Chapter 52: Family Banquet

Faced with the future father-in-law's invitation to drink, Wang Daoyi dared not refuse and could only agree.

"Sure, Uncle. So, I'll go back and drop off my luggage first, then come back for dinner!"

Wang Daoyi pointed to the pile of books and luggage on the carriage outside, indicating that he needed to go back to put things away, otherwise it would be troublesome if he got drunk later.

Chef Mao glanced at the carriage outside the door and nodded, agreeing to Wang Daoyi's request.

Leaving Wanmin Restaurant with the carriage, Wang Daoyi returned to his own home, the Dockside Tea House.

The young waitress Sisi was still working, serving a group of dockworkers, each holding a tea jar.

"Boss, you're back!"

Seeing Wang Daoyi, Sisi greeted him with a smile.

Although she originally came to the tea house to better wait for her beloved Tidecaller, she gradually grew to enjoy working with the dockworkers. From their conversations, she learned many stories about ships and sailors, and yes, she imagined her Tidecaller in them.

"I'm back. How's business? Doing well, I hope. I brought you a gift!"

Wang Daoyi casually replied and then unloaded the luggage and books from the carriage into the tea house.

He did bring gifts for Sisi and everyone else he knew.

Including Sisi, Xingqiu, Chongyun, Hu Tao, Zhongli, and some officiants from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

He even brought a collection of Mondstadt bard poems for Tian Ironmouth. He and Zhongli often went to listen to Tian Ironmouth's stories, so they had become familiar with each other.

After moving everything into the tea house, Wang Daoyi handed a small jewelry box to Sisi.

"This is for you, a Mondstadt specialty jewelry, Cecilia flower hairpin."

Sisi didn't refuse and accepted the gift with a smile.

"I'll be out for a while. I won't be back for dinner tonight, so you can close up and leave after your shift!"

"Okay, don't worry, boss."

Leaving the tea house, instead of going directly to Wanmin Restaurant, he had to return the two carriages first. He could return them directly to the Mondstadt Winery's guild in Liyue, and they would help return the carriages to the Knights of Favonius and Dawn Winery.

The people from Mondstadt Winery were very enthusiastic. When they heard that the carriages belonged to the Knights of Favonius and Dawn Winery, they promised to return them intact.

After completing the final task, Wang Daoyi set off for Wanmin Restaurant. Tonight was sure to be a fierce battle, as Chef Mao would surely try to defeat the man who had taken away his little cabbage.

But Wang Daoyi wasn't worried. Worst case scenario, he'd get drunk, but hey, he already had the little cabbage in his hands.

"Daoyi~"

Just as he was thinking about how to deal with Chef Mao later, a voice sounded in his ear. Subconsciously turning to look, the next moment, a pale face appeared before him.

"Ah~"

Startled, Wang Daoyi instinctively threw a punch, but it didn't hit anyone as a thin layer of golden light blocked Wang Daoyi's fist.

"You actually tried to hit me, you're so mean!"

The one who came was Hu Tao, the current head of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and the pale face just now was her friend, Ghost.

Behind Hu Tao was another old man, Zhongli, who had just blocked Wang Dao's attack.

"Hu Tao, you're scaring people like this, you'll get punched sooner or later!"

Ignoring the girl's poor acting skills, Wang Daoyi couldn't help but tease. He had really been scared just now.

This kind of prank, where a ghost suddenly appears in front of you while you're thinking, is indeed a bit scary.

"I won't, as long as Zhongli is by my side. He's so good at putting up shields!"

Hu Tao didn't care about what Wang Daoyi said. When it came to pranks, Hu Tao was very experienced. She never deliberately scared ordinary people; she usually only played pranks on friends and enemies.

Friends wouldn't get angry, and enemies usually wouldn't either.

"Where are you guys going?" No longer concerned about the prank, Wang Daoyi asked.

Zhongli remained as calm as ever, seemingly not intending to speak, while Hu Tao, without any intention to conceal, replied, "There were some disturbances around Yunhai recently, so Zhongli and I are going to investigate tonight."

Wang Dao nodded, "Need any help?"

"No need, it's just some minor disturbances. Zhongli and I can handle it perfectly fine!" Hu Tao swung her twin ponytails, completely unconcerned about what those disturbances might be. "Oh right, Daoyi, when did you come back? How was the trip, fun?"

"I just came back today. The trip was alright, quite rewarding!" 

"Okay, okay, we're in a hurry, let's go!" Hu Tao glanced at the sky, then grabbed Zhongli and started to leave.

"Young friend, you have quite a complex aura about you. If you're willing, you can come to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor tomorrow to find me!"

Zhongli's voice appeared next to Wang Dao's ear, but when he looked at Zhongli being pulled away by Hu Tao, he didn't say anything.

So, you gods also speak without opening your mouths!

Watching the two from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor leave, Wang Daoyi continued on to Wanmin Restaurant.

Arriving at Wanmin Restaurant, Chef Mao was already preparing dinner, and a sign saying "Closed today" was hung at the restaurant's entrance.

Xiangling was also helping out, and she felt happy, thinking that Chef Mao inviting Wang Daoyi to dinner meant that her father and boyfriend had reconciled. So she happily flitted around the tables and chairs like a butterfly in a flower garden.

Wang Daoyi's arrival made the atmosphere in Wanmin Restaurant even more lively.

With Xiangling's cheerful demeanor, Chef Mao's chopping became more rhythmic.

Watching the girl's cheerful appearance, Wang Daoyi couldn't help but imagine himself becoming a piece of meat under Chef Mao's kitchen knife.

Shivering, shaking his head, and trying to shake the horrifying image out of his mind, Wang Daoyi went into the kitchen to help.

When going to the future father-in-law's house, he still had to show some effort; it was better than just sitting around.

With the three of them busy, dish after dish was soon placed on the table.

Seeing the array of dishes, Wang Daoyi was very satisfied. Maestro Mao could really cook with what he had.

Various ingredients brought back from the Knights of Favonius were more or less on the table.

And some of Chef Mao's cherished ingredients were also brought out.

It seemed that Chef Mao was really splurging tonight.

Thinking like this, Wang Daoyi quietly opened a bottle of Dawn Winery's fine wine and filled Chef Mao's glass.

Dawn Winery's fine wine was brought back by Wang Daoyi. He had drunk this kind of wine before and knew that it was slow to take effect, but once mixed with other wines,

 it would become intoxicating.

The cunning Wang Daoyi was planning to try all the wines he brought back from Mondstadt with Chef Mao tonight, hoping to have them both go down together.

Seeing Wang Daoyi take the initiative to pour him wine, Chef Mao didn't notice the other's sinister intentions, but nodded in satisfaction. See, this son-in-law was still respectful to his father-in-law.

Feeling somewhat proud, Chef Mao picked up his glass and finished it in one gulp.

Refilling Chef Mao's glass again, Wang Daoyi opened another bottle of apple cider.

After three rounds of drinking, with cups and plates changing hands, a pile of empty wine bottles had already accumulated.

Chef Mao was starting to get drunk, loudly proclaiming that he would tell Wang Daoyi stories about Xiangling's childhood.

Wang Dao smiled and listened, occasionally adding a few words. After all, you had to flatter your father-in-law.

Xiangling, on the side, hugged a bun, her eyes filled with happiness.