Chapter 85: Chapter 72, Tidying Up_l
Yan Zhigao ended up not going to Shuangxin Courtyard to see Concubine Lin. He only sent Madam Li to call a doctor to check on her and, after learning her illness was nothing serious, he stopped inquiring and focused solely on the handover matters.
Second branch of the family.
Madam Sun was busy with Yan Yihuan and Yan Yile packing their luggage while Yan Zhiyuan and his son Yan Wenjie sat aside watching. The atmosphere in the family was harmonious and warm.
“Mother, why do we have so much stuff?” Yan Yile saw Madam Sun constantly taking things out of the house, many of which she had never seen before, and couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.
Madam Sun smiled, “These are your mother’s dowry.” She glanced at Yan Zhiyuan and said with pride, “If you really count it up, my dowry is no less than your aunt’s.”
No matter what, the Sun Family was a well-known local landlord. Being the favored one at home, her parents didn’t skimp on her dowry when she got
married.
Yan Yile’s eyes lit up, “Really?”
Yan Zhiyuan put down his teacup and said irritably, “Really what?”
Madam Sun was not pleased, “Isn’t it true? When elder sister-in-law married into the Yan Family, they carried in thirty-six sedan chairs of dowry. When I entered the family later, didn’t the Sun Family prepare thirty-six as well?”
Yan Zhiyuan shook his head, “You always like to compete over everything. Sure, the number of sedan chairs was the same, but was the content the same? I’ve seen elder sister-in-law’s dowry, each one was packed full and heavy. Was yours like that?”
Upon hearing this, Madam Sun deflated, and with the Li Family of her sister-in-law compared to her own Sun Family, they might have had more land, but in terms of money, they really couldn’t compare. However, the usually proud Madam Sun retorted.
“At least it’s better than the third brother’s wife’s, right?”
Yan Zhiyuan said, “You’re really regressing, comparing yourself to the third brother’s wife? They are tenant farmers, and your family are landlords. How can you compare like that? Aren’t you embarrassed?
Madam Sun wanted to rebuttal but found no words to counter with, and instead, she returned to packing in silence.
Yan Zhiyuan did not continue. In front of the children, he still needed to save face for his wife.
Yan Wenjie gave Yan Yile a look, signaling her to change the subject.
Thinking quickly, Yan Yile found a topic and said with a smile, “Yesterday, eldest uncle didn’t go to see Concubine Lin, and the twins were crying.
Madam Sun immediately dropped the previous matter and laughed, “That Concubine Lin usually seems smart, but what she did yesterday was really foolish. Didn’t she think, on the first day elder brother came back, how could he possibly visit her? Even if she wanted to compete for favor, she should’ve waited a bit longer!”
Yan Zhiyuan also scoffed, “Some people, when spoiled too much, then forget their status. Even if elder brother didn’t care about other things, he still had to consider Wentao and the younger ones.”
Speaking of which, Yan Zhiyuan’s expression paused, and he looked at Yan Yihuan and Yan Yile, “In the future, the two of you should get close to Daohua, understood?”
Yan Yihuan obediently nodded while Yan Yile looked a bit unhappy.
Madam Sun stopped her work and asked, “My husband, I seem to have heard that elder brother’s promotion this time has something to do with that girl
Daohua?”
Yan Zhiyuan nodded, “I don’t know the specifics. Elder brother didn’t say, but elder brother’s promotion indeed has some connection with Daohua. I’ve said it long ago; that girl is not simple.”
How could someone be so arrogant without any backing? Initially, he thought his niece relied on the grandmother, but now it seemed that she relied on
herself!
Madam Sun’s eyes flickered uncertainly, “Mother always says Daohua is a lucky star. Could it be true? The year she was born, elder brother was successful in the imperial examination; not long after moving from the countryside to the county city, elder brother got promoted.”
Yan Zhiyuan’s expression wavered, but then he shook his head, “Alright, say less of such things. Elder brother’s promotion is mainly because of his own
abilities.”
Madam Sun nodded, and without another word, continued packing.
Third branch of the family.
Compared to the second branch’s large and small packages, the third branch’s possessions were so few it was pitiful and hardly needed packing at all.
