Chapter 72: There is Room For the Poor Daughter
.png)
Chapter 72: Tidying Up
In the end, Yan Zhigao did not visit Concubine Lin in Shuangxin Courtyard. Instead, he had Madam Li send for a physician to check on her. After learning that it wasn’t anything serious, he did not pay it further attention and focused on the matters related to his official duties.
Second Household
Sun Shi was busy tidying up the wedding gifts, with Yan Yihuan and Yan Yile helping her. Yan Zhiyuan and Yan Wenjie were sitting to the side, watching. The family was quite harmonious and warm.
“Mother, why do we have so many things?” Yan Yile asked curiously as she saw Sun Shi taking out various items from the room, many of which she had never seen before.
Sun Shi smiled, “These are your mother’s dowry,” she glanced at Yan Zhiyuan proudly. “If you count carefully, my dowry isn’t any less than sister-in-law's.”
After all, the Sun family was well-known in the area, and Sun Shi was favored at home. When she got married, her parents gave her a lot of help.
Yan Yile's eyes brightened. “Really?”
Yan Zhiyuan set down his teacup, dissatisfied. “Really, my foot!”
Sun Shi wasn’t pleased. “Isn’t it true? When sister-in-law married into the Yan family, she had thirty-six carts of dowry. When I entered the family, the Sun family also prepared thirty-six carts!”
Yan Zhiyuan shook his head. “You always like to compare. The number might be the same, but the contents aren’t the same, are they? I’ve seen sister-in-law's dowry, and each cart was packed full. Is your dowry the same?”
Upon hearing this, Sun Shi deflated. Compared to her sister-in-law's family, the Sun family had more land but less money. However, Sun Shi, ever proud, still didn’t want to admit it.
“Still, it’s better than the third household!” she retorted.
Yan Zhiyuan sighed. “You’re only getting worse. Comparing yourself to the third household? They are tenants, and we are landowners. Can you still be shameless enough to compare?”
Sun Shi wanted to argue, but couldn’t think of anything to say, so she quietly continued with her work.
Yan Zhiyuan didn’t press further. He still wanted to maintain some dignity for his wife in front of the children.
Yan Wenjie gestured for Yan Yile to change the topic.
Yan Yile, quick to think of something, smiled and said, “Yesterday, Uncle didn’t go to see Concubine Lin. Yishuang cried.”
Sun Shi immediately dropped the previous topic and smiled. “That Concubine Lin, she usually seems quite clever, but what she did yesterday was really foolish. Doesn’t she realize that brother just came back? How could he go to see her right away? If she wanted to compete for favor, she should have waited!”
Yan Zhiyuan scoffed, “Some people are so spoiled, they forget their place. Even if brother doesn’t care about others, he still has to consider Wen Xiu and the younger ones.”
At this point, Yan Zhiyuan paused, looking at Yan Yihuan and Yan Yile. “From now on, you two should stay close to Daohua, do you hear me?”
Yan Yihuan obediently nodded, while Yan Yile looked a bit displeased.
Sun Shi paused and asked, “Hubby, I heard that brother’s promotion this time might have something to do with Daohua?”
Yan Zhiyuan nodded. “I’m not clear on the details, but brother’s promotion does seem to be related to Daohua. I’ve told you before, that girl is no simple matter.”
Normally, people who are bold must have some kind of support, right?
Earlier, he thought Daohua relied on the Old Madam, but now it seemed that she was actually relying on herself!
Sun Shi’s eyes flickered, unsure. “Grandmother always says that Daohua is a lucky star. Could it be true? The year she was born, brother passed the imperial exam, and just after coming to the county, brother got promoted.”
Yan Zhiyuan’s expression shifted, but he shook his head. “Enough of this. Brother’s promotion is mainly due to his own abilities.”
Sun Shi nodded and didn’t speak further, continuing her work.
Third Household
Compared to the large amounts of baggage in the second household, the third household had very little to pack, almost nothing that needed tidying up.
