After the naughty kids left, Zhu Ping'an cleaned up the mess on the table, caught the innocent toad in his hand, walked out of the door, put the toad in the flower bed outside, and then covered it loosely with soil.
Okay, continue hibernating.
After that, he returned to the room again, laid out the brush, ink, paper and inkstone, and continued to practice calligraphy. This time, there were no naughty children to disturb him, until a little maid ran over and said that the Marquis's Mansion was going to host a dinner reception, so Zhu Ping'an put away the brush, ink, paper and inkstone and followed the little maid to the front hall where the banquet was held.
We turned left and right, walked through the mountain corridor, and passed several doors before we arrived at the banquet place.
This is a living room. Facing the door is a red sandalwood screen with pine and crane patterns and a jade base. On both sides are tables with upturned heads, on which are placed five or six large porcelain vases and marble plaques. The furnishings in the living room are gorgeously decorated, intricately carved, inlaid with marble, gems, enamel, etc. Although it looks beautiful, it has a strong sense of showing off wealth.
There is a central hall and a couplet hanging in the center of the living room. The couplet reads, "Coarse clothes, simple meals, and good tea, this is the blessing that I enjoy! Managing the family, governing the country, and pacifying the world, these things are up to Cao."
They are just eating simple meals, yet they have become so extravagant.
This couplet should have been left by the ancestor of the Li family who followed Zhu Yuanzhang to found the country. However, looking at the furnishings in the living room, it is clear that the couplet left by the ancestor of the Li family was left in vain.
When he entered the living room, Zhu Ping'an found that everyone else had already taken their seats, most of them girls. Sitting in the middle was a silver-haired old lady who looked to be in her sixties. Everyone surrounded her like the moon surrounded by stars.
The second, third, fourth and sixth young ladies of the Marquis' Mansion were all sitting around the old woman, with Li Shu sitting a little further away.
The old lady of the Marquis' Mansion was holding a little girl in her arms. The little girl was biting her chubby fingers and looking at Zhu Ping'an. There was also a naughty child leaning on the old lady's knees, looking at Zhu Ping'an at the door with a provocative look.
As soon as Zhu Ping'an entered the living room, everyone turned to look at him.
"Hey, who is this big brother? Is he the one we've been waiting for? Why did he come just now? Niuniu is so hungry from waiting so long." The little girl in the arms of the old lady of the marquis's mansion bit her chubby little fingers, covered her belly, and asked Zhu Ping'an with a cute face.
"That's right. You made us wait for so long, but you're not as polite as my sister and I." The naughty kid leaning against the old lady of the Marquis' Mansion looked at Zhu Ping'an provocatively and said.
Then, the old lady's already bad expression became even worse.
The sixth young lady of the Marquis's Mansion covered her mouth. Upon hearing this, she chuckled and looked at Zhu Ping'an with a look of gloating.
Understood.
The little maid just now must have been instructed by one of them to deliberately call me a long time later. It's really interesting. It seems that many people in this mansion are unhappy with me.
"I am so ashamed to be born so late."
Zhu Pingan bowed to apologize to everyone, and readily admitted that he was late. He did not pull out the little maid who called him just now to confront them. They came prepared. How could he catch them? It would be better to admit his mistake directly.
"That's all. Take a seat."
The old lady of the Marquis' Mansion, who was sitting in the middle, had a stern face and waved her hand to signal Zhu Ping'an to sit down. Then a little maid walked up to Zhu Ping'an and led him to another table.
Ancient etiquette: After seven years, men and women sit at different tables and eat from different utensils. That is, when a child reaches the age of seven, men and women cannot sit together or eat at the same table. In the Marquis' Mansion, it is even more particular.
The old lady and her friends sat at one table, while Zhu Pingan sat at his own table, with no one to accompany him. It seemed that the Marquis's Mansion really didn't take him seriously. Zhu Pingan was more certain of this issue after he sat down.
