Becoming an immortal from a canal worker

Chapter 185 The Banquet

evening.

A large round table was set up in the main hall of the Bai family to welcome them and wash away the dust of their journey.

It wasn't luxurious, but it was very plentiful.

The dishes weren't luxurious, but they were plentiful and satisfying.

Braised pork belly, steamed fish, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and in the very center, a pot of old hen soup with butter floating on top.

The table was covered with steaming hot food.

Bai Chongshan sat in the main seat, greeting everyone with a friendly expression as they took their seats.

Zhang Tingwan's father was seated as a guest.

He changed into a set of clean, fine cloth clothes prepared in advance by the Bai family's servants, but he still couldn't shake off the awkwardness he had developed over half a lifetime.

He sat upright on the round stool, unsure of what to do with his large, calloused hands.

He would grip the pant leg tightly at his knee for a moment, then loosen it, only to be unable to resist gripping it again.

Zhang's mother sat close to her husband.

She still had that docile look she'd had after a lifetime of hard work, and faced with the pomp and circumstance of this wealthy family, she instinctively shrank closer to her husband.

Zhang Xiaoman sat next to her mother, behaving very properly.

But the little girl's big eyes couldn't help but wander around, especially to the plate of glistening, red braised pork in the center of the table. She swallowed hard and secretly glanced at it several times.

Zhang Tingwan sat next to Chen Ping.

From the moment he stepped through the Bai family's gate, a relieved smile remained on his face, a smile he couldn't suppress.

Zhao Shuyan was also present, sitting to Bai Chongshan's right, quietly serving as a spectator.

Bai Chongshan picked up his wine glass and said with a smile, "Today is a happy day. The Zhang family is reunited in peace, and we should all share in this joy. Come on, let's have a drink."

Everyone raised their glasses and gently clinked them together in the center of the table.

Mr. Zhang held the exquisite white porcelain wine cup, his wrist trembling slightly.

He tilted his head back and carefully took a sip, only to be choked by the strong liquor. He lowered his head and coughed twice.

His dark face flushed red instantly, and he exclaimed repeatedly, "Good wine, truly good wine."

Bai Chongshan picked up the serving chopsticks, placed a piece of braised pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat on the plate in front of him, and gently advised, "Brother, eat more vegetables and drink slowly."

Mr. Zhang nodded repeatedly.

He lowered his head and began to eat the white rice in his bowl, chewing each bite carefully, afraid of making the slightest sound.

Zhang's mother picked up a piece of fish meat, deboned, and placed it in Zhang Xiaoman's bowl, whispering, "Xiaoman, eat slowly, be careful not to get a fish bone stuck in your throat."

Zhang Xiaoman's chopsticks moved swiftly between the plates.

Before he could even swallow a piece of fish, the tip of his chopsticks had already precisely pierced a piece of braised pork.

Compared to the fear she felt on the third floor of the Chamber of Commerce that afternoon, the little girl is now much more relaxed, at least she dares to reach out with her chopsticks to pick up food.

While chewing meat with her cheeks bulging, she secretly glanced at Chen Ping sitting diagonally across from her out of the corner of her eye.

Chen Ping was holding a large bowl and was focused on eating the food in front of him.

His speed in eating rice seemed steady, but his efficiency was astonishing.

In no time at all, he had already finished his third bowl of rice.

Zhang Xiaoman stared in astonishment as she watched the towering man in black pour bowl after bowl of food into his stomach.

This time, however, she didn't dare to make a sound, but silently sped up the pace of stuffing food into her mouth.

Zhang Tingwan glanced at her younger sister, her smile widening.

The atmosphere at the dinner table gradually warmed up. Bai Chongshan was talkative, chatting with Zhang's father about everyday things, asking where his hometown was, what kind of land they farmed, and how the harvest was.

Mr. Zhang was a man of few words, but he answered every question honestly and straightforwardly.

Bai Ming and Zhao Shuyan were talking quietly about the manpower allocation within the Chamber of Commerce, keeping their voices very low so as not to disturb the reminiscing at the main table.

Throughout the entire meal, Zhang's mother silently served food to her husband and daughter, while barely touching the little bit of rice in her own bowl.

Chen Ping saw all of this, but did not say anything to expose it.

After several rounds of drinks...

Chen Ping put down his empty bowl, turned to look at Zhang Tingwan beside him, and casually asked, "How's things going at the outer courtyard lately? The competition is almost here."

Zhang Tingwan put down her chopsticks, her expression becoming more serious: "Everyone is preparing for battle behind closed doors, and the atmosphere is much more tense than it was a few months ago. Fu Ci broke through to the Yuan Gang realm a few days ago, and Zhou Ji's Gang Yuan has also accumulated to a near-perfect level, almost touching the threshold."

He paused for a moment, lowering his voice slightly.

"But things aren't quite right with Zhai Jing lately."

Chen Ping glanced at him: "What happened?"

