Chapter 243: The raging fire and the blooming flowers

Chapter 243: The raging fire and the blooming flowers

The whole family stayed away from the town and started shopping for preparations for the banquet.

At this time, Mr. Qian, Mr. Huang and others from Fengle Building rushed over from the town after hearing the news.

"Congratulations, congratulations, Manager Tong." Mr. Huang got off the carriage with his hands behind his back and his belly bulging, and congratulated Tong Huaqiong with a smile.

"It's a pity that I learned the news a little late." Boss Qian regretted that he did not witness the hanging of the plaque with his own eyes.

"Congratulations, Sister Tong." Hong got out of the carriage with a smile on her face.

He Chao naturally also got the news, but he did not come along. On such a great day, he should have helped his boss to guard the shop, so his daughter-in-law Hong came to Qinghe Bay as a representative to congratulate.

Tong Huaqiong greeted Huang Yuanwai and others with a smile and let them into the yard.

After knowing each other for so long, this was the first time that Mr. Huang visited Tong Huaqiong's home in Qinghe Bay.

He couldn't help but sigh that Tong Huaqiong, a widow who started out by selling cakes at a stall, opened a shop, bought land, and received government commendation in such a short period of time.

Now, not to mention Yanguan Town, even Pingchuan County and the provincial capital know Tong Huaqiong's name.

To Tong Huaqiong's surprise, Gu Baishuang sent her son Nie Xiaofeng to give her a gift.

Nie Xiaofeng felt like he was being forced with a knife at his neck, and his face was full of unhappiness.

Nie Xiaofeng didn't like Tong Huaqiong's family in the first place, and as he was young and didn't know how to hide his unhappiness, it showed on his face.

Tong Huaqiong didn't care about his expression. Nie Xiaofeng had to call her grandma no matter how reluctant he was. Since he was a guest when he brought gifts, Tong Huaqiong still warmly invited Nie Xiaofeng to drink tea.

Tong Huaqiong's enthusiasm left Nie Xiaofeng stunned. He was really not used to getting along with such a step-grandmother.

He would rather Tong Huaqiong remained as sarcastic and mean as before, because he knew how to deal with it.

Tong Huaqiong did not do as he wished and asked about Gu Baishuang's situation. Nie Xiaofeng said a few vague words, put down the gift and ran away.

Tong Huaqiong didn't care either.

"Dahan, Dashu, you two go buy some groceries."

Tong Huaqiong invited Mr. Huang to drink tea in the house, then came out and told the two brothers Gu Dahan and Gu Dashu to buy vegetables and prepare the banquet.

"I heard that Manager Tong wanted to treat us to a dinner? No need to go through so much trouble. I'll send someone to order a few tables from my place. I guarantee that everyone in the village will have a great time." Boss Qian appeared in front of Tong Huaqiong again to show his presence.

"Boss Qian, don't. No need to trouble you. This is my wedding, so naturally I will prepare it myself." Tong Huaqiong distanced herself from Boss Qian.

Boss Qian knew that Tong Huaqiong's refusal was genuine, so he did not dare to continue his pursuit.

"Mom, let me take care of the banquet. It's a happy occasion that you have been commended, so our banquet should be more sumptuous." Chen Sufen happily volunteered.

Gu Taohua and Liu Yue'e echoed the idea and discussed the use of big carp, big pork elbow, braised lamb and other big fish and meat as the display.

Tong Huaqiong thought for a moment and waved her hand, "It doesn't have to be so sumptuous."

Gu Taohua asked in confusion: "Why not a rich feast? Mother, this is your wedding, and our family can afford delicious food."

Besides, the family is not short of money now, so why is my mother so stingy?

Gu Taohua didn't understand, and neither did Chen Sufen and Liu Yue'e.

Tong Huaqiong was not worried about the money, she was thinking more far-reachingly.

Today, Tong Huaqiong's peach blossom dessert business is booming. She has formulated a medicine for ear rot and has been commended by the government...

It can be said that it is like a blazing fire with abundant flowers and a brocade. How can it not arouse jealousy while making people envious?

Especially since they all live in the same village, why is Tong Da Jiao, who was once not presentable, so successful now?

