Chronicle of the 70s
Chapter 147 - 143 Banquet Invitation adds extra - for every 600 monthly tickets

Chapter 147: Chapter 143 Banquet Invitation adds extra Chapter for every 600 monthly tickets

At this time, the marriage certificate was a thick A4 sized paper, with a red cover that displayed the words "Marriage Certificate" in large characters. Inside was a design similar to a certificate, with a red flag, the names of the two individuals, and at the bottom in red print "Hardworking in building the nation, frugal in running the household" — it was very characteristic of the era.

Li Xianglu’s effort in wearing a white shirt also proved futile, as she couldn’t help but complain: "Why didn’t you say earlier that we aren’t taking photos?"

Qin Xi rode his bicycle, enjoying his new wife’s spoiled and wilful complaints, and said with a laugh: "Who said we aren’t taking photos?"

The white shirt was initially prepared for a standout wedding photo. Little did they know the marriage certificate at the time was like a certificate that didn’t require a wedding photo — simply write the names, stamp it, and done, rendering Li Xianglu’s long-prepared outfit useless.

But as soon as she heard Qin Xi say they were going to take photos, she couldn’t help but ask: "Then where shall we take them?"

Qin Xi said with a smile: "At the photo studio. Let’s take a few pictures for keepsake. After dinner, my friend will come over to take some colored ones for us."

Colored ones! Li Xianglu exclaimed with joy: "That’s great, I’ll wear my floral shirt."

Qin Xi smiled indulgently ahead: "Good, wear it."

The two then planned to take photos before picking up Grandpa Li to go to the restaurant together.

The restaurant had been booked in advance. Li Xianglu now had only Grandpa Li as a relative, and today’s certification was tantamount to a wedding banquet. Grandpa Li took it very seriously, feeling it was important not to lose the face of the bride’s side, thus he invited his comrades-in-arms Lao Pang, Old Xun, and Xi Yunmei along with her husband.

Qin Shen only knew the number of guests attending the banquet from the bride’s side but was clueless about who they were and didn’t give it much thought. As an elder, he arrived later, but upon entering the private room, he saw a table full of people of even higher status than himself, making him think he had walked into the wrong place for a moment.

The already seated Mr. Pang, who had a cheerful personality, saw Qin Shen backing out and called out: "Hey, Qin, come on in. This is it, you’re not in the wrong place."

Beside him, Mrs. Pang was vexed by her husband’s rough manner. Sure, Qin Shen was younger than you, but he was also sixty years old. How could you call him Qin? People who didn’t know might think he was your grandson.

Qin Shen’s face turned ugly, but seeing the elderly couple from the Xun Family, the threesome from the Pang Family, and a man in a suit with a slick-back haircut, he managed a strained smile and greeted everyone.

At this moment, Xi Yunmei arrived with her child and husband, and Qin Xi, who had gone to fetch someone, also just arrived. Seeing Xi Yunmei, Li Xianglu hurriedly called out to her.

Qin Shen noticed this girl with bright red lips and white teeth, and two youthful braids. With fair skin and crescent-shaped smiling eyes, she was indeed good-looking, but was already on familiar terms with the young daughter-in-law of the Lu Family. It seemed they knew each other well, presumably a connection through Li Huai Ren.

With that thought, he became quite pleased with his granddaughter-in-law.

Apart from the eldest son who hadn’t returned, everyone else from the Qin Family had arrived. The elders sat at one table, the younger generation at another, making two full tables of people, creating a lively atmosphere.

Mr. Li and Qin Shen sat at the head of the table, with the young Lu Xun beside them, indicating his distinct status.

Each table had two roast ducks, along with various stir-fries and braises. The liquor was Moutai, bought by Li Xianglu and Qin Xi with Foreign Exchange Vouchers, two bottles per table. There were also cigarettes, two packs of Dahongmen, but since the Lu Family brought their child, no one smoked.

