Chapter 37 The Dark Clouds Disperse at the Xu Family Birthday Banquet
The sky was a clear blue, the sun was shining brightly, and a gentle breeze was blowing, causing the guests' elegant robes to flutter.
Zhang Ting brought a painting of pine trees and cranes, accompanied by Li Ruilian, and also invited Zheng Er to broaden his horizons.
Although Xu Shan was only a fifth-rank official, her birthday celebration was quite grand.
Guests arriving in droves to offer their birthday greetings in front of the mansion, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.
Zhang Ting handed the pine and crane painting to his cousins, Xu You and Xu You, who were greeting guests outside, and then entered the mansion with his entourage.
The mansion has been renovated and is now surrounded by pine and cypress trees. Under the bright sun, flowers are in full bloom, and two cranes stroll leisurely among them, creating an extraordinary and refined scene that symbolizes longevity and good health.
A handsome young servant, with his head bowed and eyes lowered, led the group to the table.
The magnificent hall was filled with guests, including superiors and colleagues, young subordinates, relatives and friends who came to celebrate the birthday, and people of all ages gathered together.
Before long, Xu Shan appeared in a magnificent pine-green gown embroidered with cranes to thank the guests and took her seat at the birthday table. During this time, students presented her with birthday couplets.
Zhang Ting's seat was at the back, and she sat alone, occasionally exchanging a few words with the two people behind her, which wasn't too boring.
However, many officials on the field noticed this young face.
This person has an outstanding appearance and an ethereal demeanor.
Someone quietly inquired of a colleague nearby, "Whose daughter is this?"
His colleague shook his head and guessed, "Perhaps it's a nephew or son of Lord Xu."
The conversation reached Han Bingyue's ears, and she glanced at them briefly, following their gazes.
She is indeed a young and outstanding woman.
But there were countless women like that in the capital, so she didn't care and looked away.
Xu Shan stood up and toasted the guests with a happy expression.
As they passed the middle and back rows, the younger generation offered their congratulations, and Zhang Ting mingled among them to wish Xu Shan a happy birthday.
Surrounded by youthful energy, Xu Shan laughed heartily, but she maintained a haughty demeanor, merely nodding in acknowledgment to both noble ladies and talented women of high society, without paying them any attention.
Just when everyone thought she was going to go back to the front to talk to the adults of similar status, she stopped and patted the shoulder of a strange woman in front of her with a kind expression.
A moment of silence fell over the surroundings, and everyone on the field looked on in astonishment at the scene.
Xu Shan has always valued her reputation and is cautious in her conduct, rarely revealing in public which junior she values.
How could this person be so beloved by her?
Xu Shan's gaze softened, and the corners of her mouth turned up: "Nephew, I am very pleased that you could come. Please enjoy the meal, and if there is anything you need, please let the servants know."
Zhang Ting lowered his eyelashes, bowed calmly to her, and said very sincerely, "It is my great honor to be here at your birthday banquet today."
"The banquet is over. Please stay here. I have something to discuss with you."
Zhang Ting smiled and nodded, fully cooperating with the elder's arrangements, secretly thinking to herself: It's finally here.
Xu Shan returned to the main seat and sat down, and the atmosphere became lively again. The only difference was that people kept glancing at Zhang Ting and whispering among themselves, asking her about her.
Despite the prying eyes of the crowd, Zhang Ting remained calm and composed, quietly eating the food in front of her.
After the banquet ended, she slowly got up and followed the servant's directions to a quiet and elegant courtyard.
This is Xu Shan's study.
Outside the study, a stone path leads through densely packed flowers.
The study was furnished with exquisite and opulent furnishings.
A woman in an orange robe was already seated at the head of the table on the right. She was pale and thin, with sharp eyes and features similar to Xu You. She was skimming the foam off her tea and didn't even lift her eyelids when she saw Zhang Ting arrive.
Zhang Ting had just met this person; she was Xu Shan's only daughter, Xu Lan.
Zhang Ting, with a calm expression, sat down in the superior seat on the left.
A servant brought over a cup of tea.
She took a small sip, then set it aside, silently examining the surrounding decor. It was quite opulent, but lacked a certain gravitas and grandeur.
She pondered, and indeed, Xiaoyi's aesthetic sense was far superior.
My thoughts drifted away, but then I heard a sneer: "The host is sitting right here, yet you ignore him. Has no one taught you manners?"
Zhang Ting looked at her with a calm gaze and asked leisurely, "Guests have come to visit, yet the host is arrogant and rude. Is this how your family treats its guests?"
Xu Lan was rarely reprimanded. She stood up abruptly, furious: "You!" Then, she laughed angrily: "Ha, a mere merchant, only my mother is willing to give you some face, and you really dare to take advantage of it?!"
Zhang Ting, unaware of what he had done to offend her, said indifferently, "To be valued by Lord Xu has indeed made me overconfident."