Wu Shi was holding their youngest son, Wenhui, sitting on the steps with Yan Zhiqiang, listening seriously to their eldest son’s recount of what had happened in the city.
After hearing about the fight with the son of the Prefect Magistrate of Fenzhou, Wu Shi looked fearful, and Yan Zhiqiang also appeared serious, his gaze stern as he looked at their son. “Wentao, from now on when you’re out, you need to control your temper. Never get into conflict with others.”
Yan Wentao responded, “Father, this time it really wasn’t our fault. That young master Dong was too wicked.”
Wu Shi spoke up, “Your father is right. Everyone has to bear some grievances. If tolerating a little bit can avoid bigger trouble, then it’s worth it.”
Yan Wentao didn’t quite agree with what his parents said, but he knew they were concerned about him, so he nodded in agreement.
Yan Zhiqiang sighed. “Daohua is too bold. How could she dare to rescue someone from human traffickers?” The family had known nothing about her involvement in the rescue.
Yan Wentao replied, “I think Daohua did the right thing. If we hadn’t saved Xiao Yeyang back then, we wouldn’t have been saved by him in the city.”
Yan Zhiqiang’s brows furrowed. Like many ordinary folk, he was used to being obedient and cautious. He felt instinctively afraid and hesitant toward actions that crossed the line and never wanted to provoke power.
Wu Shi, understanding her husband’s nature, patted his hand and said, “Daohua has mother to watch over her, and now she also has your sister-in-law teaching her. She will gradually change.”
Yan Zhiqiang nodded in resignation. “That girl is too sharp. Every time I try to scold her, she can always come up with reasons to counter me. I can never win the argument.”
Wu Shi smiled. “Sometimes, I feel Daohua’s temper is a bit too wild. But other times, I think it’s good. She doesn’t get easily taken advantage of and lives freely.”
Yan Wentao looked at his parents, worried about Daohua. He felt speechless. Did they really need to worry about her?
Main Courtyard
A batch of household goods had already been arranged to depart. When Daohua came over, Madam Li was instructing the steward to go to Xingzhou early to prepare the residence there.
“Mother, is there anything I can help with?” Daohua asked as she walked in. Her belongings were minimal, and she had already packed everything quickly.
Madam Li didn’t hesitate, handing her an account book and instructing her to go check on the storerooms.
Ping Xiao returned from outside, holding something. She went straight to Madam Li and said, “Mistress, I just passed by Shuangxin Courtyard and saw teacher Qin enter.”
Madam Li sneered, “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten.”
Ping Tong shook her head. “Teacher Qin is going to see Concubine Lin at this time. She must be planning to go with us to Xingzhou.”
Ping Xiao mocked, “It’s hard to believe she’s a teacher. If she wanted to go to Xingzhou, she should have come to see you, not visit a concubine. All her education seems to have gone to waste.”
....
This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com
....
Madam Li’s gaze turned cold as she looked at Ping Tong. “You take ten taels of silver and give it to Teacher Qin later. Tell her it's a token of thanks for teaching the three young ladies of the Yan family all these years.”
Ping Tong and Ping Xiao exchanged a glance and happily agreed. “Understood!”
Madam Li was formally dismissing Teacher Qin!
De Yi Courtyard
Teacher Qin had just returned from Shuangxin Courtyard. Although Concubine Lin had repeatedly assured her that she would take her along to Xingzhou, she still felt uneasy.
If she said she didn’t regret it, that would definitely be a lie.
As an outside hired teacher, she really shouldn’t have involved herself in the internal struggles of the household.
All these years, Concubine Lin had lived quite comfortably in the Yan family’s back courtyard, which made Teacher Qin almost forget that the one who could really decide her fate was the head of the family, Madam Li.
“Teacher Qin!”
Hearing Ping Tong’s voice, Teacher Qin sprang up with unprecedented speed and hurried to greet her.
When she saw that Ping Tong was holding silver and cloth, her heart sank.
(End of Chapter)
►►CLICK HERE FOR ADVANCE CHAPTERS◄◄
Comments
Post a Comment