Chapter 102 A Happy Event at Home

Chapter 102: A Happy Event at Home

In early June, Bianjing City was already stiflingly hot. Small boats laden with vegetables and fruits often sailed along the Bian River, their bamboo baskets brimming with ripe golden apricots and sweet melons. The boatmen's calls were long and drawn out: "Golden apricots and sweet melons, water pears and small plums, all big and sweet—"

The sound carried over the water, echoed by the humid breeze. Just hearing the calls as you passed the bridge made your mouth water.

On the Jinliang Bridge, Ning Yi was struggling with a stubborn donkey.

This stubborn beast belonged to Meng San, its glossy coat hiding a headstrong nature. It refused to be ridden, throwing off anyone who tried to climb onto its back. Both young men were soaked with sweat.

"Let's just take it to Horse Market Street and sell the darn thing!" Ning Yi wiped the sweat from his forehead, his hands trembling with anger as he gripped the reins. The donkey, however, was full of attitude, chewing on willow branches with its head held high, not even deigning to look at them, and even letting out a series of loud farts.

Meng San sighed helplessly, "My dad said this donkey's temper is too nasty, and it won't fetch a good price. It's pretty much a lost cause at this point."

"Can't yell at it, can't hit it—it's not a donkey, it's my ancestor!" Ning Yi glared at the proud, spirited donkey. "Out of all the donkeys, why did your dad have to pick this one?"

"That day, my dad was drunk, and the donkey seller conned him into buying it," Meng San scratched his head.

Ning Yi waved his hand in resignation, "Forget it. We're almost there. I'm never riding your donkey again. I'd rather walk."

Meng San asked curiously, "You just got out of Mr. Feng's punishment. Why are you in such a hurry to sneak out again? And why drag me along?"

"No choice! Shang An is sick and resting at home, and Xie Jiu is missing. Who else can I turn to but you?"

Ning Yi was full of complaints. A few days ago, he saw Xie Qi painting shrimp and guessed that Shen's must have a new dish. That very night, he wanted to sneak out, but halfway there, he ran into Mr. Feng, who dragged him off to help transcribe a book he was compiling. Who knew it would take five days? He woke up every day just to bury himself in writing. His life was so hard!

Finally done with the copying, he rubbed his aching wrists and returned to the dormitory, only to find that, aside from Meng San shaking his head and reciting his lessons, there was no one else around!

Meng San let out an "Oh." He only knew that Shang An was sick and hadn't come, but he had no idea where Xie Qi had gone. He vaguely remembered hearing that a servant had come looking for him, and after that, no one saw him return. He couldn't recall clearly, as he had been too busy with his own studies at the time.

Seeing that everyone was gone, Ning Yi felt even more justified in ditching class! He remembered that Meng San had a donkey, and riding it into the city would surely be faster, so he dragged Meng San out with him.

He simply couldn't wait any longer—he hadn't had a chance to try the crayfish yet.

But the journey was full of mishaps. The donkey refused to be ridden, snorting and spitting at him, even kicking out.

It was driving him crazy!

"Why are we out? To get a seat at Shen's, of course! Don't you know? I heard that during the night market, the line for Shen's crayfish stretches all the way to the corner of the street. If we don't get there early, we won't get to eat."

Ning Yi spoke earnestly, glancing up at the sky. It was a clear, freshly washed blue, and the increasingly intense sunlight slanted across the grayish-blue rooftops along the road. It wasn't even noon yet!

He nodded in satisfaction: this time, he had made all the preparations. Surely no one would arrive earlier than him.

Meng San's eyes nearly popped out of his head, "Are you crazy? Coming half a day early just to eat crayfish that's only available at the night market?"

Ning Yi licked his lips, "I brought a chessboard. We can play a couple of games at Shen's. Time will pass quickly."

Just saying this, he could already smell the spicy aroma of the crayfish sizzling in the red chili oil.

Meng San said, "...I'm going back." He turned to lead the donkey away.

"Don't! We're already at Jinliang Bridge. Just come with me," Ning Yi shamelessly grabbed his sleeve, and when that didn't work, he simply wrapped his arms around him. "Please, be a good sport. I'll treat you. You won't regret it once you try it."

Meng San, unable to shake him off, had no choice but to follow.

But as they crossed the bridge, Meng San's sharp eyes noticed that Shen's seemed to have its doors closed. He muttered, "It's not open."

Ning Yi panicked, "No way! Could I really be this unlucky again?"

