The banquet was conducted during lunchtime at the ancestral hall. When it was time, everyone took their seats after their third great uncle, fifth great uncle, and Miao Chu He sat down.
Their third great uncle purposely arranged for Miao Cui Lan’s family to be seated at the front-most respected table. That was to gain Miao Chu He’s favor and as a warning to remind Madame Xia of her position. The seating arrangement left Madame Xia fuming with anger, but she was not in any position to complain.
Madame Xia sat down at the nearby table with an ugly expression. She was losing her head even though loads of aromatic and delicious food were set on the table. As she watched everyone chit-chatting and eating cheerfully, there was an unexplainable sorrow in her heart.
She was Miao Chu He’s ‘mother’ and was the only elder in Miao Chu He’s family, yet she was not allowed to sit with their third great auntie when Miao Chu He was seated with their third great uncle. Huh, all of them kept talking about respect and morality, but how could they ignore those virtues when it came to her? Were all those people, who came, dead? How could there be no one standing up for her?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Suddenly, she leaped to her feet. Oh, they don’t want to give me respect? Then, I’ll make sure everyone’s humiliated!
She did not mind if she did not get to eat anything at a banquet that no one cared about her. She knew that if she were to leave with a ruckus, Miao Chu He and their third great uncle would definitely be humiliated!
As expected, her sudden movement brought everyone’s attention to her. Those who were happily chatting and eating suddenly stopped and quietened down.
Madame Xia suddenly felt alive with revenge, but she was slightly regretful. Why did I wait until today? I should have done this long ago! Heh! I am Miao Chu He’s mother no matter what. As a son who had succeeded, I, as his mother would, of course, have a better standing than before. We’ll see what your third great uncle can do to me! What would he even dare to pull in front of everyone?
She should have thought of this a long time ago!
“Do continue the banquet. I don’t want to eat anymore, and I’m going home.” Madame Xia cleared her throat and announced stiffly.
Just as soon as she said it, everyone exchanged glances. Various thoughts ran through their minds, but they all had a similar thought: Has this woman gone nuts?
Their third and fifth great uncles’ expressions turned dark as they cursed silently. As expected, this wench should’ve never been allowed to come! How dare she make a scene on a joyous occasion? It would’ve been fine if everything went smoothly, but if it leaves everyone with a wrong impression, we will become a laughing stock in the other villages. That wretched woman must never be forgiven!
Miao Tian Bao was secretly glad, and he was just about to follow what Madame Xia did. However, he was firmly held down by the two people sitting on both his sides. They were coincidentally his third great uncle’s second and youngest sons. His third great uncle knew his attitude and purposely made his sons watch over him to make sure he would not pull off anything stupid.
It was a shame that their third great uncle could not precisely predict what would happen. Apparently, Miao Tian Bao was not the one who started any trouble, but Madame Xia instead.
Once Madame Xia stood up, their third great uncle’s sons knew that things might go wrong. So, they had their eyes fixed at Miao Tian Bao, not letting him do anything out of the norm.
“You better behave! Do you know what occasion this is? It isn’t for you to make a fool!” The second son growled coldly.
Miao Tian Bao froze, and suddenly, he did not dare to move another inch. No matter how daring he was, it would be terrible if he was punished for causing trouble at the banquet.
Madame Zhao’s face had turned as white as paper, her heart racing as she cursed her mother-in-law for being foolish. What good could it bring to show her temper at this moment? Was this not accusing the elders of not respecting her? It seemed like she had hit her head and did something stupid.
In the nick of time, a crisp and sharp girly voice rang through the hall, “How come the old lady doesn’t have an appetite for all this delicious food? Is she not feeling well? Hey! Mother, look! The old lady’s face doesn’t look very good. She must be sick!”
Everyone turned their gaze towards the voice, and they saw an adorable little girl with a chubby face and big round eyes. Her hair was tied into two round buns, and she wore a red coat. The girl snuggled up beside Miao Cui Lan as she blinked her round eyes, curiously watching Madame Xia.
As expected, the little girl was Lu Xiao Shu.
As soon as she said that, everyone, including their third and fifth great uncles, secretly sighed in relief. They were impressed by her quick wit. If it weren’t for her and if the news spread, the Miao Family’s village would become the laughing stock of villagers by the other villages that envy them.
Miao Cui Lan picked Lu Xiao Shu up and gave her a tight hug. She almost wanted to call her “her precious little baby” and kiss her on the cheeks. She was such a good girl, and her simple words resolved a highly difficult situation for the family.
