Chapter 45 The visitor is evil

Li Daoxuan seemed to have learned some secrets of the Wang family, and returned to Master Li with a heavy heart. Relying on his small stature, he was not conspicuous in the Wang family's courtyard. Finally, he climbed over the wall and returned before the banquet.

At this time, there were many people, and the grand scene of pigtails fluttering and small hats swinging was rarely seen on ordinary days. From time to time, officials wearing flower feathers came, and at a glance, they were ranked fourth or fifth, and they were praised by everyone.

Master Li looked anxious, looking around. He didn't relax until he saw a familiar figure rushing out from the crowd. Seeing Li Daoxuan's messy hair and new clothes covered in dust, he asked in a stern voice, "Where have you been? Why did you take so long?"

Seeing Master Li like this, Li Daoxuan knew that he was concerned about him. Thinking of his experience of going out, he told Master Li the whole story. However, many of the plots were deleted by him, including the things in the backyard of the Wang family. He just thought that the servants of the Wang family left without waiting for him, so he got lost there, which delayed him.

Hearing that this was the case, Mr. Li felt relieved. He asked him to come closer and reached out to remove the spider web from Li Daoxuan's head.

"I don't know where you went. Why are you covered in dust?"

Only then did Li Daoxuan realize how miserable he looked. After asking the servant to fetch some hot water for him to wash himself, he felt a lot cleaner.

Sitting next to the eldest brother, the eldest brother rubbed his head with a smile: "Father was very worried about you just now, and he was restless. He kept muttering, 'Why hasn't Daoxuan come back yet?' 'Did Daoxuan get lost?' If I don't see you later, I'm afraid I'll tell Master Wang about it. Although you usually have your own opinions, why do you make me worry now?"

"This is mainly because the Wang family is too big." Li Daoxuan smiled awkwardly and found a lame excuse.

This topic was overshadowed and the Li family members did not discuss it anymore.

When the Wang family banquet began, the inner and outer courtyards were bustling with activity. The lights on the roof suddenly lit up, and the bright light bulbs were more shocking than the candles. Merchants from all over Jiangning looked at this scene with amazement.

"What is this? Why is it so bright? It's just like the bright moon hanging overhead, lighting up the whole sky."

"I know that. This thing is called a light bulb, and in English it's called Nogi. It can emit light as long as it is powered by electricity."

"It turns out to be a foreigner's thing. No wonder we have never seen it before! After all, it is the Wang family that uses such a rare thing."

Wang's Qin and Han bronzes did not impress everyone, but the foreigner's light bulbs did. They were all interested in it and wanted to learn more about it.

Even Li Daoxuan did not expect that the Wang family would be the first to use electric lights. After all, it was not until the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China that some powerful people began to invest and set up electric light companies in some major cities. At that time, not to mention Nanjing, even the imperial palace in Beijing probably still used candles. Although it is unknown where the generator was obtained, it is enough to show the depth of the Wang family's connections. Who dares to question the power of the Wang family when they can even get these rare foreign things?

Although the light bulb was bright, it flickered a little. This was probably because the voltage was unstable, which caused the light bulb to be unable to supply power continuously and stably. The Wang family also provided a lot of candles to avoid the embarrassing scene when the light bulb went out.

For a time, drums and music from home and abroad rang out, and the sound of singing and drinking was endless.

There were singing and dancing actors walking through the aisle of the hall, singing to the sound of drums and music.

The banquet consisted of 24 dishes, which was not as good as the legendary Manchu-Han Banquet. But it was better to share with everyone. It must be said that the Wang family's chef was quite skilled. Even Li Daoxuan thought the dishes were good. It was rare to satisfy his appetite, so he put some things aside for the time being.

Not long after, the old man of the Wang family came out with a cane. Although he was already eighty years old, his body was strong. His face was wrinkled, but he could walk firmly without the support of others.

Next to him was still the Taoist priest who performed the ritual that day, now wearing a purple robe. It was a scene of a yellow dragon spitting out pearls, and mountains and rivers were splendid. Holding a whisk in his hand, he accompanied Old Master Wang with a calm face.

On the other side, Mr. Wang followed the old man back and forth between the banquets, toasting with the guests and chatting happily.

Soon, everyone in the Wang family arrived in front of the banquet in the outer courtyard. Mr. Wang congratulated everyone loudly, saying that everyone who came was a guest and should eat and drink well. If the hospitality was not good enough, it would be his fault. As soon as these words came out, everyone cheered, stood up and raised their glasses to toast Mr. Wang, and also congratulated the old man.

The old man just squinted his eyes and smiled without saying a word. After Mr. Wang toasted him, he left.

Li Daoxuan secretly observed all this and found that Old Master Wang seemed to have said nothing along the way. He only nodded from time to time and then looked peaceful. An old man who could walk by himself should have no problem speaking, so why didn't he say a word along the way?

He felt that this matter was a bit strange, so he kept an eye on it. Although the inner and outer courtyards were separated, the doors and windows were all open, so the situation in the inner courtyard could be seen at a glance. Li Daoxuan paid attention to the seat where Mr. Wang toasted, but found that the banquets he toasted were all big merchants or high-ranking officials in Jinling.

For example, in the outer courtyard of the Li family's banquet, they would raise their wine glasses and say a few words before leaving, with no intention of drinking with others.

Perhaps they noticed this, the small merchants at the banquet also looked unhappy. But due to the power of the Wang family, they could only swallow their anger. After all, power is stronger than people. For people like them with little wealth, the government can control them with just a word. Haven't you seen Wu Chengzhi, the general merchant of the Thirteen Hongs, who was wearing a third-rank official hat and backed by the British East India Company. People called him the richest man in the Qing Dynasty, but in the end, just a word from the court destroyed his family fortune of hundreds of millions.

Therefore, everyone could only greet Mr. Wang's different behavior with a smile.

After Mr. Wang accompanied Old Master Wang on a tour, they went into the main hall. Not long after, Young Master Wang came out to entertain the guests.

Most of them were banquets where Mr. Wang did not propose a toast, but Young Master Wang would congratulate with a smile and lowered brows.

When he came to the Li family, Mr. Wang's fair face showed a feminine smile. The dark circles under his eyes were even heavier, as if he had indulged in too much sex. Compared with the cheerfulness when they first met, his temperament now was completely different. It was hard to imagine that this was the same person as before, but in just a short period of time, it was as if he had changed his core.

"Everyone, my father is not feeling well, please forgive me if I am not considerate enough." Young Master Wang raised his glass and said with a smile. The guests raised their glasses in response, saying that Young Master Wang was too polite.

This person is like this, he cares about face and dignity. He can put aside his previous grudges and greet people with a smile. If this face comes from someone of high status, he can even flatter them and say something flattering.

Young Master Wang finished his drink and showed the bottom of his glass to everyone. Amid the cheers of everyone, he said to Master Li: "My old master likes Master Li's young master very much. He said that he has a glowing head and is very spiritual. If there is a chance, please invite the young master to chat with the old master."

"Of course, of course. If there is a chance, I will definitely let Daoxuan go to see the old man." Master Li said with a smile.

Young Master Wang said some polite words, glanced at Li Daoxuan with a smile, and left.

Li Daoxuan was left alone with a gloomy face, eating the food in the bowl.

"Here comes with bad intentions." He thought to himself.

(End of this chapter)