Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1618 - 825: Lantern Festival Night Banquet

In the next few days, Lian Manman family became busy. Until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Shen family sent an invitation, inviting Lian Manman family to the Shen Mansion for a banquet in the evening.

Wu Lang stayed to chat with the servant who delivered the invitation, and learned that Shen Liu had just returned from outside last night. For tonight’s banquet, the Shen family had also invited many relatives, friends, and high-ranking officials from the Prefecture City. Naturally, the Shen family’s banquet also included theatrical and variety troupe performances. After the banquet, there was also the arrangement to watch lanterns.

The Lantern Festival in the Prefecture City runs from the fourth to the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, with the fifteenth day being the most festive. From the Phoenix Tower in the Shen Mansion, one can enjoy a great view of the lanterns throughout the Prefecture City.

The Lantern Festival night banquet and subsequent lantern viewing had become an annual tradition for the Shen family, and it could be considered a big event. Therefore, even if military affairs were extremely busy outside, Shen Liu, who held the actual power of the Shen family and was the next head of the Shen family, had to rush back on this day.

He must make an appearance at the banquet.

The servant who delivered the invitation left a message before leaving, saying that Lian Manman family should arrive earlier.

In the evening, Lian Manman family dressed neatly and took a carriage to the Shen Mansion. During the Lantern Festival, every household in the Prefecture City hung up lanterns. Some were bought from shops, while others were skillfully handmade at home, as if competing to see whose lanterns were the most novel and beautiful. Therefore, there was no need to go specifically to the lantern market to see numerous exquisite lanterns.

As the sky gradually darkened, some impatient ones had already lit their lanterns. On this journey, Lian Manman frequently lifted the carriage curtain to look outside. The weather today was exceptionally cold, and from inside the carriage, Lian Manman could clearly see the breaths of pedestrians instantly turning into white mist. However, the cold weather did not dampen people’s enthusiasm for watching the lanterns or the festive atmosphere.

Lian Manman family, due to the servant’s reminder, deliberately set out earlier from home. However, before they reached the Shen Mansion, the number of pedestrians on the road increased, with groups of young ladies and young wives, as well as couples carrying or holding several children.

These were naturally due to children urging or being inherently impatient, heading out early to watch the lanterns.

No one wanted to miss this once-a-year Lantern Festival.

"...It’s even more lively than the lantern festival in our county," Lian Manman put down the carriage curtain and said with a smile to Lady Zhang.

"Of course, this is the Prefecture City," Lady Zhang also smiled and said, "It’s too late this year; your elder sister is with child and it’s inconvenient. Next year, we’ll bring your sister, invite Aunt Wu and them, and have a good look at the lanterns in the Prefecture City... Also, your grandmother and grandfather... I remember hearing from your grandmother when I was young that she and your grandfather visited the Prefecture City when they were young..."

The mother and daughter chatted, and as the outside became increasingly lively, the carriage finally arrived in front of the Shen Residence. They saw several horses already tied to the hitching stones outside the gate, and many stewards and servants, dressed in new clothes, were welcoming guests outside the gate.

The carriage carrying Lady Zhang and Lian Manman separated from that of Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi. The men’s carriage went to the East Corner Gate, while the carriage of Lian Manman and Lady Zhang was led to the West Corner Gate.

At the Shen family’s banquet, male guests were directly arranged on the Phoenix Tower, while female guests’ banquets were arranged in the Warm Pavilion of the West Flower Garden. Lian Manman’s carriage entered the West Corner Gate and followed the path paved with bluestones for a while, finally stopping in front of a Hanging Flower Gate. Xiao Xi and Xiao Qing, who had come to serve, got off the carriage first and then brought over a footstool to help Lady Zhang and Lian Manman get off.

By this time, a stewardess of the Shen family responsible for welcoming guests had already brought maidservants to approach, smiling as they greeted and supported the arms of Lady Zhang and Lian Manman.

A young maid led the way in front, and another stewardess with a plump face dressed in cormorant blue cotton satin accompanied them, while Xiao Xi and Xiao Qing followed behind carrying the garment parcels of Lady Zhang and Lian Manman.

The stewardess was very talkative, chatting with Lady Zhang along the way, responding to everything she said. She claimed her husband’s surname was Wang and that she served the eldest lady of the Shen family.

Aunt Wang led Lady Zhang and Lian Manman into the West Flower Garden, but instead of going to the Warm Pavilion, they arrived at a delicate small courtyard in front.