Chapter 96 Plum Appreciation Banquet
The end of the year is approaching, and the festive atmosphere is getting stronger and stronger.
Shen Zhi bought a lot of fabrics in the space, many of which were high-end brocade jacquard silk fabrics with various new Chinese patterns. There were beige landscape plum blossoms, light-colored ink bamboo, light blue golden cranes, light pink tung flowers, light pink ancient fan peonies, and various patterns of printed old coarse cloth, which were strong and durable, dazzling. He also bought a lot of fine cotton cloth, which was left for Ah Si's unborn child. He also bought a lot of cotton, which was kept for making cotton clothes.
These days, Shen and the third aunt's wife were busy sewing new clothes for the family for the New Year. Everyone had a share, even Cao Rumo and the guards who came with him had a new set of clothes prepared for them.
When Shen Zhi was bored, she tried it herself and found that she actually had the basic skills of embroidery, and it seemed that she was quite good. Later, she asked Shen Zhen and learned that one of Shen's maternal ancestors was an embroiderer from Jiangnan. She had extraordinary skills in Suzhou embroidery and passed them down to her descendants from generation to generation. Shen's mother and daughter naturally inherited the skills of Suzhou embroidery.
Now that she had this skill, Shen Zhi was not idle. Thinking that Zhan Xiao was alone and had no family to worry about him, she decided to make him a new set of clothes herself.
Shen Zhi chose a blue crescent moon with white relief bamboo leaf and bird jacquard fabric for him based on his height and personality. This was the first time Shen Zhi had picked up needlework to make clothes since she traveled through time. Fortunately, the craftsmanship in her memory was still there, and she finished a brocade robe in just two days. Shen Zhi was quite satisfied with this dress. She carefully folded the dress and put it in the closet.
When Cao Rumo and the guards received the new clothes, they were filled with mixed emotions. This was the first time someone prepared new clothes for them for the New Year like they were family members.
Shen Zhi has been going to the mountains more frequently these past two days. In order to have a prosperous New Year, she has brought back a lot of prey, including pheasants, rabbits, sika deer, and wild boars, all alive.
In order to house these people, Uncle San made adobe bricks outside the yard and used them to enclose a large yard. Inside the yard, he built a pig pen, a cowshed, several small houses, and a lot of bamboo cages. Then he settled all the people in this small yard. To ensure safety, he also prepared a nest for Xuetuan inside so that Xuetuan could protect them.
Zhang Chong's house was finally built, and they chose an auspicious day to move in. Shen Zhi was also the chef for the housewarming banquet. To celebrate their settlement in Shitou Village, Zhang Chong invited the whole village to have a buffet.
In the blink of an eye, it was the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, and General Song brought Song Rou over to give New Year gifts.
The Song family's New Year gifts were all very thoughtful, and they were all practical rice, flour, grain, and oil. There were also gifts for Ah Si, and precious medicinal herbs for the third uncle and his wife. There were also coarse cloth, suitable for making clothes for work, and a lot of fine cotton cloth. There were also jewelry and hairpins for the Shen mother and daughter. In addition, they also brought a lot of fruits and vegetables produced on the Song family farm.
"Xiao Zhi, there will be a plum blossom viewing banquet at the Yang Mansion tomorrow, do you want to go?" Song Rou asked.
Shen Zhi raised his eyes and answered, "I received an invitation yesterday. It was for Yixiang Jun. I guess she doesn't even know that I am Yixiang Jun. To be honest, I don't want to join in the fun. I always feel that something strange will happen at this plum blossom viewing banquet."
Song Rou took her arm and said coquettishly, "Just go, go and give me courage. The Yang family is a close relative of my maternal family, and there is no way I can escape."
Shen Zhi nodded: "Okay, even if it's a dangerous place, I'll go with you tomorrow."
General Song chatted with Cao Rumo for a while before saying goodbye and leaving with Song Rou.
Shen Zhi was also busy, searching around the house and preparing some things to send as New Year gifts to the Song family in a few days.
The next morning, Shen Zhi changed into a light green long coat, with a plain hairpin in her hair, and went to the Song residence to meet Song Rou at the agreed time. Song Rou's outfit was also very simple and elegant, and as soon as they met, they got on the Song family's carriage to attend the banquet.
When they arrived at the gate of Yang's Mansion, the two got off the carriage. The doorman checked the invitation and let them pass.
After entering Yang's house and walking through a corridor, a large garden appeared. The whole garden was planted with plum blossoms. As soon as you enter the garden, the faint fragrance of plum blossoms hits your nose. Looking around, there are many varieties of plum blossoms. Not to mention the common pink plum blossoms and red plum blossoms, white plum blossoms, green plum blossoms and white plum blossoms can also be found. The plum blossoms on the trees are here and there, adding a lively artistic conception.
Shen Zhi stood under the plum tree and looked up. He saw green, red and white flower buds, which looked like crystal clear gems.
At this hour, there were already many ladies from wealthy families in the garden admiring the plum blossoms, gathering in groups of three or four.
"The woman in pink is the eldest daughter of the Yang family. She was the one who sent us the invitation. Let's go and say hello." Song Rou pulled Shen Zhi over.
"Sister Yang, long time no see, you are even more beautiful now." Song Rou greeted Yang Zhenzhen enthusiastically. Shen Zhi, who was watching from the side, always felt that Song Rou's smile was a little inappropriate.
Yang Zhenzhen looked up and saw Song Rou. She immediately smiled and took her hand, "Sister Rou, you are here. I was really worried that you would ignore us after you had a father." Yang Zhenzhen glanced at Shen Zhi and recognized her as the country girl who came to rescue Zhu Mingyue after she fell into the water last time. Her face was slightly unhappy, but soon returned to normal. Then she looked at Song Rou again and said, "This must be the peasant girl who saved Miss Zhu last time. Why did Sister Rou bring her here? Oh, you must want to bring her here to see the world. We have a lot of food in our Yang Mansion that she has never seen. There are many kinds of plum blossom cakes under the plum tree. You can take her to try them."
Song Rou was about to speak, but was stopped by Shen Zhi. Since he didn't recognize her, he was too lazy to introduce himself. This was better and quiet.
The two of them found a place with few people. There were many tables in the whole plum garden, and the tables were filled with tea and many plum-related cakes. There were yam plum cakes, crystal plum cakes, crispy plum cakes and plum cakes. There were two maids standing in front of each table. Shen Zhi guessed that they might be watching the tea and snacks, afraid that someone would poison them.
The two of them had eaten little in the morning, so they picked up a piece of cake and started eating. Shen Zhi took only one bite and put it down. She winked at Song Rou, who also put it down without eating.
"It's a bit dry and I can't eat it," Shen Zhi said to Song Rou deliberately, but actually he was speaking to the maid next to him.
Song Rou nodded, "Then let's go over there to enjoy the plum blossoms. The red plum blossoms are so beautiful and gorgeous."
The two walked to a deserted place, and Shen Zhi whispered, "Try not to eat anything here. It doesn't matter if you eat this cake, but if you inhale the plum blossom fragrance again, you will have to vomit for half a month when you go back."
Song Rou's face changed when she heard this, and she instantly lost interest in appreciating the plum blossoms.