Chapter 63: Sharing a Feast ◇

◎ Does the young madam think she picked up this fortune? ◎

Before moving into the newly built house, there was one crucial step: hosting a feast. On the day of the roof-raising ceremony, only Second Uncle's family was invited for a meal to celebrate. However, on the completion of the house, a feast was prepared for the entire village.

This gathering surpassed any previous housewarming or roof-raising feast in terms of festivity. Coincidentally, during the past month, Hua Baogui's family had steadily delivered five taels and a half of silver. Yu Lian added a few more taels, making it a full ten taels, allowing them to host an extravagant banquet.

There were a total of eighteen dishes - eight meat, six vegetarian, two staple foods, and two soups. Additionally, fruits and candies were laid out for the children passing by to enjoy a sweet treat.

On this day, the entire village gathered at Yu Lian's residence, not only lured by the promise of savory treats but also out of curiosity to see for themselves the house that had been extolled to the heavens by those who had laid eyes on it before.

In the newly constructed, spacious and bright kitchen, bustling activities were underway with intense energy. A dozen or so aunts and married women bustled in and out, washing vegetables and stir-frying dishes. Now and then, a curious child would slip in, drooling with longing, only to be scolded and chased away by the adults.

Mistress Mei was pacing about, ensuring that everything was in order and that no one was up to mischief. Suddenly, she noticed a boy of about ten years, loitering by the back door of the kitchen, his head bowed, his actions unclear. She called out, "Who's there? What are you doing?"

The young man either didn't hear or was oblivious to the call, for he gave no response. Still maintaining that posture, he continued to pace back and forth with his head lowered.

Lady Mei strolled over, folded her arms, and leaned casually against the doorframe. Tilting her head, she asked, "I'm talking to you. Who do you belong to, and what brings you here?"

Most of those who would come to the kitchen to search for treats were children under ten. Those over ten were usually more sensible and wouldn't casually wander into the kitchen, for fear of being scolded by adults and losing face.

The boy stiffened and didn't speak for a long time.

Then he suddenly bowed his head and ran off.

Madam Mei looked on in speechless confusion. What was that about? It was as if she had bullied the child.

San Shu's wife was also busy inside. She lifted her head and said with a smile, "Madam Mei, don't worry about it. His mother is fierce. If she finds out you spoke to her son, she might think you're a bad influence on him and cause trouble for you."

Madam Mei was confused. She hadn't heard of this person since arriving in Upper Village.

San Shu's wife continued, "How could you not have heard? On the first day you arrived, Second Master warned you about her. There's a widow in the village named Zhao who lives with her son. She believes her son is the reincarnation of a scholarly star and is determined to see him pass the imperial examinations and become an official to show everyone up. She's like someone with a mental illness; no matter how many times people tell her that her son is too young and hasn't even taken the preliminary exam, there's no way he could become a top scholar, she refuses to listen and can even get violent when provoked."

"This Widow Zhao has a stubborn and radical personality, so it's best not to provoke her. When the village school was destroyed by the village chief, she fought with him, claiming that he was hindering her son's education and his chance at the exams. No one in the village gets along with her family, and no one wants to argue with her. It's not easy for a widow to raise a son alone, and besides, widows often attract trouble. If anything happens, it could damage your reputation for no reason."

"Madam Mei, take my advice: ignore that boy if you see him. Otherwise, if his mother sees you with him, she might think you've done something to him, and then you'll have trouble on your hands."

Madam Mei listened in amazement. Were there really such families?

Yet, she was still puzzled. "If what you're saying is true... Usually, they barely interact with the villagers. So why did they suddenly visit our house today and even venture into the kitchen?"

Sanshu's wife also found it peculiar. "Let him be. That odd mother-son pair, who can understand them?"

These past few months, Aunt Mei has transitioned from initial discomfort and complaints to a state of complete settlement, seamlessly integrating into the new family dynamics of this rural household. Initially, she found the life of a country concubine unbearable – having to work hard without the luxuries and glory of a noble life. However, as time passed and she continued with her chores, she gradually grew accustomed to it.

Upon reflection, since arriving at this rural farming household, she has truly become an integral part of this family. In the past, within the Marquis's Mansion, she was merely an insignificant concubine, someone whose presence or absence held little consequence. Although she enjoyed splendor and luxury, what true distinction did her status hold from that of a servant? The home was not hers to claim; she had no voice, no sense of belonging. Living in her solitary courtyard, she felt unsteady and hollow, each day passing emptily.

Now, she was seated at the table for meals and entrusted with a portion of the household affairs. She had truly become a part of this family, albeit without the affection of her husband. Nevertheless, there was a peculiar sense of stability in this life.

Considering that her entire family was incapable of cooking, relying solely on her, the thought of them going hungry if she quit filled her with a sense of satisfaction.

Thus, over this period, Aunt Mei progressed from managing the kitchen to becoming adept at both household and external affairs. Mrs. Chen took charge of all the sewing and mending for the family, handling clothes and quilts with skill. The elderly matriarch tended to the pigs and chickens alongside the three children. Yu Lian oversaw the smooth operation of the entire household, while Hua Zhan, as the head of the family, dealt with matters outside. Each member had their designated role and kept themselves busy with their respective tasks.

With the new house now completed and the family settled in, life seemed to have found its rhythm.

