Nobles do not need to work. Their daily task is to go for a walk outdoors, hunt or ride a horse.
Of course, there are also wearing gorgeous and elegant dresses to attend various celebrity banquets, eating and drinking.
Attending a memorial service is already considered a particularly important social event, so every trip must ensure the honor of the nobility.
The people who ensure that all this can be done decently, elegantly and in style are the servants in different positions in each noble family, especially the servants responsible for the master's food and daily life.
As for life, the so-called sense of style and ritual, in Gao Bin's opinion, are really not as advanced as the gameplay of the Chinese ancestors.
Some people say that Downton Abbey is the British version of Dream of Red Mansions, but in Gao Bin's eyes, it is less than one-third of the Dream of Red Mansions.
Take eating as an example. In the world of European aristocrats, breakfast is often not taken seriously.
Therefore, compared to the splendor of dinner, breakfast is relatively simple, both in terms of portion and table setting, generally consisting of bread, fried eggs, shortbread, jam/fruit, milk, honey, coffee, tea or wine, etc.
/p>
There are not that many furnishings, most of them only have necessary tableware and fresh flowers or green potted plants.
Since only family members usually dine at this time, the dress requirements are relatively simple and casual, of course, this is only for women;
Men dress more formally than women during breakfast time, and the master of the family usually reads the day's newspapers or letters during breakfast time.
In addition, since there are usually not many people at breakfast, the dining table is not too big or too long, which makes it easier for everyone to communicate.
There are three restaurants in the castle, large, medium and small, which are used for large banquets, private family banquets, and brunch.
Of course, the only thing that can be called exquisite is that married ladies have the privilege of having breakfast in bed, and the maid serves directly at the bedside.
But keep it simple. The Victorian curtains, wall-to-wall portraits, and exquisitely crafted fireplaces and furniture in the restaurant all highlight the rigor of dining etiquette and the elegance of tableware.
Whether it is the printed patterns on the tableware, the gold-plated cup rims, or the various shapes and designs, they all reflect the four characters of gorgeousness and nobility.
But in the Red Mansion, breakfast is no less luxurious than dinner.
As for lunch, it’s even worse. Europeans don’t pay much attention to lunch, and the lunches of European aristocrats are not that particular.
But the difference is that at least everyone participates in lunch, so there are more people than breakfast, and there may also be guests.
Overall, the lunches of European aristocrats are basically the same as those of more affluent citizens, but the aristocrats eat more pudding.
There is a food called almond pudding that is often eaten, which is made from a lot of milk and decorated with raspberries and rose petals. Sometimes, you also like to sprinkle some fine sugar on top.
In addition, in terms of drinks, lunch is more generous than breakfast, at least there are two wine glasses in front of everyone.
As for afternoon tea, which has been imitated by countless people in later generations, it is a remnant of the ancestors’ fun.
British afternoon tea is more for social purposes. In addition, because dinner is late, you must eat something to satisfy your hunger in the afternoon to avoid your stomach growling before dinner, which would be too embarrassing.
A hungry nobleman is not a good nobleman.
In short, afternoon tea is the highlight of the day for European aristocrats, which can be said to be more important than breakfast and lunch.
Afternoon tea can be done at home, and you can invite a few friends to chat together;
You can also visit your home, either indoors or outdoors.
Afternoon tea snacks are very exquisite. The standard equipment is fine black tea and delicious snacks, such as British snack scones, bread, butter, small cakes, sandwiches, fruit, tea, coffee or wine, etc.
Of course, afternoon tea in the castle is usually accompanied by classical and melodious music and fragrant flowers, so pleasant!
Exquisite tablecloths, exquisite tableware, sumptuous snacks and the rich aroma of tea are all the highlights of afternoon tea.
Generally speaking, an afternoon tea can be assisted by servants, but the hostess must personally host and serve the guests to show respect. This is usually considered a good opportunity to show the style and taste of the hostess of the family.
As I said before, the dinner party is the most important thing in a noble's day.
