Traveling through the farm, I just want to earn money by farming

Mrs. Li brought Li Tian home just in time for dinner. Seeing that the courtyard was full of people, she asked Li Tian to help. Seeing that Qing Ning was busy entertaining guests, she thought of waiting until tomorrow morning to discuss it.

Li Minglang came to Chen's house early the next morning, and several more painters came with him. The album and invitations had to be completed in the next two days, so they had to add more people.

He followed Qing Ning to Mr. Ma's house and accepted all of Yu Wu's drawings. He immediately offered Yu Wu two thousand taels, but Yu Wu refused, saying he didn't want any, and would only pay 300 wen per picture according to the previously agreed-upon price. Seeing Yu Wu's insistence, Xu Minglang had no choice but to pay the money. He then told the other artists to work at Qing Ning's house and not to disturb their classes.

First, collect the finished paintings and arrange for Shopkeeper Xu to distribute the posters according to Qing Ning's instructions. Of course, they can't just scatter them all over the streets like they are now. Arrange for the shop assistants to beat drums and gongs and shout along the streets, making it lively and lively. The people will gather around to watch. This album will naturally be sent to the wealthy families. If anyone wants to take it, it will be on a first-come, first-served basis. The price is not cheap.

He personally went to the county town and went straight to the County Magistrate Xue's house to deliver the invitation.

The attendant handed over the visiting card, and the master and servants waited in front of the door.

"Mr. Xu, my family's Ming Mansion invites you to come. Please follow me." The steward of the Xue Mansion came out and personally led him to the front hall.

Xue Mingfu was sitting in the main hall waiting, and put down his teacup when he saw someone coming.

"Your humble servant Xu Minglang greets Mr. Xue Mingfu." Although Xu Minglang was born into a royal merchant family, he had no achievements and therefore had to bow when meeting an official.

"Mr. Xu, there's no need to be so polite. Please take a seat." As soon as he finished speaking, a servant brought tea and snacks, and Xu Minglang politely nodded.

Without beating around the bush, he handed over the album and invitation, explaining his purpose: "Master Xue, I'm here to invite you to attend the Spring Festival Banquet on the 16th. Please take a look at this album and invitation first."

Xue Jingtang's eyes darted when he heard the purpose of the visit. He calmly took the album and invitation handed to him by the butler and examined them carefully. The painting skills looked familiar, and he was curious but didn't show it. The more he read, the more delighted and intrigued he became.

"Master Xu, who came up with this spring banquet? I have never heard of the activities mentioned in the invitation and I am very curious." Xue Jingtang had originally had a high opinion of the painter because of his painting skills, and now he was completely curious after seeing the appendix at the end of the invitation.

"Reporting to Mr. Ming, this is what Chen Qingning, our partner at Xu's Trading Company, thinks." Xu Minglang did not hide it.

"What? Chen Qingning? Chen Qingning from Chenjia Village?" Xue Jingtang was shocked when he heard the name and asked hurriedly.

This scared Xu Minglang. He didn't know how Xue Mingfu knew about Qing Ning, but he had no choice but to nod in agreement.

After getting the answer, Xue Jingtang relaxed and stopped talking, lost in thought. Xu Minglang didn't dare to disturb him as he felt uneasy and just felt like sitting on pins and needles.

It took a while for Xue Jingtang to come back to his senses. Seeing Xu Minglang's anxious face, he understood. He said to him, "Don't be nervous, Master Xu. It's just that some time ago, someone from the mansion came back from Changqing Town and mentioned Shizhen Pavilion and Chen Qingning. I was just a little curious about who could make such a delicious dish."

Xu Minglang believed what he said, and although he was still a little confused, he didn't ask too much.

"Mr. Xu, thank you for the invitation. I will definitely attend the banquet with my family." Then he asked the housekeeper to get the silver, but Xu Minglang could not accept it.

"You can keep it. I'm sure you spent a lot of time and money on this spring banquet. How can I take so much for nothing? I have a lot of family members in my house, and I have servants with me. Wouldn't you be at a loss?" Xue Jingtang knew that Xu Minglang was at a loss when he saw him refuse.

