Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Bai Lu glared, "Who are you calling the clan leader? You've committed crimes and have been expelled from the Bai Family sect."

Bai Yibo was not angry and said with a smile, "Even if I was expelled, I'm still Bai Zepei's uncle, surely I can come and drink some wedding wine?"

At this point, the guests were either aristocrats or Imperial Court officials, and upon hearing Bai Yibo speak like this, they couldn't help but show disdain. Some even whispered, "How does the Bai Family have such relatives?"

Scholar, with sharp ears, heard this and immediately glared over, saying fiercely, "What are you talking about? Bai Yihong was raised by my grandfather; now that he's successful, he doesn't acknowledge us. Bai Zepei was also raised by our family, and just because he's now a successful second-place candidate, does he no longer recognize people?"

Bai Yihong's moustache trembled with anger, but fortunately, he had just sent Lin Ping'er back, otherwise Lin Ping'er would have been furious.

He quickly walked over and said kindly, "Brother, Scholar, today is Zepei's wedding day. Please give me some face and sit down for a drink."

"Give you face? You didn't even send us an invitation. When did you give us any face?" Bai Yibo shouted, displaying a devil-may-care attitude.

Jiang Yichun was about to go over to handle things when Bai Ruozhu held him back and whispered, "I'll take a look."

She walked over with a smile on her face, speaking unhurriedly, "Such a joyous day, are you really going to cause trouble? Back then, out of jealousy for my second brother's talents, you wrote threats to kill our whole family on the village wall and cursed that my second brother couldn't achieve academic success. How could we dare invite you, lest we spoil the guests' mood today?"

"You are lying!" Bai Yibo shouted, "Wasn't it you who meddled? Otherwise, why would I have drunk and done those things?"

"The truth comes out when drunk. Well, today's my second brother's wedding; I don't have time for your nonsense. If you want to eat and drink, then sit down; if not, please leave. Whether it's being ungrateful or looking down on you, don't waste your breath here." Bai Ruozhu felt arguing with him was beneath her and decisively cut him off.

"You..."

Bai Yibo pointed at Bai Ruozhu, wanting to curse, but Bai Ruozhu guided her father away to continue the feast. Bai Yibo's eyes turned, pulled Scholar to sit down, and said, "Well, we might as well eat if it's free. I won't bicker with a woman; it's disgraceful for a woman to run to the men's table."

"Ruozhu is a fourth-rank official; don't talk nonsense if you don't understand," Bai Lu said bluntly.

Bai Yibo grumbled a couple of times and was soon attracted by the food and drink, dragging Scholar to recklessly indulge.

The crowd saw the disturbance had settled, and gave face to the Bai Family and Si Family, laughing and continuing the lively celebration.

At this time, the bride was in the bridal chamber, while the groom was responsible for offering drinks to the guests. Bai Zepei ignored Bai Yibo and his father, went table by table, offering wine and expressing gratitude.

He was at one table offering drinks when someone suddenly shouted from another table, "Groom, why aren't you coming to offer a toast?"

The voice carried some anger and drunkenness, indicating the person had likely drunk too much.

Bai Ruozhu quickly looked over, soon recognizing the person shouting. Wasn't it Ma Linglong's brother, Ma Jinan?

Back then, Ma Linglong tried to approach Princess Yingtong, instigating her to take an interest in Bai Zepei, just because her brother, Ma Jinan, had always liked Si Yihuan.

Earlier, Bai Ruozhu had someone look at the women's guest table. The Si Family had not invited Ma Linglong, only Lady Ji and Miss Ji from her in-laws attended.

But because of kinship between the Ma Family and Si Family, Ma Jinan still came.

Bai Zepei hesitated a moment, then smiled and said, "Alright, I'll come over in a bit."

He politely apologized to the guests at the table, then headed towards Ma Jinan.

Ma Jinan's cheeks and eye area had turned red from drinking; it hadn't been long since the feast started, yet he was already in this state. Presumably, his drinking capacity was not good, coupled with drinking in resentment, resulting in quick inebriation.

Not far away, the Prime Minister of the Si Family glanced over, frowned, and turned to glare at the Ma Family patriarch.

Si Yihuan's father sighed slightly, knowing Ma Jinan's thoughts, but his daughter didn't fancy Ma Jinan, and it wasn't suitable for their families to be allied again, hence the predicament.

"Is it Cousin Ma? I toast you." Bai Zepei raised his glass and drank it in one go.

Ma Jinan hesitated, the term "Cousin" was what he most liked hearing from Si Yihuan. Now hearing another man call him "Cousin," his feelings were all the more conflicted.

He raised his glass and drank it all, then refilled it, "I also toast you, wishing you and Yihuan a hundred years of harmony and early offspring!"

Bai Zepei filled his glass, and the two drank head raised.

"I toast you again, wishing your marriage bliss and career advancement!"

"Come, this toast for my cousin: you must treat her well, or I won't spare you!"

"..."

Ma Jinan suddenly poured out five, six consecutive toasts; Bai Zepei kept smiling and agreeing, accompanying him cup after cup.

Bai Ruozhu was a bit worried, hoping her second brother wouldn't get drunk. She wanted to go and advise, but Jiang Yichun held her back, whispering, "This is between men, your involvement would embarrass your second brother."

Bai Ruozhu pouted, men, men, indeed men think differently from us!

She felt no sympathy for Ma Jinan. The Prime Minister didn't choose Ma Jinan as his granddaughter's husband not just because Si Yihuan wasn't interested, but he was unworthy of the position overall. Although not totally unaccomplished, he only achieved the status of Scholar, scraping the bottom. His infatuation with Si Yihuan wasn't wrong, but he shouldn't indulge in pointless fantasies—if truly wanting to marry, he should work hard instead of wallowing in self-pity.

If Ma Jinan passed the entrance examinations, even not as second-place or third-place holder, just the second grade, his position in the Prime Minister's eyes would be higher.

Bai Ruozhu was just pondering this when suddenly cheers erupted, and Ma Jinan slapped the table, exclaiming, "Good! Bai Zepei, you truly are straightforward! I admire you. Again, congratulations to you and my cousin. You go on with your matters, I won't bother you anymore."

He said this almost slumped over the table. The Ma Family patriarch hurriedly instructed the servants to help him out, unwilling to have Bai Yibo come over.

"Little brother, a few cups and you're fooled? Don't be deceived by his cunning appearance! He's very scheming; otherwise, why would I have lost my Scholar title because of him?" Bai Yibo's eyes shifted; he suspected that Ma Jinan and Bai Zepei had grudges, hoping to see them clash. But seeing them reconcile, Bai Yibo felt dissatisfied and, with some alcohol, decided to provoke.

"Enough, Bai Yibo; you cheated in the exams, got expelled from the sect, yet have the audacity to blame others?" Bai Lu said angrily. He tried not to disrupt the other guests, speaking slightly subdued, but nonetheless drew everyone's attention. All curiously looked at Bai Zepei, curious as to how he would handle it.

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As per yesterday's plan, two chapters have been updated~