Women wear dinner dresses, which are more gorgeous in decoration; men need to wear tuxedos and white ties to attend.
Of course, the tableware and decorations on the dining table are also very particular.
After the meal begins, an appetizer will be served first, usually a salad based on various fresh vegetables, and may be sprinkled with some white vinegar.
After that, I’ll have some bread and butter.
Usually, the first course is seafood or soup, followed by the second and third courses with other meats, such as game, salt pork, roast suckling pig, stewed rabbit, etc.
The final dessert is usually food carved from marzipan, as well as waffles, cakes and fresh fruits.
These are presented by the footmen, and when they are handed to them, the nobles take them themselves.
Mary didn’t know whether it was intentional or not. When William was carrying the plate, she deliberately reminded Matthew to let him help himself.
Needless to say, he can know this by looking at what others do, and he is not an idiot. It is a bit humiliating for Mary to say this.
Carson usually pours wine for all guests at the table himself, and each course is paired with a different wine.
In fact, European aristocrats drink a lot of wine during a meal, and this is usually handled entirely by the butler.
Including wine selection and purchase, inventory management, food wine matching and correct wine serving, etc. Of course, the butler will register the number of bottles of wine in the wine cellar, how much is the price, how suitable for drinking, etc., and it is important to keep control of the wine inventory at all times.
One of the important jobs of a housekeeper.
This also means that all the wine consumed by the nobles has passed through the butler's mouth in advance and was confirmed before ordering.
There is no need to question whether you will get drunk after drinking so much wine, because everything is just a small taste, one mouthful, so there is no need to worry about this problem at all.
Matthew didn't quite understand this rule and thought that drinking as much as you poured should not be wasted, so he was already a little drunk after just a few drinks.
Seeing his drunken state, Mary was even more dismissive, but Edith looked worried.
Born to the same mother, the two sisters have completely different personalities.
But for Edith’s character, love comes quickly like a tornado, and it goes away as quickly as it comes.
As for Matthew himself, it can be seen that he fell in love with Mary at first sight, but he also knew that Mary did not like him and was trying hard to restrain his emotions from sprouting.
After the dinner, everyone moved to the side hall, the men went to the study, and the women gathered in the living room to chat.
But tonight the ladies' conversation was all about Matthew. Edith felt it was unfair. Why should a good man be left to her sister to choose first?
In a rage, she revealed that Mary was corresponding with the son of the Turkish minister.
Cora:
"Is this true? Mary?"
"Yes~ It's true, it's just a simple correspondence." Mary said in a panic.
"It's not fair to Matthew, you know, Mary."
"Is it only fair to marry him?" Mary said angrily.
"No, I mean, at least after you clearly reject Matthew, you can interact with other men. This is the etiquette that a lady should have."
Edith's last hit:
"Obviously she is not a lady."
"Shut up!" Mary shouted at her sister.
"Hey! Mary, you can't do this!" Cora stopped her behavior and said instead:
"Okay, don't tell Matthew about this yet, lest he be sad, what do you think? Mrs. Crawley?"
"Yes, I think so too."
...
Because of the unpleasantness that day, Edith directly and blatantly attacked Matthew and invited him to go to the church for a date.
But Mary ignored it and continued to correspond with the handsome Turkish man, using very bold words.
As the two male owners of this family, Robert and Gao Bin have no time to deal with these things. They put all their attention on business.
It wasn't until a week later that Cora suddenly informed them that Downton would be going on a hunt for the first time since spring this year.
"Downton is holding a hunting party, why are we the last to know?" Robert was a little annoyed.
Cora comforted:
"Mary's thoughts are obviously not on Matthew. Matthew is too shy and dare not take the initiative to attack. I think it is better to invite these outstanding young talents to put some pressure on him and let Mary make a good choice.
."
Robert is still unhappy:
"At least you should let me know!"
"You go out after breakfast every day and don't come back until midnight. How can I have time to discuss it with you? Gao, too. How dare you imagine that I haven't seen him in four days."
