Chapter 39

The evening banquet was far more formal than the midday one. Kong Xiyan had seen her relatives host banquets in the city, but those were mostly weddings; engagements were usually just a simple meal with family. She hadn't expected that in Changning Village, engagements were a big deal, complete with a specially invited host.

Of course, it wasn't like those city hosts who wore formal attire and headsets, ready to break into song and dance at the drop of a hat. The host the Chen family had hired was a woman from a neighboring village who often helped out at engagement banquets to liven up the atmosphere.

The stage was set up right among the dining tables. Kong Xiyan couldn't tell what it was made of, but it looked respectable enough, giving off a proper wedding vibe.

The woman hosting was over fifty, with graying hair. Kong Xiyan heard people call her Granny Long. Apparently, she hosted all the major and minor celebrations in the village—engagements and weddings alike. She had a silver tongue and could spin the most ordinary thing into a flower.

When Kong Xiyan heard a few villagers recounting Granny Long's exploits, she laughed until her eyes curved into crescents. Chi Wanzhao sat beside her, expression indifferent.

At dinner, Yuanyuan and the other children occupied a table together. Wang Haining sat on Chi Wanzhao's other side, silent—as was Chi Wanzhao, who stared at her nose and her heart, saying nothing.

Just after six, Granny Long stepped onto the wooden stage. Dressed in red and heavily made-up, she looked like a flower despite her age, eyes squeezed into slits from smiling. No microphone, no amplifier. But her voice carried; years of hosting banquets had given her the ability to command a room.

She clapped her hands, and all eyes turned her way. Kong Xiyan saw her open her mouth and launch into a comedic routine, making people laugh. She nodded along with Granny Long's words, and soon people were clapping in rhythm, followed by peals of laughter.

Granny Long invited the couple up. They held two cups of wine, not going table to table as they had at noon, but toasting from the stage. After the toast, the feast began in earnest. Everyone stood, raised their glasses to the couple, and drank.

The tables had both rice wine and soft drinks, all in bottles. Chi Wanzhao raised her cup and took a sip—it was strong, not a soft drink. She frowned slightly. Granny Long kept up her routine, even pulling the girl's parents onto the stage, peppering them with questions and drawing laughter from the crowd.

The mood was warm and harmonious. Chi Wanzhao noticed Kong Xiyan's gaze fixed on the stage, laughing along with the others, eyes crinkled. She looked at the people on stage with a puzzled expression, pursed her lips, and took another sip. The rice wine wasn't bad—sweet, if a bit sharp on the first swallow. After a couple of sips, she found it quite palatable.

When everyone was full and content, children darting between the round tables, Granny Long's voice thundered from the stage. Kong Xiyan sat back, patting her full stomach, when suddenly she heard everyone shout: "Teacher Kong!"

"Teacher Kong! Teacher Kong!"

Kong Xiyan froze, then looked up. Granny Long's gaze swept over and she said with a smile, "Teacher Kong, is it? Let's invite Teacher Kong and her husband up!"

Chen Junshan stood beside Granny Long, looking a little awkward. "Granny Long, not 'husband.'"

Granny Long made an "oh" sound, understanding. Same-sex marriage had been legal for over a decade, and with current technology, two women could even have children, so she wasn't surprised at the correction. She amended herself: "Let's invite Teacher Kong and her partner!"

Kong Xiyan was still a bit stunned when Second Aunt pushed her forward. Chi Wanzhao was pushed out as well. She had been frowning, expression sharp, but when she saw Kong Xiyan's smile, she softened, gentler now.

They stood on the stage, and Kong Xiyan realized it was for a game. After calling out their names, Granny Long picked two other couples—relatives of Shan-ge's family who had come for the banquet. The men were about Chen Junshan's age, married for less than two years.

Once the four couples were assembled, Granny Long explained the rules. It was a simple blindfolded wife-finding game, a holdover from village tradition. In the old days, the groom would be blindfolded among a group of girls and had to identify his own wife. But now that wasn't practical, so they used couples married only a few years to fill in. That was why Kong Xiyan and Chi Wanzhao had been brought up.

There weren't many people. Granny Long gave a brief explanation and had Chen Junshan and the other two men blindfolded. When it came to Kong Xiyan and Chi Wanzhao, she hesitated and asked, "Which of you two will wear the blindfold?"

Kong Xiyan, worried Chi Wanzhao might be embarrassed, said, "I will."

Chi Wanzhao stared at her hands. The game involved touching the back of the hand only three times; once you found your wife, you stopped. She saw Granny Long about to put the black cloth over Kong Xiyan's eyes, so she pulled Kong Xiyan in front of her and said, "I'll do it."

Granny Long smiled. "Alright."

With all this commotion, everyone's attention was on the stage. They had eaten their fill and were in the mood for entertainment, all eyes fixed on the scene.

"Stand at the very back." Chi Wanzhao, blindfolded, suddenly leaned in close and whispered. Kong Xiyan blushed. Was Chi Wanzhao planning to cheat? Before she could answer, Chi Wanzhao was led away by Granny Long.

