At noon, the celebration banquet officially began. Shen Tingzhou walked onto the stage, picked up the microphone, and said in a loud voice, "Distinguished guests, dear friends and relatives, good afternoon! Today, we gather together to celebrate my daughter, Shen Nianxi, winning the gold medal in the National Children's Dance Competition. First of all, on behalf of my whole family, I would like to extend a warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to everyone for coming!"
Thunderous applause erupted from the audience, and Shen Nianxi clapped along, her little face full of pride.
"Nianxi's achievements today are inseparable from her own hard work, her mother's meticulous guidance, and the care and support of all our relatives and friends." Shen Tingzhou's gaze swept over the guests below the stage, finally landing on Lin Wanqiu, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Here, I want to especially thank my wife, Lin Wanqiu. Over the years, she has raised our child alone, enduring much hardship and suffering, but she has never complained. It is her perseverance and dedication that have brought us Nianxi to where we are today, and that has given us our happy family."
Lin Wanqiu looked at her husband on the stage, her eyes brimming with tears. All the hardships and grievances of the past years had transformed into gratitude at this moment. She knew that Shen Tingzhou had always understood her and had always silently supported her.
Shen Tingzhou paused for a moment, then continued, "Now, let's give a warm round of applause to our little protagonist today, Shen Nianxi, as she comes to the stage to speak!"
Thunderous applause erupted once again from the audience. Under everyone's watchful eyes, Chen Nianxi timidly walked onto the stage. She took the microphone, her small body standing ramrod straight, a determined smile on her face: "Thank you everyone for coming to my celebration party! I want to thank my parents, my brother and sister-in-law, my teachers, and everyone who cares about me for winning the gold medal. I will work even harder in the future, practice my dance diligently, and live up to everyone's expectations!"
Her brief words won rounds of applause. Looking at her shining daughter on stage, Lin Wanqiu was filled with happiness. She knew that all the hard work and sacrifices had been worthwhile.
Next came a sumptuous banquet. The table was laden with a dazzling array of dishes, including glistening roast duck, fragrant braised pork, tender steamed fish, golden and crispy fried chicken legs, and several new dishes specially developed by Lin Wanqiu, such as Pearl Jade White Jade Soup, Crystal Shrimp Dumplings, and Rose Pastries. Each dish was a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate, drawing rave reviews from the guests.
"This roast duck is absolutely delicious! Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, fatty yet not greasy, it's even more authentic than the roast duck in Beijing!"
"This Pearl Jade White Jade Soup is absolutely amazing! It's refreshing, sweet, nutritious, and delicious. Wanqiu, you're such a great cook!"
"I never expected to find such exquisite dishes in the countryside. Today's trip was truly worthwhile!"
Lin Wanqiu was delighted to hear everyone's praise. These dishes were all carefully prepared by her, showcasing both the sophistication of modern cuisine and incorporating local specialties, hoping to ensure her guests were satisfied.
During the banquet, guests toasted each other, chatting and laughing. Shen Tingzhou drank and chatted with his old comrades and commune cadres, while Lin Wanqiu chatted with the female guests about everyday matters. Shen Nian'an and Su Wanqing were also busy toasting the guests. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious, filled with laughter and joy.
After enjoying a hearty meal, Shen Nianxi, amidst cheers and encouragement from the crowd, returned to the stage to perform the dance "Spirit of the Peacock." Freed from the constraints of the stage and the scrutiny of the judges, she danced with even greater freedom and grace. Her pink skirt billowed, like a peacock in flight, perfectly capturing the peacock's elegance and agility. The guests were captivated, applauding and cheering, bringing the atmosphere to another climax.
Just as the celebration banquet was halfway through, Old Mrs. Shen suddenly clutched her chest, her face pale, her breathing rapid, and she groaned in pain, "Ouch, my chest hurts so much, quick... quick, help me..."
Seeing this, Zhang Lan panicked and cried out, "Mother, what's wrong? Don't scare me!" She rushed to Shen Tingzhou and Lin Wanqiu's side and said anxiously, "Uncle, Wanqiu, Mother suddenly feels unwell, her chest hurts so much, please think of something!"
Everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events and quickly gathered around, their faces filled with worry. Lin Wanqiu's heart tightened. Although she harbored resentment towards Old Madam Shen, she was, after all, Shen Tingzhou's mother, and she couldn't stand by and watch her die. She immediately stepped forward, knelt down, and took Old Madam Shen's wrist to check her pulse.
Shen Tingzhou was also very anxious, and asked with a solemn expression, "How is she? Is Mother alright?"
Lin Wanqiu frowned, and after a moment said, "The pulse is erratic and the breathing is labored; it might be acute angina. Old Shen, quick, lay Mother down, I'll go get the first-aid kit." She had long anticipated that Old Madam Shen was old and in poor health, so she had specially prepared a first-aid kit in her space, containing various commonly used medicines and emergency equipment.
Shen Tingzhou immediately followed Lin Wanqiu's instructions and laid Old Lady Shen flat on the ground. Lin Wanqiu quickly ran backstage, took out a first-aid kit from her spatial storage, took out nitroglycerin, and had Old Lady Shen take it under her tongue. She then used a stethoscope to examine her heart and performed CPR.
The surrounding guests watched nervously, barely daring to breathe. Li Manjun also came over and asked worriedly, "How are you? Do you need any help? I know a cardiologist at the provincial hospital; I can help you get in touch with him."
"Thank you, Commander Li, but you don't need to trouble yourself." Lin Wanqiu said while performing first aid on Grandma Shen. "Her condition has stabilized a bit now. Once she's calmed down, we'll take her to the hospital for a thorough check-up."
After about ten minutes, Grandma Shen's complexion gradually regained its color, and her breathing became more steady. She slowly opened her eyes, looked at the people surrounding her, and said weakly, "I...I'm alright now, thank you all..."
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