Chapter 196 Taking Off the Gloves

This is the first year of their marriage. According to custom, Xia Mian should receive the tea ceremony from the younger generation along with Zhou Pingchuan. This is a rule and also an opportunity for the newcomers to the Zhou family to build good relationships with the main family and the collateral branches, and to show their face and establish their authority in front of the younger generation.

Xia Mian had no interest in controlling the Zhou family; he was content with spending the Zhou family's money. However, if he didn't attend with Zhou Pingchuan, some people might overthink things, so he set his alarm for 6 a.m.

When the alarm clock rang, he thought he would sleep for ten more minutes, and then get up and hug the blanket tightly in his arms.

The blanket was so warm and bouncy that he didn't want to open his eyes. Ten minutes later, he thought he'd sleep for another twenty minutes, and he'd definitely get up when the alarm rang again.

Just ten minutes, twenty minutes... When he finally got out of bed covered in cold sweat, it was already 9:30 in the morning!

He quickly grabbed his phone, and strangely enough, the phone still had power, but the alarm clock didn't continue to ring.

Did he find it annoying and turn off the alarm clock?

How come I have no recollection of it at all?

Forget it, now's not the time to dwell on this. We need to quickly take care of things. He didn't have time to groom himself properly. After showering, he only applied toner and didn't style his hair. While blow-drying, he gently tousled it a few times to keep it from sticking too flat to his scalp and to make it look fresher.

He didn't have time to choose his clothes carefully, so he just grabbed a red one and put it on. Only after getting in the car did he realize that the sweater was too loose and didn't look formal enough for the occasion.

But since things have come to this, we have no choice but to make do with what we wear.

Anyway, he arrived quite late, so probably not many people will care.

Now, at this very moment, standing among her relatives who resemble cabbages, Xia Mian felt immense regret for her shallow thoughts.

—If he had known everyone was dressed so elegantly and luxuriously, he would have gone back and changed into something different. Dressing like this makes him look casual and tasteless.

Although his family doesn't emphasize "outshining" others, he didn't want to dress too shabbily!

Xia Mian was displeased, but fortunately, he came from a merchant family and had taken the essential course of feigned politeness, so no one could tell that he was being displeased.

"Thank you for the invitation, Auntie. I will definitely visit your home when I have time."

"I like antiques and calligraphy, and I also like diamonds. In my opinion, they are all priceless treasures."

Feeling comforted by the attentive care, the uncles and aunts wanted to chat with Xia Mian a little longer. Just then, Zhou Pingchuan turned to them and asked, "Haven't you had breakfast yet?"

"Yeah, I didn't eat."

"Come and have some snacks."

Then he pulled Xia Mian towards their seats.

The uncles and aunts gave a sheepish laugh and finally quieted down.

As a snack while watching the show, each seat has a small table with fruit, pastries, and various candies.

Xia Mian glanced around and noticed that the snacks on Zhou Pingchuan's table were different from the others. Perhaps, as the head of the family, Uncle Li had specifically noted his preferences.

Coincidentally, Xia Mian also liked the same things Zhou Pingchuan liked. Xia Mian picked up a spring roll with golden threads and took small bites. To outsiders, his eating manners appeared very elegant and refined. Only Zhou Pingchuan knew that he was simply trying to make his wolfing down of food appear more graceful.

Seeing the little boy with spring roll crumbs stuck to the corner of his mouth, Zhou Pingchuan couldn't help but smile.

The first time the boy came to Zhou's mansion, he secretly ate snacks while Zhou was away. These were the snacks he stole, and he ate the most golden spring rolls.

If I remember correctly.

"Slow down," Zhou Pingchuan reached out and wiped away the spring roll crumbs for him. "If you like, I'll transfer the chef to Longxi and make it for you anytime."

The corner of her lips felt icy cold, and only then did Xia Mian remember to look at Zhou Pingchuan's hand.

Still wearing gloves.

You think his drawings aren't good?

"...I'm just hungry. When you're hungry, anything tastes good," Xia Mian said, a little disappointed. "Besides, I have to work, so I don't need to bother the chef."

Zhou Pingchuan agreed.

Summer Sleep: Good my ass! All you do is say good!

Zhou Pingchuan told him to eat less, just enough to fill his stomach, as lunch was less than an hour away.

No, no, he just won't. He wants to eat more, and he eats even faster during summer hibernation.

Zhou Pingchuan didn't know what to do with him, so he shook his head helplessly and finally pushed all the snack plates in front of him.

The uncles and aunts who witnessed everything looked at each other and saw the shock in each other's eyes.

The ceremony was different from a wedding. At the time, Zhou Pingchuan only invited close relatives of the host family; distant relatives and those with less close ties did not attend. After the report came out, they all felt that the Zhou family was spending lavishly for the sake of face.

It seems that the young man from the Xia family is quite skilled.

The head of the family treated him differently than he treated others.

"Let's add each other's contact information in a bit," the uncle who wanted to invite Xia Mian to appreciate the calligraphy and paintings and the aunt who wanted to treat Xia Mian to dinner whispered to each other.

"Can the head of the family give in?"

"Why not give it a try? There's no harm in it. If we can maintain him well, we'll never have to worry about not getting a good position in the future."

“You’re right, then we have to go all out. Look at Wenying, she’s even brought out an 11-carat colored gemstone.”

“I have a Qianlong-era vase here. If he likes it,” the man gritted his teeth, “I’ll give it to him!”

The woman gasped. This wasn't just spending a lot of money; this was spending her entire life savings!

Besides her, Xia Mingzhao, who had been listening to the whole thing, also grew increasingly somber.

***

As Zhou Pingchuan said, lunch was ready fifty minutes later, and everyone moved to the East Restaurant.

The Zhou family is large, so the family banquet was like a wedding banquet. Fortunately, the East Restaurant is quite spacious and could accommodate even twice as many people.

Everyone took their seats according to seniority, and Zhou Pingchuan led Xia Mian to the head seat. Only after his bottom touched the chair did Xia Mian realize that he hadn't greeted Old Master Zhou!

He arrived in a hurry and was just agonizing over putting gloves on Zhou Pingchuan, which made him forget the most important thing.

It would be too abrupt for him to go there now. The best way is for Zhou Pingchuan to take him there, explain why he was late, and offer him tea and greetings. He quickly nudged Zhou Pingchuan's thigh with his leg: "Take me to greet my great-grandfather. I forgot just now."

Zhou Pingchuan shook his head.

Xia Mian said anxiously, "No, I don't even have the most basic manners. My great-grandfather will hate me."

Zhou Pingchuan reached under the tablecloth and patted his leg: "It's alright."

After saying that, he didn't take his hand away, but kept it on Xia Mian's lap.

Like a kitten being grabbed by the scruff of its neck, Xia Mian immediately quieted down.

Conversely, he felt a tingling sensation on his skin and a pounding heart. His legs were very sensitive; Zhou Pingchuan had touched them before and only felt discomfort then.

Now, the relationship may no longer be simple; he might be thinking about things a bit too much and complicatedly.

At this moment, a relative suggested that the head of the household "say a few words," and Zhou Pingchuan readily agreed, signaling the servants to fill the wine cups.

Then, he actually took off his gloves, rolled up his sleeves, stood up, and raised his glass to all the tables!

Over the years, everyone had almost forgotten what the head of the family looked like without gloves, and they were all quite surprised.

Of course, they also noticed the obvious antler totem on the man's pale wrist.

Zhou Pingchuan took in the reactions of everyone in the room and said calmly, "Are you looking at this? It's a New Year's gift from Mianmian."

After a pause, he said, "I like it very much."