Zhang Tingwan frowned, a hint of worry in her eyes: "These past few days, the steward of the Affairs Hall has spoken to her alone in the inner hall twice. I don't know what they talked about. Since she came back from the Affairs Hall, she hasn't said much. She's also been absent-minded when she's practicing in the training ground."

He picked up a small piece of green vegetable and chewed it slowly in his mouth.

"She seemed so preoccupied that I didn't dare ask her. Brother Chen, why don't you go and ask her sometime?"

Chen Ping nodded silently.

Seeing that Chen Ping agreed, Zhang Tingwan stopped talking about the topic and picked up her bowl to continue eating.

The atmosphere at the dinner table returned to harmony.

After eating and drinking his fill, Zhang Xiaoman fell asleep on the edge of the round table without anyone noticing.

A single grain of white rice still clung to the corner of his mouth, his eyes were half-open and half-closed, and his head bobbed down little by little with each even breath.

Seeing this, Zhang's mother quickly put down her chopsticks and gently helped her daughter sit up straight.

With the rough cuff of his sleeve, he carefully wiped the rice grains from the corners of her mouth.

Just as everyone was eating.

A servant of the Bai family strode into the main hall, leaned close to Bai Chongshan's ear, and whispered a few words.

Bai Chongshan's smiling face instantly darkened.

His chopsticks, which were holding food, hovered in mid-air for a moment.

Then, he slowly placed the chopsticks on the edge of the porcelain bowl.

He picked up the teacup beside him, took a sip, and completely wiped the smile off his face.

Bai Ming had been watching his father's expression closely. Seeing this, he put down his chopsticks and asked softly, "Father, what happened?"

Bai Chongshan paused for a moment.

His gaze swept over the people at the table.

Finally, he spoke up.

"Just received news. The trade routes leading to Jinnan Prefecture have been cut off."

Bai Ming was stunned for a moment, his face full of astonishment: "It broke? What happened? How could it suddenly break?"

Bai Chongshan shook his head, his voice heavy with seriousness.

"The specific reason is still under investigation. All roads leading there are now blocked. No matter which chamber of commerce it is, their customs clearance certificates are not recognized. They are simply blocking the roads and prohibiting passage."

As he spoke, he glanced at Zhao Shuyan, who was sitting at the lower end of the table.

Zhao Shuyan put down his chopsticks, his brows furrowed slightly, and remained silent.

Bai Ming asked urgently, "What about the medicinal herbs that Uncle Sun is in charge of—"

Bai Chongshan raised his hand, interrupting his son.

"Jinan Prefecture is Sun Guangde's largest source of supplies. If this route is cut off, our Chamber of Commerce's business in medicinal herbs will have to come to a standstill in the short term."

He took the string of walnuts out of his sleeve and slowly turned them in his palm, his voice very low.

"However, this is not a problem for our family alone. All the chambers of commerce that rely on Jinnan Prefecture for their goods are in the same boat right now. Let's not panic and see how things go from the top tomorrow."

A brief silence fell over the dinner table.

Chen Ping held the bowl, took a sip of soup, and didn't reply.

Bai Chongshan took a deep breath and quickly suppressed his anxiety.

He picked up his wine glass again, and his amiable smile returned to his face.

"Today is a joyous day for the Zhang family reunion. Let's leave these outside worries for tomorrow. Come on, let's continue drinking."

Seeing this, everyone raised their glasses in response.

The atmosphere at the dinner table became lively again, but Chen Ping noticed that Bai Chongshan's walnuts were spinning much faster than usual.

After the meal, Bai Chongshan arranged for servants to assemble a spacious carriage to escort Zhang Tingwan's family back to their small residence in the east of the city.

Before getting into the car, Zhang Tingwan's father turned around and walked up to Chen Ping.

He straightened up and paused for a moment.

He then bent his hunched back and bowed deeply to Chen Ping.

"Thanks."

Chen Ping reached out and helped him up, saying, "Uncle, don't be so polite. Tingwan is my brother."

With red eyes, Zhang's father nodded vigorously, then turned and followed the servants into the carriage.

Zhang Xiaoman had fallen into a deep sleep.

She nestled limply in Zhang's mother's arms, smacking her lips every now and then, as if she were still vaguely chewing something in her dream.

Zhang Tingwan walked at the very back.

When he reached the entrance of the Bai family compound, he paused and turned around.

"Brother Chen, this is the Outer Court Grand Competition."

He took a deep breath, his thin face revealing a resolute expression.

"I will definitely do my best."

Chen Ping looked at him and nodded.

"it is good."

Zhang Tingwan turned around, stepped over the threshold, and got into the carriage.

Chen Ping stood alone in the Bai family's courtyard.

A crescent moon hung in the sky, its light cold and clear.

He stood there for a while, then turned and walked towards the Cangwu Terrace.

As night deepened and the streets became less crowded, his footsteps echoed softly on the cobblestone pavement.

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