Chapter 107 Family Banquet
Everyone chatted for a while, and since it was getting late, they decided to go to the old house.
When visiting, one cannot come empty-handed. Sun Bomin and the village chief carried the specialties of Sunjia Village. He Guye hurried over to take them. The village chief waved his hand and said, "Although you are younger than me, you are not as strong as me."
He Shujin and a few others wanted to go up and carry it, but were pushed away by the village chief and Sun Boming.
Sun Bomin smiled and said, "Let us do it. You guys can't carry it."
The He family’s old house was not far from the house that Aunt Sun was allocated. It was separated by an alley and it only took a short while to reach it.
There was a servant guarding the gate. When he saw the second master coming back, he immediately went to greet him.
When Sun Shan and others walked into the gate, they saw a wall.
They walked through the screen wall, along the corridor, and soon arrived at the outer courtyard. De Ge'er and Gu Yu held Sun Shan tightly, and they could sense the fear of both men.
Sun Shan didn't dare to look around and sighed in his heart that the He family was richer than he had imagined.
They walked through the outer courtyard and came directly to the reception room in the inner courtyard. There was no taboo here like in TV novels, where outsiders were not allowed to meet. Perhaps the village chief and Sun Bomin were the relatives of Sun Dagu, and were in-laws. Or perhaps the He family was currently farmers, not officials, and the rules were not that strict.
Sun Shan followed Aunt Sun and others into the reception room and saw an old lady with completely white hair sitting in the middle.
To the left of the old lady sat a man and a woman, and to the right sat a man, a woman and a little boy.
Aunt Sun smiled and said, "My old lady, father-in-law, mother-in-law, my eldest uncle and eldest brother are here."
He's father and mother quickly stood up, walked over and said, "In-laws, you are finally here."
The village chief cupped his hands and said, "My dear relatives, we just arrived not long ago."
Afterwards, Aunt Sun introduced He Dalang, He Dasao, and their son He Shuyao.
Taking Sun Shan, De Ge'er and Gu Yu to pay respects to the old lady of the He family.
Since it was their first meeting, Sun Shan and the other two kowtowed to the old lady of the He family. Afterwards, Sun Shan and De Ge'er hung a jade pendant around their necks, and Guyu had a jade hairpin on her head.
Afterwards, he paid his respects and kowtowed to He's father and mother, He Dalang and He Dasao, and received 4 money bags.
After some greetings, everyone sat down and drank tea.
The village chief smiled and said, "Congratulations, old lady, congratulations."
The old lady of the He family said with a smile on her face: "Congratulations, everyone."
The village chief congratulated He's father and mother again, and the content of his congratulations was naturally the fact that Jing'er had passed the imperial examination.
The old lady of the He family glanced at Aunt Sun and said with satisfaction: "We, the He family, must thank Sunjia Village for marrying such a good girl like Chunlan here."
This was meant as a compliment, so the village chief quickly said, "No, the Sun family has been very grateful to the He family for taking care of us over the years."
Mother He held He Shujin's hand and said happily, "Village head, you are too polite. Fortunately, Brother Jin looks like Chunlan. If he looked like Erlang, haha, he would probably be like him and fall asleep while reading."
What He's mother said was true. Chunlan gave birth to four boys, and three of them were like the other boys in the He family, who were not good at studying.
Jing'er is like Aunt Sun, he is very good at studying.
Aunt Sun joked, "Mother-in-law, if you ask me, Jing'er looks like the old lady. Every time people outside see Jing'er, they say he looks exactly like the old lady when she was young."
Hearing this, the old lady of the He family smiled even more contentedly, patted He Shuyu beside her, and said with a smile: "Now that you mention it, it's true, especially my eldest brother. Every time he takes Jing'er to see him, he always chases Jing'er and calls my name. Everyone in the family says that Jing'er looks like me."
Since the old lady said that Jin Ge'er looks like her, everyone must be flattering her. In this vast world, the old lady of the He family is the greatest.
He Shujin walked over to the old lady and sat down, saying pleasantly, "Great-grandmother, I also feel like you. We are the two smartest people in the He family, you are first and I am second.
This made the old lady of the He family laugh even more heartily. She touched her great-grandson lovingly and said, "You are praising yourself for being smart in a roundabout way."
After some joking, it was time for dinner.
Mrs. He arranged for the servants to set up the food, one table for men and one table for women, without a screen between them.
As for He Shujin, he was the favorite of the old lady of the He family and was asked to have dinner with her.
De Ge saw a table full of delicious dishes, but he didn't know where to start, so he whispered, "Shan Zi, there's a lot of meat tonight."
There was indeed a lot of meat, including chicken, duck, goose, shrimp, fish, oysters, and even the main soup was fish maw, shark fin and chicken soup.
This table of food costs a lot.
Everyone waited until the old lady picked up her chopsticks before starting to eat.
The He family also did not eat without talking or sleep without talking.
After taking a sip of the soup, my second cousin He Shuyu said with a smile, "Madam, the soup tonight is so sweet and fresh."
The old lady of the He family laughed and said, "Drink more if you like."
Then he said to Guyu, Sun Shan and others, "You should drink more too, it's nutritious."
Sun Shan took a sip and found it really delicious. It had been a long time since he had tasted such a refreshing soup.
De Geer was more interested in the fried chicken in front of him, but he was a little nervous and didn't dare to take it.
Master He considerately picked up some food for him and also for Sun Shan.
Sun Bomin smiled and said, "You two should thank your uncle."
Sun Shan and De Ge'er expressed their gratitude.
He Shuyu said exaggeratedly: "Brother De, stop pretending. In Sunjia Village, you were able to pick up meat by yourself. What's wrong? Are you shy when you come to my house? Don't dare?"
After saying that, he picked up another chicken drumstick for him, and of course also picked up one for Sun Shan.
De Ge'er blushed and said embarrassedly: "Second cousin, I didn't, please don't talk nonsense."
Father He laughed and said, "Eat, eat everything. Treat it like your own family. Don't be shy."
After hearing this, De Ge'er became even more shy. He buried his head in his food and did not dare to look up.
Sun Shan drank his soup leisurely and then ate his rice slowly and carefully.
When He Dalang saw this, he said gently, "Shanzi, you are very polite when eating. Yaoge'er, you should learn from him."
After taking a bite of rice, Yao Ge'er raised his head and said, "Dad, I have to eat faster. If I'm too slow, Han Ge'er will grab my food."
He Shuyao and He Shuhan were of the same age and the same year. They often went out together, studied together, and competed in everything.
He Shuhan rolled his eyes at Yao Ge'er and said bluntly: "You like to snatch, but I don't. Don't blame me."
He Dalang and He Guye looked at the two brothers in silence, and another day of fighting and playing continued.
Father He smiled and said, "You two have embarrassed your uncle."
Sun Bomin quickly said, "All brothers are like this. My family is the same. They all love to fight."
After the family dinner, Sun Shan drank two bowls of soup and was very satisfied. De Ge'er did the same, eating a lot of meat and leaving a lot of bones.
After everyone had finished their meal, the servants served hawthorn tea to help digestion.
The old lady of the He family also asked about the Sun family's well-being and whether Huang was in good health.
Sun Bomin replied that everything was fine.
After chatting for a while, it was getting late at night and everyone dispersed.
Before leaving, the village chief said, "I brought some hard rice from home, which will make a sweet soup."
He's father and mother expressed their joy and said that the soil in Sunjia Village is good and the food grown there is particularly delicious.
Afterwards everyone said goodbye to each other.
He's father instructed: "In two days, let's have a drink of Jing'er's scholar wine."
The village chief happily agreed to accompany him.