Today we are going to shopkeeper Qi's house to celebrate his birthday and have a drink. Song Qiu and Aling got up early and changed their clothes.
The three of them went out together and went to Fuji Baozi Shop for breakfast.
Then they sent Lihua to Li Ji's clothing store, and Song Qiu and Aling then strolled to the dessert shop.
It's still early, so there's no need to go to the door right now.
In the shop, Yang and others are busy preparing today's desserts.
Song Qiu thought about the new snacks yesterday and started teaching them.
After a lot of busy work, it was getting late, so I took the congratulatory gifts and went to Qi's house with Aling.
Shopkeeper Qi is the big shopkeeper of Luji Trading Company. He has an employment relationship with Mr. Lu. He has been with Mr. Lu for more than 20 years. He is indispensable for Mr. Lu's business, so he is not just a small shopkeeper, he is also considered in Panshi Town.
He is the number one person.
Therefore, his family held a birthday banquet, and many people came to congratulate him.
At least, almost all the businessmen and shopkeepers from Panshi Town are here.
When Song and Qiu arrived at Fukang Lane, they saw from a distance an endless stream of guests in front of the big house where the Qi family lived.
Shopkeeper Qi and his son personally received the congratulatory guests at the door.
Song Qiu slowly came forward with the congratulatory gifts, and soon it was their turn.
As soon as Shopkeeper Qi saw Song Qiu, he said happily: "Song Xiaodong's family is here! Welcome! Come in quickly!"
Song Qiu also said hello with a smile, and went to the door calmly. After entering the door, there was a steward in charge of registering the gifts, so he sent the box he was holding up, and then went inside.
Shopkeeper Qi must receive all guests at the door as a sign of solemnity, and they will not come in until they are finished.
As for the guests who come in, they will be led to the back by the butler and other servants.
The male guests were received in the outer flower hall, while the female guests were received in the inner flower hall.
They are not real relatives, so there is no need to go to the old lady of the Qi family to celebrate her birthday in person.
The old lady is old and doesn't have the energy to deal with everyone who comes to wish her a birthday.
The maid who led Song and Qiu led them directly to the inner courtyard.
The inner flower hall has three bays and is very spacious. There are already many people inside, some gathered in the main hall and some sitting in twos and threes in the side hall. Song Qiu looked around and didn't recognize anyone.
The people here belonged to various wives, grandmothers, and girls. We had never interacted with each other before, so we went to the side hall to find an inconspicuous seat with Aling and sit there. We would wait until the banquet started outside and then sit down.
When the wives of various families sit and chat in the hall, they must always pay attention to the people who come in.
She didn't know anyone, and the people in the flower hall didn't know either of them.
When you see two people coming in, they look for a place to sit down by themselves and don't look for anyone to chat or socialize with. It's hard to attract anyone to look at them twice.
Looking at it, I found that no one knew him, so I was inevitably curious.
After all, they are all in the same circle, and it is common for them to go to anyone's house for banquets on a daily basis.
But these two people have never been seen before.
The two girls looked about the same age and came in together, but they didn't look alike, so they shouldn't be sisters.
Wearing a goose-yellow dress, she is slightly taller, has a round face, and round eyes. She looks lively and smart.
Another little girl wearing a honey-colored dress is petite. Although she is not a beautiful woman, she is fair and fair, and her palm-sized face is a bit delicate and pearly.
She has a rather demure temperament, which makes people like her, but she is a little thinner.
In all kinds of big banquets and small banquets, it is indispensable for ladies and grandmothers to talk about their children and their marriages when they get together.
Isn't it just because of this kind of time that you can get a close look at a girl's character and talent?
I have never seen these two girls before. I don’t know which family they are from. Let’s not talk about anything else. Judging from their appearance and talents, they are quite good.
Then someone asked about Mrs. Qi's family who was responsible for entertaining the female relatives.
Mrs. Qi was also asked.
She didn't recognize these two girls either.
Everyone who comes here is a guest, so it’s not a good idea to just call people over and ask them to tell themselves where they are. This is not the host’s business.
But the lady who asked the question was still waiting to hear it. It was hard for her to offend her.
Then he called his daughter over and told her to go up and make friends, talk, and find out the details.
Miss Qi got her mother's instructions. As a host, she should entertain girls of the same age, so she led her maid towards Song and Qiu.
"Why are the two girls sitting alone? It's still a while before we leave. They are playing Shuanglu over there. Do you want to go over and play together?"
Shuanglu?
She won't.
Looking at Aling again, it is definitely not the case.
Song Qiu shook his head and smiled, "No, let's just sit and drink tea. These melon seeds are quite fragrant."
Seeing that they couldn't go over, Miss Qi simply sat down on the other side of the Four Immortals table and answered with a smile: "These are the specialty red dates and caramel melon seeds from Yushan. They have a sweet and fragrant taste. I also like to eat them."
of."
Well, I ate it.
Song Qiu smiled and nodded, "It's delicious."
This is true. Aling beside him has already peeled a plate of melon seeds.
Seeing Song Qiu's smiling and friendly look, Miss Qi couldn't help but like it, so she said openly: "Then we really have the same preferences. The girl is also good-looking. How come I haven't seen you before? What if I'm old?
We have met you a long time ago, I should have made you a good friend a long time ago."
"By the way, my surname is Qi and my first name is Ruyu."
Seeing her cheerful and generous appearance, Song Qiu was somewhat lovable, and after hearing her self-introduction, he immediately understood her identity.
She must be a girl from the Qi family. She said she came here to say hello, and she looked like the master.
She responded: "I've never seen him before. I'm having dinner at your house for the first time. My surname is Song and my name is Qiu. This is my sister Song Ling."
When Ah Ling heard Song Qiu introduce her name, Song Ling, she stopped eating melon seeds and grinned at Qi Ruyu.
Surname Song?
Qi Ruyu blinked and chatted with Song Qiu for a while. She came to inquire at the request of her mother, but at this moment she really felt that these two girls were very good.
She doesn't have many friends, so it would be nice if she could be friends with two people.
So I specifically said that I would meet them to have dinner with them later, and then I stood up and left with a smile.
As a host, you must take care of everything and entertain all your guests.
Song Qiu didn't care. When he saw the person leaving, he and Aling went back to cracking melon seeds and talking quietly, not looking around, not caring about the crowd.
Qi Ruyu left here and went to talk to several young girls before going to Mrs. Qi.
"Surname Song?"
Mrs. Qi couldn't help but be surprised.
It seems that none of the relatives and friends in their family have the surname Song.
There is a family named Song in this town, and he is the shopkeeper of Tongfang Pharmacy.
But that's not something people like them can afford.
Moreover, the Song family only has shopkeeper Song and his wife with their children in Panshi Town. I heard how old the Song family girl is.
Mrs. Qi couldn't explain for a while. The ladies chatting with her also heard Qi Ruyu's reply and were equally curious about which girl from the Song family she was.
At this time, a lady and two little girls were led in by the maid.
When everyone in the room saw him, their attention was immediately attracted, and they all stood up to greet the visitor without caring about anything else.