Chapter 91 A chaotic dinner party
"Madam, the master invites all the distinguished guests to the front hall for the banquet."
Madam Huang's personal maid ran over and reported in a low voice.
Mrs. Huang stood up immediately as if she had been pardoned, and put on a warm smile again, but the smile looked stiff.
"Oh, oh, look at me, I forgot the time. Let's go to the front hall quickly and don't keep the gentlemen waiting."
The ladies seemed to have heard the sound of nature. They tidied their appearance as quickly as possible and stood up.
Mrs. Li had no choice but to follow the team, holding the hand of Jiu, who was still savoring the taste of the snacks.
As they walked, Jiu asked curiously, "Auntie, why are they running so fast? Is there something tastier up ahead?"
Madam Li's mouth twitched, and she lowered her voice, "They... they're afraid you'll mention 'flowers and plants' or 'little bugs' again."
"Oh," Ah Jiu nodded, not quite understanding, and then whispered, "But even if you don't say it, they're still there. The hole in the gold ingot on the fat aunt's head has gotten a little bigger."
Mrs. Li staggered and almost sprained her ankle.
My little ancestor, please shut up!
…
In the front hall, the lights were on, and a huge eight-immortal table was filled with a wide variety of dishes, including delicacies from land and sea.
Huang Chongzheng's face was beaming as he introduced a dish: "...This 'Dragon and Phoenix' dish uses Tianshan Snow Chicken from the top of Yuquan Mountain, paired with seven-star eels from the East China Sea. It's simmered for six hours. It's rich and mellow, and it's a great way to replenish your energy!"
Censor Qian nodded vigorously, his saliva almost dripping, and he didn't forget to show off his knowledge: "Hmm! Chicken is yang, and eel is yin. This is a perfect product for harmonizing yin and yang! Brother Huang, you put in a lot of effort!"
Chu Xuanyi had a gentle smile on his face that never changed, and he was playing with dragons and phoenixes. With Censor Qian's physique, he would be like a fat pig climbing a tree if he ate him.
Just then, the women arrived.
Huang Chong was taken aback when he saw his wife leading a group of people in. The atmosphere was a little strange. Looking at his wife's forced smile, his heart skipped a beat. However, he couldn't get angry in front of the distinguished guests, so he could only warmly invite everyone to take a seat.
"Come, come, Madam Li, ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats!"
A strange dinner party began.
On the male side, Censor Qian was talking a lot, chatting about everything from poetry and songs to the art of sex. Huang Chong was flattering him to the utmost. Chu Xuanyi smiled but said nothing, occasionally picking up some vegetables with his chopsticks. Xiao Yu was like a human-shaped ice sculpture, and the temperature within three feet around him dropped sharply.
On the women's side, there was a dead silence. The ladies buried their heads in their food, elegantly, silently, and carefully, barely audible even as their chopsticks touched the dishes. Their peripheral vision was warily fixed on one person—Ajiu.
Ah Jiu was heartless. She sat next to Mrs. Li and ate happily.
Seeing this, Chu Xuanyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as this little ancestor's mouth was shut, the world would be at peace.
However, he was too happy too soon.
Ajiu quickly finished a bowl of rice. She put down the bowl, picked up the soup spoon, and raised her head while drinking the soup. She just saw Huang Chong and Mrs. Huang sitting in the main seat.
Her big eyes blinked and it came again.
"Auntie," Ah Jiu pulled Madam Li's sleeve and whispered, "Why is the praying bug on Uncle Huang's head kowtowing faster and faster? It's even shouting 'Your Excellency is mighty, Your Excellency is wise' as it kowtows. And Aunt Huang, the little abacus on her head is clacking so loudly it's practically smoking!"
“Cough…cough cough cough!”
Chu Xuanyi choked on a mouthful of soup that went directly into his trachea. He coughed so hard that his face turned red.
The whole audience fell silent instantly.
Everyone's attention was focused again.
The expressions on Huang Chong and Madam Huang's faces were as colorful as a dyeing factory, switching from blue to white.
Madam Li was originally picking up a piece of fish with her silver chopsticks. Upon hearing this, her fingers paused imperceptibly, and then she nonchalantly placed the piece of fish into Ah Jiu's bowl, "Eat without talking."
