Misty Rain of the Old Times

As more and more guests arrived, Chen Xuan was extremely busy. Regardless of whether he knew them or not, everyone was a guest. He would greet this person and exchange pleasantries with that person. Gradually, he no longer had time to go to the door to greet guests. He could only occasionally show his face. Fortunately, Gao Jingming and the others were there to greet the guests at the door, so they were not neglected.

The once quiet and deserted Nuoda mansion was now bustling with activity, adorned with red and green decorations and filled with the sounds of gongs and drums. People chatted in twos and threes, strolled around in groups of four or five, and watched the opera performance together. Many guests brought their families, and children were chasing and playing everywhere.

Although there were many guests, Chen Xuan didn't recognize almost any of them, so he simply greeted them with a smile and enthusiasm.

He sincerely thanked Master Gao, this seasoned official who was adept at navigating social situations and moving among numerous guests with ease, which had truly been a great help to Chen Xuan. Chen Xuan admitted that he genuinely could not learn such social skills.

As the protagonist of this wedding, Chen Xuan was deeply involved. Although everything was closely related to him, he would sometimes have the strange thought that he was just an observer, which was very contradictory.

After carefully considering his own mindset, he quickly figured out what was going on. He was getting married, and his single days were over. He would no longer be all alone. He would have a home, a wife, and children. Even though he was ready to get married, he still felt like he hadn't had enough fun yet.

"I think I'm only nineteen. If you count my birthday from my previous life, I'm actually eighteen. Back in my hometown, I'm not even old enough to get married. Well, come to think of it, I didn't really grow up as a child; I'm a grown man, okay? Tsk, it's pretty amazing that this is the first time I've gotten married in both my past and present lives."

Taking a break from his busy schedule, Chen Xuan stood in a corner observing the lively scene. He was in a strange, dazed state of mind, unable to explain why. He was about to step into a completely new stage of his life, filled with unknown expectations.

Just as his mind was racing with random thoughts, he heard Madam Gao's voice behind him, annoyed, "Xiao Xuan, I've been looking for you for ages, and you're hiding here all by yourself."

It would be nice to have a cigarette right now, but I've never seen one in this world, so even if it were right in front of me, I probably wouldn't be interested.

Suddenly feeling a urge to have a bite, Chen Xuan quickly smiled and said, "No, no, it's just that seeing so many people come to congratulate me feels quite magical. Is there anything you need from me, Madam?"

As someone who had been through it all, Madam Gao understood Chen Xuan's current state of mind. A hint of emotion flashed in her eyes as she tiptoed slightly and patted Chen Xuan's shoulder, saying, "Xiao Xuan, you're an adult now, the head of the family. Don't be so childish all the time, understand?"

"I wish I could stay young forever," Chen Xuan said softly, squatting down to make it easier for Madam Gao to pat his shoulder.

With a wry smile, Madam Gao shook her head and said, "You seem to need His Highness to keep an eye on you in the future, otherwise when will you ever grow up? Anyway, it's almost time now, the banquet is almost full, it's nearly afternoon, Xiao Xuan, when do you plan to start the banquet?"

"Ah, isn't the banquet supposed to start as soon as everyone arrives? Do I have to confirm it?" Chen Xuan scratched his head and said.

Reaching out to stop him, Madam Gao said speechlessly, "Don't mess up your hair. There are so many guests here. You need to be more composed. Of course, you need to be sure. So many guests are here to congratulate you. Shouldn't you show your face, say a few words, and have a toast? Xiao Xuan, no matter how capable you are, they are all guests. This is not the time to be childish."

"Let's start the feast then, but I still have to say a few words in front of everyone. I don't know many people here, can we skip this formality?" Chen Xuan said hesitantly.

Madam Gao gave her a disapproving look and laughed, "You're the groom, there's no reason for you not to show your face. You're not a little girl anymore, why are you shy? Don't worry, just exchange a few polite words, and then the master will be with you. Important guests will be toasted separately, and the others will just have a token toast together. Keep these things in mind in private, don't show it, or you'll offend people."

