Chapter 55 I Really Regret It
After the initial shock, Meng Huanyan quickly calmed down and soon convinced herself.
The fact that Wen Zhiming could name so many dishes might be because the chefs in the Prince's mansion also knew some of them. The Nanyan Pavilion had been popular for two years, and the chefs in the Prince's mansion might have also used the names of the dishes from the Nanyan Pavilion, so it's not a big deal that Wen Zhiming could name them.
Wen Zhiming and Meng Lingge are of noble status, yet they still behaved so embarrassingly at the banquet.
How can they be so shameless, making demands of this and that?
They only pick the expensive and good stuff, is this a banquet?! They're acting all stingy and trying to take advantage of others! Where is the demeanor of an aristocratic family?
Today is a joyous occasion to celebrate her husband's promotion, and as the only hostess, she naturally has to demonstrate her shrewdness and social graces.
Let others see that she, a concubine's daughter, is no less capable than a legitimate daughter.
She moved among the officials, pouring tea and toasting them in turn, constantly apologizing for the lack of hospitality and asking for their understanding.
The officials outwardly agreed, but their eyes held a hint of disdain.
Guan Yi'an was already annoyed, and he watched her swaying around incessantly. All he could hear at the banquet was her laughter and flattery. He felt that this woman was really embarrassing.
As a mere concubine, she has no ability to entertain guests. It would be better for her to sit quietly to the side than to act like a hostess, which has lowered her status.
He was particularly anxious when he saw her fill the expensive Lanling wine pot for the guests as if it were free tea, quickly finish the pot and then call the waiter for more.
Hearing Guan Yi'an cough twice, Meng Huanyan finally noticed his pale face. Holding the newly brought wine, she said with a charming smile, "Look how forgetful I am, I've even forgotten my husband. Today is your special day, I shouldn't forget you, no matter who else I've forgotten. Come, let me punish myself with a drink first..."
Guan Yi'an watched helplessly as Meng Huanyan poured out another fifty taels of the three hundred taels worth of Lanling wine. He could no longer bear it and pulled Meng Huanyan down onto her seat: "Either sit quietly or get out!"
His voice wasn't loud; only Meng Huanyan and a few people nearby could hear it.
Meng Huanyan still felt particularly wronged. She knew that Wen Zhiming and Meng Lingge, who were nearby, must have heard it and were probably laughing at her in their hearts.
She had put so much effort into entertaining guests for Guan Yi'an, expecting praise and appreciation, but instead she was met with a barrage of reprimands.
Guan Yi'an was clearly quite satisfied with her just now, I don't know what's gotten into him so quickly.
So capricious.
Judging from Guan Yi'an's expression, he was indeed genuinely angry. Further provoking him now would certainly lead to trouble.
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away, and when she looked up again, she had a gentle and submissive demeanor.
Before long, the expensive dishes that Wen Zhiming had ordered were served one after another. The officials present were all of high rank and had eaten their fair share of delicacies, but they had never seen such an expensive and sumptuous spread on a table before.
Despite his worry about not having enough money, Guan Yi'an forced himself to cheer up and treat everyone to a meal. However, he had never eaten any of these dishes before and didn't know where to begin, not even knowing what each dish was.
He could only tell everyone to make themselves at home, while continuing to grimace and feel heartbroken over the loss of his money.
Wen Zhiming first served food to Meng Lingge, then commented on the dishes: "Today's Golden Broth Stewed Jade Palm isn't clear enough, but the Secret Recipe Pan-Fried Amber Peak has a suitable color..."
The officials were surprised to see Wen Zhiming talk so much in public and asked him for advice.
"Your Highness is indeed very knowledgeable. Forgive my ignorance, but I guess this Golden Broth Stewed Jade Fat Palm is bear paw. But I don't know what the Secret Recipe Pan-Fried Amber Peak is?"
Wen Zhiming: "The secret recipe for pan-fried amber peak is camel hump."
"Are those jade lips reflected on the jade plate fish lips?"
"No, the jade lips reflected on the jade plate are actually scarlet lips."
Orangutan lips refer to the lips of an orangutan and are considered the first of the "Eight Delicacies".
"Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Your Highness. Otherwise, we would not have known that we had tasted such a rare delicacy after we finished eating it."
"..."
Wen Zhiming answered fluently.
No matter which official asked the question, his eyes never left Meng Lingge. With each answer, his eyes sparkled and the corners of his mouth curved, anticipating Meng Lingge's praise.
Meng Lingge squeezed his hand affectionately, and he happily brought out Meng Lingge's favorite camel hump, insisting on feeding his wife.
Knowing his situation, no one made fun of him. Instead, they all praised the young master for his love for his wife and their deep affection for each other.
Guan Yi'an, standing to the side, felt not only pain but also bitterness in his heart.
His perfectly good promotion banquet somehow turned into an occasion for Wen Zhiming to steal the spotlight and show off their affection.
Meng Lingge wasn't sure if he regretted it afterward, but now he truly did.
No matter how upset or regretful he was, the problem still needed to be solved; the debts of the opium den in Nanyan were still waiting for him to settle.
Seeing that the banquet was halfway over, Guan Yi'an made up an excuse and left the room. He decided to talk to the manager first and pay for the banquet later when he had raised the money.
Given his current position as Vice Minister of Rites, this shouldn't be a difficult task. The owner of the opium den might even offer a discount or a full waiver of the bill to curry favor with him.
He kept thinking about how to communicate with the shopkeeper in a way that would both save face and resolve the matter.
He was completely unaware that Meng Huanyan was following behind him.
Unfortunately, when Guan Yi'an arrived at the counter, the shopkeeper was not there; there was only a cashier.
The counter of the opium den was on the first floor, as was the latrine. Guan Yi'an was worried that others would find him when they came downstairs to use the restroom after they had finished eating and drinking, and that he wouldn't have time to wait for the manager, so he tried to communicate with the staff first.
"A private room on the third floor, please calculate the bill."
"Alright, sir, your total bill is 1,517 taels. You can pay 1,500 taels."
Guan Yi'an took a deep breath. The price was actually not much different from what he had calculated, but what he expected was one thing, and what the actual price was another.
The thought that the meal had cost more than three times his budget filled him with unbearable pain. He worried that he would have to pawn all the gifts from other officials in his household, and he wasn't even sure if that would be enough.
The shopkeeper wasn't there, and the discount the young waiter offered was too low, far from the price he was willing to pay.
He was carefully choosing his words when he heard an incredulous shout from behind him: "What? Fifteen hundred taels? How could it cost so much? You're a rip-off!"
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