The old father of the family celebrated his birthday, and there were many guests, but there was no way, so that's all!

------Off topic------

Qiu Chen bent his knees again to thank him, and said with joy on his face: "Then let Madame suffer!" ”

Qiu Chen naturally wouldn't bother with the Li family about such a trivial matter, and thanked Mrs. Song very happily and softly, and Mrs. Li immediately waved her hand with satisfaction: "Okay, you go and get busy, I am here, you can go with confidence!" ”

Mrs. Li was a little stunned when she said this, and said with a sneer: "Hehe, Mrs. Song loves you, thank you for it!" ”

Old Madam Song said with a smile: "You have to worry about it today, and your wife and I don't need you to serve here!" ”

After rinsing their hands and mouth, the girls came in, put the cold dishes and fruit plates on the table, and even put the cups, saucers, bowls and other things in place, Qiu Chen personally walked behind the Li family, set up the spoons, and put two sweet soups in front of the Li family and the old lady Song at the same table.

Yiying was thoughtful and considerate, and even Li felt that there was light on his face, and his smile was a few joyful.

Li Shi took the lead in getting up, beckoned several older ladies to move slightly, and walked to the top of the highest, and immediately a girl brought a chair and sent it over, arranging to sit down. Immediately afterwards, a little girl wearing a blue shirt with a double bun and a warm towel board was brought up, waiting for everyone to clean their hands, and someone sent warm light salt water to serve everyone to rinse their mouths......

"Ladies, ladies and grandmothers, please take a seat!" Qiu Chen greeted everyone.

Qiu Chen nodded in agreement, smiled and beckoned everyone to move, there was a special staircase for people at the other end of the innermost hand, and the girls and ladies carried a high table from behind the elevated floor screen, and arranged them in turn in the pavilion. Twenty or thirty high seats are arranged in an orderly manner, and it is rare that almost every seat can see a spring scene outside through the window unimpeded.

Just after a hurried salute in the second gate, Qiu Chen walked up to the upper hand with a smile, greeted him with a similar age, and walked over to greet the older ones again, greeted them again, and greeted her for a while, and Yuegui, who was standing behind the crowd, signaled that her time had come and it was time to have a banquet.

Everyone agreed, flattered. Qiu Chen smiled and gestured to everyone's chins, and slowly lined up the crowd and walked over.

"Mrs. Hou is meticulous and exquisite, where will there be anything wrong......"

"The county lord Lan Xinhui is very good, and the concubine has never seen such a chic and novel arrangement......"

"The county lord is too humble!"

"Mrs. Hou is polite!"

This movement naturally attracted more people to come forward to greet and greet, Qiu Chen smiled patiently and greeted a group of people, and said with a smile: "I haven't done this kind of thing, the first time Zhang Luo will inevitably have omissions, if there is any inconsiderate hospitality, inappropriate, you all take care of it!" ”

Qiu Chen came up the stairs and bypassed a double-sided embroidered screen of four-linked flowers and birds at the entrance of the staircase, and he had already bypassed the families of the group of low-grade officials. But there were still a few eyes that flexibly spotted Qiu Chen who had walked in, and hurriedly rushed forward to salute and greet him.

Madame's reward is generous, not only in the Jingbei Marquis Mansion, but also in the circle of nobles in the capital. When the girl-in-law heard Qiu Chen's words, she naturally responded with infinite joy, and she was even more energetic and waited for her wholeheartedly.

Qiu Chen walked over, the girls and mothers-in-law of the Jingbei Hou Mansion saluted and greeted each other, Qiu Chen smiled and waved his hand, and said gently: "I am busy and tired today, and the big guys are all working hard to serve well, and after today, I will naturally be rewarded for my dedication." ”

Upstairs, there are some mothers-in-law and girls who come with them, sitting and drinking tea in a slightly more remote place. Near the staircase, there are all the housekeepers and mothers-in-law of the Jingbei Hou Mansion with the maidens and mothers-in-law waiting, and any orders from above can be dealt with in time, or asking for tea and water, or passing words or something.

The older ladies and wives all gathered here, and the Li family sat at the upper hand, accompanied by the eldest lady of the Tang family, the wife of Zheng Jiyu, the head of the household, the wife of Zheng Jiyu, the Duchess of Zhao Guo, the Rong family, and the lady of the Song bachelor, and so on, sitting together and talking. Chang Jiayi and Yi Xuan brought the second young grandmother of the Liang Guogong Mansion, and Tian Shi accompanied a group of young ladies and wives, sitting at the lower hand, talking and laughing. There were also some lower-ranking wives gathered near the entrance of the Xuan Pavilion, talking and laughing, while paying attention to the movements on the upper side.