When Ah Jiu saw the fish in the bowl, his eyes lit up and he immediately forgot about the previous topic. He said happily to Mrs. Li, "Thank you, Auntie!"
Then she lowered her head and began to pick out the fish bones carefully.
Chu Xuanyi finally caught his breath and looked at Madam Li with gratitude.
Censor Qian finally found an opportunity to interrupt. He slammed the table and righteously addressed Ajiu, "Little brat! You're wrong! Mr. Huang and Mrs. Huang are sincere gentlemen, warm and hospitable. How could you make such wild assumptions? Look at your Aunt Huang, kind-hearted and compassionate, a wise and capable wife who manages the household well. How could she have such schemes? Look at your Uncle Huang, loyal and honest, and respectful to me... oh no, to everyone. How could he be so rude? You're judging others by your own standards!"
He spoke passionately and righteously.
Ah Jiu tilted his head and looked at him, still chewing fish in his mouth, and said vaguely: "But... Uncle Qian, the upside-down green turtle above your head is still kicking its legs. It said... It said, 'Help me up quickly, I can still speak'..."
"puff--"
This time, it was a Black Armor Guard who could no longer hold back and directly sprayed the wine in his mouth, spraying the back of his companion in front of him.
Censor Qian's face turned the color of liver. He pointed at Ah Jiu and kept saying, "You...you you..." for a long time, unable to utter a single word. Finally, he could only pick up the wine glass angrily and drink it all in one gulp.
This meal could no longer continue.
Huang Chongqiang suggested with a smile that the night view of Yuquan Mountain was extremely beautiful, so why not invite the guests to stay here for a few more days.
Chu Xuanyi and Xiao Yu looked at each other and agreed to it, as it was exactly what they wanted.
The rest of the guests, avoiding him as if he were the plague, took their leave and left the mountain overnight. They felt that if they stayed with this little fortune teller any longer, the psychological scars they would suffer for the rest of their lives would be enough to build the Forbidden City.
It is late at night and everything is silent.
Huang Chong arranged a separate courtyard for Xiao Yu and Chu Xuanyi, which was quiet and elegant. Ah Jiu naturally stayed with Chu Xuanyi, while Madam Li was placed in the courtyard next door.
In the room, candlelight flickered.
Chu Xuanyi was trying to persuade Ah Jiu, saying earnestly, "Ah Jiu, have you remembered what I told you today? In the future, you can't tell everything you see outside, especially to those ladies, understand?"
Ah Jiu was sitting on a small stool, battling a sticky piece of maltose. Upon hearing this, he nodded vigorously and said vaguely, "Remember, sir. You can't tell them what's on top of their heads."
"The boy is teachable." Chu Xuanyi nodded with satisfaction.
"Then can I tell you what's following them?" Jiu asked curiously.
Chu Xuanyi: "..."
He took a deep breath, feeling a crack in his Dao heart again. He decided to give up on communicating, pulled out a Daoist scripture from his bosom, and began to recite silently.
Xiao Yu sat cross-legged on the couch, his eyes closed, breathing slowly.
The only sounds in the entire room were the faint "fight" between Jiu and Malt Tang, and Chu Xuanyi's suppressed breathing.
Sudden--
Ajiu, who was still struggling with the malt sugar, stopped.
He sniffed the air hard with his little nose and frowned tightly.
"What's wrong?" Chu Xuanyi immediately became alert and put down the Taoist scriptures. He had a high level of cultivation, but he didn't notice anything unusual.
"Sir," Jiu turned his head and pointed out the window, a trace of confusion and obvious disgust on his little face, "The smell outside is not good."
"Smell?" Chu Xuanyi walked to the window, lifted a corner of the curtain and looked out.
The moonlight is like water, sprinkling in the quiet courtyard, and the night breeze brings the fragrance of flowers and plants. How can there be any bad smell?
"It's... it's a stinky, cold smell." Jiu tried hard to describe it. She threw away the malt sugar in her hand, her face tense. "It's like... like the black smoke from a stove that's not burning well in the winter. It makes me feel uncomfortable. It's even worse than the smell of the green turtle above Uncle Qian's head!"
Censor Qian, who was trying hard to save his reputation, sneezed violently in the next yard.
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