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The Bai brothers did not know the details of Zhang Weiguo’s tolerance and thought that with their skills, they could easily get their future brother-in-law drunk.
Zuo Zhanshan was savoring his drink with a smile, squinting his eyes. He was curious to see which of the three would fall first. If they wanted to get Weiguo drunk, they would need to have the ability to do so.
Wang Qian started to pay attention to that table during the meal. Bai Jianing was worried when she saw her three brothers all urging Weiguo to drink. Wang Qian was also anxious; Zhang Weiguo had not long recovered from an injury, and it would be best for him to take good care of his body. Drinking like this was not advisable. Spotting the thermos in the room, she had an idea, “Auntie, I’ll go to the kitchen to get a bowl. You all keep eating; I want to drink some water.”
Bai Jianing wanted to accompany her, but Zhang Lan stopped her, “Jianing, let Qianqian go by herself. She knows the place, and she’s grown up already, there’s nothing to worry about.”
She did not know what her daughter was up to, but she felt she should keep Bai Jianing from going.
Wang Qian, carrying a thermos, entered the kitchen and found a bowl to mix some white sugar and vinegar together, creating a concoction. She also adjusted a separate bowl with honey from her storage space. Carefully holding two bowls of water at just the right temperature, she walked back into the room, heading straight for the table where Zhang Weiguo and the others were seated. At this moment, her uncle’s face was flush with drink, but he did not yet seem drunk.
“Excuse me, uncles, for interrupting,” Wang Qian said. “My little uncle has a particular way of drinking; he needs to have some plain water in between drinks to feel comfortable. I hope you don’t mind. Little Uncle, please drink this quickly.”
With a meaningful glance from her bright eyes, Wang Qian signaled Zhang Weiguo. The uncle and niece knew each other too well, and none of Wang Qian’s actions escaped Zhang Weiguo’s notice. Seeing the bowls brought by his niece, Zhang Weiguo was sure that this was not just ordinary water, but he trusted the girl.
He lifted the bowl to his lips and drank down the honey water first, followed by the sweet and sour liquid. The drinks made him feel a bit bloated, but also surprisingly comfortable. He even had the illusion that what he had been drinking with his three uncles was not liquor, but water.
Nobody noticed the change in Zhang Weiguo’s condition, as the substances Wang Qian had him drink were all meant to sober him up. After Zhang Weiguo stepped out for a moment, he returned even more invigorated. Bai’s eldest and second sons both fell at the same time, while the youngest Bai son could barely hold his chopsticks, and he was no longer sure where to direct his food, often mistakenly aiming for his nostrils. Despite relying on his sturdy physique to maintain his composure, it was clear that he too was drunk.
Wang Qian, sitting at a nearby table, was secretly amused, sipping her drink with pursed lips. Wang Zhenhe saw his little brother-in-law getting stronger as he drank and guessed that his daughter was behind it. He chuckled to himself, knowing that with Qianqian there, she would never let her little uncle be at a disadvantage. She was always protective of her own.
Bai Qingyuan, seeing his three sons defeated, shook his head helplessly and instructed his grandson and daughter-in-law to carry them to the next room.
Zhang Weiguo had single-handedly bested the three sons of the Bai family. The banquet was nearly over, and it was time for the elders, Old Master Wu and Old Master Zuo, to start ordering the clearing of the tables.
Wang Zhenhe patted his little brother-in-law on the shoulder and secretly gave him a thumbs up. The two shared a knowing smile.
Zhang Lan’s table had finished eating a while ago, and the Bai family’s daughters-in-law, along with Zhang Lan, had already started cleaning up the table. At Zuo He’s table, the young men’s faces were flushed from drinking, yet the Wang brothers and Zuo He were clearly unfazed. Their lips were still red, their teeth white, and aside from a slight flush, it was hard to tell they had been drinking. Bai Qingyuan couldn’t help but sigh internally. Each member of his family, in terms of cunning and ability, did not match up to the guests who had come today. “Ah, this is the gap,” he thought. Without comparison, they were complacent, thinking they were the big shots within this courtyard, but there are always higher heavens and people beyond people. This time, these few should realize where they truly stand.
The younger generation of the Bai family was truly taken aback by Zuo He and his companions today. They all seemed so refined and gentlemanly, not at all like heavy drinkers. But it turned out they were outclassed, capsized in a shallow ditch by those who pretended to be pigs to eat the tigers. The Bai family admitted defeat; just by the way these guests drank—liquor by bowls—they were intimidated. When had the Bai family ever seen such a way of drinking? No wonder they were unfamiliar; these young men had never been to the Northeast, where the men are known for drinking just like that. So, the method of Zuo He and his friends completely baffled them, and whether they could truly hold their liquor, the Bai family was unsure; at any rate, they dared not continue drinking.
Today’s mission was successfully completed. The three brothers grinned at Zhang Weiguo, and though nothing was said aloud, they all knew what had transpired.
After the meal, the Bai family’s daughters-in-law came over to look at the gifts Zhang Lan had brought. The eldest daughter-in-law, a discerning person, was stunned upon seeing the pearl necklace that the mother-in-law had taken out.