First, the newlyweds acknowledged their relatives, with Li Xianglu and Qin Xi first recognizing the groom’s grandpa and dad. Qin Shen was very pleased with the background of his granddaughter-in-law and handed over a jewelry box, gesturing for her to open it.

Li Xianglu opened the box and everyone nodded in approval. Given Old Qin’s usual stinginess, his willingness to offer a pair of glassy bangles as a token to officially recognize her was a clear sign of his satisfaction with this engagement.

Li Xianglu sweetly called out "Grandpa," which happened to coincide with Qin Shouren showing his approval of his daughter-in-law by specially buying a pair of gold dragon and phoenix bracelets on the black market. When these were unveiled, shimmering in gold, everyone laughed, noting that father and son had similar tastes in preferring to give bracelets as gifts.

Li Xianglu beamed as she called out "Dad," amusing Qin Xi, who found the scene funny. He knew she was keen on money and probably calculating the cost in her head.

Grandpa Li was very sentimental. After being addressed as grandpa by the two newlyweds, he was moved to tears. He presented Qin Xi with a gold Parker pen, a very valuable item, expressing his wish for Qin Xi to write a satisfying life story with it. The gesture was meaningful.

Next were the younger relatives. Now Li Xianglu was Qin Zhen’s elder sister-in-law. She took a very delicate box from the bag held by Xi Yunmei and passed it over, saying, "I hope you will be a punctual person!"

Qin Zhen, his mouth greasy from eating, was surprised to receive a gift. He opened it to find a watch and exclaimed, "A watch!"

It was an elegant Eterna model with 17 jewels and two and a half carats of diamonds. This thin model had been developed by Eterna in the ’70s and was marketed for its sleek lines. The watch was priced at 230 yuan at the Overseas Chinese Store, which was 40 yuan cheaper than the price at Shanghai First Department Store.

This was a purchase agreed upon by Li Xianglu and Qin Xi as a reward for Qin Zhen getting into university.

Qin Zhen joyfully strapped the watch on immediately, constantly asking those around him, "Does it look nice?"

Meanwhile, Qin Miao, sitting at the kids’ table, was practically digging into her palm. She had come in her oldest clothes, hoping to embarrass Qin Xi and Li Xianglu, but unexpectedly, the place was filled with people even her grandfather had to look up to.

Especially that couple from the Lu Family seated at the main table. She only learned from that useless Pang Xinran how highly-regarded the Lu Family was in the capital after being scolded by Old Mo.

Li Xianglu’s shrewdness and capability were not at all apparent at first glance.

Qin Xi quickly introduced Qin Xin and Ma Cui, then mentioned Qin Miao and that shameless great aunt who had been driven away by Grandpa previously, who still had the cheek to come and partake in the banquet.

With so many people around, Qin Xi didn’t want any unpleasantness at the banquet and so didn’t mention Wu Xiaolan. However, Wu Xiaolan found herself put out, thinking that as the great aunt, since Qin Xi had no mother, she was the elder female of the household. After the recognition of relatives, it was her turn for a drink, yet it was swiftly brushed aside with a simple "Great Aunt."

Just as she was about to react, she felt her arm being gripped. It was her daughter with a cold look in her eyes. She dared not make a scene; ever since her daughter returned from that remote place, she had been acting differently, almost like another person. Yet, her husband had written a letter asking her to listen more to their daughter, leaving her feeling deeply embittered.

The meal passed by rather harmoniously. Both Grandpa Qin and Mr. Qin drank too much, and Qin Zhen, that rascal, secretly drank over two taels of Moutai, acting up and insisting on eating watermelon despite the cold weather.

Fortunately, there were many cars to provide rides home.

When Qin Shen came in, he saw that the man in the suit was Xu Xi, who had just returned from Hong Kong. He too had been invited by the old master to the engagement banquet. Since Xu Xi had a car, he took the opportunity to drive the old master, Qin Xi, Qin Zhen, and Li Xianglu back to the courtyard house.