The restaurant is having a special occasion! All customers who dine in for hot pot within the last three days will receive a complimentary serving of pork belly per table, and drinks will be 12% off!
Qingshan is very adept at using marketing tactics.
After settling things at all the shops, he took his eldest cousin to the largest winery in Peach Blossom Town and ordered sixty jars of fine wine.
Large quantities are easy to negotiate prices with, and the shopkeeper guarantees delivery to your door!
Since it was still early, the two brothers went to the Xigao shop and ordered more than a dozen kinds of pastries, each weighing at least 20 jin (10 kg).
They also ordered large quantities of other small items such as sesame seeds, brittle, peanuts, and broad beans.
Seeing that he couldn't stop him, Da Shi obediently moved the things and acted as a tool.
When his younger brother was about to order meat, he quickly stopped him and advised him against it:
"That's enough, that's enough. Grandma said she'll use the two pigs she raises in the backyard. We'll slaughter one for Grandpa's birthday feast, and keep the other one for us to share during the New Year!"
Is one enough to eat?
Qingshan hesitated. His mother had given him one hundred taels of silver, and he had only spent half of it. There was still a lot left to spend.
"That's enough. Master said we won't have a continuous banquet, just three or five tables, enough to entertain close relatives."
The large stone was like a nail cutting through the railway. If it wasn't stopped, he was afraid that when he got home, he would either be scolded to death by his grandparents or be lectured by his parents!
Although the third branch of the family is undoubtedly the richest among the three, his parents and his second uncle's family do not like to take advantage of others. They believe that it is their duty to pay what is owed to them!
"Alright, alright, now it's my turn to pay for the rest of the shopping, otherwise I won't be able to explain myself when I get home."
Hearing his elder brother say this, Qingshan had no choice but to stop. He understood the principle that too much of a good thing can be bad.
He then discussed it with his mother, and they decided to give his father a large red envelope as a personal gift. It would be better for the old man to have some money in his pocket than to buy anything else.
A 60th birthday celebration is very particular, with special considerations for the food served at the banquet and the clothing worn by the elderly person.
The shopkeeper recognized Qingshan and chatted warmly for a while.
Upon learning that the two were choosing clothes for their elders, they instructed someone to bring the latest styles, the kind popular in Nanjing.
Da Shi spent a long time choosing and picked out two festive outfits. Based on his understanding of his grandparents, he was sure the two old people would like them!
After picking out clothes, there are naturally matching shoes and socks, especially socks, which you absolutely must not forget – make sure to buy them in pairs!
After some haggling, it cost a total of twelve and a half taels.
Da Shi is so generous with his money; he feels it's worth it to spend money on his grandparents, no matter how much!
Qingshan put his arm around his eldest cousin's shoulder and said mysteriously:
"The cart is full, let's go home. There's something good happening in the village soon, we shouldn't miss it!"
"What good news? I didn't hear a sound!"
Da Shi was a bit lost. Apart from running the shop and buying ingredients, he spent most of his time at home with his wife and hadn't paid much attention to many things in the village.
You'll see when the time comes~
Qingshan kept it a secret, then jumped up, sat on the carriage, and gestured for his cousin to get in.
For some reason, he felt like someone was watching him with ill intent, so to avoid any unforeseen complications, he decided to go home first.
"So mysterious~"
Big Stone chuckled, muttered something, then grabbed the other person's hand and, in one smooth motion, stepped onto the carriage.
After settling in, the two brothers chatted and laughed as they drove back to the village...
In the shadows, a pair of eyes had been watching the two men with ill intent until they drove away, at which point the gaze was withdrawn...
In the inn—
Second floor.
A woman wrapped in a snow-white cloak gazed out the window, her long, slender hands gripping the windowsill tightly...
"Madam Xiang, the master will be returning from the manor soon. I have prepared the carriage. Please come with me back to the manor."
"Why did Master return so quickly? Did the First Madam betray him?!"
"This servant does not know, but if you do not return to the manor soon, I fear it will..."
