The process of a birthday banquet in this place was quite simple. A gong sound, and the banquet begun.
The invited opera troupe would sing a birthday song, followed by Tong Tiehu, the birthday star, saying a few words. Finally, the children and grandchildren of the Tong family would present their gifts in front of everyone.
Finally, another gong sound, and the banquet officially started. Food was served!
The young lads ran around holding trays, delivering plates of cold dishes to each table.
Qiao Xiaomai, the head chef, began to stir-fry the hot dishes.
The Tong family was well-off, half of the dishes served at the banquet were meat, and coupled with Qiao Xiaomai's good cooking skills, the courtyard and the streets on both sides were bustling with excitement.
People were whispering into each other's ears, praising the food.