Chapter 211: Chapter 193, Gift_1
Only after sending Zhou Jingwan on her way did Daohua return to the old lady’s courtyard.
Upon entering the room, she found that Yan Yihuan and the others had not yet left, which greatly surprised her. Normally, they wouldn’t stay in the old lady’s room for such a long time and would have already gone off to play elsewhere.
Even the adults like Yan Zhiyuan were still there.
“Big Sister, you’re finally back, hurry up and unwrap the gifts for us to see,”
When Daohua returned, Yan Yile immediately approached her, tugging her and pointing to the gifts brought by Dong Yuanxuan and the others.
Before Daohua could speak, the old lady was the first to open her mouth: “I was wondering why the sun came out from the west today. I thought you all stayed to keep this old woman company, but it turns out you had your eyes on your big sister’s gifts.”
Madam Sun immediately laughed and said, “Mother, the kids just want to join in the fun, after all, their big sister’s birthday banquet was so well done.”
Madam Li glanced at Madam Sun: “We just gathered together for a meal, second sister-in-law, could you tell me how it turned into a birthday banquet? Whom did I invite to it?”
Madam Sun’s expression stiffened, and she felt somewhat annoyed.
She found that her older sister-in-law’s words were becoming increasingly less considerate. In front of so many people, she was quick to turn her face.
“If you don’t know what to say, then don’t speak!”
Yan Zhiyuan glared at Madam Sun, then smiled at Madam Li: “Big sister-in-law, she’s just like that, don’t stoop to her level.”
Madam Li glanced at Yan Zhiyuan and did not immediately say anything, just picked up her tea and began to drink.
Madam Sun’s pregnant thoughts were clear to her. Just now, suggesting that Daohua’s event was a birthday banquet was simply with the thought that in a couple of months it would be Yihuan’s birthday, and she wanted to hold a banquet.
She wanted to throw a birthday party for her own daughter, and Madam Li would not stop her, as long as she paid for it. Yet Madam Sun shamelessly used her daughter as leverage, hoping to take advantage of the public funds, which was really annoying.
With this in mind, Madam Li put down her teacup, looked at the old lady, and said, “Mother, second sister-in-law mentioned the birthday banquet, which gave me an idea. Now that the children are getting older and they are starting to make their own connections, I think from now on, they should handle their own birthdays.”
Whether they can invite people, and whom they can invite, will depend on their own abilities.
Madam Sun immediately wanted to object, as their second and third branches lived off the big branch, without any official positions to meet anyone.
Unfortunately, Madam Li did not give her the chance.
“This way, they can also practice their social and entertainment skills, and after a banquet, they will have a general understanding of the various expenses, so they won’t be clueless when they take charge of their households in the future.”
The old Lady Yan nodded: “This is a good idea.”
Madam Sun felt anxious, “But who will bear the expenses?”
As soon as she said this, she lowered her head, wishing she could slap herself for being too blunt – it was obviously a suggestion for the public funds to cover it.
The corner of Madam Li’s mouth twitched, and a hint of sarcasm flashed in her eyes. Madam Sun was still so calculative. After thinking for a moment, she laughed and said, “Daohua is the eldest sister. I’ve calculated that the recent birthday celebration cost less than ten taels of silver.”
“In the future, let’s go by that figure. For the girls’ birthdays, public funds will provide ten taels of silver, and for the sons, since they often travel outside and meet more people, let’s provide twenty taels.”
“This…”
Seeing that Madam Sun wanted to say something else, Madam Li laughed and intercepted, “Of course, if the parents want to contribute, they can do so privately on their own.”
“Our family, after all, is not like those high-ranked wealthy families with abundant fortunes and deep roots, our children cannot develop a luxury habit. They should spend within their means. Second brother, third brother, don’t you agree?”
Yan Zhiyuan forced a smile and nodded, not saying much, but inwardly he was fiercely criticizing Madam Li for being too stingy and tightfisted.
What could twenty taels of silver do?
However, Yan Zhiqiang then said, “Twenty taels of silver? Isn’t that too much? That’s almost equal to our yearly expenses back in our home town. Shouldn’t we give a little less?”
At these words, Daohua could hardly contain herself and leaned onto the old lady’s shoulder, facing inward, covering her mouth with her hand to suppress her laughter.
The expression of Uncle Two and Aunt Two was one of pain as if the silver was not enough and they would need to spend out of their own pockets, while Uncle Three directly said it was too much, even suggesting to take some back.
“`
How had she never realized before that Uncle Three was such an adorable person?
Old Madam Yan glared at her granddaughter, signaling her to be mindful of her behavior.
Daohua then sat up straight, but she couldn’t help but her lips curling into a smile.
Unable to get an advantage, Yan Zhiyuan and the Sun Family both subdued their aggressive stance.
Yan Yile didn’t care about these things and once again got close to Daohua, pulling her to open the gift.
Opening a gift wasn’t a big deal for Daohua. She let Wang Manman bring the gift over and started unwrapping it in front of everyone.
“Wow, what a beautiful cup, why is it transparent?”
Yan Yile reached out and picked one up to look at it.
The others also looked over, equally intrigued.
It was a complete set of drinking vessels, a jug, and eight cups.
Yan Zhiyuan, often traveling outside, had seen much and recognized it at a glance: “These are glass cups, said to be imported from foreign lands, quite rare.”
“Master Dong really lives up to his origin from the Marquis Residence, a whole set of glass drinking vessels delivered just like that, the gesture is indeed generous.”
Hearing this, Yan Yile immediately looked at Daohua, “Big sister, there are eight cups, can you give me one?”
Daohua smiled faintly and was about to refuse when Old Madam Yan swiftly took the cup from Yan Yile’s hand: “Give what? The drinking set is a complete set, if you take one away it won’t be complete, and what can you do with just one cup anyway?”
Yan Yile pouted, “I can use it to admire.”
Old Madam Yan ignored her, put the glass back in the box, and signaled Wang Manman to take it away.
Daohua didn’t pay attention to Yan Yile and started unwrapping another gift.
“It’s a glass mirror!”
As soon as the box was opened, Yan Zhiyuan spoke.
Daohua quickly picked up the mirror and looked at herself.
Heaven have mercy, after eleven years in ancient times, she finally saw clearly what she looked like!
“Grandmother, take a look.”
After looking at herself, Daohua immediately turned the mirror towards Old Madam Yan.
Old Madam Yan looked at her reflection in the mirror, stunned: “How come it’s so clear?” Then she sighed, “How did I become so old, with so many wrinkles on my face.”
Hearing this, Daohua couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh.
Indeed, no matter the age, women always care about their appearance.
Old Madam Yan gave her granddaughter a look and sighed, “I never really felt it when using a bronze mirror, but this glass mirror reflects a person very clearly.”
“I want to look too, I want to look too!”
Yan Yile also squeezed in, and Daohua didn’t say anything, just handed the mirror to her.
“Be careful with it, don’t drop it.” Old Madam Yan cautioned. She had never seen a glass mirror before, and without anyone telling her, she knew it must be very precious.
Yan Yihuan and Yan Yishuang couldn’t hold back anymore and gathered around Yan Yile to look in the mirror, even the Sun Family managed to squeeze in.
After the Sun Family saw herself in the mirror, she touched her face and sighed, “In our family, only Daohua has the best fortune. Just look, she receives such fine gifts on her birthday, much better than us elders.”
Madam Li glanced at the sour-faced Sun Family. This time she didn’t retort; indeed, in the whole family, it was their daughter who had the most luck.
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