After the workers set up the tarpaulin tents and arranged a dozen chairs and tables, all the villagers unconsciously took their seats, looking as if they were eagerly waiting for their meals!
After the chefs set up the stoves, they quickly got to work.
Qi Qingyao looked at the chefs’ dynamics and patted Jiang Yeqian on the shoulder. “I only asked you to hire some chefs, I didn’t think they’d all be professionals.”
“Hmph!”
He had gotten Bai Mei to look for chefs at midnight last night and it turned out that she had searched a dozen inns in Qingzhou City. She had selected one chef from each inn! They were all ace chefs—how could they not be professionals? They even hired a few professional servants to ensure the speed of serving.
After the first dish was done, Qi Qingyao tasted a bite and commended, “This chef is pretty good at cooking.”
Jiang Yeqian looked at her rather pleased expression and took a bite as well.
The taste was not bad.
It was better than the food made by the chefs in Longmen Inn.
More than a dozen chefs were currently cooking on the temporary set-up stoves. Although the stoves were basic, the chefs’ skills were top-notch, and very quickly, the smell of delicious meat permeated the air in the tent. The delicious smell made the villagers drool instantly.
The serving time of the dishes was also superb.
The villagers quickly dug into the dishes, not forgetting to sing praises for Qi Qingyao as they ate.
“Eleventh Daughter is so generous.”
“She doesn’t forget to show gratitude to those who have helped her.”
“She also didn’t forget about the villagers after she made her fortune, even preparing such a long running banquet (1). That’s so nice of her.”
Snow was beginning to fall outside the tent just, while the villagers were quite merry inside.
It was not long before all the people of Linquan Village arrived.
The old Qi family heard that all the villagers had gone to attend the banquet at Qi Qingyao’s and were extremely jealous. They could only hide at a distance and watch the scene here as they wrung their hands in frustration.
A few of Qi Qingyao’s uncles shamelessly brought their family over.
Qi Qingyao still brought her children up to everyone to greet them. When the uncles realized that Qi Qingyao bore no grudge against them, they were all relieved. Before this, they had been worried that Qi Qingyao no longer even acknowledged them as her fellow uncles. She knew some manners at least.
This running banquet lasted till afternoon. Most of the villagers had eaten their fill. For the leftovers, Qi Qingyao urged everyone to use the plates and bring them home so as not to waste them!
Ma Sanye suddenly saw a carriage entering the village.
Old Man Yang looked at the carriage curiously, “That, isn’t that Lord Heir’s subordinate?”
There was a flag with the character [Pei] written largely hanging off the carriage.
The triangular flag danced wildly in the wind.
Li Qing descended from the carriage and grandly presented Lord Heir’s gift.
Old Man Yang was surprised. “It seems to be the same person from last time.”
Ma Sanye nodded.
Qi Qingyao was still a bit stunned when Li Qing presented the gift. She was an ordinary village woman, yet the Lord Heir had gone out of his way to send her a housewarming gift. How kind of him. She gave her thanks to Li Qing.
Li Qing glanced at the stunning building.
Then he glanced at the two ox-head and horse-face individuals behind Qi Qingyao.
In truth, the Lord Heir had sent people to keep an eye out on the building ages ago.
He did not expect Qi Qingyao to really organize a running banquet just as construction was completed today.
Qi Qingyao had Li Qing stay to have a meal but Li Qing said there was no need as he still needed to head back for a debriefing.
Before he left, Li Qing glanced a few more times at the ox-head and horse-face behind Qi QIngyao.
Their people were unable to find out who these two were and so had specially paid the Zhaixing Administration a high price for them to investigate both of their identities. That still led to nothing in the end.
This puzzled them extremely.
After Qi Qingyao sent Li Qing off, she noticed in the distance that there was another carriage stopped near the village. The carriage was completely black and stood out clearly in the snow.
She did not know who the people inside were, but the driver…was rather familiar.
The person looked like one of Lu Yan’s attendees.
Did the person in charge of the Lu family come to visit too?
Lu Yan, who was inside the carriage, opened the window and from afar, scrutinized the truly breathtaking five-story building. He was stunned, but also amazed.
He had been gleaning from Dong Jing’s letter and only knew that this building was possibly related to the Master Architect Li Qinglian. He did not think…
That it would be this magnificent and grand!
This… was just like a miniature Yuewang Tower!
When Li Qing’s carriage passed his as he left, Lu Yan looked at the “Pei” flag and his brows raised.
‘Was Heir Pei thinking of using this woman to look for Su Hexiao?’
Translator’s Note:
A running banquet is a type of banquet where food is served as guests arrive.