Chapter 9 Family Banquet
As expected, Xu Shuhe didn't show any expression, just gestured for Xinyue to continue.

The latter said, "Tinglan first sent the person to the door and came back, and didn't say anything to Mother Qiu. But after Tinglan came back, she took the initiative to take Meixiang's work and went to the kitchen to get afternoon snacks. I felt something was wrong, so I endured it and quietly followed her out. Sure enough, she took a detour to meet Mother Qiu."

"Did you hear what they said?" Xu Shuhe asked.

Xinyue frowned, "There's nothing to block us, I was afraid of being discovered. I was far away, so I didn't hear it clearly, but I vaguely heard the words Chunliu and something like "I won't treat you badly". Madam, this Tinglan must be a spy from Wanshuangzhai in our courtyard!"

"It's not just her, there are others too. I have to find excuses to get rid of them one by one." Xu Shuhe said in a deep voice, "Now you are the only one who can take care of the things around me. The others are not allowed to interfere."

Xinyue nodded, "Don't worry, Madam. I know."

The master and servant exchanged a few words and then continued to pack the things they would take back home tomorrow.

Adding those sent by Chen Zhi and Feng, there are quite a few more.

Around dusk, Meixiang, another maid arranged by the Chen family, came in and said that the master and the mistress wanted the family to go to the front hall in the evening for a family dinner.

"Okay, I understand. You can go down." Xu Shuhe responded.

But Meixiang didn't leave, and looked as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

After Xu Shuhe found out, he asked, "Why, do you have anything else to do?"

"Young Madam, please allow me to say a few words." Meixiang pursed her lips, bowed and then said, "Tinglan has bad intentions, so you'd better stay away from her. In addition, Miss Chunliu, the concubine, is not as the Second Young Madam said to you, so you'd better be careful."

Xu Shuhe was a little surprised that she would say that.

I think it was when Li Mingzhu came over in the afternoon that Meixiang came in to serve tea, so she heard something.

Xu Shuhe looked at her briefly, and then said calmly, "I know what you mean, please leave."

"Yes." Meixiang nodded and left silently.

It’s not that Xu Shuhe didn’t appreciate it, but she didn’t dare to trust anyone in this house except Xinyue easily. She still had to investigate whether they were good or bad.

Since they were going to have a meal, it would be better for her and Chen Zhi, the newlywed couple, to go together, so she turned around and asked Xinyue to go to Chen Zhi's place.

When the time was almost up, the couple reunited and went to the front yard together.

When they arrived, they happened to meet Li Mingzhu and Feng, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law who came together.

After a few pleasantries, they sat down.

Not long after, father-in-law Chen Huaiqian came over with a young man. The man looked very similar to Chen Huaiqian, but although he looked good, he gave people a greasy and uncomfortable feeling.

"Mom, third brother, and third brother's wife." The young man greeted everyone with a smile.

He is Feng’s eldest son, the second young master in the mansion, Chen Jin.

"Hello, second brother." Xu Shuhe stood up and saluted.

She is a bride, and this is a necessary etiquette.

"Don't be polite, sister-in-law. We will be a family from now on. There is no need to be so formal." Chen Jin waved his hand quickly.

His tone sounded open and friendly, but the look in his eyes was not very pleasant.

He looked at Xu Shuhe in a sticky manner, seeming a little lustful.

"Please sit down. Second brother has already said that there is no need to be so polite." Chen Zhi's voice rang out.

Originally Chen Jin wanted to say a few more words, but after hearing this, he laughed twice and agreed, "Yes, yes, yes, everyone, please sit down."

"Yes, sister-in-law, please sit down. It's awkward for a family to talk while standing." Li Mingzhu also smiled. Xu Shuhe curled his lips slightly at Li Mingzhu, and then sat down next to Chen Zhi.

At this time, Chen Huaiqian, who was sitting at the top, spoke in a deep voice.

"Where's the fourth brother? Everyone is here for the family dinner today, why hasn't he come yet?"

"Maybe he is still studying in the study. This child forgets to eat and sleep once he starts reading. I have asked someone to call him back." Feng said softly.

When talking about his little son, his face was full of smiles.

As he was speaking, footsteps were heard at the door, and then an elegant and handsome man walked in.

"Dad, Mom, second brother and second sister-in-law, third brother and third sister-in-law, I'm late, please forgive me!"

Xu Shuhe looked at Chen Xun, the fourth son of the Chen family. Although they had the same father and mother, his temperament was completely different from that of the second son, Chen Jin. He looked more like a gentleman with a scholarly air.

Chen Huaiqian, who had a serious expression just now, softened his expression when he saw his youngest son.

"Hurry up and take a seat. I'm waiting for you alone."

Chen Xun smiled and sat down. "I finished writing an article this afternoon. Since it was still early, I picked up a book to read. I was so absorbed in it that I missed dinner. I delayed my parents and my brother and sister-in-law from having dinner. I really deserve to be beaten."

"Child, you have loved studying since you were young. It is a good thing to study hard. If you can pass the imperial examination in the future, you will bring honor to the family. Your parents will be so happy that they can't express it all." The tenderness on Feng's face was almost overflowing.

Xu Shuhe watched silently. In contrast, when she served tea to Feng in the morning, Feng's amiability seemed like she was just acting.

Tsk, there is still a difference between true and false.

Chen Huaiqian also had a smile on his face. "Okay, now that you're here, let's have dinner. You've been reading for the whole afternoon, and I think you must be hungry."

After these words, it seemed that the family of three on the field was having a great time, and everyone else just served as a foil.

Xu Shuhe secretly looked at Chen Zhi and saw that he had a calm expression and didn't seem to have any thoughts. However, when he looked across, he found that Li Mingzhu's face was not looking good.

Especially when the dishes were served, Chen Jin immediately started eating with a smile, and Li Mingzhu's expression became even stiffer, as if she was a little disgusted.

That's true in her mind. In this family, the second and fourth sons are brothers, and Chen Zhi, the third son, is like an outsider, so she doesn't care. But Li Mingzhu married Chen Jin, who looks incompetent, and her parents-in-law obviously prefer the younger Chen Xun. How can she feel comfortable in this?

It’s none of my business anyway, Xu Shuhe thought.

Collect your thoughts and eat your meal first. Filling your stomach is the most important thing.

Apparently Chen Zhi next to him understood this better and had already started eating.

But just as he stretched out his chopsticks towards the plate of mandarin fish on the table, Feng also reached out and picked up the plate.

The two people's movements collided and the situation suddenly became a little awkward.

Feng was stunned for a moment, then she smiled and said, "Oh, I noticed that the second and third sons don't like to eat fish, but the fourth son likes it. Mandarin fish nourishes the spleen and stomach, replenishes the body and replenishes qi. The fourth son studies hard all day, so I thought of asking him to eat more to replenish his body."

Having said this, he quickly put down the hand holding the plate and pushed the plate slightly towards Chen Zhi.

"Come on, Sanlang, you go first."

It was obvious that Feng was partial to her own son and wanted to serve the fish to her own son, but these words made it seem as if Chen Zhi was being immature and not giving in to his younger brother.

Naturally, Chen Zhi lost interest in eating the fish. His face turned slightly cold, and he was about to withdraw his hand. Unexpectedly, Xu Shuhe stretched out his chopsticks and without hesitation picked the meat from the fish's belly and put it into Chen Zhi's bowl.

Then he said jokingly, "We are having a meal together. Mother-in-law has spoken, so why do you feel embarrassed to pick up some food? Don't let people spread the news and think that mother-in-law only cares about fourth brother and gives all the good things to him."

(End of this chapter)