The Ye family’s sisters attended the banquet here today, still wearing veils over their faces. Although they were farmer girls, facing the gazes of so many strangers made them somewhat shy.
Even though their faces were veiled, those with sharp eyesight could still see the beautiful faces and slender figures. Such women, perhaps even some noble ladies, could not compare.
Don’t just look at their youth and beauty, their fair skin and pretty faces, the grace of their walk, the etiquette they displayed when meeting people. In an instant, the eyes of some young bachelors who hadn’t yet taken wives lit up.
Of course, some people felt that a glance was not a hindrance to their appreciation of beauty, as many marriages were destined to be alliances.
In this remote rural area, no matter how good the girl, she could not match the goodness of status.
So, many people were merely appreciative, and others were thinking sordid thoughts; if they could not marry them, it wouldn’t be bad to take them as concubines.
These were just the thoughts of some noble young masters from out of town. The young masters from the nearby villages, or those from the county, really had intentions. Such refined ladies, what a catch for a young master!
Zhong Xingwang’s banquet this time was divided into sections for men and women. He thought it would just be his classmates, his elder sister, and the Ye family attending.
But he hadn’t expected that after the banquet was announced, so many people would come to stay at the estate and participate.
The men were in one group, indulging in fishing, feasting, playing chess, and various entertainments. Of course, there were also those who would take the opportunity to play tricks.
The women on this side chatted, ate, and found their own forms of entertainment.
Zhong Xingwang had not specifically arranged the contents of the banquet; it was all rather casual, with the main purpose being to meet the Ye family’s sisters.
When the Ye family’s carriage arrived at the estate, many other carriages had come as well, and Zhong Xingwang stood with his classmates to welcome them.
It was like he was the host, and the arrivals were the guests.
Mrs. Li... had not expected it to really be a matchmaking event. With so many talented young masters present, although she had five daughters, she could not simply welcome everyone as sons-in-law.
Mrs. Li’s thoughts did not last long before her own relatives came with their children to join in the fun.
Si Ma Roumei had heard about today’s banquet. Although it had nothing to do with her, hearing that all the Ye family’s sisters would be there, she was quite looking forward to it.
Not far from the entrance, she not only awaited the arrival of the Ye family’s sisters and their mother and brother, but also her own mother and her two older brothers.
She went to greet her mother and saw that her two brothers seemed to have grown taller. From young boys, they had become teenagers, and they seemed to have grown into adult bodies.
The Sima brothers were also quite happy to see their sister after half a year, and as their group entered, they encountered familiar faces, and the women and men separated.
Si Ma Roumei and her mother found the Ye family’s sisters and their mother, and they all chatted together at the banquet site.
Mrs. Li, who had received information about the banquet today, did not expect so many people to attend, exceeding her thoughts.
Ever since their family had come into a bit of money, she had not been privileged to attend the noble ladies’ banquets, only being invited by the Tang family’s madam.
Since the opening of their estate, noble ladies who came for banquets or hosted their own always invited her to participate.
Mrs. Li was no longer the ignorant farmer’s wife of before, becoming bolder in practice and more generous in her behavior.
Ye Wenjie, the little friend, came here of course to play with peers. Following the teenagers, he had a great time.
Usually at home, he was either reading or writing, with his family’s high expectations for him. Apart from playing in the yard, he was rarely allowed to go out, partly out of concern for his safety and partly fear that he would learn bad habits away from home.
Wenjie also knew how to fish, and this was not his first time coming to the estate to fish with others, adeptly managing the task.
Tang Shunyan thought that with so many people around today, they’d better just fish quietly here, sending the caught fish to the kitchen for the midday banquet’s fish feast.
As Wenjie was enjoying himself, he also spotted his uncle, Young Uncle, and other relatives’ cousins, all of whom had come. He called over his peers to join in the fun.
Mrs. Li noticed that her maternal family had arrived, along with many noble ladies. Although there were attendants here, today she was not the main host catering to guests.
So, she instructed the attendants to look after the guests, and Mrs. Li didn’t consider herself a guest either, helping to entertain them.
Mrs. Mo arrived at Ye Manor and saw her young brother who had become much more mature and steady after half a year. Among all the siblings in the family, only this younger brother was not yet married.
The parents were concerned about the young uncle’s marriage, having introduced him to daughters of wealthy and official families, but he had turned them all down.
Mrs. Mo hadn’t expected her brother to take a liking to the Ye family’s daughters, whom she had watched grow up. Whichever one he chose would be a fine woman, and she was enthusiastic about playing matchmaker.