Indeed, in order to supervise production these days, Gao Bin and Robert almost live in the factory, and William packs and delivers lunch and dinner every day.
No one talks about human rights in this era. The landlords have spoken and overtime is the norm.
"Okay, when is the hunting scheduled? Lynch is very busy."
Lynch is the stableman of the castle and is in charge of more than a dozen horses.
"Next week, I have invited a lot of people to come. Will you and Gao also participate?"
"We don't have time. Production has entered a critical moment. Two factories cannot be seen by one person."
Cora holds her forehead with one hand:
"You, a count, actually have to supervise production. This world is really terrible."
"Haha, dear, I am also doing it for the future of the family, and I just sit in the office. Gao mingles with the workers every day. He works harder than me."
"Poor kid, if you ask me, you should just give him the title. He deserves it."
"Maybe, Matthew is also a good kid. I plan to let him help take care of the manor, and Gao and I will have more energy to focus on the factory."
"You decide for yourself. Don't worry about the hunting party. Carson and I will be ready."
"Got it."
...
The life enjoyed by British aristocrats may go far beyond the hustle and bustle of the city. Life in the countryside is the symbol of their aristocratic spirit.
A gathering of celebrities can be held in a country manor just as well.
Hunting is a recreational activity of the upper class and has been enduring for hundreds of years.
Every spring and autumn, noble hunters gather in the countryside across the UK to enjoy the fun of hunting.
Wearing red hunting attire and black felt hats, they mounted tall horses, surrounded by groups of hounds, and galloped from the countryside in the autumn fog;
Follow the footsteps of your ancestors in the rural jungle, chase foxes, rabbits, elk and other prey, and feel the fun and excitement of hunting.
This is a tradition left over thousands of years. As early as 1066, the French Duke of Normandy conquered England, and the Norman hunting tradition was also brought to England.
At that time, hunting deer and wild boar was the exclusive privilege of the royal family and distinguished guests.
British manor hunting first started when the royal family led the nobles to hunt in the royal forest.
The history can be traced back to the hunting of pheasants, which were introduced to Britain from Asia in the 11th century AD.
In the 16th century, farmers in England discovered that foxes were causing serious damage to farmland and began to hunt foxes.
Hunting is considered to be a sport that can keep people away from the hustle and bustle of the city, have close contact with nature, cultivate noble sentiments, and is beneficial to maintaining ecological balance.
By the time of the Stuart dynasty in the 17th century, people believed that hunting could keep people away from the hypocrisy and treachery of the city, have close contact with nature, and cultivate noble sentiments.
As a result, hunting was highly regarded, and people domesticated fox hunting horses and fox hunting dogs in large numbers.
From the late 17th century to the early 18th century, organized fox hunting gradually became a popular leisure activity among the British upper class.
Foxes are very cunning and difficult to catch, so their endurance is a test and it is also very interesting.
Usually, hunters set off in formation early in the morning with their hounds. After exploring the fox's burrow, they drive it out. The hounds then follow the scent to hunt down the fox. The hunters follow closely on their tall horses until the fox is exhausted.
When the time comes, hunt them down again.
Later, with the improvement of shotguns, bird shooting became more popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, and pheasants became one of the iconic British shooting preys.
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However, the pheasant shooting season is generally from October to February of the following year.
Hunting, as an authentic royal sport, has been participated in by British rulers of all generations and regarded as a physical fitness activity.
The current eldest son, George VI, is a fan of this sport. Every year on the second day of Christmas, the royal family holds a Boxing Day shooting at Sandringham in Norfolk, and invites a group of nobles to participate. Many nobles regard participating in royal hunting activities as a lifelong honor.
...
A week later, in the square in front of the castle gate, professional hunters wearing "British red" and dozens of hounds were riding on horseback waiting for the noble lords.
Compared with the formal attire of professional hunters, ladies and gentlemen all chose low-key brown and green attire, which can more closely reveal the unique subtlety and taste of nobles.
