Chapter 530: Chapter 489, The Difference is Too Big_1
After Laba Festival, the Yan Family began to prepare for the Chinese New Year.
The first branch was the busiest, Yan Zhigao had to go to his official duties, and Madam Li had to manage the household affairs and prepare New Year’s gifts for various families, hardly having any free time throughout the day.
The second branch also had its own private properties, and apart from Sun Family’s dowry, the income from Daohua farmland and shops had been quite substantial over the years, and they had gradually acquired some more farmland and shops. At the end of the year, Madam Sun also needed to check the accounts.
Even the third branch, which had the thinnest family foundation, added some farmland and shops this year due to Yan Wentao’s dividends from the Glass Factory, as he had been bringing silver home every month.
Seeing that her eldest son was becoming more and more promising, Madam Wu was also learning how to manage the shops properly.
Whether it was Yan Zhigao or Madam Li, they both turned a blind eye to the second and third branches saving up their wealth.
Given that the old lady was still healthy, coupled with the brotherly bond formed by growing up together after their father’s death, Yan Zhigao would not abandon his two younger brothers. But as the saying goes, a large tree branches out, and in time, the family would have to be divided.
When that time came, he wouldn’t let his two brothers suffer losses, but if the two brothers had their own fortunes, it would also ease the burden on the first branch, and be beneficial for them as well.
By mid-December, the only truly idle people in the entire Yan Residence were Yan Siyu and her daughter. Even the old lady was busy keeping track of the gifts from various parties.
One morning, Yan Siyu, accompanied by Yang Xiujun, came to pay respects to the old Madam Yan, and upon entering the room, saw many objects laid out on the kang near the window.
“Mother, what are these?”
Old Madam Yan laughed and said, “Daohua sent these over last night, saying that it’s almost the end of the year and guests often come to our house, so she wanted me to have them to reward people.”
As she spoke, she opened a foot-long box.
Inside the box, a large portion contained Silver Barley, while a small portion contained Gold Barley.
Madam Yan motioned Yang Xiujun to come closer, scooped a large handful of Silver Barley into a purse, and then handed it to her.
Yang Xiujun quickly looked towards her mother, “Grandmother…”
Old Madam Yan, not waiting for Yan Siyu to speak, laughingly said, “Good child, take it, keep it safe. It’s the end of the year and you can use it for yourself or to reward others, it will be handy.” Then, she took a small box the size of a palm, filled it with Gold and Silver Barley, and handed it to Yan Siyu.
Yan Siyu immediately tried to refuse, “Mother, I cannot accept this.”
Old Madam Yan pretended to be angry, “If you don’t take it, I’ll get angry. You see, I still have plenty here; it’s enough.”
“Mother… I should be the one honoring you!” Yan Siyu’s eyes reddened slightly, her face showing embarrassment and guilt.
Old Madam Yan sighed, taking her daughter’s hand, “In the past, our family was struggling, and I couldn’t help you, but now that our family is back on its feet, naturally I will not leave you out.”
Yan Siyu’s voice was nasal, “Mother~”
Old Madam Yan, “Alright, take it. Now our family is not what it used to be, with many households coming and going at the end of the year. If you bring children with you, it wouldn’t look good not to give them anything.”
The Gold and Silver Barleys were cast into shapes like peanuts, Gold Ingots, and the twelve zodiac animals, being both attractive and meaningful, just right to reward people with.
Thinking about when she came to the family, her mother-in-law gave her five hundred taels of silver, and Yan Siyu’s ears turned slightly red; in her hands now, there were less than two hundred taels left…
Old Madam Yan understood her daughter well, and without saying more, she pushed the box into her hands and then took Yang Xiujun to look at the other items.
“This sheepskin is still in good shape, take it to make a pair of boots, just in time to wear for the New Year.”
“And this piece of red Hong Yu satin, take it to make clothes.”
As Old Madam Yan kept stuffing things into her hands, Yang Xiujun found herself neither able to accept nor refuse, only able to look helplessly towards her own mother.
Yan Siyu quickly said, “Mother, Xiujun already has clothes to wear, leave these for Yiyi.”
Old Madam Yan laughed, “No need to keep them for her, she does not lack for such things.”
Yan Siyu, “Then give them to Yihuan and the others.”
Madam Yan frowned, “My belongings are mine to give to whoever I choose.” Saying this, she placed a roll of lotus-colored silk in Yang Xiujun’s hands. “Good child, don’t listen to your mother, take this home and make yourself a few new dresses.”
