Chapter 184 Planning the First Birthday Banquet

Chapter 184 Planning the First Birthday Banquet

Du Min and Meng Qing had a sumptuous lunch at the governor's mansion, and then left in their carriage, completely satisfied.

As soon as the horse pulling the carriage stepped into the Changshi Mansion, Du Min immediately let himself burst into laughter.

Meng Qing glanced at him twice and then laughed out loud.

"You're back?" Du Li called from outside the car. "Get out of the car quickly."

Meng Qing lifted the carriage curtain, bowed and stepped out first, handing one hand to Du Li, and used his strength to jump down.

"Have you been waiting here for us?" she asked.

“No, I just came back from outside. I saw your carriage before I came in, so I waited for a while in the front yard,” Du Li replied. He looked at Du Min, whose face was beaming with joy, and asked, “You’ve achieved your goal? You’re so happy?”

Du Min held out a hand. “I’ve received 50,000 strings of cash. I’ll take the money to Wen County Paper Mill in a couple of days.”

Upon hearing this, Du Li said, "I'll go out again and leave the caravan we hired behind. Let them come back in two days and escort another shipment."

“Okay,” Du Min agreed.

Du Li immediately got into the carriage and had the driver drive it out again.

Meng Qing watched the carriage disappear outside the gate, then stepped on the shadow cast by the courtyard wall and headed towards the backyard.

Du Min followed, "Second Sister-in-law, when do you plan to return to Heqing County?"

"We'll go to Wangchuan after the first birthday banquet," Meng Qing replied.

Du Min searched his memory and found that Wang Chuan was born on May 22nd last year, ten days before his first birthday celebration.

“I will be back then,” Du Min said. “Many people have heard of your reputation, but many do not know what you are really like. I will take advantage of Wangchuan’s first birthday banquet to invite all the officials and clerks so that everyone can get to know you.”

Meng Qing nodded, "That's what I think too."

"I will tell Caiwei to do whatever you say."

"I'll talk to her myself, you don't need to tell me." Meng Qing still needed to consult Yin Caiwei, this lady from a prestigious family, about how to organize a banquet.

“Alright.” Du Min stopped and said, “Second Sister-in-law, I’m going back to the backyard.”

Meng Qing nodded and walked towards the Green Bamboo Courtyard.

Du Min walked through the main hall to the backyard. As he entered the main courtyard, he suddenly heard several bird calls, followed by a commotion from the Vice Prefect's residence, which was just a wall away. He took a few steps back and saw a green parrot perched on the outer courtyard wall. He had seen this bird in Vice Prefect Cui's possession just yesterday.

Suddenly, the parrot flew into his mansion, and Du Min ordered his maid to catch the bird.

A short while later, a commotion arose in the front yard. The gatekeeper announced that Prefect Cui had arrived.

Du Min held the green parrot in his hand for a while, and a thought suddenly occurred to him: He had extracted 50,000 strings of cash from Governor Xu. Would Governor Xu use the name of building a paper mill to ask the court for money? If Prefect Cui knew that Governor Xu had already paid out of his own pocket, would he try to trip him up and prevent Governor Xu from getting the court's approval?

Thinking of this, Du Min was overjoyed. He took the green-feathered parrot and went outside.

Cui Biejia was waiting in the main hall. When he saw Du Min stride in carrying his precious bird, he quickly went to greet him and took the bird from him.

"Du Changshi, you're too rough! You've torn all of my Green Crimson's feathers to shreds!" Cui Biejia said, his first words a reproach.

“It’s good enough that it’s alive. My nephew raises four geese, each one fiercer than the last. If it’s not careful and falls into the goose pen, it’ll be plucked clean of all its feathers,” Du Min said. “I’m leaving Hanoi County again in a couple of days. Without a head in charge, the servants will inevitably slack off. Keep an eye on your bird. If it flies over again and the servants aren’t paying attention, and it gets choked to death by a goose, don’t come looking for trouble at my house.”

