Chapter 597 - 369: Preparations Underway

Chapter 597: Chapter 369: Preparations Underway

On the Liu family’s side, the discussion about the son’s wedding was in full swing, but as for the Jiang family, there hadn’t been any talks yet.

Second Aunt was eager to talk about it, but on the way home, she and Jiang Hu were in separate carriages, and other matters took precedence once they arrived home.

The farm work didn’t require immediate attention, but the matter of tomorrow’s banquet certainly did.

Qixi and Aunt Yang were indeed capable, and since they were familiar with the Jiang family, they made decisions without hesitation, taking it upon themselves to decide on most things and planned to inform Jiang Hu and Second Aunt when they returned.

They purchased everything needed, including many items like bowls and chopsticks that Jiang Hu hadn’t thought of.

As Qixi put it, now only Jiang Yu and Liu Ze had passed the scholar exam; they would still need to pass the provincial exams, not to mention Wei Ziang and Jiang Wei.

Other than their studies and exams, other events like engagements and weddings of the young masters and misses would require grand celebrations, so buying a hundred pairs of chopsticks wouldn’t go to waste.

Besides the chopsticks, they also bought ten new tables on purpose.

Since this was a banquet, it wasn’t going to be all hundred tables at once; ten tables would be set, and once finished, the helpers would tidy up the utensils for the next set of ten, repeating this nine more times.

Jiang Hu naturally had no objections; he had completely forgotten about these details earlier.

When holding a banquet in the village, chairs, tables, and utensils were typically gathered by everyone in the community, and returned after the feast.

The Jiang family hadn’t hosted a banquet before, but other villagers had, so Jiang Hu never thought to buy new ones.

However, after hearing Qixi’s explanation, it made perfect sense. Their family was doing much better now; having the ability to use their own was indeed preferable.

Qixi also selected a big, fat pig. He wasn’t a member of the Jiang family nor their steward but knew that Jiang Hu and Second Aunt were not stingy.

Besides, if there was leftover pork tomorrow, it could still be sold, and if you were going to slaughter a pig, naturally you’d want the biggest one.

The pig was already slaughtered, and they were preparing to scald and dehair it; Jiang Hu arrived just in time to help out.

Aunt Yang focused on managing the household; though she had left the Jiang family two years ago, she still understood them as well as ever.

Leading several helper aunts, she was busy catching chickens and rabbits, and picking vegetables from the fields.

So beside the pig slaughter, a group of aunts was processing wild chickens and rabbits.

A large group gathered by the pond for chicken processing, with a makeshift stone stove beside it heating water.

Some slaughtered chickens, some collected the blood, some scalded the chickens, plucked feathers, gutted them.

Each person performed a step orderly, and in a large wood basin nearby, more than ten chickens were already piled up.

Once home, Jiang Hu and Second Aunt let the children play on their own, then changed into work clothes to help with tasks.

"Second Aunt, these chicken gizzards look good. We could save them to make stir-fried chicken innards tomorrow. What do you think?"

Aunt Yang, sweating profusely from tending to the boiling water, wiped her forehead and pointed to the basin of parts nearby.

Though they looked dirty then, once cleaned up, nobody would complain. The items raised by the Jiang family were known for their deliciousness, understood only by those who’ve tasted them.

Second Aunt had no objections, and with rolled-up sleeves, picked up the basin, "I’ll clean these up by the pond first, then take them inside to wash them thoroughly."

Although it was all water, the pond water originated from the mountains, flowing through many areas.

"I’ll join you, the chicken intestines can be cooked too; let’s clean all the edibles out to ensure we have enough."

Aunt Yang added two large logs to the fire, then helped to clean the chicken innards.

Though the parents told the kids to play, they were not used to idle hands, especially with so much work at home.

So they followed their parents, changing into everyday clothes and started helping out.

Some tended the fire, some washed vegetables, especially Jiang Yu, who chopped vegetables impressively, much to everyone’s surprise.

This was a scholar, yet he knew how to cook?

His skills were genuine, not pretentious!

But for the Jiang family, it was quite normal; cooking wasn’t a big deal, even the County Magistrate’s sons were taught by them, let alone their own children.

Qixi also selected a big, fat pig. He wasn’t a member of the Jiang family nor their steward but knew that Jiang Hu and Second Aunt were not stingy.

Besides, if there was leftover pork tomorrow, it could still be sold,

The busyness continued until dusk, when Second Aunt finally had time to prepare a simple meal to invite the helpers for dinner.

Nobody refused, and though Second Aunt considered it simple fare, others found it satisfactory.

Besides stir-frying a pot of leek and eggs, they sliced a freshly killed pig’s head, stir-fried a large pot of meat, and cooked a pot of green vegetable soup.

Along with steamed buns made from corn and refined flour, everyone ate their fill.

The prepared dishes, especially the meat, were covered to prevent contamination overnight.

Xiaomi even specifically instructed Xiaomi to guard the dishes at night.

The Jiang family was about to host a hundred-table banquet, celebrating their son’s scholar achievement. Within a single day, the news spread over ten miles around and even reached some in the city.

The banquet would start promptly at noon, so everyone was coming over early in the morning to prepare.

After a good night’s sleep, at dawn, someone knocked on the door—Zhang Yuan’s brother-in-law was delivering fish.

He had gone fishing in the lake overnight because yesterday’s catch wouldn’t stay fresh until today; these were the freshest fish.

Jiang Hu was deeply grateful, promptly ushering him in and asking Second Aunt to find him a spot to rest and stay for lunch before heading back.

Zhang Yuan’s brother-in-law wanted to taste the banquet and share the joy, so he readily agreed.

Gradually, the helper aunts arrived, gathering by the pond to start processing over a hundred big fish.

The more fish the better for Jiang Hu, they would process a hundred first, while keeping the rest for emergencies; unused ones could be kept in their own pond.

Second Aunt, with her two daughters, prepared breakfast—not only for themselves but for the helper aunts too.

Jiang Hu, Jiang Yu, and others washed the newly bought bowls and chopsticks from yesterday.

Before long, several men close to the Jiang family came to help set up tables and chairs, and distribute the snacks purchased yesterday to each table.

Few of these men could cook, but they could wash dishes; they began fetching water and continued washing dishes and utensils.

After breakfast, the real work started; several large pots were set up beside the courtyard. With the kitchen not big enough, the cooking had to be done outside.

Tending the fire, cooking, stir-frying, and boiling soup kept the ten large pots bustling with activity.