Chapter 283: The Wedding Banquet

With persistent light rain, the carriage traveled day and night and finally arrived in Jiuhu City at dawn the next day. Upon entering the city gates, guided by Huang Wanli’s anxious directions, the carriage made its way through the streets straight to the Jiang family’s residence.

Outside the Jiang family’s house, the gloomy weather and falling rain could not conceal the ferocity of the two stone lions at the entrance, nor could they stop the wealthy guests stepping out of the carriage carrying gift boxes.

Lifting the carriage curtain and seeing what was outside, Lin Dong breathed a sigh of relief. If Jiang Dening truly valued feng shui, it might still be possible.

“Old Huang, get off the carriage!” Lin Dong said coldly. “Let’s deliver a grand gift to Master Jiang!”

Wu Guang took care of the carriage while the group slowly approached the main gate. Outside, the butler greeted them with a smile, directing the servants to accept the gifts while filling out a gift list.

“This young master…”

Seeing Lin Dong’s empty hands, the butler was momentarily stunned. When he looked at Huang Wanli, he was completely confused.

“Let’s see who in Jiuhu County has the audacity to marry my niece without even sending an invitation to me, her uncle!”

Lin Dong took out his warrior badge and tossed it to the butler before pushing him aside and stepping inside.

The butler stared at the warrior badge in his hand, his head spinning in confusion.

Seeing the butler stunned, the servants, though aware of Huang Wanli and Huang Lian’s identities, wisely chose to remain confused as well in the absence of orders.

The Jiang family’s estate was vast. Following the other congratulating guests, they passed several houses and a garden before arriving at the central courtyard.

In the courtyard, a spacious wooden pavilion had been set up, wrapped in layers of red silk—seemingly festive. Yet, under the effect of the rain, it appeared dull and gloomy.

Below the pavilion, over twenty round tables were neatly arranged. Most of them were already occupied before noon, and the banquet had begun. Behind the pavilion, in the main hall, six large round tables were also fully seated. People in fine clothes, of all ages and sizes, smiled as their gazes were fixed on the main table at the head of the hall.

The focus of attention was on the two middle-aged men at that table. One wore a bright red robe, his face beaming with joy. He held a walking stick in his right hand and a folding fan in his left. As the fan swayed, the words “landscape painting” and “Old Jiang fishing” alternated in view.

The other man had a broad face and large ears. Despite the rainy weather, perhaps due to his obesity, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. No matter how hard the two maids behind him fanned him with palm fans, they could only prevent more sweat from forming, not eliminate it.

These two were indeed two prominent figures in Jiuhu County: Jiang Dening, the former private secretary, and Wan Shuiyong, the county magistrate. The arrival of Lin Dong and the others didn’t draw much attention at first, but once they entered the main hall, they instantly became the focus of everyone. The main hall was a place reserved only for the most influential families in Jiuhu County, and these people were strangers in the eyes of those wealthy families. A few servants stepped forward, but Jiang Dening immediately spotted Lin Dong, finding him somewhat familiar. His gaze was quickly drawn to Huang Wanli and Huang Lian beside him, his eyes lighting up as his moustache curled with joy. “Old Huang, you’ve finally come to your senses. You know the capital is too far away—sooner or later you’d be killed by bandits. It’s better to bring Little Lian back to me, right?” Huang Lian panicked and quickly hid behind Huang Wanli, who was also nervous, staring intently at Jiang Dening and protecting Huang Lian like a hen shielding her chicks. “Dening, has the fifteenth wife been taken care of?” Wan Shuiyong joked with a smile. “You’re going to be exhausted tonight.” “Congratulations! Secretary Jiang is really lucky!” “I heard the fourteenth and fifteenth wives are twin sisters. Secretary Jiang, what good fortune!” Praises came one after another. Jiang Dening stroked his moustache, smiling, and put away his folding fan before shouting at the servants, “Hurry up and take the fifteenth wife in to change clothes!” The servants stepped forward, but Lin Dong laughed. “Secretary Jiang, shouldn’t we find a seat for us women?” “Women? Right, women!” Jiang Dening laughed. After glancing around and seeing that the hall couldn’t accommodate another table, he was about to order the servants to add one in the shed when he suddenly looked up at Lin Dong, puzzled, “You are…” “Uncles of Huang Lian and Huang Xiang,” Lin Dong replied with a smile. “Oh, so you’re uncles!” Jiang Dening waved his hand. “Go outside and add a table for the old master and the uncles. Treat them well.” “There’s no need for such trouble. It’s fine in here,” Lin Dong said, shaking his head. Jiang Dening looked displeased. Did they really think women were that special? The hall was full of prominent figures from Jiuhu County. A few more people might fit, but it would be disrespectful to these influential locals. Just as Jiang Dening was about to refuse, Lin Dong stepped forward with a smile, went to the main seat, stretched out his arms, and lifted Jiang Dening and Wan Shuiyong like chicks and tossed them aside before sitting down carelessly. Yun Lan smiled and sat down next to Lin Dong.