"Did Governor Xu assign you another hard task?" Cui asked. "I heard that Prime Minister Zheng sent you a cartload of fine wine. Is he angry with you for that?"

Upon hearing this, Du Min immediately understood that the green parrot had been deliberately released. Cui Biejia was ostensibly looking for the bird, but secretly he was there to gather information.

"Sigh!" Du Min moved his left shoulder and said with a wry smile, "A cart of fine wine was exchanged for a slap in the face."

Cui Biejia said with a sneer, "I almost feel sorry for you. You're a fifth-rank official, yet you still get beaten up at the drop of a hat. And after being beaten, you still have to do things for your master. What dirty work has he given you this time?"

“Prefect Cui, you’ve misunderstood. It’s not a difficult task.” Du Min shook his head mysteriously, and asked with a half-smile, “I’ve heard that Prefect Cui is not interested in official duties and prefers cockfighting and bird raising. It seems that the rumors are untrue.”

Prefect Cui's expression changed. He snorted coldly and mocked, "It's rumored that cockfighting and dogfighting are like fighting people. You have to beat them, scold them, and starve them. The more you mistreat them, the more loyal they become. Chief Secretary Du, do you think this rumor is true?"

Du Min's smile vanished.

"Let's go, let's go home." Cui Biejia stroked the parrot's wing, got up and left, saying as he walked, "You take advantage of my reluctance to punish you, and you fly out of the cage at the drop of a hat. But what can I do? I love you so much that I can't bear to scold you even when you do something wrong, and I still feed and care for you."

Du Min gave a silent, cold laugh. He stared at Cui Biejia's retreating figure, lost in thought. Anyone with eyes could see that Governor Xu had embezzled a great deal in the Yellow River management project; he didn't believe Cui Biejia was unaware. But why hadn't Cui Biejia reported him? Was he afraid of the Prime Minister Xu behind Governor Xu? Had he not obtained evidence? Or was Cui Biejia himself not clean?

As the final guess emerged, Du Min couldn't help but feel a chill.

"Third brother, what are you doing standing here in a daze?" Du Li returned. "Were you waiting for me? I've already told the caravan team that they'll be waiting for your news at Tongfu Inn."

Du Min snapped out of his daze and looked at the shadows that enveloped the courtyard, realizing that a considerable amount of time had passed.

"I understand," Du Min replied. "My second sister-in-law has returned to Qingzhu Courtyard."

Du Li glanced at him twice, and then he walked away.

*

The following evening, as Du Min was about to leave the governor's mansion after his shift, the guard of the mansion stopped him, saying, "Chief Secretary Du, the 50,000 strings of cash have been prepared. When you leave, bring someone to collect it."

Du Min sighed, "I'll bring the escort team to load the carts tomorrow morning."

Upon returning to the Changshi Mansion, Du Min immediately sent a servant to Tongfu Inn to inform the escort team.

Upon receiving the news, the caravan prepared provisions overnight and arrived at the Prefect's residence with their caravan at dawn.

Du Min led his horse out to join the caravan. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the gatekeeper of the Prefectural Governor's residence standing outside the gate, peering at the caravan.

"Let's go to the governor's mansion," Du Min shouted, leading his caravan away in a grand procession.

Half an hour later, Cui Biejia appeared at the governor's mansion in his official robes. Before he could go forward to inquire, a wooden box slid off the carriage, broke open, and the strings of copper coins inside scattered all over the ground.

Cui Biejia's gaze immediately changed.

“Go ask the magistrate for a sack, pick up the money and put it in the sack,” Du Min appeared.

"Chief Secretary Du, should we go to provide disaster relief or repair the river embankment?" Chief Clerk Cui asked.

"I suppose it's a form of disaster relief," Du Min replied. He glanced at Cui Biejia and said meaningfully, "Using good food and drink to lure birds away, no wonder they keep running away; they want something else more."

"What bird?" Governor Xu arrived.

"I was talking to Prefect Cui about his parrot. The day before yesterday, his parrot escaped from its cage and flew to my residence," Du Min replied. He glanced at Prefect Cui, knowing that to win him over, he had to give him what he wanted.

