As the saying goes, more friends mean more paths. Cheng Xiaofan naturally would not refuse the visit of Daoist Ku and his companions.
What's more, when they were at Nanshan Lake last time, Daoist Liushui had already expressed that if Cheng Xiaofan ever needed their help in the future, all the Daoists of Jinnium Temple would obey his commands.
Daoist Liushui's name was Meng Haisheng, the younger brother of Daoist Ku, Meng Bufan. Daoist Ku's personal visit today indirectly confirmed what Daoist Liushui had said.
"Master Cheng, I was rude last time!" Daoist Luohua said to Cheng Xiaofan with his head lowered.
Cheng Xiaofan chuckled and said, "It's all in the past, let's not mention it!"
As Cheng Xiaofan led them into the courtyard, two young Daoists followed behind, carrying a large chest.
"Master Cheng, this chest contains some jade items. It's a small token of appreciation, please accept it!" Daoist Ku said with a smile.
Daoist Ku's face looked even worse when he smiled than when he didn't.
It was likely that the origin of his Daoist title was inseparable from his bitter melon-like face.
Cheng Xiaofan smiled and said, "Daoist Ku, you are too kind!"
Then, with a wave of his hand, he called Luo Yang and Feng Xigua and asked them to take the chest to his room.
Just as the tables were being arranged for Daoist Ku and his group, Xu Man, who had been live-streaming around Nanshan Lake, arrived with her father, Xu Haoyu.
Following them were Mei Xueyun's father, Mei Haoran, the town mayor of Jinbao Town, Zhou Fendou, and Dao Dahai.
Dao Dahai was accompanied by his woman, Fang Xiuqin.
Fang Xiuqin kept linking her arm through Dao Dahai's, and the two appeared exceptionally affectionate.
"Welcome, Director Dao and Sister-in-law!" Cheng Xiaofan stepped forward and gave them each a string of beads.
Because Mei Haoran and Zhou Fendou were in more sensitive positions, Cheng Xiaofan did not give them any beaded bracelets.
Dao Dahai was different from them.
He was now half affiliated with the Jianghu Affairs Bureau, and wearing a string of beads would not affect his image as a police station chief.
Moreover, someone of Dao Dahai's status often had to face danger. Having such a string of beads on him, even if bullets were fired at him, could be blocked by the energy it emitted.
As it approached noon, the feast officially began.
The entire villa courtyard was filled with the aroma of food and drinks, and the sound of laughter and chatter.
Teresa and Sakai Kyoko, two beautiful women from abroad, were attending such a grand feast in the Chinese countryside for the first time and appeared exceptionally excited.
Miao Xiuhua was very fond of these two girls, so she intentionally arranged for them to sit next to her, occasionally serving them dishes.
As for Bai Yiling and her sisters, they were arranged in the main hall of the villa, accompanied by Tang Guihua and Mei Xueyun.
Han Jie, along with Luo Changsheng, Tu Biao, Luo Yang, and others, were also seated in the living room of the villa.
In the countryside, it was customary to seat men and women separately at feasts.
Cheng Xiaofan, the protagonist of the event, did not get to sit at the head of the table; he had to raise his cup and toast the guests at each table.
This was a village custom of Zhuxi Village.
Usually, when toasting, people would just hold a cup as a gesture.
Those who usually didn't drink would substitute it with a cup of plain water, as long as the intention was there, and people in the countryside would generally not mind.
However, Cheng Xiaofan was too happy today and brought out his childish mischievousness.
He carried a basket on his back, filled with the high-proof Baijiu, "Qianri Zui," gifted by Tu Biao. He held a large tea cup in one hand and a wine bottle in the other.
Every time he approached a table, with a "whoosh," he would first pour a full tea cup of Baijiu, then bow deeply to everyone present, and say with a smile, "Today is the day Cheng Xiaofan and Goddess Bai get engaged. Thank you all for coming. I'll drink this toast to you all, and you can just have a sip!"
Gulp!
He tilted his head back and drank the entire large tea cup of wine without even flinching.
If someone praised his drinking capacity, he would get carried away and drink another large cup on the spot.
The pitiful Taoyibao, with another basket in his mouth, wagged his tail from time to time, following behind him to pick up the empty wine bottles.
"Woof woof!"
Sometimes, Taoyibao couldn't help but grumble, "Master, can you leave a little wine in the bottle for this dog elder to taste? You see, this dog elder has already picked up eleven bottles for you, and you've drunk eleven jin of wine, but I haven't had a single drop! Don't go too far! Do you think it's fun to bully a dog like this?"
Fortunately, Cheng Xiaofan was a true wine immortal. With his drinking capacity, drinking ten or twenty jin was no problem at all. The wine that went into his stomach would all turn into mist and evaporate from his body.
Even if such a heaven-defying fellow were to toast from today until tomorrow, it wouldn't be an issue.
Cheng Fugui, seeing this from afar, kept shaking his head and sighing, "This brat doesn't resemble his father at all. Where did he get such a great drinking capacity? He's so arrogant. I never drank like this when I was young!"
Miao Xiuhua, sitting at a neighboring table, heard her husband's words and immediately raised her eyebrows, shouting, "Cheng Fugui, shut up if you can't speak properly!"
"Today is my son and Yiling's big day, don't make me unhappy, or I'll turn on you!"
As soon as she said this, Cheng Fugui was so scared that he quickly shrank his neck, lowered his head to drink, and dared not say another word.
Seeing this, people at the surrounding tables clapped and laughed heartily.
...
"Congratulations, Master Cheng! This old earthling has come to partake in your celebratory wine!"
As people in the courtyard were merrily drinking, an old man's voice suddenly came from the entrance of the courtyard.
Hearing the familiar voice, Cheng Xiaofan immediately turned around and saw an old man with white hair and a youthful complexion standing at the entrance of the courtyard.
The old man wore a blue cloth robe and held a walking stick, exuding an air of immortality.
Behind him followed three young beauties, one in a light yellow shirt and the other in a pink long skirt, with hair cascading to their waists and flowers in their hair. They had peerless beauty.
Cheng Xiaofan recognized them at a glance.
The old man in front was clearly the Earth Deity.
Following behind were the mother and daughter fox spirits, Zhuxi Wangyue and Zhuxi Lingling.
The other younger beauty following closely was Konoe Mieko.
It was estimated that Konoe Mieko, fearing being recognized by Sakai Kyoko here, had changed her appearance.
Cheng Xiaofan never expected that in broad daylight, the Earth Deity would appear here with these three female demons.
Although Konoe Mieko could not be considered a proper female demon, she was over eighty years old yet lived like a woman in her early twenties, not far from being a female demon.
"Old Earth, why have you come?" Cheng Xiaofan quickly went forward to ask.
The Earth Deity bowed, lowered his voice, and said with a smile, "Lord Shennong, today you are getting engaged to your Dragon-Assisting partner. What a momentous occasion this is. We naturally dare not hide in the deep mountains and primeval forests. We have come to ask for a cup of celebratory wine."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan laughed heartily and said, "You've come to ask for celebratory wine, but have you brought any celebratory gifts?"