Because of this, the local residents had no choice but to drink large amounts of tea to cut through the excess grease in their diet. After all, having enough fresh fruits and vegetables on a daily basis was nothing short of a luxury for them. Therefore, if they ever had the chance to buy canned fruit—which was both easy to store and highly nutritious—they would undoubtedly snap it up without a moment's hesitation.
Soon after, the Qian family sent another messenger to extend an earnest invitation, stating that a sumptuous feast had been carefully prepared at their residence and warmly inviting everyone to gather. Although the Qian family's power and influence paled slightly in comparison to the four prominent families of Yuzhou, Zhiwei Pavilion had been established through the joint efforts of the Qian, Deng, and Su families. Thus, they had the honor of hosting the next gathering right after Prefect Jia's banquet.
However, even if the members of the four great families were extremely reluctant deep down, they still had to put on a smile and gladly attend. After all, the subsequent events would serve as the stage for them to display their own prominence. Meanwhile, Su Shi'an quietly pulled Deng Yangchen aside and slipped away unnoticed. They had absolutely no interest in participating in such banquets. Besides, both of them were still young, so whether they attended or not would not draw much attention, save for a few casual inquiries from Qian Huai, Su Shikuan, and Su Shiron…
Chapter 273