Chapter 1200: Chapter 1197: New Year’s Gift
He had given a reminder, but whether Fu Ming ceaselessly absorbed it was not his concern anymore.
Chu Heng received numerous congratulations from officials throughout the day, and many even sent gifts to the Chu family residence.
Ye Muyu, following Chu Heng’s instructions, only accepted gifts that were not valuable.
As New Year approached, there would also be a banquet in the palace, naturally making it inappropriate for the Chu family to host a banquet at this critical moment. Thus, Ye Muyu decided to return gifts during the New Year festivities.
Although Chu Heng had been promoted, it was even more unsuitable for him to indulge in luxury and grand banquets, as both were low-key and measured individuals.
First, a message was sent to each family explaining the situation, and then some fresh fruit was picked from the warmed greenhouse on the manor and sent to each family, allowing the Chu family to finally establish a firm footing in the capital.
Although the situation at court was somewhat plex, exactly for this reason, all the families did not want to offend anyone carelessly. The messengers sent by Ye Muyu received replies from the ladies and matriarchs of various families, with attitudes ranging from good to bad to strictly businesslike.
No matter what, this hurdle was now behind them.
Ye Muyu sighed with relief. With Chu Heng’s status, hosting a banquet upon promotion was very improper in the capital, giving an impression of arrogance that could reach the Emperor’s ears, likely leaving a bad impression.
Thus, she made an excuse to cancel the banquet and, by not accepting valuable gifts, the Chu family’s situation greatly improved.
It must be said, Ye Muyu was very thankful for the uping New Year.
Ye Muyu was kept busy managing relations with various households in the capital for four to five days.
Once that was resolved, she finally relaxed and rested.
“Ah Yu, these are what your father and I bought to send back to our hometown, to those relatives. Do you think they are appropriate?” In the morning, Madam Liu brought over a sheet of rice paper filled with closely packed writing.
Chu Zhiwen was in the front yard, not casually entering the inner quarters of the residence.
Over time, he had also learned to find things to do for himself, mainly involving finding someone to teach him to read, keeping him sufficiently busy.
“Mother, e in and sit.” The room was sufficiently warm from the charcoal fire, and although Ye Muyu no longer felt the cold, she still preferred a warmer room.
Madam Liu walked in, saw her sitting on the soft couch writing something, and went straight over.
“Ah Yu, what are you writing?”
She sat down beside her and took a glance. Since she could not recognize many characters, she soon stopped looking.
Ye Muyu paused her writing and explained, “I’m writing the list for the New Year gifts.”
“Mother, these are for our hometown, take a look.”
As she spoke, she reviewed the list that Madam Liu had brought. It contained many items, all bought by Madam Liu and Chu Zhiwen during their outings to familiarize themselves with the capital, whenever they found something inexpensive and suitable.
From large potted plants to a small button, anything new and unfamiliar to them that was reasonably priced, they bought a few.
“These items, your father and I thought to send back for the children at home to broaden their horizons,” explained Madam Liu somewhat embarrassedly. During these days, besides learning routes, she also gained some understanding of the life of the capital’s prominent families.
Most were entrenched elites for over a hundred years, starkly different from a newly eminent family like the Chu family, not only in their customs but also in their insights.
“I inquired quite a lot and heard that those families of officials in the capital all conduct classes in their residence. Moreover, there are specific family schools. Those families with rich legacies have many outstanding clan members.”
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