mtl008 Chapter 78 Evening Dinner
Chapter 78 Evening Dinner
The sky was just beginning to darken, like a mysterious veil gently covering the earth. At that moment, the moon quietly emerged from behind the clouds, casting a soft, hazy glow; the stars, like a group of playful children, blinked and curiously gazed at the world. In this beautiful moment, everyone chatted and laughed as they arrived at Zhao Shouyi's restaurant. After all, the opening of the new factory was a joyous occasion, and as is customary, a lively feast was indispensable.
The restaurant was packed with people. Not only were there the handsome couple Su Muyang and Princess Wan'er, but also the sweet couple Zhao Shouyi and Nangong Xue'er, Su Yuning and the wealthy young master, and of course, all the employees. The employees had initially thought that since the boss was treating, a few simple stir-fries and fried fish would be a good start. However, when they saw the table laden with an incredibly lavish spread, they were all stunned.
The table was laden with a dazzling array of delicacies: fragrant roasted lamb leg glistened with an enticing golden hue, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, making one's mouth water; the bright red braised turtle exuded a rich aroma, as if telling the story of its deliciousness; large, braised prawns were neatly arranged, their bright red shells encasing tender, juicy meat; plump steamed crabs writhed, their roe and fat overflowing... In addition, there was sweet and sour tomato stewed beef brisket, nutritious kelp stewed pig's trotters, fragrant cumin lamb, and flavorful braised lamb chops, along with a refreshing and sweet corn and pork rib soup, a light and delicious winter melon and meatball soup, spicy and savory Mapo tofu, and sweet and sour shredded pork with garlic sauce, and so on—truly a feast for the eyes.
At the dinner table, everyone enjoyed the delicious food and chatted happily, creating a very harmonious atmosphere. Satisfaction and joy radiated from everyone's faces. Zhao Shouyi, watching everyone eat so happily, was also overjoyed. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he turned to Su Yuning and asked with concern, "Yuning, such an important event as the opening, why didn't I see Ye Beichen come?" Hearing this, Su Yuning smiled slightly, her face blooming like a flower, and replied, "He's been quite busy lately. There are all sorts of matters, big and small, waiting for him to handle in Mobei. I didn't want to trouble him, so I didn't inform him."
"I'm truly impressed! You're incredibly carefree, leaving him alone in the northern desert without a second thought," Zhao Shouyi replied, both amused and exasperated.
"Why are you bringing this up on such an auspicious day for the grand opening?" Nangong Xue'er couldn't help but scold.
Zhao Shouyi quickly changed the subject, "By the way, how can a gathering today be without good wine? I brought out two jars of fine grape wine from the palace to liven things up. Zhou Dong, come and help pour the wine."
"Alright!" Zhou Dong immediately perked up upon hearing this and readily agreed without hesitation. He deftly picked up the wine bottle, a warm smile spreading across his face, and began pouring wine for each of the guests. He filled every glass to the brim, as if the contents weren't just wine, but his overflowing joy and sincerity.
Just then, Nangong Xue'er, who had been sitting quietly to the side, frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure on her face. She parted her lips and softly replied, "Brother Zhou, pregnant women shouldn't drink alcohol, but thank you for your kind offer anyway."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Dong was instantly struck dumb, as if by lightning. His face turned pale, then flushed, his eyes filled with panic. He hurriedly put down the wine bottle, bowed deeply to Nangong Xue'er, and said urgently and apologetically, "I'm so sorry! I was young and ignorant, I didn't know this was the case. Sister Nangong, please don't hold it against me. I promise I'll be more careful next time!"
Just as the atmosphere became slightly awkward, Zhao Shouyi, sitting next to Zhou Dong, chuckled. He patted Zhou Dong's shoulder gently, reassuring him, "It's alright, don't be so nervous, little Zhou. Let me drink this glass for her." With that, Zhao Shouyi calmly picked up the glass, smiled slightly at everyone, and downed the fragrant wine in one gulp.
Then, Su Muyang stood up with a smile and suggested to everyone present, "Since you are all my little sister's good friends, why don't you all say a few auspicious words to wish her newly opened factory a prosperous and thriving future!"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone present responded enthusiastically, and thunderous applause and cheers filled the air!
Princess Wan'er parted her lips slightly and smiled radiantly, saying, "May my sister Yuning grow even more beautiful and charming, and may your newly established factory prosper like a blazing fire!"
Hearing this, Su Yuning was overjoyed and excitedly nodded in response, "Yes, thank you for your kind wishes, Second Sister-in-law!"
Immediately afterward, Zhao Shouyi offered his concise and clear wishes: "May your business prosper and wealth flow in continuously!" Standing beside him, Nangong Xue'er added with a charming smile: "May everything go smoothly for you, may you have good fortune year after year, may all your wishes come true, and may you achieve your goals step by step!"
Faced with this series of sincere and beautiful blessings, Su Yuning's face beamed with a happy smile, and she quickly expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you so much!"
At this moment, Su Muyang spoke again, cheerfully saying, "I sincerely wish my little sister great success in her career and a happy and fulfilling family life!" Su Yuning was naturally very grateful for her brother's blessing and responded with words of thanks.
When it was Zhou Dong's turn, although he wasn't particularly learned, he and Su Yuning were true friends. Therefore, he sincerely wished her well, saying, "May both the new and old factories prosper and flourish, and may everything Sister Yuning does go smoothly!"
