The splendor of the Red Chamber, the power that reigns supreme.

Chapter 63 Family Banquet for Yue Fei
"Yu Shi? Heh heh, she's lucky to have survived." A constable chimed in, "Don't you know about Chen Shi, the woman who died outside the East Gate? She was forced to hang herself, and her body has been left to dry for three days without anyone collecting it! She left behind a three-year-old child. In this world, a widow's property is like a death warrant from the King of Hell!"

The fat yamen runner added, "I heard she plans to marry Magistrate Shang's son, Scholar Shang, and that man from the capital..."

After hearing this, Ximen Qing turned around and said, "Alright, brothers, bring me the documents for the handover of the silk shop."

The short, stout constable slapped his forehead: "Oh dear! Look at my terrible memory! Damn it, damn it! Official business is more important, official business is of utmost importance!"

He hurriedly pulled an oilcloth bag from his pocket, carefully untied it, revealing a stack of documents written in ink on blue paper, which he held high above his head with both hands. Several yamen runners nearby quickly gathered around, holding their breath and watching Ximen Qing with envy. They knew that in just a moment, this coveted luxury shop would change hands.

Master Ximen slightly bent down to confirm the documents were correct. Immediately, a yamen runner brought over vermilion ink. He dipped his thumb in the ink, and without a pen or a moment's hesitation, pressed his blood-red fingerprint onto several key spots with a series of "snap," "snap," "snap." The red imprint on the paper declared the change of ownership complete.

"Congratulations, sir! Congratulations, sir! With this prime location you've acquired today, your business is sure to boom!" Several constables exclaimed, offering auspicious words.

"Thank you all for your kind words!" Ximen Qing smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. Then he took out a small ingot of silver, about five taels, from his sleeve. Without even looking at it, he casually tossed it into the short, fat man's arms: "Take this, brothers, use it to buy some wine."

The silver coin landed with a "clatter" in the short, fat man's arms. It was so heavy that his fat jiggled with joy, and he and several other yamen runners hurriedly bowed and scraped.

Ximen Da Guanren added slowly, "This shop will be cleaned up and reopened in the next few days. When the time comes, if any of you brothers' wives or sisters-in-law want to buy some fine silk to make clothes, come to my shop and I will charge you seven cents of silver."

These words were like pouring a bucket of cold water into boiling oil!
"Oh my!!" The short, fat man was so excited he almost jumped up, his voice trembling. "My lord! You are truly a living bodhisattva reincarnated! My wife has been eyeing the [brocade lotus-patterned satin] jacket that the wife of the wealthy Wang family on East Street is wearing for almost half a year! The fabric is so expensive, I could never even dream of it! But now, thanks to you, my lord, I can finally get one for my haggard wife so she can wear it back to her parents' home for the New Year and show it off properly! Let's see if that woman dares to hit me again!"

"That's right! Thank you for your kindness, sir!" "Don't worry, sir, from now on, we'll keep a close watch on this area, not even a fly will be able to cause trouble!" "Please take care, sir! Please take care!" The constables all bowed and thanked them.

Ximen Da Guanren nodded and cupped his hands, then turned and walked towards the hitching post. There he saw the tall, thin yamen runner who hadn't gotten much of a chance to speak, who was quick-witted and nimble-fingered!

He suddenly darted forward and, before the short, fat man and the other constables could react, grabbed the bridle and reins of Ximen Qing's horse!

"My lord! Slow down! I'll lead your horse for you! This stone road is slippery, don't hurt your precious horse!" The tall, thin man bowed, his face full of obsequiousness, and gripped the reins tightly.

This infuriated the short, fat man and the other constables! Watching helplessly as this skinny monkey seized the initiative, they cursed him inwardly: "a stray dog ​​that steals shit," "a sycophantic scoundrel," "tall people are always cunning," and so on!
Meanwhile, Master Ximen bowed to the tall, thin man in thanks, then mounted his horse and left the story behind.

