"Ow! Little Yu, stop pulling Grandpa's beard!"
"Ee-ya~ Ee-ya!"
Although the old man looked helpless, his eyes brimmed with affection.
The child was a little mischievous, but he was simply too adorable!
Cao Yanjun doted on his grandson.
Even after having several beard hairs plucked out, he was still willing to play with Little Yu.
Cao Yu had no other thoughts, either. Aside from curiosity, all he wanted was to return to his mother's arms.
After all, this grandfather he had acquired kept holding him and refused to let him go.
His mother's arms smelled much nicer!
If he did not pluck out a few of his beard hairs, the old man really would think he was easy to bully!
Only that evening.
Did Cao Yanjun reluctantly return the child to Cao Xiang, looking back three times with every step as he left.
This left Cao Yu feeling quite helpless, too.
Had he known, he would have let the Shadow Clone keep stopping the old man from holding him. It was too late to say anything now.
A few days later.
Cao Yu's full-month banquet took place as scheduled.
When word of the Cao Clan's situation spread, the Star Luo Empire began to stir.
The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, the Tang Sect, the Star Luo Imperial Family, and the various great clans all began making preparations.
Because they all knew.
The time to hug a powerful thigh had arrived!
If they did not grab on now, when would they!
However, the Cao Clan had not distributed invitations. They had only invited some familiar friends and clansmen to Cao Yu's full-month banquet, intending to keep it low-key.
In addition, Cao Yanjun had the servants set out a row of wooden tables and chairs outside the Cao residence.
Fine wine and various meat dishes were placed on the tables, and the neighbors were invited to celebrate with them.
"Crackle, pop..."
"Crackle, pop..."
Outside the Cao residence, firecrackers rang out, filling the entire street with noise.
Gongs and drums thundered to the heavens! The atmosphere grew lively.
Everyone raised their wine toward Cao Xiang.
"Clan Head Cao, congratulations, congratulations!"
"Congratulations on your son reaching one month old!"
"Thank you, thank you all for coming. I'll drain this drink first as a toast!"
Cao Xiang lifted a bowl of wine and gulped it down, then turned the bowl upside down. Not a drop remained.
"Clan Head Cao, how forthright!"
"We'll drain ours, too!"
"Eat and drink your fill, everyone! Make yourselves at home!"
"Thank you, Clan Head Cao!"
Everyone dispensed with formalities and began sweeping through the delicacies on the tables.
It had to be said that the Cao Clan's cooking really did suit their tastes. Every dish was exceptionally delicious.
Satisfied smiles appeared on everyone's faces.
Just as everyone was eating with gusto.
Someone outside the entrance shouted.
"The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect: ten medicinal herbs and one million two hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins!"
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan: one Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone and five hundred and sixty thousand Gold Soul Coins!"
"The Tang Sect: two Class 6 Soul Tools and nine hundred and sixty thousand Gold Soul Coins!"
"The Star Luo Imperial Family: two fifty-thousand-year soul bones, two hundred jars of wine supplied exclusively to the imperial household, and two million Gold Soul Coins!"
"Guardian Douluo Cheng Gang: ten jars of wine supplied exclusively to the imperial household and one Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone!"
"Heavenly Water Douluo Xu Tianshui: three wish talismans!"
"Hollow Bamboo Douluo Liu Kongzhu: ten boxes of tea supplied exclusively to the imperial household and ninety thousand Gold Soul Coins!"
"Mysterious Water Douluo Lu Xuanshui: one soul core from a ten-thousand-year soul beast!"
"..."
Everyone turned to look outside in unison.
Good heavens!
Was the Cao Clan really this popular now?
Even the Star Luo Imperial Family had sent people.
And they had brought so much money.
Seeing the ten black-clad figures inside the Cao residence, everyone instantly understood something.
So they had come to hug a powerful thigh!
Everyone looked at this group and chuckled merrily.
"Clan Head Cao, long time no see."
"Congratulations, congratulations!"
Cheng Gang held Cao Xiang's hand, his face wreathed in smiles.
Heavenly Water Douluo and the others followed him inside.
"Clan Head Cao, we've come uninvited and imposed on you. Please accept these small gifts as our apology!"
"No, no! These gifts are far too valuable. I can't possibly accept them."
