"Then remember what you said today, and don't shamelessly try to get close to me again. Otherwise, you'll be contradicting yourself!"
Shen Yuan left those words behind and turned to go inside.
She simply couldn't bear to be with Chu Yuning under the empty sky!
If it weren't for the fact that getting rid of Chu Yuning now would prevent her from getting revenge on Xiao Yunyan, Shen Yuan would really like to shove Chu Yuning's head into a fish tank and use his brain as bait.
"You don't need to tell me! I, Chu Yuning, will never have anything to do with you again!"
Chu Yuning flicked her sleeves and stormed off.
Three days later will be the day of the Feast of Enlightenment. At that time, he will shine brightly at the banquet and make all those who looked down on him and let him down pay the price, including Shen Yuan!
After entering the room, Shen Yuan was thinking about Chu Yuning's words, "three days later." She asked Madam Liu, "Will there be a banquet in the manor three days later?"
“A banquet?” Madam Liu was taken aback for a moment, then realized, “There is no banquet in the manor three days later, but my master has funded a banquet at Nanlu Mountain. It seems to be called the Banquet of Hearing the Dao. It is said that a very learned old gentleman is coming. My master has also invited many dignitaries from the city.”
"To my shame, my father-in-law's ancestors were imperial merchants who accumulated their wealth over several generations. Although the family has been wealthy over the years, no one in the family has ever been learned. When it came to my father-in-law's generation, my father-in-law hoped that he could become an official. Unfortunately, he studied for more than ten years but failed to even pass the preliminary examination, which caused my father-in-law to die with regret."
"After my father-in-law passed away, my master suddenly became obsessed with befriending scholars and literati. He spent a lot of money buying calligraphy and paintings by famous artists, which he hung all over the house. He spent his days reciting poems with those scholars and neglected his business, handing it all over to Aunt Zhao. Now he has even taken out eight thousand taels to hold some kind of literary banquet at Nanlu Mountain."
“It’s not that I’m stingy with money; he can do whatever he wants with his own assets. It’s just that he’s completely uneducated. No matter how many literary talents surround him, how many poetry gatherings he holds, or how many writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones he buys, it can’t hide his lack of culture! Knowledge isn’t something you can just buy with money!”
When Liu talked about Master Wang, she went on and on, as if all the resentment she had been holding back had finally found an outlet and she poured it all out.
Shen Yuan lowered her head and smiled after hearing this.
Seeing Shen Yuan smile, Madam Liu said, "You also find my husband funny, don't you!"
Shen Yuan shook her head. "Madam, you misunderstand. I didn't mean that. I just think that the reason why Master Wang has become like this is probably because he has some regrets in his heart!"
Liu was stunned when she heard this.
Shen Yuan didn't continue talking about Master Wang, but instead asked, "I wonder if Madam could give me an invitation to the Banquet for Learning the Way? I am also interested in this banquet for the study of knowledge!"
"What's so difficult about that? You can have as many as you want!"
After saying this, Madam Liu immediately told her maid to go to the study to fetch the invitation.
When Shen Yuan came out of the manor, she had two red envelopes in her arms. One envelope contained a letter, and the other contained six taels of silver, which was a gift from Liu Shi to her when they met.
The gift for meeting her was six taels of silver; Madam Liu was truly generous.
Shen Yuan carefully put away the two red envelopes.
Originally, Madam Liu had arranged for a carriage to take them back to the pharmacy, but Granny Liu refused.
Shen Yuan held Liu Mama's hand, and the two of them strolled around the market, planning to buy some meat and vegetables to make soup for dinner.
While shopping, Shen Yuan heard a few songs coming from the street. She quickly turned around and saw Tian Tian nestled among a group of little beggars. The children were singing songs one after another, with happy smiles on their faces.
Children are children; no matter how barren the soil in which they live, they can still plant flowers in barren soil.
After settling her bill at the butcher shop, Shen Yuan walked into the steamed bun shop next door and bought three meat buns for each of the children, asking the shopkeeper to personally deliver them to them.
The shopkeeper took the money, quickly packed the buns, and delivered them over.
Shen Yuan saw the children skipping and jumping as they took the meat buns from the shopkeeper's hands, and a smile appeared on her lips.
Sweetie, seemingly sensing something, turned around and looked at Shen Yuan.
Their eyes met, and Shen Yuan waved to Tian Tian.
Sweetie held up a meat bun, her two little hands behind her back, slightly spread like a bird's wings, and bowed to Shen Yuan again and again.
Shen Yuan shook her head and chuckled.
Three days passed in a flash. Shen Yuan asked the helper and Granny Liu to watch the shop together, and she took the invitation to Nanlu Mountain.
It is late autumn, and the southern foothills are covered with red maple leaves. Under the misty morning light, the scenery is breathtaking.
The entrances and exits at the foot of the mountain were all guarded by men in armor, presumably the guards of the prefect's mansion.
With so many people gathered here today, these guards are indeed needed to ensure the safety of these scholars, talented men, and high-ranking officials.
Shen Yuan handed over the invitation and was allowed into the southern foothills by the guards.
At the foot of the mountain, there was a stream, and many temporary pavilions were built along its banks. Each pavilion was supported by four interconnected wooden stakes and covered with a layer of gauze curtains. The ladies of high-ranking officials and noble families who came to attend the banquet could rest here.
In the center of the pavilion stands a small tea table, upon which are placed writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and various kinds of snacks, fruits, and tea.
Shen Yuan sat down on a cushion next to the tea table and looked out of the pavilion. Not far away, behind a large banyan tree, a temporary small kitchen had been set up, complete with a stove and steamer. The chefs of Tianxianglou were bustling about in an orderly manner, preparing lunch for the guests.
No wonder Madam Liu complained that Master Wang spent more than eight thousand taels of silver to host this banquet for learning the Dao. The banquet was so meticulously prepared, so it must have required that much silver.
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