Lin Fengshou, Shi Tou, and Xiao He drove two horse-drawn carts to the slaughterhouse to buy pork. Lin Fengnian, An Fu, Qingshan, and a few others picked fresh chili peppers and mushrooms and sent them to the kitchen. Lin Fenghe, Lin Fengyao, Erxi, Dongzi, and a few other children were also busy doing odd jobs.
In the kitchen, Song Anxin and Granny Zheng finalized the menu: Dongpo pork, chopped chili fish head, sake duck, morel mushroom and dried bamboo shoot soup, stir-fried pork with chili, spicy diced chicken, braised delicacies, rich and oily scrambled eggs, stir-fried wood ear mushrooms with pork, plus stir-fried seasonal vegetables, totaling twelve dishes. This was considered a top-notch meal even in the city.
After noon, several carriages appeared on the village road and headed straight for the large mansion at the end of the village. The people who came were Magistrate Lu of Qi'an County, Magistrate Dai of Gaokai County, Magistrate Mo of Heyang County, and their families.
"Congratulations to Lady Huiyi, congratulations to Minister Lin Nong."
"With Lady Huiyi's promotion and the appointment of the Forestry Commissioner, Lady Huiyi's family is truly blessed with double happiness!"
“We have come in haste and have prepared some gifts to offer our congratulations. We hope we have not disturbed Lady Hui and Minister Lin.”
"......"
As county magistrates, they naturally received the news of the caravan appearing on the official road and rushed over to offer their congratulations.
Huiyi rose from the seventh rank to the fifth rank in less than a year. This speed and achievement were simply too advanced. There were only a few like her in the entire Great Yin Dynasty.
Moreover, the newly appointed Forestry Commissioner is actually the son of Consort Hui. It's truly a case of two prominent figures from one family!
Song Anxin and Lin Fengnian greeted them at the door. Although Lin Fengnian looked a little uncomfortable, he was still very generous.
Song Anxin warmly greeted everyone: "It is an honor for my son and me to have you all take time out of your busy schedules to come and offer your congratulations. We would never feel like we are disturbing you. Please come in and have a seat."
After the group of adults, ladies, and young misses went inside, another carriage appeared on the village road. It was the Liu family who had arrived; the younger sister's family was the one she had sent to urgently notify.
"Congratulations, Lady Hui! No, you should be called Lady Hui now. And congratulations, Minister Lin!"
Master Lin and his entire family offered their congratulations.
Lin Taohua was also overjoyed and offered her congratulations. She never expected that her second sister-in-law would be promoted so quickly, and by such a high rank. Even Feng Nian was granted an official position. When she received the news at home, she was so happy that she almost lost her footing when she went out.
"Second Aunt, Eldest Cousin, congratulations!" Mingzhu and Mingyue said in a clear voice.
Song Anxin smiled and said, "Master Liu, why are you still being so formal? Shouldn't you call me Second Sister-in-law now, just like Taohua does?"
Lin Fengnian said from the side, "Yes, Uncle-in-law, you can just call me Fengnian."
Master Liu was delighted, but he was afraid that Lady Huiyi would hold a grudge about what had happened in his household before, so he didn't dare to speak rashly.
He laughed heartily and said, "Yes, yes, second sister-in-law, a bountiful year, congratulations!"
Liu Mingjie also arrived. The little boy stood quietly and respectfully to the side, seemingly oblivious to the commotion before him.
Song Anxin sighed inwardly. Although Liu Mingjie was a naughty child before, it was also because of his naughty parent, Ms. Su.
Fortunately, they are still young and there is still time. She smiled gently and said, "Mingjie, you can call me Second Aunt from now on, just like Mingzhu and Mingyue. These are your cousins."
Upon hearing this, Liu Mingjie's eyes widened in disbelief: "Really? Can I really call you Second Aunt and your cousins?"
Song Anxin smiled and nodded in affirmation: "Of course."
A faint light seemed to appear in Liu Mingjie's eyes. After his mother's death, and after spending time with Aunt Lin, Mingzhu, and Mingyue, he seemed to realize that everything he had done before was wrong, and that what his mother had taught him was also wrong. He was somewhat at a loss as to how to face these things.
"Mingjie, come quick! Come play with your cousins!"
"Mingjie, don't just stand there, come here quickly, your cousin Erxi has something good to show us."
Lin Mingzhu and Mingyue had already run inside, and they all turned around to greet Liu Mingjie.
Looking at everyone's sincere smiles, Liu Mingjie nodded emphatically: "Okay, eldest sister, second sister, I'm coming right now."
Confucius once told him, "To know one's mistakes and correct them is the greatest virtue." He believes it is not too late for him to correct them now!
Lin Taohua watched them run away and said, "Since Xiao Su passed away, Mingjie has become much less talkative and less lively. Fortunately, Mingzhu and Mingyue are not vengeful and often take Mingjie with them."
"No matter what happened to Xiao Su, her death was a blow to Mingjie. However, Tao Hua, Mingzhu, and Mingyue are all warm and kind people. I believe Mingjie will get better in the future."
Song Anxin sincerely said.
After the Liu family was taken inside, more carriages arrived one after another. Several shopkeepers and merchants came after hearing the news, and for a time, Song Anxin's house was bustling with guests.
As the afternoon drew near to dinnertime, the aroma of food began to waft through the entire courtyard, growing stronger and stronger.
In order to prepare for the feast, everyone had just eaten something lightly at noon to fill their stomachs, and upon smelling the aroma, their stomachs immediately began to rumble.
Fortunately, the feast was about to begin. The village headman invited everyone to sit down, and the villagers all consciously sat in the courtyard. Once the courtyard was full, they went to the tables on the flat ground outside.
At the main table in the hall sat a host of officials, including Eunuch Qi, Magistrate Yan, Magistrate Lu, Magistrate Dai, and Magistrate Mo. Song Anxin and Lin Fengnian, the main figures celebrating the day, were also seated at this table.
On the side were the families of some officials, some merchants such as Liu Yuanwai, as well as the village head and some respected elders of the village. Close relatives, such as his own elder brother and sister-in-law, were also there.
"Let the feast begin!"
With a loud shout from Granny Wei, dozens of people began serving dishes, and the aroma of the food filled the air.
Eunuch Qi was astonished by the dishes before him. Morel mushrooms and cloud ear fungus! He was at a loss for words. Morel mushrooms were fine for soup, as they weren't used in large quantities, but how could there be so much cloud ear fungus on the table? Although this was not as high quality as that in the palace, it was probably quite precious among the common people.
Also, what are those red and green foods? They smell so pungent and fragrant that they make my mouth water.
The adults and ladies present were naturally also surprised.
Song Anxin explained with a smile, "These morel mushrooms are grown by my family, and the cloud ear fungus is also grown by our village's collective industry. These red and green things are called chili peppers. They can be used as vegetables or as seasonings. They are spicier, more fragrant, and more flavorful than dogwood."
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