Chapter 95: There is Room For the Poor Daughter
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Chapter 95: Pointing Fingers and Talking Loudly
Xiao Yeyang’s sudden visit brought significant changes to the Yan family.
First, Yan Zhigao became less busy at the prefectural office. The funds for the riverbank construction were approved a few days later, and the officials no longer flattered him only in words. They began to cooperate sincerely.
Second, Madam Li received more invitations and visit requests. Even Daohua had received several invitations from the daughters of official families, but she didn’t attend any of them and declined them all.
By July, the watermelons on the farm had mostly ripened and were waiting to be sold. She was busy with that.
In the prefectural city, Madam Li bought a shop, and now, the shop was selling watermelons with great success.
It was no surprise. The Yan family’s watermelons were large, juicy, sweet, and had a bright red pulp. Once cut and placed at the shop’s door, they attracted a crowd.
At this point, the Yan family finally realized Daohua’s money-making abilities. They no longer thought that her little farm had been bought with help from Old Madam Yan.
Songhe Courtyard.
Daohua, just like back at her family home, was calculating accounts and keeping books in front of Old Madam Yan, with her abacus clacking away smoothly.
Old Madam Yan smiled and shook her head as she watched her granddaughter, her smile never leaving her face. She turned to Madam Li and said, "Look at how happy she is. I never noticed before, but Daohua is quite the little money lover."
Daohua looked up, "That’s because our expenses were low before. The harvest from the family’s land was enough to cover everything, and we even had a surplus. Life was comfortable, so there was no need to calculate so much."
"But now, with the family’s expenses so high, and money tight, this business with the watermelons will help the family a lot, so of course, I’m happy."
Madam Li felt a deep sense of relief in her heart. Her daughter, so young, was already trying to ease her burdens. Not only did she share her worries, but she had also directly solved a problem for her.
In previous years, Madam Li had often fretted about money, relying on her own efforts to scrape things together.
This year, with her husband’s promotion to prefect magistrate, she knew finances would be even tighter, and she had already prepared to ask her elder and second brothers for help. But to her surprise, her daughter’s watermelons had resolved the issue before she even had to ask.
Madam Li looked at her daughter, who was focused on her calculations with a smile on her face, feeling soft and moved inside.
This girl was truly thoughtful.
"Mother, the watermelons in the city are selling so well. When Second Uncle arrives, there won’t be as many left to take to the provincial capital as we had planned," Daohua suddenly spoke up.
Madam Li smiled, "Don’t worry about it. Your second uncle is coming to see us anyway. Whatever watermelons he can take, he’ll take. The price in the provincial capital will definitely be higher than in the prefectural city, so he won’t lose out."
Daohua nodded. She had been worried that the watermelons might not sell, so she had asked her mother to write to her uncles for help. Now that the uncles had taken over the business, she was running out of stock herself, which made her feel a little guilty.
"I won’t sell the watermelons from the farm. I’ll keep some for gifts, but the rest will go to Second Uncle."
Madam Li had no objections, "The farm is yours; do whatever you think is best."
Old Madam Yan, sitting nearby and eating grapes from the farm, interjected, "You’ve planted quite a few grapes on the farm. What do you plan to do with them?"
Daohua replied, "There aren’t many grapes, just a small amount in the yard. I don’t plan to sell them; we’ll keep them for ourselves or give them away. Oh, I also want to try making wine from the grapes."
At that moment, Yan Zhigao, along with Yan Zhiyuan and Yan Zhiqiang, walked in and overheard her.
Yan Zhiyuan, relying on his position as an elder, immediately said, "Daohua, you can’t just waste things. Listen to your Second Uncle. Grapes are precious. If you want to make wine, use something else."
Daohua shook her head and replied without hesitation, "That’s not right. I want to make grape wine. Nothing else can replace grapes."
Rejected outright by his younger niece, Yan Zhiyuan’s face turned sour. "You’re just a little girl. How could you possibly know how to make wine? You’re just wasting good things."