Thus, Yan Siyu could only nod at Yang Xiujun.
Holding the items, Yang Xiujun bowed gratefully to the old lady: “Thank you for your generous gift, Grandmother.”
Madam Yan quickly pulled her up and smiled, “That’s right, take it and be at ease. Seeing you all dressed up beautifully warms my heart.”
Knowing that the old madam wanted to tidy up and sort things out, Yan Siyu and her daughter did not stay long and soon departed.
On the way back, Yang Xiujun wore a sullen expression.
After noticing, Yan Siyu asked, “What’s wrong? Don’t you like the gift your grandmother gave you?”
Yang Xiujun said dejectedly, “It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just… Sister Yiyi is only a few months older than me, yet she’s so much more capable and formidable. I feel so useless.”
Yan Siyu stroked her daughter’s hair and sighed, “Yiyi has her strengths, and you have yours; everyone is different.”
Shaking her head with a hint of agitation, Yang Xiujun said, “Mother, do you know? Yesterday, when I went to Daohua Pavilion, I saw Sister Yiyi checking the account books. At first, I thought she was helping our aunt, but later I found out that the account books were for her own manors, lands, and shops.”
“You didn’t see it, Mother, but there were several thick piles of account books, each one quite thick. The abacus Sister Yiyi used for calculations was even crafted from white jade.”
“Not only that, but later I also visited the Yihuan sisters and discovered that they too were balancing accounts; they each have their own shops.”
“Mother, why do the cousins of the Yan Family live so freely?”
Yan Siyu quickly pulled her daughter to her side and patted her hand soothingly, sighing, “Your second aunt mentioned this to me. Initially, the Yan Family was like ours, but it changed after Yiyi insisted on opening a shop and buying estates.”
“At first, your eldest uncle and the others disapproved. Who would’ve thought Yiyi would have such talent? Not only were the harvests from the land bountiful, but the merchandise from the shops sold well too.”
“With many siblings in the family, competition is inevitable. Seeing how well-off Yiyi was, the Yihuan sisters also pestered their parents to lend them silver to start their own endeavors like Yiyi.”
“Yiyi has a generous spirit. When her sisters came to her for advice on managing a shop, she was forthcoming and exhaustive in her guidance. The Yihuan sisters are clever too; they really got their shops up and running.”
“I’ve never inquired about the specifics of the shops, are they doing really well?”
Yang Xiujun nodded, “Let’s not even talk about Sister Yiyi. Just look at what she gifted our grandmother, a whole box of Gold and Silver Barley. The craftsmanship alone must have cost a significant amount of silver. You can imagine how wealthy she is.”
“The shops owned by the Yihuan sisters are also very profitable. When I visited yesterday, I happened to see Yishuang giving Aunt Lin a package, which included a bulging bag of silver, at least a hundred taels by my estimate.”
Seeing the envy in her daughter’s eyes, Yan Siyu sighed, “My child, circumstances like your uncle’s family are rare in the inner courtyards of most families. Most young ladies are just like you.”
It’s uncommon for a young lady to possess her own assets before marriage. Even in wealthy families that dote on their daughters, few are like her mother’s side.
Yang Xiujun nodded gloomily, “I know, which is why I feel that despite being a concubine’s child, Yishuang, having been born into the Yan Family, seems to be happier than many legitimate daughters.” At least much happier than herself in the Yang Family.
Lost in their own thoughts, the mother and daughter failed to notice Yan Yishuang around the corner.
Watching the two pass by, a glint flashed in Yan Yishuang’s eyes, and her mind couldn’t help but recall the envious looks from other concubine-born young ladies at the gatherings. Reflecting on what her aunt and Cousin Xiujun had said today, her expression became slightly bewildered.
So in the eyes of others, she was deemed so fortunate.
Perhaps she should indeed be content.
“Let’s go, we should head back.”
“Miss, aren’t we going to Shuangxin Courtyard?”
“Not today. Aunt is still under house arrest, and although my mother agreed to let me visit, we shouldn’t go too often.”
As Yan Yishuang walked back to her courtyard, her thoughts drifted.
In the past, with her aunt by her side, she was constantly told to secure her father’s favor. Now, with her aunt confined for the past two years and absent of her constant admonitions, she realized that she lived even happier than before. At least now she could do many things she liked without being preoccupied with seeking favor all the time.