Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 485: The Banquet Begins, The Beginning of a Calamitous Affair

"Alright, alright, Mr. Monkey, I was wrong, okay? So, what do you suggest I do to express my gratitude?" Tian Peng moved to stop Sun Wukong, then said.

Sun Wukong’s eyes darted about, and he said with a smile, "That’s easy, you provide the funds to throw a thank-you banquet, invite a few more people to drink, isn’t that perfect?"

"Ah, it’s going to cost money." Tian Peng thought about how he had just given Chen Nuo a few magic artifacts. Although he had asked for help, he hadn’t felt anything when he gave them, but later on, he began to regret it a little.

It wasn’t that he regretted giving Chen Nuo the magic artifacts, but that he regretted agreeing to help Chang’e without thinking.

When Chang’e handed him the outer garment she had sewn herself, Tian Peng no longer felt any regret.

Having exchanged a few magic artifacts for Chang’e’s newfound respect, and even the possibility of further developments in their relationship in the future, it truly was an excellent matter.

"What, it’s just hosting a banquet, and you’re already pinching pennies?" Sun Wukong snorted coldly, exhaling through his nostrils.

He thought to himself that Tian Peng was truly stingy, just for a banquet. He hadn’t even helped Chen Nuo much, had taken advantage of Chen Nuo’s reputation for nothing, and still didn’t want to put in the work. Just a meal, and that was actually letting him off easy.

Tian Peng pondered to himself, it was indeed just a meal and not a very troublesome matter. However, the space in his abode wasn’t very large, and the banquet he wanted to host should definitely be at his place. Could it be that he should renovate his Immortal Mansion just for the sake of hosting a meal?

"Mr. Monkey, I didn’t think that way. It’s just that the space at my Immortal Mansion isn’t big enough. If we really do host a drinking banquet, especially one for Shopkeeper Chen, it has to be grand, not only in scale but also in staffing, with a large number of guests. All things considered, it’s not easy to arrange," said Tian Peng as he thought aloud.

Chang’e, listening nearby, offered her assistance upon hearing Tian Peng’s words, "Lord Tian Peng, if you need a large space, my Guanghan Palace is spacious, if you wouldn’t mind using it."

Tian Peng clapped his hands, "That’s a great idea! The rabbit issue is resolved, and the space is indeed vast. There will be a lot of guests coming, I just hope you won’t mind."

"Why would I? You’re hosting a banquet for Shopkeeper Chen, and while he agreed to your request, in reality, he was helping me. Hosting the banquet at my place couldn’t be more appropriate. When do you plan on having the banquet? I can clean up the place for you in advance," Chang’e said.

Tian Peng now felt immense gratitude towards Chang’e, looking at her with a moved expression.

Seeing Tian Peng’s gratitude, Chang’e felt a bit embarrassed. She was indeed thankful to Tian Peng for resolving the rabbit issue, but that was all it was, gratitude.

It didn’t carry any other emotions, and had it not been for Sun Wukong’s reminder, she likely wouldn’t have taken the initiative to offer her palace for Tian Peng’s banquet. After all, in the end, it was Chen Nuo’s favor that Tian Peng was repaying.

"There’s no need for any more thanks, when do you plan to have the banquet?"

"The day after tomorrow," said Tian Peng, "I plan to hold quite a sizable banquet, so I definitely need to notify others a day in advance. Fairy Chang’e, I know you are short-handed; you can’t prepare the place by yourself. How about I bring my servants over to your place to help tidy up?"

Even just saying such things felt rather intimate, for only those with a very close relationship would allow their own servants to clean another’s house.

Chang’e intended to refuse, and quickly waved her hands, "There’s no need, Lord Tian Peng. There’s not much to tidy up. Just set up a few tables on the day of the banquet and place the dishes on them, that’s all."

