Chapter 94: There is Room For the Poor Daughter
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Chapter 94: Give and Take
Daohua followed the Yan family out to see off Xiao Yeyang and Dong Yuanxuan. They waited until the carriages and horses were out of sight before turning back.
"Uncle Yan, Aunt Li, we've been out for a day and a night. I should be heading home now. I apologize for the sudden visit; it was really troublesome. Next time, I’ll invite everyone to my house as guests. I hope you'll accept my invitation," Zhou Chengye said with a smile as he bowed to Yan Zhigao and Madam Li. Last night, he had stayed at the Yan family’s house to get closer to Xiao Yeyang and Dong Yuanxuan. Given that his family lived in Xingzhou City and this was his first time meeting the Yan family, it wasn’t proper for him to stay at their house.
Yan Zhigao smiled and waved his hand, "Young Master Zhou is too polite. We're very happy to have you here. You’re welcome to visit us anytime." Zhou Chengye called him "Uncle Yan" out of courtesy, but Yan Zhigao couldn’t casually accept that title due to their differing statuses.
The Dong family had produced a prime minister, and Zhou Chengye’s family, the Zhou family, was influential, with him holding the post of Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, a third-rank official. He couldn’t possibly allow himself to be called "Uncle" by someone of such standing.
"Then I’ll be bothering you more in the future," Zhou Chengye replied. He wasn’t bothered by the title and looked at Yan Wenxiu.
"I really admire Brother Yan’s knowledge, so we should exchange ideas more often in the future."
Yan Wenxiu was also eager to make connections with someone like Zhou Chengye, who didn’t have the airs of a noble, so he immediately smiled and said, "If I don’t understand something in the future, I’ll definitely come to Brother Zhou for advice."
Zhou Chengye chuckled, "I wouldn’t dare to teach you, it’s just an exchange of ideas." He then looked at Daohua, "Miss Yan, my younger sister Jingwan often mentions you. If you have time, you should visit her."
Daohua was surprised that Zhou Chengye would speak to her, but quickly smiled and responded, "I will." As for the claim that Zhou Jingwan often mentioned her, she took it with a grain of salt—it was just something said out of politeness.
Afterward, Zhou Chengye greeted the others, then mounted the horse that his servant had brought over and rode off.
Once everyone had left, Daohua helped Madam Li back to the courtyard to rest. She had noticed the dark circles under Madam Li’s eyes, likely from not having rested well while hosting Xiao Yeyang.
At that moment, Yan Wenkai jumped over and grabbed Daohua’s arm, asking, "Big sister, what were you whispering to the Young Prince earlier?"
At his question, everyone’s gaze shifted to them, and Yan Wenxiu grew nervous.
When they had talked about Wangyue Academy earlier, he hadn’t thought much of it. But later, his second brother had suggested that perhaps Xiao Yeyang could secure a spot at the academy for him, which made him consider it.
When Daohua pulled Xiao Yeyang aside to talk, he couldn’t help but start hoping for something more.
He had been a scholar for two years now. Although he had worked hard, he felt that his knowledge and experience were still too limited. As the eldest son and grandson of the Yan family, he understood the responsibility on his shoulders. With his father’s struggles in the officialdom, he saw firsthand the family's shaky foundation, and that made him eager to improve himself. A person without real ability couldn’t shoulder the responsibility of reviving the family.
In the state academy, he could learn, but it was very limited in terms of both knowledge and connections. Wangyue Academy, however, was one of the top academies in the country, with the best teachers and students. If he could study there, the academic knowledge and connections would be invaluable.
Daohua noticed everyone’s expressions and, recalling that Xiao Yeyang hadn’t mentioned anything specific, didn’t want to give anyone false hope. She quickly replied, "We didn’t say anything, just some parting words."
Everyone felt a bit disappointed hearing this.
Madam Li glanced at Daohua, knowing her daughter was very sensible. She immediately scolded her youngest son, "Why are you still here? Go off to your lessons!"
Yan Wenkai had only been curious and wasn’t expecting much. Seeing he couldn’t get anything out of Daohua, he lost interest and dragged Yan Wentao off.
Yan Zhigao turned to the others, "Everyone, go on and take care of your business. I need to head to the office."
Xingzhou Dock.
Xiao Yeyang and Dong Yuanxuan boarded a ship.
"Bring me the wooden box," Xiao Yeyang ordered.
Defu carefully placed the unremarkable wooden box on the table in front of Xiao Yeyang, then bowed and retreated after Xiao Yeyang waved him off.
"I wonder what the Yan family’s eldest daughter gave to the Young Prince? Let’s open it and see," Dong Yuanxuan said with a smile.
