Chapter 526: Chapter 485, Drinking Porridge_1
As December rolled in, snow frequently blanketed Ningmen Prefecture. With the outside world embraced by cold winds and frost, Daohua dutifully stayed in the courtyard training her little dogs. Having just read some books on dog training, she was currently on a streak of enthusiasm. Having something to do, she didn’t feel bored anymore.
On the day of Laba, Yan Wenxiu went to the harbor to see off two schoolmates. Han Hexu and Feng Hao, having nothing better to do, decided to accompany him.
Just as Yan Wenxiu saw his schoolmates off at the waterfront, he heard an excited shout coming from a large ship approaching from the opposite side, “Big brother, big brother!”
Yan Wenxiu looked towards the source of the voice and saw his fourth brother, Yan Wenkai, waving his arms and shouting at him, while his third brother stood by with a smile. A few steps away was the Little Prince, currently chatting with a robust middle-aged man with an imposing appearance.
Han Hexu also heard the voice and immediately laughed, “That’s your younger brother.”
However, as the boat drew closer and he clearly saw the Wu Family patriarch talking with Xiao Yeyang, he instantly narrowed his eyes and hissed.
Feng Hao, hearing this, looked at Han Hexu with surprise.
Although Han Hexu didn’t hold an official court position, he’d grown up in the Earl Residence and had seen all kinds of people. Not many things could surprise him to such an extent.
Feng Hao immediately looked towards the ship. He knew of the Little Prince’s close relationship with the Yan Family, which wouldn’t surprise Han Hexu, so it must be the middle-aged man speaking with the Little Prince who had caught his attention.
The man’s stature was commanding, and his face exuded authority – clearly someone accustomed to high positions.
Who is this man?
Yan Wenxiu also noticed the Wu Family patriarch, and although he didn’t know his identity, he could guess from the man’s casual manner of speaking with the Little Prince that he must hold a high status.
“Is that your big brother?”
Aboard the ship, the Wu Family patriarch glanced at Yan Wenxiu.
Yan Wenkai immediately grinned and said, “Right, my big brother looks more refined and scholarly, unlike me and my third brother, who have a more martial appearance. Although he lacks martial prowess, my big brother’s scholarship is top-notch.”
The Wu Family patriarch gave Yan Wenkai a sidelong glance, “You and your sister are really of the same disposition, not knowing in the least how to be modest.”
Yan Wenkai clicked his tongue twice, adopting a helpless demeanor, “Ah, there’s no helping it – when you’re this outstanding, it’s impossible to hide!”
The Wu Family patriarch and Xiao Yeyang had a hard time watching this and simultaneously averted their gaze.
The Wu Family patriarch said, “Little Prince, I won’t disembark later.”
Xiao Yeyang nodded and politely responded, “These past days have been tough on the Wu Family patriarch.”
The Wu Family patriarch patted Xiao Yeyang on the shoulder, laughing, “This kind of hard work, I could endure even more. For instance, that intercepted letter in your possession…”
Xiao Yeyang shifted to the side, avoiding the Wu Family patriarch’s hand, “It’s premature for the Wu Family patriarch to concern himself just yet. Should I truly be unable to decode it, it wouldn’t be too late to later seek the Wu Family patriarch’s assistance.”
Just then, the ship docked, and Xiao Yeyang took the opportunity to say, “We’ll disembark now and won’t keep the Wu Family patriarch from his pressing matters.” With that, he led the way towards the deck.
Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai paid their respects to the Wu Family patriarch before laughing and following suit.
Watching the three depart, the Wu Family patriarch shook his head with a smile, glanced at Han Hexu and the others on the dock, and then turned to enter the ship’s cabin.
…
After disembarking, Xiao Yeyang led Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai straight towards Yan Wenxiu and the others.
“Little Prince!”
The group greeted Xiao Yeyang.
Xiao Yeyang nodded to Han Hexu and his companions, then turned to Yan Wenxiu with a smile, “What brings you here?”
Yan Wenxiu replied with a smile, “A couple of schoolmates came over a few days ago for a visit. I came to see them off today as they leave.”
Xiao Yeyang looked around, “Are they gone?”
Yan Wenxiu nodded, “Yes, they just left not long ago.”
Yan Wenkai butted in, “Now that our business is finished, let’s hurry back. I’ve been craving the Laba porridge that big sister has been stewing for quite some time now.”
Yan Wenxiu, seeing both his younger brothers full of vim and vigor, knew in his heart that things at the iron mine must have been handled well, and he was relieved. He immediately laughed, “Then, let’s head back.”
Han Hexu glanced at the boat and asked with a smile, “Aren’t we waiting for the rest of the people on the boat?”
Yan Wenkai shook his head, “No need, they’re not going the same way as us.”
Han Hexu chuckled, as if it was a casual remark, “I thought you were quite familiar with them and assumed you were together. By the way, who was that person standing with you just now?”
Yan Wenkai casually replied, “That’s a sort of half-mentor to my third brother and me.”
Han Hexu’s pupils narrowed, “Mentor?”
Yan Wenkai was about to say more, but Yan Wentao interrupted, “It’s almost midday, let’s head back. We shouldn’t keep grandmother and the others waiting.”
Yan Wenxiu glanced at his third brother, barely perceptibly nodding his head. His third brother was indeed more prudent than his fourth. Going along with his words and talking and laughing with Xiao Yeyang, he moved forward.
