Chapter 521 The bell rings and the cauldron eats
At three o'clock in the afternoon on June 3rd, the capital city was bathed in warm sunshine.
Song Ci deliberately canceled all official schedules in the afternoon and arrived at his own Four Seasons Hotel early.
Outside the "Penglai" banquet hall on the top floor of the hotel, four waitresses in exquisite suits bowed to greet the richest man upon his arrival.
Song Ci nodded slightly and pushed open the solid wooden door that was carefully carved with a pattern of pine and crane for longevity.
In the box, Liu Shishi was staring at the wall intently.
She was wearing a modified Suzhou embroidery cheongsam with auspicious cloud patterns embroidered in gold thread on the bright red satin, and a jade ruyi buckle on the collar that shone warmly.
When she slightly raised her head, the pearl tassels on her ears swayed gently, emitting a soft glow under the light.
"A little further to the left." Liu Shishi looked around for a moment and whispered.
Two waiters stood on a wooden ladder and carefully adjusted the huge "Shou" character made of gold foil on the wall to the best position.
It was not until Song Ci approached that Liu Shishi realized her husband had arrived. She turned around, smiled, and took her husband's arm affectionately and naturally.
"Yi Yi." She called her husband softly, "Come and help me see if there is anything else I need to buy."
Song Ci leaned over and kissed his wife's smooth forehead, then looked around the carefully decorated space.
The entire box is decorated in vermilion and dark gold tones. The eight Suzhou embroidery screens are embroidered with patterns of the Eight Immortals celebrating birthdays. In front of each screen is a rosewood antique display stand, on which various antique treasures are displayed.
A glazed palace lantern hangs from the ceiling, and soft light shines through the longevity patterns carved on the lamp, casting mottled shadows on the smooth marble floor.
"Elegant and solemn, yet warm and cozy." Song Ci nodded with satisfaction, his eyes falling on the exquisite brocade boxes on the round table. "What are these?"
Liu Shishi gently took her husband's arm and walked to the table. "These two are the birthday gifts we prepared. The other three are gifts sent by Wang Sicong, Sister K, and Yuanyuan. They are all fine jades."
“They’re thoughtful.”
The couple sat down on the Huanghuali wood armchair by the window, and the waiter immediately served them two cups of Mingqian Longjing tea.
In the celadon tea cup, tender green tea buds slowly unfold in the spring water, emitting a refreshing and elegant fragrance.
"I've already arranged a car to pick up my grandparents. The elders won't arrive for a while." Liu Shishi considerately adjusted her husband's tie. "Yiyi, you should rest for a while."
Song Ci leaned lazily on the back of the chair, reached out to hold his wife in his arms, and gently sniffed the faint orchid scent in her hair.
The bamboo shadows sway outside the window and the aroma of tea wafts through the air. The tranquility at this moment is particularly precious.
"Where are my father-in-law, mother-in-law, and uncle?"
"My parents and uncle drove here themselves." Liu Shishi replied softly, her fingertips gently smoothing out the wrinkles on her husband's suit.
At this time, the waiter bowed respectfully and said tactfully, "Mr. Song, Madam, we will be waiting outside the door. Please feel free to tell us if you need anything."
The door to the box closed gently, and only the couple was left inside. Song Ci pulled his wife closer to him, resting his chin lightly on the top of her head.
The two of them leaned against each other and chatted for a while until the solid wood carved door was pushed open again.
The hotel general manager personally led the way, and Song Zhang and his wife Liu Xiaoxian walked in slowly.
Today, the birthday man is wearing a dark red kesi Tang suit with a pattern of five blessings holding longevity embroidered with gold thread on the lapel. Although he is over fifty years old, he is full of energy and his eyebrows reveal the elegant temperament of a doctor.
Liu Xiaoxian wore a moon-white jacquard cheongsam with an imperial green jade brooch pinned to her collar. She looked dignified and graceful, exuding a scholarly air.
"Dad, Mom." Song Ci and his wife immediately stood up to greet them.
Song Zhang looked around the box with satisfaction, his eyes lingering on the carefully arranged details: "Yuandan, Shishi, it's really hard for you to put so much effort into it."