"Could I ask Mr. Xu for another invitation? I will pay for it." As soon as he opened his mouth, Xu Minglang immediately took out another invitation and handed it over respectfully, saying that he would not accept money for this one under any circumstances.

He had come to the Xue residence today, thinking that it would be fine if his female relatives could attend, but who would have thought that Xue Mingfu would personally attend. Although this might not have been a big deal in the past, with the county magistrate in charge, it was much less troublesome, so he had to do this favor no matter what.

So Xue Jingtang did not insist. He sat and chatted for a while before sending the person out of the house.

When the housekeeper came back from seeing the guest off, he saw his own son, lost in thought, holding the invitation. He did not disturb him but just stood quietly by the side.

"Uncle Qian, who do you think this Chen Qingning is? He required the old man to personally instruct her, and Mr. Xu trusts him so much." Butler Qian didn't know how to answer. He didn't know either.

Xue Jingtang didn't wait for his answer, put away the invitation, and turned to go to the inner courtyard.

He was now extremely curious and wanted to quickly see what was so special about this Spring Festival Banquet. He also wanted to see what kind of extraordinary person Chen Qingning was. He sent another invitation to Jun Qingshan Fuyuan Temple.

"Daddy, do you think this flower is beautiful?" The little daughter ran towards him like a little butterfly, holding up a peony branch for him to see. It was so cute.

He bent down and touched his daughter's head, then walked to his wife behind him and said, "Look at you, you are like a little kitten. You asked Danqing to cut a peony for you and you want to wear it on your head." As she said this, Zhou glanced at her daughter in annoyance.

"There was a guest in front just now. What's the matter?" Zhou spoke softly, with a smile on her lips as she watched her daughter playing with the maids.

When Xue Jingtang saw his beloved wife asking him, he showed her the album and invitation.

Zhou took it without knowing why, and was a little surprised at first glance. She looked at the album and then at her husband.

"Oh, don't look at me like that. I'm also surprised that this painting skill is very similar to Mr. Xianshi. Putting aside this, this Spring Banquet invitation was also sent along. Do you know who this Spring Banquet invitation is?"

Zhou raised her eyes and waited for her husband to continue speaking. Xue Jingtang did not wait any longer and said, "Chen Qingning."

"What? Chen Qingning? Is she the one that the old man sent someone to tell her that day?" Zhou closed the album in her hand, still a little puzzled: "Who is this Chen Qingning? How could she catch the old man's eye?"

Thinking back to that day, when the old man suddenly sent someone to the mansion, I thought something had happened? After all, this old man lived in seclusion in the mountains and rivers, enjoying peace and tranquility, and never left the mountains.

"Mr. Xue Mingfu, my adoptive father said that the Xu family will hold a spring banquet in the other courtyard this month. Please send some people to maintain order on that day to prevent arrogant people who don't know their place from ruining the banquet and hurting the villagers. At that time, everything will be arranged by Chen Qingning, and you must not take advantage of her young age and embarrass her." Xue Jingtang agreed when he heard this, thinking of sending a few capable people over.

He hadn't hidden any of this from his wife. Seeing her frown, he gently put his arm around her shoulders and walked towards the pavilion. "Madam, don't worry. We'll find out who this Chen Qingning is and what makes him so special on the 16th. I originally wanted to send a few capable people, but now I want to take a look too. The guide on this post is really interesting. I've already paid, so we can go together that day."

"Okay, I'll follow my husband's arrangements. I'm also curious and must go and take a look." Zhou agreed with a smile. The two of them sat in the pavilion and looked at the pheasants innocently.

The event was advertised all over the streets and broadcast at designated times. Soon, the Xu family's Spring Festival banquet became a hot topic in the county. It was even said that even the county magistrate had paid for the invitation. The gentry and wealthy businessmen could not wait to place their orders and pay the money. Those who were late could only stamp their feet and sigh, feeling very upset.