Chapter 460 Congratulations from All Sides
The villagers naturally did not refuse.
Before Cheng Wanwan could give any instructions, everyone started getting busy: setting up the stove, moving tables and chairs, picking and washing vegetables, arranging the vehicles and horses...
"Dashan, take Eunuch Ming to the inn to rest," Cheng Wanwan said with a smile. "Lunch will take a while, so Eunuch Ming can take a nap."
Eunuch Ming had traveled a long way from the capital, a journey that took nearly twenty days, and he was indeed exhausted. He was naturally eager to take a nap.
Twenty or thirty people came from the capital: Eunuch Ming and his attendant eunuchs, eight guards who had accompanied her, twelve servants who had been given as gifts, and six top craftsmen who had come specifically to build her a house. Apart from the people who had been given gifts, the others were taken by Zhao Dashan to an inn to rest.
The twelve people were newcomers and didn't know what to do.
One of the old women stepped forward first, curtsied, and said, "Madam, is there anything we servants can do to help?"
Cheng Wanwan pointed to the makeshift open-air kitchen and said, "Today we are hosting a banquet for over a thousand people at more than a hundred tables. The kitchen may not be able to handle the workload. You can go over there and see if there is anything you can do. Just do what you can."
These people from the capital are all servants who work in large mansions. They have different skills than the villagers, which is why she said she could do whatever she wanted.
The old woman nodded and led her maids and guards to the kitchen to help, picking and washing vegetables, and lending a hand.
Cheng Wanwan was about to go inside to change out of her heavy clothes when she looked up and saw that Madam Zheng and Madam Ge looked extremely grim at the gate of the courtyard, while the several merchant girls who had come with them looked embarrassed, seemingly unsure whether to stay or leave.
She walked over and said with a smile, "Madam Ge, Madam Zheng, and all the ladies and young ladies, isn't it just the right time to come? The village is currently preparing a banquet. Why don't you all stay and have a drink?"
Upon hearing this, the merchant women immediately nodded: "Then we shall respectfully comply."
They were the wives or daughters of merchants, each with their own agenda. The Sui Ruren... oh no, the Sui Anren and Madam Ge had fallen out, and now was the time to choose sides. Naturally, they chose the Sui Anren, who held a higher official rank.
Cheng Wanwan smiled broadly: "Where are Madam Ge and Madam Zheng?"
Her smile was very bright, but both Madam Ge and Madam Zheng found it irritating.
Madam Zheng clutched her handkerchief tightly. She had finally found a noblewoman who could suppress Zhao Chengshi, but in the first encounter, she was crushed.
Now that Zhao Chengshi has been promoted to the sixth rank, and is a proper sixth rank, there is no one in this area of over a hundred miles who has a higher official position than a sixth-rank official.
She forced a smile: "We were unaware of Sui'an's promotion and did not prepare a congratulatory gift in advance, so we will not trouble you any further. Of course, we still wish you all the best."
"I didn't know the imperial decree would arrive at this time, and I didn't prepare a banquet in advance. I just prepared some simple food and drinks on the spot." Cheng Wanwan still smiled. "If Madam Ge and Madam Zheng can't wait, then please do so."
As soon as she finished speaking, dust rose again on the village road that had just been quiet.
Several carriages arrived and stopped at the entrance of the courtyard. The first carriage belonged to Magistrate Shen, the second to Deputy Magistrate Shen, followed by Magistrate Bai, Magistrate Zheng, Lord Lin, and their families, as well as the military officer, the Flying Cavalry Captain, who also came to join in the fun.
Congratulations to the people of Sui'an!
Magistrate Shen was the first to step forward, his face beaming with joy.
He went to the village to handle a case in the morning, and when he returned to the county office, he heard from his old mother that a group of people from the capital were heading to Dahe Village. He quickly sent someone to come and find out the news. It turned out that an imperial edict had come from the capital. The seventh-rank Sui Ruren was now a sixth-rank Sui Anren.
This speed of promotion is probably unmatched in the entire Great Yu Dynasty!
If Magistrate Shen could get the news, then the magistrates of nearby counties and towns would naturally get the news as well.
Now that the people from Sui'an are one rank higher than them, they naturally put aside everything they were doing and rushed over to offer their congratulations.
In the rush, I also prepared some congratulatory gifts.
Congratulations to the resident of Sui'an on your promotion!
"We have come to offer our congratulations, and we hope we have not disturbed the people of Guangzhou!"
Cheng Wanwan smiled and invited everyone in: "Gentlemen, you are all very busy, and it is my honor that you would like to come to Dahe Village to support me. However, the food will not be ready for a while. Why don't you go and enjoy the lotus flowers by the pond..."
Before she could finish speaking, dust rose again on the village road.
She looked and saw that it was her own carriage. Zhao Ergou, Wu Huiniang, Chunhua, and Dawang had returned ahead of time, presumably having received the news. The carriage behind them belonged to Shen Zheng and Cheng Zhao. These two were studying in Huzhou; how come they had returned so quickly?
"Godmother, we're back to congratulate you!" Before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, Shen Zheng jumped down. "Wow, Father, you're here too! All the uncles arrived so quickly, hehe, Godmother, congratulations!"
Cheng Zhao also came over, first bowing to the officials, and then looked at Cheng Wanwan: "Congratulations, Second Aunt, on being promoted to Anren!"
"You two have come back just in time." Cheng Wanwan said without any politeness. "The banquet is not ready yet. You two take the gentlemen to the lotus pond for a stroll. Yingying, you go and sit with the ladies for a while."
Knowing that Cheng Wanwan still had things to do, everyone didn't stay in the courtyard any longer.
Cheng Zhao led the way, while Shen Zheng enthusiastically introduced the beautiful scenery and delicious food of Dahe Village, which everyone listened to with great interest.
Mrs. Ge lagged behind, looking at her husband with displeasure: "Why are you here?"
Military officers never interfere in the affairs of civil officials. It was just a woman getting promoted, yet her husband still rushed over to give face to the people of Sui'an, which was just to embarrass his wife.
"Why didn't you come?" Lord Ge frowned. "I was just discussing matters with Lord Fu. I heard that this Lady Sui has been promoted three times in one year. I also want to see what kind of extraordinary woman she is. If I have the opportunity, I can also learn a thing or two from her."
Madam Ge felt a surge of resentment: "Instead of trying to curry favor with the prefect, you waste your time and energy on this kind of thing. You might as well spend your whole life stuck in this godforsaken place!"
After she finished speaking, she turned and left, blending into the group of women.
Lord Ge scratched his head, completely baffled as to why his wife was so angry. He stopped thinking about it and immediately turned to talk to Magistrate Shen with a smile.
Manager Yan had already prepared tables, chairs, and tea at the Lotus Pavilion, and respectfully invited all the ladies and gentlemen to take their seats.
It was midday, and the sun was quite strong, but a cool breeze blew from the lake, making it bearable for everyone.
Shen Zheng was giving an enthusiastic introduction, and his mouth got dry from talking so much that he quickly went to the table to drink some water. His gaze swept around and he saw a girl in a blue dress standing by the boardwalk, admiring the lotus flowers with her back to him. The figure seemed strangely familiar.
Suddenly, the woman turned her head and said something to the lady beside her. Both of them laughed, and the smiles on her profile stunned Shen Zheng for a moment.
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