Chapter 59
◎ In a room on the fifth floor of the International Hotel.
Xu Zhengqing and Xu Huiqiu sat on the sofa,
In a room on the fifth floor of the International Hotel.
Xu Zhengqing and Xu Huiqiu sat on the sofa with stiff smiles on their faces.
They had never sat in such a nice room in their lives, with leather sofas, crystal chandeliers, European curtains, a large Simmons bed, and thick carpets.
But Xu Zhengqing and Xu Huiqiu were not happy at all. The wedding banquet was not held at home in the first place, and now the most lively part of the bride-picking ceremony was also missing. The house was cold and deserted, and it didn't look like a wedding at all.
Zeng Linlin's mother felt that their house was too small to accommodate so many people or so many relatives who came to see them off. She also didn't want to let her daughter suffer by having to live in a partitioned house on such an important moment as her wedding night.
So they decided to book a suite at the International Hotel. When Xu Zeli came to pick up the bride, he took her directly to the hotel room, and he also served tea to the groom's parents here.
After spending their wedding night in the hotel, the two newlyweds returned to the Xu family to live.
Xu Zhengqing and Xu Huiqiu were gritting their teeth and complaining in their hearts, "If you complain about this and that, just don't get married if you have the guts."
But they didn't dare to show it on their faces and had to obey Liu Hezhen's arrangements. From the moment they entered the room, the fake smiles on their faces never stopped.
Xu Zeli knelt on the mat and offered his father and mother a cup of tea with fine white porcelain.
Zeng Linlin followed shortly after, offering tea and calling out, "Dad, Mom."
Xu Zhengqing became more and more dissatisfied with his daughter-in-law Zeng Linlin, but at this moment, he did not say anything to educate Zeng Linlin. He took the teacup, drank it in one gulp, and gave Zeng Linlin a red envelope.
Xu Huiqiu slowly took the teacup and deliberately asked Zeng Linlin to hold it for a while longer. However, Xu Zhengqing next to her couldn't stand it anymore, cleared his cough, and asked Xu Huiqiu not to go too far. Only then did Xu Huiqiu take it.
Xu Huiqiu put the teacup to her lips, but didn't drink it. However, her eyes turned red.
She looked at Xu Zeli with slimy eyes and said sadly, "I raised Xiaoze until he grew up. From now on, Xiaoze will be handed over to Linlin. If Xiaoze is not sensible, Linlin should be more tolerant of him. Xiaoze is used to being taken care of by me, his mother, and I am tired. I can rest assured that Linlin will take care of him from now on."
After saying that, Xu Huiqiu smiled.
She was crying and making a fuss when she spoke, and if you didn't know, you would think she was marrying off her daughter.
The woman's relatives and friends in the room were all whispering.
Zeng Linlin's smile was incredibly natural. She faced Xu Huiqiu and said, "Mom, don't worry. Zeli has been doing well in the Northwest for five years and can take care of himself. You underestimate your son. Zeli isn't just breastfeeding; he's getting married today."
You want me to be a nanny? Dream on! Don’t you even open your eyes and see what era we are in now?
Xu Huiqiu lowered her head to wipe her tears. As soon as the tears stopped, she put down the teacup. Without saying a word, she gave Zeng Linlin a red envelope with reluctance according to the rules.
Zeng Linlin didn't care about her. She glanced at the emcee next to her and signaled her to proceed to the next step.
Xu Huiqiu and Xu Zhengqing felt very uncomfortable. Their son's wedding day turned out to be a day of suffering for them.
Today was a bustling day with guests, but no one took them seriously, even though they were the man's parents! The gap between the two people's hearts was even greater than the day they were given a hard time by Liu Hezhen when they came to visit.
After the tea ceremony, Zeng Linlin and Xu Huiqiu went behind the screen to change their clothes and tidy up their attire.
In front of the bridesmaids and groomsmen, Zeng Linlin glanced at Xu Zeli and said without hesitation, "Your mother is really interesting. She is a Chinese teacher. Fortunately, my Chinese is not bad, otherwise I really couldn't understand her. If I were your mother's student, she would definitely like me. It's a pity that I am her daughter-in-law."
