The Martial Doctor-Chapter 72: The Xu Family’s Banquet Invitation
"After finishing the wontons, just head back yourself. I don’t have a room for you here..."
"Junior Brother, it’s so late already, and you’re letting Xia Zhu go back alone? That’s too risky." Sun Youwei said with concern. Xia Zhu is considered the first disciple Lin Miao took in, the first of his apprentices.
Risky? Do you even know Xia Zhu’s cultivation level? At least at the top of the Bone Forging Realm. If she encounters someone with no eyes, I’m afraid the one in danger would be the other party, right?
The future senior sister of the Lin Family.
And that one call of "Master’s Wife" felt so comfortable, how could a Master’s Wife not support her own child?
Even though this child is eleven years older than her, the hierarchy has been established.
So in front of Sun Youwei, Xia Zhu is of a lower generation.
"Xia Zhu, don’t listen to your Master. He’s just like that, a hard mouth but a soft heart. We have fewer people at home but many rooms. In the future, if you want to go home, just go home. If you don’t, just stay here," Sun Youwei said.
"Thank you, Master’s Wife." Xia Zhu understood that Lin Miao as a Master is not that easy to fool, while the Master’s Wife is kind, easy-going, and easy to talk to.
This will now serve as a solid backing in the future.
"Yuzhu, go get a set of bedding and send it to the second room on the left in the back courtyard. From now on, that’s Xia Zhu’s room..."
"Yes, young mistress." The maid Yuzhu agreed promptly and dashed off to fetch the bedding, which was all prepared at home just in case.
...
The next day, there were quite a few people attending the Ye Family’s banquet seeking talents, including Zhong Yu from the descendants of Mr. Zhong, which was probably from the Zhong Family’s wishes.
It’s natural that Mr. Zhong’s family wouldn’t attend Shengyuan Hall, but Zhong Yu staying in Dongshan City’s Sansheng Hall is bound to interact with the Ye Family in the future, so the courtesy should still be given.
Su Chen also went.
He didn’t want to go; he was probably dragged there by his mother by the ear.
The person pursued by Miss Xu from the Xu Family was not few. Besides Ye Xizhao from the Ye Family, Su Chen was also one of the candidates, including Zhong Yu and a few others who all admired Miss Xu greatly.
But the most hopeful ones were just these three.
Who would become the Xu Family Patriarch’s ideal son-in-law?
No one can say for sure.
It should be revealed after Miss Xu’s birthday banquet.
At the Ye Family’s banquet, Lin Miao didn’t attend. They were originally enemies, so why would he engage with an enemy? But for Miss Xu’s birthday banquet, he considered it for a moment. Not going seemed not too good; he couldn’t just make enemies everywhere in Dongshan City.
He had no grievances with the Xu Family, and they kindly invited him to attend the birthday banquet, which showed enough respect. Not going would seem too aloof and unsociable.
Of course, attending is not a problem.
The problem is, for Miss Xu’s birthday, there should be a birthday gift, right?
How could he prepare a birthday gift in such a rush?
While other invitees probably already knew about this beforehand, those who prepared in advance are certainly not few, and the gifts won’t be light.
In gifting, if you can’t express your sincerity or stand out, you might as well just blend in, giving what others give.
This way, you won’t be looked down upon or criticized.
Isn’t there a saying that as long as you’re not embarrassed, the embarrassment is on others? After all, being from a small place and not having seen the world is quite normal.
"Old Xie."
"Master, you’re looking for me." Mr. Xie came in and stood with his hands lowered, seemingly already familiar with his identity, showing none of the previous arrogance when he was the chief steward at ’Yuanheng’.
"Tomorrow night is Miss Xu’s birthday banquet. Help me think about what gift to bring," Lin Miao said. "Just according to Dongshan City’s local customs."
"If it’s an ordinary friend, then a gift box with some pastries and food, plus a cash gift is about right, the cash gift depending on personal intention, usually five or six hundred copper coins."
"Five or six hundred copper coins? You’re talking about ordinary folk, right?"
"Yes."
"If I give five or six hundred copper coins, wouldn’t I get laughed at to death?"
"Then eight hundred copper coins?"
Giving a gift is a matter of intention. If they care about this, then they might as well not invite guests, as there are indeed poor people among the guests.
"Here’s the plan: you go buy a gift box, and I’ll personally make some pastries to put in it and take it over on the day." Lin Miao thought for a moment and said.
Anyway, he didn’t want to make a splash. Homemade pastries as a gift show sincerity and are quite dignified.
What he makes is surely unique in this world.
As for those with ulterior motives, who want to give valuable gifts to win favor with Miss Xu, that’s their business.
There will surely be a lot of prominent figures then, who would care about someone from a small place like him?
"Master, are you sure?"
"A gift is a personal expression of intention. If I make the pastries myself, it represents my sincerity. Isn’t that more meaningful than buying from outside?" Lin Miao reproached.
"Alright, help me prepare the ingredients. I need to hurry and make them."
"Alright, you’re the boss; I’ll listen to you."
