Taming The Hidden Bigshot By Kissing Him
Chapter 432 I am a disciple of the National Doctor, I will never back down!

Chapter 432: Chapter 432 I am a disciple of the National Doctor, I will never back down!

At six o’clock sharp.

The Liu Family’s members waited at the entrance to the eastern wing’s archway, a place specially prepared for private banquets. It exuded the style and heritage of a high-class salon transformed from a garden of ancient officials and nobility.

They craned their necks in anticipation.

"Have they arrived?"

"Should we go out to greet them? Doesn’t waiting here seem a bit insincere?"

"Let us younger ones go take a look," proposed little cousin Liu Yi, peeking out eagerly. "I’ll go with cousin Yunye!"

"Wahhh..." The toddler held in Yang Yuerong’s arms stretched out his tender white arms, also wanting to go.

"They’re here!"

"The guests have arrived!"

Liu Huimin, leaning on the porch, exclaimed with some excitement.

"The Huo Family has all arrived."

All five members from the Huo Family’s second branch arrived, laughing and talking as they walked. The father and son trailed behind. Qiao Xi was arm-in-arm with Du Juan on her left and Huo Sijiao on her right, the three women radiating joy.

Liu Huimin, in her high-heeled shoes, hurried forward to greet them, her gaze falling on Qiao Xi as she said, "Please, come inside. We’ve finally... waited for you all to arrive."

Her eyes were fervent, yet Qiao Xi simply nodded lightly in response. Liu Huimin felt a flicker of disappointment but quickly perked up.

"Tonight, we’ve invited the best chefs from Haicheng, even the head chef from Jinling Grand Hotel has been brought over. I know Xixi loves their Buddha Jumps Over the Wall," Liu Huimin introduced warmly, her manner less flustered and devoid of pretentiousness.

"Thank you," Qiao Xi replied politely.

As they walked further in, they saw the entire Liu Family, young and old, waiting at the small banquet hall’s entrance, their eyes alight with fervor.

Liu Zongquan, grabbing Huo Jiancheng’s hand, was exceedingly friendly, "Jiancheng, we must have a few drinks tonight."

Huo Jiancheng, who had risen to his position through his son yet achieved little himself, was taken aback by the honor.

"Sister Huo, you look really beautiful tonight! You’re the second most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen!" the sweet-talking Liu Yi flattered Huo Sijiao.

Huo Sijiao’s heart bloomed with joy: "Then who’s the most beautiful?"

"Of course, it’s my cousin Qiao Xi!"

"You sure have a way with words, kid; my sister-in-law is indeed the most beautiful."

The daughter-in-law Yang Yuerong, holding her baby, tempted Du Juan, "If Qiao Xi and Xingzhou were to have a child, it would surely be even more beautiful than our Rongbao!"

With their numerical advantage, the Liu Family executed a strategy to break through the Huo Family’s defenses one by one.

The group settled into their seats.

Huo Xingzhou led Qiao Xi to a seat on one side, leaving the seat to her right empty. Xu Yunye, Old Mrs. Liu, and Liu Huimin all vied for the spot.

Ultimately, Xu Yunye, unhindered by decorum and taking advantage of his youth, plopped down confidently. Xu Xiuyuan, pushing Liu Zongyun’s wheelchair, took his place on the inside.

"Everyone please sit down; no need to stand on ceremony,"

Old Mrs. Liu glared at him harshly but eventually invited everyone to their seats.

A small round table made of rosewood barely accommodated both families.

The private banquet servers began serving the dishes, starting everyone off with a warming water caltrop soup and drunken pigeon marinated in Shaoxing rice wine.

Then they continued with Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, baked green crabs with Sichuan pepper, sauce-drenched sea snails, and wild Rhubarb fish, among others.

For the 14 people from both families, they served 36 exquisitely cooked dishes.

The original head chef from Fuchun Garden and other borrowed head chefs from various places worked together seamlessly, clearly differentiating primary and secondary dishes.

Regrettably, among these fourteen people, there was one who could not enjoy the feast.

