C250 lip gun and tongue (1/2)

The banquet began with Zhang Cang supporting the table, allowing his fat body to stand up from the praying mat.

He spoke a lot of words to the guests. Although Xiao Wen recognized every single word, his words were really too literary.

Xiao Wen was too lazy to translate. He could only make a rough understanding of the situation.

But what he said was nothing more than today's banquet, it was his fiftieth birthday and he wanted to thank everyone for coming to support him. He, Zhang Cang, did not like rules and regulations. He hoped that everyone would let go of their hunger and drink to their heart's content, and not be restrained or anything like that.

Following that, under the lead of Grand Princess Lu Yuan, Xiao Wen and the rest who were seated on the left stood up and bowed towards Zhang Cang, who was seated on the chairman's seat. Zhang Cang also clasped his hands and returned the greeting.

The same was true for the right wing, under Dong Zhuo's leadership.

”Heh heh, this display of power is even better than the feast that we had together!” ”Indeed, this is the life of the city people.” Xiao Wen thought.

But the red tape of the party was more than that.

After Zhang Cang had spoken for a long time, Lu Yuan and the others began to introduce themselves.

After the introductions were done, the feast officially began.

After sitting down, Xiao Wen discovered that the tableware used by Zhang Cang was also lacquer and not bronze.

However, this was also very normal.

Although in the spring and autumn, the noble officials, doctors, scholars, and concubines, and even the utensils used for meals, all had different rules of etiquette. People of low status didn't need bronze artifacts.

But gradually, some nobles became poor while some soldiers became rich. Although they were restricted by etiquette, they still didn't dare to use the bronze cauldron excessively.

But another kind of object became popular, and like bronze, it became a symbol of affluence, the lacquer.

Historically, during the Spring and Autumn Warring States Period, Wei and Song States were known as the ”Thousand Tree Painting”, which was the craftsmanship center of the Central Plains.

In the past, Taoism's top-notch Da Niu Manor was the manager of the lacquer garden in Song Kingdom.

However, the lacquer here was not cheap. The price of a good lacquer was comparable to gold.

After Xiao Wen sat down, he carefully observed the lacquers in front of him.

He discovered that the small lacquer plate was black and the lacquer bowl was a uniform red. The wine cup was for the ears. Similarly, it was a red and black cloud pattern, simple and bright.

No matter what they were, they were obviously custom-made high-grade goods and were not cheap.

But here, there was no sign of a bronze artifact.

”What is Bon Temps doing?” Lu Yuan didn't seem to have any rule of not saying anything at all. She asked Xiao Wen, who seemed to be fiddling with the lacquer, but didn't eat.

”I'm just curious.” Xiao Wen put down the lacquer bowl in his hand and said to Lu Yuan in puzzlement, ”I heard that large families all have their own families. Top aristocrats were used to using bronze artifacts. However, in Lord Zhang Cang's mansion, there was not a single bronze tableware … ”

”Puchi!” Hearing Xiao Wen's words, Lu Yuan almost laughed out loud.

She explained, ”Big Blessing was born abroad. I didn't know that it was because I fought wars year after year. Copper could be used as a weapon, or it could be used as a copper coin. We rarely make cutlery out of copper. ”

”Then why are the lampstands behind us made of copper?” After all, from the perspective of materials, bronze, iron, stone, and pottery could all be used as suitable materials for the lampstand. Among them, bronze was the most expensive.

If they couldn't even use bronze tableware, then why use bronze lampstands?

Hearing Xiao Wen's question, Lu Yuan shook his head and said, ”The material of this lamp holder is made from bronze. After all, the Emperor had bestowed upon him something which could not be sold. However, not to mention Zhang Cang Manor, even if it were Chang'an, it would still be hard to find one for this lampstand. I've only seen them in the palace. ”

”So it turns out that I, the burly man, am here on national day.” Xiao Wen nodded his head to show that he understood.

At the same time, he gained a better understanding of the man's poverty.