Chapter 170: Chapter 153, Never Too Old to Learn_1
At the gates of the Yan Residence, after seeing off Xiao Yeyang and his entourage, everyone in the Yan Family breathed a sigh of relief.
“Jingwan, there’s a lot of venison left over, I’ll share some with you. You can take it home and cook it yourself,” Daohua said to Zhou Jingwan.
Zhou Jingwan was about to nod when Zhou Chengye laughed and declined, “Elder Sister Yan, there’s no need. The Little Prince has already given me a whole one, and I’ve had it sent home just now.”
Upon hearing this, Daohua gave a smile and said no more.
Zhou Chengye paid his respects to Yan Zhigao and Madam Li, “Uncle Yan, Auntie Yan, we have troubled you for a day. Jingwan and I should be heading back now.”
Madam Li glanced at the sky and nodded with a smile, “We won’t keep you any longer. You’ve just come back from the Academy, and I imagine the elders at home are anxious for you. Go quickly and put their minds at ease.”
Zhou Chengye, leading Zhou Jingwan, bid farewell to everyone in the Yan Family and then mounted his horse to leave swiftly.
“Let’s go back too!”
As soon as the last visitor had left, Daohua prepared to help Madam Li back inside. Standing at the doorway in the deep winter was unbearably cold.
But just a few steps into their walk, Yan Yile chased after them, “Elder Sister, why didn’t you notice when I was giving you the eye just now?”
Daohua turned around, puzzled, “You were giving me signals? When? I didn’t see it. Why didn’t you just call out to me?” She had been busy discussing medical prescriptions with Xiao Yeyang and did not have time to notice anything else.
Yan Yile pouted in dissatisfaction, “I made it so obvious. How could you possibly not have seen? I think you did it on purpose, you didn’t want me to apologize to the Little Prince.”
At this, Daohua’s mouth dropped open, and she looked at Yan Yile with exasperation.
Yan Yile continued, “You must be jealous of me. During lunch, when you saw the Little Prince picking food for me, you got upset, so you…”
“Stop!”
Daohua could not bear to listen any further and quickly raised her hand to interrupt Yan Yile. She had eaten too much roasted venison before and feared that if she continued listening, she might throw up.
“Younger Sister, having a brain is a wonderful thing. Whenever you go out or speak, please bring it with you. Don’t leave it idly hanging on your neck, or it will rust,” she admonished.
After finishing her piece, Daohua turned to Madam Li, “Mother, let’s go back inside. These days, there are too many presumptuous people around. If we stay too long, we might catch it.”
Madam Li glanced indifferently at Yan Yile and then at Yan Zhiyuan and the Sun Family behind her, and without saying a word, followed her daughter away.
At this moment, Yan Yile finally realized that her elder sister meant she was lacking in brains. She became so infuriated she could hardly bear it. As soon as they’d left, she immediately turned to Yan Zhigao, “Great Uncle, did you see how Elder Sister treated me? She’s too much.”
Yan Zhigao glanced at Yan Yile briefly but didn’t respond, instead turning to Yan Zhiyuan, “Second brother, come with me for a moment.”
This time the interaction with the Little Prince had been quite bothersome due to the people of the second branch of the family. They could no longer be left unmanaged; they had to be strictly disciplined.
Especially Yan Yile, who had not seemed problematic before, was now discovered to speak without any restraint, having offended the Little Prince without knowing and was now unreasonably causing trouble for the eldest daughter, showing no sense of etiquette or manners.
Daohua didn’t know what her stepfather ultimately said to Uncle Zhiyuan, but from that day on, the people of the second branch became much more subdued.
To this, she was delighted to see.
In ancient times, it was not like the modern era, where if you didn’t like a certain relative, you could just stop associating with them.
People from ancient times valued family, reputation, and the concept that the glory or disgrace of one is the glory or disgrace of all.
Before her stepfather had made a name for himself in officialdom, Uncle Zhiyuan had given a lot to the Yan Family. Moreover, with the grandmother still present, unless an unforgivable deed occurred, her stepfather would not cast out their family.