Madam Wu was sitting on the step with her youngest son Wen Hui in her arms, listening intently with Yan Zhiqiang to Wen Tao recounting everything he saw in the provincial city.
After hearing the description of how they fought with the son of the Prefectural Governor of Fanzhou, Madam Wu had a look of fright, and Yan Zhiqiang, too, had a taut expression as he looked seriously at his eldest son, “Wentao, when you are out and about in the future, you must control your temper and avoid conflicts with others at all costs.’
Yan Wentao: “Dad, it’s really not our fault this time, it’s that Young Master
Dong who’s too detestable.”
Wu Family: “When your dad is talking, you listen well. In this world, who doesn’t face grievances? If bearing a little grievance can avoid disaster, then it’s actually a good thing.”
Yan Wentao did not entirely agree with his parents, but knew that they were concerned about him, so he nodded as a sign of agreement.
Yan Zhiqiang sighed, “Daohua is too bold; how could she dare to snatch someone from a trafficker?” He and the others were completely unaware of her
act of rescue before.
Yan Wentao: “I think Daohua did the right thing. If we hadn’t saved Xiao Yeyang at that time, he wouldn’t have been able to save us back in Fucheng.” Yan Zhiqiang’s brows were still furrowed. Like countless others living at the bottom of society, he was accustomed to being honest and fearful of extraordinary actions, instinctively feeling afraid and timid, not willing to provoke those in power.
Wu Family understood her husband and patted his hand, saying, “Daohua has her mother looking after her, and now she is also guided by my elder sister-in-law. She will gradually change her temperament.”
Yan Zhiqiang nodded helplessly, “That girl Daohua, she’s too clever. Every time I scold her, she always finds numerous reasons to argue back, and each time I find her arguments legitimate. Alas, I can’t outtalk her.”
Wu Family smiled, “Sometimes, I also feel that Daohua’s temperament is too impetuous, but at other times, I think it’s quite good. She’s not easy to take advantage of, and she lives a carefree life.”
Yan Wentao looked at his parents worried about Daohua, somewhat speechless.
What need does Daohua have for her honest and clumsy parents to worry about her?
Central Courtyard.
A load of household items had already been arranged for departure by Madam Li. When Daohua arrived, Madam Li was instructing the butler to go to Xingzhou first to tidy up the place where they would be staying.
“Mom, is there anything I can help with?”
As soon as Daohua arrived, she asked directly. She didn’t have many belongings, which were packed in no time.
Madam Li wasn’t shy in asking for help, handing Daohua an account book and sending her to check the inventory in her storeroom.
Ping Xiao came back from outside with items in her arms, and went directly to Madam Li, “Madam, when I passed by Shuangxin Courtyard just now, I saw Master Qin going in there.”
Hearing this, Madam Li let out a cold laugh, “Had you not mentioned it, I would have forgotten about her.”
Ping Tong shook her head, “Master Qin seeking out Concubine Lin at this time suggests she wants to go to Xingzhou with us.’
Ping Xiao gave a mocking smile, “It’s a pity that she is a teacher. Instead of coming to Madam and asking to go to Xingzhou, she ran to see a concubine. Her learning has really gone to the dogs.”
Madam Li’s eyes turned cold as she looked at Ping Tong, “Take out ten silvers and give them to Master Qin later. Tell her that it is to thank her for teaching the three young ladies of the Yan Family over the years.”
Ping Tong and Ping Xiao shared a look and promptly answered with glee, “Yes!” Madam Li was formally dismissing Master Qin!
Virtue and Art Court.
Master Qin had just returned from Shuangxin Courtyard. Although Concubine Lin had repeatedly assured her that she would take her to Xingzhou, she was still very anxious.
At this moment, to say she had no regrets would definitely be a lie.
As an externally employed teacher, she really should not have gotten involved in the backyard struggles.
It was also because in recent years, Concubine Lin had been too smooth in the Yan Family’s backyard, nearly making her forget that the one who truly decided her fate was actually Madam Li, the family’s matriarch.
“Master Qin!”
Upon hearing Ping Tong’s voice, Master Qin stood up with a start, greeting her with a speed she had never before shown.
When she saw the silver and cloth in Ping Tong’s hands, her heart sank into the abyss..