The breeze blows and the skirts fly.
The profile of the girl in green clothes is more beautiful than the lotus in the lotus pond.
"What is the young master looking at?" Ah Fu put the fruit snacks on the table and followed his young master's gaze, "Isn't this Miss Lin?"
Shen Zheng put down the tea cup: "How do you know me?"
"Last time at the young master's marriage banquet, Miss Lin also came to Shen's house as a guest." Ah Fu replied, "Wasn't the young master drunk that day? I looked everywhere for the young master but couldn't find him. Finally, Miss Lin's maid found him. I, I just met the drunk and unconscious young master under the crabapple tree in the backyard. If it weren't for Miss Lin, the young master would have caught a cold and fallen ill that day, and I haven't even thanked Miss Lin properly."
Shen Zheng frowned: "Really?"
He recalled it for a moment, and suddenly some broken scenes flashed through his mind.
It seems...under the crabapple tree, he did see a girl in a green shirt. He was drunk that day, lying on the stone and fell asleep. He had a dream about his mother. He seemed to have caught her. I took my mother's hand... For the first time in so many years, I felt my mother's presence so clearly...
Thinking of this, Shen Zheng broke out in cold sweat.
He actually recognized Miss Lin as his imaginary mother, and even forcibly grabbed Miss Lin's hand.
Ah Fu looked at his face: "Master, what's your expression?"
Shen Zheng spoke slowly: "I have to go to Miss Lin to apologize."
"Ah? Shouldn't we say thank you?" Ah Fu scratched his head, "Do you need me to prepare some thank you gifts?"
When he asked, Shen Zheng had already taken steps towards the lake.
At this time, everyone was enjoying the lotus flowers, the men gathered around and chanted poems and poems, the women talked about homely matters, and some ladies from the boudoir were chatting and laughing in groups.
Miss Lin and the maid were leaning on the railing alone and looking into the distance. Suddenly a group of ducks swam over, and both the master and the servant became excited.
At this time, a voice suddenly sounded behind them.
"Miss Lin."
Shen Zheng came over and said hello.
Miss Lin turned around, saw someone she knew, and responded: "Master Shen."
Shen Zheng's face was slightly embarrassed: "I came here to say sorry to Miss Lin. Last time I was drunk and did some rude things. Please don't mind me."
When she talked about this incident, Miss Lin's face was a little embarrassed. She was only sixteen years old and was being caught calling her mother. This feeling was indescribable.
Later, she went back and sent someone to make some inquiries, and found out that Mrs. Shen died of illness not long after giving birth to the child. She was afraid that Master Shen didn't even know what his own mother looked like, and he was also a pathetic person.
When you see your mother in a dream, it is normal for you to get emotional and recognize the wrong person.
She tried her best to pretend not to care: "It has been many days and I have forgotten about it."
Shen Zheng laughed: "That's good, that's good."
Not far away, Mrs. Lin's sharp eyes saw a man talking to her daughter. She stood up in shock and walked over quickly.
This was in public, with men and women present. In the past, she would never have been so vigilant, but since the drowning incident, she would feel like a formidable enemy when any man approached her daughter, for fear that her daughter would be plotted again.
"It turns out to be Master Shen."
Mrs. Lin walked over and stood directly in front of her daughter.
When she saw who it was, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although this boy from the Shen family was careless, he looked very innocent and could not do those destructive things.
She said politely: "Master Shen is currently studying at Huzhou Official School. Are you sure about the provincial examination in the autumn?"
Shen Zheng originally wanted to say that he had no intention of taking the provincial examination, but for some reason, when he saw the look in Mrs. Lin's eyes, he felt a little unsure.
He looked around and said to him: "Brother Cheng must be sure, Master said he will be among the top three."
"Mr. Cheng is the nephew of the Sui'an people. Naturally, he is as talented as the Sui'an people." Mrs. Lin praised, "If there is a chance, I have to let the unsatisfactory boy in the family meet Mr. Cheng, and maybe he can get involved. Some talent.”
