Chapter 418: Chapter 394: Time Flies_1
As soon as Daohua entered the Chuihua Gate, Yan Wenqi and the other four found it hard to take their eyes off her.
They saw Daohua, dressed in a sky-blue and green plum embroidered cross-collared vest, a white embroidered waistband, and an off-white round-neck soft long skirt, walking slowly towards them.
With a smile on her face like blossoming flowers, and graceful gestures, she exuded the elegance and demeanor of a distinguished family.
“I heard there were guests as soon as I came back, let me see, who are the guests? I wonder if they still remember me?”
Before she got close to the Water Pavilion, Daohua called out to Yan Wenqi and his companions with a smile.
Among the five, Yan Wenyi was most familiar with Daohua. As soon as she finished speaking, he smiled and stepped forward: “Of course we remember you, but I wonder if you still remember us?”
Daohua quickly replied: “I could forget anyone but you, Brother Wenyi.” Saying this, she approached Yan Wenyi, surveyed him all around, and laughed: “Brother Wenyi, you’ve done well, becoming more handsome as the years pass.”
Yan Wenyi scratched the back of his head, feeling embarrassed: “I can’t compare to Sister Yiyi, you’ve grown even more graceful. I hardly dare recognize you.”
Hearing this, Daohua burst into laughter: “Since when did you become so eloquent, Brother Wenyi?”
Yan Wenyi grinned widely, noticing that Daohua still joked with him just like when they were young, without any sense of estrangement. This comforted him greatly.
If Daohua had been as prim and proper, speaking and behaving formally like Yan Yihuan and the other two, he would have felt extremely awkward.
“Brother Wenge, Brother Wenqi.”
Daohua greeted Yan Wenge and Yan Wenqi with a smile as they approached and then turned her gaze to Yan Yunxi and Yan Yunyan, who were walking at the back: “Yunxi, Yunyan.”
As everyone got closer, she asked: “It’s been a long time, how is everyone doing?”
Yan Wenqi replied with a smile: “All is well, how have you been these years?”
Daohua: “I’ve been fine.” She then walked toward the silent Yan Yunxi and Yan Yunyan, “Why aren’t you speaking? Do you not recognize me?”
Yan Yunyan immediately greeted with a smile: “Yiyi.”
Yan Yunxi followed suit: “Yiyi.” Her expression was slightly unnatural; their relationship back at home wasn’t very good.
Daohua, smiling, took their hands: “You’ve finally come. You must stay for a while this time. Grandmother has been missing the people from home for a long time. We have a lot to talk about.”
“Ahem!”
Suddenly, a cough came from behind. Daohua turned around and saw her eldest brother, immediately beaming with a smile: “Big brother.” Saying this, she placed her hands on her waist and gave Yan Wenxiu a formal curtsey: “Congratulations on your success in the imperial examinations.”
Yan Wenxiu waved off the compliment with a laugh: “That’s an overstatement. It was just the provincial exam. By the way, did you congratulate Brother Wenge and Brother Wenqi?”
Daohua paused, “Huh?”
Yan Wenxiu smiled and said: “This provincial exam, besides me, Brother Wenge and Brother Wenqi also passed.”
Daohua’s face lit up with joy: “Really?!” Turning to face Yan Wenge and Yan Wenqi, she said, “I am remiss for not knowing such joyous news and truly deserve to be blamed. I hope you, brothers, won’t be angry with me.” After speaking, she curtseyed to the two of them.
Yan Wenqi hurriedly said: “Sister Yiyi, please don’t say that, you just came back.”
Daohua stood up, smiling: “Thank you for not holding it against me.” Then she tilted her head towards Yan Wenyi, “Brother Wenyi, when will you pass the exam?”
Yan Wenyi scratched his head, smiling sheepishly: “Sister Yiyi, please don’t make fun of me.”
Yan Wenge commented with a smile: “He, being sixteen this year, still can’t sit still. If not for grandfather controlling him, who knows how wild he’d be.”
Upon hearing this, Daohua immediately asked: “Is Uncle Zhishi doing well?”
Yan Wenge nodded with a smile: “Grandfather is still quite vigorous, it’s just that his eyesight is failing. Reading and such, we have to do it for him.”
Yan Wenxiu: “We all shouldn’t stand here, let’s go talk in Grandmother’s room.”
So, everyone headed towards the Yan family matriarch’s courtyard.
On the way, Daohua walked alongside brothers Yan Wenge and Yan Wenyi, asking in detail about Uncle Zhishi’s condition.