"Why bring gifts when you're just coming for a celebratory drink? Honestly."
Looking at the gifts covering the ground, Cao Xiang immediately felt a headache coming on.
The Gold Soul Coins had even been packed into chests, with cartload after cartload lined up at the entrance.
They were almost piled into a mountain.
Everyone stared, dumbfounded.
Many of them had never seen so much money in their entire lives.
Were they finally getting to feast their eyes on it now?
"Clan Head Cao, is this your son? What a handsome boy!"
"Clan Head Cao, my daughter is only a few years older. How about making a match?"
"Hey! People have praised my daughter since she was little. She'll be quite a match for your son."
"Clan Head Cao, don't listen to them. My niece is a princess of the Star Luo Empire. She's been beautiful since she was little, and she'd be a perfect match for your son! Just say the word, and titles like viscount or earl will be no problem!"
"Hahaha! This is indeed my humble son. He's only just learned to crawl and can't speak yet."
A crowd surrounded Cao Yu, their gazes eager, wishing they could hug that powerful thigh right away.
However, the black-clad figures guarded Cao Yu closely, and no one dared approach.
After all, these were ten Limit Douluos!
In truth, Cao Yu felt quite helpless, too.
He felt like an iron-eating beast in a zoo.
Everyone was curious about him.
Those eager gazes practically made his skin crawl.
But there was clearly only one Limit Douluo. How had the rumors turned that into ten?
Cao Yu could not figure it out.
Still, this was a good thing. At least no one would dare provoke the Cao Clan in the future.
He could also settle into being a young wastrel without worry.
How blissful!
What did it mean to stand at the pinnacle of life?
It meant having every faction curry favor with you from the moment you were born.
Look!
People were already offering him wives of their own accord.
And quite a few of them, too.
Cao Yu had won at the starting line the moment he was born.
These people had gathered all the information before coming to the Cao Clan.
They all knew these ten seniors disliked talking.
So no one went out of their way to invite an unpleasant rebuff.
Instead, they turned their attention to the Cao Clan's head.
Everyone kept offering toasts.
Cao Xiang and Cao Yanjun, father and son, had no choice but to take turns facing them, one cup after another, until both were utterly drunk.
"Come on, bottoms up!"
"Once we drink this cup, we're brothers!"
"Clan Head Cao, you're drunk."
"I'm not drunk. I can still drink!"
"Clan Head Cao, how's your consideration of that matter coming along?"
Xu Tianshui and the others watched Cao Xiang, their words carrying a hint of suggestion.
Cao Xiang was a little muddled. "What matter?"
"The marriage between my niece and your son, of course. Marrying a princess would bring such glory to your ancestors!"
"My daughter is no worse. Though she's a few years older, she'll soon be the next Tang Sect master. Clan Head Cao, won't you consider it?"
"Clan Head Cao, don't listen to them. As long as your son marries my daughter, he'll be the next sect master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect!"
"Uh... have Little Yu marry them? No! He's still a child."
Cao Xiang's gaze steadied as he spoke with an extremely serious expression.
Seeing that he would not agree, everyone took turns plying him with wine again.
One cup from you, one cup from me!
As Cao Xiang's and Cao Yanjun's faces grew even redder, everyone exchanged smiles.
They were all wily old schemers.
Their methods were evenly matched.
None was willing to be outdone.
"Clan Head Cao, Clan Head Cao!"
Cao Xiang could hold on no longer and slumped asleep on the table.
He let out rumbling snores.
He had clearly fallen asleep.
Alas!
Such a fine opportunity. What a pity!
Everyone sighed inwardly.
"No matter. We'll come again next time!"
They already knew Cao Xiang's weakness. When the time came, they only needed to invite him over as a guest.
Would they still have to worry about marrying off their daughters or nieces?
Smiles of successful scheming appeared on everyone's faces.
They chuckled merrily!
Every one of them was a crafty old fox.
"Take care, everyone."
"Of course, old clan head. Please take Clan Head Cao back to his room to rest. We'll be off."
"We'll visit again!"
Everyone had eaten and drunk to their hearts' content at the full-month banquet, and they left the Cao residence in high spirits.
A group of servants helped support Clan Head Cao and brought him back to his room.
And so, Cao Yu's full-month banquet ended with "a scare, but no danger."
(End of chapter)