NOVEL WEB Chapter 1572: Probe (18)
"Since you're here, have a drink," Yang Ruxin gestured for Du Chengfeng to add a seat next to Qi Jingyun, then introduced them briefly and cheerfully invited everyone, "Eat well and drink up!"
Whether Qi Jingyun and Song San knew each other, Yang Ruxin didn't care. Either way, both of them were on her blacklist, so she figured putting them together might cancel out their negativity.
"Pleasure to meet you." Song San raised his wine cup.
Qi Jingyun picked up his wine cup and downed it in one gulp.
Song San also emptied his cup. "Three Lord, you certainly hold your liquor. Allow me, Song, to toast you again." With that, he slapped the wine jar, sending a stream of wine flying into the air.
"Reciprocation is only polite," Qi Jingyun suddenly stretched out his hand, pulling another wine jar from a neighboring table. Following suit, wine streamed from the jar's spout, colliding mid-air with Song San's wine stream. Strangely enough, instead of splashing everywhere, both streams merged and folded back into their respective cups...
It all happened in the blink of an eye.
The two men placed their wine jars down simultaneously, looked at their filled cups, and shared a knowing smile.
"Please," Song San gestured first and drained his cup.
Qi Jingyun followed suit and emptied his own.
After that, neither of them tried testing each other further, but there was no casual exchange either. Each ate and drank in silence. However, their imposing presence weighed heavily on the two others at the table, Fang Dehua and the village chief, Yang Mancang, leaving both feeling as if they were sitting on pins and needles.
Initially, Dao Xuzi and Tang Wanqian had been seated here as well, but the two old men disliked the noise and had their food sent to the back. Later, Dong Xun joined them there, leaving only these four at the table. In the end, Fang Dehua and Yang Mancang shifted their focus entirely onto their plates, digging in since, well, the food was delicious enough.
The villagers, after their initial surprise, grew comfortable again. After all, this was Xinxin's home, and their presence suggested Xinxin's influence. Soon, everyone returned to eating, drinking, and lively conversations. For them, the roast meat and fish in front of them were far more enticing.
The topics ranged widely: first, Wang Hehua's pair of twin sons—something everyone envied to no end—then some gossip about the two distinguished guests in the courtyard, followed by tales from the village, like whose sow just gave birth to a litter or whose hen laid a double-yolk egg. Then came the news of Wang Wen bringing home a wife… Finally, the villagers expressed bittersweet regrets about the Yang Family's old house. If the old couple hadn't been so shortsighted, they would now be living in a large mansion, surrounded by servants and luxury. What a pity...
Still, everyone felt happy for Yang Baixiang. At least he hadn't blindly obeyed his elders and had carved out a better life for himself, complete with a wife and improved living conditions.
"Wang Wen got married?" Yang Ruxin overheard the gossip and couldn't help stepping out to ask.
"Oh, if you hadn't brought it up, I'd have completely forgotten about it," Zhao Xinghua, being neighbors with the Wang Family, knew more than others. Seeing Yang Ruxin's curiosity, she quickly nodded, "It happened just a few days ago. Supposedly, he rescued a woman by the river. She doesn't remember anything and has nowhere to go, so she agreed to marry into the Wang Family. I've seen her once. She's very pretty, with delicate skin and a pair of eyes that seemed to hook people in… These days, Lin Yue'e has been flaunting around. Just the other day, their family took the girl back to her parents' home, planning to have her marry directly from there."