Li Zhensheng patted his younger brother's shoulder and said with a laugh, "Don't make that weird face. There are four brothers and more than twenty people in the family. How can everyone play the good cop? There has to be someone who plays the bad cop, right?"
"It just so happens that I wasn't home before. If something really happened, everyone would say that the Wang family has spoiled me! Let's make the Wang family take the blame too!"
Knowing that his elder brother didn't want him to be sad, Li Lao Er quickly suppressed his bitterness and replied, "Don't worry, elder brother, I'll often go and stay with Mr. Wen in the future to hear more about what's going on in the court."
"That's right. Don't worry about the family. You should focus on making the family business a success first." Li Zhensheng praised his younger brother, then picked up his little niece. "Come on, let's go find Grandma and see how your mother's banquet preparations are going?"
After saying that, they went out the door.
As more and more customers entered the main hall, drawn by the enticing aromas wafting from the kitchen, someone couldn't help but ask, "What new dishes have been added today?"
The waiter served tea while smiling and replying, "No, it's Baihuaxiang's private kitchen. This is the second table today. Master Dong has brought his whole family for dinner!"
"Master Dong has booked two tables?" the guest asked in surprise. "This private cuisine must be excellent, otherwise Master Dong, with his discerning palate, wouldn't have brought his family here a second time."
The waiter became even more proud and replied, "Of course! Our chef's ancestors included imperial chefs, and we can customize the menu according to the guests' preferences."
For example, today, the matriarch of the Dong family likes to eat dumplings, so our head chef made cucumber and egg dumplings. They're cooking in the kitchen right now, and the smell is so delicious! I didn't dare be near them, afraid my mouth would water uncontrollably.
The diners laughed and started talking as the Dong family members arrived.
Master Dong let his family members, young and old, go upstairs first, and then exchanged pleasantries with everyone.
Someone asked, "Master Dong, you've come to eat here twice now. Is your private kitchen really that good?"
"Of course," Master Dong nodded and smiled, "It's not just that the food is delicious, you don't know, but this private room is called Hundred Flowers Fragrance, and it's decorated with famous flowers."
"Don't laugh at me, but I was so worried about what flowers I could see today that I couldn't sleep a wink all night."
Before he could finish speaking, his youngest son had already run downstairs, shouting, "Dad, there's a bonsai of golden plum blossoms upstairs. Mom asked me to come and call you."
"Really?" Master Dong hurriedly cupped his hands to the crowd and ran upstairs at top speed. It was truly a mystery how someone so fat could move so nimbly.
The people downstairs were itching to join in, but since the Dong family was out for a reunion, they didn't want to disturb them.
However, the guests in the other private rooms on the third floor, who were close to Master Dong and knew him well, took the opportunity to say hello and then went into Baihuaxiang to see the pot of golden plum blossoms with their own eyes.
The variegated plum is a rare variety of plum blossom, with abundant, delicate and beautiful flowers. It is best suited for making potted plants and placing them on a desk, making it a favorite among all scholars.
Today, this potted plant is placed in the middle of the rotating table, standing alone in its beauty.
Four ordinary plum blossom trees were placed in small earthenware jars in the corner of the room and in front of the window.
Although not as eye-catching as the golden plum blossoms, it still has a delicate fragrance that can lift one's spirits just by smelling it.
Just then, the kitchen started serving the dishes.
Juicy white dumplings, fragrant roast duck, bright red cherry pork, spicy boiled pork slices, and incredibly delicious fish ball and mushroom soup...
This made the guests who came to admire the flowers very regretful, wondering why they hadn't grabbed the second private table earlier.
Otherwise, I wouldn't be drooling right now, craving both flowers and vegetables.
Master Dong pretended to invite them to stay for a meal, and of course they couldn't be so tactless as to disturb his family reunion.
So they politely said goodbye, then went outside, grabbed a waiter, and started making reservations for their private kitchen.
In the kitchen, Tao Hongying had just finished preparing the last dish. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, quickly tidied herself up, and went to find her mother-in-law and daughter.
As soon as she stepped out, Jia Huan ran over with good news: "Fourth Aunt, three more tables of our private kitchen have been booked!"
"Really?" Tao Hongying smiled happily. "That's wonderful!"
All artisans in the world naturally hope to earn more money to support their families, but this kind of recognition makes them even happier.
Mrs. Li and Jiayin, who were in the side room, came out after hearing this.
Jiayin hugged her mother's leg and exclaimed happily, "My mom is the best! My mom's cooking is the most delicious!"
Tao Hongying hugged her chubby daughter and gave her a big kiss on the cheek.
Of the whole family, only she truly understands that her daughter deserves at least half the credit for their current success.
Without the recipes and special ingredients that her daughter secretly gave her, she wouldn't have these novel and delicious dishes.
As for the famous flowers in the private rooms, the head steward of the Marquis's mansion and Ye Shan ran around buying them, but most of them were seedlings that hadn't bloomed yet, or some were just seeds.
But once it was delivered to the Ye family's courtyard and then moved out, it blossomed into the stunning sight it is today.
It's probably all because of my daughter's amazing abilities...
"My Fu Niu'er is amazing! Mom, we're really lucky to have you as our mother," Tao Hongying exclaimed, kissing her daughter several more times.
Jiayin was shy, so she nestled on her mother's shoulder, wrapped her arms around her neck, and twisted and turned.
Everyone laughed. Grandma Li patted her granddaughter on the back and said reproachfully, "My Fu Niu'er has really grown up. She actually knows how to be shy now!"
Li Lao Er stepped aside to shield his mother from the cold wind and suggested, "Mother, there's nothing else here, why don't we go back first?"
Li Zhensheng quickly chimed in, "Yes, Mother, Jia Huan and I are here."
Grandma Li didn't insist and said with a smile, "Alright, then we'll head back first."
Soon, Ye Shan drove the carriage to the back gate, and the whole family got on and returned to Suijintan.
At this time of year, the people of Suijintan also begin to hibernate.
Apart from the old men who patrol the village, huddled together in the sun by the sheltered walls, chatting idly, there was hardly anyone else in the village.
Once inside the house, Old Lady Li called on Granny He to help Jiayin wash her hands and change her clothes.
Taking advantage of the break, she went into the second son's room, pulled her son aside, and asked him in a low voice.
"Second son, I've been thinking about you these past few days. Do you... intend to remarry? That Miss Gong..."
Before his mother could finish speaking, Li Lao Er's face turned bright red, and he waved his hands forcefully.
"Mother, you're overthinking it! I've never thought about remarrying! And even if I were to remarry, I'd find someone my own age, not that Miss Gong. She's only a few years older than Jiaren!"
Grandma Li breathed a sigh of relief, but was still puzzled. She asked, "Since you have no interest in Miss Gong, why are you taking such good care of her... We thought you had fallen for her!"
Li Lao Er's face was so hot it could fry an egg, and he quickly replied, "Mother, Miss Gong's father was also killed while traveling for studies, which is why their family gradually declined."
"I felt sorry for my older brother and his siblings because I thought about how much they had suffered in our family, so I took extra care of them. Besides, I was very proper and didn't do anything improper!"
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