After crossing over: kidnapping a female hunter to be the stepfather of the three cubs

Inside the package lay a jewelry box, and inside was a white jade hairpin. The hairpin had a soft and restrained luster, meticulously carved to resemble a white magnolia. Holding it in the hand felt warm and smooth, exuding a calm and noble aura. Truly a top-quality piece.

“It’s really beautiful…”

She suddenly felt reluctant to return it. No wonder the concubines in the palace fighting dramas fought so fiercely for a piece of jewelry. Now she seemed to understand a little bit...

She sighed. Now that she was a peasant woman, she didn't go to any grand occasions. Wearing a jade hairpin in the village would be a bit ostentatious. Reluctantly, she put the hairpin back. She would return it some other time after today.

He locked the hairpin in the safe he had made, locked the outer door, and went to the front yard.

Guests were already being called in the front yard. From the sound of it, it sounded like Old Master Lu and the village chief were helping out. Zhao Huanxi went to the kitchen and brought the dining table to the front yard of the new house, taking out the stools and other things. Hongying and Miss Yu were still unmarried, so it was not appropriate for them to eat with the rough men in the village.

Besides, Miss Yu was truly beautiful, and I was afraid some people might have inappropriate thoughts about her. Since they had come to my house, I had to protect their safety.

The yard is spacious, so they can invite a few girls to eat with them, and they won’t feel lonely.

At this time, Liu came over and asked her to go back, saying that the banquet would start soon and it didn't matter if she, the host, was not there.

"Sister-in-law, a distinguished guest has come to my house and is resting now. I will prepare a separate table for him and send it over so that Meixiang and the others can eat together." Zhao Huanxi and Liu were chatting while walking on the road.

"Female guest?" Liu was curious.

"I met her in town. She's a young lady from a wealthy family and it's not appropriate for her to meet a man from another family." Zhao Huanxi explained to Liu.

Mrs. Liu thought about it and then said, "Then we must treat them well. It's not easy for them to come here, so Meixiang and the others are the right ones to entertain them."

The front yard was already bustling with activity, with many more people coming than the day when the groundbreaking ceremony took place.

Almost all the people in the village came. Those who were close to Huanxi and had worked with Zhao Huanxi's family basically came with their families. Those who were not familiar with Huanxi's family were basically just representatives, but there were also quite a few of them.

There were four tables in the yard. Later, the village chief felt that it was not enough, so he borrowed two more tables and placed them outside the yard. The gate was open and there was no obstruction.

"Those coming from the south and heading north! Those going to the east and returning to the west, all of you should be ready to take your seats now!"

At this time, the village chief loudly informed the noisy crowd to prepare for dinner.

It was almost noon, and each table was already filled with snacks and appetizers. Many children had already rushed to sit on the benches, waiting for the meal to begin.

Zhao Huanxi prepared a banquet featuring four hot dishes, four cold dishes, and four stews. She also bought a few yuan (source: one yuan = 4 liters) of rice wine in town and placed a pot on each table for the men. The women prepared sweet, refreshing glutinous rice wine. This kind of feast had never been seen before in the village.

As the kitchen helpers brought the dishes to the table one by one, everyone around began to drool secretly.

At this time, Zhao Huanxi invited some older and more senior people to the main table. After all, if he wanted to survive in the village, he had better serve these people who had the final say first, so that it would be convenient if there was anything in the future.

"Girl, you have prepared this feast with great care." One of the white-bearded old men spoke up.

Zhao Huanxi saw that this old man was the oldest in the village and the youngest, so he said, "Grandfather, please eat more. You are doing me a favor by coming here."

He picked up the wine jar and poured wine for the old men at the table. Wine was a rare commodity in those days. Yellow wine was sold for twenty cents and ten cents in the town. Ordinary farmers would just have one or two taels to satisfy their cravings.

Someone picked up the wine glass and took a sip: "This wine is good, very flavorful."

