Chapter 286: Chapter 267: Winning Favor_1
Seeing that Madam Li and the people from the third branch were preoccupied with their own children, Yan Zhiyuan stepped forward with a fist and palm salute and exchanged pleasantries with Li Xingnian, while the Sun Family also praised the five children of the Li Family.
It was only after Yan Wenxiu reminded her that Madam Li came to her senses and looked apologetically at her own second brother.
Li Xingnian immediately said with a smile, “We are all parents here, I understand completely.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than they heard the robust voice of the elderly lady: “Wenxiu, Wentao, Wenkai, what are you doing standing at the door? Come in quickly!”
Yan Wenxiu and his two brothers exchanged a smile. They had been worried sick after hearing from their big sister that the old lady had fallen ill with anxiety because they were trapped in Xingyun Prefecture, but now seeing her spirits so high, they finally felt at ease.
“Didn’t you hear the old lady calling? Go on now!” Li Xingnian said with a smile, urging them on.
Yan Wenxiu, seeing Madam Li nodding, then quickly led his two brothers to follow up.
“These must be Zixuan and Zixin. It’s been so many years since I’ve seen you, and you’ve both turned into young ladies!”
Madam Li smiled and took Li Zixuan and her sister’s hands, looked them up and down, and said to Li Xingnian, “They grow more beautiful as they get older.”
Then she turned to Li Chenyi and his two brothers with a smile all over her face: “All good children.”
Li Xingnian said to Li Chenyi and his siblings, “Have you not greeted your aunt yet?”
The Li siblings immediately bent their knees in courtesy: “Auntie.”
Madam Li hastily helped them up and then took Li Zixuan and her sister by the hand: “Come, let’s enter the residence.”
Li Zixuan and Li Zixin obediently let Madam Li lead them, occasionally glancing up to take a look, and both they and the Li brothers wore surprised expressions on their faces.
Auntie looked somewhat different from what they remembered.
In their memory, auntie was gentle and dignified, but now, although still dignified, she had an additional air of authority that made people instinctively behave more cautiously, not daring to act recklessly.
Madam Li did not notice the children’s expressions and while walking, she turned her head toward Li Xingnian, “The master is still in the Governor’s Office handling some matters and will be able to see everyone later.”
Li Xingnian said with a smile, “The matters concerning Zhigao take precedence, let him be busy, no rush to come back.”
Madam Li smiled, “It’s alright, the master knows his priorities.”
By the time Madam Li led Li Xingnian and his group to Songhe Courtyard, the old lady of the Yan family had already been coaxed into a face full of smiles by Yan Wenkai and the others.
“My dear in-laws, I was remiss just now, please don’t take offense!”
As soon as the old lady of the Yan family saw Li Xingnian, she quickly apologized.
Li Xingnian stepped forward to bow, “Old lady, please don’t say that, Xingnian can’t accept such courtesy.”
After exchanging a few polite words, the old lady of the Yan family turned to the Li siblings, “I haven’t seen the children in a few years, they have all grown up.” Saying this, she took the gifts prepared in advance from the hands of Sun Ma.
Remembering the effort Madam Li had put into their family over the years, the gifts that the old lady of the Yan family prepared were quite valuable, all selected from the rewards given by the emperor previously.
The rewards from the emperor, mostly in the form of gold, silver, and fabrics, were held by Madam Li, but some of the more unusual trinkets were chosen by Yan Zhigao to honor his mother.
He did this seeing that other families’ elders always had plenty of nice things to occasionally bestow on the younger generation, making both the old and the young happy.
Seeing the jewelry and playthings among the rewards, Yan Zhigao’s first thought was of his hardworking old mother.
Aside from reserving some for his wife and eldest daughter, the rest were almost entirely given to the old lady.
He was busy with official duties, and his wife had to manage household affairs, there was always the chance of neglecting the care for the old lady, and with these items, the family could be more attentive to the old lady.
The old lady gave Li Zixuan and Li Zixin two Kesi Silk palace fans and gifted Li Chenyi, Li Chenliang, and Li Chenzhi three square inkstones.
Seeing the items, Madam Li’s eyes flashed.
She remembered there were only three palace fans and five inkstones.
Madam Li looked gratefully at the old lady of the Yan family.
She knew that the old lady was giving her face!
Sitting to the side, Yan Zhiyuan and the Sun Family also showed a flicker of expression, while Yan Zhiqiang and the Wu Family, having their attention entirely on Yan Wentao, didn’t even notice this.
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Li Xingnian was a discerning man and quickly demurred, “Please take them back, Old Madam, they don’t need such fine things. Save them for Daohua instead.”