Jiang Dening and Wan Shuiyong were furious. Before they could speak, Lin Dong glanced at the dishes on the table and shook his head. “There are only seven or eight kinds of spiritual beasts and materials, and they’re all low-grade. It’s far too meager. Tell the kitchen to bring in new dishes.” Jiang Dening and Wan Shuiyong got up from the ground, while Lin Dong already grabbed the edge of the table and flipped it upward with force. Bang… Cups and dishes flew into the air, soup splashed everywhere, and the entire round table was flipped over. This sudden upheaval instantly panicked the important figures sitting at the table. “You brat, did you come here to cause trouble?” Jiang Dening was enraged. He stood up with his cane, staring intently at Lin Dong. “Kid, do you know where this is?” Wan Shuiyong was also furious. In his entire life, no one had ever flipped him over like this. Lin Dong gave Wan Shuiyong a cold glance and said nonchalantly, “I don’t know!” “This is Jiuhu County! Listen carefully, this is Jiuhu County!” Wan Shuiyong shouted desperately. Lin Dong smiled indifferently and ignored him. In the hall, the important figures laughed, their eyes shifting between Jiang Dening and Wan Shuiyong. They never expected some reckless youth to come and cause trouble—this was going to be interesting. “Someone, catch him!” Jiang Dening waved his hand sharply, and his servants rushed forward, but they all flew backward just before touching Lin Dong. Chaos ensued as people and horses tumbled everywhere. The important figures of Jiuhu County, though somewhat embarrassed, became even more excited. It wasn’t every day they got to see Jiang Dening in trouble. Last time, they heard that this advisor, Jiang, had offended an important figure from Qiufeng City and had his leg broken—everyone treated that as the biggest news. Now, with Jiang Dening’s wedding day disrupted by trouble, there was much more material for gossip than just a broken leg. “Brat, if you’ve got guts, don’t run.” Seeing that seven or eight of Jiang’s servants weren’t enough, Wan Shuiyong stepped back and hid in the crowd, shouting, “Someone, go to the county office and call for reinforcements!” “Don’t worry, I’m not running,” Lin Dong said leisurely. Although the servants didn’t dare approach, they waved their sticks and threatened loudly at Jiang Dening’s commands. With the wealthy locals also rushing in to join in the chaos, the hall became even more chaotic and lively. Just as both sides were locked in confrontation, waiting for the county office to send help to create a spectacle, the butler staggered in, holding a warrior’s badge. His forehead was soaked, making it impossible to tell whether it was sweat or rain.

“Sir, your Warrior Card…” Holding the Warrior Card in front of Lin Dong, the butler was terrified. Possessing a Warrior’s Card secretly was a capital crime. He couldn’t understand how he had somehow offended a Warrior.

“A Warrior?”

The hall instantly erupted into chaos. Jiang Dening and Wan Shuiyong stood up in shock, staring at Lin Dong, speechless.

“You… you’re…” Looking at Lin Dong again, Jiang Dening finally remembered—wasn’t this the man who had broken his leg back then?

Jiang Dening’s legs gave way, and he nearly fell to the ground. After that incident, the culprit was never found, but Qiufeng Mansion sent news, accusing him of some unfounded crime. If not for his close relationship with Wan Shuiyong, he would likely be in prison by now.

He never expected this man to be related to Huang Wanli.

Watching Jiang Dening’s trembling legs, Lin Dong said calmly, “Judge Jiang, long time no see. Is your right leg okay?”

Jiang Dening screamed and jumped back, losing his balance on his crutch and falling to the ground with a thud.

Wan Shuiyong looked grave, clearly realizing something. He said cautiously, “Sir, are you from Qiufeng City? Is this the person Judge Jiang offended last time?”

“County Magistrate Wan is indeed intelligent—perfect material for being a magistrate,” Lin Dong said approvingly.

His tone sounded like he was praising a junior. To others, it sounded strange and ridiculous, and to Wan Shuiyong, it was especially harsh. Yet no one dared speak out in disapproval.

A Warrior! With connections to the upper echelons of Qiufeng City.

In either case, everyone present could only look up to him. Even Wan Shuiyong, though resentful, didn’t dare offend him easily.

Glancing at the silent hall, Lin Dong slowly turned his gaze to Jiang Dening. “I think it’s better if my niece comes over first.”

“Yes, yes!” Jiang Dening shuddered and slapped one of his servants harshly. “You idiot! Hurry up and go invite Miss Huang, the fourteenth…”

The servant didn’t hesitate and quickly nodded before rushing to the back yard.

In just over ten minutes, a timid little girl in a red qipao, her face covered in tears, was brought in.

“Xiao Xiang…”

Huang Wanli and Huang Lian rushed over anxiously. The little girl, like a bird finding shelter, rushed into their arms. The three of them immediately burst into tears together.

“Judge Jiang!” Lin Dong’s voice grew heavier.

Jiang Dening was startled and didn’t dare approach. He forced a smile and said, “Sir, do you have any further orders?”

A grim smile appeared on Lin Dong’s face as he said, “With my niece crying like this, it might delay Master Jiang’s important plans.”
“No problem, no problem!” Jiang Dening waved his hands frantically. “Young master can take Miss Huang back first; I will definitely come to apologize later.”
“That won’t do!” Lin Dong shook his head. “We can’t delay Master Jiang’s plans. This marriage must go through!”
Jiang Dening was stunned. From these words, it seemed he wasn’t here to stand up for Huang Wanli and demand someone back. Could it be he really was just here for the wedding celebration?
Lin Dong glanced at Wan Shuiyong beside him, his eyebrows lifting slightly.