Chapter 16: Treating Everyone to Meat
The ladies from each household said that they had many things to do at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion today, and since they had already celebrated the old lady's birthday, they shouldn't bother her any longer.
So, at Madam Shangguan's apology, the ladies from each household quickly left, supported by their maids.
The people from the Marquis of Wuding's residence also left the Duke of Dingguo's residence, pushed and shoved by Dongmai and many old women.
When she left, her hair was disheveled and her face was scratched by winter wheat.
Even the ruby headdress was in pieces.
Lady Shangguan watched with satisfaction as Lady Wuding left.
Originally intending to visit Old Madam Shen in the backyard, she nodded after Dongmai whispered something to her.
"With you all here, I feel very reassured."
"Take good care of your young lady, I'll head back now."
Madam Shangguan was also anxious; she was eager to share all the information she had with her husband and the old master!
After seeing Madam Shangguan off, Dongmai looked at the suddenly empty courtyard and thought for a moment, not knowing what to do.
She had no choice but to go to the backyard to look for Shangguan Jin again.
At this moment, Shangguan Jin was holding Old Madam Shen's hand, looking guilty.
"Mother, I'm sorry to have made you suffer."
"I'm an old man, what grievances could I possibly have?"
It would be good if there was a commotion, so that people wouldn't treat our Duke's Mansion as a small, insignificant household.
Our ancestors were born peasants, but this Duke's mansion was built by Huai Chen on horseback.
"Don't worry, I'm fine," said Madam Shen with a smile.
It turns out that when Chun Tao came to invite the old lady, Dong Mai whispered something in Chun Tao's ear, which made things worse.
Chuntao is also a clever girl.
They had already figured out how to make a big fuss over such a short distance, from the front yard to the back yard where the banquet was being held.
As she helped the old lady up, she whispered in her ear, "Madam, would you please pretend to faint for a moment?"
Madam Shen listened to advice very well, especially since Chun Tao was Shangguan Jin's dowry maid.
This might just be what my daughter-in-law wanted!
So, Old Madam Shen immediately rolled her eyes and, aiming precisely, collapsed onto Qiu Mama behind her...
And then...
Shangguan Jin sighed, and was about to say a few more words of comfort to Madam Shen when she saw Madam Shen grab her hand.
“Jin’er, you did the right thing. You shouldn’t have gone looking for Huai Chen this year.”
Shangguan Jin was taken aback, and was about to say that she didn't intend to search for people in such a grand manner.
Even if they're looking for someone, they'll definitely do it secretly.
"You're right, they would have come back long ago if they were supposed to."
He hasn't come back in three years; something must have been holding him back.
His mother, wife, and children are here; he has no reason not to come back.
"So, we just need to wait patiently," Madam Shen said softly.
This left Shangguan Jin at a loss for words.
After exchanging a few more words with Old Madam Shen and watching her drink a bowl of porridge and eat two pastries, Shangguan Jin led Dongmai and the others back to the front yard.
Looking at the chaotic front yard, Shangguan Jin only frowned slightly.
"Steward, set up two large long tables at the entrance of the Duke's mansion. Distribute all the food prepared for the banquet at noon, except for what the people in the mansion would normally eat."
In addition, the congratulatory gifts sent by the Marquis of Wuding's residence were also displayed.
Any beggar who came to watch the spectacle would have a few feet of coarse cloth torn off.
"Remember, pick a few talkative servants to deliver the goods outside," Shangguan Jin said.
"Madam, should all the food be set out?"
"Because of the old lady's birthday banquet, the mansion has prepared some steamed buns, and we were just about to go out and distribute them!" Butler Shen said.
"The steamed buns will be delivered as in previous years, and the other dishes will be delivered in the same way."
"The key is those bolts of cloth. They must be delivered to those who are eloquent and persuasive, understand?" Shangguan Jin said with a smile.
Butler Shen immediately understood what Shangguan Jin meant.