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The elderly man not only enlightened her, teaching her to read and write, but also imparted much wisdom and knowledge, for which she held great respect in her heart.
Yan Yunxi and Yan Yunyan walked at the back of the group, both occasionally glancing at Daohua.
“When I saw Yan Yihuan and her two companions yesterday, I thought that was all there was to the daughters of wealthy families. But today, after seeing Yiyi, I realized they don’t quite measure up.”
Yan Yunxi had a complex expression. As a child, she didn’t know better and always liked to compare herself with Daohua, but now, she couldn’t even muster that thought.
It simply wasn’t possible; the gap was too vast.
It wasn’t just the difference in attire but also the dignity and grace that came with their status and position.
Yan Yunyan fell silent for a moment before saying, “Yiyi… after all, is the legitimate eldest daughter of Great Uncle Yan’s family, naturally not someone Yihuan and the others can compare with.”
Yan Yunxi nodded and took a closer look at Daohua’s attire, whispering, “Yiyi’s outfit is so much nicer than what Yihuan and her group were wearing. Did you see the jade Five Blessings Long Tassel Gongtai tied around her waist? The way it sways when she moves is just so pretty. When I get back, I’ll have to make one just like it.”
Yan Yunyan looked up and saw the gongtai intermittently visible beneath the sheer skirt – it truly was beautiful.
Before long, the group arrived at Songhe Courtyard.
Daohua paid her respects to Old Madam Yan, then took Yan Yunxi and Yan Yunyan to sit down by the old lady’s side, and they all started talking about the situation back home over the years.
Because Daohua was there, Yan Wenqi and the other boys were much more at ease. Even if they accidentally said something inappropriate, she would skillfully interject, and when the conversation stalled, she quickly steered it towards topics they were familiar with.
The whole room was filled with happiness.
“By the way, Brother Wenqi, has the Clan Leader’s rheumatism gotten any better?”
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Yan corrected her with a smile, “Your Clan Leader Grandfather passed on the position to your Uncle Zhishi the year before last. Remember not to get it wrong again in the future.”
Daohua looked surprised, then nodded with a smile, “I will definitely not make the same mistake again.”
Yan Wenqi sighed, “It’s the same as always. Sometimes when it rains or snows, he can’t even sleep because of the pain.”
Old Madam Yan immediately said, “Daohua has prepared some medicated wine for me, and I felt rather good after using it. I’ll send some with you to take back for your grandfather when you all leave.”
Yan Wenqi immediately stood up to thank her, “Thank you, Great Grandmother.”
Whenever Grandfather fell ill, their whole family would be beside themselves with worry, yet they were helpless. The doctors in the county town all tried but to no avail.
Great Grandmother is the mother of the Magistrate, so the medicated wine she uses must be excellent, and it will likely help Grandfather. With that, he could only gratefully accept.
Old Madam Yan quickly dismissed it with a wave of her hand, “We are all family, no need for thanks.”
Because Old Madam Yan needed her midday rest, the visitors soon dispersed after a while.
Once everyone had left, Daohua sat down beside the old lady and asked curiously, “Everything seemed fine; what made Brother Wenqi and them think to visit us?”
Old Madam Yan smiled, “After your father was promoted to Magistrate, the clan has long wanted to come for a visit. This time your eldest brother returned to the old home for the imperial examination, Wenqi and the others took the opportunity to come with him under the pretense of celebrating my birthday.”
Daohua nodded, “Then they’re going to stay for quite a while.” Her grandmother’s birthday wasn’t until November.
Old Madam Yan said, “They came so early, probably because the Clan Leader and your Third Great Uncle wished for your father to offer some guidance to Wenqi and Wenge.”
Daohua said, “Then they might be disappointed. Father is so busy, he probably won’t have time to guide them.”
Old Madam Yan replied, “Even if he doesn’t have time to instruct them, it’s still beneficial for them to observe your eldest brother and learn from him.”
Daohua agreed, “That is true.”
She continued, “To become an official, it’s not enough to only be scholarly. One must also be capable of handling practical affairs, all requiring experience and practice.”
“Well, Grandmother, go ahead and take your nap. I should also go freshen up.”
After leaving the old lady’s courtyard, Daohua exhaled deeply, and seeing Yan Wenqi and the others brought back memories of her childhood in the Yan family village. A sense of time fleeting welled up within her. In the blink of an eye, she and her childhood friends had all grown up.
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