Chapter 795 Social Interactions
Li Erxiong's words stunned everyone at the table. Li Sanniang hurriedly looked at Li's mother. Feeling everyone's gaze, Li's mother couldn't help but smile and ask, "Why are you all looking at me?"
I've long since come to terms with it. If you want to see someone, you should see your eldest brother.
What Li's mother said was true. The Guo family's affairs were actually most involved with Li's eldest brother's branch of the family. So, Li San Niang and the others turned to look at Li's eldest brother.
Li Da Xiong remained calm and composed. After leisurely chewing and swallowing the food in his mouth, he asked Li Er Xiong, "Guo Si Lang came to deliver gifts? Did he go to inquire about San Niang being granted an official position?"
When Li Erxiong was asked a question by Li Daxiong, he quickly put down his chopsticks and replied, "Yes, he came with a box of pastries. He asked about my third aunt, congratulated her, and said that if there is a banquet, he will definitely come to congratulate her."
Before leaving, he asked me when Erlang would take a break. Li Erlang looked at Li Erlang sitting opposite him. Li Erlang thought for a moment and then said directly, "It must be Guo Sanlang who wants to ask me about the imperial examination questions."
Summer exams are just around the corner, so they probably thought to ask me because I've already taken them.
Li Erxiong nodded. He had guessed that this was how it would be. "I don't know what you think, Erlang, but since we are relatives, I couldn't refuse directly, so I made up an excuse to brush it off."
Guo Silang must have realized it. He has changed his temperament quite a bit. Seeing that I didn't say anything, he didn't stand on ceremony or ask for details. He just gently put it down.
Finally, I politely saw him to the door.
"Second Uncle, it's alright. If the Guo brothers come to visit again, please just tell them my day off."
The imperial examination system selected officials based on their abilities.
If Guo Sanlang really has that ability, that would be a good thing.
Li Erxiong nodded again, indicating that he understood, and then he went to look at Li Daxiong.
Brother Li went to see his father, who waved his hand and said, "Don't worry about me and your mother."
"Let's ask Third Sister. If she doesn't mind, we can invite them. Since they've offered us a way out, we should accept it."
Li San Niang naturally had no objection to this. It wasn't a particularly deep conflict to begin with. Just as Li's father said, since the Guo brothers had offered an excuse to ease tensions, the Li family would simply accept it.
Otherwise, what would be the best way to deal with Li's mother and elder brother being caught between the Guo family and their own family?
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Second Brother, to find someone to deliver an invitation to the Guo brothers."
After a pleasant dinner, while the Li family chatted, Li San Niang and Qiu Xiang took lanterns and went to the backyard next door to find Doctor Liang and Junior Brother Shao Yang.
Two lamps illuminated the side hall brightly, and a breeze drifted into the room through the open window facing the low couch, bringing a touch of coolness to the hot summer night.
"Have some water. It's so late. If you drink tea now, you'll get sleepy."
Li San Niang took the cup from her junior brother Shao Yang and thanked him.
"I came so late because I wanted to ask if Master and Junior Brother would like to attend the banquet three days from now."
If they are willing to come, I will be overjoyed and will certainly arrange seats for Master and Junior Brother.
"If you don't want to come, I understand. Those kinds of occasions are mostly just empty flattery and sycophancy. Master and Junior Brother have seen it all before, so it's understandable that they don't want to go and engage in such behavior anymore."
Li San Niang had said all the good and bad things by herself. After stroking his beard a couple of times, Doctor Liang pointed at Li San Niang with his finger and said, "You're quite clever. You've said both the positive and the negative things, leaving the difficult problem to me and your senior brother."
Li San Niang knelt down, pulled over a small dish of roasted pine nuts placed in the center of the table on the low couch, and carefully peeled the pine nuts with a metal plate. After hearing the old doctor Liang's words, which sounded both a bit of a complaint and like a joke, she raised her head and smiled ingratiatingly at the old doctor Liang: "Master, hehe, I thought it was better for my junior brother to come. After all, he has already entered the Imperial Medical Bureau and will still be working there in the future. It's always good to know more people."
Besides, my relationship with my junior brother was established before I was granted an official position, so it's only right that it be made public this time.
Otherwise, with me being so prominent, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble my junior brother and the other senior brothers to help me in the future.”
"I have already written to your other senior brothers today to inform them of your appointment. Even though they are not in Chang'an, they are still under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Medical Bureau."
Don't worry, if you enter officialdom in the future, and something really happens, they won't ignore you.
The old doctor Liang gave Li San Niang some instructions on the current personnel in the Imperial Medical Bureau. The young boy from Shaoyang listened attentively. "That's all for today."
I won't be going to the banquet that day. I already have plans to go to Tiger Cry Mountain to escape the summer heat with friends. Let Shaoyang go then. What you said before makes sense; he really needs to tone down his temper.”
Time flew by, and three days later, the Li family held a banquet to celebrate Li San Niang's official appointment.
Jinmanlou truly lives up to its reputation as a famous restaurant in Changshoufang. Once you've spent enough money, the service is truly impeccable.
Not only did two chefs, one to tend the fire, and two apprentices to chop vegetables arrive, but they also brought along eight servants—four men and four women—to serve dishes, tea, and water.
Thus, Li's father, elder brother Li, second elder brother Li Erlang stood at the entrance of the Li family's medical hall to greet guests, while Li Sanlang sat on a square table to the side, writing down the gifts given by the guests.
On the other side, standing at the entrance of the Women's Assistance Association were Li's mother, Li's eldest sister-in-law, Li's second sister-in-law, and Li's third sister-in-law. Qin Niangzi was invited to take notes.
As for the children of the Li family on that day, Bao Ya and Song Fuling took them with them.
Just after 9:00 AM, the Li family members were waiting at the door.
Li San Niang never expected that the first guest would be Qiu Niangzi, who lived on the same street as the Li family. Qiu Niangzi was dressed very elegantly and had flowers in her hair.
Lady Qiu handed over the gift box, cupped her hands in a gesture of respect, and said congratulations.
With the arrival of Madam Qiu, it seemed as if the people on the street had made an appointment, and they all came to the Li family in groups of three or five, carrying gift boxes and dressed neatly.
Once the hour of Si (9:45 AM) had passed, the street where the Li family lived became bustling with activity.
The intersection was also blocked because there were too many vehicles coming to Lijia Street, and the patrol had to send people to direct the traffic.
A low-key but well-made carriage stopped in front of the Li Family Medical Hall. Duoshou placed the horse stools down, and a man dressed in dark green clothes stepped out of the carriage.
"Duoshou, give me the gift, I'll take it first."
Go find a place to park this carriage, and then come to the Li family's house to find me.
"Yes, Master."
Fang Chengxian stretched out his well-defined knuckles, picked up the two small wooden boxes, and walked towards the Li family's door with a smile.
From a distance, Li San Niang saw that it was Fang Chengxian. She told her mother what was going on, and then she and Qiu Xiang headed towards the Li family home.
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