The meals were served one after another, and the scene was luxurious and extravagant. Even for Zhu Ping'an alone, there were more than ten dishes on the table, not to mention the table of the old lady of the Marquis' Mansion and others.
"Grandpa, I finally made it to dinner time."
A voice that was unique to boys in their voice change period came from outside the door. Then a familiar fat man trotted in.
This fat man is very familiar. He was the last one among the group of noble sons who rode their horses into the city at the city gate. He was also the weird fat man who kissed all his belongings while waiting in line for the imperial examination. The picture implies that he had kissed (definitely passed).
When I heard people calling him Fatty Zhou and Young Master Zhou at the city gate, I thought his surname was Zhou, but I didn't expect his surname was Li. That must be because the last character of his name is "Zhou".
This fat guy is not the same type as Fatty Xue Chi. This fat guy is a pure second-generation rich kid. From the inside out, he exudes a strong second-rate aura.
This fat guy is the most beloved one among all the grandchildren of the Marquis' Mansion, but there was no sign of surprise on his face. His face was full of smiles and his eyes were narrowed with laughter.
"You little monkey, you have a good nose. You came here just because you smelled the food." The old lady of the Marquis's Mansion smiled from ear to ear. She waved to the fat man to come over and asked with concern, "How come you came here after sleeping for a while? Why didn't you sleep a little longer? You were in the examination hall for nine days and seven nights, and your grandmother was worried. You fell asleep as soon as you got home, and your grandmother didn't even ask you how you did on the exam this time?"
After hearing what the old lady of the Marquis' Mansion said, the fat man said arrogantly, "Don't worry, Grandfather. I'm sure I'll get through this time."
Zhu Ping'an at the other table was speechless after hearing what the fat man said. You have kissed her, okay
Li Shu, who was sitting at the table, rolled her eyes when she heard this. She had heard that this cousin from her uncle's family was the most unreliable. When he was a child, he was like a pig, lazy, stupid, greedy, and self-righteous. I don't know how much effort her uncle spent to make him qualified for the examination. Now he dares to say that he will definitely pass. It's ridiculous. If Zhu Ping'an said this, it would be reasonable. I don't understand where your confidence comes from.
"Okay, okay, I knew my monkey would have a promising future." The old lady of the Marquisate laughed even more happily upon hearing this, "It's worth it for your mother and the others to go to the temple to pray for you."
"Hey, who are you?"
The fat man walked into the living room and was about to go to the table of the old lady in the Marquis' Mansion, but suddenly he found Zhu Ping'an, stopped, and asked with a fat face.
Before Zhu Ping'an could say anything, the naughty kid who was leaning against the old lady of the Marquis's Mansion heard the noise and ran out howling, hugged the fat man's thigh, pointed at Zhu Ping'an and said.
"He's a bumpkin who's here to take advantage."
The naughty kid pointed at Zhu Ping'an and said to the fat man with squinted eyes, and there was a little flame in his eyes when he looked at Zhu Ping'an.
Hearing this, Fatty Zhou looked at Zhu Ping'an with disdain. Bumpkin, you turned out to be a pariah! You dare to take advantage of us in Linhuai Marquis Mansion!
"Rui'er, how can you talk like that? He's your future fifth brother-in-law." The sixth young lady of the Marquis's Mansion smiled, covering her mouth.
Except for Li Shu and the chubby little maid behind her, no one else had any intention of educating the naughty kid about the way he addressed Zhu Ping'an. Instead, they felt like they were gloating over his misfortune.
"I don't want a bumpkin as my fifth brother-in-law. I want my cousin from my grandmother's family to be my fifth brother-in-law, not this bumpkin."
The naughty kid looked at Zhu Ping'an with an unhappy face and cried loudly.
"Ahem, children should not be restrained in their words, children should not be restrained in their words. Come here, Rui'er, come to your sister." The second young lady of the Marquis's Mansion held a handkerchief between her lips and coughed, half trying to smooth things over, and called out to the naughty child. (To be continued.)