"Prefect Xu, what are you doing?" Cui Biejia asked, looking at the convoy.

"I sent Chief Clerk Du to Wen County on an errand," Prefect Xu said dismissively. "Wasn't there a bird festival in Xingwen Ward today? Why didn't you go?"

Seeing that all fifty boxes of money had been loaded onto the cart, Du Min interjected, "My lords, I must depart now and take my leave."

Governor Xu nodded, "Go."

Du Min immediately led his caravan out the door. Once outside, he mounted his horse and led the caravan on a swaggering ride through the city for an hour before leaving Hanoi County.

The day after Du Min left, Sun Mama, who was by Yin Caiwei's side, took the invitations made by Meng Qing to the governor's mansion, the prefectural governor's mansion, the Sima mansion, the home of the six military advisors, and the local county government.

The title of Lady of Wu County was attractive, but the more than twenty cartloads of wooden boxes resembling money chests that Du Min transported from the governor's mansion were even more so. Out of curiosity, the families who received the invitations immediately assured the public that they would definitely attend in person to celebrate the young master's birthday.

*

"Caiwei, I have an idea I want to discuss with you." Meng Qing returned from the brokerage and went to the backyard.

"Second sister-in-law, what do you think?" Yin Caiwei asked. "Would you like honey water or tea?"

“Honey water will do,” Meng Qing replied. “Today I went to the brokerage to buy someone, and after I came out, I had the driver drive me around the city. I found that the ferry crossing in Hanoi County was quite lively, and the boat industry was quite developed. The painted boats moored on the riverbank were very exquisite. I had an idea to hold Wang Chuan’s first birthday banquet on a painted boat.”

“Not at home? Holding the banquet on a pleasure boat would be even more expensive,” Yin Caiwei said. “And there are many inconveniences, like cooking, which is quite troublesome. Of course, if Second Sister-in-law wants something novel and lively, that’s fine too.”

“I’ll rent two pleasure boats. One boat will be dedicated to transporting dishes and drinks from the shore. Cooking won’t be a problem.” Meng Qing had already considered this. “I just want to make a big fuss, ideally so that half of Hanoi County will know.”

Yin Caiwei didn't quite agree; it was too flamboyant, not her style. However, since it wasn't her son's first birthday party, she wasn't in a position to offer opinions.

“I will do as my second sister-in-law says. Du Min instructed me before she left, and I will follow her instructions in all these matters,” she said.

"Do you think I'm being too flamboyant? Just because I've suddenly become famous, I can't wait to announce it to the world?" Meng Qing asked with a smile. "I have another plan. The officials and people of Hanoi County are all curious about Du Min's actions, and those invited to Wangchuan's first birthday banquet are also eager to find out more. Perhaps some people already know about it. Why don't I take this opportunity to make Du Min famous and raise some funds?"

"What do you mean?" Yin Caiwei sat up straight.

“I will announce on the painted boat that day that all the money received at Wangchuan’s first birthday banquet will be donated to Huaizhou Paper Mill, and I will also donate a sum in my name. My parents will also donate a sum in the name of Paper Horse Shop, and you should cooperate and donate a sum as well,” Meng Qing said. “I want to return the money your father used to buy me a house, but he refuses to accept it no matter what, and you won’t accept it either. You even said that if I dare to give it to you, I dare to throw it to a beggar. Instead of throwing it to a beggar, why not donate it in your father’s name?”

Yin Caiwei looked thoughtful. Du Min's salary was only enough to support his family and socialize. There wasn't much cash in her dowry, so she really couldn't afford to spend several hundred guan to make a good impression, and she was also reluctant to part with it.

"Then I have no choice but to accept it, even if it's a shameful thing to do," she said.

"Don't say that." Meng Qingsong sighed, finally managing to stuff the money back into his hands. "It's settled then. You think about whether there's anything lacking. I have to go out now. As the head of Huai Prefecture, Prefect Xu should set an example and donate a sum of money."

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Author's Note: There will be another update at 12 o'clock.