They had just finished breakfast and set off. The protagonist went out to attend a banquet, and the household chef would only feel today’s workload was a bit lighter, but he couldn’t take a long holiday, as there were other long-term workers who needed to eat at home.
The family, dressed so well, took two ox carts as they left the village, and everyone on the road watched them pass, some even daring to ask a question!
"Hongji boss, why is the whole family going out today?"
When Hongji saw the man who asked this, it was a fellow villager with a different surname, who called him boss because he worked in his factory!
To go to the county, they set off a bit, and at that moment, some workers were on their way to the factory.
"Got something going on, attending a banquet, I won’t be at the factory, don’t you slack off!"
Hongji casually remarked, yet their factory had not only established a reward system, but also fined the lazy ones, which sounded somewhat inhumane, yet everyone abided by the rules for the sake of the rules!
Doing so was also to make a bit more money, as not every job was so easy to find, especially one close to home that allowed taking care of family while making money, these were really hard to find, and the wages were so good!
They were not like other rich men who would withhold wages or harshly scold and beat them if they did not perform well!
Hearing the boss say so, they just chuckled and nodded their heads.
While Hongji’s father sat leisurely in the ox cart, he couldn’t help but start smoking his bamboo pipe again.
On this important day of attending a banquet, he still couldn’t kick his old habits!
He had decided not to bring the big bamboo pipe into the banquet venue and let a long-term worker who was driving the ox cart watch it.
The ox cart was not moving fast. After passing through the town and over half an hour later, they had still not reached the county. That was why they left earlier than usual.
Going to the banquet did not require them to be so early, but they felt going a bit earlier would prevent the troubles of traffic congestion.
In ancient times, it wasn’t because there were many carts that caused traffic congestions; they needed to enter the city gates. If they were not allowed into the gates or if the queues were too long, it would take a long time to get inside.
Ye Shuzhi was almost due to give birth; she had to sit in the shop to guard against any thieves who might take advantage of her husband’s absence to steal something.
When no one came to shop, she would feel sleepy and sit with her eyes half-closed. The extra weight made her lean against the chair. Getting up so early with such a big belly was a necessity for doing business, but she did not complain. It was to earn more money before their child was born.
"Shuzhi, wasn’t that your family who just went by in those two horse carts?"
Zhong Xianggui had just bent down to check the abacus to calculate the morning’s sales, and at this moment, there were no customers in the store, but he heard the sound of the ox cart passing and curiously looked up!
Not only was the ox cart a curiosity, but in these ten miles and eight villages, having an ox cart was already quite something, and he happened to see his wife’s family!
By the time he rushed out of the shop, he only saw the backs of his in-laws in the ox cart; he did not call out loudly.
"What’s the matter, husband?"
Ye Shuzhi, groggy, heard the noise and poked her blurry eyes, finding it hard to immediately stand up and looking curiously at her husband!
"Your family just passed by here!"
"Oh, was it my big brother?"
"It was your whole family from your mother’s side!"
"Could they be going to my sister’s place in the county?"
"It doesn’t seem like it; wouldn’t they let you know if the whole family was going to your sister’s place?"
"Maybe they don’t want me worrying since I’m about to give birth!"
"I really don’t think so, they looked like they were attending a banquet!" Zhong Xianggui shook his head thoughtfully, gazing at the two ox carts that had already gone far and only their backs visible.
"Oh, it might be that the Tang Family has a banquet!" Ye Shuzhi realized.
The Ye family, unaware of the discussion between Ye Shuzhi and her husband, passed by silently so as not to disturb the young couple.
Actually, they did not want to stop and waste time, Mrs. Lai and the elder did not think of saying anything in front of their daughter, who was dozing off on the stool.
At the moment, their minds were on the banquet at the Tang Family in the county.
Today, the entrance of the Tang Family was bustling — the carriages could not enter the entrance due to the many guests; these people left their carriages quite far and walked with invitations toward the Tang Family’s gate.
There were also some who had not received invitations but shamelessly brought gifts, merely seeking a chance to show their faces among the wealthy!