Chapter 243: Chapter 225, I can _1
The charcoal and tea set were quickly brought over.
After roasting the charcoal for a while, Daohua’s hands no longer felt cold, and then she leisurely began to prepare the tea.
Master Shen was very fond of tasting tea, and sometimes when she arrived early for class and happened to stop by, she would be invited to share a few cups, thus seizing the opportunity to learn a bit.
Xiao Yeyang sat across the stone table, silently watching Daohua, whose demeanor was calm and movements practiced.
This fellow had both an active side and a quiet side.
Lively and cheerful when in motion, gentle and tranquil when still.
Combining both dynamism and serenity, it somehow never seemed contradictory, but instead created a unique harmony.
“Come, try the tea I’ve brewed!”
Daohua poured a cup of the prepared tea for Xiao Yeyang, and then gazed at him with wide eyes, waiting for his appraisal.
Taking up the teacup, Xiao Yeyang had a delicate sip, seeing Daohua’s eyes sparkly, expecting praise, he lightly smiled, “It’s decent!”
Daohua pouted, poured herself another cup, and then held it up for a taste, murmuring, “It’s clearly very good.”
Xiao Yeyang just smiled without a word, then studied Daohua’s features and pondered for a moment before asking, “I heard you have a new younger sister?”
Daohua glanced at him, “You sure are well-informed.”
In his mind, Xiao Yeyang thought that with Yan Wenkai’s big mouth, it would have been difficult for him not to know, “That… you’re not unhappy, are you?”
Last time, when the Yan patriarch brought treats to his concubine, this fellow sulked for days. With the arrival of a new sister now, who knew what kind of mood she might be in.
Daohua poured herself another cup of tea before speaking lightly, “What is there for me to be unhappy about? Even if I am unhappy, what can be done about it? Will not the child still be born?”
Xiao Yeyang nodded, “It’s good that you can think that way, I was afraid you’d back yourself into a corner and make yourself miserable.”
Daohua looked up at Xiao Yeyang, narrowing her eyes slightly, “You also think that in a family, it doesn’t really matter how many illegitimate sons and daughters are born, right?”
Seeing Daohua’s expression turn a bit hostile, Xiao Yeyang wore an exasperated look, “I don’t like the idea of illegitimate children either, but when everyone else is doing it, what can you do?”
Daohua averted her gaze, “If you can’t change others, then change yourself. Surely you don’t have to follow suit with whatever others do.” With that, she paused, then lifted her gaze to size up Xiao Yeyang, “You say you don’t like illegitimate children, so can you avoid taking concubines in the future?”
Xiao Yeyang was momentarily speechless, struggling to find an immediate response.
Seeing this, Daohua scoffed, “All talk and no action.”
“I can…”
Xiao Yeyang had barely begun speaking when Yan Wenkai arrived with a pot of Mo Ju in his hands. His voice reached the pavilion even before he stepped in.
His booming voice drowned out Xiao Yeyang’s.
“Big sister!”
Daohua’s attention was diverted; she quickly got up to greet him, “Where’s your servant? Why didn’t you let him help you carry that?” she said as she took the pot of Mo Ju and placed it by the pavilion eaves.
Yan Wenkai laughed, “I sent him to fetch something for me.” Glancing at the stone table, he commented, “Oh, you’re having tea here. Pour me a cup too.”
Daohua smiled and sat back down, swiftly pouring a cup of tea for Yan Wenkai.
Yan Wenkai seldom savored his tea; with his head tilted back, the cup was emptied in no time. He then held it out to Daohua with a smile, “Good tea, another cup, please.”
Daohua was particularly fond of her fourth brother’s manner, briskly refilling his cup.
Xiao Yeyang shook his head on the side, “A bull chewing peonies.”
Yan Wenkai wasn’t offended and chuckled, “I like to drink this way, no need to put on airs.”
“Fourth Brother, well done!” Daohua sent an ‘I support you’ look his way.
