Chapter 526 Grandson's Third Birthday Celebration
The hall was packed with guests, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.
The men were talking loudly in the front yard, while the women chatted in the back yard. Cheng Wanwan was in Cao Yingying's room talking with the guests.
Madam Shen looked on with envy: "Why did I only give birth to one son? Now I have no one to dote on me, and my house is so quiet and lonely. Unlike your house in Wanwan, it's so lively here."
Madam Lin smiled and comforted him, "Won't the house be lively once Young Master Shen gets married and has children?"
Madam Qian asked with flattery, "Now that Young Master Shen has become a scholar, I wonder if the marriage has been arranged?"
"I would like to, but this child won't let this old woman worry about him." Madam Shen was also troubled. "Never mind, let's wait until he comes back from the capital."
“Madam, perhaps Young Master Shen will stay in the capital and not come back,” Madam Meng said. “He is Master Yu’s prized student. He became a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examination) and then a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examination). He might even become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest-level imperial examination). I heard that becoming a Jinshi means you can get an official position in the capital. Wouldn’t that make you a resident of the capital? We could also find you a granddaughter-in-law from the capital. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
Madam Shen beamed with joy: "If he really becomes a Jinshi, it must be because our Shen family ancestors burned incense so kindly that I have to go to the temple to donate some more incense money."
Just then, Granny Qi came in from outside and reported, "Madam, it's time to start the feast."
Cheng Wanwan stood up and called to everyone, "Let's go, let's sit down in the courtyard. Yingying, you don't need to go out, stay in the room and rest well."
It's mid-February now, and although the spring breeze is a bit warmer, it's still too strong to blow. In order to prevent postpartum illnesses, she usually lets Cao Yingying stay in the room, and she doesn't need to worry about anything except breastfeeding.
The women's seats were arranged in the backyard, with dozens of tables set up. There were ladies from the city as well as farmers from Dahe Village.
In the past, the people of Dahe Village would feel inferior whenever they saw someone important. But in the past year, every household in the village has made money and everyone has bought new clothes. Wearing new clothes gives people confidence, and they no longer shrink back in front of important people. Some bolder women even came over to exchange pleasantries and drink with Madam Qian and others.
After greeting the women in the backyard, Cheng Wanwan took her wine glasses to the front yard to entertain the guests.
The front courtyard was mainly where Old Man Zhao and Zhao Dashan were responsible for receiving distinguished guests, while Zhao Ergou received business partners. As for the guests from the village, there was no need to entertain them at all; they were all considered family.
Upon seeing Cheng Wanwan emerge, the guests from the city spontaneously rose to their feet, and the villagers followed suit.
"Why are you all standing?" Cheng Wanwan smiled and raised her hand. "Sit down, everyone. I've come out to toast you all. There are quite a few guests today, so please forgive me if I'm being negligent."
Everyone raised their glasses and drank with Cheng Wanwan.
After greeting the guests in the courtyard, she prepared to return to the backyard. She looked around but did not see Lord Zou and his entourage.
Granny Qi whispered, "Lord Zou and the others are researching something about irrigating farmland near the experimental field. They say it will be finished soon, and they don't even want to waste time eating. So this old servant had a table set up over there. I just don't know if you gentlemen can find the time to have a meal."
Cheng Wanwan felt somewhat helpless; these adults had really gone astray.
In the history of her original world, human-powered carts evolved into waterwheels over a period of about a hundred years. It would be difficult to condense that hundred years into just over ten days.
She should still take a look. If there's any bottleneck, her words are worth more than these adults' research over several days.
Just as I was about to take a step, I heard laughter coming from the banquet.
Turning around and looking in the direction of the sound, she saw Zhao Ergou being surrounded and flattered by a group of businessmen at the banquet. When they talked about something he was happy about, Zhao Ergou couldn't hide the smile on his face.
She asked with some curiosity, "What are they talking about?"
Granny Qi smiled and said, "The second young master is a father now, he must be very happy. Those merchants want to get close to him, so they naturally praise him in all sorts of ways, which makes the second young master even happier."
Cheng Wanwan's brows furrowed slightly.
After she became a court lady, she was surrounded by even more flatterers, but she knew that these flattering words were not to be trusted and never took them to heart.
But now, it's clear that Zhao Ergou took these flattering words to heart.
The second son is smart, but he gets arrogant as soon as he's praised, which is a big no-no in business.
She turned and walked over, just in time to hear the group of people talking.
"Manager Zhao, it's been half a year since the first branch of Daheyan opened. Shouldn't the second branch open soon?"
"The Dahe Banquet restaurant in Hekou County is doing really well. People from nearby counties and towns dine there. It's said that reservations are booked up for three months in advance. The owner is so busy this week that he has to open another branch to divert the customers."
"Manager Zhao... oh no, Second Master Zhao, I visited you three or four months ago to discuss the branch store. You said that if the time came, you would consider the Pan family first. I wonder..."
Zhao Ergou frowned: "Your Pan family's inn is currently losing more than three hundred taels of silver. Where did you get the money to join Dahe Banquet? Dahe Banquet is not a tool for your Pan family to make money!"
Manager Pan was sweating profusely with anxiety: "But Second Master Zhao, we made an agreement three months ago, when the Pan family suffered even greater losses..."
Zhao Ergou sneered: "Do you have any proof? If you don't have any proof, don't talk nonsense here."
The people around immediately pushed Manager Pan aside: "Old Pan, you'd better clean up your own mess before you come here. Second Master Zhao, what do you think of me..."
Cheng Wanwan approached step by step, her brows furrowed tightly.
She coughed.
The people who were speaking immediately fell silent, turned around, saw it was her, and bowed in unison: "A native of Sui'an!"
Cheng Wanwan said calmly, "Jingcheng, come with me."
Zhao Ergou put down his wine cup and followed Cheng Wanwan to a secluded spot near the hanging flower gate.
Cheng Wanwan looked at him quietly: "Outside, everyone calls you Second Master Zhao?"
"Yes, they insisted on calling me that..." Zhao Ergou had already sensed something was wrong and explained dryly, "Back then, Yan Hong and the others called me Second Young Master, and I tried to stop them, but it was no use. I can't control the people outside either."
"Is that so?" Cheng Wanwan curled her lips. "I can tell you clearly enjoy being called Second Master Zhao. Everyone fawns over you and flatters you. You like being praised to the skies. Whoever makes you happy, you give them face..."
"No, Mother!" Zhao Ergou exclaimed anxiously. "They all want to get the franchise rights for the second branch, so they're all fawning over me. I know what's important and I won't do anything reckless."
“Today is your son’s birthday celebration, and I can understand if you’re happy and indulge a little, but—” Cheng Wanwan looked at him sternly, “In business, reputation comes first. Even if it’s just a casual remark, it should stand the test of time. If you can’t keep your word, then don’t make those promises in the first place. Also, Er Gou, think carefully about where you really plan to expand your business. Is it just the area around Hekou County, or the entire Huzhou area, or even the provincial capital or Beijing… Vision determines achievement. Right now, you can only be your second-in-command in Hekou County. Away from this place, away from your mother, you are nothing.”
Cheng Wanwan withdrew her gaze and turned to leave.
Zhao Ergou stood there blankly. His mother had never spoken to him in such a stern tone before. Had he disappointed his mother so much?
But Mother wasn't wrong. Once he left Dahe Village, Dahe Banquet, and the title of "son of Sui'an," who would still look up to him?
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