Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 516 Comparison
……

On the other side, slightly separated by an exquisite carved sandalwood screen, the women's banquet, though not as boisterous and lively as the men's, had its own unique charm of gentle elegance and cheerful conversation.

The sounds of string and wind instruments, laughter, and the clinking of bowls and plates intertwined, creating a world of its own.

As the mistress of the house, Madam Wang sat in the main seat, her face beaming with joy and radiance.

Although the screen blocked the view, it did not completely block the sound. The praise for the Sheng family's offspring and the expectations for the family's future coming from the men's section, especially her husband Sheng Hong's loud, proud, and almost suppressed laughter, seemed to have grown wings and entered her ears word for word.

Every word, every compliment, was like the finest honey, slowly but surely seeping into her heart, making her feel sweet, warm, and incredibly comforted from the inside out.

She could almost picture her husband standing tall and proud, beaming with pride! And this immense honor and prestige owed a great debt to her, Wang Ruofu—who had personally raised the children!
Thinking of this, her chin unconsciously lifted slightly, and the smile on her face became even brighter and more dazzling.

Her gaze swept over the table full of dishes that were in no way inferior to those of the male guests, and were even more exquisite and refined because of the female guests' preferences—the crab meat lion's head stewed until tender, with the aroma of meat and the freshness of crab perfectly blended; the crystal shrimp on the plate were plump and translucent, with a bouncy texture; the bird's nest stewed with rock sugar was clear in color, warm and nourishing... and many other dishes benefited from Minglan's ingenious suggestions and her personal supervision and preparation today.

She was in an exceptionally good mood, her face beaming with joy. Her voice was louder and more enthusiastic than usual as she greeted her daughters-in-law and daughters. Her triumphant spirit was impossible to hide.

"Chaoyun," she said, in a very good mood, personally picking up the serving chopsticks and precisely placing a large piece of the fattest and most tender steamed mandarin fish belly meat on the plate in front of her eldest daughter-in-law, Hai Chaoyun. Her tone was unusually gentle and kind, "You take care of Zhuojie'er so hard every day, I see it all. Use more of this, the fish belly meat is the most tender and nourishing, it's good for your health, try it."

Then she turned to her two daughters and saw that Rulan's eyes were shining brightly as she stared intently at the steaming crab roe soup dumplings that had just been served, looking eager yet trying to resist. Madam Wang couldn't help but burst out laughing, her voice booming, "Ru'er! Ming'er! You two shouldn't just be eavesdropping over there! These crab roe soup dumplings are best eaten hot! Look, the skin is so thin you can see the broth sloshing around inside, and the filling is plentiful. Quickly, be careful, use the silver straw that comes with it to gently poke a little hole in the skin and slowly suck out the broth. It's so delicious it'll make your eyebrows fall off! But be careful not to burn your mouth!"

She kept giving instructions, her eyes brimming with the joy and pride of being the matriarch. It was as if the exhaustion from preparing for the banquet in recent days had been completely washed away by the immense family glory before her, leaving her radiant and full of energy.

Hai Chaoyun quickly bowed gently and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Mother. You've really worked hard today."

As always, she was elegant and poised, carefully taking care of her daughter, Zhuo'er, who was sitting in a specially made high chair, blinking her big, dark eyes and curiously looking around, trying to grab the soft cake in front of her with her pink little hands. She patiently fed her some stewed fish paste and egg custard with a small silver spoon. At the same time, she could also be distracted, occasionally exchanging a gratified look and a knowing smile with the quiet and elegant Minglan beside her.

She was very observant and had already noticed that many of the highly praised dishes today were the result of Minglan's ingenuity or direct preparation. She felt even more sincere respect and gratitude for this unassuming sister-in-law who always helped the family in crucial moments.

Minglan ate quietly the whole time, her posture graceful, with her usual gentle and proper smile on her lips, like a quiet orchid blooming in a secluded valley, neither vying for attention nor competing.

She listened intently to the earnest instructions and high praise her father and brothers gave to their seventh brother, Sheng Changquan, which she could faintly hear from behind the screen. Her clear eyes shone with a bright and warm light, a heartfelt and indescribable pride and honor for her younger brother.

Of course, seeing that the dishes she had painstakingly replicated were praised by her mother and sister-in-law, and that the guests ate more of them, she naturally felt a faint, unspoken sense of peace and joy.

Rulan, on the other hand, was extremely busy.