On the second floor of the Magnolia Pavilion, the five Xuan Pavilions are completely cleaned out, the windows on all four sides are open, and more than a dozen smoke cages are placed around the corners of the house, plus the weather is getting warmer, in the Xuan Pavilion, there are some breezes blowing on the surface of the lake, which will not make people feel cold, warm and warm, lined with the bonsai flowers placed everywhere in the house, quite a sense of spring.

Qiu Chen stood in place for a moment, then turned around and led the girl to the Yulan Pavilion.

Qiu Chen and Yi Heng glanced at each other, Yi Heng nodded with a smile, and took his little girl to the rockery.

Qiu Chen and Yi Heng watched those people go to the boat, and then turned their eyes to look around, and saw that under the flower trees and next to the rockery, there were still three or two girls and young ladies staying, obviously not wanting to go to the boat. Qiu Chen looked back at Yi Heng and made a look, and the two looked at a girl in a bamboo shirt sitting next to the rockery. The girl who sat peacefully beside the rock, looking at the girls and ladies who were jumping and laughing and laughing towards the boat, there was a little girl in a pink shirt standing behind her, and her eyes were also looking at the group of laughing and lively people, with a hint of envy in her eyes, but it was only envy. The girls in their family have a soft and calm temperament, and they don't like to join in the fun, so they can hide and relax at this time, so they naturally won't go to the noisy place.

Wang Jingshu smiled, pulled Song Xi'er to bend her knees, said goodbye to Qiu Chen and Yiheng with a smile, and turned around to follow Man'er Mingwei and a group of girls and ladies to the lakeside dock to take a boat.

Qiu Chen nodded with an admiring smile and said, "You and Xi'er are older, and I will be relieved to give it to you...... However, you can just look at them, and you must also pay attention to your own safety. And have fun, don't be too nervous and tired. ”

Wang Jingshu looked at the carefree Song Xi'er and smiled, looked at Qiu Chen and said, "Sister, don't worry, Xi'er and I will look at those two little girls, and we will also take care of the girls on the boat......"

Hearing Qiu Chen say this, Wang Jingshu didn't respond, Song Xi'er couldn't help it, with a bright smile on her face and impatience, she went to urge Wang Jingshu and said, "Oh, that grilled fish is the best, let's go quickly!" ”

Qiu Chen smiled and raised his eyes to look at Wang Jingshu: "The banquet is arranged at noon." If you swim in the lake, the boat will be ready, and you will also bring ingredients with the cook, and you can send someone on call. There are also fishing rods and nets on the boat, and there are many fish and shrimp in the lake, and you can also catch fish and shrimp to make a ...... There is also a barbecue, and the grilled fish is also good! ”

Song Xi'er almost didn't hesitate, and immediately replied: "Of course, I just saw the two painting boats on the dock, and I was thinking about telling my sister, but I didn't expect Man'er to have already said it." ”

Qiu Chen smiled gently, patted Song Xi'er's hand, comforted her, and said, "Man'er just came over and said that he was going to take a boat trip to the lake, do you want to go?" ”

Song Xi'er has a straightforward personality, but her heart is excellent, Qiu Chen actually likes such girls very much. Moreover, Song Xi'er is very well educated, although she is a little reckless, she should abide by the etiquette rules but she will not miss it, with this as the foundation, her straightforwardness, innocence, and coquettishness cannot be disgusting, even if what she says and does makes people laugh and laugh at times, no one will be angry and angry, at most she will laugh and scold a few words. This can also be seen from Song Xier's good popularity.

Song Xi'er pouted, stepped forward to hold Qiu Chen's arm, and said with a look of grievance: "Sister, sister just thought about liking it, I really didn't expect this...... It's not that my sister doesn't know how to be considerate and hurt you! ”

"You really listen to the wind and the rain!" Wang Jingshu smiled and said, "My sister held this flower party today, and there are still a lot of things to deal with tomorrow, not to mention that I am very tired, and I don't have time to greet you." You wait patiently for a few days, and when your sister is done and rests for a day or two, you can bother again! ”

Song Xi'er clapped her hands with infinite joy and said, "Well, well, great, I'll come over tomorrow!" ”

Qiu Chen looked at Wang Jingshu with a smile, the two looked at each other and smiled, Qiu Chen said: "I don't want to say that this embroiderer is very good, the main reason is that the patterns are a little different, after today, when are you free to come over, let me tell you, there is nothing strange, but it is understood in one sentence, but no one remembered to embroider like this before!" ”

At this time, Wang Jingshu and Song Xi'er also saw Qiu Chen greet them, and the two sides met again, Song Xi'er couldn't help but pull Qiu Chen's shirt and exclaimed: "Sister, this shirt is really beautiful today!" How is this magnolia flower embroidered, just like the real thing...... If my sister goes to the next stop of the magnolia tree, the real and fake are inseparable! ”

Chengying responded with a light and followed Man'er towards the group of girls and ladies.

