73: Chapter 73 Preparing for the Engagement Banquet

"Uncle, Aunt, Uncle Li, Aunt Li." Director Wu's voice was resonant as he nodded like he was giving a salute, appearing both capable and warm.

"Little Wu, have you been busy lately?" Lin Jianguo smiled and patted Director Wu's shoulder. "You look thinner. Is there too much work at the security company?"

"Uncle, I'm not busy," Director Wu smiled honestly. "We just took on a few big orders recently, so we've been working a bit of overtime. Wanwan has also been helping out at the company, which is great."

Speaking of Lin Wan, a gentle-looking woman wearing a light pink dress walked over. She was Lin Yu's older sister, Lin Wan. Although she didn't have the kind of world-stunning beauty that Mu Wan possessed, her gentle and refined temperament made people feel comfortable just looking at her.

"Hi Mom, Dad, Uncle Li, Aunt Li, Little Yu, Fatty, Huihui, and the two beautiful ladies!" Lin Wan was very happy. After a busy day, being able to have a meal together with her family was what made her happiest.

"Dad, Mom, please sit," Lin Wan smiled as she poured tea for her parents, then turned to Uncle Li and Aunt Li, saying, "Uncle Li, Aunt Li, everyone please sit. We'll be family from now on, so don't be strangers."

"Ah, yes, good, good!" Aunt Li looked at Lin Wan, liking her more and more the more she looked. "This must be your daughter, right? You're so blessed to have found such a Spirit son-in-law!"

...

Everyone took their seats.

In the center seats were Lin Jianguo and Wang Xiulan, with Uncle Li and Aunt Li sitting next to the two elders. Lin Yu sat in the co-host position, with Su Manqin on his left and Mu Wan on his right. This layout of "hugging left and right" made Lin Yu feel secretly delighted. Su Manqin and Mu Wan would occasionally put food on his plate and pour him wine with perfect tacit understanding. Director Wu and Lin Wan sat on one side, while Fatty and Chen Huihui, like two little followers, consciously took their seats at the very end of the table.

"There are mainly two things today," Lin Yu raised his teacup, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "First, it's for our two families to gather together merrily. Second, which is also the main business—Fatty and Huihui's engagement banquet. I plan to arrange it at our Yunding Hotel."

"Genting?!" Aunt Li was startled and waved her hands repeatedly. "How can we do that! That must be so expensive!"

"Mom! What are you saying!" Fatty was displeased upon hearing this. "Brother Yu has already arranged everything, so don't worry about it! What kind of place is Genting? It's the most high-end hotel in Ze City! For Huihui and me to have our engagement here, it's like smoke rising from our ancestral graves!"

"Exactly, Auntie," Lin Yu smiled as he poured tea for Aunt Li. "Fatty saved my life. His engagement banquet must be of the highest standard. Sister Qin said she specifically had the kitchen prepare several options today, so we are just here to taste the dishes and see which flavor is suitable."

"Oh, this... this is too expensive," Uncle Li said, though his eyes and brows were filled with joy as he looked at the exquisite tableware filling the table and the night view outside the window.

"Alright, Old Li, just listen to Little Yu," Lin Jianguo raised his teacup. "The children are being filial, so let's just accept it!"

"Haha, yes, leave it to us and don't worry. Let's start serving the food now," Su Manqin smiled and clapped her hands.

The private room door opened, and a line of uniformed waiters entered one after another, pushing food carts.

"First dish, 'Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Prosperity'—Baked Lobster with Cheese."

The waiter lifted the cover, and a rich milky aroma mixed with the fresh scent of seafood rushed over. Two bright red lobsters lay in the dish, covered with golden cheese, still sizzling.

"Wow! It's so big!" Chen Huihui's eyes went wide. This was the first time she had ever seen such a large lobster.

"Have a taste." Director Wu picked up the serving chopsticks, first placing a piece for his fiancée, Lin Wan, and then for the two elders.

Lin Jianguo took a bite and nodded. "Mmh, the meat is tender and the flavor is fresh. This Western stuff is actually made quite well!"

"Second dish, 'Abundant Gold and Jade'—Braised Pork Belly with Black Truffle."

As soon as this dish was served, Uncle Li's eyes lit up.

"This braised pork... looks even glossier than the one made by Xiao Tang!" Uncle Li couldn't help but comment.

"Uncle Li has a good eye," Su Manqin introduced. "This was specially modified by our Genting chef. It uses French black truffles paired with pork belly to make the texture richer, while retaining our Chinese soy sauce aroma."

Fatty picked up a piece and put it in his mouth, his eyes instantly widening. "Holy crap! This is amazing! Brother Yu, this meat melts in your mouth, and it has a special fragrance. It's even more... you know, than the one at Min Shi Wei Tian!"

"More what?" Lin Yu looked at him with amusement.

"More... more like..." Fatty scratched his head, making everyone burst into laughter.

"Alright, stop flattering," Lin Yu tapped on the table. "Today's food tasting is meant for finding faults. Huihui, what do you think?"

