Chapter 641: Chapter 351: Very Realistic
This birthday banquet wasn’t particularly lively, but they did set up nine tables, with about a hundred people attending. At least half of them were strangers to Chen Feng, mainly relatives from his Aunt’s husband’s side.
Since many guests came to their table to offer toasts, it was only polite for them to send people to reciprocate.
The exchange of toasts at such banquets is quite common, considered a traditional custom there, an essential part of their drinking culture.
Chen Feng wasn’t particularly fond of such customs, but due to his father’s orders, he had to go table-to-table with his elder brother Chen Rui to offer toasts. Thankfully, there were only nine tables, and his brother led the way, allowing him to merely accompany.
When it was time to toast his Aunt Zhao Xiaomei’s table, the brothers inevitably had to do it individually, wishing her prosperity as vast as the East Sea and longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountain.
Chen Feng was then pulled aside by his Aunt for some chatter and was specifically asked about his girlfriend’s status, with Chen Feng pointing to Wu Mengting for her to see.
Not too far away, with decent eyesight, Aunt saw Wu Mengting’s appearance and nodded in approval, saying, "Quite good looking, this time you mustn’t let her down. Get married soon, have a child early."
Chen Feng could only nod obediently.
This round of toasting finally wrapped up, allowing Chen Feng to sit back down, secretly letting out a sigh of relief.
Afterward, several sporadic guests came to their table to offer toasts, primarily to Chen Rui.
Initially, Chen Feng didn’t understand, but when more people came, he gradually figured it out. They were treating his brother Chen Rui as a wealthy person.
"Believe it or not, observe the glass; each toast goes first to the wealthy," encapsulating a key aspect of drinking culture or portraying the most authentic human nature.
Outsiders weren’t clear about the two car beauty shops Chen Rui nominally owned, where Chen Feng held the largest share. They only knew these "money churning" car beauty shops were under Chen Rui’s management.
The first daughter-in-law’s cousin from his Aunt’s family even worked for him, earning over ten thousand a month, naturally prompting relatives to come to toast the "Big Boss," even those not so acquainted would come to brush shoulders and get to know Chen Rui, the "Big Boss."
You can only say that it’s truly that darn realistic!
However, Chen Feng didn’t envy his elder brother, feeling he stole his thunder.
On the contrary, he wished his elder brother would take the spotlight. He usually detested such worldly human relations.
After several rounds of toasting concluded, their table finally quieted down, enabling Chen Rui, the star of their table, to finally sit down and eat something.
Chen Feng suddenly realized a problem and asked his elder brother, "Brother, how come I haven’t seen Uncle? Didn’t he come today?"
Chen Rui, upon hearing this, glanced awkwardly at Wu Mengting, who was being pulled aside by their mother for whispers, chuckled and said, "He happened to have something today, not sure if he’ll come, but he said he’d try to make it."
Chen Feng seeing this expression knew there was something amiss, but he didn’t care much. His concern for this Uncle was already quite considerate.
Just when they were about halfway through dinner, Chen Feng’s mentioned uncle Zhao Guozhong unexpectedly arrived, and quite flamboyantly, too, greeting people constantly and giving away cigarettes, accompanied by a woman in her mid-thirties, dressed colorfully, with a strong scent of perfume that Chen Feng could smell from afar as they entered.
To be fair, the woman had some charm, wearing high heels that made her about as tall as his uncle, with a full body, a seductive figure, smiling brightly, and appearing quite approachable.
With Zhao Guozhong bringing this woman in like that, it was hard not to draw attention, especially with him introducing the woman beside him unwittingly – his girlfriend.
Finally arriving at Chen Feng’s table, Zhao Guozhong spotted Chen Feng and promptly pulled his girlfriend along, straight to Chen Feng: "Ah Feng, you’re here too, your mom didn’t tell me you would come, had I known you were coming, I’d have arrived earlier. Ah Feng, meet my girlfriend Ling, Mao Xiaoling, from Seven Waters Town."
Seven Waters Town was also part of Lin Nan County, relatively economically underdeveloped. Chen Feng could only stand up to politely nod and greet his Uncle’s girlfriend, "Hello."
Mao Xiaoling replied with a smile before speaking, "Hello. I’ve often heard your uncle mention you, seeing you in person, you truly are as handsome as he said."
With a hint of boastfulness, Zhao Guozhong asked, "Ah Feng, what do you think of Ling?"
Chen Feng looked at Mao Xiaoling, not knowing quite how to comment, just when his mom Zhao Xiaolan speaking in a disgruntled tone said, "Alright, first go apologize to my sister, and wish her well since you arrived so late."
"Right, right, Ah Xia, let’s first go wish my sister well."
Zhao Guozhong pulled his girlfriend and walked away.
Zhao Xiaolan murmured disdainfully, "You can tell she’s not a proper woman, having two kids, yet your uncle treats her like treasure."
Chen Feng asked, surprised, "The woman has two children? She’s raising them herself?"
Zhao Xiaolan glanced at Wu Mengting beside her, a bit embarrassed, but still sighed helplessly, "Yeah, the older one is a girl around ten years old, the younger one is a boy about five or six, she and her mother are raising them."
Chen Feng frowned slightly hearing this, raising one child was one thing, but two, his uncle certainly had a carefree attitude.
"So, what does she do?" Chen Feng continued asking. All said and done, this was their only uncle left, so he had to be somewhat concerned.
"Runs a hair salon. Also, her husband passed away about five or six years ago, you tell me, can she be proper?"
A woman or widow running a hair salon (barbershop) instantly brings a perception of being improper, after all, opening shop must frequently involve male clients, especially in such intimate settings as haircuts, inevitably sparking some speculation.
Though this doesn’t categorically define Mao Xiaoling as improper, asserting she is entirely proper isn’t possible either. A widow, and a widow running a salon, how could people think highly of her?
"I think Uncle seems quite satisfied with this woman," Chen Feng expressed his observation. As long as his uncle was happy, it’s alright as long as they live well together in the future.
After all, his uncle’s circumstances weren’t exactly ideal, leaving little room for choice.
"He’s blinded by lard. Both your Aunt and I have advised him, but he doesn’t listen. He’ll have his hard times in the future."
Zhao Xiaolan expressed her disappointment.
While they were talking, Uncle Zhao Guozhong brought his girlfriend back, particularly pulling two chairs to squeeze them at their table.
Thankfully, Aunt’s kids had eaten and gone to play, so it wasn’t too crowded.