Chapter 63 The Huo Family Banquet
The 60th anniversary celebration of the Huo Group was held at the Huo family's ancestral home in Xishan.
As evening fell, the ancestral home was already filled with luxury cars of all kinds. The rustic Chinese courtyard was decorated with lanterns and colorful lights, including traditional red lanterns and modern lighting installations, creating a unique sense of time and space in the twilight.
Song Zhiyi arrived at three o'clock in the afternoon. As instructed by Old Master Huo, she was to assist Huo's mother, Xu Wenjun, in hosting this family banquet—this was the first time the Huo family had formally asked her to participate in family affairs as the "mistress of the house."
"Zhiyi's here." Today, Mrs. Huo was wearing a dark green cheongsam embroidered with gold thread, her hair meticulously styled. She rarely showed such a gentle smile when she saw Song Zhiyi. "Thank you for your hard work today. Have you looked at the guest list?"
“I’ve seen it.” Song Zhiyi held a tablet in her hand. “There are a total of eighty-seven guests, including twenty-eight family members, forty-two business partners, and seventeen political friends. The seating chart has been adjusted three times according to your request, and the final version is here.”
She handed the tablet to Mrs. Huo. On the screen was a precise seating chart, with each seat labeled with a name, position, and relationship to the Huo family. Even more remarkably, there were brief notes next to each seat: for example, an elderly gentleman had gout and could not eat seafood, a lady was allergic to pollen, and a secretary of a political figure needed to be seated near the head table for easy communication.
Looking at the detailed arrangements, Mrs. Huo glanced at Song Zhiyi with a complex expression: "When...did you prepare all this?"
"We started preparing after receiving the preliminary list last week," Song Zhiyi said calmly. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs often holds large-scale foreign affairs events, and there are fixed procedures for these kinds of preparations. I just referred to them."
She spoke of it casually, but Mrs. Huo knew how much work was involved. Just remembering the backgrounds and taboos of eighty-seven people was something no ordinary person could do.
"You've put your heart into it," Mrs. Huo finally said, her tone genuinely approving. "Let's go check on the banquet arrangements."
The two moved between the courtyard and the banquet hall. As they walked, Song Zhiyi communicated with the heads of various departments via walkie-talkie: the flower arrangements should avoid the paths of allergy-prone guests; the cold dishes should be served first because some elderly guests would be leaving early; the sound system needed to be tested again because there was an important speech tonight…
Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear and concise, with explicit instructions. Several older servants who had initially been hesitant about this "young mistress" gradually stopped looking at her with disdain.
At 5 p.m., guests began to arrive one after another.
Huo Yanli stood at the entrance of the main hall to greet guests, with his father Huo Zhenguo standing beside him. When he saw Song Zhiyi helping Huo's mother coordinate the entire event, Huo Zhenguo gave her a rare nod: "Thank you for your hard work."
"Of course." Song Zhiyi bowed in response, then turned to Huo Yanli, "We need to add two more chairs to the west rest area. Mr. Li's wife has difficulty walking and needs to have a place to rest at any time. I have already arranged for someone to move them."
“Okay.” Huo Yanli looked at her. Today she was wearing a modified Chinese-style suit, an elegant moon-white one, with light blue bamboo leaf patterns embroidered on the collar. Her hair was still neatly tied up, but adorned with a simple white jade hairpin. She looked both dignified and elegant.
“You today…” he began, but didn’t know what to say.
Song Zhiyi looked up at him: "Hmm?"
"Very...good." Huo Yanli only said these two words in the end.
Song Zhiyi nodded slightly and turned to deal with the next issue. Huo Yanli watched her back as she moved among the guests and suddenly realized that she was actually quite at ease in the Huo family's environment—not because she was trying to please or flatter, but because she had enough ability to control the situation.
Just then, a familiar voice rang out at the door: "Uncle Huo, Aunt Huo, congratulations!"
Huo Yanli turned around and saw Lin Wei standing at the door.
Today she wore a champagne-colored off-the-shoulder dress, her hair styled in elegant waves, and her makeup was flawless, like something out of a magazine cover. She carried a limited-edition handbag and smiled radiantly.
Huo's mother, Xu Wenjun, changed her expression slightly. She remembered that she hadn't invited Lin Wei.
"Weiwei is here." Mrs. Huo maintained basic courtesy. "Please come in."
"Thank you, Auntie!" Lin Wei walked in with a smile, her gaze falling directly on Huo Yanli. "Yanli, it's been a long time."
Her address was intimate, and her voice was deliberately softened. Several guests around looked over—everyone knew about Lin Wei and Huo Yanli's past.
"Miss Lin," Huo Yanli said calmly, "welcome."