"Master, you're going to give me your opinion? Okay, I really don't know what to do on my own," Chen Xuan said confidently.

"Hurry up, don't keep the guests waiting. It looks like the banquet will be held several times," Madam Gao urged.

Indeed, there are quite a few guests here now, and there's a long queue outside. The whole street is blocked. There are even more people than when Gao Jingming got married last time. It's like an endless stream. I guess the gate of Chen Xuan's house will have to be shorter.

After parting ways with Madam Gao, Chen Xuan first went to inform Steward He to arrange the banquet, and then went to find Master Gao.

Dishes and wine were served one after another. After a while, Chen Xuan, encouraged by Madam Gao's gaze, reluctantly walked onto the stage for the performance. Upon seeing him, the lively atmosphere gradually quieted down.

Facing numerous gazes, Chen Xuan felt inwardly a little embarrassed, but outwardly remained calm, cupping his hands in greeting and smiling, "Thank you all for coming. I have received your blessings. Thank you very much. Please enjoy your meal and drinks. If there is any neglect, please forgive me. Please make yourselves at home and don't be shy."

After finishing his speech, he bowed again and then calmly stepped off the stage. He felt an urge to run away, feeling incredibly awkward. His few dry words were so unprofessional.

However, these few words received a thunderous response from the guests. Some cheered, some sang enthusiastically, some offered their congratulations, and some even said that Young Master Chen was too polite, which made Chen Xuan's face almost turn red.

Fortunately, Mr. Yushan, who had agreed to officiate the wedding, stepped up in time to say some polite words. Tsk tsk, his intonation was so good, and he had a whole repertoire of little phrases. Chen Xuan was really impressed. He was a cultured man after all. He couldn't learn it, he just couldn't.

Indeed, Mr. Yushan has been the headmaster for so many years, this kind of scene is nothing to him.

Then came the main event. Led by Master Gao, Chen Xuan went from table to table toasting. What impressed him most was that Master Gao could name and identify almost everyone. How long had it been? He had become such a shrewd official. When did he find out the identities and backgrounds of these people?

Of course, Chen Xuan knew the identities, names, and origins of these guests better than Master Gao. With his powerful senses, he could easily find out by paying more attention. But Master Gao didn't have his cultivation or photographic memory.

Otherwise, some people are just born to work in the system.

No matter who they were, they were all there to offer their congratulations. Chen Xuan greeted them with a warm smile and polite manners, drinking every drop of wine without hesitation. After a round of drinks, he had consumed more than ten jars of wine. Even the old man leading him was trembling with fear, occasionally whispering to Chen Xuan if he was alright drinking so much. He said there was no need to push himself so hard; even if he just held the wine in his mouth without drinking, a simple gesture would not have made anyone resentful.

Chen Xuan said it was no problem; he could drink as much as he wanted without even needing to go to the toilet. He could keep drinking as long as he wanted.

He's not bragging; with a few tricks, no matter how much alcohol he drinks, it just goes through his stomach. He drinks it, but where it goes is unimportant.

After toasting each table, the first round of the banquet was almost over, and the second round followed immediately, almost seamlessly.

Although Chen Xuan's mansion occupies a very large area, there are only so many spacious places to hold a banquet. They can't just put it in a corner, so each round has fifty tables. After finishing their meal, guests leave their seats to let other guests sit down.

The guests who had attended the banquet were also very considerate. They had shown their faces and made the necessary gestures and gestures. After all, they had come voluntarily and were not familiar with Chen Xuan. They left one after another after the meal, feeling at ease.

People came and went, making it like a banquet, but each guest brought a substantial gift according to their own circumstances.

Even though Chen Xuan genuinely didn't care about these things, it has to be said that he received so many gifts at the wedding that his hands were sore from receiving them; the gifts piled up like a small mountain.

