Chapter 290: Chapter 271, Virtue Deficient_1
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Watching Yan Yishuang run out of the classroom crying and covering her face, Daohua sat down with a calm demeanor and then glanced at Yan Yile, who was making faces at Yan Yihuan.
“Fourth Sister, did you find our two cousins from the Li Family that amusing?”
Yan Yile, knowing that Daohua would surely reprimand her, was prepared and retorted with a stiff neck, “Eldest Sister, don’t falsely accuse me. I was indeed laughing just now, but that was because I thought of something happy, which has nothing to do with Third Sister and the others.”
Daohua looked at her indifferently, “Whatever you say, Fourth Sister. As the eldest sister, I do have something to say, though. Today you can laugh at a cousin from the Li Family, but one day others might laugh at you. Mind yourself.”
Yan Yile pursed her lips, looking unconcerned.
Then, Daohua glanced at Yan Yihuan.
When Yan Yihuan saw Daohua looking her way, she immediately straightened up. Just when she thought she was going to be lectured, Daohua got up and left.
Seeing this, Yan Yihuan’s face momentarily stiffened with surprise.
Yet, to her envy, Yan Yile said, “Second Sister, Mother was really right. Sometimes it’s good to talk less. Look, you didn’t say or do anything today, and even if Eldest Sister wanted to find fault with you, she couldn’t.”
Yan Yihuan’s expression dimmed as she silently returned to her seat.
Both sisters had been scolded, so why had Eldest Sister left her alone?
Compared with the dissatisfaction of the Third and Fourth Sisters, she would have rather Eldest Sister scolded her.
At that moment, Daohua entered with Li Zixuan and her sister.
Seeing Yan Yishuang’s empty seat, Li Zixuan was worried and wanted to say something to Daohua, but was stopped by Li Zixin.
In her opinion, the concubine-born girl from her aunt’s family just lacked discipline. She was even more arrogant than Yiyi, looking down on people with her nose in the air, which was utterly annoying!
Daohua pretended not to see the disagreement between the Li sisters and quietly took out a zither, carefully wiping it.
This afternoon was her time to practice the zither.
Master Shen always appeared at the right time; when the girls had resolved their issues, she arrived, “Ladies, let’s begin our lessons.” She glanced over the girls and then looked down in silence.
As long as Master Shen was present, whether it was knowledge or skills, she would teach wholeheartedly.
But as for interpersonal matters, she preferred not to interfere.
There was no other reason than the intricate relationships within prominent families. One careless move could easily entangle one, so why make things difficult for oneself?
Master Shen glanced at Daohua, who was the only girl that the Guo Family had instructed her to take special care of. Coupled with the fact that she respected Master Shen enough to often send some snacks over, although the items were not expensive, the goodwill was rare, and only for her would Master Shen go the extra mile to correct any folly.
…
Daohua punished Yan Yishuang, and the Li sisters were anxious, while Yan Yihuan and Yan Yile also closely followed the situation.
Yan Yishuang ran crying to the front yard, a story they’d all heard as soon as school was over.
Now they all waited nervously for the outcome.
Yan Yihuan and Yan Yile walked towards the second branch’s yard. On the way, Yan Yile asked, “Second Sister, whom do you think Uncle will support this time?”
Yan Yihuan, not in the mood to talk much, was pondering her Eldest Sister’s attitude towards her that day.
Was Eldest Sister blaming her for not stopping Third Sister and the Li Family cousin from arguing?
Seeing her younger sister lost in thoughts, Yan Yihuan still spoke, “It definitely won’t be in Third Sister’s favor.”
“Huh?” Yan Yile was puzzled, “Why?”
Yan Yihuan patiently explained, “Firstly, at the root of it, this was Third Sister’s fault. Secondly, the Li Family cousin is a guest, and to save face for the guest, Uncle, once he knows of this, will probably take it upon himself to discipline Third Sister;”
“Thirdly, both Uncle and Aunt have long asserted in front of the whole family that Eldest Sister has the right to discipline us. Today, everything Eldest Sister said made sense, even if Uncle favors Third Sister in his heart, he wouldn’t contradict himself.”
