Two hours later.
A large table was laden with dish after dish, which were served onto the spacious round table, a table specifically designed for large gatherings, capable of seating over twenty people without issue.
*Pop~*
The cork was pulled from the Romanée-Conti wine bottle, and the rich aroma of aged red wine filled the air, refreshing and pleasing to the senses, making one feel slightly tipsy with just a sniff.
"Heh heh, come, let us raise our glasses together to our chef today."
Chen Bingyan chuckled, raising his wine glass and speaking with a smile. Such fine wine paired with delicacies, it would be a shame not to enjoy it while it was hot.
"Cheers!"
"Cheers~~"
The clinking of glasses sounded crisp and pleasant.
"Wow~!!!"
Chen Yan'er took her first bite, her beautiful eyes widening, a bright spark appearing between them as if she had discovered a new continent. "My heavens, this... this is too delicious!!"
"No wonder Auntie said that Cousin Ye Xuan's cooking is even better than a five-star chef's!"
"This... a five-star chef wouldn't even qualify to carry Cousin Ye Xuan's shoes."
Chen Yan'er smacked her lips, still craving more, and took another bite of the shredded chicken and vegetable dish. "Oh my god, cousin, how can you be so outstanding!!"
"I'm just your cousin, otherwise I would definitely snatch you away from your wife. Your wife is too lucky!!"
Chen Yan'er chattered on, while Chen Ziyan and the others smiled knowingly, their thoughts clearly aligning with Chen Yan'er's.
They too were astounded by their cousin's culinary skills. It had to be said, Ye Xuan had successfully conquered everyone in the family, including Chen Bingyan.
"He can sing, he can cook, he's generous, and most importantly, he's so handsome."
Chen Yan'er blinked her sparkling eyes, tilting her small head curiously. "How come I never noticed before?"
"By the way, sister-in-law, how did you meet my cousin?"
The more this was the case, the more curious Chen Yan'er became. How had her cousin Ye Xuan's wife discovered this potential gem? Her taste was impeccable.
She wanted to learn from her, to discover one for herself. Even if she couldn't find someone as outstanding as her cousin Ye Xuan, she didn't have such high expectations. She would be content with just one-tenth, no, one-twentieth of his caliber.
When Luo Tianyi heard the 'flame of war' finally reaching her, her face instantly turned extremely red. Her mind involuntarily conjured up the night they first met a year ago, or rather, a year and a half ago.
It was from that night onwards that her... life trajectory had completely and subtly changed because of the triplets.
To this day, Luo Tianyi suddenly realized that at some point, she had hopelessly fallen in love with a certain scoundrel!
That's right!
The hopeless kind. She found that she truly, truly, truly adored her man!
At this moment, on Luo Tianyi's flushed face, there was an overwhelming sweetness of love, a damned, decaying taste of romance.
Sweet!
That's right, it was incredibly sweet, the super sweet kind!!
Ye Xuan, "Cough cough..."
Seeing his wife's shy expression, Ye Xuan knew what that girl was thinking without even trying. That night of their encounter was not only vividly remembered by Luo Tianyi, but he himself often felt a thousand emotions when recalling it.
"Little girl, what are you prying into?"
Ye Xuan glared at his unscrupulous cousin and helped his wife smooth things over.
"Heh heh..."
Chen Yan'er received a death glare from her cousin and chuckled, her charming smile eliciting a hint of pity.
"Come, Xiao Xuan, have a couple of drinks with your maternal grandfather."
Chen Bingyan was in high spirits, raising his wine glass to his exceptional grandson.
"Alright."
Seeing his grandfather's enthusiasm, Ye Xuan did not refuse and raised his glass to drink with him.
"Come, come, Xiao Xuan, second uncle will toast you."
Chen Deming exchanged cups and glances with his third brother, and both spoke to urge Ye Xuan to drink. The atmosphere at the table was excellent.
After several rounds of drinks, Chen Xiaodong, slightly tipsy, looked at his cousin. "Cousin Ye Xuan, in this scene and at this moment, how about composing a poem?"
"Yes, Cousin Ye Xuan."
Chen Yan'er, seeing her cousin slightly tipsy, chimed in, and Xiao Mengru and a group of nieces and nephews also chimed in to support the idea.
"That's a great idea!"
Aunt Chen Xiaoyan's eyes lit up, full of enthusiasm.
"How about it, Xiao Xuan, recite a poem for us~~"
Second Aunt Chen Xiaoying and others also urged him on, clearly wanting to see what kind of poem Ye Xuan would recite under the influence of alcohol.
"This... alright."
Ye Xuan, slightly tipsy, was also feeling somewhat inspired to 'compose'.
Leaving his seat, he gazed into the distance at the sky. At this scene, a poem welled up in his mind.
"Do you not see the Yellow River waters coming from the heavens, rushing into the sea and never returning? Do you not see, in the brightly lit mirror of the high hall, the white hairs of old age, from morning's black silk to evening's snow..."
His bold and unrestrained voice pierced the air, resonating in every corner of the courtyard and lingering in everyone's ears.
Upon hearing his grandson's recitation, Chen Bingyan's cloudy eyes shone with a sharp glint. Ye Pengfei and Chen Xiaowan exchanged glances. Good heavens, their son was going to show off again.
Uncle Chen Dezhu listened with a twitching mouth. Damn it, that eldest nephew was at it again. As Chen Yuting looked bewildered, Ye Xuan's recitation continued, "When life is good, one must indulge, and not let the wine cup be empty against the moon. Heaven born, my talent is bound to be useful, a thousand gold pieces scattered and yet will return. Let us slaughter sheep and cattle for joy, and drink three hundred cups when we must. Master Cen, Master Danqiu, drink the wine, do not stop the cup. To you, I sing a song, please lend me your ear."
".......Gongs and drums, jade and delicacies are not worth treasuring, I only wish to be drunk forever and never wake. Since ancient times, sages have been lonely, only the drinkers have left their names. King Chen of old held a banquet at Pingle, drinking ten thousand coins for unrestrained revelry. Why does the host speak of little money? We must go and buy wine and drink with you."
The three uncles, who had been toyed with by Ye Xuan before, were now, without exception, staring blankly at their eldest nephew. Luo Tianyi's beautiful eyes flickered with admiration, realizing that her worship for that guy had increased again.
"Five-colored horses, thousand-gold furs, call the child to exchange for fine wine, to dispel with you......... the sorrows of ten thousand ages!"
As his voice faded, Ye Xuan happened to place his raised wine cup on the table with a *snap*. The sound stopped, the wine was finished, and the courtyard fell into an unprecedented silence.
In everyone's minds, there was a resurgence of the bold, unrestrained emotions and scenes they had just experienced.
One second!
Three seconds! Five seconds!!
After seven or eight seconds of silence, Chen Bingyan was the first to snap back to reality, clapping his hands enthusiastically, regardless of whether his palms were getting red.
"Good! Wonderful!!"
"Well said, 'call the child to exchange for fine wine, to dispel with you the sorrows of ten thousand ages'!!!"
Chen Bingyan uttered the word "good" three times in succession to express his heartfelt emotion. He even stood up from his seat. With the elder's applause, everyone in the hall immediately followed with thunderous applause, interspersed with the cheers of children, giving it a concert-like atmosphere.