Chapter 247: Chapter 247: Birthday Banquet Face-Slapping (5) Chapter 247: Chapter 247: Birthday Banquet Face-Slapping (5) Hearing her daughter say this, she felt reassured.

Once she presented the birthday gift later, it would definitely impress Mrs. Fen.

With her mind at ease, she became the life of the social gathering, full of joy and laughter, making the atmosphere very lively.

Just before five o’clock, the butler came to consult Mrs. Fen.

Mrs. Fen nodded slightly, gave a few instructions, and then said, “Thank you all for coming over to celebrate the New Year today. It’s been a long journey for you. We’ve prepared some home-cooked meals at home, please join us for a simple dinner, and share in the New Year’s joy.”

Everyone happily accepted and began to stand up.

There weren’t many people today, just enough for two tables.

Ding Yuehua and Ding Xuexue were waiting for the banquet to begin and the birthday celebration to commence.

Jiang Cheng, having heard their conversation, was also looking forward to it.

However, there was no program to start, and dinner was served directly.

Although the ‘home-cooked meal’ was just a modest way of speaking, the food was actually quite lavish, but indeed, it seemed to have nothing to do with a birthday feast.

Mrs. Fen took her seat and invited everyone to start the meal.

Neither Mr. Fen nor Fen Ye were present.

Everyone knew they were busy people and weren’t particularly surprised by their absence.

Ding Yuehua and Ding Xuexue, however, were very uncomfortable, as the birthday gifts they had prepared now seemed entirely out of place for the occasion.

Moreover, it looked as if there really were only a few guests present that day.

After a simple meal, people did say a few words of happy birthday, but no one gave any birthday gifts.

Since Mrs. Fen liked to play Mahjong, there were tables set up in the house, so everyone stayed to play Mahjong.

Ding Yuehua perked up, thinking the good entertainment must be coming later, and took a seat at the table.

…

Over at Jiang Zhe’s birthday celebration.

Jiang Yaowang arrived not long after Song Xingyu did.

Jiang Cheng had explained the evening’s events over the phone, and although Jiang Yaowang was disappointed, out of fear that Xiaozhe would be upset, he did not show it.

When he saw Jiang Zhe, he smiled affectionately, “Xiaozhe, you look so pretty today.”

In fact, Jiang Zhe was just wearing her school uniform like any other day, but when she heard her grandfather’s praise, she smiled.

Seeing Jiang Yaowang, Song Xingyu and the others, who were horsing around, seemed somehow subdued by his authority and didn’t dare to get too rowdy.

“You young folks go ahead and have fun, don’t be shy,” said Jiang Yaowang, very kindly.

“Mr. Jiang!” A voice came from behind.

Jiang Yaowang turned around to see Song Ye arriving with his wife and son.

Song Xingyu ran over: “Dad, Mom, big brother!”

“You rascal,” Song Xingming ruffled his hair.

“Big brother, my hair!” Song Xingyu protected his head.

“Kids will be mischievous. Mr. Jiang, please excuse us,” Song Ye said with a smile.

Jiang Yaowang laughed, “It’s in the nature of young people to be lively and energetic. Both young masters are grown so tall and are quite handsome.”

“Grandpa, do you know Director Song?” Xia Enci asked curiously.

“When I was young and doing my internship in Jincheng, Mr. Jiang mentored me and gave me some guidance,” Song Ye explained with a smile.

If Song Ye had known earlier that Xiaozhe was Mr. Jiang’s granddaughter, he would certainly have looked after her more.

Xia Enci nodded, “Fate!”

“Yes, isn’t this just fate?” Mrs. Song said with a smile, “So when Old Song heard about Xiaozhe’s birthday banquet, he said he had to come no matter what.”

If it was said that their previous kindness towards Jiang Zhe was partly for Qin Jingchen’s sake, now it was purely because of the relationship with the Jiang Family.

