Li Chengqian suddenly killed so much that Ouyang Bufan had no intention of eating, and he wanted to run away. It was probably because he found out that Li Chengqian left that he came back.
Muchuan understood the thoughts of his subordinates very well, so he ordered the maids and servants to start the meal.
A variety of dishes are displayed on the round table, including fried meat with peppers, tomatoes, eggs, and fried vegetables.
Facing these dishes, Ouyang Bufan moved his index fingers and salivated! Without thinking about anything else, he picked up his chopsticks and started eating, devouring it as if he hadn't eaten in ten years.
Xin'er, Sophia, and Mingzhu also ate together. Seeing Ouyang Bufan like this now clearly frightened them.
Muchuan couldn't help but coughed dryly: "Hey, hey, can you please pay attention to your etiquette?
After all, you are here as an official from the imperial court."
"Yes! Haha!"
However, Xin'er covered her mouth and smiled sweetly: "Brother Bufan is the same as before, there is no change at all."
Ouyang Bufan: "Of course it is. How can there be changes for no reason?"
In fact, Muchuan knew that Ouyang Bufan and Xin'er were old acquaintances because they were merchants from Chang'an City and had business contacts, but judging from their tone of voice, it seemed that they had known each other for a long time?
After asking later, I learned that Xin'er and Ouyang Bufan had known each other ten years ago. At that time, they were still half-grown children and were often forced to attend banquets held by merchants. They became familiar with each other after going back and forth.
Ouyang Bufan seemed to have remembered something and asked, "Xin'er, it seems that it will be Mr. Liu's 70th birthday in a while. You should also participate, right?"
"Yes, I will participate."
"Is there someone you like?
If not, I'm afraid there will be many talented young people pursuing you on this birthday."
Muchuan frowned when he heard this. Isn't this just a birthday banquet?
Why are there still men trying to take advantage of Xin'er?
After Muchuan asked, he learned that this birthday banquet was not simple. This banquet would gather all the wealthy businessmen in Gyeonggi Province. In addition to discussing business cooperation, everyone would also arrange the marriages between their children here to achieve a strong alliance.
Purpose.
After learning about this, Muchuan couldn't help but smile: "So there is such a thing, I have to participate!"
Ouyang Bufan shook his head repeatedly: "No, no, you can't participate!"
"Why?"
"You have to be a merchant to participate in this birthday banquet. You cannot do it if you are the Minister of Household Affairs! What's more, some merchants are very repulsive to court officials. If you go, you will only be treated coldly."
Muchuan sighed in disbelief when he heard this. He had only heard that businessmen flattered officials and even directly bribed them, but he had never heard of businessmen treating officials coldly.
After Ouyang Bufan explained it later, he realized that those businessmen who rejected officials were old businessmen from the previous dynasty.
Because when the Tang Dynasty was just founded, land was expropriated and divided into farmland and houses, which touched the interests of the old merchants, so they had deep prejudices against Tang Dynasty officials.
"Master Mu, although these old merchants are old, they have strong financial resources and great influence. Even high-ranking officials in the court cannot offend them, so I advise you not to go, so as not to cause trouble."
"Like this..." Muchuan felt somewhat disappointed. After all, such a banquet gathering merchants is a good opportunity!
As the Minister of Household Affairs, Muchuan's job responsibility is to manage population mobility, collect land taxes, and manage finances.
Among them, merchants were the most "economically sensitive" group. If Muchuan could communicate directly with them, he would surely have a clearer understanding of the economic context of the entire Tang Dynasty.
For example, Muchuan did not yet have a thorough understanding of the distribution of natural resources, economic situation, and labor force in the west and south of the Tang Dynasty. If he only relied on the reports from the governors of various continents, he would be afraid that those governors would commit fraud.
But there was no other way. In order to avoid getting into trouble, Muchuan finally decided not to go.
"Brother Muchuan, if you want to go, there is nothing you can do."
Xin'er suddenly said.
When Xin'er said this, Muchuan and Ouyang Bufan both looked at her and asked her what they could do.
"As long as my brother and Xin'er and I attend together, it will be fine."
"Is it okay to attend with you?
That is why ah?"
Monk Muchuan Zhanger was confused.
But Ouyang Bufan smiled knowingly: "So that's it, hey, could it be that Sister Xin'er, you are treating Master Mu..."
"No, no! I just want to help brother Muchuan!"
Xin'er explained.
However, Muchuan is still outside the situation. Listening to the conversation between Ouyang Bufan and Xin'er, he just can't understand what they are saying.
After Ouyang Bufan explained it, he found out that Xin'er brought Muchuan to the banquet, which meant that Muchuan was regarded as her "fiancé". If she was the "fiancé", she would have a reasonable reason to attend the birthday banquet.
"So that's it!"
Muchuan finally understood, but after reacting, he glanced at Xiner awkwardly.
Xin'er was still a young girl, and she and Muchuan were not yet married. If she brought him to the birthday party like this, wouldn't it ruin the girl's innocence?
"Or not!"
Muchuan shook his head and refused, "Xin'er is not married yet. If you take me like this, how will Xin'er get married in the future!"
"Brother..." When Xin'er heard Muchuan say this, her heart felt like broken glass and she felt very painful.
But you want to know the meaning of Xin'er's initiative to bring Muchuan to the birthday banquet?
This is equivalent to recognizing him as "fiancé", which is equivalent to an indirect confession! The result?
In the end he actually refused!
Xin'er felt sad, and tears seemed to fall slowly from her eyes, but she didn't want Muchuan to see her like this, so she suddenly turned around and ran away.
"Xin'er, Xin'er!"
Muchuan shouted immediately when he saw this, but no matter how he shouted, he couldn't get Xin'er to come back, which made him look at a loss.
What the hell happened to Xin'er?
Why are you crying?
Mingzhu: "Mu Chuan, just stay here. I'll go see what happened to Xin'er."
Sophia: "I'll go over and have a look too."
Just like that, the two girls also chased him out.
With Sophia and Mingzhu around, Muchuan felt much more at ease. After all, it was getting late and the surroundings were quiet. It would not be good if a girl like Xiner ran out like this and something happened to her.
Even now, Muchuan scratched the back of his head with his hands, puzzled. He still couldn't figure out what he said or did wrong.
On the contrary, Ouyang Bufan was eating and drinking with great relish. At this time, he said in an instructive tone: "Master Mu, you are usually so smart, why are the emotions between men and women so dull?"
