Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 338 Dinner Party
"If it's too late, I'll sleep here." Chen Xingqi joked, "Are you not welcome?"

Meng Changqing poured him some tea and said, "I can't guarantee your safety if you stay here with me."

"You don't need to promise. The camp has assigned me a team of people standing outside your office. Didn't you see it?"

"I saw it." Meng Changqing went to the side to wash his hands and splashed the used water into the vegetable field. "I thought you got promoted and became arrogant."

Chen Xingqi laughed twice, but this laugh sounded a little different from before. "No matter how arrogant I am, I dare not put it in front of your Master Meng."

Meng Changqing smiled and sat down opposite Chen Xingqi, "In that case, I'll invite you to stay. Bafang, go to the front yamen and prepare a room for Master Chen."

"Hey! I'll go right away."

After Bafang left, they were the only two left in the yard. The autumn wind was melancholy and the atmosphere suddenly became cold. Only occasional sounds could be heard from the kitchen.

"What's with that scar on your face?" Meng Changqing asked.

"This?" Chen Xingqi pointed at his chin, "It's a scratch." He didn't elaborate, but instead asked how Meng Changqing was doing recently.

Meng Changqing said: "I'm fine. Lord Wei takes care of me, and I have the final say in Beishan County. Everything is fine except that I have no money."

"I really envy you." Chen Xingqi sighed.

"You envy me?" Meng Changqing was surprised. "Did you ride the horse today, or did the horse ride you?"

Chen Xingqi picked up the teacup in front of him and pretended to throw it at Meng Changqing.

Meng Changqing looked up, "Okay, okay, no more jokes, what happened to you?"

Chen Xingqi's eyes flickered. "What could possibly happen to me? With my father protecting me, who would dare to let anything happen to me?"

Meng Changqing knew that he was hiding something, but since he was unwilling to talk about it, she didn't ask any more questions.

After chatting for a while, Bafang came back and said that the room had been tidied and Young Master Chen could go over and rest at any time.

Chen Xingqi stood up after hearing this and said, "I'm going to take a nap. Call me when it's time for dinner."

Meng Changqing nodded naturally.

After Chen Xingqi left, Bafang immediately came to Meng Changqing and said, "Master, what happened to him? He looks strange."

"You also feel something is wrong." Meng Changqing thought for a moment, "Go to the study in the front and keep an eye on it."

Although Meng Changqing did not say it explicitly, there was a tacit understanding between the two of them, and Bafang knew what to guard against just by looking at each other.

After calculating the time in his mind, it should be almost 3 p.m., so Meng Changqing stopped hanging around outside and went back to his room. He cleaned up every corner a little, then took out his knife and carefully maintained it.

Time passed quickly as I touched and looked around everywhere.

The sky was getting darker and darker, and the noise coming from the kitchen was getting louder and louder.

Wen instructed Xiao Dai and Lai Cai to place tables and chairs in the yard, while Liang Jiujiu and his men kept serving dishes.

"Where's Bafang?" Xi Bei asked loudly in the yard, "Where is he hiding and slacking off again?"

Meng Changqing opened the door and said, "I told him to do something. I'll do whatever you want me to do."

When Xi Bei saw her come out to speak, she immediately suppressed her anger and said, "What are you doing? We can do it."

Wen said, "Changqing, it's almost time for dinner, go call Master Chen."

"Okay." Meng Changqing went through the back door and went to his study first. He pushed the door, but it didn't move.

Soon, a shout was heard from the study, "Who!"

"Me." Meng Changqing said, "Open the door, it's almost time for dinner."

Hearing Meng Changqing's voice, Bafang opened the door. Seeing the sleep marks on his face, Meng Changqing asked, "Are you asleep in there?"

Bafang scratched his face, "I squinted for a while, but don't worry, I squinted while lying on the desk. I kept all the documents under me, so there's no way anyone could touch them."

Meng Changqing clapped his hands without any hesitation, "You are awesome." Then he asked, "Has anyone been to the study?"

"No, the doors and windows are all locked. I didn't hear any noise inside, so no one has been here." Bafang came out and locked the study from the outside. As he locked the door, he said, "If you ask me, you are too suspicious. After all, Master Chen is the prince's man, and he will not do anything bad to you."

"There is nothing absolute in the world," said Meng Changqing.

"He came to congratulate you out of kindness, but you are so defensive against him. Master Chen would be sad if he knew."

"It's better for him to be sad than for me to be wronged."

"You are right. You are right no matter what."

The two of them bickered as they walked towards where Chen Xingqi was temporarily staying.

Before he got close, three sturdy soldiers standing at the door of his room looked over first.

Seeing this, Meng Changqing and Bafang did not move closer. They stood where they were and said, "Please inform General Chen that dinner is ready."

After one of them went in to pass the message, Chen Xingqi finally came out of the room after a while. He looked sleepy and his coat was not even buttoned.

He walked out while tying his belt, "Let's go! Let's eat. I specially asked someone to buy some good wine in Liangzhou City. We must have a few drinks!"

Although he said that, he felt restrained once he sat down.

With his elders present, he didn't dare to act presumptuously.

As it grew darker, lights were lit in the yard.

Several candles were lit between the dishes, and under the candlelight, the dishes looked more delicious than ever.

Mrs. Wen spoke first, "Today is August 15th, which happens to be Changqing's birthday." She raised her glass and turned to Chen Xingqi, "Thank you, Master Chen, for coming here."

Chen Xingqi quickly stood up and drank the wine in the glass.

Wen then said to everyone, “We have been in Beishan County for more than a year. Although we are in the same place, it is rare for us to gather together for a meal like today.

Take advantage of this opportunity." Mrs. Wen raised her glass and said, "I want to thank you all. I will never forget what you have done for our family." She stood up and said, "I toast to you all."

The others followed suit and raised their glasses.

Meng Changqing sat next to Wen, adjusted the position of her chair and helped her sit down.

Meng Changqing smiled and said, "The more mother thanks us, the more restrained we feel. With such good food and wine, why not enjoy it to your heart's content?"

"Okay, I won't thank you anymore." Mrs. Wen smiled and pointed at Meng Changqing, "But you can't not thank me.

Why don’t you thank your mother for preparing this delicious meal, and thank Young Master Chen for the good wine.

I also want to thank Master Xi for his guidance and protection, and thank Bafang Laicai for following me and taking care of me. Is there anyone here who you don't want to thank?"

"Mother is right." Meng Changqing really picked up the wine glass and wine jug and thanked them one by one.

Except for Chen Xingqi, everyone present was a family member, and no one would let her drink more. After going around in a circle, she only drank two small cups.

This dinner took more than an hour.

Everyone enjoyed the meal very much, especially Mancang. He ate until he could not eat any more, but he still stuffed his mouth full before he went back to sleep.

Xiao Dai cleaned up the leftovers on the table, put them on a clean plate, and handed it to Chen Xingqi, who was holding on to the wine jug and refused to let go.

Meng Changqing took the plate, carried the person to the stone bench next to him, and made room for them to clean up the table and chairs.