Chapter 227 Banquet

After paying respects to the ancestors, the next step is to host a banquet for relatives and friends.

It took Xu Jinnian a whole day to write all the invitations, a total of thirty.

Besides the Zhang family and the four students and teacher Jiang, other families who had social connections with Sheng'an in recent years were also invited.

Families like the Ding family, Li Xinhui's maternal and paternal families, and the Chen family of Zuixianlou are all well-known and prominent families in Qingzhou.

Of course, an invitation should also be sent to the residences of officials of all ranks in Qingzhou. Whether they come or not is their business. Not sending an invitation would be considered a sign of Shengyuan's lack of manners.

The day after the invitations were sent out, some families who had not received them came to the door hoping to have a drink at the banquet and absorb some of Xu Jieyuan's literary aura.

Since people had come to him for help, Sheng An naturally couldn't refuse. He personally made a batch of invitations and sent people to deliver them to these families.

In the end, as many as fifty invitations were sent out, and at least twenty tables needed to be prepared.

With so many dishes, Chef Bo-soo alone definitely can't handle it all, so Bo-ram and the other two will have to come and help.

Therefore, Sheng An had Bao Lan post a notice at the entrance of Shengshi Restaurant announcing that it would be closed for three days, and also instructed Shu Qi to give Shengyuan three days to prepare for entertaining guests.

Three days before the banquet, Zhang Zhaodi gave birth to another boy.

Sheng An brought a pile of gifts to the Zhang family to visit Zhang Zhaodi and her baby, who were in postpartum confinement.

Zhang Zhaodi had a good pregnancy and this was her second child. The delivery went smoothly and she didn't suffer too much.

She seemed to be in good spirits, but her complexion was a bit poor; she needed to rest for a while longer.

After showing concern, Sheng An picked up the second baby, who was covered in red marks, and examined him closely: "This child looks exactly like Yu Bao when he was born."

Yu Bao's eyes and nose resemble Zhang Dai Kui's, while her mouth and face shape resemble Zhang Zhao Di's. She is a child with well-proportioned and delicate features, but her personality and temperament are more like Zhang Zhao Di's, and she is also smarter than Zhang Dai Kui.

“This one is more fussy than Yu Bao. He needs to be held and soothed. He had just cried himself to sleep before you came over.”

Zhang Zhaodi looked at her youngest son with affection, but her words were tinged with disdain: "He kept the whole family awake last night, and I almost threw him outside in a fit of anger."

Upon hearing this, Sheng An was so frightened that she quickly put down her little darling: "I don't know how to coax children, let him sleep well."

Zhang Zhaodi was amused by her reaction: "She's fine when she falls asleep, but she can't sleep for more than half an hour. She'll wake up crying at the slightest noise."

Sheng An shook her head and gently touched the little guy's cheek: "So difficult to take care of, you'll get a spanking when you grow up."

Zhang Zhaodi gritted her teeth: "If this kid were any older, I wouldn't have been able to resist taking action."

Sheng An couldn't help but chuckle and asked, "Have you named the child yet?"

Zhang Zhaodi said shyly, "We've already chosen his nickname, Huanbao. We'd like to ask his uncle to choose his formal name, so he can absorb some of his uncle's literary talent."

Sheng An smiled and said, "Okay, I'll have Jin Nian get one when we get back later."

Zhang Zhaodi said apologetically, "Your family is hosting a banquet the day after tomorrow, so I can't personally come to offer my congratulations."

Sheng An wouldn't hold a grudge about that: "Let's not talk about these things between us. Your postpartum recovery is the most important thing."

As the two were talking, the door was pushed open, and Xu Cuilian walked in carrying a bowl of steaming blackfish soup: "This blackfish that Da Kui bought on the street this morning, try it and see if you can eat it."

Zhang Zhaodi quickly took the soup bowl: "Thank you, Mother, you've worked so hard!"

