Chapter 41: Chapter 36, Flexing Power !
Translator: 549690339
The Sun Family’s eyes brightened, “Has there been any progress regarding Big Brother’s promotion?”
Yan Zhiyuan sighed, “It’s hard to say because of the disaster relief, the Imperial Court sent a Prince down here. I heard Big Brother say that this might be his chance. Even though Big Brother’s achievements have been good in the past, without someone speaking for him at the top, they would just get buried.”
“This time, with a Prince sent by the Imperial Court here, as long as his performance stands out, there’s a possibility he’ll be noticed. These days, to settle the refugees, even I’ve been conscripted as a laborer, rushing about everywhere, not knowing whether it will all turn out as hoped.”
Mrs. Sun sighed, “Big Brother’s promotion is too difficult.”
Yan Zhiyuan also sighed, “What else can we do when our family doesn’t have anyone to rely on, and our foundation is weak?”
Mrs. Sun curled her lip, “Your family does have someone to rely on, it’s just that they are unwilling.”
Upon hearing this, Yan Zhiyuan’s expression darkened, “Shut your mouth. You’d best not talk too much about that. Mother is already not very pleased with you, she would dislike you even more if she knew you were spreading tales about the fourth sister.”
Mrs. Sun was not someone that Old Lady Yan favored; it was Yan Zhiyuan himself who had taken a liking to her. When they married, Old Lady Yan had been very reluctant.
Speaking of this, Mrs. Sun also got a bit angry, “I’m puzzled why the Old Lady could not see my worth? Our family is one of the top families in Chihui Town. How is she not satisfied with me? Am I not better than the eldest sister-in-law who comes from a merchant background?”
Yan Zhiqiang rolled his eyes, “Give it a rest. The eldest sister-in-law is of merchant origin, which may not be very noble, but their family has money. Your family in Chihui Town would at best be considered a small landlord. Who is nobler than who?”
“You…”
Mrs. Sun got furious. Back when Yan Zhigao pursued her, he was just a poor Scholar, and she didn’t despise him for being poor. Now, it seemed he was the one who started to look down on her.
Seeing Mrs. Sun’s face turn ashen, Yan Zhiyuan had no choice but to speak some soothing words, “Alright, don’t be angry. If Mother doesn’t like you, isn’t it because your family didn’t treat the tenant farmers well and caused trouble?”
Mrs. Sun looked aggrieved, “The affairs of the house have always been decided by my father and several brothers. What does that have to do with me?”
Yan Zhiyuan: “It’s precisely because Mother knows about this, she hasn’t troubled you these years, has she? Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. Anyway, your family doesn’t see Mother often, and as long as you don’t do something foolish, she won’t bother with you.”
Mrs. Sun was choked with anger, but it was also not good for her to continue saying more.
Now that the Yan Family held official positions and the Sun Family was just a landowner with a bit of wealth, without backing from her maiden family, she didn’t have much say in the Yan Family.
Yan Zhiyuan then added a reminder, “I know you usually get along well with the Lin Family, and Yi Huan and Yi Le also play nicely with Yishuang, but, make sure you don’t neglect Daohua, understand?”
Mrs. Sun glared at him, “Do you really need to tell me that?”
Yan Zhiyuan felt reassured and then went to the front courtyard to help.
The third room.
Yan Wentao: “Is Uncle not going to punish Daohua?”
The Wu Family wasn’t sure, “I guess not.”
Yan Wentao heaved a sigh of relief, “That’s good. Uncle is so strict, if he punished Daohua, she would cry again.”
Yan Zhiqiang glanced at Yan Wentao, “Wentao, when you see Daohua, tell her to temper her temper. Uncle’s temper is not very good, and these days, because of the effort of settling the refugees, he’s prone to getting irritated. She should avoid bumping into his sore spot.”
Yan Wentao scratched his head, “Back in Yan Village, Daohua was always happy and got along with everyone. Why is it that she’s always angry here?”
Yan Zhiqiang sighed, “Though folks back home liked to gossip, they were simple and didn’t have so many twists and turns inside. But here, not a single person is easy to deal with.”
From the eldest brother to the youngest niece Yi Le, all had their own little schemes.
Of the three Yan brothers, he was the most honest, but being honest did not mean he was foolish. These days he had come to see that Big Brother’s concubine was subtly competing with the eldest sister-in-law.
Daohua was young and straightforward, becoming an easy target for Lin Family’s attacks.
Alas, he didn’t understand what Big Brother was thinking; with the eldest sister-in-law being so virtuous, why bother marrying someone to stir up trouble at home?
Yan Wentao nodded vehemently, “Exactly, people here talk in such roundabout ways, don’t they get tired? I’ll go find Daohua later and have a good talk with her, so she doesn’t get taken advantage of again.”
Meanwhile, as each room discussed privately, Master Qin was led expressionlessly by a maid to the main courtyard..