Chapter 156:
“What a wonderful person.” Ye Beiyao said in a hoarse voice, and Jiang Shaoqing nodded slightly in agreement.
“You think highly of her.”
It was irrefutable.
Ye Beiyao deliberately led them to the backyard kitchen, wanting Jiang Shaoqing to take notice of Luo Zhi’er.
The group arrived grandly in the hall, and Old Madam Jiang saw her grandson Shaoqing leading a group of young talents, approaching gracefully.
Her eyes showed delight, and the other female guests also secretly sized up the arrivals.
The most striking man nearby must be the young master of the Marquis’s Mansion, with sword-like brows neither too thick nor too thin, and narrow eyes like rippling spring water—what an imposing bearing.
“Grandmother, your grandson wishes you fortune as vast as the Eastern Sea and lifespan as long as the Southern Mountains!”
“Hehe, good, good, get up quickly!”
The old madam helped him up.
Jiang Shaoqing presented the gifts to his grandmother, and Ye Beiyao also stepped forward to bow: “Congratulations to Old Madam Jiang—may the sun and moon shine brightly, pines and cranes endure eternally, may you always smile, and enjoy endless family bliss!”
“Good, good!”
Old Madam Jiang carefully sized up this young master of the Marquis’s Mansion, stunned by his heavenly demeanor.
She secretly sighed—Shaoqing was excellent too, but she had to admit that this Ye Beiyao was a cut above. How could he possibly be a playboy? He was clearly very polite, every word and action drawing attention, steady in dealing with people—this must have some inside story.
Wang Jiji, Jia Luan, and the others also offered birthday wishes to the old madam one by one!
Old Madam Jiang smiled so widely her mouth wouldn’t close, calling these rowdy monkeys to sit down quickly.
At this point, the other young women also came forward to wish the old madam a happy birthday, some with embroidered handkerchiefs, shoe insoles, screens; some recited poetry and made couplets, others performed a small talent.
Old Madam Jiang occasionally gave her young grandson a meaningful look, and Jiang Shaoqing remained indifferent, making the young woman’s ears turn red at the roots.
“Grandmother, how about it? Are you happy today?”
“Happy, happy!”
The old madam smiled so widely her mouth wouldn’t close.
“That’s good then. Your grandson has another surprise for you. Leng Lie, let them come up.”
“Yes.”
Before long, some opera-like performers came up and began singing “Magu Offers Longevity,” captivating the old lady and the other guests with the outstanding performance.
It was a theater troupe he had specially invited, and the role of Magu was played by a famous performer.
Everyone gathered around to watch the opera.
Seeing his grandmother engrossed, Jiang Shaoqing wiped the sweat from his brow—finally, he had muddled through.
He glanced at Bei Yao nearby, who was watching intently, and felt a bit uneasy inside.
After “Magu Offers Longevity” finished, it was time for the birthday banquet to officially begin, and everyone sat down to eat.
With gender distinction, a super large double-sided embroidered screen of red plums announcing good news separated the female guests from the male guests.
The small servers from Yumian Tower, dressed in uniform attire, began serving the dishes one by one, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.
As the dishes were served, everyone’s eyes widened—one after another, with beautifully named dishes like Double Dragons Playing with Pearls and Chen Pi Braised Pork.
These dishes were indeed ones they had never seen before; after picking some up and tasting, they praised Yumian Tower endlessly.
Even the old madam, who had returned from the capital and seen much of the world, had never eaten them.
That Chopped Chili Fish Head was numbingly spicy and truly satisfying to eat.
The old madam drank corn juice nonstop from the spice, then took another bite of Dry Pot Bullfrog.
Granny Yu attended at the side; even after many years in the palace, she had never seen these foods. The Dongli Kingdom was vast and abundant, with delicacies from land and sea, and such a variety of dishes.
She was just worried the old madam would overeat and get indigestion, feeling uncomfortable at night.
The madams and young women could hardly control their behavior; fortunately, the men and women dined separately, so they weren’t too restrained.
Wang Jiji felt slapped in the face again; luckily, he hadn’t openly fallen out earlier.
It seemed this fat woman’s culinary skills were indeed top-notch, with real talent and deft hands; her temper wasn’t very gentle, but for the sake of her excellent cooking, he’d let her off for now.
After the lively meal, Chef Xie surprisingly pushed in a super large birthday cake together with a small server.
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!”
They even sang a birthday song.
Luo Zhi’er also stood at the back of the crowd and joined in, afraid they wouldn’t know how to handle this birthday cake.
The birthday cake was surrounded by all sorts of longevity peaches, three layers high, with a large longevity peach on top, a character for longevity, and candles inserted.
The maids and servants sang along too—this had been instructed outside earlier.
Seeing them finish singing with the candles still burning, Luo Zhi’er hurried forward and said crisply: “Old Madam, happy birthday to you—may your pavilion endure eternally, may you have longevity and a youthful face, lifespan higher than the heavens, fortune vaster than the earth.”
“Please make a wish and blow out the candles! Wish silently! That’s more likely to come true!”
Before the old madam could ask who this likable plump niangzi was, she hurriedly made a wish as if forced onto the stage!
After making the wish, the old madam blew out the candles, and then they began cutting the cake.
The small servers handed out little spoons to everyone.
Everyone had already eaten too much earlier and their stomachs were full, but seeing the cake, they couldn’t resist tasting a small bite, and before they knew it, they finished a whole piece.
Soft and glutinous, not too sweet—Wang Jiji ate one piece and asked for another.
Jia Luan’s eyes flashed, and he scooped a small piece to smear on Wang Jiji’s nose, instantly causing roars of laughter.
“Oh my, living to this age, I never knew people in Taoyuan Town celebrate birthdays like this—first time experiencing it, feels like I’ve become young again!”
To be honest, in the Jiang Mansion, it’s not that daughter-in-law Madam Jiang is bad or unfilial, but she’s a bit too upright, lacking any vitality; the children in the mansion are all grown, and it’s lifeless—when old, one just wants some liveliness.
Granny Yu helplessly watched the old madam eat the last bite of cake; tonight she’d be tossing and turning unable to sleep again—oh well, rare chance to enjoy oneself fully.
She also ate a piece of cake and glanced at that Luo Niangzi, falling into contemplation.
“Where is the butler?”
“This one is here.”
“Today, all in the mansion—first-class servants and maids rewarded three taels of silver, second-class two taels, third-class and all in and out of the kitchen today, one string of cash each!”
Jiang Shaoqing said.
“Yes!”
The maids and servants were overjoyed.
“Reward Chef Xie three taels of silver, two taels each for Yumian Tower servants!”
“Thank you, Young Master Jiang.”
He looked at Luo Zhi’er, “What reward do you want?”
Earlier, his grandmother had pulled him aside, telling him to thank the young master Ye properly and reward the people from Yumian Tower well—she really liked this Luo Niangzi.
Luo Zhi’er was stunned, “Reporting to Young Master Jiang, this woman has words she wants to say to you privately.”
Jiang Shaoqing’s expression was indifferent, “Alright!”
“Come with me.”
He took Luo Zhi’er into his reception room.
The baffled people exchanged glances—what was this fat cook up to?
They hadn’t expected her to seize the opportunity close at hand.
The old madam frowned; that wasn’t what she meant—what audacity, how did Shaoqing take her inside?
Wang Jiji and Jia Luan looked at Ye Beiyao a bit strangely, but Ye Beiyao remained calm, giving them a look to stay patient.
