Chapter 328: Chapter 307, Apprenticeship_1
“Grandmother, Old Madam Gu, wacky master, I’m heading down the mountain to work!”
In the hall, as the three elders of the Yan Family were still having breakfast, they simultaneously showed smiles on their faces upon hearing Daohua’s energetic voice.
Watching her granddaughter whisk Wang Manman out of the courtyard in a flurry, Madam Yan couldn’t help but shake her head, “This girl, still so impatient, making our elder sister laugh.”
Madam Gu chuckled, “It’s good to be like this, brisk and refreshing to the eyes.”
Madam Yan also liked her granddaughter’s demeanor, but thinking about the backhouse matters she had come into contact with and heard about over the years, her expression turned to a sigh, “That girl is too straightforward, I’m afraid she’ll suffer in the future.”
Gu Jian, who had been quietly eating, looked up and said, “Don’t worry, Old Madam, your granddaughter is as shrewd as a monkey. If anyone troubles her, they are sure to be the ones to come off worse.”
Hearing this, Madam Yan smiled and did not retort.
The granddaughter was indeed straightforward, but she also had her own tactics. After she’d handled the girls at home a few times, they now dared not provoke her anymore and had become much better behaved.
The kitchen she was in charge of also remained untroubled by anyone.
Even the shrewd second elder brother and his wife had never gained an advantage over her.
In the past, she had been concerned that her granddaughter’s forceful character might lead to disfavor in her marital home, but after hearing about the intricate dealings of other large households, she came to think it might be better for her granddaughter to be assertive.
Better to have others at a disadvantage than be at a disadvantage yourself, after all.
The three then continued with their breakfast.
Watching his sister and the Yan Family’s matriarch chat and laugh, the wrinkles that had formed from years of frowning seemed to smooth out significantly on Gu Jian’s face.
Since the Yan Family’s arrival at Taohua Temple, their place seemed to have been infused with more life.
In the past, his sister would only carelessly stroll around the mountain, but now she would also go down the mountain to wander leisurely with Madam Yan. Although the trek up and down the mountain was tiring, it greatly lifted her spirits.
A short while later, the three finished their meal.
Gu Jian efficiently started tidying up the bowls and chopsticks, while Madam Yan, who intended to stand and help, was declined by him.
Having stayed for a few days, Madam Yan had gotten to know Gu Jian’s character: he liked to do things himself and didn’t want others to haphazardly touch his things, so she settled back down accordingly.
For this trip, considering that Old Madam Gu and Gu Jian had no servants to attend to them, aside from Manman who followed her granddaughter to run errands when needed, she had not brought anyone with her.
Despite being served by maids and nannies for years, Madam Yan, who came from a farmer’s family, still liked to do what she could manage herself. She felt more comfortable without anyone attending her.
“The weather has been nice these past days, and the peach blossoms on the mountain are blooming. Sister, let’s go for a walk to aid digestion,” Madam Yan said to Madam Gu with a smile.
These days, as long as there was no wind after meals, she would take her sister for a walk.
Although not a doctor, she could tell that her sister was in poor health and wanted her to get more exercise.
Moreover, she felt a deep sympathy for the lonely sister and brother, without children and with fragile health, so pity naturally welled up in her heart.
Madam Gu smiled and nodded her head.
In this time period, with Daohua creating varied foods, her poor appetite improved significantly—where she used to only be able to eat a few bites per meal, she was now able to finish a bowl and still want more.
With more food intake, she could feel her body becoming a bit lighter.
In the kitchen, Gu Jian watched the two old ladies, supporting each other and moving slowly out of the courtyard, a smile flashed in his eyes, and he quickened his dishwashing pace.
Seeing a little red rice porridge left in the pot, Gu Jian couldn’t bear to pour it away and finished it off in a few bites.
Although he earned some silver as a healer, red rice, purple rice, and black rice – these rare edibles were not for sale.
He couldn’t help it, they weren’t available in the market.
Wanting to save the red, purple, and black rice for his sister, he never made his own portion when cooking. Unexpectedly, one time while eating steamed buns in the kitchen, he was caught by Daohua.
After that, cooking duties were forcibly taken over by her, and she insisted that he must sit down to eat.
“If you don’t agree, I’ll tell Old Madam Gu that you chew on steamed buns and skip meals.”
It had been a long time since someone had threatened him, but the feeling was surprisingly not too bad.