Chapter 22: There is Room For the Poor Daughter
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Chapter 22: Delivering Food
"Mother, is Father very busy recently? I haven't seen him much," Daohua asked.
Madam Li put down the account books in her hands and replied gravely, "The court has sent Prince Rui down to help with disaster relief. Your father has been kept very busy."
Daohua asked in confusion, "But isn't the disaster in Linyi County not that serious? If anyone should be busy, it should be those areas with worse damage."
Madam Li sighed. "Exactly because it's not that severe, your father is busy with settling the homeless refugees. According to Steward Sun, the refugees assigned to Linyi County have started arriving in batches. Your father has been so busy these past few days that he barely has time to eat, only returning to the manor at night to sleep."
Daohua was somewhat surprised. "It sounds like Father is really diligent and cares for the people."
Madam Li smiled with pride. "The Yan family is a family of farmers and scholars. Your father understands the hardships of the common people very well. Since he took office, he’s always paid attention to the well-being of the people."
"Linyi County is the third county where your father has served. In the previous two, many common people came to see him off when he left. Every time, I received several carts of fruits and vegetables."
Daohua was genuinely surprised. "Father cares so much for the people. How come we encountered those abusive yamen officers when we arrived?"
Madam Li's smile faded a bit. "Which place doesn't have a few bad apples? Your father has already punished those yamen officers. If they hurt the people again, they'll be flogged thirty lashes and expelled from the yamen."
At this moment, Daohua had a much better impression of her father.
"Mother, since Father is so good, why hasn't he been promoted?" Daohua asked, voicing her curiosity.
Madam Li sighed. "It's complicated. Your father does a great job, but he has no one backing him. Our family doesn't have enough money to bribe officials. So, he's served as county magistrate for several terms."
"Right now, your father is trying to make some achievements, hoping that this time, he might have a chance for a promotion. If not, he hopes that after this assessment, he can be assigned to a better county."
"Father is being assessed?" Daohua asked in surprise.
Madam Li nodded. "All officials are assessed every year, and there's a major review every three years. Those who perform outstandingly can be promoted. Linyi County is not a wealthy place, and although your father has been diligent, he hasn't achieved anything major."
"Your father says that unless someone speaks up for him or he makes a great achievement, the chances of promotion are slim."
Daohua rested her chin in her hands. "Does our family really have no connections?"
Madam Li's eyes lowered. "Well, there is some connection. Your fourth uncle in the capital is already a fourth-rank official, and I hear he has some connections with the governor of Zhongzhou. But our family hasn't been in touch with them for years."
Daohua sat up straight, surprised. "Why is that?"
Madam Li's expression darkened. "Your fourth uncle's family probably thinks your father will always stay as a county magistrate, so there's no value in continuing to maintain close ties. Over the years, your aunt has rarely contacted us."
Daohua nodded.
She had heard her grandmother mention this a lot, and every time, she looked rather dejected.
"Can't we take the initiative to contact Aunt?"
Madam Li stroked Daohua's head and sighed. "Silly child, don't you understand? If a woman's family is weak, her life in her husband's house will be difficult."
"Your aunt's family clearly looks down on us. If we go and disturb her, it will only make her life harder."
"Three years ago, your aunt wrote to your father saying that your uncle had taken a new concubine, and she sounded very bitter. Unfortunately, our family couldn't support her."
"When your aunt needed us, we couldn’t help. Now, what face do we have to go to her?"
Daohua didn't know how to respond. After a long silence, she asked, "Does grandmother not know about this?"
Madam Li shook her head. "Your father didn't dare tell your grandmother, fearing it might upset her."
After that, the mother and daughter both fell silent.
Suddenly, Daohua asked with a smile, "Mother, may I go to the front yard of the county yamen to take a look?" She was curious about how ancient officials worked, and she also wanted to bring some food to her father and strengthen their relationship.
Madam Li was puzzled. "That's where your father works. What do you want to do there?"
Daohua answered, "You said Father has been eating in the front yard these days, so I thought I'd bring him some food."
Madam Li thought for a moment and decided it might be a good opportunity to improve their father-daughter bond, so she agreed. But she cautioned, "You can deliver the food, but don’t disturb anyone while they’re working. Do you understand?"
Daohua immediately nodded. "Mother, don’t worry. I know how to act with propriety."
Madam Li smiled and turned to Ping Tong. "Keep an eye on the young miss. Don’t let her wander off."
Ping Tong smiled and replied, "Don’t worry, madam. I’ll take good care of the young miss."
Soon, Daohua got busy.
At the yamen kitchen, the servants and maids quickly stood up and greeted her.
"Young miss, what brings you here?" the kitchen manager, Nian, asked with a smile.
"I want to bring something for Father. I’ll see what I can make," Daohua said, walking around the kitchen and inspecting the ingredients.
Nian’s expression froze. "Young miss, are you going to cook?"
Daohua nodded. Seeing that Nian seemed hesitant, she smiled. "Don’t worry, Nian Mama. I won’t make a mess. I’m just going to make a soup."
Daohua knew her own cooking skills, but she was confident the ingredients from her space would taste better than those outside.
Hearing this, Nian Mama relaxed, and she began praising Daohua for being so filial.
At that moment, Ping Tong entered with a small bag of flour. "Young miss, here’s the white flour you asked for."
Daohua nodded and motioned for her to put it aside.
This white flour had come from her space. When they were still at Yan Family Village, she had kept it in a separate storage container, and her third uncle had sent it over. After arriving here, she had stored it in her room.
Ping Tong asked with a smile, "Young miss, what are you planning to make?"
Daohua picked through the ingredients, choosing a few spring onions and some eggs. "I’m making noodle soup!"
Ping Tong was speechless. She thought, "I shouldn’t have expected anything."
Daohua, noticing Ping Tong’s unspoken expression, immediately said, "Don’t make that face! My noodle soup is very delicious. Didn’t everyone say it tasted good last time?"
Ping Tong nodded on the surface, but in her heart, she thought, "They only said that out of politeness."
Of course, that was because Ping Tong had never tasted it herself.
Daohua didn’t pay attention to their thoughts. She instructed the maids to boil water and then, under their astonished gaze, she poured the beaten eggs into the flour, stirred it slightly, and as soon as the water boiled, she poured the mixture into the boiling water.
Nian Mama and Ping Tong were dumbfounded, never having seen such a crude method of making soup.
Daohua smiled to herself. "When you have space, you can afford to be bold!"
(End of Chapter)
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