Before he finished speaking, there was another sound of footsteps outside the door. Liu Xiaochen and his family arrived on time.
"Congratulations, brother-in-law. I wish you a long and healthy life." Liu Xiaochen was in high spirits and bowed with his wife to celebrate his birthday.
Liu Yuqing stood gracefully and stepped forward to pay her respects. "I wish my uncle good fortune as vast as the East Sea and a long life as long as the Southern Mountains."
Song Zhang laughed heartily and patted his niece on the shoulder affectionately: "Yuqing is really becoming more and more sensible, good girl."
While everyone was exchanging pleasantries, Liu Shishi's parents also arrived on time. The two families met and exchanged warm greetings.
The last to arrive were the ancestors of Song Ci.
Grandpa Song and Grandma Song walked in slowly, supported by the housekeeper Sister Li. Both of them were wearing festive dark red traditional costumes and looked energetic.
My grandparents arrived shortly after, with my grandmother holding a string of agarwood prayer beads, which added a touch of Zen.
Seeing that all the relatives had arrived, Song Ci looked at the time and saw that the auspicious time was approaching, so he signaled to the hotel manager that the birthday ceremony could begin.
The waiters were well-trained and placed a pair of rosewood armchairs in the middle of the hall, with prayer mats with round longevity patterns embroidered with gold thread in front of the chairs.
Song Zhang and Liu Xiaoxian sat on it and accepted birthday wishes from their son and daughter-in-law.
Song Ci and Liu Shishi solemnly performed the ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows in front of the prayer mat.
As she kowtowed, the gold embroidery on Liu Shishi's cheongsam shone brightly under the light, contrasting with the sapphire brooch on Song Ci's dark suit.
"My son respectfully wishes my father evergreen status and a long and blessed life." After bowing his head, Song Ci presented an exquisite long box with both hands.
When I opened it, I saw a pair of Ruyi carved from mutton-fat white jade. The jade was as smooth as solidified fat, and the carving was exquisite, shining brightly under the light.
Liu Shishi then presented a huanghuali wood bookcase: "Your daughter-in-law wishes your father good health and a long life."
In the book box is a copy of "Huangdi Neijing" printed during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. Although the pages have turned yellow, the ink is as fresh as ever, making it a treasure for doctors.
Song Zhang accepted the gift with satisfaction and said repeatedly, "Good, good, you are so thoughtful."
Next, the relatives present birthday gifts to the birthday boy.
After the birthday gift was ready, the waiter pushed a gilded dining cart into the box. On the cart was a nine-layer birthday peach cake, and the top layer was decorated with a huge peach shape.
Amidst everyone's blessings, Song Zhang took the knife and symbolically cut a slice of the cake.
The birthday ceremony concluded successfully in a solemn and peaceful atmosphere. The carved wooden door of the private room was pushed open. Two lines of waiters dressed in Suzhou embroidered cheongsams walked in lightly, holding food trays in their hands.
With coordinated movements, they presented delicious dishes to the guests.
The opening four-dish welcome platter, including gold foil wrapped shrimp balls, glazed foie gras, coral cabbage rolls, and jade-belted scallops, is mouth-watering as soon as it appears.
Song Ci picked up a pair of ivory-covered gold chopsticks and served food to his father. Calmly and attentively, he gently placed a gold-foiled shrimp ball on the gilded porcelain plate in front of Song Zhang.
"Dad, try this." Song Ci said softly, "For tonight's dishes, Shishi specially invited a state banquet chef and a French Michelin three-star chef to work together. It's a fusion of Chinese and Western cuisine, each with its own unique characteristics."
As the chief physician of Union Hospital, Song Zhang holds a highly respected position in the medical community and has seen many delicacies in his life.
However, the feast before him still made him secretly marvel.
Alba white truffle from Italy, bluefin tuna belly from Nagasaki from Japan, and Perigord caviar from France.
These top-quality ingredients flown in by air alone are worth a fortune, not to mention the exquisite cooking and beautiful presentation.
