Chapter 664: Dowry (1/2)
They had originally planned on holding Little Shitou’s birthday celebration before the metropolitan civil service examinations as a family. This would also allow him to relax a bit and avoid him from becoming too nervous and not balancing himself between work and rest.
Xiaocao planned on inviting Grandfather Zhao’s family, her godmother’s family, and a few of her good friends. In addition, she wanted to invite Little Shitou’s master, Great Scholar Yuan, and a few of his good school friends. However, her only mistake was in assuming that this would be a simple matter. She had thought that holding the banquet at the Medicinal Cuisine House would be enough.
In general, the rooms at Medicinal Cuisine House needed to be reserved at least a week in advance. Xiaocao had quickly estimated the number of people and decided to reserve three rooms. That would have been more than enough space to cater her own family, Grandfather Zhao’s family, her godfather’s family, the guests that Zhu Junyang wanted, her own good friends and their husbands, as well as Little Shitou’s schoolmates and teachers.
She didn’t expect that once word got out at the Imperial College that things would change that much. Now, even the teachers who were invited were enough to fill one whole table. As for the students who got the invitations, they would be able to fill three rooms until they burst. Then there were the students who were usually mere acquaintances with Little Shitou who turned up without being invited; they ended up filling another table.
Somehow, the news that the Yu Family was getting food catered from the Medicinal Cuisine House had also reached the ears of the emperor emeritus and a few of the imperial princes. That was it! These old men, who loved food, had all scurried over with gifts along too. Then there were a few families who had good relationships with the Fang Family; all of them also appeared at the Yu Residence. It was so busy that the Yu Family and Fang Family’s people had no time to deal with it all!
Fortunately, Xiaocao had taken all of the private rooms back from the Medicinal Cuisine House in advance. Otherwise, this banquet would become a farce that everyone would laugh at.
Their master’s younger brother was having his birthday celebration, and it was turning out to be a big event. Thus, the chefs and servants from the Medicinal Cuisine House did their best. Every single dish was made to complete perfection. This meal was so delicious that those old gluttons ended up stuffing themselves silly. It could be said that both the hosts and guests at this celebration were immensely satisfied by this event. Before they left, every person also got a box of pastries as a gift. However, one shouldn’t look down on this mere box of desserts. In the Yu’s Western-Style Desserts Store, this tiny little box cost at least a few dozen taels!
There was only one shop in the entire capital, even the entire Great Ming Empire, that sold western-style desserts. As for those old dessert shops, like Daoxiang Village, who sold traditional style desserts, they were all incredibly happy that the ‘Yu’s Businesses’ hadn’t extended their reach into their territory. Otherwise, they would have no road left to live.
The manager of Daoxiang Village had once tactfully inquired Yangliu whether The Yu’s planned on making traditional style desserts. When she reported to Xiaocao, her answer back was enough to set their hearts at ease——within the next twenty years, The Yu’s only planned on making western-style desserts. This allowed all of the old and famous dessert shops to let out a big sigh in relief. Many things could change in the span of twenty years. Who knew what things would be like twenty years later?
After his birthday celebration passed, Little Shitou discovered that his relationships with other people had improved immensely. Within the Imperial College, whether it was the teachers or students, everyone would show him a genial smile whenever they saw him. Those who were closer to him would even come over and greet him! When the students were debating, many of them would go and find him to exchange thoughts and ideas. It truly helped him to refine his own thoughts. Thus, at the college, Little Shitou was maturing at a breakneck speed.
When Yuan Sinian began quizzing his little disciple, he discovered that the youth’s ideas and thoughts had matured greatly and that his essays had become more rigorous. If one had to compare, prior to entering the Imperial College, Yu Fan was like a young eagle who had just left the nest. Although he was quite dynamic, he was also a bit young and tender in his thoughts. Now he had already matured into an adult eagle, able to fight with the winds and soar the vast skies with complete ease. He had a long-term vision and loads of potential and was just waiting for his opportunity to fly up into the clouds.
Great Scholar Yuan didn’t show much of his thoughts on the outside but when he returned back home, he was quite cocky and boastful in front of his son. Prime Minister Yuan felt quite helpless by this. ‘Yes! You managed to obtain a good disciple! He has the talent to become the top scorer of the Imperial Palace Examinations. He has the potential to become one of the legendary scholars who got the top score in all three rounds of the palace examinations! What does any of this have to do with me, huh? For the sake of your good disciple, my younger disciple brother, I even needed to resign from the spot of the top examiner. Did you have to come over and flaunt this in my face ah? My dear father, have you forgotten that you have a grandson who is also going to participate in these exams? In your eyes, in your speech, in your heart, do you only have your precious disciple now? Did you displace your young grandson ah? Then what is my placing in your heart now, as the father of your grandson, ah?’
Fortunately, his youngest son’s personality was like his and didn’t depend on the attention of others. Everyday, his son would follow his usual routine and go to the Imperial College to study, then go back home to meditate and review his schoolwork. In addition, he would even sometimes ask for guidance from the little genius, Yu Fan. Hard work could make up for a lot of things, so he was confident that his son would be able to get a good placing in the metropolitan civil service examinations!
The days passed by one after another. In the blink of an eye, the capital had already entered the season of wind and snow. In the past, winter at the Yu Residence had a different atmosphere than it did this year. This was the last New Years that their youngest daughter was going to spend with their family. Thus, Yu Hai and his wife became busy at the start of the twelfth month as they wished to give their youngest daughter a perfect memory of this last holiday as an unmarried lady.
As the eldest sister-in-law, Liu Huifang had also come to the capital with the Yu Family. In the past, she had once come to the capital after getting an invitation from her good friend, her future younger sister-in-law, Xiaocao. The Yu Family’s residence in the capital wasn’t much different than the one they had in Dongshan Village. The only difference was that the furnishings were a bit more delicate and fine.
After Liu Huifang entered the capital, she began to learn how to manage a large residence from her mother-in-law and her younger sister-in-law’s godmother. On the day of her younger brother-in-law’s birthday, she had gained quite a bit of experience and had come into contact with a lot of upper class maidens in the capital. Although she was a bit reserved and restrained when interacting with them, she had slowly learned how to conduct herself. During the preparations for the New Year’s celebrations, she had continued to help her mother-in-law and had come up with many good ideas and proposals.
Liu Huifang had grown up with Xiaocao and had personally witnessed the Yu Family’s journey from rags to riches. She knew that Xiaocao was the one responsible for the sudden rise in the Yu Family’s fortunes. It could be said that, without Xiaocao, they wouldn’t have the current Yu Family.