Chen Huihui blushed and said softly, "I think... everything is delicious. But... could we use less sugar? My parents don't really like sweet things."

"No problem," Su Manqin immediately took out a notebook and wrote it down. "Then we'll go with the 'low-sugar version.' Huihui, is there any other dish you want to add? Just let us know."

"Is that really okay?" Chen Huihui was somewhat overwhelmed by the favor.

"Of course," Lin Yu nodded. "Today is your show."

"Then... I'd like to add 'Braised Lion's Head'. My grandmother used to love making that," Chen Huihui gathered her courage and said.

"Lion's Head? Sure!" Su Manqin smiled. "The master chef of Huaiyang cuisine is right downstairs. Let him make it! I guarantee it'll taste even more authentic than the homemade version."

"Thank you, Sister Qin! Thank you, Old Lin!" Fatty's face flushed with excitement as he held Chen Huihui's hand.

At the dining table, as exquisite dishes were served one after another, the atmosphere grew increasingly warm.

Mu Wan peeled a shrimp and gently placed it in Lin Yu's bowl, her eyes filled with tenderness. Meanwhile, Su Manqin raised her wine glass and, under the guise of proposing a toast, gently rubbed Lin Yu's calf with her high heel under the table, a sly smile playing on her lips.

Lin Yu's heart stirred, but he remained calm on the surface. With one hand holding Mu Wan's hand and the other raising his glass to clink with Su Manqin, he enjoyed the secret pleasure of having "the blessing of two wives."

Director Wu took charge of looking after the elders of both families, pouring tea and changing plates for them. His movements were skilled and attentive, showing that he was an extremely well-mannered and family-oriented man.

"Come, everyone raise your glasses," Lin Jianguo stood up. "Today is a happy day! Thanks to Little Yu, thanks to girl Qin, and also thanks to Little Wu and Wanwan. It's fate that our two families can gather together! To Qiangzi and Huihui's engagement, cheers!"

"Cheers!"

The glasses clinked, crisp and pleasant to the ear.

...

After three rounds of drinks and five courses of dishes.

That pot of "Braised Pork Belly with Black Truffle" had already been swept clean by Fatty like a whirlwind, with not even a drop of gravy left. Although Uncle Li and Aunt Li kept saying "too expensive," the smiles on their faces couldn't be hidden at all. After all, this was Genting's signature dish, something they wouldn't have dared to dream of normally.

As a retired special forces soldier, Director Wu had an excellent tolerance for alcohol, and he was currently drinking merrily with Lin Jianguo.

"Uncle, your body is really robust now!" Director Wu filled Lin Jianguo's glass with red wine, his tone carrying a sense of warmth. "In the future, you and Auntie can live peacefully in the Jiangshanyin Residential Complex. I've already had a spot reserved in the sky garden. I'll get you a couple of fruit trees then. You can prune them when you have nothing to do, just as a form of exercise."

"Haha, great! Little Wu is indeed thoughtful!" Lin Jianguo's face was flushed with joy as he patted Director Wu's shoulder. "With Wanwan following you, I can really rest easy! Although the security company is busy, you must take care of your health and not overwork yourself."

"I know, Uncle," Director Wu smiled and nodded, turning to look at Lin Wan beside him, his eyes filled with doting affection.

Lin Wan possessed a gentle and virtuous temperament, and her slightly tipsy face at this moment looked exceptionally soft. She was carefully peeling a shrimp for Director Wu, her movements skilled and natural.

"Wanwan, you eat too," Director Wu took the peeled shrimp from Lin Wan and fed it to her mouth.

This scene made Aunt Li laugh with joy.

"Oh, seeing you young couple so in love really makes me happy." Aunt Li took a sip of juice and suddenly seemed to remember something. She looked at Lin Yu and asked with a slurred tongue, "By the way, Lin Yu..."

Fatty was wiping his mouth with a napkin. Hearing Aunt Li call Lin Yu, he subconsciously chimed in, "Mom, what's wrong? Do you want to pack leftovers?"

"Go away, all you think about is eating!" Aunt Li glared at her son, then pointed at Lin Wan and Director Wu, asking, "Little Yu, look, Qiangzi is about to get engaged. So when are your sister and Director Wu... going to tie the knot? I see how great Director Wu is—he knows how to run a business and dotes on her. Don't drag it out for too long!"

This loud question drew the gaze of everyone at the table.

Lin Yu was currently enjoying "the blessing of two wives"—on his left, Su Manqin took the opportunity of handing him a tissue to gently brush her fingertips across the back of his hand, bringing a wave of tingling sensation; on his right, Mu Wan was obediently ladling soup for him, her eyes filled with attachment.

Hearing Aunt Li's question, Lin Yu was stunned for a moment, then smiled. "Auntie, your memory is great! Actually, we are currently discussing this matter as well."

Director Wu scratched his head in embarrassment and looked at Lin Wan. "Wanwan, you tell them."

Lin Wan blushed, put down her chopsticks, and said softly, "We originally wanted to wait until Fatty and Huihui finished their engagement... but since Auntie asked, we'll set it for the end of this year. We can either hold it together with Fatty and the others or slightly apart. By then, the security company's business will have stabilized, and we also want to settle down early."

