Chapter 4, Just because I took one more look at you in the crowd
After finishing the household affairs, Old Lady Yan took her eldest granddaughter, third grandson, and two old servants and set off for Linyi County where her eldest son was taking up his post.
Old Lady Yan was of a relatively high seniority in the clan, and the Yan family had helped the clan a lot over the years, so when they left, the clan leader and the elders of higher seniority in the clan all came.
"Sister-in-law, there's been little rain this year, and the harvests aren't very good everywhere. But in Yanjia Village, we used the seeds you gave us, and our harvest is 10% higher than in previous years. I'm here to thank you on behalf of everyone else."
Farmers rely on the weather for their livelihood. They may not be able to eat enough even if they work hard all year round. The clan leader sincerely thanks Old Lady Yan. Because the harvest has increased by 10% this year, the clan members have more smiles on their faces and are not as sad as in previous years.
Old Lady Yan hurriedly helped the clan leader, who was about to bow, to his feet and said sincerely, "Clan leader, please don't say such things. My family is an orphan and a widow. If it weren't for the clan's covert and overt support in the early years, Zhigao and I wouldn't be where we are today."
The clan leader also said sincerely: "Old sister-in-law, please don't say such things. People of the same clan should be united and support each other. What we have done is insignificant."
"The three brothers Zhigao, Zhiyuan, and Zhiqiang are all so successful now, all thanks to your guidance, sister-in-law."
"Old sister-in-law, you know the situation of the clan. If Zhigao and the others need anything, just let us know. The clan will definitely support them."
At this time, other elders in the clan also expressed their opinions one after another.
"Yes, Zhigao's mother, if you need anything when you go to Linyi County, just write back and let me know." The third master of the clan said.
Mrs. Yan was very touched. “I would like to thank you all on behalf of Zhigao. If there is a chance in the future, I will ask him to come back and thank you all in person.”
Hearing this, the clan leader and elders all looked satisfied.
“.”
Half an hour passed as we talked back and forth.
Daohua sat in the carriage, swinging her short legs listlessly. Just when she was about to climb into the carriage to take a nap, her grandmother finally waved goodbye to the clan leader and others.
After getting on the carriage, Old Mrs. Yan took a deep breath.
“Puff!”
Seeing the old lady looking relieved, Daohua couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Old Madam Yan glared at her granddaughter unhappily: "Is this old woman funny?"
Daohua sat down next to the old lady and said, "Grandma, I thought you really enjoyed arguing with the clan leader and the others."
Old Lady Yan rolled her eyes. "You're saying this is bullshit. Who can really enjoy this?"
Daohua: "Then why did you talk to them for so long?"
Old Lady Yan: "A single thread cannot make a line, and a single tree cannot make a forest. Although your father is now a seventh-rank county magistrate, he cannot leave the Yan clan. Those who do not have a clan to rely on will not go far."
"Your father has been the county magistrate for almost nine years. He has always been diligent and hardworking, but why can't he be promoted? Isn't it because of his weak foundation? If only someone in the officialdom could speak up for your father."
Having said this, Old Lady Yan suddenly stopped and her expression turned a little ugly.
Seeing this, Yan Wentao pulled the rice flowers and signaled her not to ask any more questions.
Daohua knew that her grandmother was thinking of her fourth aunt.
When her father passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, his classmate Yang Boyi came to ask for Fourth Aunt's hand in marriage.
Yang Boyi's family was considered a wealthy and prominent family, and he had relatives who were fourth-rank officials in the capital. Although he was only a scholar, it was considered a good marriage for the Yan family at that time.
After Fourth Aunt got married, the Yang family and the Yan family were very close at first. But later, Yang Boyi also passed the imperial examination and the Yang family moved to the capital. After that, the relationship between the two families became distant.
Daohua thought to herself that the Yang family must have seen that her father had served as county magistrate for many years but was never able to rise in the upper ranks, and therefore had lost his investment value, so they took the initiative to distance themselves from her.
I have to say, these ancient people were really realistic!
The grandchildren were silent, but Old Lady Yan continued to speak to herself: "Over the years, the family has produced several young people who are able to study. When they graduate from high school and enter officialdom, your father will have someone to help him."
Daohua disagreed: "Then I wonder how long we have to wait?"
