socalfunplaces Chapter 225 Banquet
Chapter 225 Banquet
The most upscale box at Xinyuexuan.
Four people were already seated inside: Zhongli, an idle man in a black and gold gown, Chongyun, dressed as an alchemist, Xingqiu, the second young master of the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce, who was dressed in rich clothes, and Xiangling, the chef with blue hair and yellow clothes.
"I've heard that Mr. Zhongli is well-versed in history and modern knowledge, but I didn't expect that he is also proficient in cooking." Xingqiu is a very versatile person who is good at making friends. He smiled and said, "It is an honor for us younger generations to get to know Mr. Zhongli."
"No, everyone here is a young talent with his or her own strengths. I also have areas where I am inferior to others, and I should learn from everyone." Zhongli, this old antique, is able to chat and laugh with these young people. Perhaps it is because the pressure from Master Hu is too great.
"First of all, sir, thank you for your compliment." Chongyun felt like sitting on pins and needles, because he was not good at dealing with elders and children. In addition, knowing that this person was an acquaintance of his great-uncle, he couldn't help feeling unhappy.
"Wow, so many people have already arrived."
You don't have to think too much or look back to know who is coming.
"We only knew that Hu Tao invited Zhongli, but we didn't know there were so many old friends! Hehe." Paimon laughed and said, "Happy Lantern Festival everyone!"
"Happy Lantern Festival." Kong and Ying walked hand in hand, slowly, because their little travel companion was too noisy, running so fast that he didn't even wait for himself.
Zhongli stood up and arranged seats for them, saying, "Happy holidays, please."
The brother and sister took their seats as arranged. Since Paimeng was floating, there was no need to arrange seats, so there were three empty seats left at the round table.
dong dong dong.
"Wait a moment, I'll be right there." Zhongli stood up to open the door, glanced at the person who came, and said, "You're not too late."
There was a man in black outside the door. He laughed softly and said, "I'm in my own store, so of course I can't go wrong."
"Please." Zhongli, dressed in black, came to the main seat.
Mo Ran's eyes flashed. He didn't expect that Hu Tao had arranged such a high position for him.
In Liyue etiquette, the main seat is the highest, followed by the left of the main seat, followed by the right. As for the seat opposite the main seat, which is where Zhongli is sitting at this time, it is called the second main seat, which is responsible for entertaining guests.
Mo Ran's position at this time was the first seat on the left of the main seat, which showed that Master Hu respected him.
He sat down slowly, his eyes swept over the people present, and said, "I remember that there is a custom during the Lantern Festival that the elders need to give red envelopes to the younger generations, which means a prosperous and safe year ahead."
"Here, this is for the three of you."
Mo Ran took out three bulging red envelopes from his wide sleeves and handed them to them.
Xiangling took it quickly, bowed and said, "Thank you, Mr. Mo Ran."
Xingqiu took it with both hands, bowed slightly, and said, "Thank you for the gift, sir. I wish Mr. Mo Ran peace and prosperity, and everything goes smoothly!"
Chongyun slowly stretched out his hand, and as he took it, he quickly retracted his hand and murmured, "Thank you...thank you, uncle!"
Mo Ran touched the child's head, then stood up and walked to the two travelers.
Paimon couldn't wait to ask, "Do we have it too?"
"Of course." Mo Ran took out three more and handed them to them. After another round of thanks, he came to Zhongli, the oldest person present.
Zhongli was slightly surprised and said, "If I remember correctly, the younger generation should not need to give red envelopes to the elders. Is this true?"
"Logically, that's right, but Mr. Zhongli is only a few years older than me, so it's not a problem. After all, it will be difficult to get it during the next Lantern Festival!"
"Okay then." Zhongli took the light red envelope, but felt it was very heavy. Even though he was the Rock King and could lift countless mountains with a flip of his palm, he could hardly hold the red envelope handed to him by his old friend.
A hint of melancholy emerged in Zhongli's eyes, but it was deeply hidden. He looked at the small red paper bag with words written in gold lacquer, the strokes were powerful and vigorous.
He murmured, "Good luck in the lottery can turn stones into gold."
"The blessing written for you is also on your red envelope. See if you like it." Mo Ran sat back in his seat, made himself a cup of tea and drank it leisurely.
Xiangling looked at the people around her and laughed loudly, "Mine are Kitchen Fairy, Fireworks World, Chongyun, and Xingqiu. What about you?"
"Poetic and picturesque, with a keen eye." Xingqiu said, bowing to the man in black, "Sir, I am overly flattered."
"Young Master Xingqiu is too modest. I have a pretty good eye for people, right?" Mo Ran looked at the idler and asked back.
Zhongli nodded and said, "Mr. Mo Ran, that makes sense."
Chongyun looked at his red envelope and hesitated, but Xiangling saw it and said, "Slaying demons and eliminating evil, bringing peace to the world, isn't that great? Chongyun, why are you hiding it?"
"Well, um... since I haven't even encountered a single evil spirit, how can I bring peace to the world?" Chongyun spread his hands.
Xingqiu patted his shoulder, and with an expression like an older brother, he consoled him earnestly, "Doesn't that just prove that as long as Chongyun is there, there will be no danger? Then wouldn't the world be at peace?"
"I think, Mr. Mo Ran, you should think so too." As he said this, he looked at the man in black, because he needed a definite answer, and the person who tied the bell must be the one to untie it. Plus, Mo Ran was the elder, so it would be best for him to come forward.
"Yes, that's what I mean." Mo Ran nodded and smiled slightly, because Chongyun and Xingqiu's performance was almost the same as he had imagined.
"If that's the case, I should have some too." As soon as Paimon got it, he took out the red envelope hidden in his arms and read it out, "Swimming with a bulging belly, at ease and comfortable, what does this mean?"