However, Chen Xuan also prepared return gifts. Each guest would receive a small gift box upon departure, containing some candies, pastries, and gold, silver, and jade items as a souvenir. This was simply a matter of reciprocity.

This is just a simple return gift. Those who come to offer their congratulations should consider whether they are qualified to invite Chen Xuan for any future weddings or funerals in their families.

Chen Xuan was a rough and unrefined man, so naturally he wouldn't have thought about details like returning gifts. But Madam Gao filled in the gaps for him. The banquet went on round after round, with fifty tables each time. Chen Xuan never stopped, constantly toasting and busy until late at night when he saw off the last group of guests.

Afterwards, he thought about it for a moment and realized that the banquet had been held five times since the afternoon, and each time the seats were almost full. Goodness, the three hundred tables of banquet that were confirmed were almost finished on the first day.

This is only the first day! There will definitely be more people coming later. Chen Xuan had no choice but to ask Steward He to communicate with the various restaurants and add another thousand tables. No matter what, it won't be a waste. At most, we can set them up outside on the street and invite passersby to eat.

Chen Xuan didn't seriously calculate how much he spent; compared to the gifts he received, it was nothing.

On the first day, Chen Xuan saw almost no familiar faces among the guests. To put it bluntly, their status was somewhere in between; they weren't big shots in officialdom, top figures in the martial arts world, or among the best merchants.

To be honest, Chen Xuan was somewhat amused and exasperated. What good could these people possibly gain from him by coming to curry favor? Even if they didn't come, was he supposed to cause them any trouble?
But he also understood those people's mentality. With influence reaching Chen Xuan's level, they wanted peace of mind and also wanted to take this opportunity to make connections. Don't underestimate the fact that they were just showing their faces to Chen Xuan; in reality, they facilitated countless collaborations.

After a busy day, Master Gao, despite his considerable cultivation, was somewhat tired due to his age. The next two days would be even busier, so he went home to rest early after the guests left, instructing Chen Xuan and the others not to stay out too late.

The guests had all left, and the servants were cleaning up in preparation for tomorrow's guests. Chen Xuan and his brothers gathered together again.

Slumping into a chair, Chen Xuan looked up at the clear night sky and sighed, "Getting married is such a hassle. My head is practically spinning after this whole day. If it weren't for my elders taking care of me, I might have made a huge fool of myself."

As he spoke, he rubbed his face. His smile hadn't changed all day, and his face was stiff; he almost lost control of his facial expressions.

"Just bear with it, Ah Xuan, it'll be fine in a couple of days," Gao Jingming, who had been through it all, patted him on the shoulder to comfort him.

Tian Xueyu hesitated and said, "Isn't it great? Is it really that tiring? It's making me hesitant to get married."

"Xueyu, you can't think like that. You're engaged and have a close female friend. You can't just start something and then abandon it," Luo Taiyun teased with a sympathetic look.

Deng Lingfeng said casually, "Life is like this, everyone has to go through these things. It's a great occasion, we're too happy to even think about it. Come on, let's have a drink, brothers. By the way, Ah Xuan, you haven't stopped drinking all day, can you still drink?"

"Who do you think you are? Do I look like I'm drunk? Keep going, keep going!" Chen Xuanhu shouted, his body trembling.

Gao Jingming gave a thumbs up and said, "So much wine, I wonder where all of it went, Ah Xuan. I'm impressed. If it were me, I'd probably be passed out by now. Unlike you, you're like you haven't had a drop at all."

"It's simple, just force the alcohol out of your body," Chen Xuan said with a laugh after finishing a bowl.

Zhou Lin said, both amused and exasperated, "Isn't that the same as not drinking it at all?"

"Tell me if it got into my stomach or not. I respect every customer. Black Tiger, let me toast you. Thanks for keeping an eye on the kitchen today. Red Robe, Little Miao, I was too busy to look after you, don't worry about it. And to the rest of you, thank you for your hard work today..."

The guys played until late at night before finally going their separate ways.

When they returned to the room, Dujuan asked with concern, "Master, you drank so much today, should I bring you some hangover soup?"

