Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 97 Family Banquet in the Mansion

That evening, in the back garden of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

A large round table was set up in the pavilion, and it was already filled with all kinds of dishes.

The old matriarch set a rule that a family banquet would be held once every ten days, and the whole family had to attend.

Now that the Lin family is wealthy and powerful, the scale of their family banquets has naturally risen accordingly.

The matriarch sat at the head of the table, Lin Chen sat to her right, and her mother, Su Wanqing, sat to her left.

The seven sisters-in-law and Su Xiaoxiao sat down in turn, with Lin Nian'er next to Liu Ruyan.

"Come, let's toast Grandmother first." Lin Chen raised his wine glass. "Wishing Grandmother good health and a long and happy life."

"May Grandmother enjoy a long and healthy life!" everyone said in unison.

The old lady beamed from ear to ear: "Good, good, drink it all."

After a glass of wine, the atmosphere became lively.

The dishes on the table were all carefully prepared; although not extravagant, they all possessed a unique charm.

Steamed Silver Scaled Fish – sourced from Lingquan Spring, known for its delicious and tender flesh.

Braised Iron-Bone Beef – Meat from a mutated monster, nourishing blood and qi.

Garlic-flavored Jade Heart Vegetable – a delicate and refreshing dish.

Mapo tofu uses Lingdou beans, and sweet and sour spare ribs are made from Xiang pigs—these pigs grow up eating Linggu beans from a young age.

The cold dish of three shredded vegetables consists of three different kinds of medicinal plants.

There is also a pot of "Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup"—made with aged medicinal herbs and monster bones, which is very beneficial to martial artists.

"Eighth Brother, try this." Wen Ruoxi placed a piece of iron-boned beef on Lin Chen's plate.

"Fourth Sister went hunting on purpose, and it took her a lot of effort."

Lin Chen took a bite; the meat was tender, and the spiritual energy it contained dissolved within his body.

"Mmm, delicious! Fourth Sister-in-law, you're a great cook!"

Xiao Yulou proudly raised his chin:

"That's right, this Iron-Bone Bull is not easy to hunt. Its hide is thick and its flesh is tough. I chased it for three days."

"Eighth brother, have some soup." Chu Yueyao ladled out a bowl of nourishing soup.

"I've been watching this soup for eight hours; all the medicinal herbs were carefully selected."

Lin Chen took a sip; it was incredibly delicious and full of spiritual energy: "Second Sister-in-law's soup is always so amazing."

"Uncle Ba! Have some pastries!" Lin Nian'er ran over, holding a handful of spirit rice cakes.

Lin Chen picked up a piece and tasted it; it was sweet but not cloying, and contained a gentle spiritual energy.

"Nian'er is so great, she can even make pastries now."

The little girl happily ran back to Liu Ruyan's side.

Liu Ruyan looked at Lin Chen with a smile in her eyes and also picked up a piece of silver-scaled fish for him:

"Try this, it was just delivered from the estate today."

"Thank you, sister-in-law."

Qin Shuyan said softly, "This meal cost ten thousand taels of gold, but it's all spiritual food, which is good for cultivation, so it's worth it."

"Spend it if you want to," Lin Chen laughed. "We're not short of money now, so we should enjoy ourselves."

Ye Qingying silently placed a piece of tofu on Lin Chen's plate, still without saying a word.

Murong Xue said softly, "These spirit beans were transported from Nanzhao. Eighth brother, try them and see if they suit your taste."

Su Xiaoxiao sat down next to Lin Chen, her face flushed, and poured him a cup of spirit wine.

"Young master, this is 'Hundred Fruit Wine' sent by the Su family. It is brewed with a hundred kinds of spiritual fruits. Please have a taste."

Lin Chen took the wine glass and casually grasped her hand: "Xiao Xiao is so thoughtful."

Su Xiaoxiao's face turned even redder, but she didn't pull her hand away.

It was a pleasant meal.

The group chatted and laughed, talking about interesting things happening in the mansion and their experiences outside.

"I heard that Zuiyuexuan brought in three million taels of silver this month?" Xiao Yulou asked curiously.

Wen Ruoxi nodded:

"The main expense is the membership fee. Mr. Bai's piano skills have attracted many customers, and the meditation hall is fully booked until the month after next."

