Tang Shunyan had sent away the birthday gift, but there was always a lingering concern in his heart, a sentiment buried within—
The more he missed the people from the Ye family, the more reluctant he became, and he had already grown somewhat resentful of Meng Zhaojun, not too fond of the girl’s Charming Technique.
Tang Shunyan’s own birthday quickly approached, and on the day before the stars aligned for his celebration, the Tang Family ordinarily wouldn’t hold a grand birthday event for a child.
However, they would still host about twenty tables, as they were a wealthy family, and upon hearing of Young Master Tang’s birthday, some had already sent gifts in advance.
The Family Head had no choice but to send out the invitations.
Tang Shunyan requested his grandmother to also send invitations to the Ye family, including the married couple and his several daughters.
Actually, his intention was to take this opportunity to let everyone get to know his wet nurse and milk sisters, his Ru Mei. And so, he sent out his invitation, asking the Ye family to come and partake in the banquet!
He hadn’t thought much of it, only wanting to see them again, yet he didn’t anticipate the trouble it might cause them!
Young Master Tang’s Junior Housekeeper, holding the invitation in his hands, arrived at the Ye family’s home. When Hongji and his family received the invitation, they felt both joy and concern!
Mrs. Lai was the happiest, for she finally had the chance to present herself before the rich!
"Old man, let’s get ready, and be in our best state tomorrow to appear before the wealthy family!"
Mrs. Lai’s life had never been glamorous; not to mention attending gatherings of rich men, appearing at a banquet of the Tang Family, the wealthiest in the county, was the first time she qualified to participate—how could she forgo such an opportunity!
Hongji’s father nodded slightly, ignoring the expressions of his son and daughter-in-law. Even though they were now the heads of the family, in the presence of elders, it was still the seniors who would lead them to such banquets!
He also wanted to take this chance to see his married daughter, to check if his in-laws were as good to her as she had described, and if she indeed enjoyed a quality lifestyle!
Hongji, in truth, was reluctant to go. Seeing his parents so excited, yet fearing they might encounter unpleasant incidents if they went without him and his wife to intervene—
He didn’t want the cooperation between the two families to end over a conflict!
Mrs. Li, holding her son, anxiously glanced at her husband but dared not utter a word.
Among the five sisters of the Ye family, Ye Shiqi knew that if Tang Shunyan didn’t invite them, she would still deliver her own gift.
She had already carved the gift she intended to give, waiting for the day to present it!
The other sisters were more concerned about what they would wear to the event tomorrow, a matter that troubled their hearts!
In recent years, as the family’s wealth had grown, the home had acquired many more new clothes for them, and as they continued to grow, their old clothes no longer fit!
Their household had improved greatly, and perhaps the clothes they wore were slightly better than those of a farmer family, yet they certainly couldn’t compare to the attire of a wealthy family!
Worrying about whether their outfits would be fashionable enough for tomorrow, not to become a laughingstock to others—
Would their status as farmer girls, appearing before the daughters of the rich, invite ridicule or sarcastic remarks once again?
Would people say they were climbing the social ladder by attending such a banquet with their status?
Hongji and Mrs. Li were troubled about what kind of gift to give as a proper birthday present!
The gifts from the children and those from the parents were not the same!
While the parents were considering how to make a good impression in front of others, the couple pondered over how to give a gift that would not seem disrespectful in the eyes of others.
"Husband, we hadn’t expected the Tang Family to invite us to the banquet, and we haven’t prepared any gift by going to the county!"
"Indeed, what haven’t the Tang Family seen in terms of fine things? If our gifts are too inferior, or seem too meager in front of the guests, we’ll be ridiculed, and we won’t be able to give them at all!"
The couple discussed, while their children looked on, suddenly unsure of what to do.
When Mrs. Lai heard her son and daughter-in-law discussing gifts, she somewhat reluctantly said:
"Haven’t they taken enough from us on regular days? Wuya’s carved gift should suffice. You two are making a fuss over nothing. Don’t they know what kind of family we are? Why insist on putting on a facade and suffering for it? Whatever we give, they won’t look upon it favorably!"
"Mother, don’t say that. We’ve always had reciprocal dealings, and besides, those raw materials belonged to the Tang Family in the first place. Wuya only did the carving, and last time the young Master even brought a gift!"
"Then let the younger generation give the gifts, and what can we farmer folk give anyway? Chickens, ducks, geese?"
Mrs. Lai’s rebuttal made everyone fall silent again—for indeed, these agricultural products were all their family had to offer.