These high-quality hunting jackets are made of cashmere, are soft and warm, and are an excellent choice for autumn and winter.
The happiest person today is undoubtedly Mary, riding a horse with a heroic figure. The most important thing is that there are several beautiful men surrounding her, and her vanity is bursting.
Although poor Matthew can ride a horse, he has never participated in hunting activities. In order to match Mary's vanity, he has no experience and can only ride on the horse and accompany her, shoot, and then kill himself. p>
Robert asked Lynch to take care of him, but unfortunately this man was very stubborn and firmly refused Lynch's protection, and followed Mary's figure on horseback.
Seeing Mary's behavior towards the handsome Turkish man, Matthew was almost crazy with jealousy.
At the same time, in the factory office, Gao Bin and Robert were drinking coffee and chatting about hunting.
"Don't you feel sorry for not participating in the first hunt this year?" Robert asked.
"No, there is nothing to regret. I think making money is more enjoyable than hunting. The rainy season is coming soon. It would be nice if I could have some money to repair the roof."
Hearing that Gao Bin was so considerate of the manor, Robert couldn't help but feel guilty.
As my wife said, it is actually the most appropriate choice to hand over the title and the manor to Gao Bin. However, as a most traditional British nobleman, his persistence in bloodline can never be erased.
"Child, I must apologize to you."
"It's not necessary, father, you know I don't care about that."
"Okay, let's not talk about this. The first batch of production is coming to an end. I went to the warehouse to have a look and it is ready to be shipped to London."
"Have you contacted the truck?"
"Not yet. It's simple. We take the military special train and they are responsible for the transportation themselves."
"That saves some transportation fees. This money is enough for us to repair the roof."
"Haha, when will the second batch of raw materials arrive?"
"It depends on when we make the payment. The supplier and I have pressed down funds for a month. Although it can alleviate the problem, it only treats the symptoms but not the root cause."
Robert thought for a moment:
"It seems that I have to go to London to urge the second payment to arrive as soon as possible!"
"Yes, funds are the key. Don't forget, the canning production line hasn't started yet!"
Robert pinched his eyebrows:
"You need to purchase a large amount of meat. What are you going to use? Pork? Beef? Or chicken?"
"Chicken bar, the price is cheap."
"Well, you can decide this yourself."
...
That night, Gao Bin and Robert finally rushed home early because there were many guests today. As the two male owners of the family, it would be rude not to show up.
When they put on their formal clothes and welcomed the guests back from hunting at the door, Gao Bin noticed that Mary's eyes were fixed on Patnuk, that handsome Turkish man.
I have to say that she really looks good, especially when she is wearing a hunting suit. Even if she is covered in mud, she can't hide her elegant demeanor.
And poor Matthew looked a lot more embarrassed.
Gao Bin expressed sympathy for his cousin.
"My son, Gao, is the young master of the Crowley family."
After hearing his father's introduction, Gao Bin came to his senses and shook hands with Patnuk.
"It's a pity that I can't hunt with you. Mary said that you are a master hunter of the Crowley family. Not only are you good at riding, but you are also good at marksmanship!"
Gao Bin was not modest, he nodded and admitted:
"Indeed, haven't you noticed that there are very few foxes in the earl territory? I have killed almost all of them."
Typical British humor, all British people understand it, and they all laugh cooperatively.
Only Patnuk stood there, slightly embarrassed, not knowing whether to laugh or say something.
Mary was understanding and helped explain:
"He's kidding."
"Yes, I heard it. I still want to see your riding skills in the future."
"Well, you can."
Gao Bin didn't bother to chat with him, so he turned around and patted Matthew on the shoulder:
"How are you? Did you hunt any fox today?"
"Actually, I didn't even have a gun, so I just ran away with him."
"It doesn't matter. There are not many foxes left in the earldom anyway. You can still leave some seeds for them."
The surrounding guests laughed loudly again, but Patnuk was the only one who didn't understand. What's the point of this joke?