Free Web NovelChapter 160: Chapter 160: A Strange State
Tang Yuanxiao did very well at the banquet.
No, he did *too* well.
He still wasn’t very talkative, but he didn’t miss a single thing that needed to be said or done.
When words weren’t enough, wine made up for it.
He didn’t turn down a single person who came to offer a toast.
If Yu Le hadn’t helped him block many of the drinks, he probably would have collapsed halfway through.
Su Li couldn’t hold her liquor, so she didn’t dare drink much. But she couldn’t just do nothing, either. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
After all, she wasn’t like Miao Zhi—still a student, still a child whose parents could step in for her.
Even though she was about the same age, she was married. Being married made her an adult, and she couldn’t avoid these social obligations.
Since Su Li couldn’t drink, she used tea in place of wine. She dutifully followed Tang Yuanxiao, making the rounds to toast every single person at every single table.
Su Li knew how to handle the social pleasantries. And even though she wasn’t drinking, her words were sincere, which put everyone at ease.
So, Tang Yuanxiao left the talking to Su Li, taking on the role of providing support and drinking.
Yu Le was also at their side, saying nice things and helping with the drinks, while Little Tang Mo charmed everyone in between.
Little Tang Mo basically stuck to Su Li’s side. The banquet was lively and bustling, a resounding success.
As everyone watched the toasting group of Tang Yuanxiao, Su Li, Yu Le, and Little Tang Mo, they felt something was a bit odd. After looking back and forth, an army wife finally pointed out the truth.
"The way they’re making toasts right now is no different from a wedding!"
It dawned on everyone.
Wasn’t it true?
They said it was to celebrate Su Li getting into university, but aside from her not wearing a red dress, it was identical to a wedding reception.
And look at that big "Double Happiness" character behind them at the restaurant—it couldn’t be more fitting.
"They held their wedding banquet back in their hometown, so we never got to attend. I guess today makes up for it."
"Haha, exactly! We have to drink more at this ’wedding banquet’!"
As everyone chattered, they successfully steered the atmosphere of the banquet in a new direction.
Su Li noticed that by the time they got to the last table, everyone had suddenly changed. They were calling Yu Le the best man and teasing her and Tang Yuanxiao.
"Cross-cupped wine! You have to do the cross-cupped wine!"
"Yeah, show some sincerity!"
Su Li couldn’t quite follow their train of thought.
Tang Yuanxiao, already a bit tipsy, broke into an instant grin.
His honest reaction made everyone, who rarely saw him smile, burst into laughter.
"This is the first time I’ve seen Captain Tang smile! Looks like we hit the nail on the head."
Little Tang Mo chimed in to join the fun.
"I want to do cross-cupped wine, too!"
He’d seen it before. When there were weddings in the village, the kids were always part of the customary wedding night shenanigans.
"Haha." The moment Little Tang Mo spoke, everyone laughed even harder.
"Even Tang Mo is demanding cross-cupped wine. Now you have to drink whether you want to or not."
Su Li was speechless.
She scooped up Little Tang Mo. "Fine, cross-cupped wine."
With that, she quickly pushed Yu Le and Tang Yuanxiao together and did it with Little Tang Mo herself.
Little Tang Mo, just happy to be part of the fun, was overjoyed and incredibly cooperative as he linked arms with Su Li.
Amid the crowd’s disappointed and playful jeers, Tang Yuanxiao and Yu Le drank the cross-cupped wine.
Su Li breathed a huge sigh of relief internally.
But even though he didn’t drink the cross-cupped wine with Su Li, Tang Yuanxiao was floating on air from everyone’s teasing and the whole affair.
From then on, he refused no toasts, accepted all their jokes, and grew happier with every drink.
His happiness wasn’t as obvious as other people’s. He still didn’t smile much; he just accepted every drink, and the corners of his eyes crinkled with mirth.
Every time someone teased him and Su Li, he looked like he wanted to down the entire bottle.
The latter half of the banquet was Tang Yuanxiao’s most relaxed and happiest moment.
He pushed the thought of divorce to the bottom of his heart, choosing instead to just listen to everyone’s jokes and feel a quiet joy.
