Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Banquet of the Two Families Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Banquet of the Two Families The two families chose not to dine at ho but rather t halfway at a high-end, secretive restaurant.
The architecture resembled that of the Wang Residence, the kind of luxury establishnt one wouldn’t dare enter lightly.
Today, the Qi family had booked the entire Wang Residence restaurant for the al.
The cuisine, crafted by chefs of a standard reminiscent of ancient imperial kitchens, was befitting of both families’ statuses.
When Shen Yan and Qi Si arrived, the parking lot was already filled with luxury cars.
The Shen and Qi families each occupied one side, like two distinct, unmingling streams.
Old Sir Qi and Mr. Shen were already waiting in the front parlor, chatting sporadically about the young couple and related matters.
Their wives had been extrely close friends and confidantes. The year Grandma Shen passed away after falling ill, Grandma Qi nearly followed her.
She held on for a few more years before passing away as well.
ntioning the past, the two elders couldn’t help feeling sentintal.
The people around them entered at the sa ti, and without a word, the two old n knew the young couple had arrived.
Instead of joining the Qi family at their table, the Shen Family stood outside waiting for others.
Upon seeing the two erge in front of the carved door, they imdiately went up to greet them.
This was Shen Yan’s first encounter with Shen Zuo and the rest of the Shen Family mbers.
Several of Shen Family Master’s uncles, all prominent figures in their own right, were present. It was touching to see them willing to wait for the young couple.
The Qi Family side also had many attendees; important characters from the main family house had arrived, filling at least five to six tables.
Without a single child present at this hour, the atmosphere was sowhat stern.
As the two elders appeared, Qi Si led Shen Yan to greet them.
After greeting them, Shen Yan took a mont to observe the two aged and venerable elders.
Old Shen had a kindly and approachable deanor, while Old Sir Qi wore a cold expression, his gaze sharp and indifferent. One might think he was quite displeased with his prospective granddaughter-in-law.
Shen Yan felt Qi Si resembled Old Sir Qi!
Apart from the age difference, that cold façade was virtually a carbon copy of Qi Si’s.
Father Qi couldn’t make it, so it was up to Song Jinwei to handle the formalities with the Shen side.
However, Gu Ting took a dim view of Song Jin, and after a few veiled exchanges, they stopped, fearing a further argunt might lead to a fight.
On such a joyful day, they couldn’t let a petty dispute spoil the mood.
Old Sir Qi received a thin, flat red envelope from soone at his side and handed it to Shen Yan.
Hesitating whether to accept it, Qi Si reminded her it was rude to decline a gift from an elder. With a word of thanks, Shen Yan took it, feeling sothing stiff inside—not money, but a card!
Old Shen had made a gesture, so Song Jinwei, even if reluctantly, had to offer sothing too.
Song Jinwei handed over a handso red envelope to Shen Yan, who didn’t hesitate to accept this ti.
It would’ve been foolish to refuse Song Jinwei’s red envelope.
The sum of money was not significant for soone like Song Jinwei.
Old Sir Qi gave Song Jinwei a cold glance, seemingly dissatisfied with the modest thickness of the red envelope she had given.
Shen Yan estimated the amount in the substantial red envelope; brand-new hundred-yuan bills, two small stacks amounted to twenty thousand yuan.
In families like theirs, this indeed qualified as a small red envelope.
No wonder Old Sir Qi’s expression had grown colder than before.
Qi Si simply looked on indifferently and said nothing.
Other Qi Family elders also gave red envelopes, all containing cards but only Song Jin’s contained twenty thousand yuan in cash. This decision drew ambiguous looks from the Shen side and discontent from the Qi relatives. Even though no one voiced their disapproval, their gazes towards Song Jinwei had undoubtedly changed.
Song Jinwei showed her complete dissatisfaction with Shen Yan as a daughter-in-law.
Mr. Shen’s warmly smiling face had also beco sowhat cold.
The two families took their seats, with nearly twenty tables of guests.
All were dining in the main hall.
The floor was covered with soft red carpet, and the tables were festively arranged.
Even everyone’s clothing was brand new!
Swept by the gaze of everyone, Song Jinwei was sitting rigidly at the main table, the person beside Old Sir Qi had called her several tis but got no response.
“Madam, it’s ti for you to stand up and say a few words.”
The person next to Old Sir Qi raised their voice slightly to remind Song Jinwei once more.
As an in-law, Song Jinwei was naturally the first to stand and speak.
She stood up, blessed the new couple, and then wished for them to have children soon before sitting down, making the atmosphere a bit stiff.
Qi Heng was sitting at the table next to them, watching this scene from the beginning; he noticed that Qi Si didn’t even shift his gaze, as if, no matter how inadequately Song Jinwei perford, it didn’t bother him; it looked as if he was just bringing Shen Yan back to complete a task.
Yet, back in Shen City, Qi Heng could distinctly feel that Qi Si’s attitude toward Shen Yan was a bit special.
Looking at Shen Yan, she maintained a perfectly appropriate smile throughout the event, and she was extrely polite and courteous to the elders.
She didn’t miss offering a single cup of tea where necessary, and she said all the right things.
There was no fault to be found.
The Shen Family also watched the entire ti without much reaction.
Once Shen Yan had received red envelopes from the Qi Family, Qi Si, as the son-in-law, offered cigarettes and liquor to the elders of the Shen Family, his gestures were appropriate.
Shen Zuo and others even prepared red envelopes for both Qi Si and Shen Yan.
After Shen Yan received another round of red envelopes, the et-and-greet gifts were considered barely adequate.
This al was just to go through the formalities and to recognize people.
It wasn’t the official wedding, so many formalities were omitted.
From the mont Shen Yan appeared until everyone sat down for the al, the gaze from the Qi side had not withdrawn.
They kept glancing at the young couple, finding it quite amazing.
Who would have expected that Qi Si and Shen Yan could get along so… harmoniously!
Whether Shen Yan’s behavior was feigned or genuine, her ability to marry Qi Si and live with him was indeed admirable.
With the stern faces of Old Sir Qi and Qi Si present, everyone was eating cautiously, even unconsciously softening their chewing.
Old Sir Qi knew he was affecting everyone’s mood, so after a few bites, he put down his chopsticks and turned to speak with Mr. Shen, bringing up the topic of Mr. Shen’s retirent on the farm. Old Sir Qi expressed interest in experiencing it himself, to which Mr. Shen warmly welcod him and even set a date to visit the countryside together.
With the two elders conversing, the atmosphere at the table relaxed a bit.
Many of the Qi elders sporadically inquired about Shen Yan, but they didn’t dare ntion anything about the entertainnt industry, for fear of misspeaking and causing trouble.
Peers, even if making conversation, only discussed gossip from the Beijing circle, carefully avoiding any topics related to the entertainnt industry.
They were afraid of touching on sothing they shouldn’t.
With Qi Si present, his peers didn’t dare to act inappropriately.
After introducing themselves to Shen Yan, they started talking about business developnt, and then asked Shen Yan about her interest in investing, and so on.
The Shen Family elders at the main table, however, advised Shen Yan to live well with Qi Si. Despite their oblique way of speaking, the ssage was clear.
The al was quite enjoyable.
No odd incidents broke out.
One of the reasons for gathering today was to see how well the young couple was getting along.
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