Now that they’ve calmed down, she finally had peace of mind.
On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, the servant sent to Beijing with New Year’s gifts for Yan Siyu returned.
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As soon as she returned, the Elder Madam Yan couldn’t wait to call her over, eagerly asking how Yan Siyu was faring at the Yang Residence.
Madam Fang was afraid that the old lady wouldn’t be able to bear the truth, but she couldn’t tell a lie either, so she had to phrase her words as tactfully as possible.
But how could the old lady who had lived for most of her life not understand? Instantly, tears flowed freely, and she kept apologizing to her daughter.
Seeing her grandmother crying so sorrowfully, Daohua became extremely anxious. The elderly can’t withstand such crying.
“Grandmother, our family wasn’t as prominent as the Yang Family before, which is why they dared to bully my Fourth Aunt. Now, our family is also gradually improving; they won’t treat Fourth Aunt as they did before.”
“Grandmother, don’t be sad. In the future, we will deliver festive gifts to Fourth Aunt more frequently, showing the Yang Family our regard for Fourth Aunt.”
“Grandmother…”
With Daohua’s comforting words continuing to reach her ears, Elder Madam Yan’s emotions somewhat settled down.
Lady Li was also there, repeatedly assuring that she would often correspond with the younger sister-in-law, and this finally consoled the old lady.
“That scoundrel Yang Boyi, when he sought to marry Siyu, what promises had he made to me? If I ever see him again, I must give him a good thrashing!”
The old lady said furiously.
Daohua quickly took up the conversation: “Grandmother, there will be a chance. Setting aside father’s side, just think of Eldest Brother, who is good at studies. It’s only a matter of time before he passes the imperial examination, and who knows? He might even bring home a title like Top Scholar, First Runner-Up, or Second Runner-Up for you.”
“I’ve heard that those who earn the titles of Top Scholar, First Runner-Up, and Second Runner-Up are expected to stay in Beijing to serve as officials. By then, wouldn’t our family have an excuse to move to the capital?”
After wiping her tears, the old lady, diverted by her granddaughter’s words, felt less distressed, but after hearing them, she said displeasedly, “Do you really think your grandmother is some clueless country old woman?”
“Top Scholar, First Runner-Up, and Second Runner-Up, are those positions that just anyone can achieve?”
Daohua gave an embarrassed smile: “Grandmother, we need to have faith in Eldest Brother!”
The old lady was not without insight: “Although our family has provided a graduate in your father, we are still far from those Scholar Families. It’s rare for such families to produce a Top Scholar across several generations, let alone our family.”
Daohua scratched her head awkwardly: “…Well, if Eldest Brother can’t do it, there are still Third Brother and Fourth Brother, aren’t they studying martial arts? They too can compete for the title of Martial Arts Scholar.”
The old lady: “That’s even less thinkable. Practicing martial arts and brandishing swords and spears, it’s all too easy to get hurt. I would rather have your Third Brother and Fourth Brother do nothing than compete for that Martial Arts Scholar. It’s too dangerous.”
Daohua silently lowered her head.
Alright, she had nothing left to say.
Ever since the old lady had more free time, she enjoyed sending the nanny out to gather various interesting tales, and then having them recounted to her, learning more and more, unlike when they were back in their hometown, tending only to their own little plot of land.
Alas, she was getting harder and harder to deceive.
Seeing that she had silenced her granddaughter, the old lady felt a moment of satisfaction, and her mood lightened considerably.
What was that saying her granddaughter mentioned?
It seemed to be, “Live until old, learn until old.”
Before, she hadn’t felt much about it, but now the more she thought about it, the more she found it to be true.
Since moving to her eldest son’s side, in order not to embarrass him, she also studied etiquette and rules on her own, and would have the nanny inquire about news from other families.
The last time they attended the birthday banquet of Elder Master Zhou, she could also converse with the other Elder Madams.
Thinking of her youngest daughter, far away in Beijing, Elder Madam Yan sighed deeply. She didn’t know if her eldest could advance any further, and if not, it would be up to Wenxiu and the others to support their aunt’s family.
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