"Thank you, Zhou Dong!" Su Yuning responded joyfully, her face beaming with a smile as radiant as spring flowers. Her bright eyes sparkled with gratitude and joy, like the twinkling stars in the night sky.
Then, as if ignited with enthusiasm, the factory employees rushed forward, showering Su Yuning with best wishes. Someone shouted, "May everything go well for you! May all your dreams come true! May your future be smooth sailing, with no troubles or obstacles hindering your progress!" Another echoed, "May you have great wealth and good fortune! May wealth flow into our factory like a mighty river!" Others yelled, "Plenty of orders, lots of money! We hope our products will sell well throughout the city and even the entire Song Dynasty, becoming a leader in the industry!" Still others excitedly shouted, "Good luck and prosperity! May surprises come your way every day, and may every business deal bring you rich rewards!"
In an instant, blessings echoed one after another, like a rousing and joyful symphony resonating in the air. Surrounded by this warm atmosphere, Su Yuning felt deeply moved and happy. She responded with a radiant smile, "Alright, thank you everyone for your sincere blessings! Today is a day to celebrate, so everyone should eat and drink well. Let's drink to our hearts' content tonight, until we're completely drunk!" With that, she raised her glass high, gesturing to everyone.
At this moment, Nangong Xue'er, standing in the crowd, smiled and raised her glass. Although she couldn't drink alcohol due to health reasons, she substituted a sweet and delicious beverage for wine, sincerely offering her blessings: "May our factory flourish and prosper! I believe that with everyone's joint efforts, we will surely create even more brilliant achievements!" As she finished speaking, everyone cheered and drank their glasses in one gulp. The whole scene was lively and filled with laughter and anticipation for a bright future.
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, their spirits remained high, and they lingered together, urging Su Yuning to treat them again and take them to the opera house to listen to some melodious opera. Although Su Yuning was a wealthy businesswoman, money didn't just fall from the sky. Faced with everyone's enthusiastic invitation, she couldn't help but look hesitant. After thinking for a moment, she decided to try a different approach to invite them.
She smiled slightly and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, the acrobatic performances on the street are actually quite spectacular! I heard there's a breathtaking firework show and an amazing face-changing performance tonight. How about we go and stroll around the lively night market together?"
Zhao Shouyi, being an extremely intelligent man, immediately noticed Su Yuning's awkward situation and quickly nodded with a smile, replying, "Great idea! I think it's excellent!"
Upon hearing this, the others understood immediately. After all, they all knew that Zhao Shouyi was now the new emperor of the Song Dynasty, and his status was extremely noble. Since the emperor had already given his approval, there was no reason for them not to agree. So they all chimed in, "Alright, let's go see the acrobatics!"
After saying that, the group walked happily and chatting as they headed toward the bustling, brightly lit night market.
Upon arriving at the night market, the scene before one's eyes was breathtaking, a feast for the eyes. On one side, someone was skillfully twirling a diabolo, which spun rapidly through the air, producing a crisp, melodious sound. On the other side, another person walked on high stilts, weaving through the crowd as if on flat ground, drawing gasps of amazement from the onlookers. Further ahead, several members of an acrobatic troupe were intently performing bowl and jar balancing acts, their movements skillful and elegant, drawing thunderous applause and cheers from the surrounding audience.
The acrobatic performance had just ended, and the audience was still captivated by the astonishing skills when a spectacular sparkler show took center stage. Experienced and highly skilled professionals, wielding specialized tools, brought this traditional activity to life. Their deft movements created countless dazzling sparks, like blooming flowers bursting in the air. These sparks, some fiery red, some sapphire blue, and some golden chrysanthemums, shimmered and danced, creating a breathtaking spectacle.
The onlookers were captivated by the dreamlike beauty before them, and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. They gazed at the scene intently, clapping and cheering enthusiastically; the thunderous applause echoed throughout the square.
After the dazzling fireworks display concluded perfectly, a magic show full of mystery unfolded on stage. The magician, dressed in magnificent attire, strode onto the stage with an air of elegance, accompanied by his energetic assistant. The two worked together seamlessly. First, with a gentle wave of his wand, a vibrant rose magically appeared before the audience. Then, he cast another spell, and a snow-white dove flew out of his hat, fluttering its wings and soaring into the sky. Shortly after, he conjured up a lively, adorable little rabbit as if by magic. Everyone in the audience was stunned by this series of incredible transformations, followed by thunderous applause and cheers.
Besides these, the acrobatic troupe also presented many other spectacular acts. For example, a strong and robust performer demonstrated his amazing skill in wielding a large knife. His movements were fluid and graceful, each swing accompanied by a whooshing sound, leaving the audience mesmerized. On the other side, a young girl, barely a teenager, bravely stepped onto a tightrope suspended high in the air. Her steps were light and steady, as if she were walking on flat ground. Although those around her held their breath in suspense, the girl remained calm and composed. In just a short while, she successfully completed the entire course, prompting enthusiastic applause and praise from the audience. Everyone nodded in approval, expressing their admiration and appreciation for her courage and skill.
"It's getting late, everyone go back to sleep early and come to the factory early tomorrow!" Su Yuning said to the workers with a smile. Her gentle voice was like a spring breeze, making people feel incredibly warm.