Chapter 454: Relationships
Daohua thought that the Dong and Su families would come at most a day or two in advance, but unexpectedly, the two families arrived together on November 20th.
In front of the hanging flower gate, Madam Li greeted Madam Dong and Madam Su with a smile, while Daohua pulled Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu with a look of surprise, "Why are you here so early?"
Dong Yuanyao glared and asked, "Why, you don't welcome me?"
Daohua smiled and said, "I can't wait for you to come here sooner." Then, she pulled the two of them towards Songheyuan, saying as they walked, "Jingwan arrived two days ago. Now that you're here, we'll have something to play with."
Upon hearing this, Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu both smiled. It was cold in winter, and they usually stayed in the house with nothing to do, feeling bored and depressed. They were both very happy to be able to go out and visit others.
Daohua looked at Su Shiyu and said, "Sister Su said in your last letter that she really liked eating tomatoes. I still have some grown in the greenhouse on my farm. I'll make a tomato feast for you tomorrow."
Su Shiyu smiled and said, "I'm surprised you still remember that. Those tomatoes are sour and sweet. I really like them."
Daohua smiled and said, "I'll get you some when we get back."
After the tomatoes were grown, she only gave some to her good friends to try in order to save the seeds.
Dong Yuanyao interrupted them and said, "I'm afraid we won't be able to eat it tomorrow." Then he looked at Daohua and said, "Why, didn't your family receive the notice?"
Daohua was stunned: "What post?"
Dong Yuanyao: "It's the notice from the Chen family, the inspector!"
Daohua shook her head: "I haven't heard my mother talk about it."
Dong Yuanyao frowned. "That shouldn't be the case. Although Master Chen was personally sent by the Emperor to oversee the gold mining, your father is the prefect of Ningmen Prefecture, and the gold mine is within its jurisdiction. We'll inevitably have dealings in the future. How could we not invite him?"
Daohua exclaimed, "Oh!" "So this Inspector Chen is the one in charge of mining the gold."
Su Shiyu continued, "Although the position of the Inspector General is not high, the Chen family should never be underestimated."
Dong Yuanyao nodded.
Daohua became interested: "Why, what's the background of Mr. Chen?"
Dong Yuanyao lowered his voice, "He has a prominent background, a very important one. Lord Chen's mother was the Emperor's wet nurse, and Lord Chen grew up with the Emperor. He is one of the Emperor's most trusted confidants. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been entrusted with the gold mining."
Daohua nodded and said, "They are indeed from a prominent family." After a pause, she asked, "So, you came to Ningmen Mansion early because of the Chen family?"
Su Shiyu nodded and said, "The Chen family posted a message inviting us to a banquet tomorrow, saying they want to meet their colleagues in Zhongzhou."
Daohua looked puzzled. "You've even invited people from the provincial government, so there's no reason not to invite us, right? Could it be that Master Chen looks down on us?"
Su Shiyu shook her head. "Not really. Even if Lord Chen is a little arrogant due to his relationship with the Emperor, he wouldn't do something that would offend others. Perhaps he forgot? Or maybe he sent it too late?"
Daohua's expression was indifferent: "No matter what the reason is, it is certain that the Chen family despises my family."
Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu were both reluctant to respond to this.
Indeed, compared with their two families, the Yan family's foundation is indeed a little worse.
The Chen family has not been around for long, and compared to other prominent families, they do have many shortcomings in terms of rules and etiquette.
They would never make such low-level mistakes as distributing posters at banquets.
As they were talking, the group arrived at the old lady's yard.
Inside the room, there was another round of greetings and exchanges.
After meeting the elders, Daohua introduced Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu to Yang Xiujun, Yan Yunxi and Yan Yunyan.
Yang Xiujun watched everyone talking and laughing somewhat absentmindedly. She had not expected that her uncle's family, which her grandmother and others had described as shabby and unpresentable, actually had such a wide range of social contacts.
