The preparation of the Spring Banquet by the Qi Mansion was gradually put on the agenda.

Wu knew that Mrs. Lu was interested in cultivating Rong Zheng, so she was very patient, and she did not make a big deal in front of Rong Zheng, and discussed with her very seriously.

Wu handed Rong Zheng two lists and said to Rong Zheng: "The people above are all people who have dealings with our family, and they are not close to each other. You take a look first and find out. ”

Rong Zheng said in her heart, she will not preside over the Rong family's middle feed in the future, and she knows that these are not of much use, but if she wants to think about it, she still studies it very carefully.

"Tomorrow you draw up a list for me."

"I'm going to?"

Wu nodded with a smile and said, "Yes, you try to do it first." It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter if something goes wrong, let's discuss it together. ”

Rong Zheng had to pay attention to it. In her previous life, she also did a few major things when she presided over the Liao family's middle feed, the Liao family was in the middle of the road at that time, and it was not very good, and Mrs. Liao was a person who loved face very much, blindly seeking favor, but the money allocated was not much. It was difficult for a clever woman to cook without rice, and if there was a mistake, she couldn't do anything, so it also made Mrs. Liao very dissatisfied.

Rong Zheng took the two lists given by his eldest cousin Wu and returned to Baoxia. She studied the two lists, studied half of them, and said in her heart, do you want to invite everyone on it? She didn't know how big the scale she was going to do, how to plan it. After thinking about it, she went to ask Mrs. Lu about it.

"Grandma, how many tables are you going to have?"

Old Madam Lu squinted her eyes and thought for a while, and replied gently: "These are all examples before. But back then, your uncle and aunt came and went more when they were still in Bianliang, but now it's not so lively. There must be a dozen tables. ”

Rong Zheng estimated the number of people and had an idea in his heart. I went back and carefully considered the two lists, and asked Mrs. Lu's companion to inquire about some trivial matters, and finally drew up a list for the time being before dark. A total of 21 families were invited.

In the afternoon of the next day, she went to find her eldest cousin with the list.

Wu smiled: "You are quite quick. ”

Rong Zheng said: "Is it still a good thing? The eldest cousin-in-law said that she would hand over the order today. ”

Wu smiled, glanced at the people on the list, nodded and said, "It's interesting." How did you settle on these twenty-one? ”

Rong Zheng said: "I went to ask my grandmother about how many tables she is going to open." Then go back and figure it out for yourself. I just don't know what else is wrong. ”

Wu nodded and said, "I can't see anything for the time being. Looks like you've put a lot of thought into it. Let's show it to the old lady. ”

When the list of Wu's gang was handed to Mrs. Lu, Mrs. Lu took a closer look at her glasses, nodded and said, "Sister Zheng wrote it, right?" ”

Wu was slightly surprised, and hurriedly asked, "How does the old lady know that it was written by Sister Rong?" We didn't say anything. ”

Old Madam Lu smiled: "This word is the word of Sister Zheng." We can't find a second girl in my family who can write so well. And yesterday when Sister Zheng came to ask me. I already knew it. ”

Wu clapped his hands and said, "Sure enough, it's an old lady, I can't hide anything from you." You don't look old. ”

"Why don't you get old, if you don't have these glasses. I can't see it clearly. Old Madam Lu then made her own opinion on the list, and said, "All of these twenty-one are invited, but I have to add two." ”

Wu hurriedly asked the maid to bring a pen and paper, and asked Rong Zheng to add it, and Mrs. Lu said, "The first one to invite is Mrs. Huang." ”

Rong Zheng was a little surprised, grandma's illness was caused by Mrs. Huang, it is said that grandma and Mrs. Huang turned their faces at the moment, why do you have to post to the Huang family here? Also puzzled is Wu.

"Why does the old lady want to invite Mrs. Huang, isn't it to block herself?"

"What's the blockage, you are still children, and you don't understand some truths. I have my own ideas. Write it up! ”

Rong Zheng heard his grandmother's urging and hurriedly added a sum.

Old Madam Lu then said: "The second one to add is the Duanhui County Lord. ”

Rong Zheng hurriedly said: "I heard that the county lord went to the capital a few years ago, and I don't know if he came back at this time." ”

"yes, I forgot about that. It seems that the memory is not good. Then I have to find someone to inquire, if the county lord returns to Bianliang, I really have to invite her to sit down. ”

Wu Shi pondered for a while before saying, "After all, the county lord is a widow, will she be willing to come to participate in these lively scenes?" ”

Mrs. Lu said: "The county lord's clothes should be full, and she is not asked to participate in the marriage, what does she have to avoid suspicion." We give her a post, and it's her business whether she comes or not. ”

Rong Zheng marked the name of the lord of Duanhui County with a small word "to be determined".

