"That's great, Duoer. Thank you. Amo, please thank Uncle Zhong on my behalf as well. Let's go to my room now to fetch some things."
"Well done, Duoer. Later, you can collect ten taels of reward yourself."
"Thank you, Your Highness, thank you, Miss Ben!" Duoer expressed her gratitude happily and energetically continued her efforts.
The two of them avoided the crowd and made their way to XiangBei's bedroom. Sitting at the table, Amo looked at the draft plans his girl had written on carbon paper.
A grand and intricate commercial blueprint unfolded before him, spanning from the distant borders of Yunmeng to overseas in the Southern Seas. The details covered everything from shop cash management to employee supervision, from product development blueprints to training successors. The thick stack of documents stirred up a storm in his mind.
At that moment, XiangBei, who had gone behind the screen to change clothes, had disappeared into the space and brought out half of a giant white pearl shell obtained from the seaside base. Using mud, greenery, and fresh flowers, she arranged a spring-themed table centerpiece and handed it to the pensive Amo. "Hold onto this. Let's go to the kitchen."
Carrying the versatile little backpack, the two of them entered the kitchen prep area of the banquet hall. XiangBei brought in some semi-finished products and unique ingredients, while Amo went to arrange the fresh flowers on the main hall's round table. Then, with keen eyes, he watched XiangBei lead the cooking operations. Under her command, the chefs, assistants, and helpers worked methodically.
By the stove, She seemed like a magical artist, with delicate hands and agile fingers flipping, frying, stewing, boiling, simmering, braising, steaming, blanching, grilling, plating, and carving one dish after another, cold or hot, appetizers or main courses. It was time to announce the start of the evening feast!
Old Master Tong sat at the table with his son and daughter-in-law, his grandson Si Nan, his apprentice Tong Xi, and Tong Li, who was considered a family member, along with his younger son Tong Jiawei, warmly inviting the esteemed guests to join them at the table.
General Huo Changfeng, accompanied by his son and nephew Huo Qixiang, personally invited Cheng Shan, who also served as the magistrate of Dongbin County, and they were joined by Qiao Ziqiu and the manager of Fuhai Tower, Uncle Zhong. Everyone was amazed by this unprecedented dining setup and curious about the exquisite dishes, whose enticing aromas alone were enough to make mouths water. Some couldn't wait to taste the delicacies once they reached the table.
No one took their seats because the most esteemed young prince was busy shuttling between the banquet hall and the kitchen, presenting dishes like a proud butterfly. One moment, he proudly introduced a sushi platter arranged like a beautiful painting, while the next moment, he dramatically unveiled a pineapple fried rice dish, revealing the true face of Yangzhou fried rice under the pineapple leaves. He described the delicious fruits, pearl milk tea, and even the natural coconut water as he carried them out.
Everyone stood still, as if under a spell, unsure whether to take over the prince's tasks or all rush to help in the kitchen. However, they didn't have much time to think because XiangBei and Tong Chen had already emerged, bringing out the final highlight: the Nine Delicacies Platter.
As the first course was served, the dinner officially began, yet people still didn't sit down or approach any of the chairs. These high-legged chairs were also unfamiliar to them, resembling miniature versions of raised loungers with added leg rests. Positioned around the round table, it was difficult to discern any hierarchy or intimacy in the seating arrangement.
"Please, dear elders, feel free to sit wherever you like. Today's dinner is a family reunion, transcending titles such as prince, official, scholar, farmer, or merchant. Here, we only have maternal uncles and elder brothers, with respect for seniors and care for the young. Therefore, the seating at the round table is not based on the usual hierarchy, but rather on affection, friendship, and the joy of being together. Please enjoy the food and the company. Our guests have companions from the estate sitting with them. Besides the dishes on the table, there are various grilled skewers prepared at the stone platform banquet. We'll light the bonfire, start the folk dance, and barbecue until dawn. We'll join them later." XiangBei briefly explained the essence of the round table.
As for Cheng Mo, the distinguished prince whom everyone was unsure where to seat, he took Tong Chen and sat on two high-legged chairs near Qiao Ziqiu. "Chen Ge, Ziqiu Ge, and I are brothers. Today, we must drink and feast heartily. Please forgive my rudeness, grandfather, and uncle. Everyone, please sit down and start eating. Food loses its flavor when it gets cold, and I couldn't resist in the kitchen already." He knew that others wouldn't dare to start eating unless he did first, so he gestured to XiangBei to pick out a small bowl for him from the platter, thus opening the feast.