Chapter 242: Chapter 224, Mindset_1
On the seventeenth day of the last lunar month, Yan Wenxiu and his two brothers returned.
This time they brought back many people, not only the usual Xiao Yeyang, Dong Yuanxuan, and Su Hongxin, but also other students from the Academy.
This year, Wangyue Academy had already let out for the holidays on the fifteenth of the last lunar month, and some students who were not in a hurry to return home formed groups to travel around.
It just so happened that the eighteenth was Yan Wenkai’s birthday, so the students who usually got along well with the Yan brothers at the Academy came to Xingzhou with them.
Seeing her son’s classmates coming over, Madam Li, despite having to tidy up the courtyard and arrange for their dining and accommodations, was bustling about quite a bit; however, her face never stopped beaming with smiles.
Her sons were well-regarded at the Academy, which was why they could make so many friends.
Yan Zhigao also had a face full of satisfaction.
Connections, all of these were the future networks for the three children to enter society with.
In the main courtyard, Daohua watched Madam Li rush in and out while helping to prepare the refreshments and arranged for the maids to deliver them to the eldest brother’s courtyard.
“Eldest Young Master, Third Young Master, and Fourth Young Master are becoming more and more accomplished. They are getting increasingly skilled and attentive in receiving guests. The Eldest Young Master’s courtyard is now filled with laughter and joy.”
After delivering the refreshments, Wang Manman recounted with a smile what she had seen in Yan Wenxiu’s courtyard to Daohua.
After hearing it, Daohua smiled and said, “It’s no wonder everyone is desperate to send their children to Wangyue Academy. Birds of a feather flock together, after all. Constantly being with excellent people, one naturally constrains oneself, strives for improvement, and over time, also becomes better and better.”
The students studying at Wangyue Academy were either from illustrious families or possessed true talent and learning. Either way, they all had their strengths.
After much interaction, these strengths could naturally be learned. If one were determined, becoming even better was not impossible.
Wang Manman continued, “The Eldest Young Master also displayed a fine example of being an eldest brother, accompanying Second Young Master and Fifth Young Master throughout and introducing the Academy students to them one by one.”
Daohua nodded, noncommittal.
Her eldest brother was a very responsible person and felt a particularly strong sense of family honor. He would do anything that was beneficial to the Yan Family’s prosperity.
However, supporting younger brothers had its pros and cons.
The good side was, if the younger brothers accomplished something, it was indeed helpful to the Yan Family; the downside was, no one liked to follow others forever, and there were plenty of cases where people became arrogant upon gaining power. Instances where younger brothers threatened the position of the eldest were not uncommon.
The key was whether the eldest brother could always suppress the younger ones below him.
Meanwhile, at Zhegui Courtyard.
Zhou Chengye looked at Yan Wenxiu with a face of admiration, “Your magnanimity is… quite remarkable.” Saying this, he glanced at Yan Wenbin, who was already having a lively chat with a few classmates.
Yan Wenxiu smiled, “Our family’s foundation is shallow; we need the male members of our family to work together and support each other. Fifth brother has a high talent for studying; letting him interact more with others is beneficial for broadening his horizons.”
Zhou Chengye said, “Are you not afraid that he will threaten you in the future?” He coughed, then said vaguely, “I’ve heard plenty of gossip about prominent families, where some fathers favor their concubine-born sons. Add the fact that these sons are capable, and there have been cases where the eldest legitimate son could not inherit the family business. I’ve heard a thing or two about your family situation as well. You understand what I’m saying, right?”
Yan Wenxiu smiled and raised an eyebrow, “What, do you think I can’t surpass my fifth brother?”
Zhou Chengye was taken aback, looking at the confidence and assurance in Yan Wenxiu’s eyebrows, he immediately let out a laugh, “It’s my oversight; I was too focused on the inner court matters and overlooked Wenxiu’s capabilities.”
Yan Wenxiu shook his head, “Your family situation is different from mine, and naturally, the things you consider are not the same as what I think. If my family had the foundation and connections that your family does, I would not let the younger brothers rise either; it’s too destabilizing for the family.”
