Chapter 330 Pre-Banquet Planning
With more than a month to go before her due date, Meng Wan and Grandpa Lu discussed it for a while and decided to hold the full moon celebration ahead of schedule.
Firstly, to bring good fortune, and secondly, to formally introduce Su Wantang to all of Lu's relatives and friends, thus legitimizing her and her unborn child.
That afternoon, Meng Wan and Grandpa Lu entered Courtyard No. 1 one after the other.
Lu Jingyan was busy in the kitchen when he heard the noise, so he put on an apron and came out.
"Dad, Mom, why did you both come together?"
Meng Wan smiled and waved her hand, "We have something important to discuss."
Grandpa Lu, leaning on his cane, walked straight into the house. "Where's Wan Tang?"
"She should lie in her room." Lu Jingyan quickly put down what he was doing. "I'll go call her."
"No need to call us, we'll go in ourselves," Meng Wan said, already pushing open the bedroom door.
Su Wantang was leaning against the headboard looking at the account book when she heard the noise and looked up. "Dad, Mom, you're here."
Grandpa Lu sat down by the bed and glanced at her slightly protruding belly. "You look good."
Su Wantang smiled, "Thanks to you, I can eat and sleep all day long, how could I not be happy?"
Meng Wan took the teacup from Wang Ma and handed it to Grandpa Lu, "Dad, please have some tea first. I'll talk to Wan Tang."
Grandpa Lu picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip.
Meng Wan sat on the edge of the bed and held Su Wantang's hand. "Wantang, your father and I have discussed it and we want to hold the full moon celebration earlier than planned."
Su Wantang was taken aback for a moment, "Ahead of schedule"
"Mm." Meng Wan nodded.
"You still have more than a month until your due date. If you do it now, your body can still handle it. After the baby is born, you'll need to recuperate during your postpartum period, and you won't have the energy to deal with all this then."
Old Master Lu put down his teacup and said in a deep voice, "Moreover, this banquet is not just about bringing good luck, but more importantly, it's about clearing your name."
Su Wantang understood.
The Lu family's status in Beijing is unmatched by ordinary people.
Although she married into the Lu family and had a marriage certificate and the support of her in-laws, her background was still complicated.
Outsiders don't know her relationship with Bai Shu; they only know that she is the daughter of the Su family in Shanghai, that her mother died early, and that she had a whirlwind marriage with Lu Jingyan.
In the compound, this kind of identity was never powerful enough.
The reason why Old Master Lu and Meng Wan are holding this banquet is to openly and legitimately bring her to the forefront, so that everyone knows that she is the Lu family's lawfully wedded young mistress and the mother of the next generation of the Lu family.
With the Lu family's endorsement, the rumors and gossip outside naturally dissipated.
Su Wantang felt a warmth in her heart.
"Dad, Mom, I'll listen to you."
Meng Wan smiled, "Then it's settled. The banquet will be held at Tangdixuan, and Yiyue and the others will handle the arrangements themselves."
Grandpa Lu continued, "The guests invited include not only the neighbors from the military compound, but also various old friends and acquaintances of the Lu family in Beijing, as well as your colleagues from the university."
Meng Wan nodded, "I've already made a list. I'll have Wang Ma bring it over later. Please check if there's anything you need to add."
Su Wantang agreed.
Lu Jingyan stood at the door, and after hearing these words, his brows furrowed slightly.
He walked to the bedside and looked at Meng Wan. "Mom, Wan Tang is heavily pregnant right now. Won't it be too tiring for her to host this kind of banquet?"
Meng Wan patted his hand, "Don't worry, your father and I are keeping an eye on everything, so Wan Tang won't have to worry. She just needs to sit there that day and smile and say a few words."
Lu Jingyan was still not entirely at ease, so he turned to look at Su Wantang.
Su Wantang smiled at him, "I'm fine, don't worry."
Lu Jingyan remained silent for a few seconds before finally nodding.
That evening, Meng Wan indeed had a guest list delivered to her.
