and he quickly let go. After all, there were so many people around, and it wouldn't look good.

He looked deeply into Cheng Jiajia's eyes and said, "Jiajia, I will definitely treat you well." I won't let you suffer and get sick like in my dream, or die young.

Unusually shameless Cheng Jiajia blushed under his focused gaze, her cheeks flushing, and she gave him a reproachful look.

"You said it!"

Immediately, the jeers and cheers grew even louder.

He San'er, always eager for a good show, patted his chest and declared, "I'll be your witness, sister-in-law, if Jun Sheng ever treats you badly again, come find me!"

"We can also testify!"

"Hahaha……"

Aunt Hao looked at the young couple with a smile, "These two are such a good match, they're so pleasing to the eye."

Zou Qianjin also smiled and said, "That's right."

Xiao Cheng looks like a well-behaved and easy-going girl. If there were more girls like her, their courtyard would be peaceful.

Little did Zou Qianjin know that he would soon regretfully retract his evaluation of Cheng Jiajia and realize how naive he had been!

How can one expect to find normal people in this courtyard full of hidden talents?

...

Bao Dayan could hear the commotion from the second courtyard even from the front yard, but she quickly lowered her head and went home. She didn't attend any of the wedding banquets.

Because of what happened a few days ago, she harbored resentment towards the Zheng family, so it was impossible for her to go to the Zheng family. Bao Dayan wanted to go to Yu Junsheng's house for a banquet, but who knew that Yu Junsheng hadn't invited them at all.

Bao Dayan's eyes were filled with jealousy and hatred. If it weren't for that despicable man Zheng Haiyang, she would be the one marrying Yu Junsheng inside today.

If it weren't for him, it would have been Yu Junsheng and I who were seen hugging outside the public restroom that day. At that time, Yu Junsheng would have had to marry me even if he didn't want to, for the sake of his reputation.

It's all Zheng Haiyang's fault!

Bao Dayan even suspected that Zheng Haiyang, that scoundrel, might have ulterior motives towards her and deliberately impersonated Yu Junsheng to take advantage of her, and the more she thought about it, the more convinced she became. After all, when she hugged him, he didn't push her away; he might even have enjoyed it.

Bao Dayan glared resentfully in the direction of the Zheng family in the west wing. She was a despicable person who would pin all the blame on herself when something went wrong!

Since her affair with Zheng Haiyang, Bao Dayan has reverted to her previous silent and honest self. However, the young men in the courtyard treat her like a ghost, and the older women whisper among themselves, making Bao Dayan extremely uncomfortable. All of this is thanks to Zheng Haiyang!

Why is Zheng Haiyang able to happily marry a new wife when his own reputation is ruined?

And Yu Junsheng and Cheng Jiajia, why do they look so happy!

Seeing her daughter running around wildly with the other children outside, Bao Dayan had a wicked idea pop into her head.

Pah! You want to get married? I'll disgust you to death!

...

The Zheng family, her son and daughter-in-law both complained about her and ignored her. Chang Dafeng felt a little upset. She was only trying to do what was best for them, so how could they not understand her?

How did my once filial son become like this?

She's his mother, how could she possibly harm him? How could he blame her?

Chang Dafeng, who never looked for the cause within herself, quickly found the root of the problem.

It must be because Haiyang got married. As the old saying goes, "Once you get married, you forget your mother." It's true!

You little slut, just wait till I get this job, and I'll teach you a lesson!

Seeing the bowls of white noodles on the ground, Chang Dafeng felt a pang of heartache.

Forget about the eggs, the noodles are a real treat!

Chang Dafeng couldn't bear to waste it like that. She picked up everything edible from the ground with her chopsticks, rinsed it with water, and put it in the remaining bowl, which she then ate with relish. As she ate, she cursed her ungrateful neighbors, saying that it was bad enough that they didn't eat such good food, but instead wasted it, and they weren't afraid of being struck by lightning!

Chang Dafeng slurped down all the food she could eat, and her belly was round and full.

Suddenly, she frowned, and her stomach started to hurt. Chang Dafeng quickly grabbed an old newspaper, clutched her stomach, and rushed out the door, heading straight for the public toilet.

Chang Dafeng, who was in a hurry, did not notice that a small figure had quietly followed her.

...

The Yu family

After the lively wedding banquet ended, Yu Junsheng saw off the guests, then furtively closed the doors and windows, and led Cheng Jiajia by the hand into the inner room.

Cheng Jiajia easily misunderstood his eagerness.

"No, no, what are you doing?"

Cheng Jiajia was so nervous she stammered. Having decided to get married, she was already prepared for this. Besides, Yu Jun was her type, and his physique was good too, so she was naturally happy.

But it's not dark yet, is it?

Coming now?

Is this... this wild?!

Why...why is she actually looking forward to this? Cheng Jiajia's eyes sparkled.

She had never had this experience in her previous life, so she was very curious about it and wanted to see what Yu Jun looked like, hehe.

Cheng Jiajia was all ready to take off her clothes, but then she saw this person throw her aside and start rummaging through drawers and cabinets with his butt sticking out.

"Wife, sit and wait for a while."

Cheng Jiajia: "..."

Soon, Yu Junsheng mysteriously took out a tin box and presented it to Cheng Jiajia like a treasure.

Just as Cheng Jiajia was about to ask what was inside, she heard a heart-wrenching scream from outside, "Ouch! Aunt Chang fell into the toilet!!!"

What? What is that?

Did Chang Dafeng fall into the toilet?

It fell into the toilet?!

The couple stared in astonishment, their mouths agape.

Oh my god!

That must smell awful!

Inside the Zheng family's house, Zheng Haiyang had finally managed to coax Jiang Qiubai, and the two were getting intimate when they were startled by this shout.

Zheng Haiyang immediately became useless, his face turning as black as the bottom of a pot.