With so many people present, they didn't sit around a single large table. Instead, each person had a small individual table arranged in a circle.
As the host, Meng Shuchun was the first to speak. He raised his wine cup, "Brothers and sisters, the main reason for inviting everyone here today is to introduce our fifth brother. He has just returned, and from now on, we will be together often, so let's all look out for one another. I'd like to propose a toast to everyone first."
Among the older siblings, Meng Shuqi, Meng Shuyang, and Meng Shuxin, who all had past grievances with Meng Shuping, remained silent. It was Meng Shuchen who spoke up, "Of course, we're all family—no need for Second Brother to state the obvious!"
The younger ones, however, were full of curiosity. They asked in a flurry, "Fifth Brother, where have you been all these years?"
"When did you come back?"
"Did you find your way back on your own, or were you found by someone else?"
...
Bombarded by a cacophony of questions, Meng Shuping was so overwhelmed he nearly gasped for air. [Help! They're way too enthusiastic! Is everyone in this noble household this outgoing? Which one should I answer first?]
Fortunately, Meng Shuchun intervened just in time. He said, "Alright, if you all ask Fifth Brother questions at once, how is he supposed to answer? There will be plenty of time to chat slowly later."
[What? We're going to chat slowly later?]
Hearing this, Meng Shuping wished he could flee immediately. But with everyone watching him, he could only manage an awkward smile and sit there stiffly.
Watching Meng Shuping's uneasy demeanor, Meng Ziyun sneered with disdain. *What an act! So hypocritical!*
Seeing Meng Shuping sitting there dumbfounded, Meng Shuyang reminded him, "Fifth Brother, you should also propose a toast to everyone."
"Oh, oh," Meng Shuping hurriedly picked up his wine cup and, trying to sound composed, said, "I'd like to toast everyone."
But as soon as he finished speaking, his face turned bright red. Meng Shuping was so embarrassed he wanted to dig a hole and hide. He couldn't even imagine what others must think of him now. If he tried to explain that he was just feeling a bit hot, would anyone believe him?
Aside from the few who could hear Meng Shuping's inner thoughts, everyone else exchanged glances, looking quite surprised. They never expected their newly returned fifth brother to have such a personality.
Of course, everyone maintained their composure on the surface. They raised their cups and said, "Please, Fifth Brother."
Meng Ziyun set down her cup and chuckled. "Fifth Brother, we're all family here. Why are you so timid? Good thing this is at home—if you acted like this at someone else's place, wouldn't people laugh at you for being so petty?"
Seeing everyone's amused expressions, Meng Shuping froze and couldn't help but complain about Meng Ziyun internally: [She's certainly unrestrained—way too unrestrained! Grabbing and scratching people—if you didn't know better, you'd think she was throwing a tantrum!]
[Does she act like this outside too? Then people should be laughing at her, right? Ah, maybe others look at her like she's some kind of monkey!]
"Pfft—" Meng Jiayun and the others couldn't hold back their laughter. Meng Ziyun was furious. *If you have something to say, say it to my face! What's the point of insulting me in your head?*
She said unhappily, "Why aren't you saying anything, Fifth Brother? Are you looking down on me?"
Once again under everyone's gaze, Meng Shuping grew irritated. [Of course it's because I don't want to deal with her. How can she be so oblivious?]
[If she's pushing her face right in front of me, wouldn't it be rude not to slap it?]
He said stiffly, "Y-yes."
But a moment later, he immediately backtracked: "N-no."
"Hahaha—" Everyone burst into laughter, though it was unclear whether they were laughing at Meng Shuping's slip of the tongue or at Meng Ziyun's embarrassment.
Meng Ziyun's face turned bright red with humiliation. She said angrily, "Meng Shuping, are you doing this on purpose?"
Under Meng Ziyun's glare, Meng Shuping hung his head guiltily, not daring to meet her eyes. "No, no, you're the one doing it on purpose."
"Hahaha!" Everyone started laughing uncontrollably again. *Fifth Brother is just too amusing.*
Meng Jiayun said smugly, "Third Sister, why are you so fierce? Look how scared Fifth Brother is—he's so nervous he can't even speak properly."
Meng Ziyun said angrily, "He's definitely doing it on purpose! You've all been fooled by him! This kid is from the countryside—he's cunning!"
Seeing Meng Ziyun getting more and more out of line, Meng Shuyi said sternly, "Third Sister! He is your fifth brother. What do you mean 'this kid'? Watch your language!"
Others chimed in to persuade her: "Third Sister, Fifth Brother probably didn't mean it. You must have misunderstood."
"Fifth Brother is just nervous. He's new here and not familiar with everyone yet, so don't blame him."
"I actually think some country folks are quite down-to-earth. How could Fifth Brother possibly say anything about you?"
"Alright, today is Second Brother's banquet. Don't make a scene."
...
Meng Ziyun felt terribly wronged. She had heard it clearly—Meng Shuping was definitely doing it on purpose. Why didn't anyone believe her?
Unable to stay any longer, Meng Ziyun stood up abruptly from behind her table. Meng Shuchun called out in confusion, "Third Sister?"
Meng Shuping warily shrank back. [Is she going to scratch me again? Why does she love to scratch people so much?]