Han Hexu fell a step behind, watching the Yan brothers jovially talking with the Little Prince. He couldn’t help but exhale.
The Commander of the Five Armies’ Wu Family patriarch turned out to be the mentor of Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai!
This news was so shocking that he needed time to recover.
Feng Hao noticed that something was off with Han Hexu. While he was lost in thought, Feng Hao covered for him several times.
…
The Yan Residence.
After returning to the residence, Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai took Xiao Yeyang to the back yard to meet Old Madam Yan, while Han Hexu and the other two stayed in the front yard.
In Songhe Courtyard, as soon as Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai entered the room, Old Madam Yan took a good long look at them both, then turned her warm attention to Xiao Yeyang.
Yan Siyu covertly observed Xiao Yeyang, surprised at his polite and cultured responses to the Old Madam’s numerous chattery questions.
Was the Little Prince too respectful towards his mother?
Not only towards his mother, but also towards his older brother and sister-in-law; he seemed completely devoid of the airs one would expect from imperial offspring.
Seeing how her grandsons, Wen Tao and Wen Kai, had grown increasingly spirited, Old Madam Yan’s face was alight with smiles. She cheerfully said to Xiao Yeyang, “You’ve come back just in time, Daohua has made Laba congee, you’re in for a treat.”
Xiao Yeyang’s expression flickered slightly, wanting to inquire about Daohua’s injuries, but considering there were too many people in the room, it wasn’t appropriate to speak up, so he simply nodded with a smile.
At that moment, Daohua came in with a maid, carrying bowls of Laba congee.
Old Madam Yan immediately laughed and said, “Speaking of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives.”
Xiao Yeyang’s eyes brightened at the sight of Daohua.
Daohua glanced at Xiao Yeyang, then seated herself beside the Old Madam, smiling, “Grandmother, were you speaking ill of your granddaughter?”
Old Madam Yan gave her a mock glare, “Am I not speaking of you, complaining about why this Laba congee is coming so late? We’ve all been eagerly waiting.”
Daohua laughed, “Isn’t it brought to you as soon as it was out of the pot? You should praise me.”
Old Madam Yan laughed without amusement, “Praise you? Any more praise and this girl would be in heaven.” She then looked to Xiao Yeyang and the others, “Today is a festival, and later when you go to the front yard for lunch, you’re sure to have some drinks. Have some Laba congee here first to line your stomachs.”
Seeing the maid starting to serve the congee, Yan Siyu thought for a moment and said to Yang Xiujun, who was sitting with Yan Yihuan, “Xiujun, what are you sitting around for? Hurry up and serve everyone congee.”
Old Madam Yan smiled and waved her off, “The maids are here.”
Yan Siyu smiled, “It’s okay, let that girl move around a bit.”
Daohua looked at her own aunt and then at Xiao Yeyang and the others in the room. Was her aunt trying to give cousin Xiujun a chance to shine?
Yang Xiujun stood up, took the ladle from the hand of the maid, and first served bowls of Laba congee to Old Madam Yan, the Sun Family, the Wu Family, and Yan Siyu. Then she moved to serve Yan Wentao and the others.
At this point, Yan Wenkai stepped up, “Cousin Xiujun, we can serve ourselves. You should sit down and rest.” Saying so, he extended his hand, gesturing for Yang Xiujun to pass him the ladle.
Yang Xiujun smiled, “Let me do it. You’ve just come back, you brothers should be the ones resting.”
Yan Siyu interjected, “Yes, Wenkai, let Xiujun serve for you.”
With no other choice, Yan Wenkai had no choice but to sit back down.
Soon, Yang Xiujun served several more bowls of congee, first offering a bowl to Xiao Yeyang, “Little Prince, please have some congee.”
Xiao Yeyang nodded, took the bowl with a faint smile, and placed it directly on the table next to him without starting to drink immediately.
Yang Xiujun paused for a moment, then turned to serve Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai.
They smiled and accepted the bowls, starting to drink right away.
Before Yang Xiujun could serve her, Daohua stood up with a smile, served herself a bowl, and signaled Yan Yihuan and the others to serve themselves too.
After having a couple of sips, Daohua heard Yan Siyu’s voice again.
“Xiujun, Wenkai has finished his congee. Quickly give him another bowl.”
Daohua looked up, surprised, and glanced towards Yang Xiujun and her fourth brother.
Yan Wenkai had already stood up smiling, “Aunt, there’s no need to trouble my cousin. I’ll serve myself; it’s more convenient this way.”
At these words, Yan Siyu’s smile faltered for a moment, and Yang Xiujun, who had just stood up, sat back down again.
Just then, Madam Li came over with a smile, “Just have some congee to line your stomachs, as the lunch feast is already set. Don’t fill up too much on congee and have no room for lunch.”
Looking at Yan Wenkai,
“Are you done? If so, head to the front yard quickly. Your father just sent someone to ask for you.”
Yan Wenkai quickly finished the congee in his bowl, then looked at Xiao Yeyang and Yan Wentao.
Xiao Yeyang stood up, bowed to Old Madam Yan, glanced at Daohua, and then turned to leave.
Daohua glanced at where he had been seated, noting that the Laba congee hadn’t been touched, and wondered, “That guy used to like Laba congee quite a bit, what’s wrong today?”