Chapter 244: Chapter 226, Asking for Gifts _1
As soon as Yan Wenkai heard that Daohua had spent so much time on his birthday gift, he immediately took an interest, “Where is it? Big sister, show me quickly.”
Daohua was reluctant: “Didn’t you just look down on it? I’ll just go back and change it right away.”
Yan Wenkai panicked, quickly reaching out and shaking Daohua’s arm: “Don’t, I was just talking nonsense just now, dear sister, please show me the embroidered pouch you made for me.”
As he spoke, a wronged expression appeared on his face.
“In our family, big brother and fifth brother have pouches embroidered by third sister, second brother has one from second sister, and third brother carries the one you made for him before, which although ugly, was still made by you. Just me, I’m the only one in the family using a pouch bought from outside.”
Seeing him looking so pitiful, Daohua hesitated: “But tomorrow is your birthday, and the pouch is supposed to be a gift for tomorrow…”
Yan Wenkai interrupted directly: “Ah, today or tomorrow, it makes no difference, I want to have a look at it now.” He then started shaking Daohua’s arm again.
Xiao Yeyang was sitting by and hadn’t said a word. He was also quite curious; truth be told, he had known this guy for so long, yet he had never seen her needlework.
Daohua pulled back her arm: “Alright, stop shaking, I’ll have Manman go get it then.”
Wang Manman got the hint and immediately turned to leave.
Before long, she returned with a light-grayish-blue pouch designed for men.
“Let me have a look quickly.”
Yan Wenkai hurriedly took the pouch and started inspecting it: “Eh, what animal is this?”
Xiao Yeyang also craned his neck to see, and upon seeing the naive and awkward panda on the pouch, he burst into laughter: “That’s an iron-eating beast, though its spirit really does resemble you.”
Daohua, slightly surprised to see that Xiao Yeyang recognized the panda, asked: “How do you know about this?”
Xiao Yeyang: “I saw it in the Bashu County Annals, but how about you, where did you learn about it? Don’t tell me it was from another storybook?”
Daohua gave him a ‘you’re so clever’ look and smiled: “Indeed, I saw it in a travel storybook.”
Xiao Yeyang: “…You really do read a lot of storybooks.”
Daohua shot back immediately: “Not as many as the books you read, even digging into local county annals.”
Meanwhile, with Wang Manman’s help, the pouch was turned over to reveal a majestic tiger on the other side.
“This one’s good, this one’s temperament is like mine!”
Daohua and Xiao Yeyang both looked over simultaneously, fell silent for a moment, then shook their heads in unison, saying with one voice: “The panda (iron-eating beast) suits you better.”
After saying this, the two of them instantly shared a knowing smile.
Yan Wenkai, however, was grumbling dissatisfiedly: “What kind of eyes do you two have, I obviously resemble a wild tiger more, forget it, I won’t talk to you anymore, I’m going to ask big brother and third brother.”
With that, he dashed off in a flash.
No sooner had he left the pavilion than he quickly turned back and carried away two pots of Mo Ju.
Seeing this, Daohua shook her head smilingly, turned around, and found Xiao Yeyang looking at her with an unspoken hesitation, immediately asking, puzzled: “What’s wrong with you?”
Xiao Yeyang: “…The birthday gift you prepared for your fourth brother is quite thoughtful.”
Daohua stated matter-of-factly: “He is my fourth brother, after all.”
Xiao Yeyang again seemed hesitant to speak.
Daohua frowned and looked at him: “What’s the matter with you? If you have something to say, just say it!”
Hearing this, Xiao Yeyang simply turned his head away and stopped looking at Daohua.
It was De Fu who couldn’t stand by any longer and said softly, “Miss Yan, you haven’t even given our master a gift for his birthday.”
Daohua was stupefied for a moment before looking at Xiao Yeyang speechlessly, “You never told me when your birthday is!”
No sooner had she finished speaking than Xiao Yeyang said, “The first of June.”
Daohua: “…I see, next year, I will definitely prepare a gift for you.” Children’s Day, easy to remember.
Xiao Yeyang’s face returned to normal as he curiously asked, “What gift are you going to prepare for me?”
Daohua smiled mysteriously, “You’ll see when the time comes.”
Xiao Yeyang, “You can’t just go out and buy me some writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones to get it over with. At least… at least it can’t be worse than Wenkai’s.”
It’s not appropriate to gift a woman’s needlework to an unrelated man, otherwise, he would also like a double-sided embroidered purse handmade by Daohua.
Daohua chuckled, “Don’t worry, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.”
Seeing her so confident, Xiao Yeyang began to look forward to it already.
…
On the day of Yan Wenkai’s birthday, the Yan Family was bustling with activity as officials from the Prefectural Governor’s Office heard about the occasion and sent their children over as well.
After being busy until the next day and seeing off Xiao Yeyang and the others, Madam Li and Daohua let out long breaths of relief.
Madam Li said while drinking tea, “These past two days have been much smoother thanks to your help, or else I would have been exhausted.”
With the end of the year being so busy already, the original plan was for the family to simply have a meal for the son’s birthday. Who could have expected so many visitors to come at the last minute? There weren’t enough preparations, and they had to rush out to buy things.
Daohua smiled, “I just lent a hand and ran some errands for mother, that’s all. It’s mainly because mother is so capable.”
Madam Li pondered for a moment, “Just a couple more busy days. Once we have reviewed the accounts in the family’s properties and shops, the work will be done, and after that, we can peacefully look forward to the New Year.”
After chatting for a while longer, Daohua returned to her own courtyard.
“Manman, go call Brother Xiaoliu for me.”
Daohua took out the deed for the land given to her by Xiao Yeyang. These more than three thousand acres were located on the outskirts of Xingzhou. She needed to see what was suitable for cultivation.
Soon, Xiaoliu arrived, “Miss, did you call for me?”
Daohua handed him the written address, “Brother Xiaoliu, go check out this place and see what the land is like and what the surrounding environment is.”
Xiaoliu didn’t ask any questions, he took the piece of paper and left.
The next day, Xiaoliu returned with the information he had gathered.
“Miss, the land you asked me to look at is all top-quality dry farmland. The soil is fertile and close to a water source.”
Daohua listened carefully, and after hearing everything, she didn’t say much. Two days later, while taking a walk to stretch her legs, she went to see the land for herself.
Upon returning, she said to Xiaoliu, “Brother Xiaoliu, next year I want to cultivate medicinal plants there. During this time, help me look for a medicinal farmer that we could hire.”
“Also, collect as many medicinal plant seeds as you can for me and bring them to me when you have them. If you run out of silver during this time, go find Manman.”
Xiaoliu nodded, remembering all the tasks Daohua had given him.
“Miss, didn’t you previously have medicinal plants growing on the farm in Danlin Village? Why do you want to plant more now, and such a large amount at that?” Xiaoliu asked once he had left.
Wang Manman spoke up, inquiring further.
After a moment of silence, Daohua replied, “With food taken care of, it’s natural to be prepared for illness.”