They did not see giving gifts as a loss, but rather as an opportunity, to show their faces in front of the wealthy was an honor, and in the future, there would be benefits to be had from such a comparison.
The birthday of the eldest legitimate grandson was as significant as that of the elders, determined by how seriously the Tang Family regarded the person.
Tang Shunyan, dressed by the maids Qiuxia and Chunxiang from early in the morning, went to his grandmother’s courtyard for breakfast.
Jinhua, being his wet nurse, did not attend such a banquet today, not because she had been dismissed from her position, but because Young Master Tang likewise placed great importance on the pregnancy of his wife.
With such a crowd of bustling hands and eyes, accidents were inevitably bound to happen, and although they were not as precious as their masters, they too valued the welfare of their offspring and thus requested that Lady Tang and Madam allow Jinhua to be absent today, leaving all matters to Qiuxia and Chunxiang.
And to have people from Madam’s and Lady Tang’s side keep an eye out!
Today, Tang Shunyan had turned six by nominal age and no longer needed a wet nurse to watch over him like before.
Having practiced martial arts for two years, he walked with a steadiness unusual for one of such a young age.
They had just finished breakfast when they heard that guests had already arrived. With so many arriving, they wouldn’t enter Madam’s courtyard.
His family had a special place for receiving guests. With so many visitors today, the little birthday star, Tang Shunyan, would also stay by his grandmother’s and mother’s sides.
The event he most anticipated was the arrival of the Ye family, and he secretly sent his little pageboy to watch by the main gate; as soon as the Ye family arrived, he was to bring them to meet him immediately.
He also instructed for the Ye family to be treated well. The little pageboy, having heard the command, went to the main gate, where countless other guests continually entered the Tang family’s threshold, while he looked out onto the big road outside.
At the spacious area in front of the Tang house, carriages were parked on both sides of the road, numerous and wholly engaged by attendees of the banquet, watched over by the servants. Yet for the time being, the Ye family had not arrived.
On their arrival, they saw from afar that so many carriages parked by the Tang house’s main gate made it impossible for them to park their ox cart any closer, so they stopped at a great distance instead.
Hongji and his son, seeing the items on the cart, found themselves in a bind; unable to bring their ox cart inside, they pondered how to transport the gifts and earthen jars individually for such a distance!
Another ox cart carried Mrs. Lai who was the first to descend leisurely. Of course, she was assisted by the little maids on either side, each holding onto her until almost causing the little maids to tumble themselves.
Mrs. Lai’s corpulent body, coupled with her lack of enthusiasm for physical activity, proved simply too heavy—after all, it was quite a task for two maids of merely seven or eight years to support someone weighing over a hundred pounds.
The Ye family sisters took care of one another, not out of disrespect or lack of care for Mrs. Lai, but simply because she did not treat them well normally, and they would rather have the maids assist her than do it themselves.
She insisted this was to display her distinguished status—after all, the wives and old ladies of other families were always attended by maids and old women!
The two little maids were originally intended to serve Mrs. Li and her two youngest daughters, but now Mrs. Lai had commandeered them for herself.
Mrs. Li could only remind her eldest daughter to take good care of the youngest and to be careful not to get lost or cause any trouble with the Tang family’s masters after entering, or to bump into any of the esteemed guests inside.
She warned them that the county was a bit more complex, and to be wary of bad people!
As so many ahead arrived by horse or carriage, only the Ye family came by ox cart, and those who did not know them looked upon them with derision, thinking them too audacious for wanting to climb the Tang family’s social ladder.
Those who hadn’t yet entered the Tang residence could not help but cover their mouths with laughter, especially upon seeing Mrs. Lai being supported by the two little maids, swaying as if unable to stand steady, her walk awkward and wobbly.
Many ridiculed the sight of earthen jars on their ox cart, assuming them to be mere servants delivering goods.
Even more disdainful glances came their way, but no one yet dared to openly mock them.
The horse carriage of Meng Zhaojun and her family didn’t halt at the front but instead dropped her party off at the gate and drove back out.
Only those with confidence in their position would dare to do so, believing that blocking others’ paths wouldn’t matter, as people would give way to them.
Indeed, many acted in such a manner, preferring to park at a great distance rather than obstructing the entrance with their vehicle, unable to turn around with so many carriages already crowded by the gate.
This was the reason some arrived very early for the banquet, so they wouldn’t have to leave their carriages too far from the venue.
"Oh, they’ve come too,"
Meng Zhaojun didn’t speak; she had arrived with her mother and maids.
The one who spoke was Liang Chen, the maid by her side, who knew her mistress looked down on them and naturally shared her disdain for these farmer family people.
"Mind your manners!" Mrs. Meng scolded, disappointed that Liang Chen, who usually seemed quite composed, had now spoken in a way that suggested that the Ye family had no place at the Tang family’s banquet.
Even though they might think so, they couldn’t say it out loud. Many knew the Tang Family was a collaborator and that having an invitation was expected for them.
Among these attendees were many without an invitation, yet none were mocked.
Meng Zhaojun harbored such thoughts, glaring at the Ye family with irritation, but kept her thoughts to herself.