"The end of the year? Good! Good!" Wang Xiulan smiled so widely her mouth couldn't close. "The end of the year is great. It's cold then, making the wedding celebration lively! Besides, the house in the Jiangshanyin Residential Complex will be fully decorated by then. Our two families will live upstairs and downstairs, making things even more bustling!"

"Then it's settled!" Lin Jianguo slapped his thigh. "The end of the year! We have a double blessing this year!"

"Oh, that really is wonderful!" Aunt Li excitedly held Lin Wan's hand. "Wanwan, when the time comes, Auntie will make the best wedding quilt for you!"

"Thank you, Auntie," Lin Wan smiled sweetly.

Fatty grinned from ear to ear at the side, raising his wine glass and shouting to Director Wu, "Brother! No, I should call you Brother-in-law from now on! Come, let's have a drink! We two brothers holding our weddings together at the end of the year—that scene will absolutely shock all of Ze City!"

"Absolutely!" Director Wu drank it all down heroically.

...

The banquet was in full swing. Director Wu was pouring wine for Lin Jianguo, and Fatty was grabbing the last crab leg, chewing on it with great relish.

Just then, Lin Yu's phone placed by the table vibrated.

He picked it up and glanced at it; the screen showed Secretary Zhou of the Municipal Committee.

"Excuse me, I need to take a call," Lin Yu smiled apologetically at everyone, stood up, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window in the corner of the private room.

"Hello, Secretary Zhou," Lin Yu's voice was calm, but his heartbeat involuntarily quickened by a few beats.

"Mr. Lin, the dust has settled," his old classmate's slightly tired but exceptionally excited voice came from the other end of the line. "Zhang Tieshan has been convicted of multiple charges including involvement in organized crime, bribery, and embezzlement of public funds. With combined punishments for multiple crimes, he was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first instance, deprived of political rights for life. However, considering his performance in performing meritorious service, it was ultimately ruled that he will serve a fixed-term imprisonment of twenty-five years."

"Twenty-five years? That's enough for him to rot in prison. What about the others?"

"As one of the main culprits, Zhang Shaotian was sentenced to fifteen years. Wang Fu was also sentenced to fifteen years. Zhao Qiang's circumstances were slightly lighter, but he was also sentenced to ten years." Secretary Zhou paused and lowered his voice, saying, "Also, Deputy Mayor Han, who is in charge of taxation, was taken away by the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection early this morning. It was just announced that he is under 'double regulation'. In addition, about twenty other people involved in the case have been summoned for talks. This time, pulling up the radish brought out the mud. The sky over Ze City has completely cleared up!"

"Great! That's wonderful!" An indescribable sense of gratification welled up in Lin Yu's heart.

The bastards who had almost harmed Zhou Li, Liu Yifei, and Fatty had finally gotten the end they deserved.

"Thanks, Secretary Zhou. I'll treat you to a meal another day." Lin Yu hung up the phone, took a deep breath to calm his excited emotions, and sent this news to Zhou Li and Liu Yifei.

He turned around and looked at the smiling faces in the private room, his gaze finally landing on Fatty, who was currently frowning at that crab leg.

Lin Yu walked back to his seat. Instead of sitting down immediately, he stood behind Fatty and gently patted his shoulder.

"Fatty."

"Hmm? What's up, Old Lin?" With his mouth stuffed with crab meat, Fatty raised his head, speaking indistinctly, with some crab roe still stuck to the corner of his mouth. "Is some big beauty about to flip your name plaque?"

Looking at his silly appearance, Lin Yu suddenly smiled, smiling exceptionally brightly.

"Fatty, let me tell you some good news." Lin Yu's voice wasn't loud, but his tone carried an unprecedented sense of ease. "The Municipal Committee just called."

As soon as Fatty heard the words "Municipal Committee," the crab leg in his hand dropped onto the plate with a "clack." He didn't even bother to wipe his mouth as he suddenly stood up, staring at Lin Yu with wide eyes. "Old Lin, is it... is it those bastards..."

"Yes," Lin Yu nodded, his gaze sweeping over the others at the table as he said in a clear voice, "Zhang Tieshan, twenty-five years. Zhang Shaotian, fifteen years. Wang Fu, fifteen years. Zhao Qiang, ten years."

The private room instantly fell silent.

Everyone stopped what they were doing, and even Director Wu, who was peeling a shrimp for Lin Wan, was stunned.

Lin Yu paused, looked at Fatty's face which was flushed with excitement, and said word by word, "Also, that Deputy Mayor in charge of taxation has also been double-regulated. Fatty, our revenge is taken!!"

Fatty was stunned for a moment, and then became ecstatic.

"Twenty-five years... Hahaha! Fifteen years!" Fatty burst into laughter, slapping the table as he laughed. "They deserve it! These bastards deserve it! Old Lin, that old beast will have to stay in there until he's in his seventies or eighties! Let him spend the rest of his life in there!"