Old Lady Yan feigned annoyance as she glanced at Li Xingnian, “These are for the children, and they have nothing to do with you.” She said with a smile as she turned to Li Chenyi and the others, “Good children, go ahead and take them.”
Li Chenyi and his siblings hesitated, looking towards Li Xingnian.
At that moment, Daohua stood up with a smile, took the palace fans, and stuffed them into her cousins’ hands before passing the inkstone to her three male cousins.
“Cousins, please don’t be polite. My grandmother just wants to be a benevolent elder, and you must satisfy her wish.”
Old Lady Yan smiled and cast a sidelong glance at Daohua, then said to Li Xingnian, “It’s no wonder I like this girl the best; she understands me the most in the whole family.”
Li Xingnian replied with a smile, “Daohua has been raised by you since she was little, naturally she is closest to your heart.”
Old Lady Yan was pleased with this remark and beamed with joy. When Daohua sat back down beside her, she chided, “This girl is good in every aspect; just a bit too mischievous.”
Li Xingnian quickly added, “That’s why she needs Old Madam’s Five-Fingers Mountain to keep her in check.”
Daohua, holding Old Lady Yan’s arm, pouted and said, “Second Uncle, how can you say that? You should persuade Grandmother to be nicer to me.”
The old lady immediately gave her a sidelong glance, “What’s that? Do I treat you poorly? Even going so far as to complain to your uncle?”
Daohua quickly appeased her, “Grandmother is the best, the very best person in the world.”
Old Lady Yan tapped Daohua’s head and said, “Oh, you little rascal!”
Daohua laughed softly behind her sleeve, her eyes creased with joy as she leaned on the old lady’s shoulder.
Before long, Yan Yihuan and her sisters, who had been at school, together with Yan Wenjie and Yan Wenbin, also arrived.
After the greetings, everyone sat around and chatted jovially.
Seeing the palace fans in the hands of Li Zixuan and Li Zixin, Yan Yihuan, Yan Yishuang, and Yan Yile were all somewhat envious, and at the same time, felt somewhat uncomfortable in their hearts.
Their grandmother gave such precious things to outsiders but not to them!
It was only towards evening that Yan Zhigao finished his work and returned to the back courtyard. After assessing that Daohua and the Yan Wenxiu brothers were safe and sound, he performed a fist and palm salute to Li Xingnian.
At the beginning of the hour of the dog (7:00 PM), everyone joyfully ate dinner together.
After dinner, Daohua took her two female cousins to her own courtyard, while Li Chenyi and his brothers were led away by Yan Wenxiu. After chatting for a while, the rest of the people also dispersed.
The second branch of the family.
Once Yan Yile returned to her courtyard, she lost her temper, complaining to Yan Zhiyuan and the Sun family, “Father, Mother, is Grandmother still our own grandmother? She always favored my older sister, but now she treats the children of merchant families even better than us! I feel like she isn’t affectionate towards us at all.”
“Shut your mouth!”
Yan Zhiyuan reprimanded her sternly, annoyed as he looked at Yan Yile, “Where have all the manners and etiquette you’ve learned gone? Do you speak of your own grandmother in such a manner?”
Yan Yile shrank her neck a little, hiding timidly behind Madame Sun.
Madame Sun tapped Yan Yile’s head, “When will you break the habit of speaking without a filter? If you can’t, then be like your sister and keep silent.”
Yan Yihuan, who was nearby, quickly glanced at her parents and sister, then cast her eyes down again.
Yan Wenjie sat nearby and spoke only after seeing Yan Zhiyuan’s anger subside a bit, “Younger Sister has a point, doesn’t she? The things bestowed by the Emperor, apart from our eldest aunt, Old Madam has the most. Yet, she has never given us so much as one or two items.”
Yan Zhiyuan glared at his son, “You don’t frequently pay your respects to her, why should your grandmother give her valuable possessions to you?”
Madame Sun agreed, “I’ve come to understand today that what your eldest uncle means is very clear: whoever can win Old Madam’s favor will get the valuable items from her.”
Sighing, she continued, “Let me tell you three, when you have spare time, make yourself seen more in front of your grandmother. As time goes on, affection will naturally develop.”
“Why does Daohua have such favor with Old Madam? Isn’t it due to the deep bond they’ve shared since she was young?”
“Old people like it when children and grandchildren are around them, as long as you can make your grandmother happy, naturally the benefits will follow.”
“In short, you must remember, whatever you want, you need to put in the effort first. Daohua spoke truly, there is nothing in this world that comes without work.”
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