“Mom, this item must be quite valuable,” said the eldest daughter-in-law. “Though the pearls aren’t very large, to my knowledge, these should be Dongzhu pearls, which in the past were tribute items for concubines in the palace.”
Wang Qian glanced at the Bai family’s eldest daughter-in-law, recognizing that she was quite knowledgeable. The jewelry she had procured were indeed no ordinary items; otherwise, they couldn’t have been used as burial accompaniments.
Han Ying knew the necklace was valuable, but she had no idea it was this valuable. She wasn’t familiar with Dongzhu pearls, but since her educated eldest daughter-in-law could identify their origin, it underscored the item’s extreme preciousness.
Zhang Lan, smiling, said, “Elder sister-in-law, no matter how valuable this item is, it’s meant to be worn. Otherwise, it’s just an inanimate object. It suits auntie perfectly to wear it, and it’s beneficial for the elderly. Plus, wearing it outside won’t diminish our family’s status, right?”
Han Ying liked what Zhang Lan said, “My dear, you’ve really gone to great expense this time. This item is too precious for me to wear; I’d be afraid to lose it if I went out. It’s worth so much money.”
Han Ying hurriedly put away the jewelry. Such valuable items should be carefully stored, she thought, planning to find a secure place to hide them later that evening. She worried about the possibility of attracting thieves to her home even when she was out buying groceries.
After a short while, Zhang Lan and her group bid their farewells. With the brother’s wedding matters settled, they were eager to head to the southern parts.
Old Master Zuo and Old Master Wu drove everyone back to their residence in the capital.
Upon entering the house, Zuo Zhanshan couldn’t help but want to laugh, patting his grandson on the shoulder, proud of how perfectly the young ones had performed today.
Wu Changyong saw his old comrade struggling to hold back his laughter. “Old Zuo, just laugh if you want to. Our kids are not easily matched by anyone. It’s a shame Zuo Hao didn’t come today. If Zuo Yu was still here, I’m sure the brothers would have been unbeatable.”
Speaking of his grandson, Zuo Zhanshan was, of course, extremely proud and arrogant, “Of course, you see whose grandson he is.”
Old Master Zuo strutted into the house with a pompous gait, while Hao Lianchun and Zhang Lan followed behind, laughing together.
“Look at your uncle, acting like a child despite his age,” chuckled Hao Lianchun. “By the way, Lan’er, your Aunt Wu and I will come over to help prepare Weiguo’s bedding and such. You go ahead and buy whatever you need for the wedding, and you and Zhenhe can do what you need to do. The children are in the capital, but we’re here too. When it’s time for the wedding, you can come back. That way, nothing gets delayed.”
Zhang Lan smiled and nodded in agreement. “Auntie, I really appreciate your and Aunt Wu’s help. I’ll go buy the wedding necessities tomorrow. If anything is missing, just tell Xuan’er and Mingcheng to get it. The kids have money, let them put their hearts into it for me. Weiguo is finally going to have a home of his own…”
Hao Lianchun sighed as well, “Yes, Weiguo was just a young lad back then, and now look at him, he’s about to get married. Doesn’t that make us feel old? By the way, will Weiguo be living here after the wedding or will they live separately?”
Since the elder had asked, Zhang Lan didn’t plan to keep anything secret and shared her family’s thoughts. “Auntie, Weiguo will have his own wedding house, which will eventually be their own home. Even if they prefer not to live with the other side, they can stay with us. I’m just worried that by the time they’ve saved enough money, they might not be able to buy a house. It’s better to secure one as soon as possible. But the wedding date is set a bit hastily, so we need to hurry up and find a house, or we really won’t make it in time.”
Hao Lianchun thought for a moment and then said, “Lan’er, I’ll also inquire when I get back, see if there are any good houses for sale. You should tell Jianing and Old Wu about it too. The more people we have looking, the more options we’ll have, and we can compare notes. Let’s split up and search. I’m actually also interested in buying a house. Our current place isn’t small, but it feels cramped when all three sons and their families come over.”
“That would be great, auntie, we could buy houses close to each other. This way, Jianing could also help look after the house.”
Zhang Lan would love for the two families to buy houses close together, as it would allow them to become even closer. However, such coincidences were rare, with neighboring houses being sold at the same time. It was unlikely that Zhang Lan’s wish could be fulfilled.
During dinner, Zuo Hao also arrived. He had been out handling some matters and couldn’t make it earlier, but he was very interested in the day’s events. Mingcheng and Mingyuan, the brothers, detailed everything to him without leaving anything out, while Zuo He just sat and listened.
Zuo Hao, upon hearing the recount of the day’s events, first looked at his younger brother Zuo He. “Zuo He, do you have some kind of plan in mind? You went all out with the drinking today.”
Zuo Hao knew his brother well. If Zuo He didn’t have a reason, he wouldn’t normally drink like that. When they were in the army in the north, the younger soldiers would have a drink with the adults during winter and the New Year celebrations, but Zuo He would usually just take a sip and stop. He had never drunk to the extent he did today.
Zuo He looked meaningfully at Zuo Hao and said, “Brother, we’re all good brothers, we should help each other out when needed. When we find the time, let’s go out for a meal with them. These guys are quite agreeable. You’ll know once you meet them, right Mingyuan?”