Miss Lin nodded and said: "I have really been looking for a chance to get to know Mr. Cheng. My mother should bring me here today."
"There will be more opportunities in the future." Mrs. Lin said with a smile, "The sun is shining over here, let's go sit in the pavilion for a while."
She left with Miss Lin.
Shen Zheng stood there and touched his nose depressedly.
He had nothing to do with Brother Cheng. Mrs. Lin praised Brother Cheng both inside and outside her words. Miss Lin actually knew Brother Cheng very well...
Thinking of this, he slapped his forehead. The mother and daughter of the Lin family admired Brother Cheng. Mr. Lin must also admire Brother Cheng. He should be happy for Brother Cheng. How could he have such a trace of jealousy?
He is not Zheng Wangfeng, and he cannot be so small-minded.
Shen Zheng warned himself in his heart, and his mind suddenly opened up, and he went to talk to someone with a smile.
On the other side, Cheng Wanwan was busy.
She made a menu based on the available ingredients, and then handed it to Mrs. Zhao to prepare the ingredients.
Fortunately, Wu Huiniang came back with Chunhua and Cheng Fang, and she had the main force in the kitchen, so she would not be too busy to get dizzy.
"Three cows, we don't have enough firewood, go and chop some more, the more the better!"
"Big-headed lady, hurry up and help chop the meat. I have to kill the fish to make fish balls."
"The rice has to be steamed now, otherwise it will be too late later. Once it is steamed, put it on the side. You can eat it even if the weather is cold."
"We don't have enough vegetables. If anyone still has vegetables in their fields, bring them over. Don't be reluctant to part with them!"
"We don't have enough dried bamboo shoots. Please help us. Bring over whatever you have. I've written down the four eggs over there. I won't be at a loss for everyone."
"..."
Although I had the experience of hosting a banquet for Zhao Ergou's wedding last time, I started preparing the food the night before. But this time, the meal had to be served in two hours, and everything had to be prepared from scratch. The villagers were also very busy. On the ground, everyone is busy here and there.
Fortunately, there are enough people, and a lot of things are divided among everyone, so it is not so hectic and can be regarded as orderly in the chaos.
Cheng Wanwan looked at the menu. There were twelve dishes in total. Due to the temporary preparation, it was not as sumptuous as the last wedding banquet. However, hundreds of dishes were prepared within two hours, including chicken, duck, and fish. She tried her best.
She looked up at the vegetable garden on the edge of her yard, with a wry smile on her face.
This banquet was all based on local ingredients. All the vegetables in her field were plucked. All kinds of green vegetables, beans, lettuce, eggplants and cucumbers... In short, as long as they grew into edible vegetables, they were sent as ingredients. Went to the kitchen.
The chickens and ducks at home could not escape either, and their chirping and quacking sounds were suddenly reduced by half...
An hour later, the aroma of food began to waft out of the yard. Slowly, the aroma became stronger and stronger, shrouding the sky above the small yard.
It was already afternoon now, and they would be able to have dinner after a while. It could be said that most people were hungry, and their stomachs had already begun to sing about the empty city plan.
Cheng Wanwan asked Old Man Zhao to tell everyone to sit down and prepare to start the banquet.
The villagers sat spontaneously at the flat table outside. The officials naturally came to sit at the main table in the small courtyard. County Magistrate Shen, Fu County Magistrate, Bai County Magistrate, Master Lin, Master Wu and others accompanied Eunuch Ming to sit at the same table. Cheng Wanwan is an official, and there is no distinction between men and women on some important occasions, so she also sits at this table.
Next to it were some official wives sitting at a table, ladies sitting at another table, and old man Zhao inviting some highly respected elderly people in the village to sit at another table...
"The food is served!"
As Aunt Wang shouted, a rich fragrance hit her.
