Chapter 275: Chapter 275

Prince Luling, seeing the list of guests, was also quite surprised, "What’s going on? How come so many people have come?"

After tallying up the guests with the village chief, they expected only their own family, the village chief’s family, and two branches of the Liu Family, plus a few close to the village chief, totaling no more than six tables, which is forty-eight people.

But now it was already recorded at eighty people, and people kept coming to the gate of the residence.

Prince Luling couldn’t understand it.

"Father, let’s go ask the village chief." Li Yuzhu said, hearing about the increasing number of people, and feeling curious, she came to see the situation.

The village chief was chatting with the villagers who came to attend the banquet, personally greeting each arrival.

Guests congratulated the Princely Heir dressed in wedding attire, followed by introductions from the village chief, mentioning each person’s name and identity.

Because most of them, the Princely Heir did not know.

Prince Luling nodded in agreement, "Hmm, I’ll go ask the village chief."

The father and sons went towards the village chief.

"Qin Lizheng," Prince Luling cupped his hands to the village chief, "May I have a word?"

The Princely Heir wondered, "Dad, what’s the matter?"

Prince Luling said, "Eldest, you come as well."

The Princely Heir was perplexed.

The village chief laughed and said, "Alright, Landlord Li, I’m coming."

The man talking to the village chief, whom Li Yuzhu had never seen before, greeted the Princely Heir with congratulations, then asked the village chief, "Qin, my nephew, who is Landlord Li?"

He had a red envelope in his hand.

The village chief pointed to Prince Luling, "This is Landlord Li."

The old man called to his sons, "Eldest, Second, quickly come with me to pay respects to Landlord Li."

The three of them approached, greeting Prince Luling with cupped hands, "Landlord Li, congratulations, congratulations to you. We are from Qinghe Village, our family’s surname is Gao, and we are blacksmiths from Qinghe Village. We came specifically to offer our congratulations upon hearing that the eldest son of Landlord is getting married."

With that, he handed over the red envelope, "A small token, it’s humble, but please don’t despise it, Landlord Li."

Second Young Master Li and Li Yuzhu, "..."

The Princely Heir, "..."

The village chief widened his eyes, "..."

Prince Luling laughed and said, "Mr. Gao, you are too courteous. It’s enough to come and show support, why bring gifts?"

"Oh, it’s what should be done." Master Gao pushed the red envelope into Prince Luling’s hand.

Prince Luling had no choice but to accept it and handed it to second son Li Xingsheng, "Second, quickly record this for Mr. Gao."

"Yes, father," Second Young Master Li Xingsheng pressed the gift envelope and went to the table set up at the gate of the residence.

By custom, the gift money is counted publicly to be seen by all the guests.

After counting, it is recorded on the gift list.

On the long red wedding paper gift list, the top line displayed the guest’s name, and below was the gift amount.

Second Young Master opened the red envelope and counted, finding it was exactly one hundred coins.

For those attending the banquet who were close to the Li Family, like the two branches of the Liu Family and the village chief’s family, they gave five hundred coins as a gift, and these three families were coming in full to the banquet.

From Taohua River Village, those who had good relations with the Li Family or bought medicine from Li Yuzhu, they gave two hundred coins, and general acquaintances just nodded and gave one hundred coins as a gift.

The Princely Heir invited Master Gao’s family to rest at the banquet table, then returned to Prince Luling’s side.

The banquet hadn’t started, and although there was no food or wine on the tables, they were not empty, offering seeds, cool tea, etc., allowing guests to eat and chat at leisure.

Usually, folks are busy with their own families and only come together during markets or banquets.

And not every family attends markets or necessarily meets villagers, but for banquets, almost the whole village would come to show support, barring one or two families with conflicts.

The banquet at Prince Luling’s house, though not attended by the entire village, had drawn roughly half of them.

The village chief followed Prince Luling to a quiet, secluded spot and asked, confused, "Landlord Li, what is actually happening?"

"Originally, we agreed there would be five or six tables, but now it’s over ten tables. What’s going on?" Prince Luling asked.

The village chief was just as bewildered, "I’m also in the dark. They first congratulate your eldest son and then ask about Landlord Li. Landlord Li, is it because your family usually has good relations with the villagers that they all came to show support?"

Prince Luling shook his head, "But we don’t know any of them."

The village chief was even more puzzled, "Then what is happening?"