Soon, two long tables were set up beside the gate of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.
There are quite a few beggars in the capital. No matter which family it is, whether it's a funeral or a wedding, as long as there's an event, many beggars will gather at the door of each house, hoping to get some food.
Today is the birthday banquet of the old lady of the Duke of Dingguo, and many beggars have been waiting here since Chenshi (7-9 AM).
As the gifts were carried into the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, everyone wondered how many steamed buns the Duke of Dingguo's mansion would bring out today, and whether there would be enough for each person to grab two.
However, before the steamed buns were served at mealtime, these people saw the ladies from various households hurriedly getting back into their sedan chairs.
Everyone was wondering if something had happened at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.
Does this mean today's steamed buns are going to be a disaster?
Before these people could figure it out, the steward of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion led a group of servants to start making arrangements at the door.
Two long tables were set up, on which were not only steaming hot buns, but also various dishes.
It's not dried radish or pickled vegetables, but a proper dish served at a banquet.
Cold dishes, hot dishes, peanuts, pig's ears, whole roasted chicken and duck, and a big, glistening, reddish-brown pork knuckle...
The crowd waiting to eat the steamed buns watched, swallowing hard.
"Grandpa, is all this food for us?" a bold beggar asked, swallowing hard as he pointed to the food on the table.
"Yes, they're all for everyone. Don't rush, line up! Everyone gets one, no one gets one if you don't line up!" Butler Shen shouted to the people who were about to swarm forward.
For a meal they might only get once a year, these people were very obedient and quickly formed an orderly queue.
Each person gets three large steamed buns and a large piece of meat, either chicken, duck, or meat from a large pork knuckle...
Everyone ate with their mouths full of oil.
Of course, after the meal, the butler also gave each person a few feet of coarse cloth.
"These fabrics are a birthday gift from the Marquis of Wuding's residence to celebrate our old lady's birthday."
My grandmother doesn't wear these things, and she said it's a waste to keep them in the storeroom, so we should distribute them among everyone.
Seeing that Steward Shen wasn't as arrogant as other stewards, the beggar leader understood the situation.
In addition, the servants who distributed the food to everyone were quick-witted and explained what had just happened at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion in just a few words.
Those who naturally enjoy joining in the fun immediately understood.
Oh, I didn't know there were such things!
It seems the Marquis of Wuding's mansion and the Duke of Dingguo's mansion are about to fall out.
Looking at the large steamed bun and meat in his hand, the beggar leader was immediately filled with a sense of chivalry.
Duke Dingguo was a righteous man who made great contributions to the pacification of the border for the Great Yu.
However, after the Duke of Dingguo disappeared, the Marquis of Wuding's family came to bully and humiliate the Duke of Dingguo's family.
This is infuriating.
The beggar leader stated that he genuinely did not side with the Duke of Dingguo's mansion only because of the steamed buns and meat.
So, having eaten and drunk their fill, and each taking a piece of cloth, they scattered throughout the capital.
A heated debate ensued among the lower classes in the capital about whether the Marquis of Wuding's family was so poor they couldn't afford to eat, or whether they were deliberately coming to humiliate the Duke of Dingguo's family.
And there is a trend to broaden the scope of the discussion.
The already low reputation of the Marquis of Wuding's mansion suffered another blow.
Discussions were raging in every corner of the capital. Similarly, the ladies of various mansions who had suddenly returned from the Duke of Dingguo's mansion immediately went to invite their masters back home.
Whether it was someone embracing a concubine while listening to a tune, or someone holding a concubine's hand while teaching her to write, everyone was startled when they heard that the lady had invited them.
"So soon? Is the Duke of Dingguo's mansion hosting an early breakfast banquet?"
"Master, please hurry! Madam is in a great hurry; it seems to be something extremely urgent."
Therefore, the lords of each household had no choice but to leave behind their resentful concubines and rush to their wives' rooms.
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