Lin Miao thought for a moment and chose pastries he was familiar with and could make right away. He listed the types of ingredients needed and handed it over to Mr. Xie for purchasing.
These ingredients might be hard to come by in a small place like Baihe County, but in Dongshan City, you only need to take a trip to the west market, and within half an hour, everything can be bought back—and at a reasonable price too.
Besides ingredients, molds were needed.
This would depend on Lin Miao’s craftsmanship; it’s not difficult to make a simple one temporarily, but for larger scale production, specialized molds must be customized.
Lin Miao chose four types of pastries: walnut crisp, osmanthus cake, flower cake, and donkey rolling.
His skills were a bit rusty, and there were some differences in the ingredients in this world, so he had to adjust to find the optimal mix.
But the first batch was so delicious that all the women in the household scrambled for them until none were left.
By the time the second batch came out, the taste was even better.
When the third batch was ready.
If Lin Miao hadn’t stopped the women, they would have eaten even the pastries meant for gifts that evening.
Sixteen pieces of each were packed, and the gift box was divided into four layers.
Full of sincerity.
Lin Miao left with Senior Sister Sun Youwei to go to the Xu residence. Today’s birthday banquet was surely an opportunity for Senior Sister to see the world.
He couldn’t keep her locked up at home forever just because he feared her beauty would attract covetous gazes; it would be unfair to her.
This is a woman who should excel both in the drawing room and the kitchen.
Earlier, Lin Miao had bought Sun Youwei two bolts of silk, just right for making two new outfits, perfect for attending Miss Xu’s birthday banquet today.
Xia Zhu also had to go, but she was accompanying her father, and the matter of apprenticeship was currently only known by Su Chen, with no outsiders aware of it.
Lin Miao didn’t want outsiders to know either, to avoid unnecessary incidents.
Besides, in Xiuyue Square, it seemed there were few who knew Xia Zhu, so she wouldn’t be recognized quickly.
"Senior Sister, bring this hand warmer along." Lin Miao thoughtfully took the copper hand warmer and handed it to Sun Youwei on the carriage.
It was cold and had snowed, and Sun Youwei’s body couldn’t even compare to ordinary people, so she naturally couldn’t be exposed to the cold.
Today, the entrance of the Xu residence was adorned with lanterns and streamers, bustling with activity, and the nearby street was meticulously cleared of snow, spotless.
The Xu Family is a prestigious clan in Dongshan City. Besides medical heritage, they are also a family of poetry and etiquette, with ancestors who held high positions as Assistant Ministers in various departments.
In the recent century, the Xu Family’s influence has waned, and though many in the family study medicine and read, few achieve greatness.
As for government positions, they have become even more obscure.
Even so, the Xu Family remains one of the top three families in Dongshan City, as the saying goes, ’A camel that starves is still bigger than a horse.’ In the hearts of Dongshan City’s citizens, the Xu Family still holds incomparable status at Baoan Hall.
A girl is considered an adult at sixteen. According to Da Li Dynasty law, she could marry then.
So the sixteenth birthday is the last one many girls celebrate at their parents’ home; families with means typically hold an event.
Families like the Xu Family are no exception.
"Mrs. Peony, you’ve arrived..."
"Bring over my birthday gifts for Miss Xu!" The noblewoman waved her hand, and seven or eight strong men carried over four large chests.
"Mrs. Peony, how should this be written?"
"Just put down four gift chests, and cash gifts of one thousand silver taels!" Mrs. Peony said generously.
"Alright."
"Junior Brother, isn’t our gift a bit too shabby..." At the end of the line entering the mansion, Sun Youwei lightly caught Lin Miao’s hand and raised her head to ask.
"It’s fine; we don’t need to compete with others," Lin Miao said slightly nervously, but among so many guests, there was only one Mrs. Peony, the rest were fairly modest.
Finally, it was Lin Miao’s turn, and he handed over the invitation.
"Mr. Lin, may I ask about your gifts?"
"Gift box with pastries, personally made by me, and cash gifts, eight hundred copper coins." Lin Miao nodded slightly as he spoke.
The man who looked like a steward saw the eight strings of copper coins and his eyes widened. He had been receiving guests at the door for some time, and the least cash gift was two silver ingots worth a hundred taels.
The person before him actually brought eight hundred copper coins as a gift, as if treating the Xu Family like paupers?
But the Xu Family isn’t one to be swayed by money. Those with invitations are esteemed guests, and if mistreated, the Patriarch or Miss Xu might hear about it, and it wouldn’t end well for him.
Everyone has a poor relative.
The people behind Lin Miao couldn’t help but burst into laughter upon seeing this scene; he wasn’t lacking money, he just didn’t want to spend it.
The cash gifts and presents are merely gestures of goodwill; if the Xu Family judges relationships based on the amount of cash given, then they’re no different from the ordinary folk.
Of course, he also wanted to test the Xu Family’s mindset.
"Please come in, your seating is on the right near the back." With such a meager gift, they could only seat him further back.
Lin Miao nodded in gratitude, holding Sun Youwei’s hand as they followed the maid arranged by the Xu residence.
