Chapter 162: Chapter 147, Stationery Distribution_1
Xingzhou, Yan Residence.
As the end of the year approached, Madam Li was bustling about so much that her feet barely touched the ground. She had to prepare for the New Year’s gifts, attend banquets hosted by various households, and tally the income from the manorial stores—she was so busy that she even roped in Daohua to help out.
“With your father promoted to Prefectural Governor this year, the gift exchanges have increased several-fold compared to last year,” Madam Li remarked as she examined the list of New Year’s gifts from other households, chatting with her daughter who was busy with the accounts.
Daohua kept her head down and responded, “When an official rises in rank, of course more people will try to ingratiate themselves.”
Madam Li glanced at her daughter and scolded with a smile, “Don’t talk like that outside.”
Daohua looked up and stuck her tongue out, playfully replying, “I’m not foolish.”
Without amusement, Madam Li retorted, “Sure, you’re the cleverest,” but her mouth curved into a slight smile. Indeed, she had been greatly relieved by her daughter this year; otherwise, she couldn’t imagine how overwhelmed she would have felt at this time.
More gift exchanges meant larger expenditures, and if it hadn’t been for a tidy sum earned from watermelons on the farm, this year’s New Year’s gifts would have appeared rather modest.
Thinking of the return gifts her family had prepared for others, a smug look appeared on Madam Li’s face as she said to her daughter in a pleased tone, “This year, our return gifts include the vegetables you grew and the flowers you raised, which must be the finest in all Xingzhou City.”
Rarity is prized, after all. Vegetables and flowers are scarce in winter, and they are hard to come by even with money.
Though some other families also have greenhouses, neither the vegetables they grow nor the flowers they raise can compare to those of her own household.
The Zhou Family is wealthy, right? But even they send their daughter over every two to three days, just to get a taste of our homegrown vegetables.
Just as satisfied as Madam Li was Yan Zhigao, working away in the Governor’s Office.
This year, the gifts from his household had significantly boosted his prestige within the Prefectural Governor’s Office. Everyday, colleagues would thank him—whether they praised the delicious vegetables or admired the potted plants, he had managed to bridge the distance with his subordinates.
Especially within the Governor’s Office, those cunning veterans who were sticklers for the rules yet had powerful backers were less obstructive and critical towards his end-of-year work, thanks to the well-received gifts and gestures, which made his life much easier.
At this moment, Yan Zhigao was sitting contentedly in the study in the outer courtyard, admiring the paintings and calligraphy brought to him by his subordinates.
Suddenly, the butler, Sun, came in carrying a rather large box: “Master, this is the New Year’s gift from Judge Wang.”
Yan Zhigao raised an eyebrow: “Bring it here, let me have a look,” he said. He had already been discreetly informed by Qian Tongzhi about Judge Wang’s backing by Consultant Du.
Judge Wang was capable in his duties, effectively handling the tasks assigned to him. As long as he did not trip Zhigao up behind his back, Zhigao was not inclined to make things difficult for him.
Of course, significant promotion was out of the question.
Butler Sun gently placed the box on the table and carefully opened it.
Inside was a complete set of stationery items.
Ink brushes, ink sticks, inkstones, brush washers, brush rests, ink droppers, paperweights, armrests—all were present and accounted for.
Yan Zhigao picked up an ink brush and examined it—it was a fine Xuan brush. Then he looked at the inkstone; to his surprise, it was a Duan inkstone. “Judge Wang is quite generous,” he commented.
The value of this whole set was considerable, and acquiring such items would have taken quite an effort.
Yan Zhigao glanced at the stationery on his own desk, all recently procured, so he would not immediately need this new set.
“Father!”
Just then, Yan Wenbin walked in.
Yan Zhigao set down the Xuan brush and asked with a smile, “What brings you here?”
Yan Wenbin’s eyes lit up when he saw the writing implements on the table; he was in need of a fine set for his own use, and this one would be perfect.
If it had been before, upon seeing his cherished younger son yearning for something, Yan Zhigao would have promptly offered it to him to take. But this time, he said nothing.
Seeing this, Butler Sun standing aside had a thought.
He had served Zhigao since before the latter had taken the imperial examinations and had seen over the years how much he doted on the children of the Lin Family.
When the young master’s gaze fell upon the writing implements, Sun thought for sure that the set would end up with the young master. But judging by the master’s current demeanor, it seemed he was not planning to give away the set to Wenbin!
