Chapter 356 - Graduation Banquet 1
Chapter 356: Graduation Banquet 1
Translator: Lonelytree
Taoyuan Village was bustling with activity!
Cars drove into Taoyuan Village. They might not know each other, but their common goal was to attend the graduation banquet of a university student in Taoyuan Village.
The top scorer of science in City Z was admitted by Imperial University. People were honored to be invited.
There were thirty tables at this banquet, and each table seated ten people.
Taoyuan Village had around two hundred people. They also had relatives and friends. Therefore, thirty tables was definitely not a lot.
The tables and chairs were taken from the village’s ancestral hall. In Taoyuan Village, there was a custom that whenever a family had a child, they had to contribute something to the ancestral hall. It could be a new table, a set of cutlery, or so on. Every villager would contribute. That way, whenever there
was a gathering in the village, the ancestral hall would always have enough to serve the villagers.
Therefore, while the banquet was big, there were enough logistical items.
Logically speaking, since today was the Xiao Family’s banquet, Mother Xiao only needed to welcome the guests. However, Mother Xiao’s cooking skill was acknowledged as the best in Taoyuan Village. Plus, Mother Xiao had promised that she would cook a feast after the villagers helped save the
strawberry field. This was the perfect opportunity.
‘Therefore, Mother Xiao was the head chef for this banquet. Naturally, she had many helpers.
‘When the Taoyuan Village held a banquet, the host would invite many helpers. This was a favor-based or exchange-based thing.
Today, you came to help with my family’s banquet. In the future, I will come to help at yours.
Similarly, if you attended my banquet today, I would attend yours in the future.
This is a kind of village reciprocity.
‘The best example was a villager who had moved to the city. For the past few years, they never attended any village banquet even though they were invited.
One day, their family suddenly returned to the village to hold a banquet, saying that their son had entered university.
They enthusiastically went to every family in the village to invite them.
The villagers also agreed to attend.
However, on the day of the banquet, other than a few relatives and friends, the rest was empty tables.
This made the family extremely confused and furious.
He stopped a villager and asked angrily, “Why didn’t you attend my family’s banquet? You promised you’d come!”
‘The villager sneered and said, “Your family never attended our banquet, so why should we attend your family’s banquet?
“You’ve stayed in the village for decades. After staying in the city for a few years, have you forgotten the rules of our village? It’s clear that you look down on us when you refuse to attend our banquets, so why should we suck up to you? Who do you think you are?”
After saying that, the villager left without waiting for the man’s reaction. The villager huffed. ‘Your family has basically migrated to the city. Why would you suddenly come back to hold a banquet in the village? The goal is clearly to get our gifts. Do you think we’re fools?
The host’s face turned red. He was embarrassed and angry.
From then on, whenever there was a banquet held in the village, his family would send people to attend it. Only then did their relationship with the village gradually ease up.
In contrast, the Xiao Family had always followed the rules in Taoyuan Village. No matter how rich they were now, they had never looked down on anyone in the village.
“Qiuying, are you expecting that many guests?” Many people asked when they saw more than 30 tables placed in the house in the courtyard.
Mother Xiao smiled and said, “Actually, I don’t even know how many guests there’ll be. However, I do know the villagers will take up around 20 tables.”
Someone smiled and said, “That’s true. Almost every family in our village will attend this banquet!”
Someone immediately echoed, “Qiuying, your family has a large population and many relatives. Having thirty tables isn’t a lot.”
Xiao Zhengyang and his brothers were married, so they naturally had to invite their in-laws too.
“and Lingyu has many friends.” Someone added, “They can take up at least two tables.”
Chen Qiuying shook her head and said, “Actually, she doesn’t have many friends. One table should be enough.”
It was hard to gauge the attendance number of a banquet. The number wasn’t consistent. However, the food had to be more than enough.1
While Chen Qiuying and the others were chatting, things were heating up outside.
Grandma Xiao’s family and Xiao Zhengyang’s brothers came over. They came early to see if they could help.
‘They were proud that Xiao Lingye got into such a good university.
Furthermore, the in-laws actually got along very well. Many villagers envied the Xiao Family’s relationship with their in-laws. The brothers were united and their wives’ families mixed together well.
Other people’s families fought endlessly with their in-laws. However, this had never happened with Xiao Baotou’s family.
It was a mystery how Xiao Baotou and his wife managed to find such perfect daughters-in-law. They were very good at judging people. The Xiao family was harmonious and happy.
“In-law, we’re here. Is there anything we can help you with? We especially came early just to see if there’s anything we can help with.”
“There’s no need. You’ve come all the way here. You should rest.”
“How can we do that and let you work?”
“It’s fine. There are already many people helping us, and everyone has already divided their work.”
“Okay then. We’ll go rest first. Oh, right. Where is the man of the hour?”
“Haha, this child has a few classmates who are here. He’s receiving them right now. They’re in his room.”
“are there girls among them? Will we be having another banquet soon?”
“Haha…”
There was laughter everywhere!