The Princely Heir said, "Dad, maybe it’s people Second Sister and Third Sister know. Second Sister’s shop is in the market, she sees a lot of people every day, and Third Sister travels between the villages to treat people, surely she knows many as well. Anyway, they came to , and we’ve noted their names down, the gift money will be returned when the time comes." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NoveIＦire.net

Prince Luling thought for a moment, "That must be it."

The Princely Heir said, "Dad, there’s nothing much to think about, everyone just keep busy."

Prince Luling nodded and then told the children, "Go attend to your tasks."

But Li Yuzhu thought of something important, "Dad, with so many unexpected guests, our wine and food might not be enough, we need to hurry and buy more."

The family had only planned for forty or fifty people, and now there were half as many again.

Prince Luling slapped his thigh, "Yes indeed, I almost forgot this matter. Where’s Third Brother? Quickly, find Third Brother."

Li Yuzhu said, "Dad, I’ll go call Third Brother."

With so many guests suddenly arriving, Li Xing’an was busy having the Second Princess and Great Princess serve guests tea and snacks alongside providing sunflower seeds.

Li Yuzhu found him, "Third Brother, come quickly to the gate, Dad is looking for you."

Li Xing’an asked confusedly, "What’s the matter, Third Sister?"

"Dad wants you to buy something." Li Yuzhu explained and briefed him on the situation.

Li Xing’an felt overwhelmed and furrowed his brows, "This is troublesome, Eldest Brother’s wedding banquet, why is it so bumpy?"

Li Yuzhu wore a stern face, "On such a joyous day, don’t say that, every family hosting such banquets face various unforeseen situations, the family that stays calm will host a successful one."

Li Xing’an scratched his head in embarrassment, "I’m just worried for Eldest Brother, I’m calm, I’m not in a panic."

The siblings arrived at the gate.

Prince Luling assigned the task to Li Xing’an, "Quickly, get all the wine and food as fast as you can."

Li Xing’an nodded despite the pressure, "Understood, Dad."

In the house, everyone had their assigned roles, each had their tasks, without one person, it could become chaotic.

Li Xing’an was worried that once he left, things at home might fall apart.

Li Yuzhu reassured him to go get the things, she would oversee the residence’s matters.

"Third Sister, can you manage things?" Li Xing’an looked at the chaotic guests and helpers and couldn’t help but feel stressed. Could his young sister really handle it?

Li Yuzhu smiled and said, "Is it okay? Home affairs are my responsibility."

Li Xing’an thought for a moment, and that seemed to be the only option.

Except for Li Yuzhu, no one else was available anymore. Li Xing’an was busy serving tea and snacks to Second Princess and Great Princess with Third Brother Li.

Li Yuzhu found him, "Third Brother, quickly go to the door of the house, Dad is looking for you."

Li Xing’an asked, perplexed, "What is it, Third Sister?"

"Dad is sending you to buy things." Li Yuzhu explained, further elaborating on the situation.

Li Xing’an felt overwhelmed, furrowing his brow, he said, "This is troublesome, why is Eldest Brother’s wedding banquet so unlucky?"

Prince Luling slapped his thigh, "That’s right, I almost forgot about it, Third! Third, where are you? Hurry, find Third Brother."

Li Yuzhu said, "Dad, I’ll go call Third Brother."

With so many guests suddenly arriving, Li Xing’an is busy serving Second Princess and Great Princess, pouring tea and serving melon seeds and snacks to the guests.

Li Yuzhu found him, "Third Brother, quickly come to the gate of the house, Dad is looking for you."

Li Xing’an asked puzzled, "What’s the matter? Third Sister?"

"Dad sent you to buy something," said Li Yuzhu, explaining the situation.

Li Xing’an felt overwhelmed, frowning as he said, "This is such a hassle, why is Eldest Brother’s wedding banquet so unlucky?"

Princess Consort Luling, who was helping out on the side, came to hear the news.

Seeing his son so anxious, Prince Luling said, "The more the merrier, Old Third, it’s only a few more tables. Quickly buy them and come back."

As he was saying, he pinched a bag of silver including the gift money and handed it to Li Xing’an, "Take this with you."

Li Xing’an took the money bag and rushed out hurriedly.

Work continued painstakingly inside and outside the mansion, but the atmosphere remained lively and cheerful, with laughter constantly breaking out here and there.

More and more guests arrived at the entrance, and the place gradually filled with jovial voices and lively conversation.

Behind the scenes, coordinated working was a flurry scene of distributing tea, seeds, and snacks to keep all these guests happy while waiting.

And the wedding was yet to be started!