Wouldn't it be even more arousing jealousy if you prepared a feast full of fish and meat?

For the villagers, it is difficult to eat meat throughout the year, so a big pot of meat and vegetables can satisfy everyone, and the most important thing is to have enough oil and water. If you, Tong Huaqiong, have a feast with lots of fish and meat, it will arouse everyone's jealousy. Maybe after eating your fish and meat, they will turn around and scold you, and start hoping that you will be unlucky.

We all live in the same village, why?

The hole in this sumptuous feast has been torn. How can we prepare for future happy events in the family?

So the best way is to have meat on the table, but not all of it is meat and fish.

So as not to spoil everyone's appetite.

Tong Huaqiong asked Chen Sufen to prepare a big pot dish with meat, soup, meatballs, and big white steamed buns. It would make everyone enjoy the meal without causing jealousy.

After listening to Tong Huaqiong's explanation, Gu Taohua, Chen Sufen and Liu Yue'e finally understood Tong Huaqiong's deep meaning.

"Mom is really thoughtful." said Chen Sufen.

"Of course not. Otherwise, how could mother be commended by the government? We are the ones who benefit from it." Liu Yue'e flattered Tong Huaqiong.

"So you have to think more before doing things in the future. You can't just act on impulse, especially since our family is different now than before." Tong Huaqiong took the opportunity to say.

Gu Taohua and her two daughters-in-law nodded in agreement.

When the villagers heard that there was going to be a banquet, they all stayed at Gu's house to help without being told.

They picked vegetables, cut meat, lit fires, moved chairs and tables from each house, and prepared the banquet in a lively manner.

No special chef was invited; the meals were prepared by Chen Sufen and the girls and wives from the village.

Following Tong Huaqiong's instructions, Chen Sufen led her people to stew several large pots of dishes with meat and vegetables, steamed buns, and made soup.

The quantity is large enough for the villagers to eat their fill.

Big bowls of meat and vegetables were placed on the table, and everyone was eating them with big hot steamed buns.

"It's so fragrant!"

"After all, she's Aunt Tong, so there's plenty of food!"

Everyone didn't sit at the table, but just held their bowls filled with food, and everyone ate until their stomachs were full.

It was the first time for the county magistrate's young son, Liu Yanhong, to eat the big pot dishes at a rural banquet. He excitedly ran around the yard with the bowl in his hand.

Everyone was wondering why the county magistrate's son ran away like a dog at the smell of meat.

Tong Huaqiong specially prepared a table of home-cooked dishes and set it up in the house, inviting Huang Yuanwai and others.

The excitement lasted until mid-afternoon. After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill and helped clean up, they left Tong Huaqiong's yard one after another.

Either go to the fields or go home.

Soon, only Tong Huaqiong and a group of bad bamboos were left at home. Gu Jingzhe also rushed back home from the private school in the town after hearing the news.

Originally everyone was busy and had no time to think about the fact that Tong Huaqiong was commended. But now when everyone dispersed and met their families face to face, they became happy again.

"Mom, this is a great joyous event that has been brought about by the smoke coming out of our ancestral tomb. We must burn a stick of incense in front of our ancestors to let them know about our great joyous event. Also, we must take down the plaque and place it in front of dad's tablet so that he can see it, and also put out the one hundred taels of gold so that he can see it." Gu Dashu said excitedly.

"Burn your ancestors' legs." Tong Huaqiong blurted out.

His face looked livid.

Everyone in the Gu family: "......"

This was the honor that Tong Huaqiong had earned with her own ability, not with the blessing of the Gu family's ancestors. She had no relationship with the Gu family's ancestors at all, so naturally she was unwilling to burn incense to her ancestors just because she was recognized.

Everyone in the Gu family didn't understand why Gu Dashu had offended Tong Huaqiong on such a good day.

What Gu Dashu said was right. Whenever there was a happy event in the village, such as the birth of a new baby, harvesting a few more pounds of grain, getting married... wouldn't they all burn incense in front of the ancestral tablets, let the ancestors enjoy the joy together in the underworld, and thank them for their protection?

What's more, receiving recognition from the government for such a great thing would be a comfort to all our ancestors.