Chapter 4: There is Room For the Poor Daughter
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Chapter 4: Just Because I Glanced at the Crowd
After finishing up the household matters, Old Madam Yan set off for Lingyi County with her eldest granddaughter, third grandson, and two elderly servants, where her eldest son was taking office.
As Old Madam Yan held a high position in the clan and the Yan family had helped the clan numerous times over the years, the clan leader and several senior elders came to see them off.
"Old sister, this year has seen little rain, and the harvest everywhere has not been good. Only in our Yan family village, thanks to the seeds you provided, our harvest has increased by ten percent compared to previous years. I'm here to express everyone's gratitude to you."
Farming relies on the weather, and a year's hard work may not guarantee enough food. The clan leader was sincerely grateful to Old Madam Yan ; this year, because of the better harvest, the smiles on the faces of the clansmen had increased, and they were not as sorrowful as in previous years.
Old Madam Yan quickly helped the clan leader, who was about to bow, and sincerely said, "You must not say such things. My family is made up of orphans and widows. If it weren't for the help from the clan, how could my children have achieved what they have today?"
The clan leader also looked sincere: "Old sister, please do not say such things. We should support each other as members of the same clan; what we've done is nothing significant."
"The three brothers, Zhi Gao, Zhi Yuan, and Zhi Qiang, have become successful all thanks to your proper guidance, old sister."
"Old sister, you understand the situation in the clan. If Zhi Gao and the others need anything, just let us know, and the clan will definitely provide strong support."
At this moment, the other elders of the clan also expressed their agreement.
"Yes, Zhi Gao's mother, if you need anything in Lingyi County, just write back and let us know," said the third elder of the clan.
Old Madam Yan was very touched: "I thank everyone on behalf of Zhi Gao. If there’s an opportunity in the future, I will have him come back to express his thanks in person."
Hearing this, the clan leader and the elders were all very satisfied.
As they chatted back and forth, half an hour passed.
Daohua sat in the carriage, swinging her little short legs listlessly. Just as she was about to climb into the carriage to take a nap, her grandmother finally waved goodbye to the clan leader and the others.
Once in the carriage, Old Madam Yan let out a deep sigh.
"Pfft!"
Seeing her grandmother's relieved expression, Daohua couldn’t help but laugh.
Old Madam Yan shot her a glare. "What’s so funny about an old woman?"
Daohua moved closer to her grandmother. "Grandmother, I thought you enjoyed chatting with the clan leader."
Old Madam Yan rolled her eyes. "You just called it chatting; who can enjoy that?"
Daohua asked, "Then why did you talk to them for so long?"
Old Madam Yan replied, "One strand of silk does not make a thread; one tree does not make a forest. Although your father is now a seventh-rank county magistrate, he cannot be separated from the Yan clan. Those without clan support cannot go far."
"Your father has been a county magistrate for nearly nine years, always diligent, yet why hasn’t he been promoted? Isn’t it because his foundation is weak? If he had someone in the official circles to speak for him..."
At this point, Old Madam Yan suddenly stopped, and her expression turned a bit unpleasant.
Seeing this, Yan Wentao tugged at Daohua, signaling her not to ask any further.
Daohua understood that her grandmother was recalling her fourth aunt.
Years ago, her father passed the imperial examination and was in the same cohort as Yang Boyi, who came to ask for her fourth aunt's hand in marriage.
Yang Boyi came from a prominent family, with relatives holding fourth-rank official positions in the capital. Although he was just a scholar at the time, it was considered a good match for the Yan family.
After her fourth aunt married into the Yang family, at first, they maintained a close relationship, but later, when Yang Boyi also became a successful candidate in the imperial examination, the Yang family moved to the capital, and the relationship between the two families grew distant.
Daohua thought that the Yang family must have distanced themselves after seeing her father serve as a county magistrate without promotion, losing their investment value.
It had to be said that ancient people were quite realistic!
With the grandchildren silent, Old Madam Yan continued to speak to herself: "In recent years, several promising younger members have emerged in the clan. Once they pass the imperial examination, your father will have people to support him in the official circles."
