Chapter 73: There is Room For the Poor Daughter
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Chapter 73: Little Rich Girl
The news of Madam Li dismissing Teacher Qin quickly spread throughout the back courtyard of the Yan household.
Just after Daohua finished counting the items in the storeroom, Wang Man’er came to tell her about the news.
"I wonder if Concubine Lin will be able to beg for mercy this time?" Daohua smiled faintly. The last time, Madam Li wanted to dismiss Teacher Qin, but Concubine Lin's whispering had caused her father to suppress it in private.
This time, however, her mother had acted cleverly and spread the news first. Once the lady of the household had made a decision, if her father still had any sense of propriety, he wouldn't have stood up against it.
Sure enough, in the evening of the same day, Concubine Lin directly blocked Yan Zhigao at the back courtyard gate.
Before Concubine Lin could speak, Yan Zhigao raised his hand to stop her. "You don't need to say anything. Since the madam has made a decision, you just need to listen. If you are really concerned about Teacher Qin, just give her some extra rewards."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Lin froze on the spot. Thankfully, Advisor Lin was with her and gently tugged at her sleeve, pulling her back to her senses.
Yan Zhigao glanced at the siblings, smiling, "You two can talk for a while." After speaking, he turned and headed toward the main courtyard.
"Has he… grown tired of me?" Concubine Lin looked tearfully at Yan Zhigao's retreating figure.
Advisor Lin was both angry and anxious. "Sister, you overstepped this time!"
Concubine Lin wiped her tears, her expression a mix of hurt and indignation. "How did I overstep?"
Advisor Lin sighed. "Sister, what are you trying to do by coming to the master now? Are you asking him to plead for Teacher Qin? But Teacher Qin has already been dismissed by the madam. If you bring it up now, you're asking him to go against the madam. It’s clearly going to put him in a difficult position."
"I…" Concubine Lin paused. "I didn’t think it through."
Advisor Lin knew his sister well and understood she was still angry that the master hadn’t visited her on the first day back and was also trying to compete with the madam. But things were different now.
"Sister, listen to me. Don’t involve yourself with Teacher Qin anymore."
Concubine Lin looked at Advisor Lin unhappily. "Why are you saying this? Don’t forget, she’s our cousin, and it’s because she helped me that the madam took revenge on her. Shouldn’t I help her?"
Advisor Lin frowned. "Cousin? She’s only distantly related! Sister, pack your things properly and stop worrying about this matter."
Concubine Lin reluctantly responded, "But these years, Teacher Qin has taught Yishuang and the others with great effort. Even if the master doesn’t appreciate her, he should at least show some respect."
Advisor Lin directly interrupted, "But she offended the eldest miss of the Yan family. That’s the one thing neither the master nor the madam will overlook."
Concubine Lin’s face turned angry. "Does that mean now we have to bow to the eldest miss for everything, even choosing a teacher?"
Advisor Lin’s gaze shifted slightly. "Don’t say that, but yes, we really do."
"You…"
Advisor Lin sighed. "Sister, I’m not arguing with you. Listen, the master’s promotion is related to the eldest miss. Right now, no matter how justified you are, as long as she doesn’t want it, Teacher Qin won’t be able to leave with us."
Concubine Lin was stunned. "How is that possible?"
Advisor Lin nodded slightly. "I’m not exactly clear on the details, but that’s how it is. For now, keep your distance from the eldest miss. Don’t make her angry."
Concubine Lin sneered. "Are we afraid of a little girl?"
Advisor Lin’s expression changed. "It’s not about fear, it’s about avoiding trouble. We need to wait until this blows over before we can reconsider."
After several days of preparation, the Yan family finally packed their things, and Yan Zhigao completed the handover with the new county magistrate.
By mid-February, Yan Zhigao hurriedly took his entire family to Xingshou City to take up his new position.
Along the way, the Yan family witnessed the amazing stamina of Old Madam Yan. While the other sons and daughters-in-law, tired from the long ride in the carriage, were barely able to keep their energy up, Old Madam Yan was still lively, discussing the scenery along the way with Daohua in high spirits.
"Mother, is it true that the estate we visited last time has really been sold?" Daohua asked as she handed a bowl of oil tea to Madam Li, who appeared pale from the journey.
After their previous trip to the capital, Daohua had realized how poorly the family had fared physically. Considering the bumpy journey and how they were subsisting on just tea and rice soup, which lacked nutrition, she had thought to make the oil tea she remembered from her previous life.
Oil tea, which both energized and aided digestion, was perfect for the journey as it was quick to prepare.
Fortunately, the variety of grains she grew in her space made it possible to prepare the oil tea.
Madam Li took the tea from Daohua with a smile. "Of course it was sold. Who would manage it if we kept it? When we bought it, we thought your father would stay in Linyi County, but now that we are going to Xingshou, we’ll buy another one there."
Daohua nodded thoughtfully, then with a sudden spark in her eye, asked, "Mother, how much would a small estate cost?"
Madam Li looked at her in surprise. "Why are you asking about this?"
It was Old Madam Yan who knew Daohua best. Upon hearing the question, she immediately tapped Daohua’s forehead. "What, are you trying to save up for your dowry?"
Daohua quickly shook her head. "Not at all. I just want a little estate where I can grow things I like to eat." Things from her space were hard to bring out, and while it had been easy back home with her private plot of land, there were too many people around now, and she didn’t want to raise suspicion by bringing things out too frequently.
Madam Li was puzzled. "The smallest estate would cost over a thousand taels of silver. Once I buy one, I’ll set aside a piece of land for you to plant your things."
"No!" Daohua quickly refused. "If it’s like that, how can I distinguish what’s mine from what’s the family’s?"
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Yan gave Daohua a playful tap on the head. "What’s yours and what’s ours? Are you trying to distance yourself from the family?"
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This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com
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Daohua rubbed her forehead, looking a little sulky. "Grandmother, I didn’t mean it like that. I just want my own little estate. I can go there when I need to relax, and I can plant things. If the estate belongs to the family, can I control it freely?"
Old Madam Yan glanced at her, then after a moment of contemplation, nodded in agreement. "You do have a point."
With so many grandchildren, things like fighting over food and clothes were frequent, and she knew that Daohua, though young, had her own ideas. If she mixed with the other grandchildren, she would probably lose her mind.
Old Madam Yan turned to Madam Li. "Eldest daughter-in-law, when you’re looking at estates, make sure to check for a small one. Buy it for Daohua."
Madam Li was stunned. She knew her mother-in-law spoiled Daohua, but she hadn’t expected her to spoil her so much.
Although the Yan family held official positions, they were far from wealthy, and a thousand taels was a huge sum. Yet, Old Madam Yan agreed so easily.
Madam Li knew she wouldn’t have made such a quick decision.
Madam Li hesitated. "Mother, there’s no need to spoil Daohua so much. She’s just a little girl. Why does she need an estate? Besides, if we buy one for her, what will the others think?"
Old Madam Yan chuckled. "I’ll take care of the others. The money for Daohua’s estate won’t come from the family. Your daughter made some money back in the old place, and it’s enough to buy a small estate. If Yihuan and the others complain, let them buy their own."
After finishing, Old Madam Yan smiled warmly at Daohua, gently patting her head. "Our Daohua may look young, but she’s actually a little rich girl."
(End of Chapter)
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