CHAPTER 161: CHAPTER 161 DISTINGUISHED GUEST ARRIVAL

162 Distinguished Guests Arrive

In the north, banquets start with cold dishes, followed by a continuous service of hot dishes. At that time, there were twelve cold dishes on the table—six meat and six vegetable—which was already quite refined.

Sun Mei may not have had experience arranging a banquet and wasn’t familiar with the intricacies of preparing the menu, but the cooks were experienced. They provided suggestions that were guaranteed not to embarrass the hosts.

However, Mrs. Zheng was intentionally looking for faults.

Tian Cuihua’s face darkened upon hearing Mrs. Zheng’s words. She bluntly sat down beside Mrs. Zheng and said coldly, "Mrs. Zheng, I’m telling you, today is a joyous day for Brother Dong and his wife. If you’re here to eat, then enjoy your meal. If you’re looking for trouble, I’ll drag you out of here right now, believe it or not!"

Mrs. Zheng and Xiao Wang were still quite afraid of Tian Cuihua. Although Mrs. Zheng kept grumbling under her breath, she didn’t dare to be too unruly on the surface.

Mrs. Zheng whispered scornfully, "I was just stating my opinion, and it’s the truth."

Upon finishing, she found Tian Cuihua glaring at her and finally shut her mouth.

After a while, everyone realized that they had been waiting for a long time and the banquet had not yet begun, so people started to get curious.

"It seems like all the guests have arrived. Why hasn’t Zhao Dong announced the start of the banquet yet?"

At this point, someone in the know started to explain, "Let’s wait a bit longer. It seems there are still guests who haven’t arrived yet."

"Ah, who else is coming? Doesn’t everyone seem to be here already?"

"I heard it’s the Zhao Family’s prestigious guest. Have you noticed that another table is set up in the front hall? I heard it’s for some important figures."

"It must be those distinguished guests who came in a horse carriage last time! They seemed quite extraordinary, and their carriage looked like it belonged to people of high status. I wonder what their background is."

"Well, regardless of their background, Brother Dong’s family has certainly made it big now!"

"HAHAHA, it seems like our clan is going to have a prominent figure! Brother Dong is really capable! In the future, I’d like to see who still dares to look down on our Zhao Village!"

...

Of course, these words reached the ears of both Mrs. Zheng and Xiao Wang.

Xiao Wang was so jealous she was almost going crazy, cursing in her heart. Tsk, is that Zhao Dong’s ability? It’s the fortune bestowed by the ancestors of the Zhao Family; it’s merely been usurped by that shameless couple!

However, at this moment, Mrs. Zheng was more interested in the banquet in the front hall. She wanted to go to the front hall to see if the dishes served to the distinguished guests were the same as theirs. If they weren’t, she’d see how she could stir things up in the village!

But Tian Cuihua was keeping a close eye on her. Every time Mrs. Zheng tried to get up, Tian Cuihua pulled her back down. Even when she said she needed to go to the restroom, Tian Cuihua would follow her. Annoyed, Mrs. Zheng didn’t dare to misbehave and, in the end, could only quietly complain to Xiao Wang.

Mrs. Zheng scoffed, "Tsk, ’distinguished guests,’ indeed! Look at the time now, and we haven’t even seen a single hair of them. I think they probably won’t come!"

At this point, some others also felt the distinguished guests might not be coming. One said, "I think they really might not show up. It’s so late; why haven’t we seen them yet?"

"It’s possible they might not come. After all, they are prestigious guests and are very busy. How would they have the time to attend a small banquet like ours in the village?"

"Yeah, that makes sense. I just don’t know when this banquet will start. I’m getting hungry just looking at the food."

...

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Mrs. Zheng began to complain loudly, "Yes, yes, how much longer do we have to wait? We’re starving! Hey, do you think Zhao Dong’s family might be lying to us just to save face? Those prestigious guests are so busy; why would they attend a small Housewarming Banquet like this!"

As soon as she said this, a few people started to think it was possible. After all, distinguished individuals wouldn’t have so much free time to attend such an insignificant banquet.

So, someone called over Zhao Dong, asking him to start the banquet since everyone was hungry.

Zhao Dong could only smile and say, "Please wait a little longer. The guests haven’t all arrived yet."

Mrs. Zheng bluntly stood up and mocked, "Zhao Dong, you should be a bit more honest. Don’t starve us villagers just to save your own face! What do you all think?"

Upon hearing her, Zhao Dong frowned. When did Mrs. Zheng arrive?

Just then, the sound of approaching horse hooves was heard, followed by the neighing of horses.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a horse carriage slowly arriving. Once the carriage stopped in an open space next to the residence, a middle-aged man stepped out.

Zhao Dong immediately smiled at the villagers. "Please wait for a moment; I’m going to greet our guest."

With that, he hurriedly went to welcome the man with a smile. "Brother Wang! I’ve finally been expecting you."

"HAHAHA."

Wang Fuhai laughed heartily. "For your Housewarming Banquet, Brother Zhao, I naturally had to prepare properly!"

After speaking, he waved to the servant driving the carriage. The next moment, the servant carried ten rolls of silk down from the carriage.

Wang Fuhai smiled and said, "Brother Zhao, just a small token of my regard. It’s nothing much."

Zhao Dong also smiled broadly, replying courteously, "Brother Wang, you’re too kind. Quickly, please come inside, please come inside."

With that, he enthusiastically led the guest inside.

At this, the villagers at the banquet tables all stared with wide eyes. After Zhao Dong left, they began discussing fervently.

"Heavens, am I seeing things? That’s silk, right? It’s silk!"

"Yes, it’s definitely silk! I saw it once at the fabric store in the county town. It’s incredibly expensive! Good heavens, he gifted ten rolls just like that! Who is this person?"

"He seems to be Shopkeeper Wang from Guang Ju Restaurant."

...

Mrs. Zheng, still standing nearby, had an expression that was quite a sight.

Tian Cuihua glared at Mrs. Zheng and said coldly, "If you want to eat properly, then sit down. Otherwise, get out now!"

Mrs. Zheng felt utterly awful. That was silk! Real silk! She felt dizzy and sat down in a daze.

Nearby, Xiao Wang, who was rarely so quiet, was no better off. At this moment, she was clenching her teeth so hard out of jealousy that they almost shattered.

However, what they didn’t expect was still to come. Just as Wang Fuhai was being led into the living room, the sound of another horse carriage came from outside.

Then, a slightly smaller carriage approached. A middle-aged man with a long beard stepped out, smiling.

When Zhao Dong saw the newcomer, he was stunned. The person who had arrived was none other than the County Magistrate!

The villagers at the banquet had never seen the County Magistrate before. So, upon seeing the man, they didn’t recognize him and were still guessing who this important figure might be.

Zhao Dong immediately went over and was about to kneel but was stopped by Magistrate Li. "No, no! Today I’m not here in my capacity as County Magistrate. I’m purely here to attend your family’s Housewarming Banquet."

Then, he beckoned with his hand, and a servant carried a small box down from the carriage. "A humble gift, nothing of significance."

Zhao Dong hastily said, "Magistrate Li, this is too much! Please, come inside."

"HAHAHA, it’s quite alright, quite alright."

Magistrate Li laughed heartily as he strode into the courtyard.