This birthday banquet must have cost no less than millions.
Song Zhang was filled with emotion. In his son's hands, the Song family had truly become a wealthy family.
I gently picked up the shrimp ball and put it into my mouth. I found it crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and my mouth was full of freshness and fragrance. I couldn't help but nod with satisfaction.
At the same time, Liu Shishi also picked up a Hetian jade spoon and served a bowl of first-class official bird's nest stewed with snow frog to her mother-in-law Liu Xiaoxian.
The bird's nest is selected from the cave swallows in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand. It has a milky white color and thick bird's nest fibers; the snow frog comes from the Changbai Mountain forest frog and is rich in gelatin.
When the two are stewed together, the soup is as clear as jade and has a delicate aroma.
"Mom, this bird's nest is very nourishing," Liu Shishi said softly, "Please use more."
Then, the main courses were presented one after another: Braised Shark's Fin, Garlic Australian Lobster, and Pan-fried Wagyu Beef with Black Truffle.
The tableware used during the banquet were all specially made porcelain from Jingdezhen, each piece was painted with golden longevity patterns, which complemented the decoration in the box.
The waiters are well-trained, and every movement they make, from serving food to changing plates and pouring wine, is precise and elegant.
The atmosphere at the banquet was warm and harmonious.
Song Zhang had a very pleasant conversation with his father-in-law Liu Fu, and they talked about the health-preserving methods in "Huangdi Neijing" and the essence of diet therapy in "Qianjin Yaofang".
"The Suwen says: 'The ancients, those who knew the truth, followed the principles of yin and yang, were in harmony with the art of numbers, ate and drank in moderation, and had regular daily routines.'"
Song Zhang sighed softly, "Although today's banquet is filled with delicacies, we must remember to eat in moderation."
Father Liu nodded with a smile, "You are absolutely right, my dear. But today is your birthday, and as a token of your children's filial piety, it's only right to make an exception occasionally."
On the other side, Liu Xiaoxian, her sister-in-law Chen Hanyue, and her mother-in-law Liu's mother were whispering and exchanging their experiences in flower arrangement.
Liu Shishi was whispering with her cousin Liu Yuqing.
Today, the little girl is wearing a light pink dress, which makes her look more youthful and beautiful. She is excitedly telling her cousin about her summer vacation travel plan to the United States.
"I want to go to New York to see the Statue of Liberty first, and then go to Disneyland in Los Angeles."
Liu Shishi listened gently and offered suggestions from time to time: "If you go to Los Angeles, you might want to visit the Getty Center. The art collection there is very rich."
Halfway through the banquet, the conversation between Song Ci and his uncle Liu Xiaochen attracted everyone's attention.
After drinking a few glasses of aged wine, Liu Xiaochen's face turned rosy, his expression was excited, and his voice unconsciously rose a few decibels.
"New Year's Day, I, your uncle, got a promotion!" His voice was full of excitement, and the hand holding the wine glass was trembling slightly.
Song Ci was stunned when he heard this, then showed surprise: "Uncle got a promotion?"
Everyone at the table focused their attention on him, full of anticipation.
Liu Xiaochen nodded excitedly: "Yes, he got promoted! Deputy President of the head office and Chief Risk Officer, just announced this morning!"
"Double happiness!" Liu Xiaoxian exclaimed in surprise, with a gleam of relief in her eyes. Her husband's birthday was coming, her brother got a promotion, and both the Song and Liu families were thriving.
Song Ci immediately picked up the wine glass and said sincerely: "I toast to my uncle and congratulate him on his promotion!"
Liu Xiaochen was filled with emotion, clinked glasses with Song Ci and drank it all in one gulp, then lowered his voice: "Yuan Dan, you are still far-sighted!
In the first half of the year, I followed your advice and launched an anti-rice laundering pilot program at the Beiping branch. The results were remarkable and were appreciated by the central bank leadership. Coincidentally, Jiang Xing retired, and Yi Xing took over, so he promoted me.
"Yi Xing?" Song Ci's heart sank suddenly. He was very familiar with this Yi Xing.
