“Grandpa Fang, Uncle Fang, we’ve arrived…”
Arriving at the grand entrance of the Ouyang family’s ancestral mansion, Wan Yunting opened the car door and helped Fang Shoushan, Fang Guowen, and Du Xiumei out. The three of them looked up at the magnificent and imposing main gate of the Ouyang family. Two stone lions flanked the entrance, large lanterns hung on either side of the main beam, and a plaque adorned the vermilion gate, accompanied by a pair of couplets. Fang Shoushan and Fang Guowen, father and son, were filled with awe, marveling at the grandeur befitting a prominent family.
“Xiao Wan, did you write this couplet?” Fang Guowen asked, pointing to the couplet on the gate, and turning to smile at Wan Yunting.
“Yes.”
Wan Yunting smiled and nodded. Ouyang Zhixin gestured with a smile, “Master Fang, Mr. Fang, Mrs. Fang, please come in…”
“Alright, please…”
Fang Shoushan and Fang Guowen smiled courteously and gestured, walking alongside Ouyang Zhixin and the Wan Yunting father and son through the gate as if entering a prince’s mansion. This truly opened the eyes of Fang Shoushan and Fang Guowen, who repeatedly marveled at the splendor of a prominent Beijing family.
Ouyang Zhixin, without flaunting his wealth, casually introduced the layout and scenery of the ancestral mansion to Fang Shoushan and Fang Guowen. He also recounted the history of how the Ouyang family prospered through generations, earning the admiration of Fang Shoushan and Fang Guowen, who increasingly felt they were not their equals and that their Fang family had perhaps reached too high.
In the main guest courtyard, a chef was already preparing the evening banquet. Over a dozen tables were set up in the vast courtyard, and all members of the Ouyang family were present. Fang Yanxi, the guest of honor, was surrounded by her maternal aunts and cousins, who beamed with warm smiles. Several skilled aunts even presented Fang Yanxi with their carefully chosen gifts.
Although Fang Yanxi wished to decline, Xia Xiangyun, understanding the dynamics of family competition, naturally accepted these gifts on Fang Yanxi’s behalf. When they were alone, she advised Fang Yanxi on how to interact with the family members in the future, imparting her experience.
The excessive fawning of your aunts and cousins towards Fang Yanxi was clearly a way to seek benefits for their respective branches of the family.
“Grandpa, Mom, Dad, you’re here.”
Seeing that her man and future father-in-law had picked up her grandfather and parents from the airport, Fang Yanxi knew that her future father-in-law valued her greatly and respected the Fang family.
“Heh, you girl, you didn’t tell your parents about your pregnancy. If Xiao Wan hadn’t said anything, we still wouldn’t know,” Du Xiumei said, pulling her daughter and chiding her with a smile.
Beside them, Ouyang Zhixin introduced his wife, Xia Xiangyun, to Fang Shoushan and Fang Guowen, and also introduced Fang Shoushan and Fang Guowen’s family to other Ouyang family members like Ouyang Xingteng and Ouyang Zhihui.
“Come, brother, please take a seat…”
Ouyang Xingteng, as an elder of the family, personally took Fang Shoushan to the main guest courtyard and invited him to the seat of honor, showing the highest respect to the Fang family. This made Fang Shoushan and Fang Guowen, father and son, feel deeply moved.
Ouyang Xingteng and Fang Shoushan exchanged polite inquiries about each other’s health, laughing, “Brother Fang, you must come visit us more often. After all, we’ll be family from now on.”
“That’s right.”
Ouyang Zhihui turned to Wan Yunting and smiled, “Xiao Wan, when are you and Yanxi holding the wedding?”
This question caught Wan Yunting and Fang Yanxi off guard. They exchanged a look. Ouyang Zhihui chuckled, “You two are something else. We’ve invited your grandfather and parents now, and of course, we’re here to discuss your wedding. Haven’t you picked a date yet?”
Wan Yunting scratched his head, shaking it sheepishly.
“Haha…”
Everyone present burst into laughter.
Ouyang Xingteng pointed at Wan Yunting and jokingly chided, “You brat, why don’t you quickly give the bride’s side your commitment.”
Fang Shoushan and Fang Guowen looked at Wan Yunting and waved their hands, smiling, “We understand Xiao Wan’s intentions. No need for a formal declaration!”