He always followed the rules in public, but when with Xiao Yeyang, their interaction was much more casual.
Xiao Yeyang was indeed picky and had a bad temper, but he was still a good person. At least, he never used violence or threats against the people below him.
Xiao Yeyang glanced at Dong Yuanxuan, considering teasing him, but he too was curious about what Daohua had given him. After a moment’s hesitation, he opened the wooden box.
"Wow, three tins of tea leaves! Young Prince, you have to give me a tin!" Dong Yuanxuan immediately asked for one.
It seemed that because they had left in a hurry, the Yan family hadn’t had time to prepare much. In the end, though, he did get some vegetables and watermelon from the carriage.
Xiao Yeyang picked up the bamboo tube, opened it, and indeed found it filled to the brim with jasmine tea. He immediately frowned in displeasure, saying, "This Daohua, she really ruined a good thing. Was this bamboo tube meant to hold tea?"
His tone was full of distaste, but his lips were still curving upward in a smile.
Dong Yuanxuan, aware but not saying anything, took a sip of the tea and found it quite pleasant. Seeing that Xiao Yeyang had no intention of giving him any, he spoke up, "Young Prince, there are three tubes of tea, and you can’t drink that much. Why not spare me one?"
Xiao Yeyang quickly closed the bamboo tube. "No, there’s not enough to give away. I need it for gifts," he said, as he considered the importance of his uncles and mentors over someone like Dong Yuanxuan.
Dong Yuanxuan saw him put the tea away and made a face, but wisely refrained from asking again. Xiao Yeyang was usually generous, but if he didn’t want to share, there was no use in pressing it.
"What’s that wrapped in cloth, then?" Dong Yuanxuan asked, curious.
Xiao Yeyang, too, was intrigued, and he opened the cloth. Inside, a freshly dug ginseng appeared, its roots still covered with a little soil.
Seeing the ginseng like this, Xiao Yeyang was speechless.
Dong Yuanxuan’s mouth twitched. "This Yan family’s eldest daughter certainly has a unique way of giving gifts. Good things need to be packaged properly," he remarked. "This ginseng looks like it’s over a hundred years old, doesn’t it?"
The century-old ginseng had been wrapped in a piece of rough cloth and sent as a gift!
Xiao Yeyang picked up the unprocessed ginseng and nodded. "It might not be quite a hundred years, but it’s close. How did Daohua come to give me this ginseng?"
Dong Yuanxuan chuckled, "Didn’t Miss Yan say it was a thank-you gift?"
Xiao Yeyang set down the ginseng and glanced at the bamboo tube of jasmine tea and the wrapped ginseng. He sighed in exasperation. Even when Daohua sent him a gift, he had to do some work on it first.
"Then what’s in the porcelain bottles?" Dong Yuanxuan asked, noticing the last three small porcelain bottles in the wooden box.
Xiao Yeyang picked up a bottle, opened the lid, and sniffed it. Before Dong Yuanxuan could say anything, he quickly tucked the bottle away.
It was the same kind of medicine Daohua had used to save Zhao Ergou, which had an even better effect than the military’s hemostatic and anti-inflammatory ointments.
Of all the gifts, this was the most valuable!
Whether it was the tea or the ginseng, Xiao Yeyang could easily get them whenever he wanted, but this life-saving golden wound medicine was priceless.
Dong Yuanxuan, curious, asked, "What’s this great stuff? Can’t you let me take a look?"
Xiao Yeyang ignored him and said instead, "Arrange it. Didn’t Daohua say she wanted to invite me for hotpot? Let’s see when we can go."
....
This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com
....
Dong Yuanxuan thought for a moment. "That’ll probably be after Mid-Autumn Festival. If we ask for leave too often, the teachers will get upset."
Xiao Yeyang’s face darkened. When Uncle Prince Rui left, he had specifically instructed the academy to treat him like an ordinary student. He was supposed to be disciplined, receive punishments if necessary, and not act too recklessly.
If things got out of hand, he could be sent back to the capital.
Meanwhile, at the back of the passenger ship, Defu personally oversaw the guards as they delivered the vegetables and watermelons from the Yan family to the storeroom.
One of the guards muttered softly, "Other families send gold, silver, and wealth, but the Prefect Magistrate of Xingzhou sends a cartload of vegetables and fruits."
Smack!
Defu heard this and walked over, slapping the guard on the forehead. "What do you know? These vegetables from the Yan family taste far better than anything you can buy outside."
Last night, the Yan family’s eldest daughter had specially left food for him and Zhao Ergou.
The taste was absolutely delicious.
"Be careful with these watermelons! Don’t drop them! The Young Prince loves them," Defu reminded them.
(End of chapter)
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