Qiu Chen saw that she was really listening, so he was relieved, and greeted Chengying and Hanguang behind him with a smile: "You follow her, you don't have to pay attention to the matter of serving tea and water, just keep an eye on that group of little girls, don't miss anything!" ”

Ah Man suppressed the joy in his heart, listened to Qiu Chen's stern advice, nodded again and again, and promised: "Don't worry, my daughter can save it!" ”

Qiu Chen raised his hand and knocked Aman, and said with a smile: "Get carried away!" …… You can get on the boat, but you can't let the guards come in today, there are a few boat girls on the boat who know how to water, you and Mingwei have to keep an eye everywhere, and tell the girls to keep an eye on them too, don't let those little girls get too close to the side of the boat and the bow and stern, the joy of playing is secondary, you have to fight for safety, nothing can happen, it is the first thing. Remember? ”

Aman immediately clapped his hands and cheered.

Qiu Chen glanced at Yi Heng, exchanged a look that was indeed so, then turned his head to look at Aman, nodded with a smile: "The painting boat is all arranged, you can go if you want!" ”

Aman nodded with a smile on his face and said, "Well, I want to ask my mother, can we go on a cruise now?" ”

"Hehe, okay, okay, does Man'er have any ideas to talk to his mother?" Qiu Chen looked at his daughter who was about to be detained, and hurriedly reminded with a happy smile.

Aman pouted, and said a little coquettishly: "Mother, my daughter just feels sorry for you and my aunt......"

Qiu Chen shook his head with a smile, looked at Aman and asked, "What are you running over, tell me!" ”

Qiu Chen and Yi Heng looked at each other and smiled, but they were indeed tired and a little thirsty, so they all took the tea and drank it, Yi Heng smiled: "It's still a girl who is considerate." ”

Running in front of Qiu Chen and Yiheng, Aman stopped, turned around and took the teacup and handed it to his mother and aunt, and said with a smile: "Mother and aunt must be tired, take a sip of tea to quench your thirst!" ”

Ah Man and Ming Wei stood in a group of little girls, Ah Man saw his mother coming over, and immediately smiled and said hello to those people and ran over, followed by a little girl serving tea.

The arrival of Qiu Chen and Yiheng means that the guests have arrived, and some formal projects arranged by the flower party are about to be launched.

There are a lot of guests, the magnolia pavilion is a semi-open courtyard, except for a section of the perspective Ru wall on the north side, the other three sides are only verandahs or stone stacking pavilions, people in the magnolia pavilion, even if they do not wait for the pavilion on the second floor, they can basically enjoy a large area of magnolia flowers in full bloom.

Qiu Chen and Yi Heng glanced at each other, smiled knowingly, and then walked over slowly.

The warm sunshine, brightly dressed and beautiful women, lined with pavilions, garden flowers and trees, is undoubtedly a pleasant picture.

The originally quiet back garden of the Hou Mansion in Jingbei has been dressed and sideburns at this time, and the warbler Yanyan has become a green forest of Qiluo Duizhu. The flowers and trees in early spring are still bare, but because of the colorful Qiluo pearls and peach blossoms in the bushes under the trees, they are completely deserted and cold, and they become full of flowers, as if they have suddenly reached the height of spring.

As he spoke, he entered the back garden without hurrying, turned two piles of Taihu Lake stones, and the magnolia forest and forsythia bushes that were home and away had already come into view, and even with Wisteria Xuan, Magnolia Pavilion, and Pomegranate Flower Pavilion also appeared not far away.

Yi Heng nodded with a smile, and the two sisters-in-law changed the topic and exchanged impressions of the girls.

Qiu Chen smiled at her and nodded, "Well, looking like that, he is gentle and generous, and he has a lot of scheming...... Scheming is not a flood beast, it also depends on the nature of the heart. Kindness and intelligence are naturally the best, in case the heart is not pure, and then there will be no scheming! ”

Yi Heng listened carefully, was silent for a moment, nodded and said, "Listening to what my sister-in-law said, this girl from the Qiu family looks like a gentle and generous person...... It's just, it's better to take another look! ”

Yi Heng was a little surprised by the sister-in-law's evaluation of that Miss Qiu, turned his head to look over, and saw the sister-in-law smiling calmly and gently, and continued slowly: "That Miss Zhao was one step behind Miss Qiu when she got out of the car, and there were several families next to her who got off the car at about the same time, and Miss Zhao pulled her sister-in-law to rush to the front to greet her...... Miss Qiu took the initiative to take a few steps back, and was stepped on by Miss Zhao during the period, she only frowned, and did not make any noise...... Her humility is very popular, and when that group of people saw the ceremony and walked in, the Zhao family lady was dustless and walked in by herself, but there were already two little girls next to the Qiu family girl who came together......"

