ATPnovel Chapter 125 Family Banquet
Chapter 125 Family Banquet
After the lively atmosphere subsided, Li Chong declined the offer to treat everyone to a meal.
Li Chong laughed and scolded, "Go away, go away! We're husband and wife reunited, we should be having a family feast and enjoying each other's company. What are you doing here to ruin our plans?"
Sun Jun and the others bowed with smiles: "It was our presumption. We will have a welcoming banquet for Young Master Xie another day."
Xie Wenyou was somewhat disappointed. He wanted to hear more about Li Chong's deeds from these people, and he also wanted to learn more about the details before and after the bandit suppression.
However, the family banquet was clearly more important, and Xie Wenyou couldn't bypass Li Chong.
He had no choice but to stand up and return the greeting: "I will meet with you all another day. I will be staying at my brother-in-law's place for quite some time, and I will have plenty of time to ask you all for advice."
Xie Wenyou's good upbringing made him behave very properly, and Sun Jun and the others nodded in approval.
"Young master, you flatter us. Since this is a family banquet, we really shouldn't disturb you. Let's talk another day."
After Sun Jun and the others bowed to the Xie siblings to say goodbye, they also bid farewell to Li Chong. Li Chong waved his hand, and the group turned and left.
As the excitement gradually subsided, Xie Wenyu's face lit up with excitement once again.
"Brother-in-law, you've only been in office for a short time, and everyone in the yamen already respects you. No wonder Father always tells me to learn from you."
Li Chong chuckled and said, "What's the big deal? I am, after all, the county magistrate. I am the most respected person in the government office, so it's only right that they fawn over me."
Xie Wenyou nodded repeatedly, admiring Li Chong even more, and leaned close to him, asking him about everything that had happened since he took office.
Xie Wenyu, standing to the side, glanced at her husband and younger brother, then at the subordinates who were taking their leave, and subconsciously frowned.
"Has the official really changed? If it were before, he wouldn't care about family banquets. He only knew how to socialize in officialdom all day long, but he was always incompetent and looked down upon. Now that so many county officials have come to pay their respects, instead of trying to win people over, he values his personal feelings. How strange, how strange."
Xie Wenyu pursed her red lips and looked at Li Chong, momentarily lost in thought.
Could it be that her husband has really changed after this ordeal?
People often say that there is great terror between life and death. In Xie Wenyu's opinion, Li Chong's campaign to suppress bandits must not have been as easy as he said. It is normal that his personality has changed after this experience.
However, some hesitation still lingered in my heart.
It's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature. Can a person's character really change that quickly?
"Madam? Madam?"
Li Chong's voice reached Xie Wenyu's ears, and she quickly snapped back to reality.
Seeing her husband and brother looking at her strangely, Xie Wenyu blushed and quickly stood up.
"My lord."
"Sister," Xie Wenyou said, "the person who came earlier said the food was ready, and my brother-in-law and I called you many times, but you didn't answer. What were you thinking?"
Meeting Li Chong's probing gaze, Xie Wenyu lowered her almond-shaped eyes and gently shook her head.
"It's nothing, let's go have some food first."
Xie Wenyou didn't take her unusual behavior to heart, but Li Chong's eyes flickered slightly as he secretly noted it down.
He thought he had concealed it well; Xie Wenyu hadn't noticed anything unusual. Could it be that Xie Wenyu had noticed something was wrong?
"I need to be more careful," Li Chong warned himself.
The three of them sat around the table for a meal, and the atmosphere of the family dinner was peaceful and harmonious, without any major mishaps.
Xie Wenyou's easygoing nature and Xie Wenyu's gentle and charming personality gradually lowered Li Chong's guard. At the very least, they didn't seem to have any doubts about Li Chong's identity.
That makes sense when you think about it. Given preconceived notions, who would randomly suspect that there are two identical people in the world?
At a family dinner, the atmosphere gradually warmed up as glasses were raised and toasts were exchanged.
Xie Wenyou grabbed Li Chong's arm and said, "Brother-in-law, I really admire you! You can pass the imperial examination with flying colors, but you are also quite capable in military affairs. You wiped out the mountain bandits as soon as you took office. You are really amazing."
"Emperor Zhenzong of our dynasty has long said the wise words: 'There are houses of gold and grains of millet in books.' As long as you, Ziyi, study diligently, you will one day enter officialdom, govern a region, and realize your ambitions. Why do you need to admire me?"
When Li Chong was persuading Xie Wenyou, he glanced at Xie Wenyu and winked at her.
He was such a good brother-in-law, encouraging her younger brother to study.
Li Chong not only didn't mind Xie Wenyou coming to eat for free, but also took the time to teach him, hoping he would become successful. Where can you find a husband like that?
Would anyone still doubt that he's a fake?
Li Chong couldn't help but feel a little smug.
Sure enough, in response to Li Chong's gesture, Xie Wenyu covered her mouth and smiled, her eyes crinkling, which made Li Chong lose his composure for a moment.
"Brother-in-law!" Xie Wenyou nodded emphatically. "You're right! I'll listen to you and study hard, but..."
He smiled ingratiatingly: "Didn't you capture a lot of bandits during your bandit suppression? Can you take me to see them? I've never seen those powerful figures before."
Li Chong's heart skipped a beat; this was indeed a good idea.
He now realized that Xie Wenyou was clearly easier to deal with than the other brother and sister. Getting rid of him first would also eliminate a potential threat.
Moreover, Li Chong was not ready to be alone with Xie Wenyu, so being with Xie Wenyou for the time being would give him some time to prepare mentally.
Li Chong smiled and turned to Xie Wenyu: "I have no objection, it just depends on whether your sister agrees."
When Xie Wenyu heard that his younger brother was going to meet those bandits, he immediately put aside his doubts and looked at Xie Wenyou with a stern face.
"What's the point of you going to see those people! They're all murderous thugs, what's there to see? What if something happens to them, what will your father do?"
Although Xie Wenyu's tone was stern, it clearly carried a hint of concern.
"Sister, those people have all been captured by your husband, what danger could they possibly pose? Please let me go."
Xie Wenyou stepped forward and pleaded.
After several rounds of back and forth, Xie Wenyu finally gave in to Xie Wenyou's pleas.
"My lord, are those bandits truly no longer a threat?"
Li Chong nodded: "Of course, they're all locked up in jail, what danger could they possibly pose? Even if Madam wants to see them, there's no problem."
Xie Wenyu gently shook her head: "Why should I go to see those people? Since there is no danger, let him go if he wants to. It's just that I'm troubling you, my lord."
Li Chong chuckled: "What are you saying? Ziyi is also my younger brother. What's the point of talking about whether it's troublesome or not?"
Just as they finished eating, Li Chong said goodbye, called Xie Wenyou who had been itching to leave, and together they bid farewell to Xie Wenyu and headed towards the prison.
Xie Wenyu watched the two leave and sighed softly.
"Your name is Baoqin, right?" She looked at the maid standing to the side. "Come with me and tell me how my husband has been these past few days."
Zhong Mei's heart leaped into her throat. She composed herself, gave a soft reply, and placed her hands in front of her lower abdomen before following Xie Wenyu.
"His wife doesn't seem like someone who can be easily fooled."
Zhong Mei couldn't help but feel a little nervous.