On the fifteenth of August, the autumn sky was clear and the air was crisp, with a gentle breeze making it cool and pleasant.
The streets of Huaishan County are bustling with people selling all kinds of pastry shops, flower shops, and lantern shops.
People who have been trapped for almost half a year now enjoy going out and strolling around. In addition, this is the first holiday after the lockdown was lifted, so many people will buy these festive items to add to the festive atmosphere and sweep away the bad luck from before.
Everyone prepared very generous offerings, and this year's moon-worshiping ceremony was particularly grand. In fact, it was hoped that this would bless the coming year with good weather, peace and prosperity, and that no more trouble would occur!
As evening approached, the shops along the street lit their lanterns, and at the end of the long street, the bright red sun still hung obliquely under the eaves, casting a golden glow over everyone.
Right now, the most eye-catching thing on the street is definitely Cheng Mande's little cart.
Little Mande, who had just woken up from her afternoon nap, was being washed and dressed by her mother and grandmother while still half asleep. Then, she was carried to her stroller and wobbled out the door.
As soon as he stepped outside, Xiao Mande woke up immediately, his big eyes filled with curiosity about the world. Everywhere he looked, there were sights and people he had never seen before. He was amazed at how big the outside world was! He couldn't help but dance around and even pout and babble excitedly. He was so excited that he couldn't contain himself.
Cheng Ruyi was amused by the baby's efforts to lift his head and sit up to see more. Thinking that it was only about a ten-minute walk from Zhiwei Restaurant, she simply opened the canopy and picked up Cheng Mande, letting him sit against the cushions.
"Yay! Ahh! Da da da! Oh? Wah wah!" Sitting up and seeing more of the scenery, Decheng Mande happily shouted all the way, his chubby body containing a very loud voice, which attracted the attention of people on the street who had not noticed the stroller before.
"Oh my! What an adorable baby! How old is he? Look at this chubby little guy, he's so adorable!"
"Huh? What kind of car is this? There's a baby sitting inside, and he looks really cute."
"Mommy, Mommy, I want to ride in a car like that too! Please buy me one, please buy me one~~"
"Excuse me, may I ask where you bought this car? To be honest, my grandson is about the same age as yours, and I think he'll love it!"
The conversation, similar to the one above, continued non-stop on the way to Zhiwei Restaurant. At first, Cheng Yan and Cheng Yunping were quite happy and proud, until they saw Cheng Ruyi handing out small slips of paper with the address of the Cheng family's furniture store written on them. They slowly realized something was amiss. The two exchanged a glance, sighed in unison, and began to mourn the overtime days to come...
Cheng Ruyi prepared about twenty business cards, but she didn't expect to hand them all out before she even arrived at Zhiwei Restaurant. She immediately realized that she had made a mistake, since the people in Zhiwei Restaurant were the real big customers!
Fortunately, Cheng Mande's battery life was excellent. He strolled around the restaurant lobby and chatted happily with various uncles, aunts, grandfathers, and grandmothers for a while, giving Cheng's Furniture Shop enough advertising time. It wasn't until they entered the private room on the second floor that the little fat boy finally ran out of battery and quieted down.
Zhiwei Restaurant truly lives up to its reputation as the oldest and most prestigious restaurant in the county. The private rooms are refreshingly elegant, making people feel comfortable and relaxed while exuding taste. Opening the windows reveals the most bustling night view of the city. This is the first time the Cheng family has seen the county from this perspective, and everyone finds it very novel and lingers there, reluctant to leave.
However, the most unique thing about the private room is that there is a small room inside, with a screen and a daybed, which ensures privacy and is very thoughtful.
This "Five Blessings" banquet is truly extravagant!
The first thing served was a variety of fruits, snacks, and herbal teas, which made Ruyi very happy. She hadn't eaten any fresh fruit since arriving here, and she was thrilled to finally get to eat it here.
After the fruit comes the appetizer, with its exquisite presentation and sweet and sour taste that no one, adults or children, can resist.
After the appetizers, drinks were served. Ruyi specially ordered a pot of fruit wine, which was more in line with the tastes of women and children, while Cheng Yan ordered a pot of strong liquor, claiming that he could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk.
After the drinks, it's time for the main course!
The main courses were anything but shoddy, a full twelve dishes, each a masterpiece, including chicken, duck, fish, rabbit, pork, lamb, and even beef, with a dazzling array of cooking methods. Among them, the sea bass sashimi and roasted beef were practically modern-day sashimi and barbecue. However, the biggest surprise was the "Bo Xia Gong," which was almost a rabbit hot pot. These familiar flavors almost brought tears to my eyes as I ate!
Who would have thought that the perfect way to eat my rabbit is to cook it in a clear broth? Pick up a thin, translucent slice of rabbit meat, dip it gently in the broth, and the meat will change color like a rainbow. Then dip it in the special sauce, take a bite, and the aroma, the juicy meat, and the taste are absolutely delicious!
At this time, Cheng Ruyi was unaware that it was the Bo Xia Gong (a type of offering) at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet that made Zhiweiguan famous far and wide, and later it became one of the three most popular tourist attractions in Huaishan County, along with Lingshan Academy and Dabeisi Temple.
Of course, after a satisfying meal, there was dessert, which was said to be called lactose syrup. It tasted a bit like milk ice cream. It turns out that there were already desserts made with milk at this time, a discovery that surprised Ruyi.
This banquet was quite an eye-opener, not only for the rest of the Cheng family but also for Cheng Ruyi herself. When the ancients truly indulged in such extravagance, modern people could only dream of it.
Manager Huang was so busy today that he only had a spare moment to come over and take a look around. He also inquired about the Cheng family's baby stroller for the other customers, and then disappeared.
The Cheng family understood that the restaurant owner must be busy with various social engagements, and that simply greeting them was already a great honor. So, after eating and drinking their fill, the family strolled home under the moonlight.
Back home, everyone followed tradition and worshipped and admired the moon in the courtyard. The autumn breeze was gentle and the moon was bright. During this period, the family had been busy with various tasks, and at this moment, they were able to enjoy a leisurely and unforgettable holiday.
In the following days, just as Cheng Ruyi had predicted, people came in droves to inquire about the baby stroller. Although not everyone who came would buy one, one or two out of ten people would be enough. Moreover, the sales of other products in the shop also increased to varying degrees. The grandfather and grandson were busy day and night.
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