Chapter 16 Chapter 44: Dinner

Things with Ding Yuluo went smoothly. If those officials begged Cheng Shixiong to let go of the business of the Ding family and the Xia family, knowing that Cheng Shixiong was very annoyed by the delay in military rations, those officials would be willing to help the Ding family. In the early days, when he saw Cheng Shixiong, he felt a little timid, how could he justify his feelings? But let them put aside the private affairs of the Ding family and write a letter to ask for the expansion of the official warehouse. This is a serious business, and it is justifiable to mention it. The matter was solemnly mentioned in the official letter.

Among these people, the military generals are straightforward and outspoken, while the civil servants are shaking their pens, and the pens are flying dragons and snakes.Cheng Shixiong asked his staff master to read these convoluted things to him every day, and he felt a headache just listening to it, but he was happy to see the proposal to expand the official position, so he sent all these documents to Fuzhou .He can't read, and if the officials under his command have any suggestions, he will draw a circle if he agrees, and a cross if he disagrees, and then send them all to the prefecture to be dealt with by General Zhe. Things are unique.

As for Ding Hao, he recruited a group of craftsmen and set up a large courtyard in the barracks for them to live in. Ding Hao drew a sketch and explained it to the craftsmen himself. It's just thinking about what others can't think about, so those craftsmen can understand the specific production and size when they look at the sketches, and they are more sure than Ding Hao. The things were made very smoothly. Ding Yuluo went to watch the craftsmen several times, and even she was very surprised when she saw the things that had taken shape. I really don't know how Ding Hao figured them out. The color is waiting to dry, and Miss Ding is almost childish, and she wants to go up and try this new thing.

On this day, it was the birthday of Mrs. Cheng, Ding Yuluo dressed up meticulously, and brought Ding Hao a set of gentry uniforms to wear. All the gadgets that Ding Hao ordered were loaded into the car, covered with tarpaulins, and went straight to General Cheng's mansion mysteriously. Cheng Mansion is decorated with lanterns and festoons today, and the door is full of congratulatory guests.Naturally, there was no white man who went to and from the Cheng Mansion. Officials and businessmen with lower status could only hand over gifts at the gate, and then left contentedly as they watched the steward of the Cheng Mansion write their names on the gift book with a smile.Ding Yuluo didn't receive the invitation from Cheng's house, and he was not a familiar guest of Cheng's family, so when he arrived at the door, he was stopped, and Ding Hao hurriedly stepped forward to explain his identity.

Who in Cheng's family didn't know about the young master's captivity two days ago? Hearing that his own Taiwei and his wife gave Ding Hao a big gift and kowtowed, knowing that this person is Ding Hao, those servants did not dare to neglect , Hastily sent people in to report. After a while, an old family member in green clothes and green hat and red silk around the waist came out beamingly, and the servants watching the gate hurriedly called out: "Old housekeeper." Ai ai ai the old butler smiled, greeted Ding Hao, crossed his hands and said, "Brother Ding, right?Hehehe, my master is accompanying several distinguished guests, and he couldn't get away for a while. When he heard that his benefactor had arrived, he specially ordered Lao Peng to greet him, little brother, please come in quickly.

Ding Hao hurriedly said: "Old man, I heard that the old lady is on her 60th birthday today, and my lady has prepared a small gift to come to visit. Ding Hao is here with my eldest lady. Elderly, what do you think is the proper arrangement?" oh?The old housekeeper Peng glanced at Ding Yuluo, saw that the girl was slim and graceful, and said, "Little brother, who is your lady?" My daughter is from the Ding family in Bazhou, and the grain and grass in Guangyuan are all trafficked by the Ding family.Thanks to the Taiwei who has taken care of the business for many years, and hearing that the old lady had a birthday, my lady wanted to pay a visit and express her affection.