After deciding on the list, the next step is to start working on the banquet, which troupe to invite, what kind of porcelain to use, and whether to go to a florist outside the city to rent some new flowers and plants to decorate.

Rong Zheng Jianyì: "Everyone's tastes are different, why don't you ask clearly in private and put a small number in front of each person, how about making a box?" ”

Second Mrs. Shen glanced at Mrs. Ren, but Wu smiled: "Sister Rong's idea is new, and it's not like no one has done it before." It's just a bit of a hassle, and then there's a need to find out everyone's tastes...... It's easy to do with your own family, but I'm afraid that the rest is difficult to do. ”

Rong Zheng smiled: "As long as you put some effort into it, there is nothing that can't be done." Since you want to hold a spring banquet, you might as well do it with some characteristics, which can leave an impression on people, and the Qi family also has face. ”

Rong Zheng's starting point is good, and when Mrs. Shen saw that Rong Zheng was so assertive, she pursed her lips and didn't say anything. Mrs. Ren didn't care much about this matter, so she let the second room toss.

Old Madam Lu listened to Rong Zheng's advice, nodded and said, "Yes, let's do what Rong Yatou said." Please discuss the matter of the troupe. ”

After setting the date, Rong Zheng helped write the post and asked people to send it separately.

Wu took the key and opened the warehouse, picked out a twelve silk screens made of wenge wood, and searched out all the boxes at home.

Rong Zheng looked closely. Those boxes are all red in one color, and the patterns of the boxes range from sunflowers to peonies, each one is different. Although the Qi family is not as prosperous as it was back then, the foundation is still there.

Wu asked Rong Zheng again: "What is the best choice of porcelain?" ”

Rong Zheng said: "Which one is complete?" ”

Wu glanced at the file and said: "A set of official kilns is quite complete, but it is not very outstanding. The best is a set of rose purple porcelain from the Ru kiln, but unfortunately it is not complete. ”

Rong Zheng thought for a while and said, "Then let's use the official kiln." What about self-pouring? ”

Wu smiled: "There are many tin pots at home, this one is enough." ”

Rong Zheng nodded, thinking that it was not bad.

Although the Qi family also has florists to take care of the flowers and plants, they do not have their own greenhouses like the royal palace, and they are cultivated by specialized people. The bonsai needed had to be bought or rented from flower farmers outside the city.

Wu said to Rong Zheng: "I'm afraid that my sister will have to go with me for this matter." ”

Rong Zheng nodded and said, "Okay." ”

Wu went to report to Mrs. Shen. Mrs. Shen only said, "Go and come back quickly." Arrange for a few more people to follow. ”

Wu said: "Mrs., don't worry. ”

At that moment, she took the right plate and arranged the car. went out with Rong Zheng.

The gardener they knew lived outside the Golden Forest Pond, and the journey took about an hour.

Wu asked Rong Zheng to sit in the same sedan chair with her, and the two also had a companion when they talked.

Wu was only two years younger than Ma and had a son. A daughter. The eldest uncle's family is in office in Jiangxi. The eldest cousin is an official in Cangzhou, Hebei. Wu also lived in Cangzhou for a while. But because he was not accustomed to the water and soil, he lay down as soon as he went, and had to go back to Bianliang. With a pair of children, he is now helping the housekeeper with Mrs. Shen.

Wu is also a famous family, with a gentle temperament, and there is nothing to find fault with when dealing with people. Rong Zheng also likes her eldest cousin-in-law, although the two are a little older, Rong Zheng feels that the Wu family is very warm.

"I heard the maid say you're tailoring the old lady?"

Rong Zheng nodded and smiled: "I can't hide it from my eldest cousin." ”

Wu said: "It's rare for you to have such a new idea. I don't do much needlework now, because I'm too busy and I can't sit still. ”

Rong Zheng said with a smile: "There is no shortage of needles and threads from my eldest cousin at home. Anyway, if you have a needle and thread, you can just give me an order. Earlier, I saw my grandmother and asked the outside tailor to come in and help make the clothes. ”

Wu said: "The old lady sometimes thinks that the style made by the tailor outside is good, so she will find someone to come in and help with it. Over the years, there have been fewer people in the family. ”

Rong Zheng thought, her three uncles and two cousins are all officials, and the Qi family still has thousands of acres of granges in Hubei, so if you want to say that the situation should be good, how can it be worse and worse. However, since my grandfather left, the Qi family has not had the same scenery as before, and because there are few people who are good at doing housework, these properties of the Qi family have lost a lot in recent years. Several of the Qi family's shops have been sold out. Although there are many officials in the family, the Qi family has a large population and limited salaries.