Daohua was dismissive: "But who knows how long that will take?"
Old Madam Yan shot a sideways glance at her granddaughter: "If your father can’t wait, there are still your elder brother and second brother. In any case, the connection with the clan cannot be severed."
Daohua shrugged nonchalantly; she hadn’t said she wanted to cut ties with the clan.
Over the years in Yan family village, she had come to understand that the clan ties were incredibly close; no one would actively choose to sever their ties with their clan.
Having the clan behind them meant no one dared to bully them; without a clan, they were like rootless people, easily trampled upon by others.
Daohua lifted the curtain of the carriage and glanced back at the village, noticing that the clan leader and several elders were still standing at the village entrance. She was greatly impressed that they could lower themselves for the development of the clan.
"Grandmother, I just realized today that the clan leader is actually quite eloquent."
What they said about mutual support among clansmen, and how their previous assistance was insignificant, implied that her father should help the clan as well.
Old Madam Yan glanced at her clever granddaughter and then at the naive third grandson, shaking her head: "It's just mutual benefit. Some things are better kept to ourselves and don’t need to be said aloud."
Daohua replied, "I won’t mention it to anyone else."
Yan Wentao looked confused, scratching his head; he couldn’t understand what his grandmother and Daohua were talking about.
"Third Brother, let’s go outside; let Grandma stay inside."
"Okay!"
On the official road to Lingyi County, a horse-drawn carriage moved at a leisurely pace, with a man in his fifties driving the carriage, accompanied by two boys, one older and one younger.
The older boy was sturdy and honest, while the younger one was soft and cute.
"Young Master Daohua, would you like to sing a song to lift Grandma's spirits?" Uncle Sun asked with a smile, looking at the girl disguised as a boy beside him.
Due to travel considerations, Daohua felt that dressing as a girl was inconvenient, so she had changed into boy’s clothing.
Old Madam Yan had no objections to this; instead, she encouraged Daohua, believing her to be clever. Although times had been relatively peaceful over the years, it was still wise to keep a low profile when out and about.
"Sure, Third Brother, let’s sing together."
"Alright!"
Their youthful and clear voices soon echoed along the official road.
As they walked and stopped, Old Madam Yan did not urge Uncle Sun to hurry.
Her granddaughter and third grandson had never been out of the county; it was good for them to see more and broaden their horizons.
Along the way, Daohua and her companions rested at inns and explored towns whenever they felt like it.
However, after half a month, as they began to enter the northern territories, such opportunities became scarce.
The farther north they traveled, the more refugees they encountered on the road.
Seeing the emaciated refugees, Old Madam Yan couldn’t help but sigh, "Alas, it seems the drought in the north last year was quite severe."
Daohua felt downcast as she looked at the vast fields that were dry and cracked, saying little and staring down at a green rice flower in her palm, lost in thought.
"Grandma, there's an inn up ahead. Shall we rest here tonight?" Uncle Sun’s voice broke the silence.
Old Madam Yan lifted the curtain of the carriage to check the inn. Seeing that it looked decent, she nodded in agreement and took Daohua and Yan Wentao down from the carriage.
The inn was built just outside the city gate, bustling with many passersby; the road was lined with horse-drawn carriages and bullock carts, making it very lively.
Daohua was curious about everything in ancient times and began to look around excitedly as soon as she got off the carriage.
"This place is crowded; everyone, stay close. Wentao, make sure to protect your sister," Old Madam Yan firmly held Daohua's hand while reminding her third grandson to keep an eye on her.
At this moment, Daohua obediently held on to her grandmother’s hand with one hand and grabbed Yan Wentao’s arm with the other.
She had heard many stories about human traffickers in Yan family village.
In ancient times, if someone was captured by traffickers, there was almost no chance of being rescued.
Being cautious while out was never too much.
"Whooo..."
As they were about to enter the inn, Daohua suddenly heard a whimpering and muffled sound coming from a nearby carriage, and instinctively turned to look.
In front of a constantly moving carriage, a pair of eyes filled with hope and pleading abruptly caught Daohua's attention.
(End of Chapter)
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