Chapter 782: Zhiyuan, You Also Have To Attend This Banquet
Leng Zhiyuan did not want to stay in the country. She also did not want to see the man anymore. She wanted to go back to Hong Kong.
She could not hope for her father to help her. She stepped out through the main doors of the army base and wanted to take a car to go over to the airport to buy tickets, but after pondering for a while, her pa.s.sport and ident.i.ty card were all left in the Zhou home.
She had to go back to the Zhou home.
She did not have any other choice, and she called a cab to go back.
She returned back to the huge Zhou mansion, and the helpers came out to open the doors. “Young Mistress, you are back already?”
“Yeah,” she hummed out, and she went directly back to her room.
But she just stepped into the living room, and Madam Zhou walked out and said, “Zhiyuan, why did you come back? Did you call a cab to come back? Why didn’t you give us a call? I could have asked the driver to get you.”
“There is no need…” Upon facing this excited mother, Leng Zhiyuan at a little loss for what to do.
Madam Zhou hld her hand and said, “Zhiyuan, why is your hand so cold? Are you not used to it in the military base? If you do not like it there, then don’t go over there anymore. When you miss Zhou Yao, I will give him a call and ask him to drive back.”
Leng Zhiyuan:…
At this moment, Master Zhou came back holding his doc.u.ment bag as he returned home. He saw Leng Zhiyuan, and there was a small benevolent smile on his face as he said, “Zhiyuan, you are back already? Are we going to start eating? Let’s eat together then.”
His question was directed at Madam Zhou.
Madam Zhou nodded her head and said, “We prepared lunch a long time ago. Someone come over. Let’s start eating.”
…
She did not have any other choice. Leng Zhiyuan’s hand was held by Madam Zhou, and she was forced to have a seat at the dining table. The helpers served several exquisitely plated dishes on the table. She had a look, and she was very surprised when she looked over.
These were all Hong Kong style dishes.
There was a huge difference between Hong Kong and mainland Chinese food. They had different customs in life.
Suddenly, a helper gave her a pair of chopsticks and a bowl and had a polite smile as she said, “Young Mistress, over the past few days, Madam has hired a Hong Kong chef to come and teach us how to make Hong Kong style dishes. Madam even said that you left your home and came such a far distance away to get married. You must have missed the food from your hometown. Look, we are making these dishes every day, and you came back today. Young Mistress, quickly have a taste to see if it tastes authentic or not, and tell us where we have to improve.”
Actually, it was fine for Leng Zhiyuan to eat dishes from any region. She went all over the place on a normal basis. She was used to it. If the person’s culinary skills were good, she did not require Hong Kong style dishes all the time.
But at this moment, she looked at the entire table of Hong Kong style dishes, and her heart felt very very warm.
Ever since she was young, she did not have a mother. Although her father and her older brother pampered her very much, this could not replace the gentle and meticulous love of a mother. In her entire life, she’d never enjoyed the love of a mother before, and now…
She raised her gaze up to look at Madam Zhou. Her beautiful grey eyes were sparkling with a gentle glow in them as she said, “Thank you…”
“Zhiyuan, we are a family. You don’t have to thank me. Come, let’s start eating quickly.” Madam Zhou picked some vegetables and placed them into her bowl.
She lowered her gaze obediently to eat her meal.
At this moment, Master Zhou who was seated on the opposite end spoke, “Where is Dad? Why didn’t I see him around today?”
“Oh, it is Old Master Ni’s 80th Grand Birthday in two days, and for the past two days, Father has been going over to the Ni family. He is probably going to stay there for dinner again today.” Madam Zhou spoke as she suddenly thought of something. “Zhiyuan, I was about to let you know. You definitely have to attend Old Master Ni’s birthday celebrations.”
Leng Zhiyuan’s chopsticks froze as she said, “What?”
“The Ni family have been friends with our family for generations. We have a very good relations.h.i.+p. You are the new daughter-in-law of our family, and you definitely have to attend this kind of banquet. I have already asked someone to custom make a few gowns for you, and you can have a look later.”
Leng Zhiyuan froze. Banquet?
