Drinking

Tang Chen was momentarily speechless, his hand holding the teacup froze in mid-air, then he chuckled.

"Fine, fine, I can't argue with you. I was just joking about the marriage."

Qian Daoliu said, "Alright, our children and grandchildren have their own lives to live, we don't need to worry about them. At our age, we can just enjoy tea."

Tang Chen accepted Qian Daoliu's tea-pouring ceremony. "But I still think you've changed the most. Old Qian, have a lot of problems!"

Qian Daoliu said helplessly, "Stop looking. It's just that I had some insights into my state of mind, plus we haven't seen each other for several years."

Tang Chen nodded. "Alright, anyway, Old Qian cunning swindler with the most secrets."

Qian Daoliu silent for a moment.

If it weren't for Qian Xunji's marriage, he would really want to drag Tang Chen out of the city for a duel right now.

Qian Xunji glanced at her and nodded slightly.

Then he addressed everyone in the hall. "Gentlemen, today is the wedding day of the Pope of the Spirit Hall, and we are honored by the presence of all. Ling Yuan and I are now husband and wife, and from this day forward, we will be of one heart and one mind, working together to protect the Spirit Hall."

The conversation was brief and to the point, without any unnecessary formalities.

A chorus of congratulatory voices filled the hall. "Congratulations to the Pope and Pope on their wedding! May they live a long and happy life together and have many children!"

Qian Xunji then continued, "Thank you all. The banquet has been prepared outside the hall. Please feel free to drink and eat to your heart's content!"

Tang Chen said impatiently, "Old Qian, it's your son's wedding. Since there's no fighting, you should drink to your heart's content! No one leaves until they're drunk!"

Qian Daoliu up his sleeves and said, "You think I'm afraid of you? This time I'm going to drink you under the table. Come on, to my courtyard!"

"Let's go," Tang Chen said, standing up.

Qian Xunji and Ling Yuan went to offer a toast together, accompanied by Yue Guan.

Bibi Dong, carrying a plate of food and a bottle of wine, happily arrived at Lin Fan's residence.

Lin Fan only heard footsteps after Bibi Dong stepped through the Soul Power isolation array.

Lin Fan sat up and waited for Bibi Dong to come in.

"Dong'er? You're back so soon?"

"I've brought you a dish and a bottle of wine." Bibi Dong placed the tray on the table and sat down on the edge of the bed. "I picked out a few dishes that looked decent for the wedding feast."

Lin Fan groped to sit up a little straighter, his nose twitching. "Smells delicious. Is there meat and wine?"

Bibi Dong chuckled and said, "Of course there will be celebratory wine for Teacher's wedding, but this wine might be a bit strong."

Lin Fan smiled and said, "Then I must share in the Village Chief's good fortune."

"By the way, have I paid my gift money?"

Bibi Dong laughed and said, "I've paid, three hundred yuan!"

Lin Fan nodded and said, "That's good. Dong'er, you sound really happy today."

Bibi Dong smiled and said, "Of course I'm happy! I've finally married off my teacher."

Lin Fan said helplessly, "The way you're saying that, the Village Chief won't say anything to you. It's like you're going to marry into the family."

Bibi Dong urged, "Alright, hurry up and eat, it'll get cold if you don't eat soon."

Lin Fan took the chopsticks, picked up a piece of meat, put it in his mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and said with satisfaction, "Delicious. Dong'er, the feast in your village is really good."

Bibi Dong said with a grin, "Eat as much as you like, I'll pour you some wine."

Lin Fan nodded and said, "Alright, have you eaten yet? Why don't we eat together? Or you can have a drink if you like."

Bibi Dong nodded and said, "Alright, I'm in a good mood today, so I'll have a couple of drinks with you."

Bibi Dong picked up the wine bottle, poured half a glass for Lin Fan, and poured half a glass for herself as well.

Lin Fan picked up the glass, brought it to his nose, and smelled it. "This wine doesn't smell strong."

"It doesn't smell strong, but it has a powerful aftereffect." Bibi Dong picked up her cup and clinked it against his. "Drink slowly, or your head will start hurting again."

