In the private dining room at Old Sichuan, red chili oil bubbled, and the fierce, spicy scent of Sichuan peppercorns forced its way into their noses, making their stomachs clamor for food.
Wang Xiaoliang awkwardly scooped up some soup with his left hand. His right palm, wrapped in thick gauze like a rice dumpling, rested on his thigh. The slightest movement sent a piercing pain from his palm straight to his head.
Wei Zijin said nothing, silently placing a piece of freshly cooked beef tripe in his bowl.
The food at the five-star hotel had looked lovely and tasted good, but the portions had barely been enough to fill a gap between their teeth. They had all been hungry to begin with, and with the wedding banquet cut short, they were starving by now.
Before long, Zhou Qiang brought Li Lanxiang over too.
Li Lanxiang entered with her big pregnant belly, still saying, "I just ate," but as soon as her eyes landed on the tableful of fiery-red dishes, she unconsciously picked up her chopsticks and started eating.
Zeng Haiyan gave her an embellished account of what had happened at the wedding banquet, and Li Lanxiang kept clicking her tongue as she listened.
"Xiaoliang, look at you! A real man!"
"My mom was right about that old rule. Pregnant women shouldn't just go attending weddings-the happy occasions clash! Besides... that pregnant woman was carrying the groom's own child. Whoa, of course that made the clash even worse!"
As she spoke, she glanced at Wang Xiaoliang's hand, her face full of concern. "Oh dear, is your hand all right? It hurts just looking at it."
Wang Xiaoliang shook his head. "Just a flesh wound."
"Zijin was too softhearted. One slap was letting her off lightly. If it were me, I'd have