These words carried a double meaning!
After all, Fang Guowen knew that besides being with his daughter, Wan Yunting was also involved with Gu Luotang, the granddaughter of Gu Yuanbai!
Of course, the Fang family inwardly felt Wan Yunting was too fickle, but with their daughter now pregnant and Fang Yanxi wholeheartedly willing to follow Wan Yunting, the Fang Guowen couple said nothing.
Therefore, he didn’t ask Wan Yunting for a declaration, understanding the complexities of the situation and not wanting to put him on the spot!
Ouyang Zhixin and Xia Xiangyun, seeing their in-laws so reasonable, naturally understood. They planned to have a private discussion with the Fang family about this matter.
“The banquet is about to begin…”
A call from outside announced the start of the banquet. Ouyang Zhixin stood up and smiled at Fang Guowen, “Come, let’s have a drink and chat…”
“Good…”
Fang Shoushan and Fang Guowen, along with Du Xiumei, who had been chatting merrily with Xia Xiangyun, went out to take their seats.
Fang Shoushan and Fang Guowen naturally sat at the head table with Ouyang Zhixin, Wan Yunting, and elders like Ouyang Xingteng and Ouyang Zhihui. They drank and dined, discussing Wan Yunting and Fang Yanxi, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.
This also made Fang Shoushan and Fang Guowen feel that despite the disparity between their Fang family and the Ouyang family, the Ouyang family was extending them the highest courtesy and respect.
This point was crucial. Fang Guowen, upon learning that Wan Yunting was a member of the prestigious Ouyang family in Beijing, had harbored concerns. He worried that his daughter, Fang Yanxi, would have a difficult time in such a prominent family after marrying Wan Yunting.
However, witnessing the attitudes of Ouyang Zhixin, Xia Xiangyun, and the entire Ouyang family towards Wan Yunting, Fang Guowen’s previous worries were completely dispelled.
After all, the Ouyang family was one of Beijing’s five great families, a truly aristocratic and influential family in China, an existence beyond the reach of ordinary people. Fang Guowen’s concern was perfectly normal.
The banquet proceeded smoothly, with family members offering their congratulations and well wishes to Wan Yunting and Fang Yanxi.
The next morning, Wan Yunting awoke to find himself and the father-son duo of Fang Shoushan and Fang Guowen enjoying tea and casual conversation in a garden tea pavilion.
Ouyang Zhixin, having just taken over as the fifth-generation family head, was naturally very busy and had already gone out early to arrange work matters.
As for Fang Yanxi, she had intended to ease her workload after the relocation of the Chaoting Group headquarters to Beijing was stabilized. However, Wan Yunting had admonished her, emphasizing that the first few months of pregnancy were the most critical and required ample rest.
Fang Yanxi obediently agreed, promising to take care of herself and not overwork.
Wan Yunting was helpless, knowing she was a strong-willed workaholic. Keeping her home to rest would be like caging her.
Therefore, Wan Yunting had to call Jiang Wenhao and ask him to arrange for someone to help Fang Yanxi lighten her workload and prevent her from getting too tired.
In the morning, Fang Guowen wished to visit Elder Fan Liren. Wan Yunting personally drove him there, and they had lunch at Elder Fan’s home. Considering his flight to Country H at two o’clock in the afternoon, Wan Yunting had to drive alone to the Chinese Medicine Association’s office. He saw that Li Tiangui was the leader of the delegation group and had already organized everyone for departure.
“Chairman Wan is here…”
Everyone was gathered in the lobby on the first floor. Lu Dashun and Li Tianyi had packed their luggage, knowing the exchange meeting would likely last two to three days, so they had prepared changes of clothes.
Of course, the men carried only a single travel bag. However, women like Li Tianyi and Shangguan Hui’er brought entire suitcases, it was unclear what was inside, perhaps preparations to buy cosmetics in Country H.
With Li Tiangui as the leader and Professor Chen Jiadong as the deputy leader, accompanied by professors like Yuan Jingguo, along with young people like Li Tianyi, Lu Dashun, Li Wenhai, and Sun Wenhao, plus Wan Yunting and Shangguan Hui’er, the group comprised sixteen people.