Judging from Tang Xiaomin's earlier disrespectful behavior, she came across as arrogant, overbearing, and impolite.
It was consistent with her persona today that she would deliberately make things difficult.
Zhao Lan's eyes bulged, burning with fury.
Zhang Guodong kept making eye contact with her, urging her to apologize.
After a stalemate, Tang Xiaomin lost her patience.
"Let's go, there's no need to stay."
Saying this, Tang Xiaomin walked forward with Zhang Meiyu.
She silently counted in her mind, one, two, three...
"Xiaomin, don't go."
Zhang Guodong chased after them.
Tang Xiaomin stopped in her tracks, looking at him with eyes that seemed to hold no understanding.
"What, you're not letting us leave?"
"How could that be? The Zhang family is your maternal grandparents' home. Even if they're gone, the Zhang family's doors are always open to you and your daughter." Su Dan Novel Net
Zhang Guodong's words were both eloquent and smooth.
"What happened earlier was your aunt's fault. She had a bad attitude, and I, as your uncle, apologize to you on her behalf. I'm sorry."
"You and your daughter have finally come back to the Zhang family, and you haven't even had a bite to eat. Do me a favor and eat before you leave. Don't give others something to laugh at us about; there are so many people watching."
Zhang Guodong's attitude was humble and extremely flattering.
Tang Xiaomin knew full well that he was only acting this way because of the generous gift.
Since that was the case, things were getting interesting.
Tang Xiaomin suddenly glared at Zhao Lan behind her, refusing to back down and said.
"She just said I have no upbringing, attacked me personally, and provoked us."
"I'm a reasonable person. I only get angry at those who speak ill of me."
"This has nothing to do with you, you don't need to apologize. Anyway, she doesn't welcome us, so my mother and I will leave. Staying would only ruin your birthday banquet, and we won't be the ones to play the villain."
The implication was that she didn't want Zhang Guodong's apology, but Zhao Lan's.
Zhang Guodong's brows furrowed. He hadn't expected Tang Xiaomin to be so difficult.
It was his birthday, and she wasn't satisfied even after he apologized.
Zhang Meiyu hadn't returned to the Zhang family in years, and she was always generous with her gifts. The substantial present was very tempting to Zhang Guodong.
Zhang Guodong hardened his heart and angrily called Zhao Lan over.
"You're supposed to be an elder, and you speak to a child like that? Hurry up and apologize to the child!"
"Honey..."
"Apologize!"
Zhang Guodong was furious, his words were a shout.
Seeing her husband angry, Zhao Lan could only apologize, however unwillingly.
"It's all my fault for speaking out of turn and not being able to control my mouth. I apologize to you, I'm sorry."
Upon hearing this, Tang Xiaomin let out an unrestrained cold laugh.
"What did you say? I can't hear you."
...
"I'm sorry!"
Zhao Lan shouted with her loud voice, and this time, everyone present could hear.
"Why!"
An angry female voice suddenly rang out, and then Zhang Guo'er stormed up to Tang Xiaomin and them, full of rage.
"Dad, why should Mom apologize? It was Mom who was hit by them?"
"Tang Xiaomin bullied me at school and hit me during the program recording. All these incidents, one by one, should be her apologizing to me and my mother!"
...
Zhang Guo'er suddenly ran out and chattered about her grievances with Tang Xiaomin.
With so many relatives present today, she wanted to expose the harm Tang Xiaomin had done to her and make her apologize.
The farce, which was about to end, was once again thrown into greater tension by Zhang Guo'er.
This was hardly a birthday banquet!
It was clearly a battlefield for settling grievances.
Zhang Guodong felt like beating someone up. It was one thing to have married a brainless wife, but he also had a daughter who was just as clueless.
They were all liabilities, only knowing how to cause trouble for him.
Zhang Guodong, infuriated, couldn't help but scold.
"Guo'er, Xiaomin and your aunt are guests. How can you speak to them like that? Hurry up and apologize!"
Zhang Guo'er's eyes were red, feeling extremely wronged.
No matter what, she was determined to make Tang Xiaomin apologize to her today and save face.
"Dad, Tang Xiaomin hit me. There's video evidence from the program. She's the perpetrator, and she must apologize. You must uphold justice for me, Dad."
"Dad..."
Zhang Guo'er began to act spoiled, shaking Zhang Guodong's arm with a sweet voice.
For some reason, Tang Xiaomin felt a strange sense of envy at this scene.
When their daughters were wronged, they would just whimper to their fathers a couple of times, and their fathers would unconditionally stand up for them.
However, Zhang Guodong's next action immediately dispelled that ridiculous thought in Tang Xiaomin.
*Slap!*
Zhang Guodong slapped Zhang Guo'er across the face.
"Dad... You... You hit me?"
Zhang Guo'er looked at Zhang Guodong in disbelief.
"Husband, how could you hit our daughter?" Zhao Lan asked, examining Zhang Guo'er's face with concern.
At this moment, Zhang Guodong's face was contorted with fury.
"Children fighting and bickering, it's something that can be let go once it's over. You're so petty and holding onto it. How could I have a daughter like you, Zhang Guodong? You've completely disgraced me!"
...
"Someone, take Guo'er down and have her reflect on her actions."
A Zhang family aunt walked over and whispered a few words into Zhang Guo'er's ear. Zhang Guo'er silently followed the aunt away.
Zhang Guodong said apologetically to the guests at the banquet, "I'm sorry for letting everyone witness this. Please enjoy your meal and drinks. Eat well, drink well."
Since the host had spoken, the onlookers naturally went back to their own business, no longer watching.
Zhang Guodong said apologetically to Tang Xiaomin and Zhang Meiyu, "For things to have gotten like this, it's all because Guo'er and her mother were ill-behaved. I apologize to you both."
"It's rare for you to bring your daughter back. Please don't leave just because of a minor argument and give us Zhang family something to be laughed at. Meiyu, don't you think so?"
Zhang Meiyu genuinely didn't want to stay any longer. She had already lost enough face in the past. Now, she had no more face to lose.
Just as Zhang Meiyu was about to take Tang Xiaomin away, Tang Xiaomin refused.
"Since apologies have been made, of course, we will stay. Besides, we haven't given the generous gift yet. We'll leave after that."
Upon hearing about the generous gift, Zhang Guodong became even more servile.
"Xiaomin is still sensible. Come, let's sit over there, and your uncle can have a good chat with you."
...
And so, Tang Xiaomin and Zhang Meiyu sat at the same table and had a hearty meal.
After eating and drinking their fill, Tang Xiaomin occasionally responded perfunctorily to Zhang Guodong's words.
Wiping her mouth, and seeing that it was getting late.
"It's getting late. I wish you longevity like the East Sea and long life like the Southern Mountains. We have matters at home, so we'll be leaving now."
Tang Xiaomin said, and in tacit understanding, she and Zhang Meiyu rose from the table and were about to leave.
"Ah, Xiaomin, wait a moment."
"What is it?"
Zhang Guodong was anxious. It was his sixtieth birthday banquet, and he had spent a lot of time on Tang Xiaomin.
She wanted to leave before giving the generous gift, which was unreasonable.
"This, before you leave, haven't you forgotten something?"