Chapter Fifty-Seven: Birthday Gifts Stolen
She suddenly rose gracefully, picked up the wine jug in front of her, and walked slowly to Zhang Shaoqing, a renowned wine connoisseur at the next table. She personally poured him a full glass, her tone carrying just the right amount of apology:
"Lord Zhang, my younger sister is young and this is her first time organizing such a large banquet. There may be some shortcomings in her hospitality. I offer this cup of wine on her behalf to apologize to you. Please forgive her."
Zhang Shaoqing was flattered and quickly raised his wine glass:
"Oh, General Song, you're too kind. It's nothing, it's nothing..."
As he spoke, he politely took a sip of the wine in his glass.
However, the moment the wine entered his mouth, Zhang Shaoqing's brows furrowed involuntarily, a hint of surprise appearing on his face. He savored it carefully, then couldn't help but murmur in doubt:
"Hmm? The taste of this wine... seems quite different from the peach blossom wine served at your banquets in the past. It's bland and lacks any aroma; it tastes more like... cheap rice wine diluted with a lot of water?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it sounded exceptionally clear at the banquet that had just experienced the food controversy.
Everyone was stunned for a moment, and they all subconsciously picked up their glasses to taste the wine.
"Huh? It seems so..."
"This isn't peach blossom wine! It's clearly just watery liquor!"
"Outrageous! The Song family is serving such inferior wine at their birthday banquet?"
Rumors and gossip immediately spread across the field, even more unbearable than before:
"First the food was of inferior quality, and now the wine is watered down... What kind of mess is this second young lady of the Song family making?"
"It seems that his acceptance of punishment just now was just for show; he didn't put his heart into it at all!"
"What a joke! Has the birthday banquet at the Marquis of Yongjia's residence really become so meager?"
"Could it be that the household is... running out of money?"
Song Yiqiu's face showed just the right amount of surprise. She slightly curled the corners of her lips and said to Zhang Shaoqing:
"Lord Zhang is indeed a connoisseur of fine wines, with such a keen sense of taste."
As she spoke, she picked up her own wine glass, took a small sip, then feigned a slight frown of confusion before relaxing and explaining:
"However... perhaps you are mistaken? I taste this wine, and although it is not top-notch, it is still acceptable. It seems to be aged rice wine, quite mellow, and not diluted with water, is it?"
As soon as she said this, many guests immediately realized what she meant and began exchanging wine jugs between themselves and those at neighboring tables to taste and compare them.
This comparison immediately exposes the problem.
"It's definitely different; the wine at our table is as bland as water!"
"We have the same thing, but the one on Lord Li's table over there is clearly genuine peach blossom wine!"
"Well, so they're really playing favorites! They serve inferior wine to us low-ranking officials and ordinary families, while serving the powerful and wealthy with fine wine!"
It was actually a double-dealing wine, a dish that was outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant!
Song Sangyu was now drenched in cold sweat and her face was deathly pale.
The purchasing manager did indeed consult her, saying that the budget was limited and whether all the drinks should be of lower quality.
She was busy trying on new clothes and jewelry at the time, and impatiently thought that the drinks would taste okay as long as they were just about right, so she casually agreed.
Later, the young waiter seemed to hesitate and said something that might be inappropriate, afraid of being discovered. Before she got angry, he cautiously suggested that at least the important guests should be served good wine...
At the time, she just thought it was troublesome and waved her hand, telling Xiao Si to handle it himself. She didn't take it to heart at all. She never expected that this would become another handle against her.
In a moment of quick thinking, she immediately stood up again, curtsied to the surroundings, her voice trembling with tears:
"My lords, please forgive Madam!"
"It must have been that servant who made the purchases who deceived his superiors and lined his own pockets. How dare he do such an outrageous thing at Father's birthday banquet! Sang Yu... Sang Yu was negligent and was deceived by such a villain. He will be severely punished after the banquet! He will not be forgiven!"
However, after two consecutive oversights, the credibility of her statement has been greatly diminished.
Although the guests nodded in agreement, their eyes were filled with suspicion, and their expressions turned cold.
Seeing that her daughter was about to collapse, Madam Song was extremely anxious and quickly stepped in to smooth things over and try to change the subject:
"Alright, alright, it's just a minor mistake, let it go. By the way, Sangyu,"
She raised her voice and said to everyone with a smile.
"Didn't you say you prepared a wonderful gift to celebrate your father's birthday? Stop hiding it, take it out and let all your uncles, aunts, and cousins have a look!"
Reminded by her mother, Song Sangyu suddenly snapped out of her daze, as if grasping at a lifeline.
Yes, she still has her last trump card!
To make a splash at this birthday banquet, she had to pester her mother for a long time, use a large sum of her own money, and ask some noble ladies for help to obtain a priceless white jade Guanyin statue.
Once this jade Guanyin statue is offered up, who will remember those trivial little incidents from earlier? Everyone will only remember Song Sangyu's filial piety and generosity!
She immediately straightened her back, and her face regained its confident, even slightly smug, smile:
"Thank you for reminding me, Mother! Look at me, I was so busy blaming myself that I almost forgot about the important matter!"
Seeing this, the onlookers also chimed in, trying to ease the tension:
"Oh? Miss Sangyu has prepared a generous gift? It must be extremely exquisite!"
"Lord Song is truly blessed to have such a filial daughter!"
"Let us see what kind of treasure this is!"
"It must be extraordinary to be worthy of Miss Sangyu's filial piety!"
Song's father, whose face had been pale from making a series of mistakes, softened slightly upon hearing what everyone said, and a hint of anticipation appeared in his eyes.
Seeing this, Song Sangyu felt reassured and raised her voice:
"Willow Leaf! Quickly go to my room and bring me that sandalwood carved gift box!"
The atmosphere eased slightly as the maid, Liu Ye, returned with a gift box. Song Sangyu reached out to take it, but the moment she touched the box, her heart sank.
Too light!
The box could not possibly contain that heavy white jade Guanyin statue.
The smile on her face froze instantly. Under the cover of her wide sleeves, she quietly lifted a small crack in the lid of the box and quickly peeked inside...
Empty!
The room was completely empty; the white jade Guanyin had vanished without a trace!
The surrounding guests waited a while, and seeing that she was just holding the box in a daze without opening it, they couldn't help but start teasing her:
"Miss Sangyu, why haven't you opened it yet? Is the treasure too precious for you to show us?"
"Haha, they must be trying to whet our appetites! Hurry up and open it so everyone can see what's going on!"
"Yes, yes, stop hiding it! Let us see what a rare treasure it is that Miss Song cherishes so much!"
"Lord Song, you are truly blessed. Your daughter's filial piety is truly extraordinary!"
These urging words sounded like death warrants to Song Sangyu.
She felt her legs go weak and she could barely stand.
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