The Dong family came from a noble family in the capital, and the Su and Zhou families were also among the most prominent families in Zhongzhou.
The Yang family's talents are far inferior to those of the Yan family!
After lunch, Mrs. Li sent Mrs. Dong and Mrs. Su to the guest house to rest, and then returned to the main courtyard.
"Madam, the doorman just reported that the newly appointed inspector, Lord Chen, has sent notices to our family, the Zhou family, and the Han family." Ping Tong stepped forward to help Madam Li take off her cloak, and then handed over the received notice.
Mrs. Li said "hmm", glanced at the note, and didn't answer it.
She had previously learned about the Chen family banquet from Mrs. Dong, and she felt very uncomfortable when she thought that her family had not received the invitation in advance.
At this time, Daohua walked in, picked up the notice and took a look at it, then threw it directly on the table and snorted, "Tomorrow is the day of the banquet, so the Chen family is not worried that we won't be able to go."
Madam Li waved to her daughter, and when Daohua sat down beside her, she sneered, "The old lady of the Chen family is the emperor's wet nurse. Just for this reason, even if something happens at home, we have to go tomorrow."
After saying that, he looked at Ping Tong and said, "Send the notices to the Zhou and Han families."
Pingtong knelt down and said, "Yes." Then she took the note and left the room.
After everyone left, Daohua curled her lips and said, "Isn't he just a relative? Why are you so arrogant!" It was she who found the gold mine.
Mrs. Li didn't mention Daohua this time because she was also very dissatisfied with the Chen family. She felt embarrassed when she thought of how confused she looked when Mrs. Dong mentioned the banquet just now.
Moreover, since the Chen family found out that the Han and Zhou families were living in their house, how could they not know about the younger sister who had returned home? They didn't even offer to invite the younger sister and her family. It was really infuriating.
After a moment's silence, Madam Li said, "When you go to the Chen family tomorrow, you must not show a bad temper."
Lord Chen has a close relationship with the emperor, and many things can be reported directly to the emperor. If he slanders the master in front of the emperor, their family will definitely suffer.
Daohua nodded: "Don't worry, mother, I know."
On November 21st, the gate of the Chen Mansion was wide open. At 10:00 a.m., the new inspector Chen Hong and his eldest son Chen Jiayou were standing in front of the gate with smiles on their faces to welcome the guests.
When the Chen family hosted a banquet, the officials of Ningmen Mansion were very considerate and arrived early. All of these people wanted to make friends with Chen Hong. The reason was that Chen Hong could meet the emperor, and this alone made all the officials flock to him.
Of course, not everyone gives him face.
"Has the young prince arrived?"
Hearing his father's question, Chen Jiayou shook his head: "Dad, you have asked this question so many times. If the young prince comes, I will inform you, so don't ask anymore."
Chen Hong glared at his eldest son and said, "What do you know? The young prince represents the royal family. If he can come earlier, it means that he values us, and our lives in Ningmen Mansion will be easier in the future."
Chen Jiayou disagreed: "Dad, our family belongs to the emperor, who dares to show us disdain?"
Chen Hong shook his head. "This place is full of trouble. Your father is in charge of gold mining. If I don't get along well with the local officials, they will trip me up from time to time, and I will suffer the consequences!"
"If the Emperor thinks I, your father, am incompetent and sends someone to replace me, our Chen family will have no future."
As he spoke, his expression paused.
"By the way, has Magistrate Yan arrived?"
Chen Jiayou shook his head and said dissatisfiedly: "Not yet, not only the Yan family hasn't arrived, but also the Dong family, Zhou family, and Su family who live in their house haven't arrived. I think they want to come over for dinner at a certain time."
Chen Hong frowned. "I met Lord Yan once before in the palace. At that time, I thought he was a sensible person. I didn't expect him to put on airs as soon as he became the prefect."
Chen Jiayou curled his lips and said, "It's just a villain getting ahead."
(End of this chapter)
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