"Daddy!" Wei Dongling's tears welled up instantly. She let out a shrill scream and rushed into the water in a panic, trying to fish something out, but caught nothing.
"Daddy!" Wei Dongling felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave. Her hands trembled as she kept groping in the darkness.
A gentle and strong hand grabbed hers.
Wei Dongling suddenly woke up with a start. When she opened her eyes, she was already sobbing.
Cui Huan hugged her and gently patted her on the shoulder to comfort her. "Don't cry. It's all right."
Wei Dongling hugged Cui Huan's soft and delicate body and sobbed softly. It took her a long time to calm down before she fell asleep again in a daze.
She slept until noon the next day.
Wei Dongling was woken up by Cui Huan. With her eyes swollen like walnuts, she went downstairs for breakfast and saw that everyone had already set the table.
When they saw her coming down, they all greeted her with smiles and then went to the kitchen to serve the dishes.
The oldest Mr. Lin waved his hand at Wei Dongling tremulously. "Girl, come and sit here."
Wei Dongling nodded with a smile and sat down unceremoniously.
Luo Xunlong and Uncle Qin were cooking, while Ruan Niang was helping. The rest of them were coming and going, carrying the dishes.
Seeing this, Cui Huan quickly went over to help. As soon as she walked into the kitchen door, she heard Ruan Niang roaring. "Yu Haiming, if you steal food again, I'll strangle you!"
Cui Huan shivered in fright, but the others were already used to it. Cui Huan hesitated for a moment and then braved herself to go in.
The dishes were quickly served. There were stewed mutton, stewed fish soup, braised fish chunks, beef bones... Each dish was served in a basin, filling a long table.
Uncle Li went to the back to get two big jars of wine. He greeted everyone to sit down and poured wine for each of them. Except for Wei Dongling, who couldn't drink, everyone had a bowl of wine.
Luo Xunlong picked up a bowl of wine with both hands and handed it to Cui Huan. Cui Huan quickly shook her head and waved her hand to decline. "I... I really can't drink."
Uncle Li waved his hand and smiled. "It's all right. Just have a little to show your respect! Today we're celebrating our reunion with the girl. Things will only get better in the future!"
Just as Cui Huan was at a loss, Luo Xunlong poured some of the wine into his own bowl and still pushed the remaining half bowl back to Cui Huan.
Seeing this, everyone shouted. "Brother Long, you're not allowed to drink on her behalf!"
Luo Xunlong explained with a smile. "Girls from the south are not like the women in our area. It's normal for them not to be good at drinking! The girl can just take a sip."
Everyone then started to make a fuss. Cui Huan had no choice but to take the bowl of wine with a blushing face.
A group of people were toasting each other. Wei Dongling was drinking tea instead of wine and was having a great time when there came a pounding on the door.
The servant A Cheng put down the beef bone in his mouth and got up to open the door. He asked the person outside in surprise. "Who is it? Our teahouse is not open yet!"
A clear voice of a man came from outside the door. "I'm Miss Wei's fiancé. I'm here to pay a visit to all the uncles."
Everyone was stunned when they heard this.
As soon as the door opened, Yu Zixi was seen standing at the door with a bright smile on his face. He bowed deeply to everyone respectfully.
Uncle Li put down his chopsticks and waved his hand. "Come in!"
Yu Zixi quickly nodded and came in. His eyes sized up Wei Dongling's small face. He clasped his hands in front of him and said to everyone. "Thank you all for taking care of my wife. She looks much better now."
Mr. Lin glanced at Uncle Li and said casually. "You, young man, didn't take good care of her, which made our girl suffer so much. Normally, the marriage should be reconsidered."
Yu Zixi quickly lowered his head and said sincerely. "It's really my fault! I sincerely hope that all the uncles can give me a chance. If my performance in the future really doesn't meet your expectations, it's not too late to reconsider the marriage."
Mr. Lin looked at Uncle Li and said nothing.
Yu Zixi quickly waved his hand to let Tian Qi behind him come in. Tian Qi carried two big jars of good wine from the carriage with great effort and put them down. Then he turned around and went to get more. After coming and going several times, ten jars of good wine were placed. Yu Zixi smiled and said. "All the uncles have come from afar. I've specially prepared the local famous wine Taohongzui for you. Although it's not as strong as the fine wine from beyond the Great Wall, it has a unique flavor."
"Taohongzui? Not bad, not bad!" Uncle Li stood up and said. "I'll have a taste!"
Yu Zixi quickly picked up a jar, opened the seal, and poured wine for everyone one by one. During this process, he didn't forget to wink at Wei Dongling from time to time.
Wei Dongling's eyes turned slightly red and she lowered her head and smiled shyly. But then she saw Cui Huan sitting beside her suddenly burp. Her face was flushed and she fell backward.
Wei Dongling quickly caught her and Cui Huan fell into her arms.
Yu Zixi covered his forehead and said with a bitter smile. "My junior sister really can't hold her liquor."
Everyone burst into laughter and pulled Yu Zixi to drink.
Ruan Niang got up and carried Cui Huan upstairs. Yu Zixi quietly stuffed an object into her hand and whispered. "Thank you, Ruan Niang."
Ruan Niang smiled without saying a word and turned away. When she went upstairs and unfolded it, she found that what Yu Zixi gave her was a very precious set of acupuncture needles, the Nine Needles for Restoring Yang.
This young man is quite thoughtful.
Wei Dongling didn't expect Yu Zixi to have such a good capacity for liquor.
However, after being toasted by a group of uncles in turn, he who never refused soon couldn't hold on anymore. After three rounds of drinking, Yu Zixi finally fell down beside Luo Xunlong.
Tian Qi was forced to take his place. He was poured a lot of wine and finally his face turned bright red and he kept begging for mercy.
Wei Dongling was speechless. She watched these two master and servant lie on the ground and sleep for the whole afternoon.
At night, they were woken up by everyone with smiles and asked to drink again. The two of them were so scared that their red faces instantly turned pale.
When Yu Zixi was a little more sober, he got up and presented gifts to all the uncles.
Lin Baiwan held a picture of "Bringing in Wealth and Treasures" by the famous Chinese painting master Mr. Kong and couldn't put it down.
Each of the other uncles got a huge gold ingot.
A Cheng held the gold ingot in his hand and stared at it in disbelief. "Do I get one too?"
"Of course you all get one!" Yu Zixi replied while taking out another gold ingot from his bag and stuffing it into Wei Dongling's hand.
Wei Dongling was so angry that her mouth twitched. Yu Zixi, you prodigal son! You're trying to piss me off!
In a fit of anger, she reached out and pinched Yu Zixi's waist.
Yu Zixi let out a scream in pain, which made everyone tremble and turn to look at him.
Yu Zixi lowered his head and said to Wei Dongling with a smile. "Dongling, be good. I'll serve you well later. You can beat me, scold me, and order me around. I'll never complain!"
Seeing this, Luo Xunlong laughed and scolded. "A real man shouldn't be afraid of his wife!"
A group of people were laughing and joking.
But suddenly there came a loud roar at the door. "Yu Zixi! Get out here for me!"
Wei Dongling knew from the voice that it was Yu Zixi's master.
Everyone fell silent and looked out of the door.
Wei Dongling looked up at the people outside and her body trembled slightly. Seeing this, Ruan Niang beside her put her arm around her shoulder and blocked her sight.
Yu Zixi bowed to the outside of the door and said. "Master! Your disciple has grown up. I have someone I love and things I want to do. I hope master won't stop me anymore."