Chapter 1536 - 887: So-Called Double Happiness, and Even Closer Ties by Marriage (Part 2)
Chapter 1536: Chapter 887: So-Called Double Happiness, and Even Closer Ties by Marriage (Part 2)
"Fourth Uncle!" Jiangjiang patted him from behind.
"What are you doing here?" Jiang Chengsi turned his head to look at him; the little guy ran over with a head full of sweat. "Where did you go?"
"Fourth Uncle, I came out for a bit. There’s something I need to tell you." Jiangjiang thought this was a small surprise that should be shared secretly.
"Did you set your eyes on something again? Your dad wouldn’t buy it for you, so you’re pestering me?" Jiang Chengsi had always felt this kid was quite crafty. If he sought him out on his own and was smiling so happily, it certainly wouldn’t be anything good.
"No, come with me!" Jiangjiang clung to his arm, trying to drag him away.
"What’s the matter? Just say it here."
Jiang Chengsi thought Jiangjiang was just a kid and couldn’t come up with anything serious, especially with the wedding banquet about to start.
"Then come closer; I’ll whisper it to you." Jiangjiang gestured for him to lean in.
The hall was filled with soothing music, combined with the guests’ conversations, making it somewhat noisy.
Jiang Chengsi didn’t think he would say anything serious. Even as he bent down to listen, he remained focused on the conversation at the table, as he was quite interested in cars at the moment.
"I’m going to have a little brother or sister soon."
"Oh, really?" Jiang Chengsi replied absentmindedly.
Jiangjiang frowned, "Did you even listen to me?"
"I did."
"Then repeat what I just said."
Jiang Chengsi: "..."
He truly hadn’t been listening carefully.
Annoyed, Jiangjiang glared at him. Jiang Chengsi saw the little guy was upset and quickly turned to look at him seriously, "Okay, your uncle’s listening carefully. Could you say it again?"
Jiangjiang was a little exasperated and raised his voice on purpose. Who could have known that just when the wedding banquet was about to start, the music suddenly stopped, and everyone simultaneously ceased their conversations? In the echoing silence of the hall, Jiangjiang’s childish voice piped up:
"I said my fourth aunt is having a baby; I’m going to be a big brother!"
To Jiang Chengsi, it felt like a heavy blow hit his brain, "Duang—" He was dumbstruck.
Just then, Si Qingxiao, having just returned from the washroom with Tang Wan and others, also heard the announcement as they entered the hall.
She was completely taken aback.
Everyone in the hall had the same expression: (⊙o⊙).
"You brat, you’re spouting nonsense!" Jiang Chengsi immediately countered.
"I’m not..." Jiangjiang noticed everyone looking at him and lowered his voice.
"Shut your mouth!"
Jiang Chengsi felt a critical need to have a talk with him. He stretched out an arm, lifted him up with one hand, and covered his little mouth, attempting to sneak him away. He glanced at the crowd and awkwardly chuckled:
"Kids say the darndest things. Don’t take it seriously, hehe—enjoy the food and drinks, haha—"
"Mmm—" Jiangjiang kicked his little legs.
Abduction!
The Jiang and Si families were sitting at the same table, and upon hearing this, they were all stunned and got up to leave.
Jiang Chengsi was just about to head to the back resting area to deal with a certain "little culprit" when he bumped into Si Qingxiao. Looking at each other, he naively said:
"Xiaoxiao, don’t listen to this kid’s nonsense. I’ll have him apologize to you."
"You little rascal, do you know you can’t just say things like that carelessly?"
"Even if your great-grandmother and parents were here today, I’d still have to teach you a lesson."
...
Jiangjiang’s small mouth was covered. With a power disparity like this, he couldn’t break free and could only kick with all his might.
"Put him down," Si Qingxiao said, seeing Jiangjiang squirming in his arms with a red face from increased blood pressure. She quickly went to rescue him.
"The kid just needs a good scolding; don’t get upset."