He immediately ran over to check.

Under the eaves of Shen's Noodle and Pancake Shop, two red silk lanterns were swaying crookedly in the wind. A tightly shut door had a red paper pasted on it that read: "Celebrating a family event, closed for two days."

"Why does this keep happening..." Ning Yi unwillingly peeked through the door crack. The empty shop was just filled with tables, chairs, and benches. The corner was stacked with empty bamboo baskets, and only a fat sparrow flew from the backyard into the shop, hopping around in the empty hall, pecking at the crumbs of pancakes that had fallen yesterday.

Indeed, no one was there; the shop was closed.

Meng San walked up and patted his shoulder: "Since it's closed, let's head back. I still have homework to finish."

"Why is it always closed when I come!" Ning Yi's eyes reddened, and when he turned around, tears were welling up in his eyes. He gave Meng San a pitiful look, pulled Meng San's long sleeve to cover his face, and actually started crying, "Meng San, why is my life so hard! Wuwu——"

＊＊＊

Shen Miao indeed had an important matter today. Early in the morning, the Xie family had brought the betrothal gifts from Chenzhou with great fanfare!

Thirty-two glossy red sandalwood gift boxes, covered with gold foil and the character for joy, were carried into the Shen family courtyard by a long line of people. The green-clad servants carrying the gifts crowded the three-zhang-wide alley like a tightly packed sausage, making it impossible to pass.

This was the "Nazheng" ceremony, one of the six rites, which had to be chosen on an auspicious even-numbered day in the lunar calendar. Xie Qi's parents, elders from the clan, and the matchmaker all came. Shen Miao had few relatives, and she didn't want to invite her uncle's family, so after being informed by the Xie family in advance, Shen Miao simply called Aunt Gu, Grandma Zeng, Aunt Li, and other neighborhood elders who were closer than family to fill the scene.

This was also good. Shen Miao had expected that the Xie family had prepared many betrothal gifts, as the Xie family was of a different background, and the prepared etiquette was likely different.

Sure enough, as the Xie family's gift boxes were carried in one after another, the courtyard was filled to the brim, leaving no room to move. Many passersby heard the festive commotion and came to join the excitement. Some crowded outside the threshold, craning their necks and counting the number of boxes; others climbed trees, craning their necks to look into the courtyard.

However, as more and more red silk-covered boxes were brought in like a flowing stream, the gossip among the onlookers exploded like a boiling pot. Some were envious, some were admiring, and some were whispering out of jealousy.

However, they were soon chased away by the aunts who had now taken on the role of the bride's family, hands on their hips and scolding fiercely: "Go away, all of you! This isn't your family! Stop gossiping! You're all so annoying, get out!"

Aunt Li had just returned from showing off at her parents' home and stumbled upon this joyous event. With all her pent-up energy, she immediately exploded like a firecracker when she heard someone gossiping that Shen Miao was marrying up after being divorced. She sneered and stepped forward, berating:

"Where did you crawl out from, you hag? Before you spout nonsense, take a look at yourself! If you have the ability, find such a handsome and wealthy young man when you remarry. If you can't, don't be sour. What's wrong with marrying up? You can't do it, so you won't let others? Standing on Shen's land, slandering Shen's girl, what kind of virtue do you have? Pah, why don't you take a piss and look at yourself!"

The person, unable to retort against Aunt Li's rapid-fire scolding, could only angrily leave with a flick of her sleeve.

"Who wants you here anyway, kicked in the head by a donkey," Aunt Li stood at the courtyard gate like a door god, looking around, even wanting to see if anyone else dared to come forward.

Mrs. Gu also grabbed a broom to chase people away, so angry that the hairpins on her head swayed and even hit her face, but she didn't care.

The aunts in the alley had all changed into their best new clothes and shoes early in the morning, and wore all their valuable jewelry. Grandma Zeng was the most exaggerated, wearing all the family's gold hairpins on her head, and had to hold her head while walking. Shen Miao was even afraid she might sprain her neck.

Shen Miao and Xie Qi hid in the room, feeling warm in their hearts.

At this moment, beside their heads peeking out of the window, there were also Thunder and Kylin, one big and one small furry head.

Due to etiquette, the bride and groom could not be present during the Nazheng ceremony, even though they were already very familiar with each other, they still had to put on a show. So, from the moment the betrothal gifts were displayed, they, along with Thunder and Kylin, were locked in the room, only able to watch their own excitement through the window crack.

