Before dawn, the people of Xu’s house were busy with their work.
The banquet was set up in an open area of the house, and the butler ordered his servants to set out the tables and stools and wipe them down.
The underlings had changed into new clothes, all of them were in good spirits, walking with the wind in their eyes and working with great efficiency.
The cooks from the restaurant also arrived early and came in to check the ingredients needed for today’s banquet.
The old man was also up, and after he had freshened up, he asked Xu Liang to bring the clothes Xu Qingwan had made for him and put them on, asking Xu Liang, “How is it?”
This was the fifth time the old man had tried them on, and the fifth time he had asked. Xu Liang gave the same answer as the previous four times, “It’s very refreshing, you look like you’re a dozen years younger.”
“That’s right.”
There was only a small bronze mirror in the house, and at the moment it was held up in Xu Liang’s hand, so the old gentleman could not see his whole body and stepped back slightly, “Since Wan’er learned to make clothes, she made all my clothes and picked the fabrics, I don’t know how many people praised me when I went out to lecture.”
“Miss Sun just has a good eye.”
The old gentleman agreed quite a bit and looked at it for a while longer before taking it off and letting Xu Liang hang it carefully, “Set the meal, I’ll wear it after I’ve eaten so it doesn’t get dirty.”
Meng’s house was even busier, Xu Yan’s family and Xu Qingwan, Song Wangyue and Gu Yi had gathered in her house early to listen to her instructions on what everyone needed to do today.
The number of people coming today was bound to be too large for Mr. Er to receive alone, so Meng gave Xu Yan a list with the names and official positions of the people, “This is what your second uncle has just asked someone to send, so take note of it.”
Xu Yan read it over, he had been away from the capital for a long time, and although he still knew some of the people on this list, their official positions had changed greatly.
Meng also gave a copy to Yun, “You’ll have to work harder today.”
Yun took it with both hands, “This is what my daughter-in-law should do.”
There was a joyous atmosphere inside and outside the Xu residence, except for the silence in the courtyard of Mr. Big and Ms. Huo.
Mr. Big sat at the table, listening to the bustle outside, his hand resting on the table clenched tightly, only to release it after a while and flock, “Bring up the medicine!”
“Master ……”
Huo secretly hated herself for not laying hands on Meng after so many years in the house, otherwise she wouldn’t be in this situation today.
Not only could she not step in, but even her pair of children had been excluded, and she was resentful.
Her voice was soft and helpless, very pitiful, “If we don’t step in, what about Zhong’er and the others? If we don’t let them into the house today, people outside will certainly speculate, so how can Zhong’er go to the Ministry in the future? How will Ling’er be able to talk about her marriage? She is the child you have brought up, can you bear to see her ruined like this?”
In the past, Mr. Big had been the most vocal about this, but now Mr. Big did not say anything.
To be precise, he hadn’t said much since he had returned from the old man’s place that day, and his mind often flashed back to what the old man had said.
The maid came in with a bowl of medicine, placed it carefully on the east table in front of Mr. Big, and gingerly retreated.
He closed his eyes and spoke, “Father only said that I should pretend to be sick, if you want to go out, you can go out, no one dares to stop you.”
Huo opened her mouth, but Mr. Da had already picked up the bowl of medicine, tilted his head and drank it dry. After placing the bowl heavily on the table, he got up and went to the bed, took off his shoes and socks and lay down, closing his eyes.
She wanted to pick up the bowl of medicine and slam it on the floor, but she couldn’t. She depended on Mr. Big in this house, and if she annoyed him, she wouldn’t have a good time in the future.
She got up, came to the bed, took the thin quilt and covered him with it, her voice was just as soft as before, “I know you have suffered a lot for us, mother and son, I was too anxious, don’t take it to heart. I’m not going anywhere, I’ll stay here and watch over you.”
Mr. Big didn’t say anything with his eyes closed.
……
At the beginning of the hour, there were guests coming in one after another.
The first to arrive were the Duke of Ding and his wife. Mr. Er personally welcomed the Duke of Ding to the old gentleman’s house, while the Lady of Ding was welcomed to Meng’s courtyard, accompanied by Xu and Song Wan Yue.
The Lady was full of smiles, she looked at Song Wan Yue and took her hand, “Yao’er has been praising you for the past few days, I’ve also tasted the cake, it’s really delicious, no pastry shop in the capital can compare.”
“Madam has flattered me.”
“I’m not exaggerating, it’s really delicious. With this cake alone, your pastry shop will become one of the hottest in the capital in the future, you say you’re so young, how can you come up with such delicious things.”
“That’s what she loves to think about.”
Xu answered with a smile.
“You’ll be lucky to have such a good daughter, and that Gu Yi, I don’t know in which life he was lucky enough to settle for your daughter first.”
“It’s all destiny.”
“No.”
……
A carriage pulled up at the door and Wen Zhong and his wife got down.
The housekeeper saw it and the smile on his face stiffened for a moment, and after some thought, he went forward, “Young Master Wen, you ……”
Wen Zhong gestured to the boy to hand him the invitation in his hand.
The butler opened it and glanced at it, closing it, “Young Master Wen wait a moment, I will go and ask the First Lady for instructions.”
Wen Zhong nodded slightly, without any impatience on his face.
The housekeeper turned and entered the mansion, carrying the hem of his coat and hurried to Meng’s courtyard, giving the invitation to Sister Wu, “This is from Young Master Wen.”
As an old man in the house, Sister Wu knew that the housekeeper would not have made this trip if he had not been unable to handle it, and took the invitation into the house and handed it to Meng.
Meng opened it.
“The Squire of the Household Ministry has come with his wife to congratulate old sir on his birthday.”
It was not Wen Zhong, but the Minister of the Household, and if they did not let him in, they were not giving face.
Meng handed the invitation back to Sister Wu, her voice faint, “Let him in.”
Today, neither Mr. Big nor Huo would appear in front of people, so if he came in, it would only be a bigger embarrassment.
The butler trotted out with the invitation, “Squire Wen, please.”
Wen Zhong and Madam walked into the mansion and said to the boy leading the way, “Go and get busy, don’t mind us.”
The servant answered and retreated to the door.
Mr. and Mrs. Wen Zhong walked towards the courtyard of Mr. Big and Ms. Huo.
The butler glanced back and turned his head to continue welcoming the guests.
As soon as Wen Zhong stepped into the courtyard, he noticed something different. The courtyard was too quiet, as if no one was there, and if it weren’t for the two maids still standing at the entrance of the house, he would have suspected that Mr. Big and Huo had been driven out of the courtyard.
“Young master, young lady, you are here.”
The maid’s delighted voice reached Huo’s ears, and Huo could not help but get up haughtily and take three or two steps to the door.