newbobooks Chapter 276 Family Banquet
Chapter 276 Family Banquet
Qiao Anlan also said,
"Since it's a gift from my mother, then I'll accept it."
Qiu Rui then smiled and stopped refusing.
"Thank you, Mother."
Just then, a surprised cry came from behind.
"Big brother!"
Bai Chanzi and Qiao Jishen turned around and saw Qiao Jiye's family looking at them with surprise and delight.
Qiao Jiye was already very surprised to learn the truth about Bai Chanzi's faked death, and then he heard from the servant that Madam Bai had returned.
Because it was so close, he brought his wife, children, and elderly mother over to take a look.
Surprisingly, the first person he saw was his elder brother, Qiao Jishen, whom he hadn't seen for many years.
He rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things, but after carefully looking him over from head to toe, he was sure he wasn't mistaken.
He then exclaimed with immense joy.
Qiao Jishen had not seen his younger brother for a long time, and was quite surprised to see him again after so many years. He quickly went up to him.
The two brothers held hands and looked at each other, both with tears in their eyes.
When they were children, Qiao Jishen and Qiao Jiye were very close.
One was a legitimate son who had lost his mother, and the other was an illegitimate son who was not favored. Both of them had a lot of grievances and resentment, but they never showed it.
The two brothers simply liked to get together to study or play. If Qiao Jiye was bullied by Qiao Jizhou, Qiao Jishen would help him teach Qiao Jizhou a lesson.
However, if Qiao Jishen was reprimanded or scolded by Old Madam Qiao, Qiao Jiye would also curse Old Madam Qiao behind her back.
The two supported each other throughout their time in the Qiao family. If Qiao Jishen hadn't become a monk in despair, it wouldn't have prompted Qiao Jiye to also consider leaving home.
Now, after many years, the two brothers meet again, and they are no longer the boys they once were, but middle-aged men with weathered faces.
But at this moment, their expressions returned to what they were like back then. Qiao Jishen patted his forehead and said,
"Ye Zi, how come you've changed so much?"
Qiao Jiye also laughed through her tears, and kicked Qiao Jishen's leg, saying,
"You're obviously getting old too, look at you, you even have gray hair."
The two brothers looked at each other and smiled; years of estrangement vanished in an embrace.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Qiao Jiye turned his gaze to Bai Chanzi and called out to her with some emotion.
"sister in law."
Bai Chanzi was once his second sister-in-law. Although he disliked his second brother very much, he had a very good impression of his second sister-in-law.
The second sister-in-law was stunningly beautiful and gentle. Although she was of noble birth, she never looked down on her status as an illegitimate son.
On the contrary, whenever there was something delicious, fun, or nice to wear, they would send it over, and they were very kind and friendly to their mother.
He would always remember a sentence from his usually taciturn mother.
"The noble and dignified status of the eldest daughter of the Bai family is unmatched by anyone else in the Qiao family mansion. Ye'er, you must respect and love her."
When Qiao Jiye first heard this, he felt a surge of agreement.
He and his mother thought almost exactly the same thing.
He believed that even the dogs in the Qiao family were annoying, and only his eldest brother Qiao Jishen and Bai Chanzi were good.
Seeing the two people he loves and respects most come together, Qiao Jiye felt a strange sense of joy.
At this moment, Qiao Jiye's mother, Qiu Shi, suddenly stepped forward and took Bai Chanzi's hand, saying...
"Madam, please accept my bow."
After saying that, he knelt down with a thud, which startled everyone who rushed forward to help him up.
Bai Chanzi was also surprised.
"Please get up, please get up."
Qiu said with tears in her eyes,
"Madam, if it weren't for your help back then, how could we have survived outside?"
When Liu left the Qiao family with Qiao Jiye, she was searched by Old Madam Qiao. She had almost nothing of value on her. The only fifty taels of silver that Liu had saved over the years was sewn into the lining of her underwear, but Old Madam Qiao found it and confiscated it.
Bai Chanzi witnessed this scene and offered some advice, but was instead scolded by Old Madam Qiao.
She watched as Liu, a woman, left empty-handed with a boy. She felt sorry for the mother and daughter's plight. Although she couldn't stop them, she didn't want to stand idly by.
He ordered his personal maid, Huan'er, to deliver one hundred taels of silver.
A large bag of silver was stuffed into the hands of Qiu Shi, who was kneeling at the alley entrance and weeping. Huan'er nervously gave a few instructions.
"The lady said that this silver is for you to have some protection. If you orphans and widows have no way out, you can seek refuge with one of the lady's former teachers, who is now doing business in Yuzhou."
After saying this, Huan'er handed another letter to Qiu Shi and hurriedly left the alley.
With the letter of recommendation in hand, the mother and son went to Yuzhou to start a new life.
Qiao Jiye started as an apprentice, following that gentleman in doing business. Two or three years later, he seized the opportunity to start his own business, which grew bigger and bigger.
Qiao Jiye was also very grateful to Bai Chanzi. Seeing his mother kneel down, he knelt down as well, and pulled his wife and children down to kneel down as well.
Seeing this, Bai Chanzi was so frightened that she rushed forward to pull them away, saying anxiously,
"No, no, no, what are you doing? Don't do this."
Qiao Jiye and his family kowtowed to Bai Chanzi and said,
“If it weren’t for your help back then, I, Qiao Jiye, would not be where I am today. You deserve this kneeling.”
The whole family ignored all objections and kowtowed to Bai Chanzi in unison.
Even the innocent and carefree youngest daughter knelt down and kowtowed respectfully and earnestly.
Only then did the crowd manage to pull the entire family together.
Butler Lai stepped forward and said,
"The table has been arranged, please take your seats."
Qiao Jiye has a very keen eye and can see the truth.
"Since it's your family dinner, we won't disturb you any longer."
Qiao Qingshu quickly stopped them,
"Third Uncle, why are we speaking like two different people when we're family? A family banquet naturally needs your family to be included, otherwise it wouldn't be complete."
Qiao Jiye said,
"Perhaps there isn't enough room, maybe next time."
Butler Lai chimed in at the opportune moment.
"Don't worry, Third Master, the banquet is very large. There will be enough seats for another thirty people. Please come in."
The crowd wouldn't allow Uncle San's family to leave, and pulled them all into the main hall of the inner courtyard.
The Qiao family underwent almost a complete transformation. Many parts were demolished and rebuilt, and even the plaque at the entrance was replaced by a new one by Qiao Anlan.
He said the previous signboard was so badly written that it made him uncomfortable, so he wrote one himself and hung it up again.
The Qiao family home has been completely transformed. Although every plant and tree inside is unfamiliar, it is absolutely beautiful.
Qiao Anlan was not only good at studying, but also had a lot of experience in the design and decoration of the courtyard, which was decorated in a unique and elegant way.
The group discussed the beauty of the furnishings almost the entire way they walked.
The Qiao family is still the same Qiao family, but it is no longer the same Qiao family as before.
When we arrived at the main hall, there was indeed a huge round table, just as Butler Lai had said.
The bowls and chopsticks were set out, and the dishes were served one after another. Everyone took their seats.