Lin Wei's smile froze for a moment, but quickly returned: "I came here today specifically to congratulate the Huo family on its 60th anniversary! I even prepared a gift." As she spoke, she took out a small brocade box from her handbag, "It's a white jade Pixiu, symbolizing wealth and prosperity, and I hope the Huo family will get better and better."
Mrs. Huo accepted the brocade box and thanked him politely. Huo Yanli then said to the butler beside him, "Please lead Miss Lin to a seat."
His attitude was polite but distant. Lin Wei bit her lip and followed the butler inside. As she passed Song Zhiyi, she deliberately slowed her pace, glanced at Song Zhiyi from head to toe, and a hint of disdain flashed in her eyes—that simple Chinese-style suit seemed far too "plain" to her.
Song Zhiyi was confirming the menu with the catering department and was completely unaware of Lin Wei's gaze.
After the banquet officially began, Lin Wei was seated in the middle of the banquet hall—neither near the main table nor too far to the edge. But she was clearly dissatisfied with this location, and throughout the banquet, she frequently found various excuses to approach the main table.
One moment it's "I'll toast Uncle Huo," the next it's "I'll talk to Yanli about something at work," and then it's "I'll say hello to Grandpa Huo." Each time, she deliberately stands next to Huo Yanli, leaning slightly forward with a sweet smile, creating a false impression of intimacy.
Huo Yanli's brows furrowed deeper and deeper. Every time Lin Wei approached, he politely but clearly maintained a distance. But Lin Wei seemed oblivious, continuing to do as she pleased.
Song Zhiyi—she was busy the whole time.
When her aunt Zhou Jing accidentally spilled a water glass, she immediately arranged for someone to clean it up and change the tablecloth; when her second uncle Huo Zhenting's guests couldn't find the restroom, she personally led the way; when her cousin Huo Siqi's high heels got stuck in a crack in the floor, she squatted down to help remove them; and even when the kitchen said they were short of ingredients for one dish, she calmly adjusted the menu order and quietly resolved the problem.
She moved through the banquet hall with steady steps and a calm expression, like a finely tuned machine. Occasionally, when passing the main table, she would quickly and quietly report to Mrs. Huo: "The air conditioning on the east side is too cold, so I've turned up the temperature." "Mr. Wang's driver said there's a problem with the car, so I've arranged for the Huo family's spare car." "Grandpa's medicinal soup has been kept warm separately and can be served at any time."
Mrs. Huo looked at her, her gaze growing increasingly complex. This woman, whom she had once considered unworthy of the Huo family as a daughter-in-law, was now effortlessly managing this large family banquet for over eighty people. And she herself could sit comfortably at the head table, without having to worry about any trivial matters.
Old Master Huo, Huo Qishan, sat in the main seat, taking in everything. He picked up his teacup and whispered to Huo Zheng beside him, "See? This is how the eldest daughter-in-law of the Huo family should behave."
Huo Zheng smiled and nodded: "Dad, I've always said that you made a good choice in your granddaughter-in-law."
Halfway through the banquet, Lin Wei once again took her wine glass and went to the head table. This time, she spoke directly to Huo Yanli: "Yanli, can I speak with you alone for a few minutes? About... what happened back then."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for the people at the head table to hear. Huo Zhenguo, Huo's father, frowned, and Huo Wenjun, Huo's mother, frowned even more.
Just as Huo Yanli was about to refuse, Song Zhiyi happened to walk over and said to Huo's mother, "Mom, can we serve Grandpa's medicinal soup now? I'm afraid that if we keep it warm, the medicinal effect will be affected."
Her voice was calm and natural, completely ignoring Lin Wei standing to the side.
Mrs. Huo immediately said, "Okay, let's go now."
Song Zhiyi nodded and used the walkie-talkie to notify the kitchen. Then she looked at Huo Yanli: "Yanli, your second uncle is looking for you. He says a business partner wants to meet you. He's in the east rest area."
Her address was natural—not "Mr. Huo," but "Yanli." This was the first time she had called him that in public.
Huo Yanli paused for a moment, then stood up: "Okay, I'll go over there."
He left the main table without even glancing at Lin Wei.
Lin Wei stood there, her wine glass trembling slightly. She looked at Song Zhiyi—the woman she had always looked down upon—who was now calmly discussing the serving time of the next dish with Huo's mother, as if she didn't exist at all.
The gazes cast around them were filled with curiosity, mockery, and mostly understanding—everyone realized who the Huo family's acknowledged mistress was.
Lin Wei gritted her teeth, turned around, and left the main table.
She didn't see that, the moment she turned around, Song Zhiyi's gaze lingered on her back for a second.
A very calm second.
Then he continued talking to Mrs. Huo.
It was as if nothing had happened.
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