[Tsk...]
[Does she have some kind of habit of scratching?]
[Shouldn't she get a cat scratching post to keep at home? That way she can sharpen her claws when she's bored. What's the point of always scratching people?]
Meng Jiayun and the others shook with laughter. *This fifth brother is just too hilarious.*
Meng Ziyun was furious. She hadn't planned on scratching anyone, but now she really wanted to. Seeing her furious expression, Meng Shuchun really thought she was about to attack someone and hurried out from behind his table. "Third Sister, calm down. Big Brother is here too."
"Third Sister, Fifth Brother just misspoke because he was nervous. Is it really necessary to resort to violence?"
[Exactly, getting this angry over a couple of words—can't you take a joke?]
[Honestly, with such poor composure, maybe you shouldn't be out in public. You'd better go home early. Staying here is just embarrassing!]
Afraid that Meng Shuping would keep thinking such things and that Meng Ziyun might be pushed too far, Meng Shuchun quickly turned to Meng Shuping. "Alright, Fifth Brother, you're also at fault. Hurry up and apologize to Third Sister."
Meng Shuping stood up flustered, unconsciously fidgeting. "Third Sister, I'm sorry."
Seeing Meng Shuping's hurt look, everyone looked at Meng Ziyun with reproach. Although Meng Ziyun had always been domineering, this was going too far. She was the one who mocked him first, and now she was making him apologize?
*Ah, this newly returned fifth brother is just too honest—no wonder he gets bullied.*
Meng Shuyi said sternly, "Enough, Third Sister. Weren't you making enough of a scene earlier? Do you have to continue here too?"
Meng Ziyun was fuming. *Why is everyone so stupid? They're all being fooled by some country bumpkin!*
She really didn't want to stay any longer and turned to leave. Meng Shuping looked at her delightedly. [Is she so angry she's leaving? Hahaha, perfect! I didn't want to see her anyway. She always looks down on everyone and is so fierce—who could stand her?]
Meng Ziyun paused mid-step and decided not to leave after all. She turned back, gritting her teeth, and said, "Sorry, I was impulsive earlier."
Seeing this, Meng Shuchun breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly said, "It's good that we've cleared the air. Third Sister, hurry back to your seat, or the food will get cold."
Meng Ziyun huffed angrily and returned to her seat. She refused to believe that Meng Shuping wouldn't slip up eventually.
Meng Shuping felt a wave of disappointment. [Ugh, why isn't she leaving again? Things are about to get noisy again.]
[But she's also dumb—targeting me in front of so many people only makes her look arrogant and domineering. Is she out of her mind?]
[I thought people in these big families were supposed to have eight hundred schemes up their sleeves? How can she be this stupid?]
Meng Ziyun shot a furious glare at Meng Shuping. *Why did he have so much to say?*
However, Meng Shuping was focused on eating and didn't notice her furious gaze at all, which made Meng Ziyun even angrier.
Meng Huiyun smirked sarcastically. *This Meng Ziyun was really brainless—she had it coming.*
But Meng Huiyun didn't want to see Meng Shuping gloating either. She put on a surprised expression and looked at Meng Shuping, "Hey, Fifth Brother, why does your maid's face look a bit swollen? Was she hit?"
Without waiting for Meng Shuping to answer, she said disapprovingly, "Fifth Brother, no matter what, she's someone the Old Lady just assigned to you. Even if you're unhappy, you can't just hit her randomly. What would that do to the Old Lady's dignity?"
Meng Shuping hesitated. [Should I tell her it's a misunderstanding?]
Meng Huiyun didn't care whether it was a misunderstanding or not—the maid being hit was a fact. She continued, "Besides, families like ours aren't the same as those country upstarts. Even if a servant makes a mistake, there are rules to punish them. Hitting someone like this just makes you look too savage."
Meng Shuping hesitated for a moment but still said kindly, "I didn't hit her."
But his voice was too soft, making him sound unsure and guilty. Meng Huiyun didn't believe him at all. She covered her mouth and joked, "Then who hit her? It wasn't a dog, was it?"
[Pfft—HAHA!]
"Pfft—HAHA!"
Meng Shuping and Meng Jiayun burst out laughing at the same time—one inwardly, the other outwardly.
Meng Ziyun's face turned livid as she glared furiously at Meng Huiyun. "Who are you calling a dog?"
Meng Huiyun was baffled. *She was scolding Meng Shuping—why was Meng Ziyun butting in? Weren't they on bad terms?*
Meng Jiayun said kindly, "Fifth Sister, the injuries on this maid's face were inflicted by Third Sister."
Meng Shuping laughed until his stomach hurt. [Hahaha, how can she be this silly? That's what she gets for starting trouble and messing with the wrong person!]
[I wonder which of the two is stronger. Third Sister may be straightforward and a bit brainless, but she's quite skilled in martial arts—she really goes all out when she's furious.]
[Fifth Sister may seem delicate and frail, but she's cunning and might not necessarily lose out.]
[It's probably a fifty-fifty match, right?]
After analyzing the fighting skills of the two, Meng Shuping even cheered inwardly, egging them on: [Fight, fight!]