This was unprecedented!
Could it be that he was saving it for the eldest son?
That made sense, after all, the eldest son was the legitimate heir. Even if Zhigao favored his younger son, he would not neglect the eldest.
Yan Wenbin saw that his father hadn’t mentioned giving him stationery and felt a slight disappointment, “Father, there are some parts of the textbook that I don’t understand. I would like you to guide me.”
Seeing that his youngest son was eager to study hard, Yan Zhigao was pleased, “Show me.”
Afterward, Yan Zhigao explained in detail the parts that Yan Wenbin didn’t understand.
The questions he had marked were answered, but Yan Wenbin lingered and didn’t leave right away.
Yan Zhigao, “What’s wrong, is there still a problem?”
Yan Wenbin moved his lips, wanting to ask for the set of stationery, but after thinking it over, he decided to go back and tell his aunt, and let her ask his father for it.
As long as his aunt spoke up, his father would almost never refuse.
After leaving the study, Yan Wenbin went straight to Shuangxin Courtyard and told his Aunt Lin about the stationery issue.
Aunt Lin, seeing her son’s anxious face, thought something serious had happened. But upon hearing his request, she immediately laughed, “It’s just a set of stationery, right? Your mother will ask for you. Look how anxious you are.”
Yan Wenbin, embarrassed: “Your son truly loves that set of stationery.”
Aunt Lin chuckled, “Alright, alright, when your father comes to Shuangxin Courtyard, no, when your father comes back from the outer courtyard, I’ll go find him and guarantee to get the stationery for you.”
Yan Wenbin was a bit worried, “Mother, will Father give it to me? In the past, whenever I took a liking to something, Father would always speak up, but this time, I stayed in the study for so long, and yet Father didn’t say anything.”
Aunt Lin was stunned for a moment, then laughed, “It’s nearing the end of the year; your father is busy with many affairs, maybe he just didn’t think of it.” Then, after a moment’s thought, she summoned a maid, “Go to Chuihua Gate and keep watch. When you see the master coming back from the front courtyard, come and tell me.”
The outer study.
After Yan Wenbin left, Yan Zhigao looked down at the stationery on the table, thinking that he had never given anything to his eldest daughter before, he called for the butler Sun, “Go, take this set of stationery to Daohua. That girl has good handwriting; it will be perfect for her.”
Upon hearing this, Butler Sun was taken aback.
It’s not that he was to blame; among the five children from the main house, in terms of importance, the eldest son was number one; in terms of favoritism, the fifth son and the third daughter were contenders.
Caught in the middle, the eldest daughter and the fourth son, well, it was a bit awkward.
At least, in the past, when the master had something nice, these two were rarely considered.
Though Butler Sun was surprised, he didn’t show it on his face; chuckling, he covered the stationery carefully and carefully took it toward the main courtyard.
The main courtyard.
Daohua had just finished checking the annual income and expenses of Madam Li’s dowry shop and was about to stroll about the courtyard when she saw Butler Sun coming in with a box.
“Madam, this is the stationery the master gave to the eldest daughter.”
Butler Sun performed the proper salutations for both, then cheerily placed the stationery on the table.
Daohua was somewhat shocked, “For me? Are you sure you haven’t made a mistake?” Would her stepfather really think of her?
Seeing the disbelief on the eldest daughter’s face, the corner of Butler Sun’s mouth twitched. See, even the eldest daughter herself couldn’t believe it; his previous surprise was all too normal.
“Indeed, the master said that the eldest daughter’s handwriting is good and that it suits this set of stationery.”
Madam Li glared at her daughter and urged, “Well, aren’t you going to open it and see?”
Daohua set aside her perplexity, opened the box, and couldn’t help feeling happy upon seeing the complete set of scholarly materials inside, “I was just talking to grandmother that I don’t yet have a paperweight or armrest, now it looks like I don’t need to buy them.”
Seeing that every piece of stationery was of fine material, Madam Li smiled and said, “You must thank your father for this.”
Daohua flipped through the stationery without speaking.
Shuangxin Courtyard.
As soon as Butler Sun took the stationery to the main courtyard, Aunt Lin immediately knew.
She found it hard to believe as well.
Why was it given to the eldest daughter?
Even if it weren’t given to Wenbin, it should have been given to the eldest son.
The eldest daughter had not refrained from clashing with the master. Didn’t the master greatly dislike this daughter?