Qiu Chen obviously agreed with Yi Heng's evaluation, and nodded: "Yes, the two of them are standing together, and at first sight, it will naturally be Miss Zhao who attracts more attention, but if you look closely, that Miss Qiu is a pearl in the sand......"

Yi Heng tried to recall again, and said, "It seems that I am wearing a bamboo blue shirt and an ivory white skirt...... The appearance is also beautiful and dignified, but she is compared to Miss Zhao, standing together, it is easy to ignore! ”

Qiu Chen nodded.

"......" Yi Heng thought for a while, and then he was a little unsure, "Sister-in-law is talking about the one who follows Miss Zhao?" ”

Qiu Chen smiled and slowly spoke: "Have you paid attention to Qiu Xiangtai's daughter in Taichang Temple?" ”

As he spoke, he turned his eyes to look at Qiu Chen, and the two looked at each other and smiled, having already vetoed Miss Zhao, who was too prominent and her eyes were too flexible.

Yi Heng said with a smile: "I have always heard that the eldest daughter of Zhao Changxun in the Ministry of Officials is outstanding, and when I saw it today, her appearance is indeed gorgeous......

The sisters-in-law talked about the weather, and naturally quickly turned to the girls who were labeled.

Qiu Chen didn't deny it, and said with a smile: "Although the spring rain is as expensive as oil, for the garden flower party, I still hope that the sun will be warm!" ”

Yi Heng said with a smile: "It's rare to have rain in spring, it's just a little drizzle, presumably my sister-in-law has also made preparations, and when the time comes, it may be more interesting to enjoy the rain and flowers!" ”

Qiu Chen stretched his waist and arms slightly, turned his head to look at Yi Heng with a smile, and said, "The weather is fine today...... I've been worried for days, just in time for a rainy day! ”

It's nearly March, and many of the flowers and trees in the back garden have begun to germinate, and the clusters of tender green or tender red leaf buds on the branches are not too lush or lush, but they are vigorous enough.

The two sisters-in-law stood for an hour, their backs and legs hurt, and they were not embarrassed by themselves, so they took a warm sedan chair all the way to the door of the back garden, and then got off the warm sedan chair, gave each other a whole set of clothes and jewelry, and then walked into the back garden together.

At the end of the day, Qiu Chen was able to complete the task of welcoming the guests, and took Yi Heng to the back garden from the second gate. I had already discussed it with Li and Chang Jiayi and others, and when the guests arrived, they were led directly to the backyard. All kinds of items and facilities have been arranged for hundreds of people to gather, and the girl and the woman have already prepared, prepared tea, snacks and various things, and waited carefully and thoughtfully.

While Qiu Chen was busy greeting the guests, she had been secretly devoting some energy to pay attention to the girls and family members who had been secretly labeled by her, but the short meeting in the second gate could not learn more, and it was just to look at the appearance and demeanor. After a series of screenings, the appearance of these girls is not too crooked, and their manners are also good.

As for the flower party, Qiu Chen did not treat it differently, and even these five households hinted that people who were close to those families were invited to participate in the flower party.

After these two screenings, 12 more households were brushed off, and finally 19 households remained. Qiu Chen checked the list listed by the Yiheng Yixuan sisters and found that there were fourteen households that overlapped. Qiu Chen made a list of the five households that Yiheng Yixuan had not listed, and handed them over to Qin Li again to inquire.

The two most basic points required by Qiu Chen are that the family has a good style; The second girl is well-behaved, knowledgeable, respectful of the old and loves the young.

After Qiu Chen compared the three lists with the Lin family, he selected the duplicate families, a total of thirteen, plus the non-duplicated ones, a total of about thirty. Let's hand it over to Qin Li to investigate and inquire.

Before this, Qiu Chen had secretly asked the Lin family to inquire about the most famous official media in the capital. There are many officials in the capital who are below the rank of four, and there are many families with daughters to be married, and there are as many as seventy or eighty households. But according to Qiu Chen's conditions, the people who met the requirements were also brushed off layer by layer, and in the end, there were about 20 people who basically met all of Qiu Chen's requirements.