Chapter 205: Chapter 187, Differential Treatment_1
Yan Zhigao had taken another concubine, Madam Liao, but apart from Shuangxin Courtyard, the other branches of the Yan Family were hardly affected, and everyone went about their business as usual.
Madam Liao was a very low-key person. After moving into Shuangxin Courtyard, she went to the main courtyard every morning to pay her respects to Madam Li and barely set foot outside the western chamber any other time, never using her youth and beauty to create any disturbances.
This disappointed the Sun Family, who were looking forward to some drama.
They thought that since the main house had taken a new concubine, there ought to have been some commotion, but regrettably, the eldest sister-in-law and Aunt Lin seemed to have reached a tacit understanding and chose to ignore Madam Liao at the same time.
As for Madam Liao herself, she turned out to be of no use, merely possessing a pretty face in vain. It was said that her brother hadn’t even visited her room to this day.
Daohua didn’t pay much attention to these matters. After Dragon Boat Festival, the weather got hotter each day, leaving her listless and unwilling to move.
“Miss, the watermelons and grapes from the farm have been delivered.”
In early June, Wang Manman entered with a big watermelon in her arms, her face beaming with smiles.
Seeing the watermelon, Daohua’s spirits lifted: “Quick, put it in the well to chill, and we can eat it in a while.”
There were several acres on the farm dedicated to watermelons and grapes, which she had planted with seeds cultivated from the fertile soil in her space. They ripened earlier than those from other fields.
These acres of watermelons and grapes were not intended for sale; they were all to be enjoyed by her family or sent to some well-acquainted households.
“Sister Manman, let me do it!” said a maid with twin buns beside her, smiling.
Wang Manman didn’t refuse and quickly handed over the watermelon to her.
Several more people had joined Daohua’s courtyard now.
Apart from a gatekeeper, Wang Pozi, and two maids responsible for cleaning, there were also two maids about Daohua’s age, one named Guyu and the other named Lixia.
The one who just left with the watermelon was Lixia.
Wang Manman, having been with Daohua longer, was now the senior maid in Daohua’s room. Guyu and Lixia, being the newcomers, were second-tier maids under Wang Manman’s management.
Daohua then said to Wang Manman, “Go, have someone send some watermelons and a few baskets of grapes to Jingwan. That girl has been asking me for food a few days ago.”
Wang Manman smiled and left the room.
After she left, Daohua went to the study room with Guyu.
Guyu quickly arranged the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and asked with a smile, “Miss, are you going to write letters to the young masters?”
Daohua nodded while spreading out the paper: “My brothers haven’t been home for a long time. Now that the watermelons and grapes on the farm are ripe, we have to send them some.”
She also had to send some to Xiao Yeyang.
…
A few days later, at Wangyue Academy.
Once the class ended, Yan Wenkai bolted toward the academy’s gate like a wild horse that had broken free.
Seeing his behavior, Xiao Yeyang and his companions shook their heads.
Su Hongxin said exasperatedly, “It’s just some fruits sent from home. Do you really need to be this excited?”
Yan Wenkai didn’t slow down; he shouted over his shoulder, “What do you know? The watermelons from our home are so refreshing. These days, practicing martial arts and sparring under the scorching sun has left my throat feeling like it’s about to emit smoke. This watermelon has arrived just in time to cool my heat.”
Soon, the group reached the academy’s entrance.
This time, Xiaoliu came to deliver the goods. On seeing Yan Wenkai and the rest, he promptly approached with a smile and paid his respects.
After several months of training, he was no longer the tearful, intimidated young boy on the streets. He had grown noticeably more confident and composed.
“This humble one greets the young masters.”
Knowing he was his younger sister’s man, Yan Wenkai gestured for him to rise, then moved toward the carriages parked behind.
Three carriages were piled high with goods.
“Why have you sent so much?”
Xiaoliu bowed and replied, “Miss instructed to bring extra because the three masters have quite a few classmates at the Academy, and it would be nice to share the freshness with everyone.”
Hearing this, Yan Wenkai nodded with satisfaction, “My elder sister really is thoughtful.”
At that moment, Dong Yuanxuan and a few others also gathered around, and, seeing the big, round watermelons on the carriage, as well as the clusters of fresh, plump purple grapes, they couldn’t help but swallow their saliva.
Watermelons and grapes weren’t exactly a rarity for them, but the point was, even if they wanted to eat them, they wouldn’t be able to buy them at this time.
It was only mid-June, and they weren’t even on the market yet.
Yan Wenkai generously waved his hand, “Don’t be shy, guys; take some if you want to eat.”
Upon hearing this, Dong Yuanxuan and the others, who had no intention of being polite in the first place, began rolling up their sleeves, getting ready to move the watermelons and grapes.
Then, Xiaoliu saw Su Hongxin reaching towards the third carriage and promptly stepped forward to stop him, “Young Master Su, you can’t touch this one; this is specially for the Little Prince.”
At his words, everyone ceased their movements and turned their heads to look at Xiaoliu.
Xiaoliu took a couple of steps back under their gazes.
What’s the matter?
He hadn’t said anything wrong, had he?
Yan Wenkai looked at Xiaoliu, then at the Little Prince whose mouth was already curving into a smile, and confirmed, “A whole carriage just for the Little Prince?”
He emphasized the words “one carriage” particularly heavily.
Xiaoliu nodded.
Indeed, that’s what the eldest young lady had said.
“Ahem~”
Xiao Yeyang coughed a few times, and feeling good, waved at De Fu beside him, “Didn’t you hear? That carriage is specifically for me; hurry up and pull it away.”
“Right away!”
De Fu’s voice also rose a few notches.
Watching De Fu pull away a carriage full of watermelons and grapes all to himself, Dong Yuanxuan and the rest couldn’t help but feel a sour twinge.
Su Hongxin said sourly, “Can the Little Prince even eat an entire carriage by himself? We have so many people sharing two carriages, yet Miss Yan really treats people differently.”
Yan Wenkai didn’t care in the slightest, “What’s there to mind? If we don’t have enough, just write a letter home and ask for more. My elder sister is very generous; don’t hold back, just eat your fill!”
Dong Yuanxuan and the others looked at him, speechless.
Was it really a question of having enough to eat?
It was a matter of preferential treatment.
The entire carriage for the Little Prince was his and his alone, whether he chose to eat it all by himself or to give it away as he pleased.
As for them, they could only partake thanks to the Yan brothers, nibbling a bit while watching their faces, remembering their favor, to say nothing of taking some home for their families to try.
Xiao Yeyang, paying no attention to the others, happily fanned himself as he went back to enjoy watermelons and grapes.
For some reason, he felt extremely gratified by Daohua’s differential treatment, even experiencing an indescribable sense of glee.
This response was entirely different from when other officials gave him gifts.
Due to his status, he had almost always been treated generously from a young age, but he had never found it to be anything special before.
But at that moment, seeing the sour expressions on the faces of Dong Yuanxuan and the others, he was very pleased, extremely so.
As for why, he didn’t ponder too deeply, simply feeling that his relationship with Daohua was better than that of others.
Knowing just that was enough.
Because he received an entire carriage of fruits to himself, the teacher and students who attended classes with Xiao Yeyang all noticed that the Little Prince had been in an especially good mood these days, unlike before when the summer heat used to sour his mood every day.