The room was also hot. Although it was just the beginning of summer, the big willow tree at the alley entrance was already wilting from the heat, but the festive atmosphere in the Shen family complemented the weather perfectly.

When all the betrothal gifts were brought in, Aunt Gu counted them three times. Grandma Zeng squatted in front of the pair of gilded copper geese sculptures and looked at them for a long time, even poking them with her fingertips, before confirming to Grandpa Zeng beside her: "Look at these geese, they're solid, at least two catties heavy!"

Grandpa Zeng nodded: "I think so too, such a generous gesture. A while ago, the extremely wealthy Mr. Zhou married, and someone went to see. The betrothal geese he gave were only wrapped in a layer of copper, but inside they were actually wood. The bride's family talked about it, looking down on it."

"That's nothing!" Gu Dalang wandered over and whispered in Grandpa Zeng's ear, "You haven't seen it yet, in the third box there's a huge mother-of-pearl lacquer box, containing about twenty pieces of dragon and phoenix tea cakes stamped with the official seal, which are rare items that money can't buy."

In addition, they also saw a whole piece of jade-carved green jade ruyi, baskets piled high with brocade, and large round pearls bought from Persian merchants in the south...

After looking around, Mrs. Gu and Aunt Li were so shocked that they wanted to close the courtyard gate—with so many good things, what if one or two went missing!

But the Xie family's servants, clan members, and the very handsome Xie Qi and Xie's eldest lady just smiled and watched. They weren't afraid, so Aunt Li gave Mrs. Gu a look: "Let's not be petty, stand tall, as if we've seen such grand scenes before, so as not to let people look down on Da Jieer."

So they all puffed out their chests and held their heads high, pretending to be experienced and unshakable, but their hearts were pounding like they had a rabbit inside.

Fortunately, the auspicious hour arrived quickly. The elder of the Xie family, acting as the ritual master today, solemnly unfurled the gilded ceremonial book and announced in a booming voice, "We respectfully present the oath of the wild geese, daring to announce the ceremony of the phoenix letter. Twelve ingots of pure gold, complete with gold bracelets, anklets, and pendants; six chests of brocade, six chests of satin, eight trays of livestock and seafood delicacies, land deeds..." The list went on for the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

This was even more than she had imagined. Shen Miao turned her head in astonishment to look at Xie Qi and whispered, "How can there be so much?"

Xie Qi's ears turned red, and his gaze drifted away. "It's not much. My... my family always follows this tradition when marrying. Really."

Really? Shen Miao eyed him suspiciously, but Xie Qi had already turned his head away.

In the Northern Song Dynasty, wedding gifts typically followed the "Twelve Rituals," with gold and jade items in pairs, tea and wine sets, but this was thirty-two loads, almost triple the usual amount.

She suddenly remembered the thick letter Xie Qi had sent back to Chenzhou to inform his family of the wedding, so thick it was hard to seal... Given Ninth Geer's thorough nature, he must have been planning this day since then!

Shen Miao didn't know how to describe the feeling in her heart. She wasn't a materialistic girl, and even if the Xie family hadn't given so many gifts, she wouldn't have felt slighted or disrespected by Ninth Geer.

But at this moment, she truly felt the deep respect of the Xie family, and her heart gradually brightened, as if warmed by the sun.

After the morning's festivities, the gift list was exchanged, and the betrothal gifts were counted and locked in the side room. Shen Miao, Xie Qi, the dog, and the cat were finally free to come out openly.

Xi and Xie's father both looked at her with loving gazes, their eyes almost making her blush.

"Come, today is an auspicious day. You should rest. I've already sent someone to Fan Tower to reserve a banquet. Let's go celebrate together," Xi said with a smile, pulling Shen Miao into a hug, then whispering something to her alone.

"Ninth Geer is just like his father in temperament, but even better, at least he doesn't write those flowery verses. But this child has had a difficult fate. We thought he had no fortune, so we never had high hopes for him, only wishing him health and peace. We never expected him to work so diligently and meet you. Now we know his fortune lies here."

Shen Miao was so praised that she felt embarrassed and lowered her head in shyness.

Xi patted the back of her hand and said affectionately, "Ninth Geer's great-grandmother is unwell, so she couldn't come today, but she asked me to bring her heirloom jade bracelet to give to you. This means she likes you. Not just her, but A Chong and I also are very fond of you. In the future, you don't have to live in Chenzhou. You can live wherever you want. I've always believed that a woman stays true to herself even after marriage. So, you can continue being the head manager of Shen's without worrying about anything else."

