Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Shao Yunduan felt a warmth in his heart and nodded. “Mom, thank you!’
Ms. Fang smiled and replied, “Don’t mention it. It’s nothing!’
Eldest Uncle felt a sense of isolation, and his heart felt empty. He began to lose interest.
He felt unjust. As a father, he didn’t intend to harm his son. He only wanted Yunduan to improve so that the whole family could prosper.
Yunduan was a Recommended Man, and he needed to be modest and cautious to avoid giving people a reason to gossip. Those words wouldn’t be well-received.
The Zhang Family’s behavior was excessive, but the Land Officer was not entirely wrong. The children were still young, and Ms. Zhangs preference for her mother’s family was her only mistake. If she were at the door, she must be feeling guilty about it. She could make a promise to never do it again, so why be so harsh?
He genuinely wanted the whole family to live in harmony. Why was there nobody who understood him?
Eldest Uncle’s heart felt heavy with sadness.
However, little did he know that Shao Yunduan had never aspired to be a passive and docile man.
He would never back down in the face of injustice. The Zhang Family harbored malicious intentions, and he earnestly wished for the second section of the family to sever ties with them soon.
As the date for the banquet was finalized, the entire Shao Family became immersed in preparations.
They were making arrangements for hosting 50 tables at the banquet.
They planned to invite the affluent businessmen who had come to extend their congratulations, the professors and students from the college, as well as relatives, friends, including Manager Qin and fellow villagers. Initially, they had prepared fifty tables, but realizing it might not be sufficient, they decided to add ten more.
With the banquet just four days away, Shao Yunduan took charge of writing the invitations, while Manager Dong and Qi were assigned the task of delivering them.
Shao Yunduan personally informed the County Magistrate about the upcoming banquet but made the decision not to send him an invitation.
He explained that the event was expected to have a large number of attendees, and the presence of the County Magistrate might create a formal and restrained atmosphere, preventing guests from celebrating freely. However, Shao Yunduan assured the County Magistrate that if he returned to the county with Officer Qiao later, they would be treated separately and accorded the appropriate hospitality.
Officer Qiao was pleased to hear Shao Yunduan’s considerate decision and commended him for his thoughtfulness.
Initially, Officer Qiao had been reluctant to visit the countryside as it was not a place he particularly enjoyed. He had been concerned that his absence might disappoint Shao Yunduan, but now he was contemplating what he should do in response to the situation.
Shao Yunduan took the initiative to propose the idea of not inviting the County Magistrate to the banquet, which showed his thoughtfulness as a son-in-law.
However, the underlying truth was that Shao Yunduan had never intended for the County Magistrate to visit his home.
With the date for the banquet confirmed and invitations distributed, the preparations were set in motion. Villagers came forward to lend their assistance, and the banquet chefs were present to oversee the cooking.
Since the dishes couldn’t be preserved for an extended period, fresh ingredients had to be purchased on the same day to ensure the highest quality for the meal.
The banquet required a total of eight bowls to accommodate all the guests.
To ensure freshness, two large and plump pigs were purchased and slaughtered during the night. Alongside the pigs, 60 chickens and 60 ducks were also prepared. Fresh mushrooms and vegetables from the garden were added to the menu, along with additional ingredients sourced from the villagers.
With the preparations completed, they anxiously awaited the arrival of the scheduled date. However, the Zhao Family unexpectedly appeared once again.
Madame Zhao and her elder daughter-in-law, Ms. Quan, claimed to be visiting to extend their congratulations. While Madame Zhao wore a smile, her condescending manner and choice of words made everyone uncomfortable..