Chapter 110: Chapter 97, Talented in Both Letters and
Armsl
Xiao Yeyang had secured spots for Yan Wenxiu, Wentao, and Yan Wenkai at Wangyue Academy. Daohua was deeply grateful and asked the butler, who had brought the message, to wait, as she wanted to prepare some thank-you gifts.
The items she could present were indeed limited; all she could offer in return were some vegetables and fruits grown on the farm.
However, these vegetables and fruits were grown from seeds produced in her special space, which made their taste and nutrition much superior to those grown outside.
This time, Daohua had the butler take away two large carts of goods.
One cart was filled with seasonally appropriate green vegetables; the other was loaded with watermelons and grapes.
Lacking in quality, she made up for in quantity. That was all she could do for now, but she anticipated that, once the medicinal herbs were ready for harvest, there would be more to offer.
Daohua had prepared the return gifts personally, without much interference from the Old Madam Yan or Madam Li. Actually, even if they wanted to meddle, they couldn’t, as the Yan Family truly had nothing valuable to give.
Li Xingnian watched the whole process, sighing with admiration in his heart for the good daughter his sister had brought up.
“We can really go to Wangyue Academy to study?”
At dusk, when Yan Wenxiu, Yan Wenjie, Wentao, Yan Wenkai, and Yan Wenbin returned home after classes at the State School, they learned that Xiao Yeyang had sent someone with admission notices from Wangyue Academy.
“Big sister, where’s the notice? Show it to me quickly,” Yan Wenkai hollered as soon as he arrived at Old Madam Yan’s courtyard.
Old Madam Yan glared at her energetic grandson and then pointed in the direction where Li Xingnian was sitting, “The notice is well kept. Won’t you greet your uncle first?”
Only then did Yan Wenkai notice his most admired second uncle and immediately rushed over, “Second Uncle, when did you arrive?”
Li Xingnian tapped Yan Wenkai’s head, somewhat annoyed, “I’ve been sitting here all along, and you just noticed me?”
“Greetings to Second Uncle; you’ve had a hard journey!”
Yan Wenxiu led the other boys forward to pay their respects to Li Xingnian.
Li Xingnian waved them up with a smile, “All of you, get up quickly!”
Seeing that his second uncle’s attention had shifted to his big brother, Yan Wenkai quietly slipped next to Daohua and whispered, “Big sister, let me see the admission notice quickly.”
Daohua, seeing the way he was winking and making faces at her, felt a desire to laugh. Compared to her reserved and steady big brother, she preferred this fourth brother of hers, who wore his heart on his sleeve and radiated youthful energy.
“Just wait.”
Daohua stood up, took the brocade box from Old Madam Yan’s step, opened it, and, checking the names on the notices, handed them to her impatient fourth brother, her distracted big brother who was talking to the second uncle, and to her third brother, whose face was a mix of surprise and delight.
“It’s really an admission notice from Wangyue Academy!”
Yan Wenkai excitedly looked at the letter in his hand, then ran to check Yan Wenxiu’s and Wentao’s, his demeanor full of joy.
In that moment, even Yan Wenxiu, who was always good at managing his emotions, couldn’t contain the joy on his face.
Wentao clearly hadn’t expected to be included; he was not good at his studies, and back in their hometown, many characters he recognized only because Daohua had forced him to learn them.
That Wangyue Academy, which his big brother held in high esteem, was said to cultivate students of exceptional scholarship. Being rather slow, he wondered if he would end up embarrassing the Yan Family if he went there.
At this moment, Wentao felt a mix of apprehension and anticipation.
To the side, Yan Wenjie, seeing the happiness of Yan Wenxiu and the others, went anxiously to his father’s side, “Father, don’t I have one?”
Yan Zhiyuan glanced at his big brother, who was merely joking around with Li Xingnian, feeling a touch of unease. The sons from the first and the third branch of the Yan Family were on their way to Wangyue Academy, but his son could not go, which was very distressing for him.
If it weren’t for the presence of the outsider Li Xingnian in the house, he would have asked as soon as the notice was received.
Giving his son a reassuring look, Yan Zhiyuan continued to join the conversation with Yan Zhigao and Li Xingnian, even though he was clearly a bit distracted.