As she carefully used the delicate silver straw to sip the soup dumpling, savoring the fragrant, piping hot broth that made her squint her eyes in satisfaction, she couldn't help but strain her ears to catch the conversation between her father and brothers on the other side of the screen, especially about her seventh brother, Sheng Changquan.

Listening to those highest praises and boundless expectations for the Sheng family's offspring that she had almost never heard before, such as "bringing glory to the family," "the clear voice of a young phoenix," and "pillars of the nation," a complex and indescribable emotion unconsciously surfaced in her eyes.

There was a sense of pride in her family, a touch of pure envy, and perhaps a faint sense of loss and frustration that she herself might not even be aware of—why wasn't this great glory due to her own brother, Sheng Changbai?
Brother Bai was also an excellent person, diligent in his studies and upright in character, but unfortunately, he failed in his pursuit of an official career through the imperial examinations...

Ugh!
She shook her head violently, as if trying to shake off these chaotic and inappropriate comparative thoughts and focus more on the rare and delicious food in front of her. However, she unconsciously chewed a little harder, as if she wanted to chew up and swallow the complicated emotions that were hard to express and that she shouldn't have to worry about.

As for Sheng Changfeng, who was also seated among the women, his situation was particularly delicate and awkward.

He was both apprehensive about sitting at the main table for the male guests outside and facing the various gazes that his father, brother, and other prominent guests might cast upon him—whether concerned, inquiring, or making silent comparisons—and felt an unbearable pressure.

But for some inexplicable reason, there was a longing to witness Sheng Changquan's glorious moment up close, as if being in the midst of this clamor and praise would allow one to share in a bit of that blazing light and gain a kind of illusory, immersive pleasure and satisfaction.

Therefore, after much deliberation, he had no choice but to choose a relatively secluded and dimly lit corner among the women's seats, minimizing his presence as much as possible, and silently eating the dishes in front of him without tasting them.

The Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup, supposedly simmered with countless hours of effort, was indeed tender and delicious; the steamed mandarin fish, though its flesh was undeniably delicate and smooth… but when it reached his mouth, it always seemed to carry a hint of indescribable bitterness, much like his current gloomy, self-pitying, and sorrowful mood. Occasionally, his gaze would uncontrollably, almost as if possessed, sweep across the gap in the screen, timidly looking over there—at his seventh younger brother, Sheng Changquan, who was being patted on the shoulder with satisfaction by his father, being introduced to important guests by his elder brother Sheng Changbai, surrounded by people, composed and witty, seemingly possessing all the good fortune and talent in the world.

Every time he looked at it, the scene was like a tiny needle, gently pricking the most tender spot in his heart.

Immediately, the scene transformed into a blazing fire, so hot that he quickly and awkwardly lowered his eyes, unable to look any longer.

His fingers tightened slightly unconsciously around the teacup, his knuckles turning slightly white. He swallowed the increasingly bitter and hard-to-swallow warm tea, along with the surging resentment, bewilderment, shame, and grievances against his birth mother, Lin Qinshuang, that had caused him permanent trauma. He tilted his head back and swallowed it quietly.

His Adam's apple bobbed laboriously, and his mouth felt bitter. The bitterness spread and seeped into the deepest corner of his heart, a corner that had long been desolate and frozen by his mother's foolish madness, his own bad luck, and the stark contrast before him.

……

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, this joyous and glorious family banquet was drawing to a close.

Most of the guests were well-fed and their faces were flushed. Under the warm and thoughtful hospitality of the hosts, Sheng Hong and Sheng Changbai, they put down their bowls and chopsticks with satisfaction, wiped their mouths with warm towels offered by the maids, and then slowly moved in twos and threes, chatting and laughing, to the elegant and comfortable flower hall that had been decorated.

Inside the flower hall, the windows were bright and the tables were clean. Seasonal flowers and potted plants were placed everywhere, exuding a delicate fragrance.

In the corner, a gilded incense burner inlaid with dragons and beasts was filled with the finest agarwood. The pale white smoke rose gracefully, swirling and lingering, calming the mind and spirit.

The clever maids nimbly and quietly stepped forward, quickly and orderly clearing away the remaining dishes and wiping the smooth pear wood tabletop until it was spotless. Then, like well-trained butterflies flitting among flowers, they gracefully served freshly brewed Yangxian tea, with its clear broth and elegant aroma, along with a variety of exquisite and unique tea fruits and pastries, both sweet and savory, such as lotus-shaped pastries, lifelike almond Buddha's hand pastries, and jujube and yam cakes that invigorate the spleen and replenish qi. The tea table was filled with a dazzling array of dishes.

