After the cannon fodder father and daughter married into the family, the whole family regretted it

Fang Nanzhi glanced around the room and his eyes landed on the food box on the table.

She had specifically instructed the maid to prepare that in advance, just in case the bride was hungry.

She walked over and opened the lid of the lunch box. Inside were some exquisite and filling snacks: small crystal shrimp dumplings, soft osmanthus cakes, and a few crispy-looking sesame pancakes.

She picked up the plate of osmanthus cake and said, "Second aunt, you've been busy all day, you must be too nervous. Your stomach must be rumbling. Come, fill your stomach first. I asked the kitchen to prepare this specially. It tastes pretty good."

Meng Lan moved slightly under the veil.

She had indeed been hungry for a long time. She had been woken up before dawn to dress up and had not eaten or drunk anything. She had also gone through a bumpy journey and complicated rituals. Now, when she smelled the sweet fragrance of the snacks, her stomach felt even more empty and uncomfortable.

But if the bride secretly ate food in the bridal chamber on the first day of marriage, what would it look like if this got out?

She subconsciously shook her head slightly: "No, Nanzhi, I'm not hungry yet."

Fang Nanzhi was so smart that he understood everything just by looking at her subtle movements and forced tone.

She thought her second aunt was truly adorable, and she pushed the plate forward, almost to the edge of her veil. "Second aunt, please don't be so polite with me! There's no outsiders here. Let me tell you, our family doesn't have so many fussy rules. When my parents got married, my father said, 'In your own home, do as you please. Rules are for outsiders to see, and comfort is for yourself.'"

She paused, her tone as if sharing some family secret. "Especially when it comes to eating, of all things, eating is the most important! Going hungry is the real suffering, and I don't care about whether it's auspicious or not, or whether it looks good or not. Come and try this osmanthus cake, it's still warm, sweet but not greasy, you're sure to like it."

These words, simple yet filled with a "rebellious" spirit, completely broke the reserve and concerns in Meng Lan's heart.

Under the veil, she couldn't help but laugh softly. She found that the personality of the little niece of the Fang family was exactly to her liking.

"Thank you very much, Zhizhi."

Meng Lan finally stopped refusing, reached out her hand, and picked up a piece of osmanthus cake from the plate.

It was really inconvenient to eat through the veil, so she could only slightly lift a corner of the bottom of the veil and eat in small bites.

The sweet and soft pastry took a bite, instantly relieving the hunger in my stomach and relaxing my tense nerves.

Fang Nanzhi was delighted to see her eating. She handed her a cup of warm tea at the right time and said, "Drink some tea, don't choke."

Meng Lan took the teacup and drank a sip of tea through the gap under the veil. The warm feeling spread from her throat to her stomach, and she felt relaxed all over.

She put down her teacup and said softly and sincerely, "It's delicious... Thank you, Zhizhi."

The two have known each other for a long time and have a good relationship.

But for some reason, Meng Lan, sitting here in her wedding dress, always felt a little embarrassed.

"What's the big deal?" Fang Nanzhi said with a smile. "We're a family from now on. If there's anything you're not used to, or want to eat or play, just tell me! My second uncle may look rough, but he's actually very thoughtful. He's just a bit tongue-tied sometimes, so please bear with him in the future."

She took the opportunity to stuff another sesame cake into Meng Lan's hand and said, "This one is also delicious. Try it."

……

In the front yard of the Fang Mansion, the huge courtyard and several connected flower halls were already crowded with more than a dozen large round tables, with people talking and drinking.

This banquet brought together most of the Fang family's current network of contacts in and outside Beijing.

The main table was naturally presided over by the groom's official Guan Yin, accompanied by Fang Tong, Qian Fengping, several respected elders of the Meng family, and Meng Lan's brother who had been under a lot of pressure just now.

The atmosphere at this table was relatively solemn, but from the irrepressible smile on Fang Yin's face and the frequent toasts of his glass, it was clear how excited he was.

At the adjacent tables were Fang Yin’s comrades in the army and good friends.

These guys didn't care about etiquette or courtesy. Their voices were louder than each other, and the sounds of finger-guessing and ordering could be heard one after another, making the most noise.

Young General An was among them, rolling up his sleeves and drinking with others until his face flushed red. He kept shouting, "When the groom comes over later, we have to let him see our new tricks!"

The others also joined in the fun, rubbing their hands, waiting to get the groom drunk.

On the other side were Fang Tong's colleagues in the officialdom and some civil servants who wanted to make friends with him.

The atmosphere here was more refined, the voices much lower, but laughter and chatter were constant as the cups circulated. The Fang family was now a truly extraordinary family, so naturally, many came to offer their congratulations, including some high-ranking officials, who had all put aside their usual authority.

There were two tables near the women's area. One table was occupied by business partners invited by Qian Fengping and the ladies and young ladies from the inner house who were on good terms with her. Wu Dongjia was also among them. She was a straightforward person and was chatting with other businessmen about business matters, laughing heartily from time to time.

The other table was even more eye-catching, where sat two gentlemen from Fang Nanzhi - Mr. Zheng and Mr. Zhou.

The fact that they can come here shows how much Nanzhi values ​​him.

Several of Qin Yan's classmates and friends who he had made at the Imperial College also sat at a separate table. They were all young students, full of vigor and vitality, discussing poetry, essays, and current affairs in the court.

There were more than a dozen tables of people with different identities. The servants carried trays and shuttled between the tables, constantly serving steaming hot dishes and clearing away empty plates and messy bowls. They were so busy that they had no time to rest.

As the absolute protagonist today, Fang Yin naturally cannot sit still.

After the first few dishes were served, he, accompanied by Fang Tong and a few good friends, held up his wine glass and began to toast at each table.

The first tables we went to were naturally those of the Meng family.

Fang Yin was respectful and spoke earnestly, "Dear elders and brothers, I am honored to marry Lan'er today. I hope you will forgive me for my poor hospitality. I, Fang Yin, hereby promise that I will do my utmost to protect Lan'er and ensure that she does not suffer any injustice in the future! I will drink first as a token of my respect!"

After saying this, he tilted his head back and drank not a drop of wine left in the glass. Seeing his sincere attitude and honest words, the brothers of the Meng family all showed satisfied smiles on their faces, raised their glasses in response, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

Next comes his brothers in the army, and this stage is difficult.

"You're finally here! We've been waiting till the flowers withered!"

"Stop talking nonsense and drink three cups of wine first. You're late!"

"Yes, yes, three cups is the starting point!"

Everyone rushed forward and surrounded Fang Yin in an instant, with wine glasses immediately placed under his nose. Their eyes were scorching, and it was clear that they would not give up until they knocked him down.

Fang Yin groaned inwardly. If he really drank this, he would not only not be able to enter the bridal chamber, but would even end up lying under the table.

He rolled his eyes and figured it out.