At this point in the wedding, Xu Zeli felt tired, but more of a complacent and proud person, and there was very little joy in his newlywed life.
It was his first time wearing a tie and he felt very uncomfortable. He loosened his tie and casually said, "What?"
Zeng Linlin put it more bluntly. She said, "You want me to take care of you and tolerate you."
Xu Zeli said without hesitation: "Isn't this as it should be?"
Zeng Linlin sneered, threw the lipstick in her hand onto the dressing table, and said sarcastically, "So, I got married to take care of people? Then why don't I become a nanny? Nannies have their own rooms and earn a high salary every month."
A hint of impatience flashed across Xu Zeli's face. He lowered his voice and coaxed Zeng Linlin, "It's just polite talk. Mom is just saying it. Don't take it to heart."
Zeng Linlin's joy at getting married vanished, and she said calmly, "I can also say polite words, and I'm better at it than your mother. I'll also say more polite words to your mother in the future. I hope she won't take it to heart."
Xu Zeli choked and said impatiently, "Stay seated. I'm going out to have a cigarette."
Zeng Linlin's eyes turned red, and she complained in a tearful voice, "I hate men smoking the most. He didn't smoke before!"
Zeng Linlin didn't want this to happen, but on this big day of her wedding, she felt vulnerable and hoped that Xu Zeli would comfort her.
Seeing that the bride was about to cry, the bridesmaid immediately came over and comforted Zeng Linlin with kind words.
With the comfort of her good friend, Zeng Linlin quickly calmed down. She wiped her eyes and nose, and didn't want to be laughed at by the guests.
Zeng Linlin walked out, holding up the hem of her wedding dress, to find Xu Zeli. No matter what, today they had to stand together at all times.
Outside the corridor of the room, Xu Zeli and his parents stood together. Xu Huiqiu opened her mouth and kept talking. All of them looked unhappy.
The three of them heard footsteps and turned around. Seeing that it was Zeng Linlin, Xu Huiqiu immediately lowered her mouth and looked embarrassed.
Zeng Linlin stopped walking, snorted heavily, turned her head away and didn't look at them.
At around 4 p.m., the hotel staff set out for the Shanghai Old Restaurant to welcome their guests. Liu Hezhen generously chartered eight cars from a taxi company to provide transportation.
Xu Zeli stood at the door of the hotel, greeting the guests who came in one after another with a smile.
He frowned at the young man standing in front of him. The young man was dressed in work clothes and was obviously not a guest who came to attend the wedding.
Ah Hui casually took out the broken stone from his pocket that Bei Bitang had asked him to hand to Xu Zeli.
He forcefully pulled Xu Zeli's hand, placed the broken stone in his palm, and said sarcastically, "This is a wedding gift that Sister Bitang asked me to give you. I wish you two will be honest with each other and loyal to each other."
As he spoke, he glanced at Zeng Linlin beside him.
Xu Zeli wanted to call him, but Ah Hui turned around and his figure quickly disappeared at the door.
Zeng Linlin looked very unhappy. She stared at Xu Zeli's hand with resentment, and her gaze was so intense that it seemed as if it could pierce through Xu Zeli's hand.
Zeng Linlin coldly ordered Xu Zeli, "Throw it away!"
Xu Zeli also disliked the broken stone in his hand, but the next guest appeared at the door. He couldn't leave, and he was reluctant to give up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show his face. You know, the people Zeng Linlin's parents invited to the banquet were not ordinary people.
Xu Zeli said, "Let Ma Tailong throw it."
After he finished speaking, he looked around, but he didn't see Ma Tailong. He asked in confusion: "Where is Ma Tailong?!"
Zeng Linlin didn't care about Ma Tailong or Niu Tailong. She only cared about the broken stone in Xu Zeli's hand, which was an eyesore. She said sharply, "I told you to throw it away right now! Do you hear me?"
Xu Zeli wanted to argue, but when he turned around and saw Liu Hezhen coming out of the banquet hall, he changed his expression and said in a gentle voice, "Okay, Linlin, don't be angry. I'll go out and throw it away right away."
When Ah Hui left, Ma Tailong also quietly hid himself and only appeared in public when the banquet started.