Xu Lan could no longer scold her for being arrogant. He couldn't argue with her, and seeing that only he was jumping up and down, he was extremely ashamed and angry. He gritted his teeth and angrily threw down the words, "Shameless and despicable!" and stormed off.
Zhang Ting picked up her teacup and moistened her throat.
Xu Shan was walking towards the study when she saw her daughter storming out. She asked in surprise, "Why aren't you helping to see the guests off? What are you doing here?"
Xu Lan suppressed his temper and said to his mother, "That Zhang Ting is extremely rude."
"I order the guards to throw her out!"
Xu Shan's smile vanished, replaced by anger. She grabbed Xu Lan's arm and demanded, "How dare you speak like that? Is this how I taught you?"
"Mother, I..."
Xu Shan's face was cold and stern as she interrupted her, "Go to the outer room to see the guests off." After speaking, she glanced at the maid, "If anything happens to the young lady, you will be held responsible."
Xu Lan looked annoyed.
The maid replied in a low voice, "Yes."
Xu Shan turned her back and walked towards the study with her hands behind her back. By the time she stepped into the door, her face had changed to a kind and gentle expression.
She said with a smile, "My dear nephew, I've kept you waiting. I apologize for my rudeness."
Zhang Ting stood up and bowed to her: "Auntie, you flatter me."
Xu Shan took her hand and asked her to sit down, saying, "Your daughter is unruly and has offended our distinguished guest. Please do not be angry, my dear nephew."
"Not at all, not at all. On the contrary, it was Ting who was rude and offended Sister Xu."
Xu Shan smiled, and that was the end of the dispute.
She summoned a servant to serve Zhang Ting tea again, and said with a smile, "The spring chill is still in the air, and the tea won't keep for long."
With a sigh, he said to Zhang Ting, "The main reason I kept you here for a talk is because of my unfilial niece."
“Xiao You is not good at business, but I, as her aunt, know a little bit about it. I will speak with my nephew on her behalf for now.”
Zhang Ting smiled and cupped her hands in greeting, "Please give me your guidance."
Xu Shan picked up her teacup. "A few days ago, a sedan chair was carried into the Xu residence. The young man there is surnamed Zhao."
Zhang Ting understood; wasn't the owner of Pinxiangzhai surnamed Zhao?
She wondered, "Grand Secretary Xu is getting old, and he's still taking young girls. Can his body handle it?"
Xu Shan's eyelids twitched, and the image of that scene in her mind sent a chill down her spine. She couldn't even drink the tea, so she quickly stopped her: "It's Grand Secretary Xu's youngest daughter."
Zhang Ting chuckled awkwardly, feigning hesitation: "If that's the case, then what should we do?"
Xu Shan thought that even if she was intelligent, she was still just a young girl who had just started out. She was confident and put down her teacup. She said, "Second Grand Secretary Gao is upright and honest. If anyone can keep Xu Prime Minister in check, it must be her."
Zhang Ting knew perfectly well that Xu Shan wasn't really planning for her niece's business; she clearly wanted to get under Gao Xiang's wing and use Keyinglou as a front.
However, the situation in Beijing is complex, and Keyinglou really needs a powerful backer to ensure its normal operation in the future.
"My family's foundation is shallow, so I would appreciate your advice, Aunt."
Xu Shan smiled and waved her hand: "It's just something I do by chance."
"It's just that Prime Minister Gao is getting old, and he can't help but give 30% of his profits as a tribute every month."
30% profit?
It costs about 40,000 taels of silver a year.
The Gao family has quite an appetite, but Zhang Ting still wants to become an official in the future and doesn't want to offend anyone.
She stood up and bowed respectfully to Xu Shan: "Thank you for your help, Auntie, in making the connection."
Xu Shan helped Zhang Ting up, patted her arm with relief, and said with a serious expression, "It's alright."
But deep down, she thought that she had a good chance of being promoted.
...
Zheng Er returned to his residence and went to find Xiao Yi, asking him for cloth and accessories.
Xiaoyi recently offended Zhang Ting and, fearing Zhang Ting's grudge, wanted to take the things back, looking wary: "What do you want these for?"
Zheng Er chuckled: "We shouldn't have been in such a hurry. Xiangyu's schedule is already booked until May."
"But the master was afraid that the young master would be impatient, so he spent a lot of money to ask Xiangyu to adjust the work schedule and make new clothes for you first."
Xiaoyi felt the dark clouds hanging over her head dissipate in an instant, and her heart was filled with ripples.
He tried his best to suppress the upturned corners of his lips, twirled a strand of hair hanging in front of him with one hand, and asked casually, "Did she say anything?"
Zheng Er scratched his head and smiled awkwardly: "The master has other important matters to attend to and didn't have time to tell his subordinates."
This is why there was nothing to say to him.
His face stiffened, his expression suddenly darkened, and he abruptly threw away the strand of hair in his hand, coldly telling Zheng Er to step back.
Zhang Ting is absolutely despicable!
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