Chapter 160: Chapter 145, Yang Family_1
The Zhou Family’s ship took the Dayuan River, which made the journey faster; it took less than ten days for the Yan Family’s annual gifts to arrive in Beijing.
Yang Residence.
Old Madam Yang had just returned from attending a banquet with the women of the household and was now gathered in a room chatting.
As the year’s end approached, there were more banquets hosted by various families. Even though the head of the household was only a fourth-ranked official, he received quite a few invitations.
“Grandmother, Miss Yuan’s jewelry set was really beautiful, I want one just like it,”
“Grandmother, I want one, too.”
The daughters of the Yang Family’s first, second, and third branches were currently sitting around Old Madam Yang, coaxing and acting adorable, all the while lobbying for their own interests.
The wives of the first, second, and third branches of the Yang Family simply watched with smiling eyes and did not stop them.
Old Madam Yang was initially reluctant to agree, but her competitive nature, coupled with the fact that the dresses and jewelry of other young ladies at the banquet surpassed those of her own family, and considering her granddaughters were charming and cute, made her grit her teeth and acquiesce.
“Alright, Grandmother will buy them for you, a set for each person.”
Down below, Fourth Madam Yan Siyu felt a sudden chill when Old Madam Yang did not even mention her daughter Xiujun.
As a daughter-in-law not favored by her mother-in-law, she understood, but her daughter was also Old Madam Yang’s granddaughter. Why was Old Madam Yang so biased?
“Mother!”
Yang Xiujun, sensing that her mother’s mood was off, immediately reached out and grasped her hand.
She had grown accustomed to her grandmother’s partiality and disregard over the years; she would actually be surprised if her grandmother suddenly treated her well one day.
Yan Siyu gave a bitter smile and squeezed her daughter’s hands in return.
It was her own fault as a mother for being too weak, which resulted in her daughter suffering alongside her.
Fortunately, her son Hongrui was doing well in his studies and was valued by his uncle; otherwise, she would have had nowhere to stand in the Yang Family.
“Old Madam!”
Suddenly, a butler by Old Madam Yang’s side walked in, glanced at Fourth Madam, then quickly approached Old Madam Yang and whispered something in her ear.
After hearing the servant’s words, Old Madam Yang looked up at her youngest daughter-in-law with a hint of surprise on her face, “Fourth daughter-in-law, does your Yan Family have a connection with the Zhou Family?”
Yan Siyu, unexpectedly addressed by her mother-in-law, was startled, “The Zhou Family? Which Zhou Family?”
Old Madam Yang: “The Zhou Family of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.”
At these words, not only was Yan Siyu shocked, but the wives of the first three Yang Family branches were also taken aback.
The Zhou Family of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was one of the most powerful and favored families in Beijing.
The highest-ranking in the Yang Family was a fourth-ranked official; they didn’t even have the opportunity to interact with the Zhou Family.
First Madam of the Yang Family: “Mother, are you sure? How could fourth sister-in-law’s family possibly know the Zhou Family?”
Old Madam Yang ignored the first madam, and seeing her youngest daughter-in-law looking lost, she frowned and confirmed with the servant beside her, “Are you sure it’s the Zhou Family?”
The butler nodded, “Certain, this old servant asked several times, it’s indeed the former Grand Secretary’s Zhou Family.”
Old Madam Yang was startled; her youngest daughter-in-law’s elder brother indeed served as an official in Zhongzhou Province, which was the hometown of the former Grand Secretary Zhou. Could it be that the Yan Family’s luck was changing, and they had made a connection with the Zhou Family?
Despite the shock, Old Madam Yang quickly recovered and looked towards her youngest daughter-in-law, “Fourth daughter-in-law, the Yan Family’s annual gifts have arrived.”
Yan Siyu immediately stood up, excited.
If at any other time, her youngest daughter-in-law’s loss of composure would have led Old Madam Yang to scold her, but this time, she said nothing, “They say it arrived on a Zhou Family ship, and someone from the Yan Family has also come. Go meet them.”
“Yes!”
Yan Siyu was somewhat thrilled; she hadn’t expected that her family would also send someone over this time. After bowing to the old madam, she hurriedly took her daughter and left.
Seeing her eager departure, the second and third madams snickered.
“It’s just some New Year’s gifts, but look how happy our sister-in-law is.”
“Sister-in-law, my dowry wasn’t extensive, so of course the yearly gifts are important,” said Xiujun.
Old Madam Yang glanced at the two of them but did not speak.
In the back courtyard, near the Chuihua Gate.
