Chapter 49: Attending the Banquet
Mu Lantu began introducing Xu Huazhang and the others to his parents.
“Dad, this is Xu Huazhang—you can just call him Huazhang. This is Ge Tao, and this is Zhou Ye. I call all of them brothers. They’re friends I met in the Capital, and they’ve always taken good care of me. Since they happened to have some time off recently, they came along with me to visit for a couple of days.”
Xu Huazhang presented the gifts he had prepared for Mu Zhenguo and He Cuifang—six items in total: two types of cigarettes, two types of liquor, and two types of tea.
“Uncle, Auntie, sorry for the trouble. This is just a small token from me.”
Mu Zhenguo and He Cuifang recognized these items as high-end products and hurriedly declined them in alarm.
“Having you visit is already our honor. You’ve really brightened up our home—how could you bring so many things? We really can’t accept them!”
Mu Zhenguo was inwardly shocked, speculating about Xu Huazhang’s true identity. His youngest son had placed special emphasis on introducing Xu Huazhang, and he noticed it was Ge Tao and Zhou Ye who were carrying the cigarettes and alcohol, which suggested Xu held a special status. His youngest son really had made something of himself!
Xu Huazhang replied sincerely, “This is just a little courtesy from someone younger. Please just accept it. Otherwise, we’ll feel too embarrassed to stay for the banquet.”
Mu Lantu added, “Dad, just take them. If you keep pushing it back and forth, you might drop something.”
Mu Zhenguo had no choice but to accept the gifts but still shot a stern glare at his son.
“Too generous, really. Cuifang, hurry and bring our guests to their seats.”
“Oh, right.” He Cuifang looked flustered and gave Mu Lantu a meaningful glance.
Xu Huazhang and the others pretended not to notice to spare her from embarrassment and instead began casually inspecting the hotel’s interior.
Mu Lantu walked over. “Mom, what’s wrong?”
He Cuifang pulled him aside and whispered, “Lower your voice! I can tell your friends aren’t ordinary folks. Should I arrange a separate private room just for you all?” She wasn’t used to hosting such distinguished guests and was worried that if something went wrong, she’d embarrass not just herself, but more importantly, her son.
This version of his mother was a simple, unpretentious woman. Mu Lantu reassured her in the same plain way, “No need. They’re here to enjoy the bustle. If you separate us into a private room, it’ll just be boring.”
She was easily persuaded and visibly calmed.
“Alright, then. Don’t worry. I’ve arranged for your brother-in-law and your paternal and maternal cousins to sit with you. They’re street-smart guys—shouldn’t be any awkward conversation.”
Mu Lantu praised her arrangement, “You really thought it through.”
By now, Mu Zhenguo had already led Xu Huazhang and the others to the most spacious table.
This table had more snacks, desserts, and drinks than any other—sixteen types in total, with each dish piled high. The fruit selection included strawberries, cherries, lychees, and mangosteens—all sparkling clean and fresh. On the side were cigarettes, tissues, hand sanitizer, and alcohol wipes.
Mu Zhenguo was handing out cigarettes.
Xu Huazhang waved him off. “Thank you, Uncle, but I don’t smoke.”
Mu Lantu sat down next to Xu Huazhang.
“Dad, you and Mom go ahead and take care of other things. I’ll entertain them.”
“Alright. Just make sure your friends are well looked after.” Mu Zhenguo agreed readily. After exchanging a few polite words with Xu Huazhang and the others, he left with the gifts in hand. These were valuable items—not something he dared leave in the hotel unattended. Though there was surveillance, small-town hotels didn’t cover every corner.
Mu Lantu noticed a lollipop in the candy dish and smiled. After wiping his hands with an alcohol wipe, he unwrapped one and handed it to Xu Huazhang.
“Huazhang, I’m going to bring some snacks to Brother Zhan—he’s probably bored sitting alone in the car. What kind of snacks does he like?”
Xu Huazhang popped the lollipop into Mu Lantu’s mouth. “He’s not picky. Let Ge Tao or Zhou Ye take it.”
Shy, are we?
Mu Lantu gave him an amused glance but didn’t call him out. Still sucking on the lollipop, he packed a bag of snacks and a bag of fruit for Zhan Peng, added two bottles of drinks and a pack of cigarettes, and asked Ge Tao to deliver it. He also included an extra plastic bag for trash.
“You ever been to a ten-year-old’s birthday party before?” Mu Lantu asked as he handed Xu Huazhang a cherry.
Xu Huazhang ate it and replied, “My nephew’s, but it was dull. It wasn’t a kid’s party—it felt more like a networking event for adults. This one is way more fun.”
“How old is your nephew now?” Mu Lantu asked.
“My older nephew is twenty, and the younger one is fourteen.”
Mu Lantu was surprised. “That much of an age gap between you and your brother?”
“We’re sixteen years apart,” Xu Huazhang replied.
Mu Lantu did a quick mental calculation. “He must’ve married pretty early.”
He instantly regretted the comment.
“We can get married early too.”
Xu Huazhang said it so casually that Mu Lantu wasn’t even surprised.
“Hmph.”
Xu Huazhang pinched his nose, “I’ll ask again in a few days.”
Mu Lantu felt a headache coming on. “You’d better wait a few months before asking again.”