Held in his mother’s arms, the saliva drip-dropped with desire as he gazed at the table full of dishes.

In the end, he could only grip his milk bottle and suck vigorously.

The banquet was over halfway through.

Old Mrs. Liu spoke first, "This time Miss Qiao is going to the Imperial Capital for the competition, there’s not much we from the Liu Family can help with. I’ve contacted an old sister of mine, she should be able to take care of you when the time comes."

"How about letting Yunye accompany you to the Imperial Capital? Would that be okay?"

Xu Yunye?

Qiao Xi looked towards Xu Yunye sitting beside her. What was he going to do there?

Xu Yunye earnestly said, "I can drive for you and carry your bags, run errands and attend to your needs. People from Beijing are unfamiliar to you, so you’ll surely find my help useful."

He was planning to cling to her.

Qiao Xi wanted to refuse, but Huo Xingzhou’s fingers scratched the palm of her hand.

She met the man’s gaze and understood his intention.

Huo Xingzhou also hoped that Xu Yunye would go with her.

Qiao Xi pursed her lips, "Well then, thank you for making special arrangements."

Xu Yunye breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his delicate and profound face.

Liu Huimin grew anxious, "Then what about me...?"

Old Mrs. Liu cut off her hopes with a single sentence, "You stay at home."

What did she lack compared to Yunye!

Following Qiao Xi would allow her to foster a mother-daughter relationship, cooking daily meals and stewing soups for her. There were things, after all, where a woman’s touch was more convenient.

Liu Huimin closed her mouth in frustration.

Huo Sijiao and Du Juan both smiled gleefully at her misfortune.

By the time the meal ended, it was nearly nine o’clock.

Both families said their goodbyes and departed, with Liu Zongquan and Huo Jiancheng having drunk a bit too much. Liu Zongyun, sitting in his wheelchair, lagged behind.

He had been comatose for too many years, and there was no more hope for his legs to be healed. He would be bound to a wheelchair for life.

But the fact that he had awakened was already a miracle.

He softly called out, "Qiao Xi."

Qiao Xi stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him. She saw Liu Zongyun take out a mahogany swan velvet box and place it in her hands.

Qiao Xi slowly opened the box and found that it was still the same piece of warm and smooth yellow jade, as delicate as translated chicken liver.

Incredibly, the jade had made its way back into her hands after all its travels.

Qiao Xi closed the box and heard Liu Zongyun’s trembling voice begin to speak.

"This item signifies my little token of appreciation, and it should belong to you. I hope it can bless you with success! I’ve always felt guilty. If I had been more careful twenty-two years ago and not been outsmarted by Xu Guangyao, exposing his conspiracy on the spot, you wouldn’t have suffered all these years."

He had clearly uncovered Xu Guangyao’s conspiracy!

Yet he was outmaneuvered and ended up in a vegetative state.

Since awakening, he’d been restless, unable to eat or sleep, especially after learning about Qiao Xi’s experiences in the countryside, which filled him with immense pain.

Once Xu Guangyao was sentenced, the fight in him dissipated, and his recuperation showed no signs of improvement. He was still gaunt and haggard.

He had a knot in his heart.

"I’m sorry, child. Your uncle should have woken up sooner..."

Qiao Xi’s lips were tightly pressed together. Her fingers clutched the wooden box so hard they turned bloodless, and her heart ached unbearably.

Liu Zongyun spoke gently, "If it weren’t for my treatment, you wouldn’t need to take part in this acupuncture contest."

Qiao Xi’s throat tightened as she said, "Even without you, I would have participated. They would have come up with other ways to force me to join because I am Cheng Han’s apprentice, and I will not back down!"

She took a deep breath and looked at the frail Liu Zongyun, "I’ll accept the gift. Take good care of yourself from now on, Second Uncle. You are also a victim of the past events; you shouldn’t blame yourself."

After speaking, she grabbed Huo Xingzhou’s hand and hurried out of Fuchun Garden.

Second Uncle?

Liu Zongyun stood there stunned, his mind blank.