Chapter 427: Chapter 402, The Strange Farmer_1
In the blink of an eye, three of the five glass lamps that had just been received were gone, leaving only the last two.
Daohua looked towards Wang Manman, thought for a moment, and said, “Send them to Yunxi and Yunyan right away, I’m worried that more people will come asking for them later.”
Hearing this, Wang Manman immediately turned and walked toward the storeroom.
No sooner had the Fourth Brother left with a glass lamp than the Eldest Brother and the Third Brother came looking for one. By now, it’s likely that everyone else in the residence knows about them, and it really wouldn’t look good to refuse if others come asking.
A couple of days ago, while browsing the Glass Store, Madam hurried Yan Yunxi and Yan Yunyan away without taking the glass teapot that the Little Prince had offered. It seemed appropriate to send back two items in return.
Sure enough, just as Wang Manman was carrying the glass lamps out of the courtyard, Yan Yile came over with Yan Yishuang and Yan Yihuan in tow.
Before they could speak, Daohua took the initiative and said, “You’re too late, I only received a total of five glass lamps, and now they’ve all been given away.”
Upon hearing this, Yan Yile and her companions all wore expressions of disappointment.
Yan Yile moved her lips, unable to hold back, she asked, “Big sister, do you think you could…”
“No!”
Daohua knew what she was going to say and cut her off, “Because I did a small favor for De Fu, he gave me the glass lamps to thank me. He has already given away five, how could I ask him for more?”
“Anyway, the Glass Store is just there, if you really like them that much, go buy them yourself.”
Yan Yile pouted and said no more.
If they could afford to buy them, why would they come begging?
Daohua stood up, “Alright, it’s getting late, grandmother and father must have already gotten ready; we should go join them.”
Watching Daohua leave the courtyard with her maids, Yan Yile and her cousins felt helpless and had no choice but to follow with heads hung low.
Yan Yile: “Five glass lamps, one given to the Eldest Brother, the Third Brother, and the Fourth Brother each, so who got the remaining two?”
Yan Yishuang nodded towards Wang Manman who was approaching from the direction of the guest courtyard: “Isn’t it obvious?”
Yan Yile pouted: “Big sister is even nicer to outsiders than to us.”
Yan Yihuan gave her a stern look: “Nonsense again, who’s an outsider? That’s our clan sister. Besides, it’s big sister’s property; she can give it to whoever she wants, what’s it to you?”
Yan Yishuang couldn’t help but let out a sneer: “Second sister is increasingly taking on big sister’s mannerisms, but, have you ever heard of the idiom ‘ape the beauty’s frown’?”
At these words, Yan Yihuan’s face darkened instantly.
Yan Yishuang smiled: “I still have things to pack, I’ll go on ahead.”
Yan Yile watched Yan Yishuang walk away, then looked at her sister whose complexion was turning, and asked, “Sis, what does she mean by that?”
Yan Yihuan calmed her emotions and said lightly, “She’s saying I’m imitating big sister, ignore her. These days, she can only find a sense of presence by picking on us.”
With that, she took Yan Yile back to the second branch of the house.
By now, each branch of the family had almost finished their preparations, the carriages were ready, and they could leave once everyone was assembled.
…
The Yan Family’s outing this time wasn’t to a distant place, but to Qiyuan Mountain at the outskirts of the city to climb and enjoy the chrysanthemums.
On the festival of Double Ninth, there were no shortage of people heading out for holiday revelry; the moment the Yan Family stepped down from their carriage, they encountered many acquaintances.
Compared to Xingzhou, since coming to Ningmen Prefecture, the Yan Family had quickly gained a foothold, as everyone knew that Yan Zhigao was appointed by the emperor himself, and openly, no one dared to create obstacles.
And so, in just half a year, the Yan Family and the various families of Ningmen Prefecture had already become quite familiar with each other.
Madam Li helped Old Madam Yan along as they, accompanied by the Sun Family, Wu Family, and Daohua—as well as several young ladies—went to meet the women from the other families. Everyone gathered in the pavilion to admire the chrysanthemums, drink tea, and chat.
Daohua was uninterested in the topics the young ladies were discussing and said in a low voice to Madam Li, “Mother, I’d like to take Yunxi and Yunyan mountain climbing.”
Madam Li showed a helpless expression, “We’ve barely been here a while and you’re already restless?”
Daohua replied, “Mother, sitting here is quite dull. The other Misses are either praising Jinyi Pavilion’s clothes or talking about the new jewelry from Luanzhu Store. What’s there to talk about? Besides, Yunxi and Yunyan can’t even join in the conversation, I can tell they’re pretty uncomfortable.”
Madam Li quickly glanced at Yan Yunxi and the others, seeing them awkwardly holding tea cups and watching the other young ladies. After thinking a moment, she nodded and said, “Alright, you may go. Just one thing, take your brothers with you, and the maids and nannies must all accompany you too.”
Daohua immediately nodded with a smile, then stood up and walked towards Yan Yunxi and the others, “Do you want to go climb the mountain?”
Yan Yunxi and Yan Yunyan’s eyes immediately brightened, “Can we?”
Daohua smiled and said, “Of course you can, today was meant for climbing after all.”
The two eagerly nodded in agreement.
Daohua then looked towards Yan Yihuan and the other two, “Do the three younger sisters want to come along?”
All three shook their heads.
Daohua casually asked, not fond of such ladylike tea parties, yet the Yan Yihuan trio seemed to quite enjoy them, especially now that all the Madams were present; they appeared to want to perform well.
Soon, Daohua led Yan Yunxi and Yan Yunyan away.
“Manman, could you see what Big Brother and the others are up to? If they’re not too busy, ask them if they’d like to join us for mountain climbing?”
Wang Manman quickly headed over to where the men were gathered, and shortly after, she returned with Yan Wenkai, Yan Wentao, and Yan Wenyi.
Daohua asked with a smile, “Why just the three of you?”
Yan Wenkai replied, “Big Brother and the others are currently engaged in a poetry contest with the young masters from other families.”
Daohua smiled, “In that case, it’s just the few of us for the climb.”
Yan Wenyi laughed, “Sure, sister Yiyi, let’s have a competition to see if you’re still as nimble and quick as you were when you were younger.”
Daohua lifted her chin, “Just watch, I’ll show you all a thing or two today.”
Afterward, the group began their ascent up the mountain.
It was only then that Yan Yunxi and Yan Yunyan truly started to enjoy themselves. Sitting among the other young ladies earlier, they felt unsure where to place their hands and feet and could only sit stiffly, afraid to embarrass the elder Yan family.
Once the group reached the summit, they admired the view for a while, had lunch at the temple on the mountain, and then leisurely made their way down.
When they reached the foot of the mountain, Daohua paused for a moment and watched several farmers passing by.
“Big sister, why have you stopped?” Yan Wenkai called out loudly.
Daohua, her face showing perplexity, said softly, “The farmers I usually see are mostly thin and weak, or at most, just sturdy if they’re from a well-off family. But look at those few, they are all strong and robust. Don’t you think they look a bit like martial practitioners, like you three brothers?”
The ‘farmers’ who were already over ten meters away heard Daohua’s words and imperceptibly hesitated in their steps before hurrying along even faster.
Even without turning around, they sensed two probing gazes land on them.
Watching the assured and swift pace of those men, both Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai narrowed their eyes slightly.
“Ah, what’s so strange about that? Maybe their families are landowners, so they eat well. Isn’t Mr. Ma from our village also portly?”
Yan Wenyi laughed and said, “It’s getting late; we shouldn’t let Grandmother and the others wait. Let’s hurry back.”