“Alright. As long as it’s not a few years.” Xu Huazhang felt he was being very reasonable.
Zhou Ye munched on sunflower seeds, expression blank. Brother Tao, hurry up and come back. I can’t take this alone.
As if summoned, Ge Tao returned with several young men.
“That’s my brother-in-law, and my paternal and maternal cousins,” Mu Lantu whispered as he stood up to greet them.
Xu Huazhang and Zhou Ye also rose.
His eldest cousin, Mu Qingjiang, strode ahead, smiling broadly, and extended his hand from a distance. Once up close, he shook hands firmly with Xu Huazhang, Ge Tao, and Zhou Ye.
“Forgive our lack of proper welcome! Lantu, you brat, you should’ve messaged us earlier so we could’ve come and kept your guests company.”
Second cousin Mu Qinghe added, “Don’t laugh at us, gentlemen—it’s our first time meeting friends from the capital. We’re looking forward to learning a lot today. If we don’t host you well, please be forgiving.” He wasn’t sure of Xu Huazhang’s age, but figured even if he was younger, calling him old brother wouldn’t hurt.
His brother-in-law Luo Wangjun said, “That car with the capital license plate and the golden emblem—was that yours? Man, I’ve never seen one in person before. People are still outside taking pictures of it.”
Mu Lantu responded, “Yeah, it’s my friend’s. Your little brother here doesn’t have what it takes yet to afford that kind of luxury.”
His cousins from his aunt and uncle’s side—Yang Chenglong, Ma Chenggong, and He Huijun—couldn’t get a word in at first, but Mu Lantu guided them to their seats.
He wasn’t close with them, really—he’d spent over a decade in school, and they only met during the holidays.
Still, everyone at the table was socially adept. With any random topic, they kept the conversation going.
One topic—Dream Home —was enough to keep them talking for ages.
More and more guests arrived.
Mu Lantu’s sister, Mu Zhenzhen, entered with her four-year-old son Luo Xingchen. Mu Lantu brought Xu Huazhang over for a quick greeting and introduction.
Back at the table, after some chatting, Xu Huazhang noticed a crowd gathering around a table.
“Lantu, is it time for the cash gift?”
Mu Qingjiang glanced over and said, “Yep, let’s go together.”
Ge Tao, Zhou Ye, and Zhan Peng each gave 500 yuan.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang gave 1000 yuan each. This surprised some people, but they figured it was just because Xu Huazhang and Mu Lantu were close, so Xu Huazhang matched the amount out of courtesy.
Around 11:30 a.m., Mu Hongtu and Yang Xiurong arrived with the birthday kids, Xuan Xuan and Xiao Yu, dressed festively.
Xuan Xuan looked like a little princess in a white dress and crown.
Mu Lantu and his friends went over to say some auspicious words and hand over the gifts.
With so many guests to greet, they didn’t linger long and returned to their seats.
The restaurant was now buzzing—adults chatting, kids playing, a cacophony like thousands of buzzing mosquitoes.
“Still okay?” Mu Lantu was worried the atmosphere might be too much for Xu Huazhang.
Xu Huazhang had never experienced such a lively, down-to-earth setting before. He shook his head, unfazed. “It’s fun.”
At exactly noon, the big birthday cake was cut, and the banquet officially began.
Dishes flowed in nonstop from the kitchen.
The older folks didn’t stand on ceremony—some started eating as soon as the first dish arrived, even grabbing food in a hurry.
At Mu Lantu’s table, the younger crowd took a moment to politely invite each other before digging in.
The banquet was generous: four cold dishes and twelve hot ones, with plenty of hearty choices. The liquor was mid-range but tasted decent.
Mu Lantu packed up two meals and four side dishes for Zhan Peng and sent them out.
Likely at Mu Zhenguo and He Cuifang’s instruction, the older cousins made sure to entertain the guests well. Led by Mu Qingjiang, they kept offering drinks to Xu Huazhang, Ge Tao, and Zhou Ye.
All three handled their liquor, and the atmosphere was great.
Mu Lantu didn’t want to drink much, so he quietly faked it without being noticed. He even helped Xu Huazhang cheat, giving him a hangover-prevention pill and using public chopsticks to serve the others food.
A bit tipsy, Xu Huazhang reached over and fondly ruffled Mu Lantu’s hair, then playfully tugged on his ear.
Fortunately, everyone assumed they were just horsing around.
After taking the pill, Xu Huazhang felt better and continued drinking with the others, eventually getting some of the “brothers” drunk instead.
The three guests had definitely been well hosted.
After the meal, they sat for a while to sober up. Mu Zhenguo and He Cuifang immediately began organizing the guests to play cards—specifically, the national pastime of Mahjong. They weren’t done yet; there was still another meal in the evening.
Closer relatives were saved for the final round of hosting.
He Cuifang originally planned to send the brother-in-law and cousins off first, but they refused, insisting on staying longer to accompany Xu Huazhang and the others.
So she turned to tend to other guests.
Now Xu Huazhang finally understood what was happening. “Babe—Lantu, I don’t know how to play Mahjong.”
Mu Lantu saw the eagerness in his eyes and chuckled. “Want me to teach you?”
Xu Huazhang grinned and nodded. “Sure. If I win, I’ll buy you something tasty.”