Take this Spring Banquet as an example, Mrs. Shen Er originally said that she would only take fifty taels to spend, but if she invited the Deyao class to sing, she would be rewarded with ten taels. I have to save boxes and set up bonsai, and there is a shortage after calculation, but Mrs. Lu herself paid some money to make up for this empty supply.

"In fact, the Qi family has a big business, and it was much more prosperous than the Rong family in the early years, if someone is willing to come out and do some housework, it will be different."

Wu said: "These gentlemen in the family are all thinking about their future and fame, which one is willing to come out to do something." Your three uncles and two cousins are all in official careers, so naturally you can't take care of family affairs. Let's just look at the following. Your fourth brother is afraid that he is unwilling, and the fifth brother and his second wife are so precious, they must not be willing either. The rest are cousins. ”

Rong Zheng thought to himself, this is also true. If there is an official to do it, who would want to come back and guard it.

The old lady has experienced prosperity again, so she suddenly wants to be thrifty, but she is afraid that she will be wronged, so in the past two years, the family has not counted the old lady in terms of whether it is cutting people or cutting monthly cases. She has lived a long time, and there is no reason why she is uncomfortable when she is old. Wu remembered that the old lady gave Rong Zheng a lot of good things at the beginning of last year, and there was a lot of discussion in a few rooms, which was nothing more than saying that the old lady was biased and everything was biased towards her granddaughter.

"Don't say it, I don't know that the Qi family has come to this point."

Wu smiled: "You'll know when you live at home for a long time." The old lady also said a while ago that she would take some of her own money out and let her go to Suzhou and Hangzhou to buy some good shops and some sacrificial fields. There is no one to take care of in the family, so I have to forget it. ”

Rong Zheng thought that if she knew that the Qi family was in some difficulties, she wouldn't help this idea, and she regretted it a little in her heart.

The sister-in-law talked all the way, and soon went out of the city gate and went all the way to Jinlin Pond.

An hour later, I finally found the ginger flower farmer.

The lady of the Jiang family knew the Wu family, and when she saw her coming, she greeted her with a smile.

"Grandma Qi is here! Are you here to pick flowers today? ”

Wu nodded and smiled, "I may have more flowers today." ”

The lady of the Jiang family hurriedly invited Wu and others to enter the flower shed to choose flowers. Rong Zheng also followed into the flower shed. Seeing that there were other people in the flower shed, the man was wearing an indigo jacket and a double beard, and his figure was a little familiar.

Rong Zheng called out with some uncertainty: "Could it be the fifteenth miss of the Li family?" ”

Li Shiniang heard someone call her, looked back, but saw that it was Rong Zheng, her face was happy, and she was busy talking to Rong Zheng.

"Miss Rongsan, how could I meet you here, what a coincidence!"

Rong Zheng smiled: "My eldest cousin and I went out to choose flowers, did Miss Fifteen also come to choose flowers?" ”

Li Shiniang smiled: "I'll take a look, by the way, I will ask the Jiang lady here how to raise peony." ”

The two are of the same age, have similar personalities, and they rarely see each other, and they always meet by chance. Affectionately held hands and said a lot of words, until Li Shiniang's ninth sister-in-law came over and said to her: "You have a chat, why don't you come and have a look." ”

Li Shiniang was a little sorry: "Miss Rongsan, I'll write to you when I go back, I still have something to ask you." ”

"Okay, but I've been living at my grandfather's house recently, and you asked someone to send the letter to the Qi family in Wuxue Lane."

Li Shiniang pursed her lips and smiled: "Okay, I wrote it down." ”

Li Shiniang and her ninth sister-in-law pulled Li Shiniang away, walked aside, lowered her voice and said to her: "You forgot your wife's admonition, let you not get too close to the third lady of the Rong family, you don't listen." When I look back, my wife knows, but I'm afraid I'll have to discipline you again. ”

"Miss Rong San is not the kind of person you say, why don't I talk to her for a few words. I can't get used to seeing you look at people in a strange light. ”

The ninth sister-in-law of the Li family was speechless, pulled down her face and said, "I can't control you, and if Mrs. Hui wants to blame, I won't help you speak." ”

The Wu family also asked Rong Zheng to help choose flowers. Rong Zheng took a look, although the Jiang family's flower shed is large, but the types of flowers are not as complete as in the palace, it may be that the Jiang family did not build a greenhouse, so some rare flowers that are only available in the south are not available here. (To be continued.) )