“Usher Song Ye, please come in and sit with my grandfather,” Xia Enci said.

“No need to be so formal as to call me Director Song, just call me Uncle Song,” Song Ye said to Xia Enci.

“Okay, Uncle Song.”

Jiang Zhe, who hadn’t spoken much, also said, “Uncle Song, Aunt Song, it must have been tiring to travel all this way.”

“It wasn’t tiring, I haven’t seen you for a long time and I missed you. Here’s a gift for you,” she said, handing Jiang Zhe a beautifully wrapped gift box.

They already had interaction with each other, and the conversation was warm as soon as they started speaking.

“Thank you,” Jiang Zhe said as he accepted it.

Jiang Yaowang knew that Jiang Cheng hadn’t come today, and his so-called friends were probably not going to show up either; thus, today, Song Ye might have had the highest status, and Qin Jingchen should be coming over later.

Qin Jingchen and Song Ye were already acquainted, and with Qin Jingchen being the junior, Jiang Yaowang just needed to play the good host to Song Ye.

So he accompanied Song Ye inside to sit down and have tea together.

Jiang Zhe stayed at the door with Xia Enci and the others.

“Are you Miss Jiang Zhe?” a male voice asked.

“And you are?” Xia Enci, seeing him dressed neatly and politely, asked courteously in return.

“My name is Li Yihua, I’m a friend of Director Jiang. Director Jiang is very busy today; he asked me to deliver this birthday cake and birthday gift,” said Li Yihua, who was a subordinate and friend of Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng had instructed him to attend the birthday banquet on his behalf, so he arrived right on time.

When Xia Enci heard “Director Jiang,” she knew it was Jiang Cheng.

Her face immediately lost its pleasant expression, “There was no need for such trouble; we had already prepared the birthday cake, and we don’t need any birthday gift.”

Although Li Yihua wasn’t sure what exactly had happened, he thought there was no fault on either side; adults had their matters, and it was normal for children to feel slighted when their uncle didn’t attend their birthday banquet personally but sent someone else instead.

“Miss Jiang, I am here on behalf of a friend, and no matter what, I must deliver this gift,” Li Yihua insisted, still very polite.

“I’m certainly not Miss Jiang. You should ask Xiaozhe if she’d like it,” said Xia Enci.

Li Yihua then noticed Jiang Zhe; she had been understated in her school uniform, particularly when looking down.

But when she lifted her head, a simple and casual gesture, her aura was indescribable.

Li Yihua was never particularly observant about beauty or ugliness, but he always paid attention to aura.

He immediately felt that Jiang Zhe truly deserved to be Jiang Cheng’s niece, as even her slightest movements were imbued with a commanding presence.

“Miss Jiang, the gift from Director Jiang…”

Jiang Zhe didn’t like the way Jiang Cheng’s family did things, but she also disliked making things difficult for unrelated people and responded indifferently, “It was trouble for you to come all this way; just put it over there.”

“Okay,” Li Yihua said, promptly doing as she asked.

Xiao Meng also spoke up, “Please come in and have a hot cup of tea.”

Li Yihua accepted the invitation without objection and went inside.

At the same time, he sent messages to both Jiang Zhe and Ding Yuehua, indicating that he had delivered the items.

Jiang Cheng and Ding Yuehua were each playing mahjong, seated at different tables.

Though they were playing mahjong, it was also a form of socializing. Ding Xuexue checked the message for Ding Yuehua and replied for her, “Good that you’ve delivered them. For the rest, just handle it as you see fit.”

After replying, she said to Ding Yuehua, “I wonder if the seats at Jiang Zhe’s today will all be filled.”

“Let Li Yihua stay a bit longer, and later have him send some videos to see,” Ding Yuehua said, displeased with Jiang Zhe’s attitude. Though she didn’t mean to take pleasure in Jiang Zhe’s misfortune, if there were indeed embarrassing moments to witness, it could please her somewhat.