"Besides, I don't want to talk to you these past two days, I'm angry!" Although Chen Xihua was angry, she still had to maintain her composure. She walked back to her room with a touch of arrogance; she wasn't going to give Chen Xiaoliu a pleasant look so easily.
"Oh." Chen Xiaoliu lowered his head again, feeling frustrated and regretful.
The rest of the Chen family breathed a sigh of relief. Li Yumei even came over and tugged at Chen Baohua's sleeve, wanting to see his arm.
She muttered under her breath, "Xiao Bao, does it hurt? That Fifth Sister is really something, can't you even get away with something just because you said a few words? She actually hit me."
Chen Baohua shook his hands and grinned foolishly, "Mother, it's alright, Fifth Sister hasn't used her full strength yet."
After saying this, he wiped his tears with the back of his hand and then took a tissue to wipe his nose. He then bent down to pick up the chopsticks from the ground, wiped them casually, and started eating again, even though he hadn't eaten enough.
When he picked up some food, he noticed that there was still a large plate of stir-fried carrots and wood ear mushrooms that he had specially made for his fifth sister, which was placed in front of her.
Fifth Sister must have known what he did, and she deliberately didn't eat it. Humph, if she won't eat it, I'll eat it myself. He forcefully picked up a large chopstick and stuffed it into his mouth. Chen Baohua chewed it and swallowed it.
If you're angry, just be angry. Why are you being picky about food? Your fifth sister is already so old.
At worst, he'll make his fifth sister her favorite braised eggplant and twice-cooked pork tomorrow, the spicy kind, which the rest of the family doesn't really like, and it's very pungent when it's cooked.
There's also hot and sour noodles, but he doesn't know how to make them. And Portuguese egg tarts, Black Forest cakes, etc., aren't sold in the cake shops in the county.
She's so delicate, and has such strange tastes; she's also a picky eater.
"Chen Xiaoliu, are you talking about me behind my back?" Back in her room, Chen Xihua felt her ears burning, as if someone was nagging her. She got up, walked out coldly, and asked loudly with certainty.
"No, I'm eating!" Chen Baohua absolutely denied it, and immediately lowered her head to pretend to eat rice, but the bowl was empty.
"Besides you, who else? I think you want to get beaten up again." Chen Xihua waved her fist. Was she the type to keep her anger bottled up? No.
She walked straight over, stopped behind Chen Xiaoliu, and patted him on the back. "You're a man, be more magnanimous, have a clear conscience, and stop gossiping behind people's backs."
"Yes, Fifth Sister." Chen Xiaoliu raised her head and answered seriously and loudly, not caring whether her face looked ugly from crying. After speaking, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, and she secretly smiled to herself.
"So ugly!" Chen Xihua said with a look of disgust.
...
On the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, around noon, Uncle Chen's family invited us to lunch at the Yangqing Hotel in Gaoyang County.
A month ago, my second cousin, Chen Jianhua, got married in Guangdong Province to Wang Xiaoling, the daughter of the factory owner where he worked.
Yesterday, my wife Wang Xiaoling and I returned from Guangdong Province and treated the Chen family to a meal as a belated banquet.
Before the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, we rushed back to Guangdong Province, but Wang Xiaoling disagreed with spending the New Year in Gaoyang County.
Last night, when Chen Xihua heard Chen Lao Er mention it at the dinner table, she almost choked. What a coincidence!
My two cousins-in-law are both named Xiaoling. When they meet, they introduce each other as: "This is my eldest sister-in-law Xiaoling, and that is my younger brother's wife Xiaoling." Will they be secretly furious with each other?
Around 11 o'clock, Chen Xihua and her family set off for Yangqing Hotel in the center of the county. It took about 20 minutes by bus from the family quarters, and the bus stop was right in front of the hotel.
"In the 'Blooming Flowers and Full Moon' hall on the fifth floor." After getting off the bus, Chen Lao Er walked in front.
He straightened his royal blue trench coat, stood tall and strode into the hotel entrance, followed closely by Li Yumei, who was wearing a light red coat.
Chen Xihua and her four siblings took their time, strolling around the hotel lobby on the first floor, not wanting to go up so soon, as the banquet didn't start until 12:30.
It was just a few days before the Lunar New Year, and the hotel was doing very well, with many families having banquets and a lot of people coming and going.
However, the Chen family only had two tables. It should be Chen Xihua's family and Chen Xiaogu's family at one table, while Chen Dabo's family was at the main table. They didn't need to entertain the guests.
At this moment, in the Hall of Perfect Harmony and Full Moon, two large round tables covered with red tablecloths were set out with tableware, two bottles of red wine, one bottle of white wine, and several bottles of yellow carbonated drinks on each table.
Grandpa and Grandma Chen, both dressed in dark red coats, sat at the head of the main table at the back. Upon closer inspection, their expressions did not appear particularly happy.
Uncle Chen and Wang Fen were wearing purplish-red coats. Uncle Chen had a big smile on his face, while Wang Fen had a faint expression. The two of them sat to the left of Grandma Chen.
Chen Penghua and his wife were dressed casually and sat to the right of Grandpa Chen, comforting their one-year-old daughter, Chen Tingting, who was about to cry.
Only two seats at the head table were empty, opposite the best seat, as the newlyweds, Chen Jianhua and Wang Xiaoling, hadn't arrived yet. However, the two had stayed at the hotel the night before and hadn't gone back to the family quarters.
At the other table near the door, only Chen Xiaogu sat quietly.
"Father, Mother, Eldest Brother, you're all here. Where are Jianhua and his wife?" Chen Lao Er and Li Yumei, who had just walked in, naturally sat down next to Chen Xiaogu.
"Why are you asking? I want to know too!" Grandpa Chen snapped, clearly angry. What kind of new bride requires the entire family to wait for her?
"Second brother, you're here. Jianhua and his wife are in a guest room on the sixth floor. They should be getting ready right now. They'll be down here in no time. How many children do you have, Xiaobao?" Uncle Chen explained with a dry laugh, trying to ease the awkwardness.
"They're so funny. They've never been to a three-star hotel before, and they said they'd like to take a look around downstairs," Chen Lao Er said with a chuckle.
On the other side, on the sixth floor of the hotel, in room 605.
"Jianhua, your grandparents, parents won't be upset that we're late, will they?" Wang Xiaoling, dressed in a bright red cheongsam, asked Chen Jianhua with her eyes crinkling.
She bit her bright red lips, looking somewhat remorseful.
"It's alright, don't worry, the banquet starts at 12:30, there are still 20 minutes left! And I'm here!" Chen Jianhua, who had already put on his suit jacket, put his arm around Wang Xiaoling's shoulder and comforted her softly.
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