Old Madam Yan glanced at her granddaughter and said, "Your father can't wait, and your elder and second brothers are still around. In short, the connection with the clan cannot be severed."
Daohua shrugged nonchalantly. She didn't say she wanted to sever ties with the clan.
During these years in Yanjia Village, she had come to understand that clan relations in ancient times were extremely close, and no one would voluntarily leave their clan.
If you have a clan behind you, no one dares to bully you; if you have no clan, you are a rootless person, and when you go out, anyone can trample on you.
Daohua lifted the curtain of the car and looked towards the village. She found that the clan leaders were still standing at the entrance of the village. She was deeply impressed that these people were willing to humble themselves for the development of the clan.
"Grandma, I just discovered today that the clan leader is so eloquent."
What about the people of the same clan being of the same blood and supporting each other? What they had helped in the past was insignificant.
What she meant was that she wanted her adoptive father to help the clan, right?
Old Lady Yan glanced at her cunning and insightful granddaughter, then looked at her honest third grandson and shook her head. "It's just a matter of mutual benefit. Some things are better left unsaid."
Rice Flower: "I won't tell others."
Yan Wentao was confused and scratched the back of his head. Why couldn't he understand what his grandmother and Daohua were saying?
"Third brother, let's sit outside and let Sun Ma come in to keep Grandma company."
"good!"
On the official road leading to Linyi County, a horse-drawn carriage was moving neither fast nor slow. In the carriage, an old man in his 50s was driving the carriage, and two young boys, one big and one small, were sitting next to him.
The big one is honest and strong, while the small one is soft and cute.
"Young Master Daohua, would you like to sing a song to cheer up the old lady?" Uncle Sun looked at Daohua, who was dressed as a man, beside him with a smile.
Because they had to hurry, Daohua felt that women's clothes were inconvenient, so she changed into men's clothes.
In response to this, Old Lady Yan didn't say anything. Instead, she was very encouraging and thought Daohua was smart. Although everything has been relatively peaceful in recent years, it's better to keep a low profile when going out.
"Okay, Third Brother, let's go together."
"OK!"
The tender and clear singing voice soon rang out on the official road.
They walked and stopped from time to time, and Old Lady Yan did not urge Uncle Sun to hurry.
My granddaughter and third grandson have never left the county since they were little. It would be good to let them see more and broaden their horizons.
Along the way, Daohua and his friends would rest whenever they came across an inn, and would go into any town they came across if they felt like strolling around.
However, half a month later, when they began to enter the northern territory, such opportunities became rare.
The further north you go, the more refugees you see on the road.
Looking at the skinny refugees on the road, Old Lady Yan couldn't help but sigh: "Ah, it seems that the drought in the north last year was quite severe."
Seeing the large fields dry and cracked, Rice Flower was not in a good mood. Along the way, she spoke much less, and stared at the emerald green rice flower in the palm of her hand, which looked like a green mole, not knowing what she was thinking.
"Old lady, there is an inn ahead. Can we rest here tonight?" Sun Bo's voice asked.
Old Lady Yan lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked at the inn. Seeing that the inn was quite good, she nodded in agreement and got off the carriage with Daohua and Yan Wentao.
The inn was built outside the city gate. There were many pedestrians coming and going, and the road was lined with horse-drawn carriages and ox-drawn carts, making it very lively.
Daohua was very curious about everything in ancient times, and she looked around as soon as she got off the carriage.
"There are a lot of people here, so everyone please follow closely. Wentao, protect your sister." Old Mrs. Yan held Daohua's hand tightly, and did not forget to remind her third grandson to keep a close eye on her.
Daohua was very well-behaved at this time, holding Old Lady Yan with one hand and Yan Wentao with the other.
In Yanjia Village, she had heard many stories about human traffickers.
In ancient times, if you were caught by human traffickers, there was almost no possibility of being caught again.
When you are out and about, you can never be too careful.
"Woo woo~"
When she was about to enter the inn, Daohua suddenly heard a whimpering and groaning sound coming from the carriage next to her, and she subconsciously looked back.
In front of a carriage where pedestrians were passing by, a pair of eyes filled with hope and pleading suddenly caught Daohua's sight.
(End of this chapter)
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