Chapter 379: Chapter 19: Entrustment (First Update)
Banquets have been around since ancient times, but while the name may be the same in different places, the style can vary greatly.
The banquet arranged by Susu truly reflects the extravagance of the Song Family and is definitely the most lavish type.
It features chicken, duck, and fish served together; once one group of guests has finished their meal and leaves, the same setup is laid out again for another group to enjoy.
The 30-table feast hosted by the Hong Family lasts three days, starting at 10 a.m. each day and ending at 5 p.m.
After discussing with Hong Sheng, Susu’s inner and outer world took a moment to process; each table costs at least two taels of silver, which means 60 taels for 30 tables.
However, that’s not how the cost is calculated because with the population of Hami County and the speed of spreading information, there might be 60 tables on the first day, 100 on the second day, and even 150 on the third day.
After a quick mental calculation, Hong Sheng thought: ...
Heh, poverty has stifled my imagination!
On the surface, he had to act moved, grabbing Susu and kissing her repeatedly, "Wife, thank you!"
But who is Susu? Having traveled to Great Chu, she boasts an innate Golden Finger and acquired skills, now recognized as an expert in micro-expressions.
Susu smiled without explaining, simply showing Hong Sheng the list of gifts sent by the families of civil and military officials, and what the local common folk contributed to the feast outside.
Speaking of which, no one came empty-handed just to eat and drink; even if some families brought only a few black face masks, that was still their best offering.
Especially after the people of Heiyuan Town learned from Liu Dongyuan that Susu would host a three-day banquet, they not only brought fresh vegetables and fruits, some merchants and wealthy families sent carts full of chicken, duck, and fish, and many strong men and women left their farm work to come and help.
With contributions from other parts of the Hami Guard, Susu almost saved half the silver.
For Susu, it did not matter whether or not silver was saved, but the fact that her efforts were recognized and reciprocated was much more gratifying than giving without return.
Hong Sheng, a bit embarrassed, said, "I’m not really worried about how much silver we spend!"
Susu nodded, "I know, husband is the most generous, how could he care about such a small amount of silver."
Hong Sheng: ...
Wife, the way you lie with your eyes open doesn’t comfort me at all.
Hong Sheng and Susu brought Mantou along to the feast, and the common folk and some stewards eating and drinking put down their bowls and cups to greet the Hong Family’s trio warmly.
Although those present were merely commoners and some head stewards sent to represent their masters, Hong Sheng was not aloof, he raised a bowl handed over by a servant, and cupped his hands towards the guests.
"Dear fellow villagers, I, Hong, am about to lead troops to war. By the current Emperor’s decree, I shall not return without defeating the Tartar, so there is no telling when I will come home.
I entrust my dear wife and young son into the care of you village elders, and I toast to you all, I drink first to show respect!"
After Hong Sheng finished, he downed his bowl of wine in one go, while the people present were filled with a mix of emotion and excitement.
Although everyone knew Hong Sheng was speaking formally, a figure like Lady Su would hardly need their care, but no official had ever used such earnest language with them before, entrusting even his life and family to them.
Even the servants of other families felt unusually valued.
After Hong Sheng spoke, little Mantou, encouraged by Susu, also stood before his father and bowed to those present, "Thank you, dear villagers, for your unwavering support of the Hami Guard. Though I am young, I will stand and fight alongside you."
Susu, behind the father and son, also bowed deeply, thanking them for trusting her husband, and asked them to trust her son.
After the first day of the feast, the words and actions of the Hong family’s trio quickly spread.
The local folk, whose worries had been mounting, finally breathed a sigh of relief. The tale of Heiyuan Town residents evacuating to Puli County within half a day had become legendary, unknown to Susu herself, but her reputation among the people was no less than Hong Sheng’s.
As Commander Hong led the expedition against the Tartar, it was Hong Sheng’s trusted confidants left to guard Hami. The locals might not trust the remaining generals, but they certainly trusted Susu and Hong Feng, the so-called "Golden Child under Guanyin."
Seeing as the well-informed already knew that other generals’ families had left the Northwest early, now hearing Hong Sheng’s pledge, people understood the assurance that the Hami Guard would fight to the last moment, with his wife and child enduring hardship alongside Hami’s folk.
So those officials and merchants, unwilling to abandon their homeland and vast estates, all made up their minds.
On the second day, Hong’s banquet continued without pause, with some respectable families coming personally to demonstrate their resolve to live and die with the Hong Family.
This left the ordinary commoners in awe—when had they ever shared a table with such esteemed people?
Word quickly spread across the nine regions of the Northwest; setting aside the jealousy and resentment of other Commanders towards Hong Sheng, even Liu Dusi privately exclaimed to his wife, "Hong Sheng really has accumulated virtue over several lifetimes to marry someone like Susu!"
While Madam Qin worried about Susu and Mantou, she also felt proud; had she been in that position, she and Susu would have made the same choice.
Of course, this is all yet to unfold; aside from that, the Hong Family hosted a smaller gathering at night, entertaining relatives and friends for Susu’s birthday.
Everyone in the house knew that Hong Sheng was departing for the expedition early the next day, and there was no knowing when he might return. So no one pushed drinks, and after a lively meal, they dispersed on their own, leaving intimate time for the Hong family’s trio.
Now, the three of them sat on the south kang in the bedroom, Fen Dai brought over tea and snacks, and then they all left.
With no outsiders around, the trio relaxed. Hong Sheng took off his shoes, resting his head on a large pillow of watercolor hues, one arm holding his son, the other cracking walnuts with a squeeze, "crack-crack," the paper-shelled walnuts broke into pieces.
Mantou nestled in his father’s lap, picking out the walnut meat and placing it into a small gold-plated dish, then pushing it towards Susu.
Susu sat beside her husband and son, peeling pine nuts and pistachios, feeding them one mouthful each once a dish was ready.
However, Hong Feng secretly smiled at his mother, happily noticing that she gave him slightly more, despite feeding them one by one.
Hong Feng subtly shifted a bit, blocking his father’s line of sight. Naturally, he was pleased that his mother favored him, and he didn’t want to refuse, but he also didn’t want his father to notice and feel bad.
Having long noticed the "interaction" between mother and son, Hong Sheng raised an eyebrow at his "Three Hundred Silvers Not Here" son, silently mouthing to his wife, "Make it up to me tonight!"
The remark made Susu’s face turn red; this shameless man, with the child right here!
