The next day was a flower-viewing banquet hosted by Dr. Guanglu’s wife.
In late May, it was the season when peonies were in full bloom. The flowers in the back garden of the Zhao Mansion were in full bloom, and it was so beautiful.
At this time of year, many people in Beijing are invited to enjoy the flowers, and many ladies and ladies come to meet them. Mrs. Zhao personally greets them at the door.
Mrs. Zhao is about forty this year. She looks very capable. She welcomes everyone in with a hearty smile: "Mrs. Zhou, please come in. Miss Li is getting more and more beautiful. The beads on Mrs. Yang's head are so beautiful. Miss Yu's body is so beautiful." The clothes are so well embroidered, which embroidery studio they came from..."
Mrs. Zhao exchanged greetings one by one, and her eyes soon fell on Cheng Wanwan, "It turns out that Sui'an is so young, please come in quickly."
As soon as these words came out, everyone's eyes fell on Cheng Wanwan.
They were just wondering when a strange woman came to the capital. They thought she was some official family member of the seventh or eighth rank, but who would have thought that she was from Sui'an.
They were really curious about the Sui'an people, and some of them couldn't help but send greeting cards to the Sui'an people. Unexpectedly, the Sui'an people showed up at the Zhao family's flower viewing banquet, and Mrs. Guanglu of the third grade also invited them. Since they are from Sui'an, it's not too rude for them to send greeting cards.
"I've seen Mrs. Zhao." Cheng Wanwan stepped forward, "I've just arrived here, and I have nothing to do every day. Mrs. Zhao's flower appreciation party can be regarded as saving my life. It can prevent me from being bored at home, and I can also Let me, a country woman, see the world in the capital. Let me enjoy flowers and gardens with all the ladies, and let me, a country bumpkin, learn the manners of the ladies."
She put her status in a very low light, talking about being a village woman or a country bumpkin, which actually endeared her to the ladies present.
"What country woman from Sui'an can afford to wear this kind of clothes from Sui'an, made of fine brocade and ice silk fabrics?" Mrs. Zhao said with a smile, "Tea and snacks have been prepared in the yard. Let's go in and talk."
A group of noble ladies and rich ladies walked inside.
The back garden was full of gorgeous peonies. Everyone sat down to enjoy the flowers and drink tea. It was very pleasant.
Many people curiously asked about the things that Cheng Wanwan had done, such as what exactly is regenerated rice and what is cotton... Cheng Wanwan explained these in layman's language to these noble ladies who had no fingers in the spring water. Noble ladies were born as beauties of heaven. They had never heard of those things in the countryside, and they all listened with gusto.
"We also have a flower garden in Dahe Village, where we plant lotus, peach blossoms, chrysanthemums, jasmine, and plum blossoms... There are beautiful scenery all year round." Cheng Wanwan said with a smile, "If you have the opportunity, ladies and gentlemen, you are welcome to go to Dahe Village to enjoy the flowers."
A woman sighed: "It's good to have flowers in full bloom, but it's a little too far, and the village is inconvenient everywhere. I'm afraid I'll never be able to go there in this life."
"Everything in the capital is convenient, which is good, but many things are too expensive." Cheng Wanwan also sighed, "When I came to the capital this time, I was tired of traveling and traveling all the way, and I didn't know how much I spent on transportation, so that's all. , now my nephew and I are preparing for the Reading Pavilion, and we have discovered that the most expensive thing is books. Take the most common three hundred thousand for example. Books with annotations cost at least four to five hundred, so we can’t help but spend money. ...Fortunately, Mrs. Zhang generously donated hundreds of books, otherwise the reading pavilion might not be able to open..."
"It turns out that the Reading Pavilion is actually related to the Sui'an people." A lady said in surprise, "My distant nephew has been living in my home since he became a Jinshi. I heard a while ago that he donated thirty books to a newly opened Reading Pavilion. Books, are they the same thing?"
"That should be it." Cheng Wanwan said with a smile, "Everyone who donates books to the Reading Pavilion will have their names written on the merit wall, and Mrs. Li's nephew will also have a place on the merit wall."
Mrs. Zhao asked curiously: "What exactly is this merit wall?"
"...The names of those who have contributed to the Reading Pavilion will be written, and they will be ranked according to the amount of their contribution. If the donation amounts are equal, they will be ranked according to the rarity of the books... For example, Mrs. Zhang donated four hundred books, then Mrs. Zhang's The name will be written first, and every scholar who walks into the Reading Pavilion will see Mrs. Zhang’s name, and the vast number of poor students in the world will naturally be grateful for Mrs. Zhang’s merits.”
Cheng Wanwan explained carefully, "Actually, I originally planned to write Mr. Zhang's name, but I feel that men can make contributions wherever they go, but it is difficult for us women to leave our names in history... I dare not say that we will leave our names in history. , if you can become a person of merit among scholars, you can also gain a good reputation for yourself..."
The ladies around them suddenly made calculations in their minds.
Sui'an has a very good reputation and has become a role model for women, and with the emperor and queen on her back, this reading pavilion will definitely attract a large number of scholars. If they can leave their names on the wall of merit, say Maybe it will be seen by the emperor and queen. This is a great thing that will benefit future generations. Such a good opportunity cannot be missed.
Mrs. Li quickly said: "I wonder if this reading pavilion is still short of books?"
Cheng Wanwan said quietly: "Books have their own golden house. No one will ever dislike having too many books."
"That's great." Mrs. Zhao said quickly, "Our Zhao family is also a scholarly family. My son's grandfather's grandfather was a Jinshi. The books in the family have been passed down for hundreds of years and there is no room for them in the study. It is just right to organize some and donate them to The Reading Pavilion should be able to donate at least four hundred copies."
Her master is a third-rank official, and Master Zhang is also a third-rank official. She doesn’t want to be the wife of a third-rank official. As for whose name is first and who’s last, it depends on the rarity of the book. It all depends on luck.
"Mrs. Zhao is really grand. Our Li family can't compare with her, so please donate two hundred copies."
"We also have some books in the Zhou family's study room, and I will donate 200 books."
"Then I'll donate a hundred copies."
"..."
With Mrs. Zhao taking the lead, and the temptation of hidden benefits released by Cheng Wanwan, the ladies present started donating books one after another.
They all started with at least a hundred books, and the most was Mrs. Zhao's four hundred books, and she randomly collected four to five thousand books.
Cheng Wanwan stood up and said sincerely to everyone present: "Thank you ladies for your generous donation. The Reading Pavilion will definitely write your ladies' names on the merit wall. As long as the Reading Pavilion is open for one day, your ladies' names will also be written on it. One day, if the Reading Pavilion remains, the ladies will be remembered forever..."
The Zhao family's garden party quickly spread around the capital because of the book donation.
More people came to Cheng Wanwan's residence, and most of them donated books. Some of the family members of seventh- and eighth-rank officials followed suit and donated about a hundred books, while the wives of second- and third-rank officials did not want to be compared. There were five hundred books in one hand. Initially, those first-rank officials did not bother to participate in this, but then Mrs. Lin donated 800 books, and Concubine Lin donated 500 books in her own name. In the end, the Queen also arranged for someone to donate 1,000 books. book……
After the Queen participated, the book donation trend became more and more intense. Even ordinary people came with books, one or two, as well as various orphans... One thing caused Cheng Zhao and Shen Zheng a headache. The matter was resolved just like that.
