Chapter 81: There is Room For the Poor Daughter
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Chapter 81: Personal Property
After the banquet, life for the Yan family in Xingzhou gradually returned to a steady rhythm.
Yan Wenxiu and the other boys were enrolled in the local academy by Yan Zhigao to study; the girls, since they hadn't yet hired a teacher, could only review their previous lessons at home.
One day, after practicing large characters for nearly an hour, Daohua was about to take out her embroidery frame to practice needlework when she saw Ping Xiao entering the courtyard with a smile.
"Miss, Madam is looking for you!"
Daohua quickly put down the embroidery frame and asked curiously, "Why does Mother want to see me at this time?"
Pingxiao smiled, "It's good news. I heard that Third Master has found a good farm, and he is now telling old Madam and Madam about it."
Upon hearing this, Daohua immediately became excited and hurried toward Songhe Courtyard.
Songhe Courtyard.
Yan Yan Zhiqiang handed two land deeds to Old Madam Yan and said, "According to my sister-in-law's instructions, I've bought a large estate and a small estate, both of which are very close to each other."
"The large estate is 500 acres, with 300 acres of paddy fields and 200 acres of dry fields, and there are 21 tenant households on the estate."
"The small estate is 200 acres, with 100 acres each of paddy and dry fields, plus a barren mountain, with 10 tenant households."
Old Madam Yan carefully examined the land deeds before handing them over to Madam Li beside her. "Sister-in-law, you should take care of these deeds."
Madam Li, seeing that Old Madam Yan was not reluctant to part with them, took the deeds with a smile and asked Yan Yan Zhiqiang, "Have both estates been planted yet?"
Yan Yan Zhiqiang nodded, "Yes, I checked carefully, and the tenants on both estates are not lazy. They take good care of the fields and farm diligently."
Madam Li, relieved, said, "That's good. I was worried the new estates would delay the spring planting. From now on, you'll need to keep a closer watch on them, Third Brother."
At that moment, Daohua's voice came from outside.
"Grandmother, Mother, has the land been bought?"
Upon hearing the voice, everyone inside smiled.
Old Madam Yan glanced at Daohua, who had quickly entered the room, and said with some amusement, "Look at you, child, so eager. I told you we'd buy it, and we'd never leave you out."
Daohua smiled and said, "Granddaughter just wants to grow delicious food for Grandmother."
Old Madam Yan laughed and looked at Madam Li and Yan Yan Zhiqiang. "Look at this! She's pretending it's for me when it's actually for herself. Now I'm just a shield."
Seeing that Madam Li was holding the two land deeds, Daohua immediately moved closer.
Madam Li, amused, said, "I've never seen someone so obsessed with money." Then, she handed the deeds over to Daohua.
Daohua took the deeds carefully, sat beside Old Madam Yan, and looked at them for a while. After examining the large estate deed, she returned it to Madam Li but kept the deed for the small estate in her hand.
Madam Li laughed out loud, "You don't want me to take it, do you? Hurry up, give it to me, and I'll keep it safe for you as part of your dowry."
Daohua shook her head, "No, I want to keep it myself. It's my thing, and I want to protect it."
Madam Li still tried to persuade her, "You're still young. What if you lose it? Don't worry, I won’t take it for myself."
Daohua firmly shook her head. "I won't lose it."
Before Madam Li could say anything further, Old Madam Yan spoke up, "Let her keep it. This child has always been protective of her things since she was little."
Daohua, confidently, said, "Of course I have to protect my own things," then she turned to Madam Li and said, "Mother, I want to visit the estate. There’s a barren mountain, right? I want to see if I can plant something on it. We can’t let it sit unused."
Madam Li looked at Old Madam Yan for her opinion.
Old Madam Yan thought for a moment and then nodded, "The weather is just right, and I need to get some fresh air too."
Daohua immediately responded, "There's no time like the present. Let’s go tomorrow!"
Old Madam Yan rolled her eyes at Daohua and smiled, "I knew you'd be in a hurry. Alright, we'll go tomorrow."
Madam Li said, "Mother, tomorrow I need to meet with the matchmaker to discuss buying servants."
Old Madam Yan was not concerned, "You take care of your business. Daohua and I will go to the estate. It's not far, and with Yan Zhiqiang there, you have nothing to worry about."
Seeing this, Madam Li didn't say anything more.
That day, everyone in the Yan household learned that the family had bought an estate and that Daohua now had her own small estate.
Second Room.
Yan Yile pouted, "Grandmother is so biased. She says the money for the estate is from Big Sister’s own savings, but how could Big Sister, only a year or two older than us, save so much money? It must be Grandma’s personal money that helped her buy it."
Yan Zhiyuan and Sun Shi were also skeptical that a 9-year-old girl like Daohua could have saved over a thousand taels of silver, but they didn’t dare to say anything.
After all, Daohua had grown up with Old Madam Yan, and even if the money had come from Old Madam Yan, they had no right to object.
Yan Wenjie, who was also unhappy, muttered, "Other grandmothers try to save up for their grandchildren, but ours only thinks of helping a granddaughter who will soon marry off."
Hearing the resentful tone in Yan Wenjie’s words, Yan Zhiyuan immediately scolded, "Shut up! You dare to criticize your grandmother? Have you forgotten everything you've learned in school?"
Sun Shi quickly gave Yan Wenjie a slap on the shoulder, "What nonsense are you saying? The old lady is your ancestor. Whatever she does is right. You can’t say a word against it. If I hear you talk like this again, I’ll beat you."
Yan Wenjie, realizing his mistake, quickly apologized, "Father, Mother, I was wrong. I just heard that Big Sister, a girl, now has her own property, and I, a grandson, still have nothing. I was upset and said some foolish things. Please don’t be angry."
Yan Zhiyuan glared at his son and, still displeased, said, "Grandmother is the elder of the family. You should respect and honor her. Don’t forget your manners."
After that, he turned and walked out of the room.
Sun Shi looked at her two daughters, who were scared by their father’s anger, and sighed, "It’s not easy for Grandma to raise your father and the others. Don’t ever be disrespectful to her again."
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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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The two daughters nodded silently.
Third Room.
The third room was peaceful.
They knew how much Daohua had earned. The money she made was probably even more than the price of the estate, and since she used it to buy the estate, no one could object.
Shuangxin Courtyard.
Yan Yishuang said enviously, "Big Sister is really lucky. Not only does she have a rich maternal family who sends her jade bracelets and fine silk from time to time, but even Grandma is helping her. She’s only 9, and now she has her own estate."
Concubine Lin felt a deep sense of bitterness upon hearing this.
Her daughter was no less than anyone else, but her treatment at home was worlds apart from Daohua's. They were both the master's daughters, yet why did Daohua have everything she wanted, while her daughter had nothing?
Seeing her daughter's downcast expression, Concubine Lin felt even more resentful. She immediately called a maid and instructed her to go to the front yard to find Yan Zhigao. However, after thinking for a moment, she realized that Yan Zhigao had been busy lately and probably wouldn't have the time to listen to her. With a sigh, she dismissed the maid.
"Fine, I'll wait. Once the master has settled in at the county office, I’ll make plans for my children."
(End of Chapter)
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