At the gate, Steward Hu, dressed in a green robe, was checking the identities of the arriving guests one by one and recording their congratulatory gifts.
Efficient servants took the guests' gifts, box by box, carrying them into the courtyard to be sorted and arranged.
Several lavishly dressed middle-aged men were lining up at the entrance.
"Steward Hu, thank you for your hard work this morning! I am Zhang Wentao of the Jiangnan Cloth Shop. This is some of the finest Profound Cloud Brocade, if you would please inspect it!"
The clean-shaven, middle-aged man said with a fawning expression on his face.
Steward Hu remained expressionless. He glanced at the Profound Cloud Brocade, gave a slight nod, and had a servant take it away.
"Steward Hu, regarding the mansion's future cloth supply..."
The cloth merchant, Zhang Wentao, produced a heavy pouch from his robes, shielding it with his sleeve as he discreetly tried to hand it over.