"Enough, let's go back to the manor!"
......
When hosting such a wedding banquet, everyone involved will be very careful.
We must be extra careful and thorough when inspecting anything that enters our mouths.
Once everything was ready, the day arrived quietly.
Neighbors and villagers who had always been on good terms with the old house came to help early on.
Those who received the invitation brought a substantial gift with them when they arrived.
Qingyao also asked the teacher for leave today and came to help out.
The Master also presented a birthday poem in recognition of this.
Today, at sixty, my temples are frosted with age; the youthful beauty of yesteryear now fades into old age.
Spring has come again, a beautiful time to play with grandchildren and learn from their innocent joy.
Qingyao only partially understood what it meant, but she brought it along, intending to give it to her grandfather after seeing him later.
Needless to say, the village chief and his family of three also came.
So, he asked his grandson to help record the gifts, and the registration work was handed over to Youyin.
Some older villagers joked that Yin and Qingyao were like a perfect couple, which was very fitting for the occasion.
It was just a joke; those who took it to heart, and those who didn't take it seriously forgot about it.
As the daughter-in-law, Jiang Yue naturally arrived early and did her best to help.
Even though everyone told her not to do any dirty work, she would still lend a hand from time to time, just to make an appearance.
Well, there's strength in numbers, so it's not wrong for her to just go through the motions.
It is said that ever since the three most outrageous people in the village—one reformed, one was beheaded, and one was divorced for being unfaithful—the atmosphere in the village has improved, and it is almost impossible to hear anyone openly gossiping about others.
It's uncertain what's behind it, but if you can't hear it, just pretend it didn't happen.
"Woof woof woof~"
"Waaaaah~"
There was already a small black dog at the old house, but now when Jiang Yue went out, the white dog squeezed out and followed her.
Well, that's it, two tigers can't share the same mountain, unless one is male and the other female~
Clearly, these two little ones are incompatible, and both are male!
Perhaps because the white one was bigger and significantly larger than the black one, the black one soon submitted and obediently followed behind the white one as its subordinate...
The guests just watched without scolding the two dogs.
The safety of Wujia Village is now thanks in no small part to the dogs of every household!
Whenever a petty thief sneaks into the village, every household's dog immediately barks and fights the thief to the death. Dogs are now indispensable to the villagers, and some families even treat them like family members.
Wu Erlang suddenly trotted out and called out to the men:
"Come on, a few men, lend a hand. The pigs I raise in my backyard are so fat, their hooves are so big, it takes two people to hold them down!"
"Hey, here it comes~"
"Come on, let's go together, you two!"
"No, thank you, my clothes are new."
"Don't be so fussy. Come on, it'll just get washed clean."
"Hmph, I hope you don't get kicked by that pig's trotter later~"
That's what she said, but she followed the others and went to help.
......
Grandpa Wu was changing into new clothes in the house, and as he changed, tears of joy streamed down his face.
After putting on her new clothes, Old Zhou put on her soft leather shoes, looked up and saw her husband's disappointing state. She lightly patted his arm and said sternly:
"Why are you crying? This is a wonderful day, no crying is allowed."
"I'm happy because I've suffered most of my life. Now that I'm old, I'm finally enjoying my retirement. It feels strange, though."
Grandpa Wu was reluctant to use his new clothes to wipe his eyes; he would touch his old ones and gently wipe his eyes.
"Fine, today is your special day, I won't scold you. Drink as much as you want, is that alright?"
Old Mrs. Zhou's nose tingled with sadness. Thinking back to the hardships of the past made her feel painful, but thankfully, they were all in the past. Her children and grandchildren were doing well, and she and her husband would rest when they couldn't work anymore...
"You said it, you can't go back on your word!"
"Sigh, no backing out, drink up! If I drink you all away, I'll go chat with the other old men~"
"Hmph, you dare!"
"I dare! I'm not even wearing shoes! There are so many customers waiting for you to serve them!"
......
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