"Let's go inside and talk, instead of just standing outside," Lin Xi said.
Everyone nodded and then entered the Lin residence.
The Lin residence is very large, with a front yard and a back yard. The front yard is slightly smaller, but the back yard is very large.
There are twenty or thirty tables in the backyard, which can accommodate more than two hundred people to eat at the same time.
The Lin family mansion has many houses, with the main house in the middle and side houses on both sides.
Li Xue took a look and felt that the Lin residence was even larger than the Prince's residence. This was not surprising, as land was extremely valuable in the capital, but it was different in other places.
The Lin family mansion is located on the outskirts of Qing'an Prefecture. There aren't many residents here, so if you're willing and have enough money, you can build a house that's big enough.
Lin Xi led Zhao Xian and Li Xue to a small living room. After everyone sat down, tea was served.
As noon approached, guests attending the birthday banquet entered the Lin residence one after another. General Lin and Lin Yuquan greeted the guests outside, while Lin Xi stayed behind to drink tea with Zhao Xian, Li Xue, and others.
"Grandpa's birthday banquet kept Liu Xuan and the others very busy. Not only that, they also invited several chefs to help prepare the banquet."
As Zhao Xian sipped his tea, he began to speak:
"General Lin's 70th birthday celebration is a major event, and they all attach great importance to it. I believe the banquet will be very well organized and the guests will have a great time."
At this time, all the people who came to offer their birthday wishes had arrived. General Lin was seated in a grand chair in the main room, and the guests began to come forward to wish the old general a happy birthday.
Each time someone came up, the butler would introduce them to everyone.
General Lin listened attentively, nodding and smiling from time to time. Apart from some old friends and local officials, he did not recognize the others, especially the young people.
After paying their respects to General Lin on his birthday, the guests were seated at a table in the backyard. Their seating arrangements were carefully planned and based on their status.
Tea and snacks have already been set on the table. Before the main dishes are served, guests can sit down and have some tea and snacks.
After Zhao Xian and Li Xue finished paying their respects to General Lin, Lin Xi led them into a large hall. The hall was very spacious and had four or five dining tables. The people dining in this hall were all of high status.
In ancient times, restaurants typically used eight-person tables, which seated exactly eight people, unlike modern round tables that can seat more than ten or even dozens of people.
Although the people Zhao Xian and Li Xue brought were all attendants and guards, Lin Xi arranged seats for them and treated them as important guests.
"The princess and the young minister are a group of seven. With me, there are eight of us. There are no outsiders at this table."
Li Xue smiled and said that this arrangement was of course the best.
After everyone finished offering their birthday greetings, they began to take their seats. The guests in the hall were mostly officials and prominent figures from Qing'an Prefecture.
General Lin specially wore light armor today; he hadn't forgotten his military identity. He came into the hall, looked at everyone, and said:
"Today is my seventieth birthday. I am deeply grateful that you all remember this useless old man and come to wish me a happy birthday."
"General, you are too kind. You are a veteran of three dynasties, highly respected and virtuous. On the occasion of your 70th birthday, it is only right that we come." The crowd said.
General Lin nodded, walked to the dining table where Zhao Xian and Li Xue were sitting, and said:
"Let me introduce you all. Today is my 70th birthday. Princess Li Xue and the Vice Minister of War have come. I am very grateful."
Now that General Lin had introduced himself to everyone, Zhao Xian and Li Xue stood up and bowed to them.
Today, Li Xue and Zhao Xian went out dressed simply, just like ordinary people. They sat at the dining table without attracting the attention of others.
Even Prefect Lu, who came to attend the birthday banquet, did not notice Zhao Xian and Li Xue.
Li Xue is a princess of the current dynasty, with an extremely noble status, while Zhao Xian is a fourth-rank official in the Ministry of War, who is an overwhelming force in the local area.
Even Prefect Lu was only a fifth-rank official, so it was quite unexpected that Li Xue and Zhao Xian came to offer their birthday wishes.
Everyone stood up and came to pay their respects, bowing deeply. The two had no choice but to return the greetings.
After a round of polite conversation, Zhao Xian, exhausted and with a sore back, was finally able to sit down and have a sip of tea.
At this moment, the servants stepped forward, removed the fruit platters and pastries from the table, and began to serve the dishes. Soon, the entire hall was filled with the aroma of delicious food.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today's birthday banquet was prepared by the top chef of Qinghe Restaurant, and we are drinking Qinghe Baijiu, which is currently the best wine in the Great Northern Dynasty."
Please enjoy your drinks and savor the finest cuisine.
The crowd cheered. Everyone knew about the delicious food and Qinghe wine at Qinghe Restaurant. However, due to the high cost of dining there, most people dared not go. Even some officials in Qing'an Prefecture only went occasionally, since their salaries were not high and they had to support their families.
Today we can eat our fill and enjoy these rare delicacies to our hearts' content.
The guests in the hall were all very well-mannered and did not touch their chopsticks easily, lest they be looked down upon by others. It was not until General Lin spoke that everyone began to pick up their chopsticks and start eating.
The food on the table was indeed delicious, and everyone was very excited, drinking heartily and laughing all the while.
While eating with everyone, Lin Xi kept an eye on General Lin. At this moment, General Lin had completely forgotten himself, and many people came over to toast him. General Lin accepted every toast and drank one cup after another.
"This won't do," Lin Xi thought, getting up quickly and going to General Lin's side. Looking at the guests lining up to offer toasts, she said:
"Dear friends and family, Grandpa is getting old and can only drink a small amount of alcohol. If he continues to drink at this rate, he will soon pass out."
I propose that all relatives and friends raise their glasses and toast Grandpa together. This will be our birthday celebration. After we finish this toast, please do not offer Grandpa any more toasts.
Lin Xi's words made perfect sense. Today's guests were all here to celebrate General Lin's birthday. If the old man got drunk, no one could bear the responsibility.
“Yes, Miss Lin is right. Let’s raise our glasses together and wish General Lin a long and happy life, with boundless happiness and longevity,” someone said.
Upon hearing this, everyone stood up and raised their glasses.
Lin Xi picked up the wine glass on the table and handed it to General Lin, saying:
"When the guests toast Grandpa, he must drink this glass of wine in one gulp."
General Lin sighed. He knew that once he finished his drink, his precious granddaughter would never let him touch alcohol again.
General Lin took the wine glass and was about to stand up to toast with everyone when Lin Xi spoke up:
"Grandpa, it's your birthday today, you can just sit down."
General Lin had no choice but to sit down, raise his glass, and toast with everyone.
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