Ma Tailong was threatened by Bei Bitang on the phone. Since that day, he has been feeling uneasy and hesitant whether to tell Xu Zeli.
But when he thought about how Xu Zeli was indifferent to him and that he was the one who was clinging to him, and he also had to save face, he gave up the idea of kindly reminding Xu Zeli and wanted to see Xu Zeli make a fool of himself.
Ma Tailong was also afraid that he would be affected. If Bei Bitang really came to cause trouble, Xu Zeli would hold him responsible. He hesitated whether to attend the wedding banquet.
Giving a red envelope of one dollar and having a big meal is a sure-win deal, so Ma Tailong finally came with a thick face.
At the table filled with guests, Ma Tailong grabbed a large clam like a bandit and stuffed it into his mouth, thinking to himself that he would never mess with Bei Bitang again.
He got away with it this time, but if it happens again, he will definitely suffer the consequences. Even someone like Xu Zeli was humiliated just now.
At the same time, he regretted that Bei Bitang didn't do her best and ruined the wedding.
Gu Wangxi arrived late and entered the Shanghai Old Restaurant more than ten minutes after the meal started. Zeng Linlin's parents came with the newlyweds to greet him.
Gu Wangxi quickly glanced at Zeng Linlin and Xu Zeli's faces, said a few polite words, presented a gift, and took a seat in the empty seat left for him by Huo Shixun.
Huo Shixun picked up a piece of celery and chewed it carefully. He leaned over to Gu Wangxi's ear, looked at the newlyweds giving speeches on the stage, and whispered, "This groom looks good, but compared to the bride, he's not even a little bit inferior. How could such a smart and capable couple choose such a man for their daughter?"
Gu Wangxi turned his head and said, "Eat more food and talk less. Why do you care so much? They are not your women."
Gu Wangxi's heart is very soft and cold. He always keeps aloof from people he doesn't care about. He has no interest in gossiping about people he doesn't care about.
Huo Shixun sighed and said, "Wangxi, you don't understand. We should learn from the experiences of those around us and not just sit back and watch the fire from the other side. Although we don't have a daughter for the time being, we do have a younger sister!"
Gu Wangxi turned the teacup and frowned slightly. He looked up and glanced at Xu Zeli, whose face was flushed. With just one glance, he could see through what kind of person Xu Zeli was.
Gu Wangxi retracted his gaze and said confidently: "My sister doesn't like such people. She likes good-looking people. As for my daughter, if she doesn't listen to me in the future, I will kick her out of the house and let her suffer."
Huo Shixun laughed in disbelief and said with a smile, "You're still going to suffer?! If your sister hadn't been raised so poorly and hadn't changed her habits without strict discipline, you would have praised her to the skies! Forget it, if you have a daughter in the future, you'll know that if she ignores you for a while, you'll have to squat down and try to please her. I have experience with this!"
When it comes to a wedding, the bride and groom are the most tired. Zeng Linlin and Xu Zeli were busy at the Shanghai Old Hotel until after eleven o'clock in the evening before they took a bus back to the International Hotel.
Zeng Linlin finished washing up and immediately got into bed. Xu Zeli lingered in the bathroom, carefully examining the bathtub, toilet, and water heater.
When he came out, Zeng Linlin looked like she had fallen asleep in a daze.
Regardless of whether he truly loves Zeng Linlin, it is undeniable that although Zeng Linlin is several years older than him, she has always been pampered, knows how to dress, and has good skin condition and temperament.
Xu Zeli was a little bit looking forward to his wedding night. In a sense, Zeng Linlin was his first woman.
Xu Zeli turned off the main lights and only turned on the bedside lamp. He half-lying down, looking at Zeng Linlin with tenderness. At this moment, Xu Zeli's eyes were the most sincere, like a man looking at a woman, not the usual false tenderness.
Xu Zeli smiled silently and reached out to touch Zeng Linlin's shoulder.
As soon as Xu Zeli touched her, Zeng Linlin dodged away. She pulled the quilt over her shoulders and said without opening her eyes, "Go to sleep. I'm tired. Let's do this later."
Xu Zeli's expression suddenly stiffened. He withdrew his hand and turned off the desk lamp.
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