The old butler hesitated for a moment, and thought: There are so many distinguished guests today, how can the master have time to care about these things, if I turn around and ask for instructions, Brother Ding will definitely have an ugly face, besides, the old lady is very kind to this The young men of the Cheng family like it very much, isn't it just to add a pair of bowls and chopsticks in the backyard, I just put Miss Ding in it. Thinking of this, the old butler changed his smile, greeted Ding Yuluo and said, "Hehe, my old lady is celebrating her birthday today, and Ms. Cheng Ding is here to visit, please come in."

Ding Hao said: "Old housekeeper, look at my big cars. Butler Peng was startled when he saw it: What is this? This is a gift from my lady to the old lady. ah?Butler Peng was speechless. He has been in the Cheng family for so many years, and he has seen a lot of people giving gifts. Generally speaking, the smaller the gift box, the more expensive the gift. What is this gift from the Ding family? A cart of soybeans, a cart Seeing him in a daze, Ding Hao leaned close to his ear and whispered something softly, butler Peng said in amazement: "Really, this must be accepted. My old lady must be very satisfied."But these big carts can't enter the gate of the mansion, so I'll find someone to guide you in through the side gate, and Lao Peng will lead your lady to the backyard first, and we'll see you in the West Wing later.

So, trouble the old man.As Ding Hao said, a piece of silver had already been handed over. Lao Peng held the silver in his hand, turned around and shouted calmly: "Liu Xiao, you lead Brother Ding's cart and enter through the side door."Then he raised his hand to Ding Yuluo and said: Miss Ding, please. Ding Yuluo glanced at Ding Hao, followed Steward Peng into the gate, Ding Hao commanded the carts to go around to the side gate, first went through the guards of the mansion to check carefully inside and out, and then opened the gate and let them go into the courtyard , Ding Hao asked people to unload all the things. At this time, more than a dozen housekeepers sent by Steward Peng also arrived. Ding Hao hurriedly asked them to move their things. Following their walk around the Quyuan corridor to the back house, Steward Peng also arrived. , Ding Hao assembled and arranged those things, and explained to housekeeper Peng, and then returned to the front yard with a servant.

The Cheng family had a lot of congratulatory guests today, and each congratulatory guest brought relatives or trusted servants, plus the servants and maidservants of Cheng's mansion, and the invited theater troupe, Kabuki, shuttled back and forth, there was hardly a quiet place. Although this kind of birthday banquet is very grand, in the eyes of Mrs. Cheng, it must be a bit low-grade, but the old lady likes this kind of excitement. She has a big birthday, so who dares to make it difficult for her? The women's relatives and guests are all in the backyard, Madam Cheng is out of sight and out of mind, and doesn't bother to pay attention.

These guests who can enter the mansion are divided into three or six categories. Except for the female guests, they are all placed in the inner courtyard. The male guests are arranged in the White Tiger Hall, and Cheng Shixiong personally entertains them. The confidant's general will take care of him, and the guests in the army will be placed in the side room alone, and a separate banquet will be set up for entertainment.In the courtyard at the front, there is a stage under the screen wall. In the opposite room, there are running water seats for the guests to drink. There are many people standing outside. Those watching the theater, talking and laughing, are as noisy as a market. It was the first time for Ding Hao to see an ancient person celebrating a birthday. He wandered curiously, and seeing that the stage was more lively, he walked there.Just around a rockery, I saw a man and a woman standing in the gazebo in front of him. The person facing him was wearing an expensive mouse fur and a belt with rhino horns. He was tall and slender, with handsome features. Ding Hao felt a little familiar at first, and after a closer look, he recognized him as the Mr. Qin Yiyun in Qingshui Town who was almost regarded as a seal thief by the county captain Zhao.It is true that people depend on clothing, Buddha depends on gold clothing, a graceful and luxurious makeup that does not look tacky, the whole person's feeling will be different immediately, it seems that he has the demeanor of a good man in the world. This elegant young man, with a vulgar smile on his face at the moment, said to the girl in front of him in a humble voice: Yanyan, I came all the way here, am I not sincere enough to you?You always avoid me, because of such a trivial matter, as for you, I have traveled thousands of miles, sincerely, you will die if you are moved?