“Our family has no choice right now. Third and Fourth brothers are pursuing the path of martial studies. If I want help, I can only foster the other two brothers.”
Zhou Chengye nodded, “You’ve thought this through very carefully.”
Yan Wenxiu sighed in his heart, it wasn’t enough to be inattentive. The more scions of aristocratic families he met, the more he realized how insignificant the Yan Family was. A slight unrest, and all that his father had struggled to build could vanish into thin air.
The Yan Family’s ability to withstand risks was still too weak.
At this moment, both of them saw Xiao Yeyang and Yan Wenkai chatting and laughing as they walked toward the courtyard gate.
“Little Prince, Wenkai, where are you two headed?” Yan Wenxiu stepped forward and asked.
Yan Wenkai took over the conversation, “It’s all because of Hongda, that guy. As soon as the topic of Mo Ju came up, he clamored to admire them right away. So, I had no choice but to go to grandmother’s place to fetch some for him.”
Seeing Yan Wenxiu’s gaze turning to him, Xiao Yeyang said calmly, “Composing poems and making couplets is pretty dull. I’m just taking the opportunity to go out for a walk.”
Yan Wenxiu, “Shall I have a servant go fetch it?”
Yan Wenkai quickly waved his hand, “How would a servant know which pot to pick? Just now, several people were saying that their flowers are more splendid than those in our courtyard. I must select the best one to bring back, to outshine all of them.”
“Our family may fall short in other aspects, but when it comes to flowers…” He looked at Zhou Chengye, “Since you’re here too, Big Brother Zhou, why don’t you tell us, are your family’s flowers better than ours?”
Zhou Chengye laughed and shook his head, “If we’re talking about the quantity and bloom, naturally they can’t compare.” But in terms of rarity, theirs were a bit better.
Yan Wenkai immediately raised his head in pride, “That’s right. Hongda, that guy, has only one pot of green plum at home, and he dared to compete with me.”
Zhou Chengye added, “His is of a famous variety.”
Yan Wenkai, “…A famous variety is still a flower, isn’t it? As long as it’s a flower, it’s for people to admire. Of course, the one that blooms most lavishly is the better one. Enough of that, we’ll be right back.” Saying so, he quickly walked out of the courtyard.
Xiao Yeyang smiled and followed him at a leisurely pace.
…
On the way, Xiao Yeyang caught sight of Daohua approaching from a different direction. He stopped in his tracks and pointed to a pavilion nearby, “I’ll sit in the pavilion for a while. You go fetch the flowers from the old lady yourself.”
Since Yan Wenkai didn’t notice Daohua, he simply nodded in agreement, “Alright then, wait for me. I’ll be back very quickly.”
Watching him leave, Xiao Yeyang walked over to the pavilion and sat down.
Meanwhile, Daohua was coming with Wang Manman from the direction of the kitchen when she saw Xiao Yeyang and Yan Wenkai from afar. She was about to wave and greet them when she saw her fourth brother dart away.
“Why are you sitting here in the pavilion? There’s no charcoal fire to keep warm, aren’t you cold?”
Daohua approached the pavilion with Wang Manman.
Xiao Yeyang glanced at Daohua and scoffed, “Sitting in your brother’s courtyard is boring. I came out for a walk.”
Hearing this, Daohua immediately laughed. Ancient gatherings were always incomplete without the composition of poems and couplets. If one enjoyed it, that was fine, but if not, it was certainly torture.
Quite obviously, Xiao Yeyang wasn’t very fond of it.
Daohua sat down opposite him, rubbed her hands together, and then said to Wang Manman, “Go, bring two basins of charcoal fire here, and have someone send over the tea set as well.”
Xiao Yeyang smiled, “What, you’ve learned to appreciate tea now, have you?”
Daohua chuckled, “It’s just drinking tea, who doesn’t know how!”
Xiao Yeyang was at a loss for words and shook his head.
Seeing this, Daohua immediately expressed her discontent, “What’s the matter, looking down on me? Let me tell you, I’m just lazy. It’s just appreciating tea, right? In a moment, I’ll show you.”