Daohua felt a little upset but still said, "Second Uncle, that’s exactly why I want to learn. No one is born knowing everything."
Seeing his words retorted, Yan Zhiyuan’s face reddened.
Madam Li glanced at Yan Zhiyuan but didn’t intervene to ease the tension. When it came to the matters of her daughter’s farm, she had not interfered, so why should he?
On the other side, Yan Zhigao, afraid of the brewing argument, put down his tea bowl and said to Daohua, "Second Uncle has a point. You said the grapes aren’t many, right? How about this—don’t learn to make wine this year. Just plant more grapes next year, and then you can learn."
Grape wine was a drink for the nobility, not something that could easily be made. Was it that simple?
Moreover, just like his second brother, Yan Zhigao thought that grapes were a rare and precious thing. He had only tasted them a few times, once at the banquet of the top scholar when he passed the imperial examination. Grapes were even more valuable than watermelons, and using them to make wine seemed like such a waste.
Daohua frowned slightly. She disliked the feeling of being dictated to. She was using her own produce, which had no impact on the family, so why should anyone interfere?
Old Madam Yan knew her granddaughter’s temperament well. A simple furrowed brow was enough for her to understand Daohua’s thoughts. She immediately scolded Yan Zhigao and his brother with a smile, "It’s not like you’re using your own stuff, why are you so concerned?"
With the old madam speaking, the two brothers didn’t dare to say more, and the matter was dropped.
At this moment, a maid came in to report that the master from the Li family had arrived.
Upon hearing this, Madam Li’s face brightened, and Daohua quickly put down her abacus and stood up.
Old Madam Yan smiled, "We were just talking about it, and here they come. Eldest son’s and daugther-in-law, go and welcome them quickly."
Daohua added, "Grandmother, I’ll go too."
Old Madam Yan waved her hand, "Go ahead, go ahead. You’re the one most familiar with them."
Yan Zhigao stood up and followed his wife and daughter out. Over the years, the Li family had helped them a lot, so he had to go and welcome his second brother-in-law.
Once the three of them left, Yan Zhiyuan smirked and said, "Daohua is really close to the Li family."
Old Madam Yan gave him a sidelong glance, "That’s because the Li family treats Daohua well. Daohua is a grateful child, so naturally, she is close to them."
Yan Zhiyuan responded awkwardly, "Mother, you spoil Daohua too much. As for those grapes, you don’t even know how rare they are in Xingzhou. Especially the ones our family grows—big, plump, juicy, and sweet. To use them to make wine is such a waste."
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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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Old Madam Yan replied sharply, "What do you mean ‘our family’s’? Those grapes belong to Daohua."
Yan Zhiyuan was taken aback. "Mother, are you saying Daohua isn’t part of the Yan family?"
Old Madam Yan calmly said, "Second Son, put away your little schemes. Over the years, our family hasn’t split, and your big brother and his wife have been supporting the family’s affairs. You haven’t lost out in any way. I’ll say this clearly: what belongs to Daohua, you should stay out of it."
Yan Zhiyuan felt a bit uncomfortable and replied, "Mother, what do you take me for? Am I the kind of person who covets my niece’s things?"
Old Madam Yan snorted coldly, "You know what you’re like. You and your wife are both good at calculating. I’m too lazy to bother with you two anymore. Just remember, what’s yours will be yours when I’m gone, but what’s not yours, don’t even think about it."
Yan Zhiyuan’s face grew awkward, and he fell silent.
Seeing this, Yan Zhiqiang hurriedly intervened, "This year it’s my fault for not paying attention. When Daohua was planting the grapes, I was busy with the fields. Next year, I’ll set aside a plot of land specifically for planting grapes. By then, our family will have enough grapes."
Yan Zhiyuan glanced at Yan Zhiqiang, feeling speechless.
Was this about whether there would be enough grapes to eat?
No, this was about Daohua, as a younger generation, not respecting the elder generation’s authority.
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