The cold dishes on this occasion included a plate of snacks, cold-mixed pig ears, braised pig cheeks, and cold-mixed celery. The hot dishes included braised chicken, steamed pork with rice flour, sweet and sour carp, and scrambled eggs with spinach. The stews included braised pork with radish, braised winter melon with crispy pork, egg and leek soup, braised duck with soy sauce, and two stir-fried vegetables.

Everyone ate with their mouths drooling and praised the food highly.

Zhao Huanxi also asked two people to take the dishes separately to the new courtyard.

At this time, Pang Hongying and Yu Yan had almost finished their rest, and their mouths were watering when they saw the dishes Zhao Huanxi had placed on the table.

"You guys just eat here. Those guys outside are just rough farm guys. I'll ask the girls to accompany you."

Pang Hongying pulled Yu Yan to sit down, and the children also sat down obediently. The little girls shyly glanced at Yu Yan.

"Mom, this sister is so beautiful." Xiao Nian whispered in Huanxi's ear.

Pang Hongying looked at the reserved girls and said with a smile, "Come on, come on and eat quickly. The food won't taste good if it gets cold, girls. I'll take you out to play after you finish eating."

Yu Yan also spoke gently: "How about I teach you embroidery after we finish eating?"

Qianqian's eyes lit up instantly: "Fairy sister, is it true?"

Yu Yan chuckled, this girl is so sweet.

"Really, really, it's more real than real gold. What do you want to eat? I'll give it to you."

The atmosphere instantly became much more harmonious. Zhao Huanxi originally wanted to take out some Chunbixiang, but thinking about Pang Hongying's expression of pouring out one glass...

Finally, it was replaced with osmanthus syrup.

Seeing them enjoying their meal happily, Zhao Huanxi returned to the front yard with peace of mind.

At this point, except for the table of seniors, the rest had been replaced by the second round of people. At this rate, it felt like there could be about thirty tables. Zhao Huanxi breathed a sigh of relief; she had only prepared food for thirty-five tables.

Fortunately it was enough, otherwise it would be too embarrassing to tell others if it was less.

Many people even took tools to pack up some of the uneaten dishes on the table, and Zhao Huanxi just smiled and didn't mind.

When she was little, her grandmother often did this kind of thing, wanting to bring it home for her family members who were not there to try. Zhao Huanxi thought there was nothing wrong with it.

The clan leader, the village chief, and Old Master Lu were sitting at the main table, drinking with those old men.

The yard was bustling with activity, and all the people, whether real or fake, were smiling.

"Huanxi, you can start remembering etiquette now." Xu Qingzhao walked over and spoke to Zhao Huanxi.

Zhao Huanxi thought for a moment: "Have you eaten yet?"

"Mmm, it's delicious."

"Then let's get started. Thank you for your hard work, Brother Xu."

Some villagers who had already eaten saw that the gift-writing had already begun, so they stepped forward and took out their gifts.

"Lu Tian, ​​half a pound of brown sugar and a pound of white rice."

"Lu Dahu, two kilograms of rice"

"Liu Chunsheng..."

The big steamed buns that have been steamed these two days are now taken out as returns of gifts. Each family that writes a gift can take away a steamed bun as big as a bowl.

In that era, supplies were scarce, and gifts given were either silver or other things, or the simplest food. Zhao Huanxi felt very warm in his heart.

These common people might not even have enough rice to eat, but the gifts they sent were all rice, brown sugar, etc., and they obviously thought the banquet was worth it. So they also brought things of similar value in exchange.

After all, most people in this village are simple and honest, and Zhao Huanxi feels more and more that staying in this village is the right choice.

After divorcing Lu Feng, she became rich overnight. Except for a few curious people in the village who came to ask about her whereabouts, the rest of the people basically didn't come to ask about her.

Moreover, some uncles and aunts would occasionally go around and bring her some things from the fields when Huanxi was in the most difficult time. Knowing that she and her mother were going through a hard time, they would give them some vegetables.

Looking at the lively scene, I smiled. Then came the voice of Old Lady Tian:

"Huanxi, this is the last table. Come quickly, or you won't have anything to eat soon."

"Hey~ here I come."