“Since you’re not feeling well, you should go home and take some rest. We can take it from here. There’s no need for you to worry.” Their third great uncle coughed as he shot Madame Xia a cold dark glance. That stern glance was a warning filled with venom and hatred, wiping out Madame Xia’s anger all of a sudden. She could not help but shiver as she finally understood that she made the wrong move.
That good for nothing little girl! Madame Xia cursed.
Madame Zhao was worried that Madame Xia would pull another stunt, causing their third great uncle to lose respect for them further. She was afraid that she would be dragged by them as well, so she hurriedly rushed forward to help Madame Xia. Madame Zhao nervously laughed, “My mother-in-law mentioned that she was feeling a little lightheaded this morning. Perhaps she had caught a cold last night, so I’ll help her back home. We’ll be going now!”
Their third great uncle strictly nodded and dismissed them, “If you don’t feel well, you should see a doctor. You may leave now.”
“Yes, of course!” Madame Zhao nodded and smiled in response as she dragged Madame Xia away.
Although Madame Xia was not satisfied, she did not dare to try anything else. She was unceremoniously dragged out by her daughter-in-law, making her even more upset and infuriated.
“Come, let the feast continue!” Their third great uncle jovially exclaimed. Once again, everyone laughed and cheered, drinking and eating the night away as the atmosphere had returned to normal. It was as though nothing had happened.
“Is that little girl Cui Lan’s daughter? She’s quite brilliant!” He asked Miao Chu He with glistering eyes after happily downing a cup of wine. At the same time, he glanced over to the kid sitting beside his eldest daughter-in-law.
Miao Chu He followed his gaze as he turned his attention to his third great uncle’s grandson, who was roughly Lu Xiao Shu’s age. Miao Chu He’s heart nearly dropped.
Is he thinking of arranging a marriage? That mustn’t happen! Xiao Shu is a smart and naughty little girl, while Third Great Uncle’s family is the eldest. All of the previous clan leaders came from his family. Their most important practice is to abide by the rules and culture. If Xiao Shu were to wed into that family, her days ahead would be unhappy. The life she should live, was as freely as a bird in the sky, not in a solid concrete cage.
“Yes, you’re right,” Miao Chu He calmed his thoughts. He lightly nodded his head and smiled, “My sister and her husband adopted Xiao Shu. When she first came to them, she was only two months old. Time flies so fast, and now she’s grown so much.”
Even though Miao Cui Lan and Lu Zhong had never told Lu Xiao Shu that she was adopted, they were shocked to hear her talked about it once, and they quickly asked where she heard about it. No one had actually told her, but she simply framed it on Aunt Li. Who asked her to have a reputation of being a blabbermouth?
Because of that, Miao Cui Lan was distraught, and she stopped talking to Aunt Li for a long time, leaving Aunti Li baffled.
However, it was a good thing that her daughter did not care about it, or perhaps she was just too young to understand what it meant to be adopted, not knowing the difference between being an adopted daughter and a biological daughter. She had never minded about her identity and had never felt ashamed of who she was. She could still play with her brother and sister and was just as close as ever to the family. Only then, Miao Cui Lan stopped worrying over the truth of her adoption.
Nevertheless, there was no need to hide the truth because somehow, everyone found out about it. It did not matter since even Tong Yu Er and Miao Chu He did not hate her, and they loved her like always. She was sweet and smart, making them treat her better because of her unfortunate past.
“Adopted?” His third great uncle was slightly disappointed, “Then her birth mother—”
Miao Chu He shook his head and grimaced, “We have no idea who she is. According to my sister, they heard a crying baby in the bushes on their way home one day.”
“Oh! Such a poor little girl!” He sighed in response and changed the topic. The girl was still so young, yet she was brilliant and pretty. He had really thought about arranging a marriage for her, but unexpectedly, she was adopted. It was a pity that he could not set her up with his grandson because her parents were a mystery.
Meanwhile, Miao Chu He sighed in relief.
He pitied Lu Xiao Shu, who was happily eating beside her mother, listening to all the ladies praising her while not knowing that her marriage was almost decided then and there!
After the feast, they cleaned up the hall, and while everyone was still around, Miao Chu He made another announcement which shocked and surprised the attendees.
Except for Miao Tian Bao, of course.
That was because Miao Chu He announced that he would only keep some of the gifts he received those few days for daily uses, and donate the rest to people in the clan to renovate the ancestral hall, buy farmlands, and build schools. From that day onwards, the clan’s farmlands would generate income to provide expenses needed for festivals in the clan, the children’s studies, the elderlies’ support and care, families affected by famine, and those who needed medical care.
His announcement left everyone in shock. There was a moment of silence until his third and fifth great uncles broke it.
