Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Risking It All (1/2)
Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Risking It All
Translator: 549690339
Grandma Han loved to show off. Even though it wasn’t a milestone birthday, she still set up six tables—this was the custom every year. The occasion was lively with guests coming and going, including neighbors and some Old Ladies who were acquaintances of Grandma Han. After all, there were delicious foods to be enjoyed, and attending didn’t require a significant gift since it wasn’t a milestone birthday. Ultimately, it was a profitable affair for her.
They say, “Birds of a feather flock together,” and those who associated with Grandma Han tended to share her character traits, which is why they got along. Therefore, every year at Grandma Han’s birthday, the Main House ended up footing the bill, but the Main House’s silver was managed by Grandma Han, and no one else could intervene.
The meals were set on the tables, and everyone was just waiting for the banquet to begin. Grandma Han had specially arranged a large empty table beside her, covered with gifts from various families. Next, it was time for Grandma Han’s children and Grandsons to present their birthday gifts.
Su Wenyue muttered to herself that the event was quite formal, resembling the real thing. Grandma Han was no ordinary show-off.
As per the rules, which dictate order based on seniority, the Main House presented their birthday gift first. Normally, the Second House should have been next, but Grandma Han and the Main House had always looked down on the Second House, believing their gifts were not presentable. Consequently, the Second House had always been the last to present their gift, and this year was no exception. After the Main House and the married Madams had given their gifts, it was finally the turn of the Second House.
However, since the Grandson had married a Daughter-in-law from a family of good standing, Grandma Han did hold some expectation. Although she tried to appear indifferent, her gaze fixated on her Second son.
“Mother, may your fortune be as boundless as the Eastern Sea and your life as enduring as the Southern Mountains,” Han Jincai said as he offered up a set of exquisite Silk Clothes as the birthday gift.
Grandma Han’s eyes sparkled when she saw the Clothes, and her face lit up with a few more smiles. However, she soon remembered something and picked up the Clothes to inspect them. Sure enough, when she didn’t find anything else, her expression darkened again.
In the past, the Second House would accompany their gifts with One tael of silver, which had become an unwritten rule over the years. Of course, this wasn’t expected of everyone; it was specifically aimed at the Second House. Grandma Han had counted on her Second son being amenable and too afraid to disobey her, leading to an incident that set this tradition.
In reality, other people’s birthday gifts rarely exceeded One tael of silver. The Second House had previously been too earnest. No one paid attention to an inconspicuous birthday package, and although Grandma Han pocketed the silver, she still berated the Second House. To outsiders, it seemed the Second House was stingy.
This year’s birthday gift was Su Wenyue’s idea, deliberately planned that way. The Clothes she brought from her Mother’s Family’s warehouse were gifts given to the An Family, but as the An Family was particular about attire and only wore custom-made Clothes from either their own embroidery room or prestigious embroidery rooms in Chang’an, they never wore handed-down garments. The Clothes would have been handed to Servants at home anyway, so Su Wenyue considered it a form of recycling.