Xu Cuilian scolded, "What's so hard about making fish soup? It's only right that I take care of you during your postpartum period."

Zhang Zhaodi had a good appetite and could eat anything that suited her taste. She finished the whole bowl of blackfish soup, meat and broth together.

Since the new mother needed to rest, Sheng An didn't stay in the room for long. After giving Zhang Zhaodi a few instructions, she came out with Xu Cuilian.

The Zhang family father and son went to the countryside to collect pigs. Fang Yuying and Wang Xiaofang were in their respective rooms putting their children to sleep, while Yu Bao was taken to the workshop by Xiao's maternal grandfather so as not to disturb Zhang Zhaodi's rest.

There was no one else in the main room. Xu Cuilian held Sheng An's hand and whispered:

“I know a couple who had been married for five years without children. Last year, they went to a doctor in the countryside for some treatment, and they were able to have a baby recently. Would you like to go with Jin Nian to see the doctor?”

Sheng An accepted the favor, but politely declined, saying, "Jin Nian and I will be heading to the capital by the middle of next month at the latest, and it may be too late to find a doctor to treat us."

She and Jin Nian would see a doctor every year to check their pulse, and they were quite certain that there was nothing wrong with their health.

Seeing that Sheng An refused, Xu Cuilian was a little disappointed, but she knew that the most important thing right now was her nephew's future: "That's too late, but you are still young, there's no rush to have a baby in these three or five months."

Sheng An knew that although she didn't say she was in a hurry, she was more anxious than anyone else, so she couldn't help but smile and say, "There are many more famous doctors in the capital. Jin Nian and I will find a doctor to take a look."

Seeing that she was taking having a child to heart, Xu Cuilian secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "That's fine, maybe she'll get pregnant if she goes to a different place."

Sheng An touched her lower abdomen, a smile playing on her lips: "I hope so."

The day of the banquet arrived as scheduled. The gates of Shengyuan Garden opened early in the morning, and within an hour, the gates were filled with carriages. The lively sound of firecrackers broke the tranquility of the entire Ming Lake.

"Xu Jieyuan, Boss Sheng, congratulations!"

Sheng An and Xu Jinnian stood at the door to welcome the guests who came to offer their congratulations.

Shuqi and the others were all on standby, receiving so many gifts that their hands were sore. Every gift was meticulously recorded to facilitate future reciprocation.

Sheng An stood at the door for a long time, her smile becoming stiff.

As soon as the Zhang family was welcomed into the courtyard, four very familiar horse-drawn carriages appeared in the distance.

Sheng An's eyes lit up, and she pulled Xu Jinnian down the steps quickly: "The teachers have arrived!"

The four of them, father and son, teacher and student, traveled together again, this time in a carriage with their families, including Mrs. Jiang.

Madam Jiang is a typical beauty from Jiangnan. Even though she is over forty, she is still so beautiful that people can't take their eyes off her, and her overall demeanor is unmatched.

Sheng An remembered that when she first met Madam Jiang, her eyes were almost glued to her face, just like Pigsy seeing Chang'e.

Jiang's wife was in good spirits during this period, so Master Jiang felt at ease taking her out to visit guests.

Madam Jiang still remembered Sheng An, and a gentle smile appeared on her face: "An'an."

Sheng An quickly stepped forward and, together with her maid, helped her down from the carriage: "Master's wife, please take your time."

Mrs. Jiang nodded with a smile, her every gesture revealing her excellent upbringing and distinguished background.

Liu Xiaoyun and Liu Yanran also disembarked from the carriage and, together with Sheng An, escorted Madam Jiang into the courtyard, while Master Jiang and his five students lagged behind.

Seeing the genuine smile on his beloved wife's face, Master Jiang felt a surge of satisfaction. He turned to his most valued student and said:

"These past few years, your wife has worked hard, often bringing food to your teacher's wife. Every time your teacher's wife eats, she is in a good mood. Now she can go out and meet people, all thanks to your wife."