Chapter 21: A Feast with Ill Intent

"Fine." Su Yanchu didn't have any particularly close classmates, really just Xue Xiaodong.

The original owner hadn't been very popular in class, with Xue Xiaodong being the only companion forged in revolutionary friendship.

"Dad, Mom, I'm heading out!"

"Alright, take it slow on the road." Qin Jiuhong added a final reminder.

After Su Yanchu left, Su Dawei and Qin Jiuhong exchanged a glance.

"Our daughter might be dating someone," Su Dawei remarked.

"Let her date. I trust Chuchu's judgment," Qin Jiuhong replied.

In their past life during the apocalypse, Su Yanchu, like them, had spent every day fighting zombies and scavenging for supplies, with no opportunity to even think about romance. Now that they had finally been reborn in this vibrant era, what was the harm in a little romance?

"Besides, dating while at school means they know each other's backgrounds. It's much better than blind dates or arranged marriages."

"You're right, my dear. You're always right." Su Dawei sincerely felt this made perfect sense.

Qin Jiuhong tidied up the house, and as noon approached, she prepared a red envelope. Together with Su Dawei, they headed to the central courtyard. By then, the bride and Xu Fugui were already dressed in their wedding attire, greeting guests.

"Comrade Xu, congratulations. Wishing you a happy marriage and a lifetime of harmony." Qin Jiuhong offered her well-wishes as she handed over the gift money.

"Thank you, Officer Qin. I'm truly grateful that you and Brother Su could make it." After accepting the red envelope, Xu Fugui introduced them to the bride.

The bride wasn't exceptionally beautiful, but she was pleasant to look at and quite young—seemingly in her early twenties.

After exchanging pleasantries, Qin Jiuhong and Su Dawei found a seat next to Tan Yuhua. Seeing Qin Jiuhong, Tan Yuhua immediately beamed. "Officer Qin, you've arrived!"

"Yes," Qin Jiuhong nodded.

"Everyone, neighbors, let me introduce you to Officer Qin. Don't let her age fool you; she's about our generation, but she works at the neighborhood committee!"

Tan Yuhua suddenly stood up and announced to those nearby, "You all know how much power the neighborhood committee officers hold. Things like finding jobs or competing for 'Advanced Courtyard' status all have to go through them. We mustn't offend her in the future."

"Officer Qin, please forgive any slights from the past two days; I hope you won't hold my ignorance against me."

"I also hope that in your work, you won't make things difficult for a plain, ordinary citizen like me."

"You're too kind, Auntie Tan!"

While the words sounded like an apology, Qin Jiuhong felt a sense of "killing with kindness" and grew wary.

"You're too kind, Auntie Tan." Su Dawei sensed it too. Before Qin Jiuhong could respond, he interjected, "My wife and I are newcomers here. We were fortunate that Teacher Yang brought Master Liang and Master Liu to our home a few days ago to explain the courtyard's rules; otherwise, we would have..."

"Ahem!" Yang Yuangui coughed twice, glared at Tan Yuhua, and cut Su Dawei off. "Brother Su, let's have a drink. This is some Lotus White liquor I brought from home."

"I have a poor tolerance for alcohol, so I can't drink. My wife will give me a hard time when we get home tonight." Su Dawei understood Yang Yuangui's awkwardness and dropped the subject.

Qin Jiuhong had always been guarded around these people, so she played along. "Old Su, if you dare drink too much, watch your hide when we get back!"

"Teacher Yang, you see, you see..." Su Dawei feigned helplessness.

"So Brother Su is henpecked!" Liang Zhengde, sitting at the next table, laughed. "Old Yang, I think you should stop putting him on the spot. I'll drink with you today."

"Pardon the display," Su Dawei said, scratching his head.

Once the guests had mostly arrived, Xu Fugui signaled the cook to serve the dishes. The banquet featured eight courses: pork stewed with vermicelli, braised pork, braised fish, green beans with eggplant, potatoes with meat, chicken stewed with mushrooms, stir-fried greens, and a soup. It was quite an impressive spread.

Seeing the dishes, Tan Yuhua thought she had hit the jackpot. "Fugui, after we're done eating, can I pack up some of the leftover soup and broth for my Zhaodi to get a taste?"

"Sure, even leftovers are fine." Although Xu Fugui said this, in these times, everyone was starved for fat and oil; there wouldn't be any leftovers. People were used to Tan Yuhua's behavior, as others at other tables did the same.

Qin Jiuhong, however, had no interest in leftovers. Once the meal was finished, she prepared to take Su Dawei home. Just after passing through the courtyard gate, Su Dawei said, "Wife, I think I might have left that pack of Da Qianmen cigarettes I bought under the table. I need to go back and check." He wasn't a heavy smoker, but now that they had wages and rations, having a smoke or two was fine.

"I'll go back with you." She still hadn't mentioned inviting the neighbors for their housewarming the next day.

As they approached the central courtyard, they overheard Yang Yuangui talking to Tan Yuhua, and the content made them stop in their tracks.

"Yuhua, you really should show more respect to Officer Qin in the future. Don't be so snide like you were today."

"So what if she's a neighborhood committee officer? She still has to follow the rules, doesn't she?" Tan Yuhua looked indifferent.

"Exactly! Dad, we don't even know how she got that position at the committee. If she doesn't follow our courtyard's rules, we'll file a joint report to the director of the neighborhood committee." It was the voice of a young man—Tan Yuhua's eldest son, Yang Yuanchao.

"Mom, don't worry. Once I finish vocational school, I'll be an official too. Who ends up in charge of whom is anyone's guess."

"If their family gets too arrogant, I think I can..."

"Brother Chao, tell us what you're planning. I can help," another young man chimed in. It was Liu Yang, who often bummed cigarettes off Yang Yuanchao and treated him like a big brother.

"Us too, Brother Chao! We're with you," Yang Yuanchao's followers echoed.

"Enough, you juniors, don't stir up trouble," Liang Zhengde frowned, trying to stop them.

"I don't care. Since they're new, even if they're dragons, they have to coil up for us," Yang Yuanchao lit a cigarette and spoke loudly on purpose.

"Brother Chao, tell us, what's the plan?" Liu Yang asked again.

"As for that couple, obviously we'll give them a beating to teach them a lesson," Yang Yuanchao said. "As for their daughter... she's quite pretty... then... heh heh!" His expression grew increasingly lewd.

"Brother Chao, should we sack them tomorrow?" Liu Yang was fired up, as Su Yanchu was truly beautiful.

"Yangzi, don't be so impatient." Yang Yuanchao waved his hand, signaling them to stay calm.