Aunt Mei hoped that this harmonious existence would continue uninterrupted. Although the conflict with the Hua Baogui family had been resolved, it still caused some distress. Hearing that the widow Zhao was not someone to be trifled with, and considering her son's unusual behavior of visiting their kitchen on such a day, she sensed something amiss. She made a mental note to discuss her concerns with Yu Lian when they had some free time in the evening.

In the courtyard, Yu Lian and the elderly Mrs. Chen were attending to their guests.

The villagers of Shangyi Village were warm and polite. Even when they came to partake in the new home feast, each person would bring a vegetable or two, along with some eggs, whatever they could spare. No one would dare to arrive empty-handed.

With hundreds of households in the village, even if only one or two people from each family came, it would still be quite a crowd. How much silver would that require? Money was scarce, but bringing a small token was always possible.

Yu Lian stood at the entrance, watching the villagers approach with their offerings, their sincere smiles and hearty congratulations warming her heart. She felt a sense of joy and accomplishment. This was her family in ancient times, a home she had personally designed and supervised from start to finish. Here, she didn't have to read anyone's mood, nor did she need to fear being hastily married off by her original family's elders. She was free to do as she pleased, to live as she wished.

With this thought, she completely relaxed, her smile warm and gentle across her face.

Zhu Ying watched from the shadows, enduring the scorching sun. He felt bitter, realizing that this couldn't continue indefinitely. His master was too inhumane, asking him to keep watch and protect her from the shadows without considering the weather or conditions. Day after day, he faced the wind and sun, and at night, mosquitoes feasted on him. If this persisted, by the time he returned to his master, she might not even recognize him.

For if this continued, he would end up as a bruised and battered charcoal-black figure!

Despite the discomfort of the scorching sun, the sight before him brought a genuine sense of joy to his heart for his master's family, especially for the young madam. It hadn't been easy for her, and reaching this point meant they finally had a decent residence to call their own.

But upon reflection, how could it compare to the noble mansions in the capital, let alone the Duke's residence? In comparison, it was merely insignificant.

Yet, Madam Young was not the least bit disdainful. Her smile was so charming, and she was too easily pleased!

The thought of writing to his master resurfaced in Zhu Ying's heart. It had been quite some time since his last letter, and in the reply, his master had asked him to take extra care and sent along two banknotes worth a thousand taels of silver. However, he found no plausible excuse or opportunity to make contact with his master's family.

Would he throw the banknotes in front of Madam Yu, pretending she found them?

Did he take Madam Yu for a fool? How could such a backward and impoverished village possess large-denomination banknotes? The villagers might have never laid eyes on bills worth over a hundred taels in their entire lives. Selling off the entire village would hardly yield two banknotes worth a thousand taels.

As he couldn't find a suitable opportunity, the two banknotes still nestled warmly in his bosom. He planned to finish writing the letter and not wait for his master's reply. He needed to seize a chance to appear properly before Madam Yu's family soon. As for the banknotes... He would have to think of a way later.

Zhu Ying pondered in the shadows while the bustle continued below.

Visiting villagers put down their items and entered, amazed by the scene in the spacious courtyard.

Dozens of tables and chairs were set up for guests, though the inside of the house was unseen. Nevertheless, it appeared grand from the outside. The house was tall and wide, with a row of rooms stretching out. In the middle stood the main entrance, flanked by two side chambers. Beyond that were chicken coops, pigsties, duck pens, and a vegetable garden, all constructed with blue bricks. The roofs weren't made of haphazardly arranged mud and straw but elegant red tiles. Looking around, admiration and envy were the only emotions felt.

"One sight and you're impressed? Go inside and see for yourself. Their house is full of wonders. This is just the front yard. They have a backyard too, where the real big shots reside. It has several separate courtyards, each with everything one could need: study rooms, bathing chambers... Even the water for bathing comes from outside. They don't have to fetch water; just turn a tap, and the water flows in. Isn't that miraculous?"

Some adventurous souls sneaked in for a closer look, while the more timid asked Yu Lian for permission to enter.

Yu Lian smiled and nodded, allowing them to explore happily. If they didn't view it today, it wouldn't be appropriate to barge into someone's home after they moved in.

As the villagers arrived in succession and had a look around the house, the first dishes of the feast were being served.

At that moment, Hua Baogui's parents entered the scene with their mentally challenged son, empty-handed.

Hua Baogui's father's face was slightly flushed, while his mother walked in with an air of arrogance and righteousness, pulling her son along. She felt that Yu Lian's family owed them, as her son had become foolish due to their house. Not only did they not offer assistance, but they also demanded their silver and compensation – how despicable!

What was wrong with bringing her son to eat? This was a debt owed to her family!

Upon seeing the spacious courtyard filled with dozens of tables and chairs, jealousy surged within her. Who were they trying to fool? How could such a fine house be built without lacking five or six taels of silver?

Today, Yu Lian had invited the entire village for a feast. She hadn't specifically informed anyone or excluded anyone from attending. Despite some past conflicts with Hua Baogui's family, those issues were in the past. As the host, Yu Lian didn't wish to create a scene on this joyous day by turning them away. So, she pretended not to notice them and allowed the family to find a seat.

The first dish was pork and cabbage stew, followed by pork dumplings as the second course. Before the third dish arrived, the villagers' mouths were already glistening with grease. The first two dishes, rich in meat and generous in portion, had won their praise for the host's generosity.

"Take your time, there's more delicious food to come."

Apologies for not feeling well these past two days, but I've added an extra chapter today.