"He wasn’t lying," Si Qingxiao whispered.
Jiang Chengsi didn’t quite process this initially, thinking only of how to handle the little troublemaker—braised, deep-fried, or Halal stewed?
"I’ll explain to everyone later. It was just a kid’s nonsense; they won’t take it seriously. I..."
He had been speaking for a while when it seemed to finally click, "Wait a minute. What did you just say?"
"Put him down; the child isn’t feeling well."
Seizing the moment of Jiang Chengsi’s distraction, Si Qingxiao managed to rescue Jiangjiang, straightening his clothes, "Are you okay?"
"Did I do something wrong?" Jiangjiang asked, seeing everyone’s reactions, realizing he might have made a mistake.
"It’s okay; you didn’t do anything wrong." Si Qingxiao ruffled his little head.
"Xiaoxiao—" By now, the Si and Jiang families had gathered, with Si Yushan rushing over first, "This..."
"Why is everyone here? Let’s eat first. Everyone’s watching us; let’s not delay their auspicious time because of us." Si Qingxiao didn’t seem inclined to say more.
All the guests watched as the group returned to their seats.
Only Jiang Chengsi, looking like a lifeless soul, drifted to his place.
The attendees at the wedding banquet were all influential figures from the political and commercial sectors, not fools. Seeing Jiang Chengsi’s expression, they could roughly guess what happened...
He certainly hadn’t looked like this before.
This might very well be true.
Miss Si—
She really is expecting!
Si Qingxiao found herself in an even more difficult situation, surrounded by familiar faces, all looking at her. Seeing her silent with her head down, they turned their attention to Tang Wan.
Tang Wan coughed lightly:
She’s not pregnant; why are they staring at her?
Still, her evasive gaze was enough to reveal the truth.
If it weren’t true, a simple explanation would suffice, without needing to wait until the banquet ended.
...
The most distressed one was Qi Zeyan, who discreetly sent a message in their group chat:
[Can someone tell me what happened? @Jiang Chengsi, is it true?]
Jiang Xiaowu: [What do you think?]
Qi Zeyan: [Shouldn’t something like this be confirmed with a hospital check?]
Huo Qinqi: [I went ahead and bought a pregnancy test kit.]
Everyone: [...]
Jiang Chengsi took a deep breath, thinking silently, "Old Huo, you really have been sneaky, haven’t you?"
Jiang Chengsi: [Old Huo, shouldn’t you have informed me first about something like this?]
Huo Qinqi: [Your aunt told me not to tell anyone and to keep it a secret.]
Qi Zeyan had already guessed the situation. He was just clinging to a sliver of hope by asking in the group; reality harshly dashed it.
Before the banquet began, Old Man Qi was to give a speech. He gave Qi Zeyan a look, perfectly summarizing it in two words:
Disdain!
How could he be lagging so far behind, with no news for such a long time? Was he even capable?
After the speech, when it was time for the newlyweds to toast the guests, Qi Zeyan was even more exasperated.
Though most congratulated him on the wedding, wishing them a lifetime of happiness and many children, others with a mischief streak, like his nemesis—
Duan Linbai!
"Congrats, Qi Shao." The man gleamed brightly.
"Thanks, there are lots of people today, so I’ll let you enjoy on your own, have a few more drinks." These two were always butting heads, but since it was the joyous occasion of his wedding, things were relatively calm.
"Looks like Fourth Master has some news too. It’s a double celebration today, worth drinking a few more." The man laughed boldly.
"You brothers seem really close. One gets married, and the other gets good news. In the future, your families could even arrange a betrothal, closer ties indeed."
"Qi Shao, let me toast you once more."
"..."
To hell with your double celebration, it’s not even my wife who’s pregnant!
And making closer ties, can’t you just shut up?
Qi Zeyan knew from the start this guy couldn’t say anything decent. If it weren’t for the occasion, he would have sparred with him for three hundred rounds.