CHAPTER 281: CHAPTER 255: THE WEDDING (PART 2)

The atmosphere was filled with the antique charm of Chinese culture.

Yin Shixiu wore a dark red wedding outfit. His posture was upright, his features handsome, and no matter what he wore, he exuded a unique charm.

The couple returned hand in hand to the banquet.

Guests could choose to rest, but if the newlyweds slipped away without a trace, it would be disrespectful to the guests.

So, although Su Xiaomeng felt a bit drowsy, she forced herself to stay spirited.

With Yin Shixiu’s guidance, she met many people whom she wasn’t familiar with before.

Among them, the arrival of a middle-aged man in his forties surprised and delighted Su Xiaomeng.

For Su Xiaomeng, who had set her sights on becoming a "translator," the National High Translation Institute was her dream destination.

She knew that stepping through that threshold might require her at least five years.

The middle-aged man was the current dean of the High Translation Institute, who once dominated the simultaneous interpretation chair in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Su Xiaomeng was not entirely clear about the man’s relationship with the Yin Family elders, but from between the lines, she could easily tell that he wasn’t very keen on attending their wedding.

It should have been out of respect for the Yin Family elders.

As for why the Yin Family elders invited him, Su Xiaomeng thought she understood.

After a brief greeting, the dean of the High Translation Institute left.

Yin Shixiu noticed Su Xiaomeng’s restraint and chuckled lightly.

Su Xiaomeng heard the laugh and, instead of blaming Yin Shixiu, muttered regretfully, "I wish I had said a few more words just now..."

After hearing that, Yin Shixiu’s eyes soft and luminous, he held her hand and continued to move around the guest area with her.

Introducing her to more people she had never interacted with before.

These people came from different fields, and perhaps the only thing they had in common was... they’re all equally outstanding and privileged.

He originally didn’t want the wedding to become a social event.

But when he saw Su Xiaomeng didn’t resist, but rather, embraced and actively tried to adapt, he stopped worrying.

He let go of her hand, allowing her to try meeting more people, understanding more people.

Overall, the wedding was quite pleasant, aside from the boisterous young ones, the children were probably the most excited...

Children always maintained an innocent curiosity toward new things.

Perhaps what might not seem surprising to adults appeared mysterious and incredible to them.

The children were a beautiful sight at the wedding, but inevitably caused some minor troubles...

Near four o’clock, as guests at the banquet gradually dispersed, Yin Shixiu and Su Xiaomeng were preparing to return to their room for a short rest.

However, not far away, they heard a boy crying.

Su Xiaomeng seemed more alert, turning her head upon hearing it, and Yin Shixiu followed her gaze to see Yin Junchao and Du Qing with Du Fan in a corner...

They seemed to have had an unpleasant dispute.

Su Xiaomeng stepped forward, but Yin Junchao’s parents were faster.

By the time she got there, Zhu Lan had already embraced Yin Junchao, pointing her finger at Du Qing, "What’s wrong with you, little girl? How can you bully your little brother?"

Du Qing was not someone who would take any mistreatment.

Hearing the adult’s words, her eyes reddened at once, and she immediately retorted sharply, "I didn’t bully him! He took my stuff first!"

"Boo hoo... boo hoo..."

Du Qing couldn’t stand the grievance, oblivious that Yin Junchao, who had been coddled since young, more indulgent to grievances, started to cry loudly.

Seeing her son crying like this, Zhu Lan’s arrogance flared, naturally thinking her son must have suffered a great injustice!

"Why are you crying! How can a man cry like that, like a little girl!"

With Yin Junchao under his mother’s protection, Du Qian didn’t hesitate to shield his sister behind him.

Upon hearing Du Qian’s words, Zhu Lan’s brows almost knotted, "How can you talk like that?! Where are your parents?! Didn’t anyone teach you?"

"Can we calm down a bit first, Zhu Lan?"

Su Xiaomeng lightly furrowed her brow, having stood there for a while. But Zhu Lan’s antics only intensified.

To say Zhu Lan didn’t know Du Qing and Du Qian’s relationship with her, Su Xiaomeng doubted it.

Zhu Lan and Su Xiaomeng were originally at odds.

Knowing the little girl’s connection to Su Xiaomeng, she scolded her more harshly, seeing Su Xiaomeng standing by.

Now that Su Xiaomeng spoke up, Zhu Lan immediately shifted her attention to her.

"Su Xiaomeng, so your son wasn’t the one pushed down? Standing here speaking so effortlessly, I saw this wild girl pushing Chao Chao down with my own eyes!"

Zhu Lan’s emotional outburst prompted Yin Junchao, aware that his mother would stand up for him, to cry more miserably.

Du Qian’s ears were almost ringing from the noise, and an unexplained anger rose, "There were so many snacks on that table over there. You didn’t go for those, but you reached for my sister’s plate, and when she wouldn’t give it to you, you hit her. Now you’re crying like a girl!"

Du Qian was thirteen years old this year and had grown much taller since Su Xiaomeng last saw him.

Having started middle school, it seemed he’d matured overnight, becoming much more sensible.

