Chapter 2 The Banquet
The banquet on the second day was not for both families to host; it was primarily at the side of the wedding feast. Therefore, Zhao Hai's family did not have to split up and attend two banquets, making things much less troublesome.
The previous arrangement was indeed troublesome, but they had no choice. Such were the customs of the village. As long as a family had enough people, if both sides hosted a feast, to show sufficient respect to both families, someone would definitely have to attend both. The best solution was to at least send one person to the other feast.
Zhao Hai's family consisted of only himself, his wife, and their son. Thus, Zhao Hai went alone to the side hosting the happy occasion.
The banquet on the side hosting the funeral was for the bride's mourning. It was arranged according to the standards of the bride's "maternal family." Those who attended the feast there were basically the female heads of households from each family. Some might bring their children, but men rarely attended.
If Ye Tiancheng and his group were not outsiders, then by rights, Ye Tiancheng's wife, Hou Mingzhu, and daughter, Ye Qingcheng, should also have been arranged to go there.
However, because Ye Tiancheng and his group were outsiders, it was not appropriate to separate their family. Thus, they were all allowed to accompany the happy occasion.
After all, aside from the reason of not having any kinship, it was also because Ye Tiancheng and his group were outsiders and guests. It would be unreasonable to ask them to attend a funeral feast.
Today, everything was convenient. Regardless of one's status, everyone was to attend the feast at the groom's family home.
Ye Tiancheng and Zhao Hai's conversation temporarily concluded. After Zhao Hai informed Ye Tiancheng that it was about time to prepare for the feast, Ye Tiancheng went to inform Hou Mingzhu and the others. Zhao Hai also had to go and check on his wife and child to see how they were preparing.
Since Ye Tiancheng and his group were guests, they naturally had to set off with Zhao Hai's family. Otherwise, as strangers, it would be impolite for them to arrive uninvited.
After parting ways with Zhao Hai, Ye Tiancheng went to notify his own people.
Ye Tiancheng's group was quite substantial. Although they didn't bring servants, tutors, chefs, and so on during their scouting mission, they had arranged for a few bodyguards to accompany and protect them, who could occasionally help with strenuous tasks.
However, Ye Tiancheng and his group were too polite to bring so many people to the feast. Therefore, the bodyguards would not be attending the banquet. The food and supplies they brought along were consumed by the bodyguards in this situation.
Thus, Ye Tiancheng called for Hou Mingzhu, Ye Qingcheng, Little Fox, Fatty, and Fatty's partner, Shao Ying. It was quite a large group.
For this reason, when attending the banquet yesterday, Ye Tiancheng had given out quite a few red envelopes. As they announced the gifts at the entrance, many villagers cast sidelong glances at the generous red envelopes given by Ye Tiancheng.
On the second day, there were no such requirements. One simply had to show up and eat.
Ye Tiancheng's group walked together with Zhao Hai's family of three. In Zhao Hai's eyes, Ye Tiancheng was the leader of his group, while he was the male host of his own side, the representative leader. Therefore, it was primarily Zhao Hai and Ye Tiancheng who chatted along the way.
As Zhao Hai walked, he glanced back at his wife and child and happened to see Hou Mingzhu and Ye Qingcheng. He then started a conversation with Ye Tiancheng on related topics.
Zhao Hai said to Ye Tiancheng, "Brother Ye, you've married a good wife. She's even prettier than Zhao Xudong's bride. You have good taste."
Ye Tiancheng smiled and replied, "We got married not because of her beauty, but because we truly have good feelings for each other."
He did not wish to reveal too much about himself. As for the complications between him and Hou Mingzhu, there were unresolved issues. They had agreed to look forward and not bring up old debts. Ye Tiancheng would not recount them, nor would he tell them to a stranger like a farmer.
"Alas, if she weren't beautiful, there wouldn't even be a beginning to the relationship. How could there be good feelings then?" Zhao Hai waved his hand, grinned, revealing teeth yellowed from years of smoking.
Ye Tiancheng was silent for a moment but understood that Zhao Hai's words were not entirely without merit.
Although people often said that a beautiful and kind heart was more important than a pretty appearance, and one should not judge a book by its cover, humans are visual creatures and are inevitably somewhat superficial.
After all, the first impression of a person always comes from their appearance.
No one could discern a person's inner kindness and beauty at first glance. All they could see was their outward appearance, which naturally led to judging people by their looks.
Zhao Hai looked back at the people following further behind and continued to speak to Ye Tiancheng, "It's a pity, though, that yours is a girl... Brother Ye, how many children do you have? Just that one?"
Ye Tiancheng replied, "Indeed, just one. But there's nothing to regret. I love my daughter very much."
Zhao Hai, however, frowned, looking disapproving. "That's not right. Your daughter is pretty and lovable, but how can you not have a son in the family?"
"You should have a son, or at least have both a boy and a girl, wouldn't that be a 'good' combination? Children of both sexes!"
Ye Tiancheng found it difficult to respond to this. His own views certainly did not align with Zhao Hai's. However, he was currently staying at the man's home, and after leaving, they might not have any further interaction. Arguing about right and wrong with him would be pointless.