Inside the Ximen mansion, Wu Yueniang, having received her husband's words, thought to herself, "Since my husband has instructed us to hold a 'family banquet,' this is a respectable gesture that aims to be 'genuine.' It certainly can't be just a few ordinary dishes of vegetables. It must show that our Ximen household is harmonious and that everyone, from top to bottom, is sharing in the joy. Not only should the masters have food, but the servants should also have food."

Having made up her mind, Yue Niang moved to the kitchen to oversee the proceedings.

As the sun began to set, the kitchen was a steaming, smoky mess. Three or five stoves were lit simultaneously, flames licking the bottoms of the pots; steamers were stacked high, hissing and billowing white steam; the chopping sounds on the cutting board were rapid and deliberate. The Moon Goddess stood in the doorway, her face kind and gentle, yet possessing the air of a mistress. She first inspected the prepared chicken, duck, fish, and meat: a whole, plump goose, clean and white; a foot-long Yellow River carp, its scales shimmering; and the finest Jinhua ham, red and white, its aroma already subtly wafting through the air. Then she looked at the seasonal vegetables piled on the counter, green and white, glistening with freshness.

Moon Lady nodded slightly and called over Sun Xue'e, the head cook at the stove: "Xue'e, what my husband wants today is a respectable 'family banquet,' so he doesn't care about the cost, but it must be plentiful and well-organized. More importantly, it's about the lively atmosphere of the 'home.' You're busy here, setting up the table in the hall outside, and all the servants and maids in the kitchen, even those on duty in the gatehouse and stables, must be well-fed today. Tell them to prepare a few tables as well, with plenty of wine and meat, so that everyone can celebrate together and show the generosity of our Ximen family!"

Although Sun Xue'e was a servant, she had been in charge of the kitchen for many years, quick and efficient, and adept at managing affairs. Upon hearing Yue Niang's instructions, she hurriedly replied:
"Don't worry, Madam! I'll take care of it. I've already given the orders. The inner kitchen is dedicated to serving the distinguished guests in the main hall, while the outer kitchen is set up separately to prepare food and drinks for the servants. Chicken, duck, fish, meat, seasonal fruits, and delicate pastries are all prepared in abundance. I would never dare to let anyone go hungry or feel cold-hearted."

As she spoke, she rolled up her sleeves, revealing half of her fair arm, and personally instructed: "Slice this fish thinner and arrange it in a fancy way! The honey-braised fish is ready, take it out of the pot quickly! The eight-treasure duck in the steamer behind is ready, carefully lift the lid so that the steam doesn't escape!"

With three stoves and seven or eight kitchen helpers, she managed them all with remarkable efficiency, ensuring no sparks flew and no soup spilled. She was truly a master cook.

For a moment, the kitchen was filled with the sounds of clinking spatulas, sizzling oil, bubbling water, and the lively chatter of people. The aroma was so enticing that it made everyone's mouths water. Everyone was busy, sweating profusely, but their faces were beaming with joy—knowing that their hard work would be rewarded with a delicious meal.

Amidst this bustling chaos, there was a pair of eyes, cold and indifferent, fixed intently on only one person.

Who? It was none other than Jinlian'er.

She leaned against the doorframe of the moon gate leading from the kitchen to the backyard, holding a handkerchief in her hand, pretending to help. Seeing that she was injured and going to work, Yue Niang didn't want to stop her, so she let her do what she wanted.

Jin Lian'er moved along, fanning herself and supporting her back as she picked vegetables. She had been doing this since she was a child, so she was quite skilled at it.

His eyes, sharp as knives, pierced through the shadows and smoke, relentlessly targeting the busy maid, Yuxiao. Finally, he caught Yuxiao, and taking advantage of everyone's inattention, deftly picked a small piece of tender braised pork hock from the freshly cooked dish and tossed it into an inconspicuous double-layered vermilion lacquered food box.

Jinlian sneered and continued to stare.

Not long after, Yu Xiao looked around and picked out two more pieces of glossy pickled goose, which he then put into the food box.

Not long after, he quickly picked up a lot of delicate fruits and fried snails, stuffing them full into an inconspicuous double-layered vermilion lacquer food box.

Jinlian sneered inwardly: "You cunning slut! You're quick on your feet! I've been watching you for a while!"

(End of this chapter)