He gave her a blank look and explained helplessly, "It means that every time you go out to play, you can eat your fill and don't have to worry about other things. Do you understand?"
"Oh, Paimon knows." She giggled and said, "I never knew that Mo Ran is actually quite nice sometimes!"
Mo Ran smiled but said nothing.
Ying looked at her red envelope, on which was written "Go hand in hand and defeat the powerful enemy together". She didn't know whether these eight words were referring to the two of them, or were blessings for herself and her brother, or both?
The blond boy also handed the red envelope he received to the yellow-haired girl. She took it out now. On it was written: "Two sons with one mind, nothing can break through."
"He is really thoughtful. But if there is something, wouldn't it be better to just say it directly? Don't you think it's troublesome to go around in circles?" Although Ying has experienced a lot of dangers, she still wants to treat herself as a young girl when she is with her brother, at least when she is safe.
While Ying was daydreaming, the door of the box suddenly flew open, as if it was hit by a hurricane, which was difficult to resist.
"Ding ding ding ding! Here we come!" Walnut jumped into everyone's sight, and with a few quick steps, she came to the table and said, "Not late, are you? Not late, are you?"
Then, she asked herself and answered, "Well, thanks to the Great Sage and me, we come and go like the wind, and the timing is just right."
When Paimeng saw the person coming, his eyes widened. Kong and Ying had similar expressions. They never thought that Master Hu could invite this immortal.
The handsome young man standing next to Hu Tao, who was not much different in stature, was none other than General Jinpeng, Xiao.
Zhongli sighed secretly, stood up and greeted him respectfully, saying, "So the distinguished guest is the Demon-Subduing Great Sage. I have heard of you for a long time. The hall master did not mention it when we arranged a small gathering. I never expected that the guests include not only young heroes but also late-blooming businessmen."
"And the Immortal Jinpeng who protects the peace of Liyue! I am honored to be able to gather with you all."
"Uh, Zhong..." Xiao realized that he had said something wrong and quickly changed his words: "Mr. Keqing has said too much."
Seeing the guest's troublesome look, Hu Tao said, "Oh, this guy is starting over again. Instead of asking the guest to sit down, he starts with a lot of polite words."
"Everyone here is a well-known figure. We have all heard of each other to some extent, and many of us are acquaintances. So don't be so particular."
"I heard that the Great Sage and the Traveler have a good relationship?"
Sora replied, "We are old friends."
"That's great, you two can sit together!" Hu Tao suggested.
Xiao caught a glimpse of a man in black clothes out of the corner of his eye, but because there were so many people around, he did not run over. He had to obey the hall master, whom even the Rock King had to obey, and sat down next to the blond boy.
Zhongli glanced at his generals, then at the girl in black, and said, "Hall Master, please come in too."
"Oh, you finally remembered to invite me." Hu Tao crossed her arms in front of her and said, "It just so happened that when I arrived just now, the waiter at Xinyuexuan said that the dishes I ordered earlier have already started to be served."
"Without further delay, let them serve the food!"
Hu Tao gave an order, but it was Zhongli who went to call the reception and asked them to start serving the dishes. When these classic Yuehai dishes were served, the aroma immediately filled the air.
However, most of them picked up their chopsticks cautiously. The three young boys were in awe because they saw an immortal, Mo Ran's mind was not on the dishes, and Zhongli didn't know where to pick up his chopsticks because the table was full of seafood. Therefore, only a few people were actually eating the food.
When Xiao saw that his favorite dish was not on the table, his enthusiasm faded by half in an instant. He only picked up some dishes from time to time. After all, if he didn't eat any of it, it would be considered as a disrespect to the host.
Seeing that they were silent, Paimon said leisurely, "Come to think of it, I didn't expect that the distinguished guest that Hu Tao invited was actually Xiao."
"It was also the first time I knew that the Traveler and Paimon were actually good friends of the Great Sage Conquering the Demons." Chongyun couldn't help but continue.
"Chongyun also knows Xiao?" Paimeng raised his eyebrows, supported his chin with one hand, and asked.
Chongyun groaned and explained, "It's not quite accurate to say that I know you. I've heard of your name for a long time. Paimeng may not know that our sect of alchemists has some connection with the Great Sage who conquers demons and even the Yaksha generals. We have a long history of working together to exorcise evil spirits, both in the light and in the dark."
“I didn’t expect to see you today with the help of the hall master.” Chongyun stood up, clasped his fists and said, “Great Sage Conquering the Demons, I am honored.”
“You’re welcome.” Xiao said calmly.
Xingqiu also spoke eloquently, "I feel honored to have the opportunity to meet the legendary Great Sage who conquers demons. I have also heard Chongyun mention him before."
Xingqiu looked at his friend beside him, his eyes flickered, and he said, "Remember you said that you must let the Great Sage who Conquers Demons know the importance of exorcists..."
"Um, cough cough!" Chongyun hurriedly stopped his friend from speaking nonsense. Those were the nonsense he said after being tricked into eating spicy food. The culprit was also this guy.
Paimeng glanced at the man in black and said, "Speaking of which, since Xiao sat down not long ago, it seems that you have never moved your eyes away, Mo Ran, and you are smiling so happily, what are you thinking about!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present looked at the man in black. He was sitting upright, but the smile on his face was very presumptuous.
In his own eyes or those who know the situation, this is a heartfelt smile from an elder brother when he sees his younger brother, but in the eyes of others, this is either a human trafficker or a pervert.
When Xiangling saw this, her eyes trembled, and the flawless image of the God of Cooking that she believed in began to show a slight crack.
Because that expression was almost exactly the same as the expression he saw on 'them' when he ran away with Yun Jin and got rid of those fanatical fans.