"No need," Chen Xuan said, waving his hand. "That little bit of wine is like nothing to me, but I'll be reeking of alcohol all day. I'll prepare some hot water and soak in it properly."

As Du Juan nodded in agreement, she asked, "By the way, Sister Juan, is everything alright with the arrangements I made for you? We need it the day after tomorrow."

"Don't worry, sir, there won't be the slightest mistake. If I can't even handle this small matter, I will atone with my death," Du Juan said earnestly.

Chen Xuan shook his head and said, "Sister Juan, please don't say that. It's not that serious."

The next day arrived in the blink of an eye. It was the second day of the third month, Chen Xuan's last single day before his wedding. Strictly speaking, he hadn't been single since the wedding.

Early that morning, Chen Xuan and his group arrived at the gate to welcome guests. Chen Xuan thought it would be like yesterday, and he would have to wait a long time for guests to arrive. He even considered sneaking away to take a nap.

Before they could even exchange a few words, guests arrived early in the morning.

Upon seeing the newcomers, Chen Xuan's gaze froze for a moment. He quickly stepped forward, his eyes filled with surprise and delight, and said, "Sister Qinghe, Sister Qingyu, Sister Qingdou, Brother Du... what brings you all here?"

The women who came were the ones who had taken good care of Chen Xuan when he first came to the Gao family. Qinghe and Qingyu were Madam Gao's personal maids. They had even joked that they were born at the wrong time, otherwise they would have asked Madam Gao to marry them to Chen Xuan. Qingdou took care of the daily life and other trivial matters in Gao Jingming's courtyard.

They had married and left the Gao family years ago. When they got married, Chen Xuan and Gao Jingming were studying at Liuyu Academy and could not see them off in person. Unexpectedly, they came together with their families, each with one or two half-grown children by their side.

They clearly had traveled a long way to get here, and perhaps had rested for a day or two beforehand, but the fatigue and dust on their faces were unmistakable to Chen Xuan's keen senses.

At this moment, Chen Xuan was filled with mixed feelings. When he first went to the Gao family, he was unaware of his terrifying martial arts talent. Everything was unknown and uncertain. It was thanks to the careful care of Qinghe and Qingyu that he gradually adapted to the new environment.

To his shame, Chen Xuan had considered inviting them, but he forced himself to find an excuse not to disturb their peaceful lives. He planned to visit them after the wedding and take his newlywed wife on a honeymoon. He never expected them to come on their own.

"Is Xuan-ge'er surprised? Back then, you called us 'sister' so sweetly. You didn't even inform us of such a big event as your marriage. Have you forgotten about us?" Qinghe said with a smile, her gaze as gentle as ever.

The word "Xuan-ge'er" almost instantly pulled Chen Xuan back to more than ten years ago. Hearing this, he felt as if he had committed a heinous crime, his face flushed red with embarrassment, and he hurriedly waved his hands, saying, "No, how could I forget Sister Qinghe and the others? I'm sorry, I..."

He didn't intend to make excuses for himself, but before he could finish speaking, Qingyu interrupted with a laugh, "Alright, stop scaring Xuan-ge'er. He's not that kind of person. Look how frightened he is, he can't even speak properly. Marriage is such a troublesome thing, we as his older sisters have already failed to help him, we're already too sorry, so stop teasing him."

Chen Xuan felt a warmth in his heart. They were still as understanding as they had been back then. Chen Xuan bowed deeply and said, "Sisters, I feel ashamed."

"What are you saying, Xuan-ge? This is a joyous occasion, don't make a fool of yourself. It's been so many years since we last met, you've grown so much, I almost didn't recognize you. Back then you were just a little kid who couldn't even find a place to eat, and now you're so much taller than me," Qingdou interrupted, gesturing with her hand as she looked at Chen Xuan, her eyes filled with emotion, but even more so with happiness for him.

The little child who needed care back then has grown up and started a family in the blink of an eye… (End of Chapter)