Shen Miao's eyes widened in surprise, but Xi just smiled at her gently.

"As long as you and Ninth Geer live happily together, we will be utterly satisfied."

Meanwhile, Xie Qi was pulled aside by the aunts, who went on and on about how he should treat her well. Gu Dalang even took the opportunity to hand him a book discreetly, winking and telling him to read it when he had time at night.

Xie Qi looked down seriously and saw the blue cover clearly written with the words "Book of Rites"... Although he had already read it, he obediently accepted it and thanked him.

And so, after seeing off the neighbors, Shen Miao closed the shop and took a carriage with the Xie family to Fan Tower. She had just left when Ning Yi arrived, just missing her.

It had been so long since she came to Bianjing, yet she had never been to Fan Tower, only knowing roughly where it was and hearing its fame from others daily.

In Shen Da Jieer's memory, there was no clear memory of Fan Tower. In her imagination, Fan Tower was a towering restaurant, like a mountain in the clouds. So Shen Miao had preconceived that Fan Tower was just a five-story tall restaurant.

Having seen buildings hundreds of stories high in later generations, she was fairly composed on the way to Fan Tower.

Until she saw the real Fan Tower. She lifted the carriage curtain and looked out, and was instantly stunned.

Fan Tower wasn't a single building; it was a complex of five massive interconnected pavilions. There were five grand buildings with upturned eaves, connected by flying bridges and railings, with a grand scale and intricate design. The tallest, the East Tower, was one of the highest buildings in Bianjing, offering a view of the imperial palace.

Upon arrival, there was another delay.

There were simply too many people. The carriage shed in front was completely jammed, and many wine carriers were driving carts to Fan Tower to fetch wine—Fan Tower was the leading establishment among Bianjing's seventy-two major wine shops, with nearly three thousand scattered wine carriers fetching wine daily to sell.

Shen Miao's eyes sparkled as she looked around.

Xi, seeing her captivated, understood and explained to Shen Miao that Fan Tower wasn't just a place for drinking and dining; it also had entertainment halls and various shops where one could buy anything.

The shops inside weren't run by Fan Tower itself but were leased to merchants, earning rental fees.

Shen Miao understood.

Fan Lou was the only "Wanda" in Bianjing, and indeed, in the entire Song Dynasty.

It was the ancient equivalent of a modern shopping mall!

Indeed, many business methods of later generations had already been considered by our ancestors; she was simply inexperienced.

The more Shen Miao looked, the more interested she became. She had heard customers praise Fan Lou every day and neighbors compare her skills to Fan Lou's chefs, but she had never taken it seriously. Shen Da Jieer's preconceived notions about Fan Lou had misled her, and she was too busy to visit it in person.

Perhaps she had never visited Fan Lou because she hadn't realized she still harbored the arrogance of a modern person—the era she came from had developed over a thousand years, so what hadn't she seen or experienced?

But visiting Fan Lou truly opened her eyes.

Shen Miao couldn't help feeling a bit ashamed.

However, it was good that she came! Being able to run such a large shopping mall in Bianjing and making it so prosperous must mean there were valuable business strategies worth learning!

Xie Qi, noticing Shen Miao's sparkling eyes, also lowered his head and smiled. He could tell immediately that A Miao's thoughts had drifted back to business. As for whether today was the big day of engagement and receiving betrothal gifts, it no longer seemed as important.

He thought softly to himself, as long as she was happy, nothing else mattered.

Upon entering, just as Shen Miao had guessed from the outside, Fan Lou was indeed a large shopping mall.

Upon entering the main gate in the center, the first-floor hall, second-floor, and third-floor private rooms were all leased to different merchants. Various signs and banners dazzled the eyes with their brightness. Among them, shops selling wine were the most numerous.

The scent of wine filled the air.

"The finest Shoumei and Zhihe wines in Bianjing are exclusively brewed at Fan Lou," Xi said, holding Shen Miao's arm as they strolled through Fan Lou together. "The second and third floors have many delicacies. They prepare dishes and present them to customers for selection, even using silverware."

Shen Miao listened with interest. Fan Lou's business model was not only unique and high-end but also featured many signature offerings, which accounted for its great reputation.