In addition, the beauty cream is selling very well, and demand exceeds supply.

"How is the Tiger Legion's training going?" Liu Ruyan asked.

"Not bad," Lin Chen said. "His Majesty will be inspecting the troops on the first day of next month. You can come and watch the excitement if you have time."

"Really?" The women's eyes lit up.

"Of course," Lin Chen said with a smile, "I'll save you some good seats."

The old lady and Su Wanqing watched this scene with eyes full of satisfaction.

Su Xiaoxiao secretly glanced at Lin Chen, then at the other sisters, feeling both happy and a little apprehensive.

She knew she wasn't officially married into the family yet, but being able to sit here and attend the family banquet was already a sign that the Lin family approved of her.

Lin Chen noticed her gaze, gently took her hand under the table, and winked at her.

Su Xiaoxiao blushed, lowered her head, and felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

……

The family dinner ended when the moon was high in the sky.

The crowd dispersed and returned to their respective courtyards.

Lin Chen accompanied the old lady and Su Wanqing for a while, and after escorting them back to their rooms, he slowly walked towards the main house.

Halfway there, he thought for a moment, then turned and headed towards the West Garden.

Su Xiaoxiao lives there, and although they haven't consummated their marriage yet, I still have to go and keep her company.

In the main courtyard of the West Garden, Su Xiaoxiao was playing the zither.

The zither music was melodious, carrying a hint of a young girl's melancholy.

Upon seeing Lin Chen arrive, she quickly stood up: "Young Master."

"You played so well." Lin Chen walked to her side. "Little Xiao, are you homesick again?"

Su Xiaoxiao nodded: "A little... but with you here, young master, I'm already very content."

Lin Chen put his arm around her shoulder:

"After the coming-of-age ceremony, it will be the wedding. My father and brothers will come, and we will let them stay for a while."

"Really?" Su Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up.

"When have I ever lied to you?" Lin Chen smiled and leaned down to give her a light kiss on the lips.

Su Xiaoxiao trembled, her face flushed crimson, but she didn't flinch: "Young Master..."

"Little one is so sweet." Lin Chen kissed her again before letting go.

"I'll keep you company tonight."

The two sat in the courtyard, Su Xiaoxiao leaning on his shoulder, softly talking about her life in the mansion.

She said her second sister often taught her medicine, her third sister taught her housekeeping, her fourth sister taught her self-defense, her fifth sister took her to Zuiyuexuan to learn the zither, her sixth sister, though quiet, often gave her poetry collections, and her seventh sister was the most caring, often talking to her...

"My sisters are all very kind to me," Su Xiaoxiao said softly. "I'm very grateful."

"We're all family, no need to be so polite," Lin Chen said with a smile.

"After the coming-of-age ceremony and the wedding, you will officially be my wife, Lin Chen's wife."

Then, the nine of us will live a good life together.

Su Xiaoxiao looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears:

"Young master... I am utterly unworthy of such a position..."

"Xiaoxiao is very good," Lin Chen said earnestly.

"You are beautiful and talented, gentle and considerate. It is my blessing to marry you."

The two embraced for a long time, until late at night.

Although Lin Chen did not stay overnight, he talked with Su Xiao for a long time until she was sleepy before leaving.

After leaving the West Garden, Lin Chen thought for a moment, then turned and walked towards Ningxiang Courtyard—he had to make the best of everyone's hands, right?

In Ningxiang Courtyard, Wen Ruoxi had just finished settling the accounts when she saw Lin Chen arrive, which surprised her somewhat:

"Eighth Brother? What brings you here? I thought you were going to be with Little Sister tonight."

"I've already kept you company." Lin Chen walked over with a grin and hugged her from behind.

"Now that I'm here to keep Fifth Sister-in-law company, she doesn't welcome me?"

"Welcome." Wen Ruoxi turned around and hugged his neck.

"But Eighth Brother, you can't favor one over the other; you have to visit the other sisters as well."

"I know, I know," Lin Chen said with a smile. "Isn't this just following the order?"

Wen Ruoxi rolled her eyes at him and pulled him towards the inner room: "Then stop talking nonsense, the night is too short."

That night, the lights in Ningxiang Courtyard stayed on very late.