The hour passed quickly. Wei Tongtong had originally planned to come over and say hello, but she wasn't given the chance. Her uncle's status here was too low to be considered, so he couldn't even get close.
At the auction, each lady received the consent of her family head to ensure she won the bid, which was also to secure her place in the family register.
So the competition is quite fierce. But the starting price isn't high, only a dozen yuan or so, but the average transaction price is over a thousand yuan.
Since this was an all-female gathering, the price wasn't outrageously high.
There were only ten items up for auction, and it ended quickly. Since it was still early, Wang Ying had taken this into account, so it turned into a tea party.
Zhang Hongmei sat with the two elderly people and asked, "Grandpa, Dad, have you seen anything you like?"
Both of them nodded. "We told them to go home and have the elderly bring them to Fuzeyuan as guests."
"I've also got my eye on a few, let's talk about them after we get home from Liujiatun?"
“That would be too late. I’ll have them come to our house tomorrow, under the pretense that it’s a get-together for us old folks, and let them keep you company.”
"Hehe, you two are really in a hurry."
Gu Chuanming smiled and said, "How can I not be anxious? I'm just afraid that when Zhenye and the others come back, only Yaozu and the other two will be interested in each other, which will make my two remaining darlings feel neglected."
Zhang Hongmei said helplessly, "Grandpa, you're overthinking it. They're only eighteen years old."
“Eighteen is not young anymore. You were already eighteen when you had Zhenye and the others. I shouldn’t have agreed to change the marriage age to twenty. If it were still eighteen, my darlings could have gotten married.”
Zhang Xingguo nodded in agreement. He deeply shared the sentiment.
Before long, many more ladies arrived with their daughters, and even the presence of two important figures did not stop them.
Everyone at home had discussed the significance of the party hosted by the madam. They all knew that the leader's four sons were all eighteen years old. Even if the family wasn't planning to find wives for their children, it was still very important to make a good impression on the madam at this time.
One group after another, none of them allowed Zhang Hongmei to invite them. Some of them had ulterior motives. Such families were really no good. Even if the girls in the family were decent, it wasn't to the point that Zhang Hongmei didn't care about the character of their family members.
Finally, it was Wei Tongtong's aunt's turn. This time, Wei Tongtong's two cousins also came along. They were both fifteen years old and quite pretty, but Zhang Hongmei really didn't like them.
Wei Tongtong sat to one side, watching Zhang Hongmei chat with her aunt in an elegant and poised manner, leaving her no room to speak, and felt a little anxious.
No, I must let this woman know that this decision will make her regret the rest of her life.
"Madam, I am Wei Tongtong, the secretary to the leader," Wei Tongtong interjected with a smile.
Zhang Hongmei's smile remained unchanged. "Oh? I really didn't know. Comrade Wei's abilities are truly remarkable."
Gu Chuanming, who was listening nearby, immediately objected. "She's asking for trouble." "Chengzi, kick her out. And tell her which department she's in, and that she shouldn't go there again."
"Grandpa, please don't be angry."
Gu Chuanming patted Zhang Hongmei's hand.
Wei Tongtong's aunt was so frightened that her face turned completely pale. She tried to speak, trembling, but found herself unable to open her mouth.
Wang Ying had been keeping an eye on the situation, and Xiao Wu and Liu Jingze also came over.
Xiao Wu sat next to Zhang Hongmei and said, "Mom."
"Xiao Wu, what brings you here? Did you have fun?"
"Mom, I don't really like it here. When are we going home?"
"It'll be over in half an hour. Be good, go play with your godfather over there."
"Red Plum!"
"What's wrong with you all? I'm really fine. Jingze, why don't you take Xiao Wu and go play somewhere else for a while?"
Wang Ying sent bodyguards over, who immediately pulled the terrified Wei Tongtong away.
"Madam, I'm so sorry."
"Madam, Madam, it was our Tongtong who was being unreasonable. I will definitely teach her properly when we get back."
Zhang Hongmei just smiled, feeling even more speechless towards this family. Wei Tongtong's two cousins were secretly gloating. How could a fifteen-year-old girl have such a dirty heart?
All the ladies present knew about this incident, and they were all wondering if this girl named Wei Tongtong had a relationship with the leader. Otherwise, how could such a thing have happened?
Some people secretly laughed at her, thinking, "Even if you really follow the leader, you can't show off in front of the wife in this setting. Isn't that just courting death?"
Zhang Hongmei listened to the sentiments of many people and found it quite interesting, but she was speechless at Zhang Shouyi's perspective.
Finally, several ladies came over, all smiling and greeting Zhang Hongmei, and telling their children to greet her as well.
The banquet finally ended at nine o'clock. Everyone was very satisfied. Several shrewd ladies even asked Zhang Hongmei, "Madam, let's hold another banquet like this before the New Year, so that everyone can have more interaction and strengthen our relationships."
"Hehe, sure, let's get together again when there's a chance in December."
Everyone came out to see Zhang Hongmei and her family off.
Zhang Shouyi waited in the car outside; he didn't get out, which was really inconvenient.
Everyone noticed the car and knew it belonged to the leader. They were filled with intense curiosity about what had just happened.
Zhang Hongmei also spotted Zhang Shouyi; Xiao Li had already opened the door and come down.
Zhang Hongmei didn't even glance at him, and helped Gu Chuanming into the car.
This made everyone's gossip simmer even brighter.
Xiao Li glanced at Chengzi and knew that his wife was angry, so he immediately turned around and went back to the car.
Xiao Wu and Liu Jingze rode in one car. Xiao Li followed behind them.
Zhang Shouyi's face was tense; he knew something must have happened. But what could possibly happen at this gathering?
Xiao Li even slowed his breathing. The way the lady had looked at him just now was one of disdain, specifically disdain for his arrival. "Another day of trouble is coming," Xiao Li sighed inwardly, wondering what was wrong now.
“Hongmei, don’t take it to heart. Shouyi didn’t mean it that way at all,” Zhang Xingguo quickly explained to his son.
Gu Chuanming held Zhang Hongmei's hand and said, "Girl, it's alright, it's alright."
"Yes, I know, don't worry."
After Zhang Hongmei finished speaking, she leaned on Gu Chuanming's shoulder and said, "Grandpa, I want to go abroad for a while, but I'm worried about you two. You can't come with me either."
Zhang Xingguo was terrified. "Hongmei, don't leave us behind. Don't go abroad. Wherever you go, we'll follow you."
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