Like Yan Wenjie, Yan Wenbin felt a sense of loss upon hearing about Wangyue Academy, a place he had heard his classmates mention, where only those from good families and with great learning had the opportunity to study.
Among the Yan Family’s grandchildren, in terms of studying, apart from his eldest brother who had already become a Scholar, he did not think he was inferior to anyone. His third and fourth brothers couldn’t even recite their books smoothly.
Now that there was a spot to study at Wangyue Academy, it should rightfully be his.
No, he had to speak to his aunt about this later when he got back.
After their initial excitement had subsided, Daohua and his two older brothers laughed and put the admission notice away, then returned it to the old lady’s step.
“Eldest brother, third brother, fourth brother, you need to get ready,” he said. “The admission notice says you have to report to the Academy in three days.”
Yan Wenkai said carelessly, “Packing things up is easy, I can do it tonight, and I could go to report tomorrow.”
Daohua smiled, “Fourth brother, don’t you hate studying? Why are you so enthusiastic about going to Wangyue Academy this time?”
Yan Wenkai sat down next to Daohua and said, “Big sister, that’s what you don’t understand. Why is Wangyue Academy known as the premier Academy in the north? It’s because of its outstanding teaching resources. You can learn literature as well as martial arts there. I’m not good at studying, but I can practice martial arts.”
At the mention of martial arts, Yan Wentao’s eyes immediately lit up, “Then I will also learn martial arts.” He was strong and agile, and learning martial arts should be easier for him than memorizing the tedious ‘this and that’ of the scholars.
Yan Wenkai immediately laughed, “Good! After we get to the Academy, eldest brother can focus on literature, and the two of us will focus on martial arts. Then, the Yan Family will be accomplished in both literature and martial arts.”
Hearing this, Yan Zhigao also laughed, his face showing relief that his youngest son also knew to make progress and bring glory to the clan. Still, he said with a stern face, “Learning martial arts is not easy, you two must be prepared to endure hardships.”
Yan Wenkai was not particularly concerned and said boldly, “What’s hardship? As long as I can learn martial arts, I can handle any hardships.”
Daohua said with a laugh, “Fourth brother, I’ll remember those words. If you complain later, you’ll be punished.”
Yan Wenkai said, “Let it be on the record. I’ll keep an eye on the third brother and he will do the same. Right, third brother?”
Yan Wentao quickly nodded, laughing.
For a moment, the room was filled with their jovial laughter.
After dinner, Yan Zhigao was stopped by Yan Zhiyuan, who said he had something to discuss. Madame Li gave the two men a look and then personally took Li Xingnian to the guest room.
Once in the guest room, Li Xingnian urged Madame Li, “You should go back soon, or Zhigao won’t find you when he returns to the main courtyard.”
Madame Li shook her head and laughed, “The master will not return to the main courtyard tonight. Just wait and see, there’s more commotion to come.
The second branch went to look for the master, and Shuangxin Courtyard won’t be able to hold back either.”
Li Xingnian looked at Madame Li’s face and sighed, “These years have been hard on you. My brother and I haven’t been able to help you much.”
Madame Li immediately gave Li Xingnian an annoyed look, “Second brother, don’t talk like that. Over these years, I have been able to hold sway over the Yan Family’s backyard, but it would not have been possible without your and my elder brother’s support.”
Li Xingnian frowned in thought, “There won’t be any changes to Wenxiu and the others going to Wangyue Academy, right?”
Madame Li smiled, “Don’t worry, there won’t be. The spot was given by the Little Prince. Even if the master has other ideas, it won’t matter. This is a good opportunity to clarify the status of each branch within the Yan Family.”
Li Xingnian nodded, seeing that his sister was unconcerned, he did not say more, “Right, Daohua’s birthday is in a few days, isn’t it?”
Madame Li’s expression softened immediately, “Isn’t it? In the blink of an eye, Daohua will be ten. She won’t have many more years by my side.”
Li Xingnian took out a delicate gold and jade necklace from a package, “This was specially ordered from Wanjin Building by my sister-in-law and Er Rong. It’s a birthday gift for Daohua.”
Madame Li took the necklace, “It’s too valuable. I appreciate the thoughtfulness of my sisters-in-law..”