TGFH Chapter 23: Preparation Before The Banquet

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       Because it was a sudden proposal and nothing was prepared, Bai Yi and Xiao Yiran scheduled the family dinner for the evening. After sending a servant to the side yard to pass on the message, Bai Yi began to prepare.

　　Although Xiao Yiran didn't let him do it himself, Bai Yi still felt that he should go and see it in person. After all, this was his first family dinner since he came to the General's Mansion.

　　After confirming the menu, Bai Yi went to the kitchen for a tour. However, the servants in the small kitchen were all sent back by Xiao Min later, so they didn't have to worry about anything. In addition, the general and his wife had requested this family banquet, so the servants were even more attentive. The dishes were carefully selected and reported by the small kitchen. Many of them were not even heard of by Bai Yi, let alone helping. In the end, he had no choice but to follow Xiao Yiran back to the house.

　　"Everything has been done by others, and I always feel like it has nothing to do with me." Bai Yi took a sip of tea and said helplessly.

　　"Just stay here, the servants will do those things." Xiao Yiran said with a frown, was anxious with Bai Yi who was tossing around with a bulging belly.

　　"After all, this is my first time eating with your family. I'm embarrassed that I can't even cook a decent dish." Although he and Xiao Yiran didn't care much, the gap in their status was still there. Bai Yi had some confidence in his cooking skills, but now looking at the names of dishes he had never seen before, he couldn't help feeling a little depressed.

　　"I think your cooking tastes better." Xiao Yiran looked at Bai Yi who was a little depressed and said expressionlessly.

　　Seeing Xiao Yiran being so serious even when he was saying sweet words, Bai Yi burst out laughing, "Then I'll make it for you every day in the future?"

　　"Well... wait until you feel better." Xiao Yiran thought about it and added. He still felt that it was too dangerous for Bai Yi to work with a bulging belly.

　　"Okay." Bai Yi smiled gently, took out a small white sachet from his arms and handed it over. "I made it a few days ago, but I never had time to give it to you. Then I forgot about it yesterday. Now I'm giving it to you."

　　In Dazhao, men can get married, and the married party must treat the man he marries as a woman serving her husband. Therefore, in order to show that the relationship between husband and wife is consensual and not forced, there is a custom that before getting married, the man must embroider a sachet for his husband by hand, to represent that he is willing to be his wife from now on. The party who receives the sachet must hang it on her body within one month after the marriage to show respect for the other party.

　　But since many married men had never learned how to weave or embroider, their workmanship was very poor, and the sachet had to be embroidered by hand, many couples skipped this custom, or just made it but did not wear it.

　　Bai Yi embroidered this sachet by himself. Although Bai Yi was not very good at embroidery, he often needed to mend things when he lived alone, so he was not too reluctant to do it. During these days in the general's mansion, Bai Yi made some when he had free time. After two months, he finally made one that he was satisfied with. Although it was not particularly delicate, it was not too ugly.

　　Xiao Yiran took the sachet and looked at it. There was a bamboo section embroidered on the white brocade, and ordinary herbs were placed inside. It was simple and generous. Without thinking too much, Xiao Yiran directly hung the sachet on his waist.

　　"I just did it casually, you just keep it..." Seeing Xiao Yiran's actions, Bai Yi immediately stopped him with a red face.

　　Xiao Yiran glanced at Bai Yi, and still hung up the sachet. "I like it very much, thank you."

　　When Bai saw that Xiao Yiran was determined to do so, he stopped trying to stop him, but he still felt a little embarrassed and his face blushed.

　　"Ahem... there's still a while left, shall we go for a walk in the yard?"

　　"Um."

　　…

　　While Bai Yi and Xiao Yiran were being affectionate with each other, Xiao Min and Aunt Xiao also received messages from the servants.

　　"Miss, the general sent someone to tell you that you are invited to have dinner together in the main courtyard tonight." Qi Xiu walked to Xiao Min and whispered the servant's message.

　　"Hmm? What does big brother say?" Xiao Min put down the book in his hand and asked lightly.

　　"Miss, the message from the main courtyard is that the madam and the general want you to go with Madam Hua and your cousin." Qi Xiu replied.

　　Ever since the last incident with the Fengming Grass, Xiao Min asked the servants in the mansion to directly address Bai Yi as "Madam".

　　Xiao Min nodded, "Has anyone from the other courtyard gone?"

　　"A servant has already gone to pass on the message. Madam Hua and Miss....what do you mean, Miss?"

　　Xiao Min suppressed the matter of Fengming Grass, and Bai Yi did not pursue it. People in the side yard were not talkative people, and Yuan'er had almost forgotten about it after two months, so Xiao Yiran still didn't know about it. When the message was passed on, both sides sent people directly.

　　"Well... let Cuiying prepare some supplements, and also pick out some of the good silks that were sent from the other village a few days ago and bring them over in the evening. Come with me to the villa first." Xiao Min thought for a moment and gave the order, "Cuiying has been punished for two months, it's almost time. Tell her later that she should follow me in the evening."

