Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!-Chapter 223: Bai Family Banquet

"Old Sir, please don’t refuse. It is only natural to be grateful and repay kindness. I believe that when the elders of the family learn of this matter, they will surely offer you a warm welcome." Bai Qiuyi, seeing the Old Sir’s casual attitude, could only bring up the family elders to show sincerity.

"Then... won’t we be imposing?"

"Not at all, not at all. I shall show you the way."

He made a respectful gesture of invitation. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Alright, alright!"

Grandpa Hu and Cheng Xiaoxiao exchanged a glance, and thought that this act was quite successful. They had managed to find a way into the Bai Family. This was a good first step toward their goal.

If not for the circumstances, Cheng Xiaoxiao would have clapped her hands and cheered, shouting, "Hooray!"

As they walked, Bai Qiuyi introduced the local delicacies and scenery of Lijiang County, while also subtly showcasing his own merits. From time to time, he stole a glance at the refined beauty on the Old Sir’s right.

He feared that he might say something wrong and displease the lady, and even his palms were sweating from nervousness.

Suddenly, he realized that he had forgotten to ask the benefactor’s name due to his nervousness. How careless of him!

Feeling embarrassed, Bai Qiuyi still braved the question, "May I ask how I should address the Old Sir? So I can introduce you properly to the elders of my family later."

Cheng Xiaoxiao signaled Qi Fei with her eyes.

Thus, Qi Fei, a social adept who had previously been supported as if heavily injured, suddenly became lively and joined in the conversation with Bai Qiuyi.

"Our Old Sir’s name is Di. This gentleman must be the Young Master of the Bai Family, correct?"

"Yes, yes."

"Oh! Young Master can call me Xiao Fei. I am a steward at the Di Mansion."

So Qi Fei and Bai Qiuyi engaged in conversation, probing subtly for information.

A large group was led solemnly by Bai Qiuyi to the Bai Mansion, where the imposing vermilion gates and the majestic stone lions left an impression.

Cheng Xiaoxiao thought to herself that the Bai Family still had some heritage. Whether due to being too straightforward or the incompetence of their young, they had suffered from the schemes of the Wang Family.

The system had just noted that the Wang Family’s ancestral home next door wasn’t so grand.

The gatekeeper was startled to see his young master returning with such a large crowd, but quickly composed himself and, with a serious expression from the young master, was instructed to inform the masters of the Bai Family about the distinguished guests.

A quarter of an hour later, Grandpa Hu, Cheng Xiaoxiao, Hu Yixiu, and Hu Eryang sat upright in the Bai Family’s parlor.

The Bai Family’s Old Sir, upon learning the backstory and the Di Family’s righteous assistance, was deeply grateful.

During the conversation, it was revealed that the Old Sir’s ancestral home was in the Capital City, with properties in many state mansions. The Di Family’s business even extended to Beirong and West Di.

In essence, the information Cheng Xiaoxiao let slip suggested that their family had deep roots, with relatives in the court, and their branch specialized in overseas trade.

They had significantly contributed to the friendly exchanges between nations.

Since fifty years ago, when West Di was conquered by Tianqi’s National Revitalization General Xie Xiao, they had submitted and paid tribute annually.

Old Sir Bai was amazed, not expecting that the other was a powerful merchant whose business presence in Lijiang was considered a great fortune.

Cheng Xiaoxiao spoke with a sense of melancholy, "Originally, we had partnered businessmen in Yanzhou County, but alas! Who would’ve foreseen such turmoil there?"

The conversation inevitably turned to the upheaval in Yanzhou County, which was like a living hell, leading to reflections on the injustices of destiny, where the victims of calamities were always ordinary folk.

"Alas! Heard that not many living souls remain." Old Sir Bai sighed deeply.

"Perhaps so. Boss Li was a good person, after all our years of cooperation, who knew..." Grandpa Hu sighed, seemingly mourning a late friend, appearing as if it truly happened.

He then adopted a vexed expression, as if burdened with unspeakable troubles, "Better not to mention it! Better not to dwell!"

Ultimately, Grandpa Hu said nothing further.

Old Sir Bai wisely sat quietly, slowly savoring his tea, shrewd enough not to inquire further.

Grandpa Hu knew there was still something missing, so tactfully he didn’t elaborate, shifting the subject, "This tea tastes like Yongzhou’s specialty, Spring’s Rich Aroma." Taking a sip, Grandpa Hu’s expression softened, "Its lingering and comforting taste, bitterly stimulating at first, then sweet and refreshing, with a rich and long-lasting fragrance. A fine tea, indeed."

"Hahaha! I didn’t know the Old Sir was a tea lover. This Spring’s Rich Aroma is so rare that it’s priceless. It was only with great difficulty that I obtained a little, kept treasured, and today I have the pleasure of sharing it with the Old Sir. It must be fate."

"Not at all, it is rather my fortune! These days, the best teas are all tribute teas. Quality teas among the common folk are exceedingly rare."

"Indeed, indeed! Speaking of tribute teas, that year in spring, a tea merchant encountered bandits but narrowly escaped. With nothing left, he traded the tea he managed to save for ten taels of silver as travel fare. Who would’ve thought a year later it became tribute tea."

"I didn’t expect Brother Bai to have such an encounter." Grandpa Hu wore an envious expression.

This pleased Old Sir Bai greatly, swelling with pride.

"Haha, Brother Di gives too much credit, let me tell you..."

Unexpectedly, Old Sir Bai, previously so politely distanced, spoke endlessly about tea.

The two old men discussed their tea tasting experiences in exhaustive detail, leaving Cheng Xiaoxiao almost dozing beside them.

Finally, as mealtime approached, the two had already become sworn brothers, harmoniously united.

It’s said that men’s brotherhoods are indecipherable to others, and the old men’s friendships are similarly unique, a distinctly peculiar sighting indeed!

Today was truly an eye-opener.

Fortunately, Grandpa Hu was there to hold the fort; the ancient ways of socializing truly were beyond the grasp of a modern woman like her, unless it was about understanding tea.

She could only roughly gauge quality and taste, as for the rest, she would just chuckle!

Old Sir Bai was in high spirits, as if finding a kindred spirit, while the other Bai Family members were exceedingly courteous and polite.

Arriving at the dining hall, the maidservants had almost finished serving the dishes.

As per Cheng Xiaoxiao’s request, the Bai Family’s dinner was sumptuous, basically equivalent to a banquet of fish, featuring six fish-based dishes alone.

Steamed, braised, fried, sauced, fish ball soup—each dish was distinct, indeed the work of true connoisseurs.

Watching, Cheng Xiaoxiao could only express admiration, knowing that before her arrival, the Cheng Family only ever consumed fish by stewing it in one pot, utilizing her newly introduced methods.

Perhaps it was the poverty of Qingshan Village that led to this.

Yet just a few hundred miles away in Lijiang, the Wang Family, not even considered an upper-echelon aristocratic family, was so refined. Evidently, the place she had been was truly isolated and underdeveloped.

What does that old saying go?

Oh! The world is so big, I want to see it all.

Indeed she knew little about this world, it was time to broaden her horizons.

Only after the elders had moved their chopsticks began everyone to eat.

The meat dishes were quite good, but the vegetable dishes were somewhat wilting. Given the lower temperatures, fresh vegetables were sparse. Still, it shouldn’t be like this!