“Wow, looks like the sun has risen in the west today.”
No sooner had these words left her mouth than Mrs. Sun came over with Yan Wenjie.
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“Mother!”
Yan Yile hurried to embrace Sun Family’s matriarch.
Meanwhile, Yan Wenjie appraised Yan Yihuan and laughed, “Today, I actually heard our second sister speak so much, truly a rare occurrence!”
Sun Family’s matriarch smiled yet gave her son a stern look, “Don’t tease your sister.”
Yan Wenjie immediately defended himself, “I’m not teasing her, I’m happy. In the past, our second sister always seemed indifferent to everything as if it didn’t concern her. Now, she is taking the time to explain things to our fourth sister that she doesn’t understand, which is more like a sister should.”
Hearing these words, Yan Yihuan’s eyes snapped up to meet Yan Wenjie’s, her mind struck as if by a thunderbolt.
Indifferent to everything that did not concern her!
So her brother and parents actually thought of her as such a person!
Then, did her eldest sister view her the same way today?
The matriarch of the Sun Family looked at her eldest daughter with satisfaction, “You comforted the fourth girl, Mother is very pleased.”
Yan Yihuan pulled at the corner of her mouth, revealing a stiff smile.
The matriarch took her eldest daughter’s hand in one of hers and her youngest daughter’s in the other, addressing Yan Wenjie, “Let’s go, it’s time to head home.”
Daohua Pavilion.
Li Zixuan and her sister were restless, and seeing Daohua sitting and drinking tea as if nothing was amiss, they couldn’t help but approach her, “Cousin, aren’t you worried that your uncle will blame you?”
Daohua smiled confidently, “Don’t worry, my father is partial, yes, but when it comes to right and wrong, he is very principled.”
Without the instigation of Aunt Lin, her stepfather would surely get to the bottom of the classroom incident.
Once he understood the ins and outs of the matter, the right and wrong would be clear at a glance.
Li Zixuan’s worry was clear on her face, “But as far as I know, your uncle seems to be quite fond of Yan Yishuang and her twin brother Yan Wenbin.” If it were not for this, they wouldn’t have tolerated Yan Yishuang like they did.
Daohua twirled the teacup in her hand, her smile faint, “That was in the past. During the time you have been here, have you seen my father show any particular closeness or favoritism towards Yan Yishuang or Yan Wenbin?”
Li Zixuan and Li Zixin looked at each other, then shook their heads together.
Li Zixin leaned in close to Daohua, curious, “Cousin, why is that? I remember when we were young and visited your house; back then you were still in the old home, Uncle was so fond of them, he even brought them with him when he met my parents.”
Daohua laughed a little, explaining, “Isn’t it because when my three brothers were trapped in Xingyun Prefecture, Aunt Lin managed to bring doom upon herself.”
Then, Daohua recounted how Aunt Lin and her maternal family cursed Yan Wenxiu and his siblings to die in Xingyun Prefecture.
“At that time, Yan Wenbin and Yan Yishuang were both present.”
“My mother has never mistreated them in their living arrangements, nor has she ever suppressed them.”
“Not to mention my eldest brother, who not only tutored Yan Wenbin but also personally introduced him to his classmates to expand his network and insights; and he was especially affectionate towards Yan Yishuang, always including something for her whenever he brought gifts home for me.”
“But those two, upon hearing their maternal aunt and grandmother speak such vicious curses against my elder brothers, with their mother scheming for the position of the Yan Family’s mistress, did not speak out to stop them.”
“Children who are so lacking in gratitude, what do you think my father felt when he learned of it?”
“The greater my father’s expectations were for them before, the greater his disappointment is now!”
Thus, when she returned home this time and saw her stepfather being less close to Yan Yishuang and Yan Wenbin than before, she was not surprised at all.
Who likes those devoid of gratitude?
Besides disappointment, her stepfather must also feel somewhat disheartened.
According to the education he received, this could indeed be considered a lack of virtue!
Li Zixuan and her sister suddenly understood, “So there was such an incident, no wonder Uncle confined Aunt Lin.”