"No, no, Fairy Chang’e, a banquet can’t just be a few tables and dishes, the environment definitely has to be nice. I’ve been to your palace before, it’s really just empty except for rabbits, with hardly any decorations at all. I’ll invite some people over to your place to decorate." Tian Peng said immediately without thinking.

By now, Sun Wukong had realized that Tian Peng really didn’t know how to speak tactfully. Even if said to someone close, these words were a bit disrespectful, let alone to Chang’e. As he spoke, it was getting hard for Chang’e to keep her smile.

"Idiot, why do you make such a fuss? If you’re so keen on those ceremonial things, you might as well spend these couple of days fixing up your Immortal Mansion. How can you borrow someone’s place and still be so critical? Do you think with your stomach?" Sun Wukong gave Tian Peng a disdainful glance.

Just as Tian Peng was about to respond, he saw that Chang’e’s expression was a bit off and realized something was amiss. He quickly apologized to Chang’e, "I’m really sorry, Fairy Chang’e. I’m not good with words, and just now I only thought about what I wanted without considering you. I apologize to you, it’s all my fault for not thinking before acting, for upsetting you."

After he apologized, Chang’e didn’t know how to respond and just shook her head, "It’s fine, Lord Tian Peng, I’m not angry. What you said does make some sense, but there’s no need for you to worry about the decorations. As a woman, I’ve been good at these things since birth, and I will handle the banquet decor myself. You don’t need to trouble yourself about it."

Tian Peng heard the clear distance in Chang’e’s words, and, regretful of his earlier comments which he couldn’t take back, he could only nod, "I still want to thank you for lending me the venue."

Chang’e nodded with a smile, "If there’s nothing else, then I’ll go back and start preparing."

Soon the banquet began, and Guanghan Palace was bustling with excitement, filled with guests invited by Tian Peng.

The main style of the banquet, a buffet, was Chen Nuo’s idea.

The theme was various rabbit dishes, for which Chen Nuo spent a hundred Merit Points to purchase a variety of rabbit meat recipes. Of course, Chen Nuo wasn’t going to do the cooking; that task fell to Sun Wukong.

Hosting a banquet didn’t use to be so complicated, one could simply invite the God of Cookery or the Kitchen God, perhaps use a few top-notch Magic Artifacts to manage it. But ever since Chen Nuo opened the Chaos Residence, everything had changed.

To show off their wealth and grandeur, the gods made sure that for every banquet, the dishes had to come from Chaos Residence.

Those who couldn’t afford Chaos Residence had to revert to the old ways and call upon the God of Cookery and the Kitchen God. But the highlight of the banquet still had to be a dish from Chaos Residence. Not having at least one dish from Chaos Residence indicated that the hosting deity’s status was not that impressive.

Pity for Tian Peng, this banquet was primarily to thank his boss, Chen Nuo. And since it was meant to express gratitude, it would clearly be inappropriate to expect Chen Nuo to cook. Hence, Tian Peng had to trade several treasured Magic Artifacts to persuade Sun Wukong to cook, and he sought Sun Wukong’s help for the banquet design as well.

However, Sun Wukong wasn’t skilled at arranging banquets; that delicate task was taken up by his teacher, Chen Nuo. Thus, the benefits stayed within their inner circle.

Tian Peng was busy urging guests to drink, though not many were really there to drink sincerely – they were all busy with the dishes, so who had time for wine?

The banquet was set with several long tables put together, with copper utensils holding dishes of rabbit meat in the center, surrounded by seats, all styled in a Western fashion.

Because Sun Wukong cooking was a hassle, and truth be told, there weren’t that many rabbits in Guanghan Palace to begin with. If multiple tables were set up, there likely wouldn’t have been enough, so Chen Nuo thought up this solution on the spot.

He wasn’t particularly interested in drinking himself, but Sun Wukong insisted on treating Tian Peng to a meal, and Chen Nuo didn’t have to lift a finger and even made some money out of it, so he simply let them do as they pleased.