Chapter 15: There is Room For the Poor Daughter
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Chapter 15: Reactions from Each Family
Following behind the maid, Daohua quietly observed the layout of the county office's backyard.
The backyard wasn't as extravagant as she had imagined. It wasn't very large, and there weren't many courtyards, but it had everything it needed—pavilions, artificial hills, and a garden.
As she passed each section, her gaze only lingered for a moment. Though she was intrigued by the ancient courtyard architecture, she didn’t rush to ask questions.
She knew many people were watching her quietly, so she was careful not to give the impression of a country bumpkin visiting the city.
Beside her, the maid, Ping Tong, was also observing the new young lady in a quiet manner.
Although Daohua was young, she was composed. Unlike other girls who would chatter nonstop when entering a new place, she showed neither fear nor bashfulness. Her calm demeanor made her seem like someone not raised in the countryside.
Earlier, her mother had worried that Daohua might be overshadowed by the second and third daughters, but now it seemed that worry was unfounded.
"Miss, we are almost at the main courtyard," Ping Tong said.
Daohua glanced at her. Ping Tong's attire was finer than the others', so she must be one of her mother's main attendants.
"Do my father and mother live in the main courtyard?"
Ping Tong nodded and smiled. "Yes, the master and madam live in the main courtyard. The second master and his wife live in Chunhua Courtyard, the third master and his wife in Qiu shi Courtyard, and the old madam lives in Songhe Courtyard."
Daohua, now entering the main courtyard, remarked, "I noticed there are more than four courtyards in the backyard. Are the other courtyards also occupied?"
Ping Tong hesitated for a moment before answering. "Yes, the other courtyards are occupied. The eldest master and fourth master live in Zheguili Courtyard, and Lin Yiniang lives with the sixth master and third young miss in Shuangxing Courtyard." After speaking, she looked up to see how Daohua would respond.
To her disappointment, Daohua only smiled faintly and then moved on, giving no further reaction.
Something about this new young lady seemed intriguing to Ping Tong. She had a feeling that Daohua was not an ordinary girl.
After entering the main courtyard, Ping Tong led Daohua to a room on the left. "Madam said this room will be yours from now on. Everything inside has been personally arranged by her. If there's anything you need, please let me know, and I will report it to madam so she can prepare it for you."
Daohua glanced around the room but didn’t say much. She immediately turned her attention to the bathwater and clothes already set out for her. Seeing this, she finally relaxed and allowed herself to show a sigh of relief.
It had been a long and tiring journey, and she was desperate for a bath.
When Ping Tong didn’t leave but instead seemed to be preparing to assist with her bath, Daohua quickly spoke up. "Sister, you can go back to your duties. I'll bathe myself."
Ping Tong wasn’t sure about Daohua’s temperament, but she didn’t insist. With a smile, she said, "I’ll wait outside. If you need anything, just call me."
Daohua nodded. "Alright."
Once Ping Tong left and closed the door behind her, Daohua sighed in relief and quickly began to undress. She was eager to relax in the water.
Meanwhile, in the other courtyards, the recent arrivals were the subject of discussion.
Shuangxing Courtyard
Lin Yiniang was anxiously pacing, glancing at her two children, Yan Wenbin and Yan Yishuang. She knew that they had offended the old madam today.
At the same time, Lin Cailiang was walking back and forth, deep in thought about how to reverse the bad impression the old madam had of his sister, his nephew, and niece.
Yan Wenbin, dizzy from being scolded, finally spoke up. "Uncle, stop pacing like that. You're making me dizzy."
Lin Cailiang, frustrated, retorted, "You should be dizzy! You don’t understand—today, you offended the old madam terribly!"
Yan Wenbin shrank back. A month ago, when it was confirmed that their grandmother would be visiting, their father had warned them to treat her well. But now, they had treated her like a beggar. It was obviously a mistake. He wondered if their father would reprimand them when he found out.
Although he knew he had done something wrong, Yan Wenbin stubbornly said, "We didn’t do it on purpose. Who knew grandma would look like a beggar?"
Lin Cailiang sighed with guilt. "I should have explained better."
Lin Yiniang shook her head. "It’s not your fault. It's mine for not stopping Wenbin and Yishuang earlier."
Watching his mother and uncle both blame themselves, Yan Wenbin got up and casually said, "You two don’t need to look so worried. What’s the big deal? We’ll explain it to Father later."
Seeing her son still not realize the seriousness of the situation, Lin Yiniang lost her temper. With a loud slap, she hit him on the forehead. "What do you mean, 'not a big deal'? You’ve offended the old madam. Don’t expect us to have an easy life from now on."
Seeing his mother and uncle becoming more serious, Yan Yishuang, who had been silent, finally spoke up, her eyes wide with worry. "Mother, will grandma punish us? Father loves us so much, he won’t let grandma bully us, right?"
Seeing the anxious look in her daughter’s eyes, Lin Yiniang rubbed her temples in frustration. "The old madam is your father’s real mother. Do you think he will ignore her?"
Yan Yishuang, growing more distressed, asked, "So what should we do? Grandma won't be like Madam Xu from the Ke family and set rules for us, right? Will Father stop liking me and Brother because of this?"
Lin Cailiang, seeing his niece about to cry, hurried to comfort her. "Don’t worry. The old madam is reasonable. She won’t hold a grudge against children. But when you meet her later, you both need to behave well."
"Both Wenbin and Yishuang are so adorable, the old madam will definitely like you. Once she likes you, your father will love you even more."
Yan Wenbin and Yan Yishuang exchanged glances and silently nodded. They now realized that in this family, the most important person was no longer their father, but the newly arrived grandmother. They would have to find a way to please her from now on.
Lin Yiniang, with a serious expression, pulled Yan Yishuang closer. "In the past, you were the only daughter of the county magistrate, and everyone treated you well. But now, your older sister has arrived. Whether it’s what your mother has or what others bring, it will be given priority to her. You mustn’t fight or throw tantrums over it, understand?"
Yan Yishuang’s face immediately fell. "I don’t want to. Father loves me the most. Why should I give in to that little beggar?"
Lin Yiniang’s face darkened. "Shut up. That’s your elder sister."
"Mother…"
Seeing her daughter’s face filled with fear and grievance, Lin Yiniang regretted scolding her. Her brother stared at her with disapproval.
Lin Cailiang, feeling sorry for his niece, pulled her into his arms. "Sister, you shouldn’t have yelled at her like that. Look at how scared you’ve made Yishuang."
Seeing her brother’s reproach, Lin Yiniang said nothing, realizing she had acted out of line.
Lin Cailiang continued, "Yishuang, you shouldn’t cry. But remember, no matter what you dislike, you can’t say it out loud."
Yan Yishuang, still teary-eyed, looked up at her uncle, confused.
Lin Cailiang wiped her tears gently and spoke softly. "You need to remember, even if you dislike something, never let it show."
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