Chapter 443, Aunt
November 29th was Old Lady Yan's 55th birthday. Although it was a casual birthday, many people came to celebrate the birthday because the Emperor suddenly conferred imperial edicts on the Old Lady and Madam Li. Therefore, before mid-November, Madam Li and her two sisters-in-law were busy.
Daohua, who was in charge of the kitchen, was naturally also pulled out. In addition, Mrs. Li intended to teach her how to manage the household, so she was busy like a top every day.
Main courtyard.
Madam Li looked at the shopping list and asked Daohua, who was lying on the couch leaning against the pillows, "Is everything ready for the guest house? Your aunt and cousins will probably be arriving in the next day or two."
Daohua said weakly, "It's been packed a long time ago, but from the look on Grandma's face, she seems to want Aunt to live with her."
Madam Li smiled faintly and said, "It's okay to stay for a few days, but it won't work for a long time."
Daohua raised her head and turned to look at Madam Li: "Aunt and the others will be staying for a long time?"
Madam Li put down her shopping list and said with a smile, "Your aunt rarely comes home, and since it's almost the end of the year, she won't leave until after the New Year. I heard from your father that the Yang family has used their connections, and your cousin Hongrui will also be attending Wangyue Academy next year. I'm afraid he'll have to stay at our house for the next few years."
Daohua said "Oh" and lay back down.
Madam Li added, "Although I'm busy receiving your aunt and preparing for the old lady's birthday, I'm sure you won't neglect Yunxi and Yunyan."
Daohua nodded: "Don't worry, Mom, I often stay with them these days."
Mrs. Li glared at her daughter unhappily: "Of course I know, you called them over to help you."
Daohua looked embarrassed and sat up. "Look at what mother said. I'll let them assist me. Not only can they help me, but they can also learn some housekeeping skills. It's a win-win situation."
Madam Li laughed and shook her head. "That's not very hospitable, but as long as Yunxi and Yunyan are willing to learn, it's fine. By the way, have you handed the sewing room over to Yihuan and the others?"
Daohua nodded: "Just let them take care of the people and things, I'll still be in charge of the account books."
Madam Li snorted, "You're quite good at taking some time off."
Daohua smiled and sat down next to Madam Li. "Mother, I'm just making the best use of everyone's talents. We have so many things to do every day in our family. If I really had to do everything myself, I'd be exhausted. Anyway, I'm focusing on the important things, and they won't be able to cause any big trouble."
Mrs. Li: "It's good that you know what's going on, but don't look down on others. Even an ant can kill an elephant."
Daohua smiled and nodded: "I know."
At noon that day, the Yan family was having lunch in Songheyuan. Before they finished their meal, housekeeper Sun came over.
Madam Li put down her chopsticks and asked, "Has my aunt's boat arrived?"
Steward Sun nodded and said, "Madam, the Yang family's ship has indeed arrived, but along with the Yang family came the Han family from the Earl of Zhaode's mansion."
Upon hearing this, everyone at the dinner table fell silent.
Old Lady Yan and the people in the first house knew about the Han family, but the people in the second and third houses really knew nothing. When they heard that someone from the Earl's Mansion was coming, they were stunned.
On the table, Daohua quickly looked towards her elder brother, and when she saw him looking at her, she smiled and blinked at him.
Yan Wenxiu felt a little uncomfortable with his sister's teasing and looked away from her.
Mrs. Li became anxious: "The Han family is here too? Why didn't you tell me in advance?" The Han family might be the eldest son's future in-laws, so they couldn't be neglected.
Yan Zhigao suddenly looked up and patted his head: "Look at my memory. I received a letter from the Han family a few days ago. It happened that I was busy at the government office and forgot to mention it."
Madam Li stood up and said, "Nothing has been prepared yet. I have to go and prepare accommodation for them."
Daohua quickly grabbed Madam Li and said, "Mother, just in case, when I was preparing my aunt's yard, I cleaned up our guest house. Even if a few more families come, there will be a place to stay."
Mrs. Li suddenly felt less anxious: "Where are the servants?"
Daohua said calmly, "I asked Madam Fang to draw out a group of people from various places to deal with emergencies. Let's assign them from among them."
Madam Li nodded and said, "The Han family is the earl's family, so the things they use cannot be too careless."
Daohua remained calm and composed, "Of course, we can't lose face for the Yan family when entertaining guests. I've decorated the place according to the standards of Xiao Yeyang's guesthouse. No matter how distinguished the Han family is, they can't be more distinguished than Xiao Yeyang."
Mrs. Li thought about it and saw that there was nothing more to ask, so she sat down again and looked at Daohua with satisfaction. She was lucky after all to have a daughter to help her share her worries.
Everyone in the Yan family also looked at the rice flowers.
Sun smiled and said, "Our Daohua is really a good housekeeper. She arranges everything perfectly in advance."
Yan Yihan smiled and continued, "No wonder Big Sister asked the sewing room to rush out a batch of new quilts and bed sheets. I was wondering why at the time, and now I know it's for decorating the guest house."
Sun said to Yan Yihuan and Yan Yile, "From now on, you must learn from your elder sister." Then she looked at Daohua and said, "Daohua, you are the elder sister, so you must teach your younger sisters more."
Mrs. Li didn't wait for Daohua to respond and changed the subject: "Second sister-in-law, don't praise this girl. She doesn't know anything." Then she turned the topic back to her sister-in-law who was about to return home.
My daughter is already exhausted from learning how to manage the household, so how can she have the time to teach others?
Moreover, this is a thankless job. If you teach well, you will be praised. If you don’t teach well, people will say you are not doing your best.
Yan Zhigao and Yan Zhiyuan did not interfere with the affairs in the backyard. However, they all knew that Daohua asked Yihuan, Yile and Yishuang to manage the sewing room, and both of them were satisfied with this.
Yan Zhigao glanced at his eldest daughter and felt relieved. Although his eldest daughter had a strong personality, she was also generous and knew how to help her younger sisters. She was a very elder sister.
Then, everyone hurriedly finished their meal and went back to their rooms to change their clothes, ready to welcome Yan Siyu and the Han family. Even Yan Zhigao waited at home and did not go to the yamen.
In the carriage sent by the Yan family to pick people up, Yang Xiujun held her mother's hand with some excitement and nervousness.
Yan Siyu helped her daughter fix her hair and said with a smile, "Don't be nervous. Your grandmother, uncles, and aunts are all very kind people."
Yang Xiujun nodded and said, "I know." After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "Mother, why did Second Master Han bring the eldest son of the Han family to celebrate my grandmother's birthday?"
Yan Siyu pondered for a moment and said, "I'm afraid your uncle is interested in proposing marriage with the Han family."
Yang Xiujun was stunned: "Is it cousin Wenxiu?"
Yan Siyu hummed, "Your eldest cousin passed the imperial examination before he was twenty, and now your eldest uncle is favored by the emperor, so his future is limitless." Then she sighed, "If only you were born two or three years earlier."
Hearing this, Yang Xiujun blushed and lowered her head and said coquettishly, "Mom, what are you talking about?"
Yan Siyu smiled and said, "Okay, okay, Mom won't say anything more." This was just her wishful thinking. With her eldest brother's current official position, he would probably look down on the Yang family.
Not long after, the carriage stopped.
As soon as Yan Siyu and Yang Xiujun got off the carriage, they saw their three brothers and sisters-in-law standing at the gate to greet them personally. Tears immediately filled her eyes and she walked over quickly.
Madam Li also hurriedly went to meet them with Madam Sun and Madam Wu.
(End of this chapter)
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