Chapter 336 Deliberate provocation
"It must be displayed." Tong Huaqiong said.
I had already held a banquet when I received the commendation plaque from the prefect last time. This time, I must have a banquet when I received the imperial edict to be conferred the title of Lady of the Country.
"Well... Today our village has two happy events. One is that Dashu Niang was named the Lady of the Country, and the other is that the private school has opened. We should celebrate it properly. I have wine and food at home. You don't need to prepare it, Lady of the Country Suifeng. I can just borrow your yard." Village chief Liu said respectfully.
Village chief Liu used to shout "Dashu Niang" (Great Heat Goddess), but before Tong Huaqiong's imperial edict had even warmed up to him, Village chief Liu changed his tone.
Tong Huaqiong was not used to being called Suifeng Xiangjun.
Village chief Liu prepared a lot of wine and food to entertain Mr. Li. However, Mr. Li did not show up, so he ate some of the food and wine himself and kept the rest of the live chickens and fish at home.
Now this can come in handy.
When the villagers heard that there would be a banquet, they were so happy that they smiled from ear to ear.
For the villagers, it is a happy thing that their children have books to go to, there is a good corn harvest, and there are banquets to eat.
"Dashu Niang... No, Xiangjun, my family has a leg of lamb left over from the August Festival, I'll bring it to you to bring you joy."
"Then I'll kill my two fat ducks that don't lay eggs to add to the dishes."
"My dear, I still have some unfinished fruit and melon seeds at home. I'll bring them over and arrange the dishes."
"Xiang Jun, I don't have any meat at home. I'll get some dried beans from my house. They'll make a nice stew."
Led by Aunt Qin and Liu Yue'e's mother, Mrs. Zhao, the aunts and wives in the village all wanted to add more dishes and meat to the banquet.
After all, Tong Dajiao was personally conferred the title of Suifengxiangjun by the emperor, so shouldn’t everyone give gifts to celebrate?
Tong Huaqiong's face turned red when she was called "County Lady" again and again.
If this continues, I will have to bow to her every time I see her in the future.
It's times like this that make you more low-key and not boastful.
Tong Huaqiong smiled and said to everyone: "We are all from the same village, you can call me whatever you want. Dashu Niang, Aunt Tong, Aunt Tong... I still like these names, so don't call me Xiangjun."
Everyone agreed and went home to get the dishes and meat.
The villagers were busy in the Gu family's yard.
Chen Sufen was pregnant and could not take care of the kitchen work, so Liu Yue'e and several young wives from the village rolled up their sleeves and went into the kitchen.
Tong Huaqiong saw that Chen Sufen looked a little pale, and asked with concern: "How are you? Do you want to see a doctor?"
Chen Sufen said: "I'm fine, I was just frightened by the eunuch who announced the decree."
Tong Huaqiong expressed her understanding.
Everyone in the Gu family who saw the eunuch at first suspected that he was harboring the remnants of traitors.
Chen Sufen experienced a strong transformation from fear and shock to surprise. It was normal for her body to be affected as she was pregnant.
Tong Huaqiong asked Chen Sufen to go into the house to rest, but Chen Sufen shook her head and said that it would be more comfortable to stand in the yard and get some fresh air.
Tong Huaqiong's concern for Chen Sufen was noticed by the young wives in the kitchen.
A young wife said to Liu Yue'e, "Your mother-in-law has changed a lot in the past six months. She has been very kind to your eldest wife. Look, she doesn't even let your eldest sister-in-law cook. Who in the village doesn't work when they are pregnant? Why is your eldest sister-in-law so precious?"
Liu Yue'e lowered her head and kneaded the dough without saying anything.
The young wife continued, "Now the eldest wife already has a son, and your eldest sister-in-law is pregnant with another son, so the eldest wife will be under your control. We always say behind the scenes that the eldest wife of the Gu family now looks like Aunt Tong's biological child, while your second wife doesn't look like a biological child. Now the couple of the eldest wife are at home, inseparable day and night, and you and Dashu are separated. How can you give birth to a child to help Yaozu? Your mother-in-law is now the county lady, and I don't know how much credit you and Dashu can get."