Yan Wenkai blinked to show he got the message, then he let out a chuckle.
Seeing the siblings exchanging tacit glances in front of him, Xiao Yeyang immediately felt displeased and said to Yan Wenkai, “Weren’t you going to deliver flowers? Why haven’t you gone yet?”
Yan Wenkai waved his hand dismissively, “No rush, it’s not too late to go after I drink a couple more cups of tea.”
Daohua poured another cup for each of them.
“Ah, if only we had some deer meat, we could roast it this afternoon.” Yan Wenkai suddenly said, then looked at Xiao Yeyang, “Little Prince, we’re allowed to hunt in Wuhua Mountain, right?”
Xiao Yeyang shook his head, “Without my uncle here, I can’t enter the hunting grounds either.”
Yan Wenkai sighed in disappointment, then he picked up his tea and began to drink.
Daohua looked at Xiao Yeyang, “If your uncle doesn’t come back, won’t you have to spend New Year alone in the palace again this year?”
Yan Wenkai also looked over, “Right.”
Daohua, “Why don’t you come to my house for New Year’s? Having more people is always livelier, isn’t it?”
Yan Wenkai immediately nodded in agreement, “Yes, yes, yes, Little Prince, why don’t you come to my house for New Year’s?”
Xiao Yeyang knew they were sincerely inviting him, but he still shook his head, “This year… I’m not alone for New Year’s, so I won’t come to your house.”
Daohua was surprised, “Is your uncle coming back?”
Xiao Yeyang did not answer, instead, he changed the subject, “Speaking of my uncle, I have to thank you. If it weren’t for your wheat seeds, my uncle might have faced punishment.” As he said this, he turned to De Fu.
De Fu promptly took out a land deed from his bosom and handed it to Xiao Yeyang.
Xiao Yeyang took the land deed and then directly handed it to Daohua.
“What’s this?” Daohua accepted it and saw that it was a deed for three thousand acres of land.
After seeing it clearly, Daohua quickly returned it to Xiao Yeyang, with a displeased look, she said, “Xiao Yeyang, what are you doing? Didn’t we agree? We are friends, and I gave you that grain as a gift.”
Xiao Yeyang had to explain, “This land deed is not from me, it’s from my uncle, he said it was to pay for the grain seeds.”
Upon hearing this, Daohua’s expression somewhat improved, “It’s from your uncle… I can accept that, but three thousand acres seems a bit much, it feels a little hot to hold.”
Xiao Yeyang glanced at her, indifferently saying, “It’s not too much, you’ve helped my uncle a great deal. Actually, he wanted to give ten thousand acres, but I thought, since we get along so well, I reduced it a bit.”
Daohua was stunned, her lips moved but eventually, with a tone full of resentment, she said, “You’re really good at turning your elbow inward, reducing it by seven thousand acres just like that.”
Yan Wenkai also looked disapproving, “Exactly, you cut it down too much.”
Xiao Yeyang didn’t say anything, just pushed the land deed back over.
Seeing Daohua frowning and sitting without accepting, Yan Wenkai quickly consoled her, “Big Sister, don’t be sad. When I grow up, I will buy you even more land. Just take this three thousand acres and plant on them for now.”
Daohua looked at her Fourth Brother somewhat speechlessly; this brother of hers took things a bit too literally.
Xiao Yeyang didn’t want to dwell on this topic and looked to Daohua, “Tomorrow is your Fourth Brother’s birthday, what gift have you prepared for him?”
Yan Wenkai immediately turned his attention her way, his face full of anticipation.
Daohua’s eyes curved into a smile, “A purse.”
Hearing this, Yan Wenkai’s face fell, looking somewhat disdainful, “Just a purse?”
Wang Manman reminded with a smile, “The purse is embroidered by the lady herself using the intricate ‘double-sided three different stitches’ technique, and it took her several months to complete.”