Chapter 500 Birthday Banquet
After leaving the Shi residence with a hefty consultation fee, Li Sanniang carefully recorded Bai Wei's symptoms upon returning to her clinic, in case Bai Wei came back for a follow-up consultation later.
After finishing her shift and returning home that day, Li San Niang took out about ten taels of silver from the consultation fee she had received that day. After dinner, she found Li's mother and handed it to her in front of Li's eldest sister-in-law and second sister-in-law.
"Mother, this month's living expenses for me and Dewdrop at home."
After taking the money, Li's mother asked, "Have you decided what time you're going tomorrow?"
The question Li's mother was asking about was the invitation Li San Niang received a month ago from Qian Niangzi, inviting Li San Niang and Lu Zhu'er to the Qian residence to attend Qian Xiaolang's birthday banquet.
(Characters appearing in Chapter 13)
"The post said that in addition to celebrating Qian Xiaolang's birthday, it was also to get Qian Xiaolang more playmates, so it was said that the child would be taken along."
I was thinking of going around 9:00 AM, playing for a while, then having lunch and tea before heading out.
Li's mother nodded, and Li's sister-in-law asked from the side, "Did you prepare a gift for them?"
"I prepared a decent set of writing implements, and Lu Zhu'er also said she wanted to give Qian Xiaolang a wooden dog she liked."
Knowing that Li San Niang had made preparations, Li's mother and sister-in-law were relieved.
The next day, after lingering on the bed for a while and playing a game of horn-butting with Lu Zhu'er, Li San Niang finally helped Lu Zhu'er get up after she had caught her breath.
Since she started growing her hair out, Dewdrop has long since shed her former childlike appearance and revealed herself to be a cute young lady.
Li San Niang dressed Lu Zhu'er in a peach-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and took out a matching hair tie to tie two little pigtails and bows for Lu Zhu'er.
"Come, Mother, let me put this silver ring on Dewdrop's head."
Dewdrop stretched out her little arms, and Li Sanniang put silver bracelets on her, one on each arm, with bells on them that made a "ding-a-ling" sound as Dewdrop moved.
Finally, after planting a kiss on Lu Zhu'er's forehead, Li San Niang took Lu Zhu'er's hand and led her out the door.
Dewdrop loved to show off. As soon as she left the courtyard, she went to find Mother Li. After Mother Li praised her, saying, "Dewdrop, you are so beautiful," she said...
He hurriedly ran to find Sister-in-law Li, Sister-in-law Li, and in the end, he didn't even spare Li's father, Li's second brother, Wu Qiaolan, and Bao Ya.
Knowing that Li San Niang was going to take her out today, Lu Zhu'er ate her breakfast more lightly, afraid of getting her clothes dirty.
When the time came, Li San Niang, carrying a gift box containing the Four Treasures of the Study, boarded the carriage with Lu Zhu'er and Qiu Xiang. The eleventh brother cracked the whip, and the group headed towards the Qian residence.
The timing was perfect; the carriage stopped just past 9 AM when it arrived at the Qian residence.
As soon as Li San Niang got off the carriage, someone called out to her.
"Third Sister, are you well?"
After exchanging greetings with Madam Qian, and only a few words later, other people arrived. Madam Qian gave them an apologetic smile and went to greet them.
Thus, Li San Niang and Qiu Xiang, along with Lu Zhu'er, were led inside by a maid.
The gift had already been placed at the door.
Li San Niang couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing that these aristocratic families indeed had a set of rules for living.
At the entrance of the Qian residence, there were separate booths on the left and right to receive male and female guests.
There was a butler-like person standing behind a small table, helping to register the guests and their gifts.
Thinking of what Madam Qian had just said: "Third Madam, all of us female guests are in the back garden, which is also for the convenience of the children to play."
Today we invited male guests, ostensibly for my young master's birthday, but actually also to arrange a marriage for Wu Niang from the eldest son's family.
The second half of the sentence was whispered by Madam Qian in Li San Niang's ear. After hearing this, Li San Niang understood why the birthday banquet for the young man was being held so grandly today.
After following the little girl for a while, we finally arrived at the Qian family's back garden.
Seeing the size of the garden, the pavilion, and the various trees and flowers inside, Li San Niang was truly jealous!
"Qiu Xiang, when will I have so much money that I can live in a house with such a garden?"
Qiu Xiang didn't reply, she just smiled and looked at Li San Niang.
Qiu Xiang knew that Li San Niang was only envious at this moment and would not remember it at all afterward.
Li San Niang saw that there were already groups of children playing in the garden. Lu Zhu'er held the wooden dog carving and looked at the children playing, her eyes revealing longing.
Li San Niang squatted down and asked Lu Zhu'er, "I'll give you the puppy, Lu Zhu'er. Shall you go find someone to play with first?"
When Dewdrop returns, Mother will give the puppy back to her, and Dewdrop can then personally deliver it to Young Master Qian.
Dewdrop happily handed the wooden puppy to Li Sanniang, and then ran towards the group of children who were the largest.
Li San Niang watched from a distance as the children played with Lu Zhu'er without any hesitation, before finding a chair nearby to sit down.
After sitting for a while, more and more people arrived, including many children.
Li San Niang had expected things to get chaotic, but she didn't know how the household managed things; there were maids everywhere.
There were three maids watching over the children playing in the Dewdrop area.
Just as Li San Niang was about to say a few words to Qiu Xiang about how impressive the Qian family's management was, and how worthy they were of a prestigious family, she saw Madam Qian leading Qian Xiao Lang towards the garden.
Li San Niang then quickly called Lu Zhu'er back, and a little maid appeared to lead the women and children forward.
Upon reaching the front, Li Sanniang was slightly shocked. "Good heavens, I underestimated the Qian family's wealth."
Before you lies a small square paved with bluestone slabs, with a dozen or so round tables set up, and a platform about a foot high at the front.
As soon as the small gong was struck, everyone around, even the children, gradually quieted down.
Madam Qian led her son, Qian Xiaolang, to the high platform. After bowing to everyone, Madam Qian smiled and said loudly, "Thank you all for coming to my son's birthday banquet. Thank you very much."
Just then, as soon as Madam Qian finished speaking, Young Man Qian bowed and clasped his hands in greeting to everyone.
Madam Qian said a few more polite words, and finally concluded by saying, "Lunch will be in half an hour, right here in this small square."
Your names are written on the round table; just find your seats according to your names.
If that's inconvenient, you can ask the maids.
Then, Li San Niang and the others, who were about to take Lu Zhu'er to the garden to see the flowers, were stopped by Qian Niangzi.
After another round of greetings, he said, "Thank you so much for coming, Doctor Li. My son has been thinking of bringing Dewdrop here."
Madam Qian also had a good impression of Lu Zhu'er, this cute little girl. After exchanging a few words with Lu Zhu'er, Lu Zhu'er put the wooden dog she was holding in front of Qian Xiaolang.
Dewdrop said sincerely, "This is my most beloved puppy. I'm giving it to you for your birthday."
Qian Xiaolang was overjoyed to receive a birthday gift from Lu Zhu'er herself. He grinned from ear to ear and asked with delight, "Really? Is it for me?"
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