The young bride's parents' home is also in Qinghewan. She married in this village and is a close friend of Liu Yue'e.
Liu Yue'e raised her head and rubbed her flour-stained hands, saying, "My mother-in-law treats me very well. Look at the new satin I'm wearing and the gold-studded hairpin on my head. They were all given to me by my mother-in-law. You've always loved to show off to me since you were a child. Now that I'm living a good life, do you want to stir up trouble for me?"
"My mother-in-law is a county lady. No matter how much she can gain, when she goes out, Dashu is the county lady's son, and I am the county lady's daughter-in-law. You can only be the daughter-in-law of Old Man Tian when you go out."
The young wife looked embarrassed when Liu Yue'e confronted her.
Liu Yue'e did reveal her true feelings.
They are all girls from Qinghewan who grew up together and have always been competitive since childhood.
When girls are young, they compare whose hair flower is prettier and whose clothes are newer. After getting married, they compare the living conditions of their in-laws' families and whose man is more caring.
When Liu Yue'e was a girl, she always had the upper hand in every competition.
After she eloped with Gu Dashu and married into the Gu family, she fell into a disadvantage.
Ever since her mother-in-law opened a shop and the Gu family's life has improved, Liu Yue'e has become the one that the young wives compete with for supremacy.
"Even if you are jealous, it won't affect my life. Just wait, my life will get better and better after my mother-in-law becomes the village lady. I advise you to stop trying to sow discord. Instead of wasting time on this, you might as well learn from my mother-in-law how to make money and live a good life." Liu Yue'e said bluntly.
Liu Yue'e was not stupid. Although her sister seemed to be speaking fairly for her, she was actually full of jealousy and was deliberately trying to sow discord between them.
If she was fooled and expressed her dissatisfaction with her mother-in-law, her mother-in-law would hear it before tomorrow.
The young wife felt embarrassed and could not stay in the kitchen any longer, so she walked out in shame.
However, Liu Yue'e was still somewhat disturbed by these words.
Before Governor Yao and his party left Yanguan Town, the news that Tong Huaqiong was conferred the title of Xiangjun spread throughout the town like wildfire.
Peach blossom desserts are all the rage.
My mother was conferred the title of Lady of the Country, and it was an imperial decree issued by the emperor himself. Gu Taohua was so excited that she couldn't concentrate on her business.
Gu Taohua gave her servant a few instructions and then hired a car to head home.
Hong was with her, and the two of them wished they could fly to Qinghe Bay immediately to witness the glorious moment.
Unfortunately, all the cars in the car dealership were hired out today, and Gu Taohua waited for a long time but still couldn't hire a car.
Not only were there no horse-drawn carriages, there were no donkey carts either.
Gu Taohua came to Fengle Tower to borrow Boss Qian's carriage, and learned from the waiter that Boss Qian had already driven the carriage towards Qinghe Bay.
Gu Taohua stamped her feet and complained that Boss Qian was unsportsmanlike and didn't think of asking her and Hong to join him.
"Peach Blossom."
Gu Taohua heard someone calling her, turned around and saw a carriage stopped.
Huang Jingshan, the daughter of Mr. Huang, poked her head out and asked Gu Taohua with a smile: "You look so anxious, what happened?"
Huang Jingshan was accompanying Old Mrs. Huang to burn incense when she spotted Gu Taohua stamping her feet anxiously in the crowd.
Gu Taohua said, "News came from Qinghewan that the emperor of Shengjing issued an imperial decree to confer the title of Xiangjun on my mother. Aunt Hong and I wanted to rush back to see her, but we couldn't hire a car."
Old Madam Huang quickly pulled open the carriage curtain, and Zhu Cui poked her head out and asked, "What? Did your mother receive an imperial edict?"
Old Mrs. Huang and Huang Jingshan have not heard the news yet.
Gu Taohua nodded and said, "It was said that the eunuch from Shengjing announced the decree."
Old Mrs. Huang became excited. What was she waiting for? She wanted to go to Qinghe Bay to join in the fun.
When can't I burn incense?
So he called Gu Taohua and Hong to get on the carriage and said, "What are you waiting for? Come on up, I'll take a look too."