Being a boy, albeit young, his spirit was particularly bold, and upon seeing his sister being bullied, he immediately argued in defense!

"Xiao Qian."

Su Xiaomeng quickly reached out to pull Du Qian to her side, signaling him to stop shouting.

Du Qian saw his sister being wronged, and over there a seven-year-old little devil, obviously causing trouble, yet acting like a victim.

Now the cousin is blocking him, not letting him argue back, and in that moment, he couldn’t hold back his anger, taking a deep breath, "It clearly is—"

"Xiao Qian."

It was Yin Shixiu who spoke, gently interrupting Du Qian’s near-explosive emotions.

He frowned, looking at Yin Shixiu...

"Don’t argue, things will be clarified."

That’s all Yin Shixiu said, and Du Qian forcibly swallowed his rising anger.

With arms crossed over his chest, he glared at the brat acting spoiled just because he was young and had someone to protect him, like some little princess throwing a tantrum.

Su Xiaomeng saw Du Qian calm down and looked at Du Qing...

This little girl was nine years old this year, the age where one’s understanding of people, events, and things was still half-baked.

Ninety percent of her psychological reliance was still on older relatives.

The little girl wasn’t someone easy to mess with either, usually quite mischievous and sly, her big, Shui Ling-like eyes much resembling their aunt’s.

At this moment, her bright eyes, filled with tears, looked at Su Xiaomeng, appearing extremely aggrieved.

On the other side, Zhu Lan held her son, continuously comforting and asking, "Chao Chao, where did you hurt yourself? Let’s not cry, okay? Let’s go find Grandpa, let Grandpa stand up for us, okay?"

"Mom, the bum, the bum hurts..."

Yin Junchao had two big tear stains hanging at the corners of his eyes, rubbing his little bum with his hands, he said in a baby voice.

Zhu Lan glared at Du Qing, "If my son gets hurt anywhere, even if you sell everything, you can’t afford it!"

Zhu Lan’s voice rose in another reprimand!

"Sister Meng Meng, he hit me first, he took my things first, he even called me a country bumpkin, said I and my brother are hillbillies, boo hoo... Meng Meng—"

"Shut up!"

Du Qing was crying pathetically, relying on Su Xiaomeng to stand up for her, but never expected Su Xiaomeng to turn stern and scold her.

This stern rebuke stunned Du Qing.

The little girl’s face was full of shock, the grievance that was partly feigned became completely genuine.

Her mouth was pouting like a little duck, tears streaming down continuously.

It was unbelievable that the Meng Meng she liked would be so harsh to her.

"No matter what, he’s two years younger than you, that makes him your little brother, pushing him is wrong!"

Su Xiaomeng not only scolded Du Qing but harshly reprimanded her as well, shattering Du Qing’s young heart!

Zhu Lan raised an eyebrow, surprisingly not expecting Su Xiaomeng to protect Yin Junchao and rebuke her own cousin...

However, thinking about it, it wasn’t hard to understand. Su Xiaomeng probably also knew in her heart that offending their family again and again wouldn’t end well.

Compared to her two rural cousins, she would be better off clinging to her husband’s influential family.

"Boo... Boo... Boo hoo..."

Du Qing wasn’t someone who cried easily; usually, tears were just a trick in her little arsenal, but now she really couldn’t hold them back.

The grievance, the pain from her heart flowed, her cries unable to be restrained.

"Still crying!"

Du Qing was utterly bewildered, was this the Meng Meng she knew?

She bit her lip, her eyes filled with growing resentment, her brows furrowed tightly, glaring at Su Xiaomeng.

Her small body trembled with anger.

Du Qian, standing next to Yin Shixiu, was also bewildered.

Sister Meng Meng...

Yin Shixiu remained calm in demeanor.

Zhu Lan didn’t mind Yin Shixiu’s unusual silence either, except for stopping Du Qian, he didn’t say much more, letting Su Xiaomeng scold Du Qing.

"Apologize to your brother quickly!"

"I won’t apologize! I did nothing wrong!"

Du Qing’s sharp voice caught the attention of the remaining scattered guests at the party.

Su Xiaomeng’s expression was indifferent, "Your brother is only seven years old, even shorter than you by a head. If you push him, and he breaks a leg, or a hand, or hits his head on the wall, can you bear the responsibility?"

"He took my things first, he hit me first, he—"

"If you don’t apologize now, I’ll tell your mom and never take you out again!"

Tears fell from Du Qing’s eyes uncontrollably, her heart truly filled with anger.

But...

"Fine, sorry! I shouldn’t have pushed him! I should just let him take my things, let him insult me, because he’s a rich kid, and Meng Meng Li too, while my brother and I are just countryside bumpkins... boo hoo hoo!"

Du Qing cried ceaselessly, yelling as she tried to run, but Su Xiaomeng grabbed her arm.

"What do you think you’re doing!"

"Stand still, don’t move! Stop crying!"

Though young and not understanding much, Du Qing now felt like a complete joke, feeling hurt, wronged, and ashamed.