Tang Hao did not attend classes that day.
In the late morning, he left his apartment and went to the wedding banquet.
He did not put on his formal wear but instead dressed rather casually. Second Uncle and Second Aunt treated him like a poor relative anyway, and he would rather not break the illusion.
As a symbolic gesture, he prepared a red packet of 888 yuan as a gift for the newlyweds.[1]
He did not drive his car. Instead, he took a cab to Grand Paragon Restaurant in the city center.
Grand Paragon Restaurant was one of the top restaurants in Provincial City. Of course, the prices were also very high. The typical family would not be able to afford to hold a wedding banquet there.
Second Uncle ran a furniture business, and he had made a fortune over the past few years. He could afford to pay for the banquet.
Furthermore, Second Uncle did not want to lose face at his only son’s wedding. He had to make it as grand as possible.
Once Tang Hao got off the cab, he saw a tall building in front of him. Its outer appearance was a lot more lavish than Beyond Heaven Restaurant in Westridge District.
He looked around, then waited at the entrance.
Many cars arrived at the restaurant in the meantime. There were many luxury cars like BMWs and Mercedes Benzes, and everyone that stepped out of the cars was dressed in expensive clothing and adorned in gold accessories and jewelry. There was no mistaking that those were rich people.
Only one wedding banquet took place that afternoon, and Tang Hao could guess that most of the people were there for the wedding banquet.
Soon, he saw another cab arrive at the entrance.
Then, the car door opened and a couple stepped out.
The man was tall and well-built. He had a square face and looked rather masculine. The woman was beautiful and elegant. They were none other than Tang Hao’s cousin brother Shi Dazhu and his wife Gao Ying.
Shi Dazhu looked different in formal dress. He carried an aura of positivity.
Meanwhile, Gao Ying was dressed in a red dress. Tang Hao looked closely and noticed that her stomach was bulging slightly.
Tang Hao was shocked. Then, he smiled.
When he was at Dragonrock Village earlier, he heard that First Uncle was going to be a grandfather soon.
The couple came over. When Shi Dazhu saw Tang Hao, he waved excitedly, “Lil Hao!”
Then, they walked a little faster toward Tang Hao.
“Congratulations!” Tang Hao said to the couple.
Shi Dazhu was surprised, then immediately realized what he was talking about. He scratched the back of his head and said bashfully, “Haha! I didn’t expect that I’ll be a father soon!”
Gao Ying gave him a side-eye. The two of them were clearly in love.
“I have to thank you for all this, Lil Hao! If not for you, we won’t be enjoying our lives.”
Shi Dazhu stepped forward, grabbed Tang Hao’s hands, and shook them firmly.
His gratitude was true from his heart.
If not for Tang Hao, Gao Ying’s mother would not have agreed to their marriage. A village boy like him would not be able to marry a girl from the town, much less own a house.
He owed his younger cousin brother all that he had.
He had always felt guilty because he did not know how to repay him.
Not only did he feel immense gratitude toward his younger cousin brother, but he also admired him a lot.
His younger cousin brother had started his plantation at Dragonrock Village and employed many villagers in his production factory and company. The booming business had brought prosperity to the village and its villagers.
“There’s no need to thank me! It’s so long ago!” Tang Hao said with a smile.
“We will never forget what you did for us. Thank you,” Gao Ying said.
Tang Hao laughed. “Come! Let’s go inside!”
Then, Tang Hao turned around and went into the restaurant.
The wedding banquet was held on the third floor of the restaurant. The hall was decorated lavishly.
Shi Dazhu was awestruck when he saw the place.
“I guess they’re pretty loaded,” he said coldly.
Second Uncle and his family were never popular in Dragonrock Village. Shi Dazhu, too, did not admire them.
Second Uncle had invited First Uncle’s entire family, but First Uncle and First Aunt did not want to come, and so they sent Shi Dazhu as a representative.
The newlyweds were standing at the entrance to the hall, greeting the guests.
The male was about twenty-three or twenty-four years old. He was tall and handsome and wore a black business suit. Meanwhile, the female wore a wedding gown and looked stunning in it.
The male was none other than Shi Zelei, Second Uncle’s only son.
Shi Zelei was said to be a high achiever. He graduated from a prestigious university and was currently working in a big company. His wife was the daughter of that company’s boss.
The couple turned to see the three people who had just arrived.
Shi Zelei examined them closely. He was surprised when he saw Shi Dazhu.
“Bro Dazhu?”
Shi Zelei sounded incredulous.
In his impression, First Uncle’s family was poor. A few years ago, when he returned to Dragonrock Village, his house was incredibly shabby. How could anyone live there?
His cousin brother Shi Dazhu was a loser born in that poor family. Now, he was dressed in expensive clothes and had a beautiful wife.
Of course, he heard that Bro Dazhu was married.
He also heard that Bro Dazhu was working in town. Perhaps he had a fortuitous encounter.
Then, he turned to look at Tang Hao.
“He is…?” He was a little confused.
“Cousin Zelei, He’s Tang Hao!” Shi Dazhu said.
Shi Zelei was shocked when he heard that.
Then, his gaze toward Tang Hao became condescending.
He remembered that his younger cousin brother Tang Hao was even poorer than First Uncle. As far as he remembered, Tang Hao had nothing to his name.
Looking at his clothes, it seemed that his condition did not improve.
“So it’s you, Younger Cousin!” Shi Zelei said coldly.
His wife noticed his expression and understood. Her gaze upon Tang Hao and Shi Dazhu changed as well.
She heard from her husband that he was from a mountain village, and he had invited several relatives from there. Those three people were obviously those relatives.
Shi Dazhu was not happy when he saw Shi Zelei’s expression. He was indignant for Tang Hao.
Meanwhile, Tang Hao was impassive.
He knew his cousin brother Shi Zelei’s attitude, that his cousin brother looked down upon poor people.
“This way, Cousin Brother!” Shi Zelei stepped back and gestured to the three people to enter the hall.
They handed over their gifts, and a waiter came to usher the three people into the hall.
The hall was big and was dotted with round banquet tables. Tang Hao did a quick count and estimated that there were at least thirty or forty of them. The hall could accommodate at least three hundred people. Many people were already in their seats.
The three people looked around and found their seats. They sat down and waited for the banquet to start.
[1] The number ‘8’ is auspicious in Chinese culture. It is common to give cash in multiples of 8 at a wedding banquet.
