Chapter 111 Revealed

The two days before the Mid-Autumn Festival are the time when families in Chang'an exchange gifts most frequently. Most people in Chang'an are used to going to the East and West Markets with their families during the day on the Mid-Autumn Festival. Those who are wealthy will also go to Xuandu Temple and Ci'en Temple to pray for blessings. In the evening, they will have a reunion dinner with their close family members, drink wine, admire the moon, and release river lanterns.

Therefore, most people exchange gifts two days before the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The Duke of England's residence is truly a wonderful garden.

"My lord, Madam sent someone to ask if this year's Mid-Autumn Festival gift will be the same as last year's, or if there have been any changes?" Xu Jingzhen's servant, Wuwei, bowed and asked his master.

Xu Jingzhen put down the letter that had come from Wudang Mountain a few days ago and said to Wuwei, "Add 10% of the produce I brought back from Wudang Mountain to your uncle's place, and add two scrolls of scriptures that I recently wrote to your aunt's place."

After a brief pause, Xu Jingzhen continued, "Tell your sister-in-law to ask for an extra gift. Pack it up, and we'll go out later to buy some other things to add to it."

Wuwei looked up and asked, "Young master, are we going to deliver a gift to the young master of the Fang family?"

Xu Jingzhen shook his head, stood up and straightened his indigo Taoist robe before saying, "Just follow the old custom at Chengxian's place. I'm going to the Li family."

"Young master, are you referring to the Li family at Changshoufang Herbal Medicine Shop?"

Xu Jingzhen nodded. "Alright, fetch some water. I need to tidy myself up."

Wuwei obediently went out to fetch water for her husband. Xu Jingzhen then carefully collected the letter on the table. He glanced at it and saw that it was written in neat regular script. Xu Jingzhen stared at the four characters "Let nature take its course" for a long time. Only after Wuwei brought the water back did he fold the letter and put it back in the envelope, and finally put it in a drawer on the curio cabinet.

At this moment, Li Da Xiong and Li Er Xiong were selecting pastries at Xiang Gui Ji according to Li Da Xiong's instructions. It was best to buy freshly made pastries on the same day to give as gifts, as that was the proper etiquette. Li Da Xiong's family, Doctor Gao, as well as the Qian family, the Gao family, and Li Da Xiong's wife's family, the Jiang family, all lived in Chang'an City.

Only Li Ersao's maternal family, the Wu family, lived in a village outside Chang'an City. However, according to the Li family's way of treating people, whether in the city or the countryside, it was the same. The proper etiquette was indispensable, and at most, there might be one or two different gifts depending on the distance.

Therefore, it is necessary to buy a portion of these snacks for each family. The Wu family's portion will be taken home and delivered by Brother Li and Sister-in-law Li to the Wu family tomorrow afternoon.

Before leaving, Sister-in-law Li specifically instructed that an extra gift be bought, secretly as a return gift for the holiday that Fang Chengxian had previously brought to the Li family.

Brother Li, who was about to pay, stopped reaching into his purse when he heard the amount the shopkeeper quoted. He turned to the shopkeeper with a puzzled look and asked, "Shopkeeper, were you in such a hurry that you miscalculated? These and those are what my family wants."

Brother Li pointed to the boxes of pastries in front of him and Brother Li Er standing to the side. In response to Brother Li's question, Manager Zhao of Xiang Gui Ji grinned and explained to Brother Li in a gentle and friendly tone, "The calculation is correct."

Mr. Li, listen to me. The sum of what you have in front of you and what Li Erlang has in front of him should be fifteen taels of silver.

But because Li San Niangzi helped rescue Qian Jia's young master in the shop, my shop was able to stay open, so I'll give you a discount. Ten taels will suffice for you, Li Da Lang Jun.”

As he spoke, the shopkeeper took a three-tiered gift box from the young waiter beside him and placed it in front of Brother Li. "I'll trouble you, Brother Li, to deliver this to Third Sister Li. I wish you happiness and joy."

Brother Li was genuinely surprised that he had gotten a good deal because of Sister Li. He smiled, cupped his hands to the shopkeeper, thanked him, and then he and Brother Li Er carried the items in two trips before finally placing them on the donkey cart that had been waiting outside.

The gifts were delivered quickly that morning, because apart from sitting briefly at the homes of Dr. Gao and Uncle Li, the eldest and second brothers left their gifts at the gatehouse of both the Qian and Gao families, leaving their names and that was it.

After leaving the Gao family mansion, Li Erxiong looked at the bustling scene outside and said to Li Daxiong with envy, "Brother, the Gao family is truly kind and hospitable. Look, this entire alley is probably jammed with cars."

Brother Li glanced back at the Gao family's gate plaque before approaching Brother Li Er and whispering, "It's lonely at the top."

When Li Da Xiong and Li Er Xiong returned home, it was lunchtime. On the table were steamed buns and sesame cakes that Li Da Xiong's wife had bought at the market that morning, as well as two large bowls of stewed pork with cabbage.

Li San Niang was craving mutton soup, so she ordered a bowl of mutton soup from the street, enough for about one person, along with ten flatbreads.

While washing his hands, Li Erxiong asked, "This pork isn't the same piece that Third Sister and I used for practice this morning, is it?"

"Second brother, this is the piece I used for practice. After you left, I practiced it four more times, and the pork was no good. So my sister-in-law just chopped it up and stewed it."

At the dinner table, Li Da Xiong and Li Er Xiong explained to their parents the situation of delivering festival gifts to various households that morning. Just as Li's mother was about to remind Li Da Xiong to bring Li Da's wife home in the afternoon to deliver festival gifts, she saw Li Gui, the young shop assistant from the front yard, leading Xu Jingzhen, who was carrying gift boxes, and his servant Wuwei into the house.

Everyone present was surprised by Xu Jingzhen's arrival. It was Brother Li who reacted quickly, standing up first and bowing to Xu Jingzhen: "A distinguished guest has arrived! A distinguished guest has arrived! How have you been, Young Master Xu? Please have a seat."

As he spoke, Li Erxiong tried to lead Xu Jingzhen to the main hall. Xu Jingzhen, however, was quite at ease. Seeing that the Li family was about to have lunch in the courtyard, she spoke directly: "Greetings, Physician Li, Midwife Li, eldest brother and sister-in-law Li, second brother and sister-in-law Li, and Third Sister-in-law Li. I have come to deliver a Mid-Autumn Festival gift. Since it is Third Sister-in-law's lunchtime, I am hungry. May I join you for a meal?"

Now that things have come to this point, and the second son of the Duke of Ying's family has come in person to deliver holiday gifts, how could we refuse if he wanted to have a meal together?

Sister-in-law Li led Wuwei to put down the gift box, while Brother Li moved a chair to the main hall and placed it next to Father Li. Xu Jingzhen sat down without any hesitation.

At this moment, Li Sanniang thought to herself, "Could it be that what my mother said is true? Has Xu Sanlang, who is on the list of beauties in Chang'an, taken a fancy to me?"

Otherwise, why would Xu Jingzhen, who had only met Li San Niang four times and the Li family only once, personally come to the Li family to deliver Mid-Autumn Festival gifts at this time of year?

Surely he couldn't be the one to thank Li's father for detoxifying Fang Chengxian, could he?

At the dinner table, apart from Xu Jingzhen herself, every member of the Li family felt extremely awkward.

Especially when he heard Xu Jingzhen awkwardly praising Li San Niang, Li's father felt that something was very wrong.

Mr. and Mrs. Li exchanged a glance, both of them understanding that Xu Jingzhen must have really taken a liking to their third aunt!