　　"Yes, Miss." Qi Xiu bowed and replied.

　　…

　　At the same time, Aunt Xiao also received a message from the servants. After sending the servants away, Aunt Xiao returned to the house with an angry face. She swept the tea set on the table away with a wave of her hand, her eyes full of resentment.

　　"This bitch! You're setting up a meal in the main courtyard... What are you so proud of! You're taking my Lan'er's place. Sooner or later, I'll make you spit it all out..."

　　"Mom!" Hua Lan called out softly, stopping her mother from continuing to yell, "Didn't cousin Min'er say last time that she had asked her cousin to keep an eye on her..." In fact, she was not at all disappointed that she couldn't marry Xiao Yiran. She didn't have to marry him anyway, and she was always a little scared of Xiao Yiran. Now she didn't have to marry him, which was good. Besides, Min'er had talked to her about it, and the marriage she arranged for her shouldn't be bad, so she could relax.

　　"Alas! You useless child... How can you still be so stupid when someone is bullying you? That bitch has taken your place!" Aunt Xiao looked at her daughter with a look of disappointment. She had been under house arrest in the courtyard for two months by Xiao Min, and she was very anxious. She did not expect that her daughter would surrender to the enemy. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

　　"Mom..." Hua Lan retorted softly, "Lan'er doesn't want to marry my cousin...my cousin's wife is a very nice person..."

　　When Hua Lan learned about her mother's last time planting Fengming grass, she was almost scared to death. Thinking of Xiao Yiran's expressionless face, she was afraid that if something really happened to Bai Yi, her mother would also be in trouble. But later, when she heard Xiao Min say that Bai Yi was fine and had suppressed the matter, Hua Lan breathed a sigh of relief and was full of gratitude to Bai Yi.

　　"Don't call that bitch cousin! That bitch is a good person? Lan'er, you are so naive and soft-hearted! He hasn't even gotten married yet, and he is already thinking about asking us to establish your authority! Humph, Yiran hasn't married him yet, let's see what tricks he can play!" Aunt Xiao said gritting her teeth. Even though she was caught by Xiao Min last time, there was no solid evidence after all, and Bai Yi was not in trouble. She was not afraid that they would use the Fengming Grass to make trouble.

　　Looking at her mother's distorted face, Hua Lan didn't know how to persuade her.

　　At this time, the servant came to report that Xiao Min had arrived. Aunt Xiao regained her normal complexion a little bit and said with a slightly mocking tone, "Look, the helpers have already arrived." After that, she adjusted her face and took Hua Lan out to greet Xiao Min. After all, the other party was the real head of the general's mansion.

　　…

　　When Aunt Xiao and Hua Lan came out, Xiao Min was standing in the hall. She greeted them with a slight greeting. "Aunt, Cousin Lan."

　　"What brought Min'er here again? Did she come to see if the door of our courtyard was locked?" Aunt Xiao laughed sarcastically. Seeing Xiao Min standing there peacefully, Aunt Xiao was furious. She had been locked up in this courtyard for more than two months, but she had a very good relationship with the little bitch.

　　"Aunt, you are too serious. Min'er is here just to remind you that today is a family dinner hosted by my eldest brother and my eldest sister-in-law. Please don't cause any trouble." Xiao Min still got straight to the point and didn't bother to talk nonsense. "Aunt and cousin Lan have been staying at home for the past two months. My eldest brother has a lot of things to deal with and how it's a rare for him to stay at home. I don't want my eldest brother to be upset. If anyone wants to make trouble tonight, I will not show mercy."

　　Glancing at Aunt Xiao, Xiao Min continued calmly, "The weather is getting colder, and it's time for Aunt and Cousin Lan to buy some clothes. Last time, some satin was sent over from the village outside. I'll ask Qixiu to send some over to Aunt and Cousin Lan tomorrow."

　　"Hmph, thank you for your trouble." Aunt Xiao frowned and replied reluctantly after listening to Xiao Min's warning.

　　Although she hated Bai Yi very much, she still had some reservations about what Xiao Min said. After all, Xiao Min controlled the financesbof the General's Mansion. Moreover, she knew that Xiao Yiran had not mentioned marrying Bai Yi yet, so she had some concerns in her mind, fearing that it was a problem with Bai Yi's baby. She roughly guessed that Xiao Yiran wanted to wait until the baby was born to confirm it, so she was not in a hurry to go against Bai Yi at this time, and fall into his trap and make Xiao Yiran unhappy.

　　Seeing that Aunt Xiao did not refute, Xiao Min nodded with satisfaction, smiled at Hua Lan and said, "Min'er and Cousin Lan haven't seen each other for a while, so why dont we talk. Let's go to the room and chat, and then we can go together in the evening?"

　　"Ah...Okay, come with me." Hua Lan was startled when she heard Xiao Min calling her name. After she came to her senses and saw that her mother had no objection, she smiled timidly and led Xiao Min back to her room.

　　Aunt Xiao looked at Hua Lan and Xiao Min's backs, snorted coldly, and went back to her room to dress up and get ready.

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