Chapter 467: 440 Wen Family Family Banquet (2)
A banquet hall large enough to accommodate several hundred people.
At this time, there were three long tables inside, each able to seat sixteen people.
At the banquet, Wen Nian was leading Song Lili, introducing her to the members of the Wen family, even though he knew she was already acquainted with them.
Watching those faces, both familiar and strange, pass before her eyes, the feeling was still quite mystical, no matter how many years had passed.
Even though Lili had previously had minimal interaction with the Wen family, those few interactions had not left her with a favorable impression.
"Hello, hello, hello..."
Song Lili nodded slightly, greeting each person in turn, her hand resting on Wen Nian’s wrist.
She wore a cyan-grey cotton-linen dress, quite loose at the waist, complemented by a small shoulder jacket.
Her figure was slender, and even though she was not wearing high heels, but only a pair of flat shoes popular this season, her fine demeanor was still evident.
Song Jiayu watched his daughter from afar, standing by Wen Nian’s side without a trace of timidity or anxiety.
Perhaps, the past few years she had spent as a soldier had added a certain rugged charm to her, unlike the fragile beauty of a flower in a greenhouse.
He felt relieved...
He was not a competent and responsible father, but Wen Nian... had invisibly done many things that he, as her father, should have done.
...
Besides the Song Jiayu family, the other attendees were all from the Wen family.
Wen Liangyu had only two sons, but he had three siblings, his direct relatives underneath him were few, but there were quite many on the collateral side.
For a century, the Wen family had been a prestigious family in G country. After Wen Liangyu became president, the family reached its pinnacle.
The massive family system usually only showed the tip of the iceberg, but at the family feast, those usually low-key Wen members all emerged.
"Xiaonian, you married a wife so covertly that we, your uncles, didn’t even have time to offer our blessings."
The one speaking in front of Wen Nian was his uncle Wen Ling, only two years younger than Wen Chou. Yet, because of the order of seniority, Wen Chou and Wen Nian had always received more attention and importance from Wen Liangyu.
"Uncle, your presence here is the greatest blessing to your nephew."
Wen Nian extended his hand, guiding Wen Lin to take a seat inside.
Even though Wen Chou had openly scoffed at Wen Nian’s idea of holding a family banquet and even showed some unwillingness to cooperate,
it seemed today that no one dared to blatantly disrespect Wen Nian by not attending.
"You see, all your worries were unnecessary," Wen Nian whispered to Song Lili.
"Unfortunately, they’re not giving face to Wen Nian, they’re giving it to Mr. President."
"Hey, aren’t you being a bit too sharp?"
Wen Nian showed a face struck by her criticism.
Song Lili merely smiled.
The three long tables had nothing unusual, each seat equipped with the attendee’s name, the center one being the main table.
Wen Nian and Song Lili sat at the third and fourth seats to the right of the main table, Tang Xiaocao sitting next to Lili.
In front of them were Wen Chou and his wife, with Wen Liangyu in the principal seat.
Facing Wen Nian and Lili across the table were the Song Jiayu couple and Song Tianyou.
"Is that Wen Nian’s wife? Why is her skin so dark?"
"She’s said to have spent a few years in the military."
"Tsk, tsk, she looks alright, but she does seem quite rough around the edges..."
Rough?
Song Lili’s ears pricked up, her eyebrow raised. Surely, she hadn’t heard wrong?
"Nevertheless, she looks quite ordinary, not as impressive as Wen Nian had described at that one wedding."
"Good or bad is secondary, whether it is beautiful or not is a different matter. Considering the temper of the old master, Wen Nian defied him by marrying his wife. She will never be favored, no matter what."
"Yes, even if Xiaonian becomes the President, he is still the old master’s grandson. Marriage is a family affair; no matter how powerful one’s national status is, eventually, everything goes back to the family..."
"Hush... let’s see how the old master and Ah Chou handle it."
The quiet criticism from the crowd was heard by Wen Nian and Song Lili.
Lili barely twitched her lips. This subtle movement actually surprised Wen Nian.
Apparently, no matter what everyone was muttering, Lili didn’t take it to heart.
"Serve the dishes."
Wen Liangyu said to a waiter at the side.
He looked at Wen Nian,
"You have something to say to everyone, don’t you? Go ahead."
Wen Liangyu was straightforward, his face cold, he shrugged his shoulders.
Wen Nian nodded,
"I organized this family banquet, and the purpose is to take this opportunity to announce two things."
He pulled out a chair, stood up, reached out to Song Lili, and pulled her to her feet,
"The first thing, this is my wife, Song Lili. I want to introduce her to my uncles and aunts. I hope you all will treat my wife like your own family. My wife is more than three months pregnant, so she can’t drink alcohol. I will drink on her behalf."
Wen Nian raised the glass of red wine in front of him, looked tenderly at Lili, and took a gentle sip.
Wen Liangyu took a deep breath,
"You ask us to treat her like family, yet when you got married, you didn’t even notify the parents on both sides. Is this how you respect the elders?"
"Grandfather, it was you who sent me to live in the Ruicheng Military District. Lili and I grew up together and fell in love. It shouldn’t be hard to understand."
"What I can’t understand is you making decisions on your own! Not even discussing such an important issue as marriage with your parents!"
"If I had discussed it with you, would you have allowed me to marry Lili?"
Despite Wen Liangyu’s heated words during the questioning, Wen Nian responded with a tone that was almost teasing. Wen Liangyu had always cared deeply about face. If he were to lose face at this banquet, Lili’s situation would become even more difficult.
"No! So you knew I would disagree, yet you went ahead and did this behind our backs. Isn’t that completely disregarding your parents and elder?"
"Dad... Dad..."
Xiao Ziyan quickly whispered, trying to stop Wen Liangyu, not wanting to see a grandfather and grandson quarrel turn intense during the banquet.
"Grandfather, may I curiously ask why you don’t accept Lili?"
"You’re the President! What is she?!"
"She is the only daughter of Song Jiayu."
"..."
"..."
Song Jiayu stood up straight, his gaze slowly shifting to Wen Liangyu,
"Old Mr. Wen, you question what my daughter is, right in front of me? I truly can’t believe it."
"..."
Wen Liangyu had blurted out without remembering that Song Jiayu was present.
He had never thought highly of Song Jiayu. When he first came from Ruicheng to take a position in Anlin, he was promoted by Wen Chou, and then he climbed up step by step by marrying a woman from the Miu Family.
As for Song Jiayu, the Mayor of Anlin City, Wen Liangyu genuinely never regarded him.
Wen Liangyu did have some impression of Jiayu’s other daughter, Song Xiangqiao, with a sweet face and a clever mind. Marrying Zhuo Ting was also considered an achievement.
As for Song Lili...
She was just a girl who grew up in the Ruicheng Military District, the daughter of an ordinary retired sergeant!
How could she compare to those from renowned families with centuries of history!