The Sheng family did not keep a luxurious opera troupe, as that was not the usual practice for a family of upright officials like them, and it was in line with Sheng Hong's consistent low-key style. Instead, they invited two renowned musicians from the capital to play classical music, one playing the seven-stringed zither and the other playing the xiao (vertical bamboo flute). Behind a bamboo curtain in a corner of the flower hall, they played quiet and soothing classical pieces such as "Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank" and "Three Variations on Plum Blossom".

The melodious sounds of silk and bamboo instruments, flowing like water, are neither noisy nor distracting, yet perfectly create a harmonious atmosphere where guests and hosts alike can enjoy themselves. This is ideal for the upcoming conversation and tea tasting, adding to the enjoyment and elegance.

After a whole day of noise and commotion, even though she was filled with immense joy and happiness, Old Mrs. Sheng was, after all, quite old. Although she was in good spirits, her physical strength was clearly failing her.

Although she maintained a dignified and graceful smile on her face and spoke softly with several elderly sisters-in-law and old female friends nearby, a hint of weariness was already showing deep in her eyes. The hand holding the teacup also loosened its grip slightly, and she leaned back against the cushion without leaving a trace, seeking a bit of support.

Seeing this, Fang Mama, who had been watching the old lady closely like a shadow, immediately stepped forward silently, bent down, and whispered in the old lady's ear with concern in a very soft voice, "Grandma, the banquet is almost over, and the guests have gone to have tea and listen to music. Are you feeling tired?"

"Although this music is elegant, it can be tiring to listen to for too long. Would you like me to help you back to Shou'an Hall to rest for a while? The master, madam and the two young masters are here to take care of you, so it's alright."

Upon hearing this, the old lady let out a slow, almost imperceptible sigh, nodded slightly, and murmured in a slightly tired and hoarse voice, "Yes, when you get old, your energy is no longer as good as theirs. The fun is theirs; this old body of mine needs to go back and rest. Alright, I'll go back quietly and not disturb everyone's enjoyment."

Sheng Changquan, who had been keeping a close eye on everything around him and paying attention to his grandmother's condition even while entertaining guests, immediately apologized politely to the elders and officials around him who were still enthusiastically congratulating him and discussing the article. His words were sincere and considerate: "Please forgive me, elders and sirs. My grandmother seems to be feeling tired. Please allow me to excuse myself for a moment and take her back to her room to rest."

Everyone nodded in agreement, praising, "Sheng Huiyuan's filial piety is commendable," "It is only right," and "The old lady is the priority, go quickly, don't worry about us."

Sheng Changquan then steadily walked through the crowd enjoying the qin and xiao duet, sipping tea and chatting idly, and laughing and talking in twos and threes. With steady yet urgent steps, he walked to the old lady's side, bowed slightly, and spoke in a gentle and clear voice, full of respect and concern: "Grandmother, are you tired? Shall I take you back to rest?"

The old lady looked up at her grandson, who was now famous in the capital and had a promising future, yet remained so filial, considerate, and meticulous. Her eyes, which had seen through the ways of the world, were filled with indescribable love and satisfaction, as well as a hint of barely perceptible sentimentality for the difficult years of the past.

She reached out and naturally placed her hand on his already outstretched, strong and reliable arm. With the help of her grandson's steady strength, she stood up steadily, gently patted the back of his hand, and said in a gentle and satisfied voice, "Good, good, thank you for your trouble, my Quan-ge'er. I'm old and useless now, not as energetic as you young people."

"Grandmother, what are you saying? Your presence at home today is my greatest source of confidence and blessing," Sheng Changquan replied gently, carefully adjusting his steps and steadily supporting his grandmother as they slowly walked out of the hall under the watchful eyes of those who admired or envied him.

Inside the hall, the melodious sounds of the qin and xiao still lingered, the aroma of tea filled the air, and laughter filled the air.

Outside the hall, the night was slightly cool, and the moonlight was like water. The exquisite lanterns hanging under the corridor swayed gently in the early summer evening breeze, and the soft halo reflected the warm silhouettes of an old man and a young man walking hand in hand, gradually blending into the quiet and deep night. Only a faint fragrance and lingering tenderness remained, adding the warmest and softest footnote to this glorious day.