In his previous life, this person was later transferred to the China Securities Regulatory Commission. During his tenure, the A-share market fell below 3,000 points twenty times, harming countless investors. He was truly a "leek harvester."
Thinking of this, Song Ci couldn't help but frown.
After a moment's hesitation, he softly advised, "Uncle, I'm going to say this: it's best to keep a proper distance from Yi Xing, but there's no need to offend him. Just do your duty and do your job well."
Liu Xiaochen was stunned when he heard this, and his expression changed slightly.
He had originally planned to use this opportunity to build a closer relationship with the new president, but after hearing what his nephew said, the situation seemed a little tricky. He quickly asked, "Yuan Dan, did you hear any rumors?"
Song Ci shook his head slightly, keeping it a secret: "Some things cannot be said openly."
Liu Xiaochen frowned, lost in thought. His nephew was known for his foresight and his connections were so well-connected that he could reach the highest level. If he had offered this warning, there must have been a reason.
It seems that from now on in the head office, I can only maintain superficial respect towards Yi Xing, and pretend to be nice to him, but not get too close to him.
Seeing the atmosphere grow somewhat solemn, Liu Shishi raised her glass at the right moment, smiling sweetly, "Husband, today is Dad's birthday. We can discuss work matters tomorrow. Come, let's toast Dad together."
"It's my fault." Song Ci smiled knowingly and raised his glass with his wife. "Dad, let's toast you again. Wish you a long and healthy life!"
The banquet continued, and the next dishes were even more amazing:
Traditional dishes such as bird's nest in clear soup, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, braised shark's fin, and boiled cabbage are presented alternately with Western delicacies such as French baked snails, Italian white truffle risotto, and Spanish Iberian ham.
Each dish is meticulously crafted and dazzling.
After all 28 dishes were served, the waiter came back in pushing a food cart.
On the car was an exquisite cloisonné longevity noodle bowl with a longevity noodle in it.
The ingredients of this bowl of longevity noodles are extremely exquisite. The noodles are hand-pulled by the state banquet pastry chef. They are as thin as a hair but very chewy. Only one noodle is used for the whole bowl, which symbolizes longevity and endless life.
Amid the blessings of his closest relatives, Song Zhang picked up the golden chopsticks, symbolically picked up the noodles, and tasted them with a flushed face.
The box was filled with laughter and joy, and the warmth of family affection, creating a beautiful picture of family reunion in a prosperous era.
The noise and joy of the birthday banquet gradually faded away. After properly settling all the elders, Song Ci and Liu Shishi returned to Jingyuan Villa.
It was late at night, but the lights in Peking were still bright outside the car window.
The vehicle drove smoothly on the street, and the interior was filled with a faint sandalwood scent.
Song Ci closed his eyes slightly, feeling a little drowsy from drinking at the banquet.
He reached out and pressed the car window, and the early summer evening breeze immediately rushed in, blowing on his face, making him instantly more awake.
I rubbed my temples. Today was my father's birthday, and I was so happy that I couldn't help but drink a few more glasses.
I'm a little tipsy at the moment, but it feels quite pleasant.
After being stunned for a while, he noticed that his wife was leaning gently on his shoulder, her bright eyes staring at the screen of her mobile phone, her fingers occasionally sliding gently.
That focused profile looks particularly quiet and beautiful under the soft light inside the car.
"What are you looking at so intently?" Song Ci asked softly, his arm naturally around his wife's shoulders.
Liu Shishi raised her head and smiled gently, tilting her phone screen slightly towards her husband: "I'm looking at the information on Asia Television."
Song Ci was a little surprised: "Why are you suddenly interested in ATV?"
Liu Shishi gently put down her cell phone, turned slightly sideways, and stared at her husband's handsome face in the dim light.
Her eyes were like water, and she looked at him quietly for a long time, then she opened her red lips and smiled.
"Husband, ATV is suffering from heavy losses and is on the verge of bankruptcy. Do you think this TV station can be saved?"
Outside the car window, a bright moon hangs high in the sky, its light casting a shadow on the way home.
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(End of this chapter)
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