"The West Tower primarily hosts singers and musicians. It's said that even the late emperor once visited to meet with popular performers, and some songs and lyrics have been passed down," Xi whispered again. "The North Tower specializes in luxury imported goods such as silk, jewelry, and spices. Third Geer even purchased an owl here once, and there are shops that sell hunting dogs. The South Tower features 'door-bed-horse paths' with numerous scattered seats, offering affordable and practical items..."

Shen Miao understood. Fan Lou was truly comprehensive, encompassing luxury stores, pet shops, KTVs, and snack alleys.

"Here we are; our reserved private room is right here."

As they reached the third floor, a neatly dressed and handsome waiter stood at the corridor entrance. After politely and quietly checking the reservation, he led them in.

Shen Miao nodded slightly upon seeing the interior decoration.

The hall was elegantly and brightly decorated, with banquet rooms divided on both sides. Each door had a sign, and the floor was covered with thick Persian carpets.

In the center of each banquet room, on the pillars or partition walls, hung scrolls and poems of their signature dishes: "Iron cauldron burns pinewood, snow soup floats amber—Mountain Boiled Lamb," "Golden sauce breaks jade jar, chrysanthemum dew stains frost cicada—Crab Stuffed Orange," "Spring thunder startles jade bamboo, ice bowl shatters jade zither—Three Crispy Soup."

The decoration was exquisite, giving a feeling of a five-star hotel's Chinese banquet hall.

Shen Miao was dazzled. After seeing so much, she gradually gained some inspiration for how to run her own teahouse.

This trip to Fan Lou was truly worth it.

After entering the private room, they sat according to seniority and gender, modestly deferring to one another. Then they raised their glasses in celebration. Xie's father recited poetry, and two singers were invited in. Shen Miao was quite familiar with the Xie family, so she didn't feel constrained while talking.

Later, after several rounds of drinks, Xie's father was so drunk that he slurred his words, lying on Xi's lap, clinging to her and refusing to let go.

Xi felt extremely embarrassed, concerned about maintaining her parental image, she gently pushed him twice but couldn't move him. Finally, unable to bear it, she pushed him hard. He rolled onto the Persian carpet, muttering, "Chun Jun, stop kicking me, I don't want to sleep in the study today."

Xi's eyelids twitched, and she quickly stood up to freshen up.

Shen Miao quickly lowered her head, pretending to be engrossed in savoring the dishes—though Fan Lou's dishes were truly exquisite, embodying the elegance of the Song Dynasty. The delicate, artful plating reminded her of Michelin-starred dishes.

But it perfectly matches its character.

So, for larger businesses to succeed, they need a clear positioning, a decor style that matches that positioning, unique and competitive dishes, and a brand effect that resonates beyond their immediate circle.

Fan Lou has done all of this very well.

This mirrors modern business principles.

Perhaps her idea of opening a tea house specializing in morning tea is truly feasible. Shen Miao touched her chin. The tea house's unique identity and positioning are clear, and as for the decor and promotion... there are many famous morning tea houses from later generations to draw inspiration from, and as for promotion.

She has a knack for marketing.

Xie Qi sat on a low stool next to Shen Miao, and while she was lost in thought, he had quietly peeled a bowl of river shrimp for her, carefully deboned and stacked a bowl of lamb, and placed it on her table, along with the last dessert on the table, honeyed cherries.

When Shen Miao snapped out of her thoughts, her small table was overflowing with food, every bowl and plate heaped to the brim.

She turned her head and saw Xie Qi gently saying, "Eat quickly, or it'll get cold."

Shen Miao helplessly pushed half of the food back, muttering softly, "How can I eat so much? Do you think I have a bottomless stomach?"

"A Miao... seems to be under the zodiac sign associated with a hearty appetite?" Who would have thought Xie Qi would seriously pick up on that.

Shen Miao secretly reached her hand under the table and gave his arm a light, reproachful tap.

He blushed, even though he had been tapped, his eyes curved into a smile, gentler than anyone else.

After that big meal at Fan Lou, Shen Miao was brimming with energy, spending the next two or three days busily preparing for her own tea house, writing a thick stack of plans, filled with scribbles, edits, and rewrites, going back and forth several times.

Finally, it was settled.

On the day she was about to start the tea house's renovation, a short man named Ya Bao, the driver, drove a tightly covered green-canopied donkey cart and stopped in front of Shen's Noodle Shop. Shen Miao happened to be inside the shop doing accounts, and when she looked up, she saw Ya Bao jump down from the cart and smile at her:

"Miss Shen, I’ve completed the task as promised."