Su Wantang took it and turned the pages one by one.
The list was very long, spanning three pages.
The first two pages are filled with familiar faces: neighbors from the military compound, Meng Wan's colleagues from university, and family friends of the Lu family.
But when she turned to the third page, Su Wantang's gaze paused on a name.
Zhao Lijuan.
A slight smile appeared on her lips.
This woman lost face at the tea party last time and has been holding a grudge ever since.
This banquet is a grand affair, and she certainly won't miss this opportunity.
Su Wantang continued reading.
Suddenly, her gaze was drawn to another name.
Joanna.
She stared at the name, her brows furrowing slightly.
Lu Jingyan came out of the bathroom, saw her expression, and walked over to ask, "What's wrong?"
Su Wantang pointed to the name, "Who is this person?"
Lu Jingyan glanced at it and said, "I don't recognize her. She's probably my mom's friend."
Su Wantang didn't say anything, got up and went to the study.
She picked up the phone and dialed Meng Wan's number.
The phone rang a few times before Meng Wan answered it.
"Late-blooming Tang"
"Mom, there's someone named Joanna on the list. Is she your friend?"
Meng Wan paused for a moment, "Oh, you mean Anna? She's the daughter of an old friend of mine. She just returned from overseas and is a painter with some renown. She's a cheerful girl, and I thought you two, being around the same age, would get along well."
Su Wantang's heart skipped a beat.
Returning from overseas.
painter.
These two words, combined with this timing, are too coincidental.
She suppressed her doubts and said with a smile, "That's great, I'd like to get to know you too."
After hanging up the phone, Su Wantang stood in the study, staring at the night view outside the window.
Instead of going back to her bedroom immediately, she went to her desk, took out a piece of paper from the drawer, and wrote a line.
"Find out Joanna, the more details the better."
After writing it, she folded the note, put it in an envelope, and handed it to Qin Zheng, who was waiting outside the door.
"Give it to Aunt Fang tomorrow morning."
Qin Zheng took the envelope and nodded.
Su Wantang returned to the bedroom, where Lu Jingyan was already lying down.
She crawled into bed, and Lu Jingyan reached out and hugged her.
Why did you go to the study?
"I wrote a letter to Aunt Fang." Su Wantang leaned against him. "There are some things I need to tell her."
Lu Jingyan didn't ask any more questions, but simply hugged her tighter.
The next morning, Qin Zheng delivered the letter to Aunt Fang.
Aunt Fang's expression changed slightly after reading the letter.
She immediately ordered people to investigate Joanna's background.
The message was sent back in less than three days.
Aunt Fang looked at the documents in her hand, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
She wrote a reply and had it delivered to the capital overnight.
Meanwhile, in the Northwest.
The message came from the people Lu Jingyan had previously placed on the farm.
The new agricultural experimental greenhouses there have been built, and the first batch of crops planted and irrigated with diluted spiritual spring water are growing well and are of much higher quality than ordinary crops.
The person in charge said excitedly on the phone, "Commander Lu, the yield of this batch of crops is 30% higher than that of ordinary crops, and the taste is exceptionally good. We have consulted several experts, and they all say they have never seen such high quality before."
Lu Jingyan smiled slightly after hearing this.
He hung up the phone and turned to go back to his bedroom.
Su Wantang was preparing the clothes she would wear for the banquet.
"Wantang, good news has come from the Northwest."
Su Wantang looked up. "How are the crops growing?"
“Very good.” Lu Jingyan walked over and pulled her to sit down on the bed. “The person in charge said that both the output and quality far exceeded expectations.”
Su Wantang nodded, "That's good. After the banquet, we'll find some time to go to the Northwest."
Lu Jingyan shook his head, "You're too heavy-set to go anywhere right now. We'll talk about it after the baby is born and you've finished your postpartum confinement."
Su Wantang smiled and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
As the two were talking, Wang Ma knocked on the door and came in.
"Miss, Aunt Fang's letter has arrived."
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