Therefore, Ye Tiancheng gave a vague reply to appease him, not directly refuting him. "Such things depend on fate."
Although Zhao Hai was a farmer, he was not foolish and had a lively mind. He could see Ye Tiancheng's attitude and knew he might not agree.
However, since Ye Tiancheng did not openly challenge him, Zhao Hai had no reason to be displeased with Ye Tiancheng.
Still, Zhao Hai remained firm in his opinion. "I'm not being long-winded, Brother Ye, please don't be annoyed. I can see you're a capable person, and your family must have some money. If you don't have a son in the future, all of it will go to outsiders."
Ye Tiancheng said nothing. He truly did not want to continue this topic.
If he had a bad temper, he would have argued with Zhao Hai by now. In any case, he himself was not wealthy anymore. The two marriages he had gone through had tired him out, and he hadn't kept much money on hand.
The money his family had now was basically Hou Mingzhu's. Who the money would go to in the future would certainly be decided by Hou Mingzhu, and Ye Tiancheng would have no objections.
Moreover, there was nothing wrong with his daughter inheriting the family business.
As long as his daughter was willing, the family business could be inherited by Ye Qingcheng. If she had no interest, no one would force her. Ultimately, it would depend on the children's wishes.
There was no such thing as money going entirely to outsiders just because there was no son in the family.
Didn't Hou Mingzhu take over the Hou family now?
It was a clear and direct, living example right before his eyes. Ye Tiancheng was not a person with outdated ideas, nor would he covet Hou Mingzhu's family fortune.
Seeing that they were at odds on this matter, Zhao Hai did not insist on discussing it further. He only grumbled a few words before changing the topic to something else.
They were only in a transactional relationship, so there was no need to make each other unhappy. Since they couldn't agree on this topic, they could simply change the subject.
Changing the topic made things much better, and Ye Tiancheng could finally engage in the conversation.
Ye Tiancheng had also experienced his own low points and had lived through hard times. Therefore, he and Zhao Hai, the farmer, were not entirely without common ground, and they could still talk.
Upon arriving at Zhao Xudong's house, Zhao Xudong, as the groom, naturally had to come out to greet guests. However, Zhao Xudong's parents were not present. It was likely that they did not support this marriage and, unable to resist their son's wishes, had to compromise but chose to stay away, not wanting to witness it.
Ye Tiancheng had not paid much attention initially, thinking he was just going to get a free meal. As the groom, Zhao Xudong, although he later realized something seemed a little off, it was none of his business. Ye Tiancheng did not pay too much attention, lest he get into trouble.
Who would have thought that even in this situation, something would still happen, causing the bride to find him in his room in the middle of the night?
As a result, Ye Tiancheng dared not be careless now and inevitably focused most of his attention on the groom, Zhao Xudong.
Zhao Xudong was tall. Perhaps because he was educated and one of the few highly educated individuals in the village, he likely held some social status outside and had the demeanor of a city person. Standing among the other villagers, he appeared to be a crane among chickens, out of place.
Moreover, although he wasn't handsome, he was still decent-looking. Coupled with his fair skin and tall stature, he looked quite presentable.
However, remembering the bride's appearance, it was hard not to feel that Zhao Xudong had gotten a great bargain by having her agree to be with him.
If the bride hadn't met with an accident and passed away, some might even have felt that Zhao Xudong and the bride, Liu Han, were not a good match.
As it turned out, with the situation as it was, more people's attention would be drawn to Zhao Xudong, and they would only think of Zhao Xudong's deep affection, not dwelling on other matters.
However, no matter how deep his affection, the fact that he would engage in a posthumous marriage with the bride, even if the bride had likely resisted and was unwilling, made Ye Tiancheng suspect there might be a problem.
Although, if the bride hadn't run into Ye Tiancheng's room, Ye Tiancheng would definitely not have intervened, regardless of how many problems there were.
There were countless things in this world, and not everyone suffered worse fates. Even more bizarre things were innumerable. Ye Tiancheng couldn't get involved in everything. Moreover, he had more important matters to attend to. If it wasn't absolutely necessary, Ye Tiancheng would choose to temporarily ignore other matters.
Since Hou Mingzhu and the others who came with Ye Tiancheng clearly looked to Ye Tiancheng as their leader, and as they were all outsiders, they would naturally attract attention, especially Ye Tiancheng, who was at the forefront.
Therefore, in this situation, it was not convenient for Ye Tiancheng to inquire about information around the banquet.
Thus, Ye Tiancheng entrusted this task to Little Fox, believing that Little Fox would handle it perfectly.
Little Fox was naturally capable, possessing great charisma and the ability to subtly influence others to trust and like him more. Such a person was ideal for eliciting information without arousing suspicion.
Even if someone was particularly sensitive, they would forget their suspicions under Little Fox's charm.
When everyone had eaten their fill at the banquet and it was time for casual conversation, cracking melon seeds, and joking around, it was the most opportune moment to slip away and gather information. Ye Tiancheng and Little Fox exchanged a look, and Little Fox proactively went to inquire.
Seeing Little Fox in action, Ye Tiancheng felt relieved. He truly couldn't offer much help here.