Bibi Dong spoke, she sat down opposite Lin Fan, still in her formal attire, her dress trailing on the ground.

Lin Fan took a sip, smacked his lips, and said, "It's sweet. Like fruit juice."

"I told you it has a strong aftereffect." Bibi Dong also took a sip; the fruit wine went down her throat, sweet with a hint of spiciness.

The two of them ate and drank casually, one leaning against the headboard and the other sitting on the edge of the bed.

Lin Fan recounted a story about how his family laughed at him when he drank too much fruit wine as a child. Bibi Dong listened, occasionally chiming in with a comment or two.

After a few rounds of drinks, Lin Fan's face flushed slightly, and he became more talkative than before.

Bibi Dong's face turned completely red, and her eyes were watery and dazed.

Fortunately, she possessed Soul Power, which allowed her to remain conscious.

"Dong'er," Lin Fan put down his cup and suddenly said, "You're happy today, isn't it just because the Village Chief is getting married?"

Bibi Dong paused in her act of raising her glass and asked, "What do you mean?"

"When you came in just now, your steps were lighter than usual," Lin Fan said. "You usually walk fast, but today, the speed was like a weight had been lifted off your shoulders."

Bibi Dong paused for a moment.

She looked down at the glass in her hand, the amber liquid swirling on the glass.

"I suppose so," Bibi Dong said. "Now that our teacher is married, it's certainly one less thing to worry about for me, her disciple."

Lin Fan simply said "oh" and didn't press further.

After a while, Bibi Dong continued, "Speaking of which, Master's wife looks really beautiful today, and her clothes are also very nice."

"I wonder when I'll be able to wear this for a whole day."

Lin Fan said, "Dong'er, the way you're saying that makes it sound like you're envious."

Bibi Dong, holding her glass, was flushed with the wine, her cheeks rosy, and she spoke more freely than usual, "What's there to envy? I just think it looks good. My teacher's wife is wearing that deep red dress today, her hair is neatly tied up, and she looks completely different from usual."

Lin Fan smiled and said, "Don't worry, girls will have their day eventually."

"And Dong'er, you'll look great in it too."

Bibi Dong's hand paused for a moment on the rim of the cup.

"You can't see it, how would you know it's beautiful?"

"I can tell a person's character by their voice," Lin Fan said matter-of-factly. "You have a nice voice, so you must be good-looking too."

Bibi Dong was momentarily speechless at his words. She lowered her head, took a sip of wine, and her ear tips turned even redder than before.

Fortunately, Lin Fan couldn't see it, so she didn't need to bother hiding it.

"Alright, alright, stop joking around." Bibi Dong put down her cup, stood up, and said, "Once you're finished eating, you can rest. I'm going back."

"You're leaving already?" Lin Fan tilted his head. "Won't you stay a little longer?"

Bibi Dong said irritably, "I'm not sitting here anymore. If I sit any longer, the alcohol will kick in, and I'm afraid I won't be able to walk back."

"Otherwise, if you keep drinking, I'll take over your bed."

Lin Fan scratched the back of his head and gave an awkward laugh. "I was just being polite, nothing more."

"Alright, I'm leaving." She picked up the tray and walked towards the door.

"Dong'er," Lin Fan called from behind.

"What's wrong now?"

Lin Fan added, "Drive carefully. You've been drinking, so don't fall. I've heard that this kind of low-proof liquor can knock you out with just a gust of wind."

Bibi Dong paused for a moment, but didn't turn around. "Understood."

She pushed the door open and went out, closing it gently behind her.

Yue Guan leaned against a pillar and caught her breath.

Gui Mei emerged from the shadows and stood beside him.

"I'm exhausted," Yue Guan said. "This Pope's wedding was more tiring than a fight."

The Gui Mei didn't reply, but simply handed over a glass of water.

Yue Guan took it, drank two mouthfuls, and let out a long breath.

"Oh, right," Yue Guan suddenly remembered something, "How's Lin Fan's situation? Has no one gone over?"

The Gui Mei said, " With the Saintess here, no one is going over there."

"That's good!"