Madam Li’s servant, Fang Niangzi, was pulling one of the Yang Family’s servants aside, all smiles, inquiring about Yan Siyu’s situation in the Yang Family.
Upon learning that Yang Boyi’s room housed several concubines and that he had fathered quite a few sons, Fang Niangzi felt instantly irritated.
At that moment, Yan Siyu arrived with Yang Xiujun.
“The servant pays respects to the fourth young mistress, may you be well!”
Fang Niangzi immediately knelt down to kowtow.
“Please stand up,” Yan Siyu said hastily, going forward to help Fang Niangzi to her feet. She then took a moment to look at Fang Niangzi, “You are… the daughter-in-law of Nanny Sun, Sister Fang?”
The family of Nanny Sun had bound itself in servitude to the Yan Family when Yan Siyu was very young. At the time of their sons’ marriage, she had not yet been wed, so she had met Madam Fang before.
“Yes, it’s me, fourth young mistress!” Madam Fang was also visibly excited; it had been six or seven years since they had seen Yan Siyu, following the Yang Family’s relocation to Beijing.
Thinking of her distant relatives, Yan Siyu’s voice turned emotional, “How is everyone at home? How is my mother’s health?”
Madam Fang replied with a smile, “She is doing well. Just last year, the master had grandmother move in to be taken care of by his side. With the whole family together, grandmother has no cause for unhappiness.”
“This year, the master was again promoted to the Prefectural Governor of Xingzhou, and the eldest, the third, and fourth young masters have gone to study at Wangyue Academy, which has made grandmother even happier.”
“Now, she spends her days with the eldest daughter, tending to flowers, practicing martial arts, and sometimes staying at the family villa for a few days. Her days couldn’t be more delightful,” Madam Fang added.
“It’s just that grandmother always has you on her mind. She says that if you were also by her side, the whole family would be truly reunited.”
Yan Siyu was stunned by the information Fang Niangzi had provided. After a pause, she asked excitedly, “What did you say? My elder brother has been appointed as Prefectural Governor?”
Seeing Yan Siyu’s reaction, Fang Niangzi paused in confusion, “Fourth young mistress, didn’t you know? The letter that contained the good news was written by the madam herself in the presence of the grandmother. Didn’t you receive it?”
Hearing this, Yan Siyu couldn’t help but burst into tears.
Yang Xiujun couldn’t understand why her mother would cry upon hearing such happy news, so she hurriedly comforted her, “Mother, there are many people watching. If grandmother found out, she would be so upset.”
Yan Siyu sobbed a few times, wiping the tear marks from her face, and bashfully said to Madam Fang, “Sister, you must excuse me; I am just too happy.”
Seeing her like this, Madam Fang felt a heavy constriction in her heart.
Although the madam had speculated that the fourth young mistress’s days in the Yang Family were not easy, she had not imagined they were so tough that she wouldn’t even receive the family letters.
Forcing a smile, Madam Fang said, “Fourth young mistress, because I was able to catch a ride on the Zhou Family’s boat, which was less expensive, grandmother had me bring quite a few things with me.”
“She sent various vegetables she grew herself, plants she nurtured, fruit wine she fermented—everything she fancied, she sent a portion for you, saying she wanted you to have a taste as well,” informed Madam Fang.
At this, Yan Siyu’s tears fell once more.
Yang Xiujun quickly tried to console her.
“This must be Miss Xiujun, right?” Madam Fang said with a smile, looking at Yang Xiujun, “She takes after you, fourth young mistress, truly a beauty.”
While dabbing at her tears, Yan Siyu replied, “Sister Fang, please don’t spoil this girl too much, or she might start getting full of herself.”
Seeing the crowd around them grow, Yang Xiujun suggested, “Mother, perhaps we should continue this conversation inside.”
Yan Siyu nodded repeatedly.
Previous gifts from her natal family had come unaccompanied, just letters. This time, someone had come, and she had so many questions she wanted to ask.
Madam Fang, not minding at all, followed the mother and daughter by half a step, chatting, “Aside from grandmother, the eldest young mistress also sent something for the young master and Miss Xiujun.”
Yan Siyu stopped briefly, “You mean my eldest brother’s legitimate eldest daughter?”
Nodding, Madam Fang answered, “Exactly, fourth young mistress. You haven’t been at home often, so you may not know that our eldest young mistress is really the life of the party. Grandmother is laughing and cheerful every day with her around.”
Yang Xiujun listened silently, a wistful look appearing on her face as she heard about her grandmother and cousin’s daily life.
If only her grandmother could be like that, how wonderful it would be?