Chapter 109 Extravagant Birthday Banquet
Although Madam Min said she was fine, Qiao Qingping was still worried and sent someone to fetch a doctor.
The current topic naturally couldn't be discussed anymore.
Fortunately, Madam Min was not in a hurry to leave, and there would be plenty of time to continue the conversation later.
Right now, Madam Min's health is the most important thing. After all, she's almost fifty years old. We can't be careless.
Soon, the doctor arrived, took her pulse, and said that Madam Min was fine; she had just suffered a sudden attack of anger and vomited blood, and would be alright once it was expelled. There was nothing seriously wrong.
Granny Fang and the others were still worried, so they hurriedly took Madam Min back to her residence and then called several doctors back. Only after all the doctors confirmed that Madam Min was indeed alright did they feel a little relieved.
"Granny Fang, you should go home and take a look too."
Madam Min Qiao said with a smile, "My sister-in-law said that your mother is living with your younger brother in the same old place on the estate. Why don't you go back and visit them?"
"I estimate I'll be staying here for a while longer. You should take Hongbao back and spend more time with your mother. There's no need to rush back."
“I still have a few Ayis with me. If all else fails, I can just go to the brokerage and buy a few more to take care of.”
Granny Fang hesitated for a moment, but before she could say anything, Madam Min Qiao added, "However, Yang An can't go back with you for the time being. I still have a few things to ask him to do. After we're done with this, we'll have him go back to apologize to your mother."
Although Yang An was also part of Min Qiao's dowry from the Qiao family to the Xuanping Marquis's residence, he had no family in Jiangnan. This was because Yang An was an orphan who had been sold into servitude to the Qiao family at a young age. His loyalty to the Qiao family was beyond question. Therefore, he accompanied Min Qiao in her dowry.
Fang Mama was chosen as a personal maid to accompany Min Qiao Shi in her dowry, not only because of the bond they shared growing up together, but more importantly because her mother and younger brother lived on the Qiao family's estate, and their indentures were held by the Qiao family. Therefore, Fang Mama was determined not to betray Min Qiao Shi.
She didn't realize it before, but now she sees it all as the Qiao family's love and care for her.
After seeing off Granny Fang, Madam Min Qiao sent Yang An to the Qiao family's old residence to announce that she would be holding a grand banquet for Old Madam Qiao's 70th birthday in two days.
Old Master Qiao said nothing, and Qiao Qingping merely sighed, offering no objection. Both father and son vaguely guessed what Madam Min was thinking.
Grandma Qiao was quite happy; when you get old, who doesn't like a lively atmosphere?
Only Little Li complained to Old Madam Qiao with a troubled expression: "Mother, your birthday is the day after tomorrow. We originally agreed to just invite the clansmen over for a meal and a get-together, but suddenly they say they want to hold a big celebration. How are we going to have time to prepare?"
"My dear sister, you're really something. You just talk about having a big celebration, but you don't even say how you're going to do it. Who are you inviting? How many tables? Where is it going to be held? How many people will be there to serve us? How much will it cost?"
Old Mrs. Qiao glanced at Little Li, said nothing, and turned to leave.
Has Madam Li changed, or did I misjudge her before? Why does Madam Li seem more and more petty and narrow-minded?
Since Madam Min said she wanted to hold a grand event, she would naturally make the arrangements. Why should she worry about it here?
really.
The next day, Ayi, Asi, and Aqi brought more than a dozen chefs they had hired from the restaurant to the Qiao family's old residence.
Accompanying them were a dozen or so servants and young men.
Once the menu is decided, the ingredients are prepared.
The banquet was to be held at the Qiao family's old residence, and the flower hall was subsequently cleaned and decorated.
The servants were also arranged. ...
Asi manages the kitchen, Aqi is in charge of tea, and Ayi is in charge of overall coordination.
At the Qiao family's old residence, the servants only need to follow orders.
Everyone was in an orderly manner.
From beginning to end, there was absolutely no way that Little Li had any say in the matter.
Meanwhile, after giving the orders, Madam Min Qiao personally wrote a letter overnight and sent it to the idle bodyguards on horseback.
Within a radius of several dozen miles in Xincheng County, she invited every household that had any connection with the Jiangnan officialdom or the three major merchants of Jiangnan.
If time weren't so tight, she would have preferred to invite all the wives of officials in the Jiangnan region, as well as the wives and grandmothers of the three major merchant families.
However, inviting their relatives and friends would be just as effective. As long as her message could be relayed back, her goal would be achieved.
On the day of Old Mrs. Qiao's 70th birthday, the Qiao family was filled with trepidation, not knowing who Mrs. Min had invited, or how many people would come.
It has been almost ten years since the Qiao family retreated from Hangzhou to Xincheng County. This means that the Qiao family has been out of the wealthy and powerful circles of Jiangnan for ten years.
Will anyone actually come to the banquet?
Looking at the dozens of tables that Madam Min had ordered to be set up, the Qiao family members were unsure of what to do.
By mid-morning, only a few people had arrived for the banquet.
Little Li looked on with a pout.
But as noon approached, a sudden influx of people arrived for the banquet.
Within half an hour, the banquet hall where the Qiao family was holding a banquet was completely full.
Finally, the mothers of the Hangzhou prefect and the Xincheng county magistrate arrived; the two were sisters.
The mother of the Hangzhou prefect happened to be visiting relatives at her sister's house when the incident occurred.
Once everyone had arrived, Madam Min Qiao slowly helped Old Madam Qiao into the flower hall.
When Old Madam Qiao met the mothers of the prefect and the magistrate alone, she could only curtsy. But now that Madam Min Qiao was there, everyone present stood up as soon as they entered the room and greeted Madam Min Qiao and Old Madam Qiao.
Even in the earlier years, when the Qiao family was still wealthy, Old Madam Qiao would still bow and scrape before the wives of officials.
Because of Min Qiaoshi, everyone knelt down, and she even smiled and nodded to them, a rare occurrence for her.
Min Qiaoshi also had a warm smile on her face, but the smile did not reach her eyes at all.
After helping Old Madam Qiao to sit down in the main seat, Madam Min Qiao stood beside her and said to the guests, "Today is my mother's seventieth birthday. I am very grateful to everyone for coming to celebrate with us."
She then curtsied to the crowd, and after they returned the greeting, she continued, "However, since this is a birthday celebration, you should all prepare some birthday gifts to avoid being impolite. What do you all think?"
Everyone was taken aback, then nodded with strange expressions, agreeing: "Yes, yes, that's right, that's right."
Despite saying that, everyone secretly complained in their hearts.
Some people thought to themselves, "They invited people to the banquet, and before they even sit down at the table, they're already asking for gifts. How petty!"
Some people suddenly realized: "So they're here to help the Qiao family 'build up their wealth'? Asking for a congratulatory gift, what's the difference between that and a beggar begging for food?"
Some people scoffed, "The Qiao family has indeed fallen on hard times; they've become so poor!"
Of course, most of the comments were mockery of Madam Min Qiao: "And she's supposed to be the matriarch of a first-rank marquis's mansion! Is this all the character she has? Is this all the methods she has? Is this all the cunning she has?"
"Tsk tsk, asking for congratulatory gifts from others, aren't you afraid of losing face if word gets out!"
...
Small Theater
Everyone: Aren't you afraid of losing face if word gets out!
Min Qiaoshi: Bah! From now on, I'll be called Shameless!
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