Four women stood on the stage, all poised and pretty. After arranging Chen Junshan and the others, Granny Long came up and said, "Stand wherever you like."

The moment she said it, everyone scrambled for the last spot. Granny Long chuckled. "Hey, I know your little tricks. No fighting—I'll arrange it."

Kong Xiyan was placed third. She looked down at the blindfolded Chi Wanzhao, a little flustered.

The game began quickly. Chen Junshan, as the main character, was first to try. He stood on the stage, and Granny Long led him to the first person. He touched the back of her hand with his fingertips. He shook his head. Everyone held in their laughter. Then the second, third, fourth. He shook his head each time.

This time, the whole yard burst out laughing. "Drink as punishment! Drink as punishment!" everyone shouted. Granny Long gestured for calm.

Chen Junshan took off his blindfold and saw his wife standing in the first position, smiling at him helplessly. He scratched his head sheepishly and stepped aside.

Next, the second man came up. He stood on the stage, tapped the first woman's hand, and declared, "This is my wife!" Everyone laughed again. He pulled off the blindfold and saw his own wife doubled over in laughter.

Kong Xiyan, curious, asked the woman next to her, "Sister-in-law, An-ge didn't find you. Why are you so happy?" The woman she called sister-in-law waved a hand and laughed. "Pfft! I've been to so many banquets, I've never seen anyone get it right. Hands are hands—how could you tell them apart?" Another woman on the other side chimed in, "Right? It's just for fun. If you could tell who's who by touching hands, you'd be a fairy."

Kong Xiyan tilted her head, watching the crowd. They were all getting a kick out of Shan-ge and An-ge failing, even the children were clapping and laughing. She lowered her eyes, wondering who Chi Wanzhao would pick. Chi Wanzhao was last.

None of the four women on stage had been claimed, meaning the first three men had all failed. They stood to one side as Granny Long brought Chi Wanzhao up. Just as Granny Long was about to have her touch the first woman's hand, Chi Wanzhao stopped in her tracks and said, "Not her."

Granny Long's eyes widened in surprise. The crowd's attention followed Chi Wanzhao's slender figure as she moved to the second person. This time, Granny Long didn't even have her touch. Chi Wanzhao lowered her head. "Not her either."

The crowd grew even quieter. Even the children who had been running around stopped, sitting at the tables, shushing anyone who spoke.

Kong Xiyan was third. She wasn't sure whether Chi Wanzhao truly knew the other two weren't her, or if she had taken her earlier words to heart, assuming the last one had to be her. Her heart raced as Chi Wanzhao walked slowly over, pounding like a drum until she felt unsteady, her palms sweating.

Chi Wanzhao stood before her, still, then reached out and took her hand. Under Granny Long's astonished gaze, she pulled off the black blindfold and said, "I found her."

The yard erupted in whistles and noise, the earlier tension dissolving into lively chaos. Even Granny Long had to praise her: "Young lady, impressive!" Kong Xiyan smiled with pride, not noticing that her hand was still in Chi Wanzhao's grip.

As the only one who had succeeded, Kong Xiyan was tasked with pouring the penalty drinks—three cups each—for the three men who had failed. Watching them grimace at the burn yet toss back the drinks had her stifling a laugh. Chi Wanzhao stood beside her, not leaving the stage.

Once the penalty round was over, Kong Xiyan was about to step down with Chi Wanzhao when Granny Long suddenly called out, "Hey, hey, hey, don't go. This game has penalties and rewards, don't you think?" The people sitting below chorused, "Right!" Granny Long said, "Then what's the reward?" The crowd fell silent for a moment, then Xiaopang stood up and shouted, "A kiss!" Immediately a wave of voices followed, "A kiss! A kiss!" Kong Xiyan looked at Chi Wanzhao with embarrassment, biting her lip, and said hesitantly to Granny Long, "Is that appropriate?" Granny Long turned to the crowd and said, "Teacher Kong is shy. What do we do?" The crowd kept chanting, "A kiss! A kiss!" The noise was enough to lift the roof.

Chi Wanzhao saw how reluctant Kong Xiyan looked, caught up in the crowd's insistence and not knowing how to refuse. She pulled Kong Xiyan into her arms in one swift motion, cradling her face with one hand, and leaned down to kiss her.

Granny Long smiled and looked away, joining in the laughter. But Kong Xiyan swallowed. Chi Wanzhao wasn't actually kissing her—there was a thumb between their lips. Because Chi Wanzhao was holding her face, the thumb pressed against her lips. A cool touch.

Kong Xiyan looked up, her lashes brushing against Chi Wanzhao's lowered eyelids. They locked eyes for a second. Kong Xiyan's gaze was shimmering, cheeks flushed, pink lips slightly parted. The din of the crowd seemed to fade into the distance. In Chi Wanzhao's eyes, there was only the person before her.

Fine moment, beautiful woman in her arms—just as she thought to remove the thumb and kiss her for real, Kong Xiyan asked, curiosity brimming in her eyes, "CEO Chi, how did you recognize me? By scent? CEO Chi, be honest—are you actually a dog?"

Chi Wanzhao: ...