A scene appeared in her mind. A large lounge that was brightly lit up where many rich wives would bring their daughters along, and they would appear to be relaxed and having a happy time, but they would be gossiping behind each other’s back…
Her entire body had a layer of small pink goose b.u.mps on it. She did not like and was not used to these types of occasions, and she had never attended such events.
She did not want to go.
“Madam Zhou… Oh no, Mum, I…do not want to go…”
Madam Zhou paused before she looked over at her and said, “Zhiyuan, what’s wrong? Are you afraid that there would be no one you know there, and it would be awkward? It is fine. When that time comes, you can follow me around. I will introduce you to all of them. Our Zhou family also does not like these fake pretences. It would be fine after everyone meets one another and says our greetings.”
Leng Zhiyuan shook her head firmly and said, “That’s not it Mum, that…banquet… Don’t we have to…dance… Oh, right dancing. I do not know how to dance, and when that time comes, I might embarra.s.s all of you.”
Madam Zhou wanted to speak, but at this moment: “Haha!” The sound of someone laughing rang out in the air. Old Master Zhou came back from outside and said, “Who said she doesn’t know how to dance? Zhiyuan, dancing is very easy. We will teach you, and I guarantee that you will know how to dance after we teach you.”
…
And after that, Leng Zhiyuan stood on the uncovered balcony. The melodious music was ringing out in the air. She was in a blur as she looked at the two people dancing in front of her — Old Master Zhou and…Master Zhou.
Old Master Zhou threw the walking cane in his hand and moved together with Master Zhou, who was facing him. He was in a good mood as he broke out into merry laughter. “Zhiyuan, did you see that? Dancing is very easy. As long as you remember the simple steps, you can dance then. Look, one two three, one two three, just like that…”
Master Zhou also started dancing excitedly. He wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead and smiled at Leng Zhiyuan. “That’s right, just dance like how we are doing, as long as you don’t step on your partner’s feet…”
Leng Zhiyuan did not know what else to say. There was an old General who could manage an entire warzone in front of her, and another was the mayor of T City. If both of them stomped on the ground right now, it seemed that the T City would have an earthquake.
But they were shaking their hips and swaying their b.u.t.ts in front of her right now. They were playing around happily, just like children.
A smile slowly curled up on the corners of her lips, and her heart felt extremely sweet.
At this moment, Madam Zhou came over, held her small hand, and said, “Zhiyuan, did you have a good look? Let’s go, let’s dance too.”
Leng Zhiyuan was forcefully pulled inside. Against Madam Zhou’s excitement, she was stiff as she moved her feet.
“Zhiyuan, that’s right, dance just like this. You might feel not used to it at the start, but it will get better after you dance longer.”
“That’s right Zhiyuan, you are already dancing very well now. Our Zhiyuan is really so smart!”
…
After two days, Leng Zhiyuan sat down before the vanity table, and someone helped her do her makeup.
Upon looking at her own reflection in the mirror, she was in a trance for a moment. Actually, in the past two days, she could’ve just left completely without a single person knowing about it at all, but in the night, as she held her pa.s.sport, she could not bring herself to do so, and she chose to stay here.
She was unable to explain whatever she was feeling inside her heart. Actually, she also had considerations. That day that sc.u.mbag insulted her, but if she really left without a single trace, she was afraid that both the Leng and Zhou families would be overturned.
Three months. She clenched her teeth as she pondered for a moment. It would all be over as long as she bore with it.
She sat inside the extended version of the business utility vehicle. The car stopped before a five star hotel half an hour later. The usher opened the large doors, and Leng Zhiyuan went through the large, brightly-lit halls.
Everyone in the hall looked over at her as they said, “Old Master Zhou, you are finally here now? Is this your granddaughter-in-law? She looks really beautiful. No wonder your Major General would get married so hurriedly without saying a single word about it beforehand.”
Many people immediately gathered around Old Master Zhou as they made small talk with him.
Old Master Zhou was smiling brightly, and he turned his gaze back to look at Leng Zhiyuan. He straightened his chest up proudly as he said, “That’s right, that unfilial kid from my family had not done anything that made me happy before, and the only thing he’s done right was finding this granddaughter-in-law of mine.”