Yu Le, who knew the truth, watched with a mix of helplessness and sorrow, drinking so much to shield his friend that his tongue grew heavy.
As the banquet neared its end, Yu Le fell in battle, completely drunk.
Tang Yuanxiao was about at his limit, too. Seeing this, everyone was sensible enough to stop forcing drinks on him.
They said they had to leave Tang Yuanxiao with some energy.
"He still needs to have a proper wedding night when he gets back! He can’t be dead drunk."
A few of the other men, also happily drunk, were being particularly considerate and brotherly.
"Old Tang... Old Tang..." Yu Le, drunk and confused, kept looking for Tang Yuanxiao.
A few of the men decided to handle him.
"Let’s drag that kid Yu Le away in a bit. He has no tact."
True to their word, when the banquet was over, they didn’t forget to haul Yu Le away as they left, leaving Tang Yuanxiao to Su Li.
Almost everyone had left, but the Miao Family’s father and daughter stayed behind.
Mr. Miao had Miao Zhi apologize to Su Li.
Although Miao Zhi didn’t look very willing, she apologized in the end.
Of course, Su Li couldn’t say she didn’t accept it, so the matter was considered settled.
The banquet came to a perfect end. Knowing that Su Li had a rental in the Imperial City, everyone made their own arrangements and drove off, leaving Tang Yuanxiao behind.
Not only that, but his superior had also given Tang Yuanxiao special permission to stay out for the night and return to the unit for work tomorrow.
They left, not taking a single cloud with them.
Su Li looked at Tang Yuanxiao, at a loss for words.
"Mama, what do we do?" Little Tang Mo asked Su Li.
"What else can we do?" Su Li shook her head helplessly and crouched down to ask Tang Yuanxiao, who was sitting obediently on the stone steps.
"Tang Yuanxiao, can you walk?"
Tang Yuanxiao looked up at Su Li and nodded firmly. "Of course I can. Don’t worry, Su Li, I’m not drunk."
His eyes did look quite clear, just a little more moist and shiny than usual.
Su Li was skeptical. "Then let’s go." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"Okay." Tang Yuanxiao stood up, walked steadily down the steps, then crouched down again. "Come on."
"Come on for what?" Su Li wondered.
"Get on." Tang Yuanxiao gestured toward his back.
Su Li was speechless. ’And he calls this not being drunk?’
"I’ll carry you. There are puddles ahead, it’s hard to walk," Tang Yuanxiao explained earnestly when he saw they weren’t moving.
Su Li and Little Tang Mo exchanged a glance and looked ahead.
There had been a shower during the day, and there were indeed a few puddles in front of them.
"I can carry you. Both of you, get on together." Tang Yuanxiao turned back, pulling Su Li and Little Tang Mo a little closer.
"Come on, climb on."
"Tang Yuanxiao, get up. We can walk by ourselves. We’ll be past those puddles in a second."
Seeing his state, Su Li didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as she tried to persuade him.
"No, I’m carrying you past them. I’m not drunk." To prove his point, Tang Yuanxiao stood up and walked with a steady gait, looking no different from usual.
After his demonstration, he crouched down again. "Come on, get on."
Su Li was at a loss.
If she didn’t get on, Tang Yuanxiao wouldn’t budge. He was dead set on carrying them over the puddles.
Having no choice, Su Li let Tang Yuanxiao carry Little Tang Mo across first.
"You stand right here and don’t move, okay? I’ll be right back after I carry Little Mo over."
Tang Yuanxiao hoisted Little Tang Mo onto his back. He was surprisingly steady. After a few steps, he glanced back, satisfied only when he saw Su Li hadn’t moved, and then continued on.
"Don’t be scared, Momo. Daddy is very steady. I would never let you fall."
As he walked, Tang Yuanxiao said to Little Tang Mo, "Your mom is such a scaredy-cat..."
Once they were past the puddles, Tang Yuanxiao said with a smile.
"See? Not a single drop of mud. You wait here, I’m going to go get your mom."
Tang Yuanxiao set Little Tang Mo down, only to turn around and see Su Li standing right behind him.
"....!!!"
"Why did you come over? Didn’t I tell you to wait for me?"
Su Li could detect a hint of grievance in Tang Yuanxiao’s tone and expression.
