Chapter 498, New Year's Eve
On New Year's Eve, the Yan family was bustling with activity early in the morning. Each family dressed up and gathered in the old lady's yard to eat dumplings.
After breakfast, Yan Zhigao took some of the younger generations to write couplets. As for the female family members, Old Lady Yan led everyone to paste window flowers and auspicious characters. The family talked and laughed, and the atmosphere was filled with joy everywhere.
Looking at her happy family, Daohua's heart was also filled with joy, but she would think of Xiao Yeyang's lonely figure from time to time, and the joy in her heart faded away.
"Cousin Yiyi, my uncle has written the couplets. Shall we go get them and put them up?"
Seeing Daohua sitting there without moving, Yang Xiujun came over and called her with a smile.
Daohua smiled and said, "You and Yihuan go to the forum. I'm going to the kitchen to see how the dishes are prepared." After saying that, she got up and left the yard.
Looking at Daohua's leaving back, Yang Xiujun looked puzzled. Her aunt had already ordered the food for the New Year's Eve family dinner in the morning, so there was no need for her cousin Yi Yi to go over and watch over it.
"Xiujun, what are you doing standing there? Can't you see your fourth cousin is pasting couplets? Why don't you go over and help?" Yan Siyu winked at Yang Xiujun.
Yang Xiujun glanced at Yan Wenkai, looked at the bright and sunny smile on his face, pursed her lips, and then walked over with a decent smile.
Mrs. Li, who was chatting and laughing with Old Lady Yan, heard her sister-in-law's voice, looked up at her niece walking towards her youngest son, and frowned slightly.
On the other side, Daohua came to the kitchen, asked for a small stove, rolled up her sleeves and started cooking.
Wang Man'er was helping out on the side. When she saw that her daughter was making some light meals, she immediately knew that they were made for the little prince.
At noon, Daohua packed the prepared food into a lunch box and handed it to Wang Maner: "Go ask Xiaoliu to run a little faster so that the food doesn't get cold."
Wang Maner nodded and prepared to leave with the lunch box.
"Wait!" Daohua stopped them, "Tell Xiaoliu to tell Xiao Yeyang that my third and fourth brothers and I will go over to play with him after lunch."
Wang Man'er smiled and said, "I'll make a note of it."
Daohua said again: "Remember to avoid people and go."
After Wang Man'er left, Daohua called the maid, brought the prepared rice cakes and went to the old lady's yard.
Xiao Mansion.
Defu silently put away the sweet soup that Xiao Yeyang had only taken a few mouthfuls of, turned around and looked at his master who was standing at the door and looking towards the main gate, feeling very uncomfortable.
Today is New Year's Eve, the time for families to reunite, but the master has to celebrate the New Year alone.
"Alas. I wonder if Miss Yan can go out today? If she can't come, the master will be disappointed."
Defu walked towards Xiao Yeyang and asked with a smile, "Master, the kitchen has prepared today's meal according to the menu from previous years. Do you think there are any additions or deletions?"
Xiao Yeyang said calmly, "You decide." After a moment of silence, he asked, "Is the black chicken soup ready?"
Defu nodded and said with a smile, "It's been cooking in the kitchen since early this morning. I just passed by the kitchen and could smell the fragrance from a distance."
Xiao Yeyang's lips curled slightly, and a smile finally appeared on his face. After a while, he asked uncertainly, "Do you think she will come?"
Defu paused, thought for a moment, and said, "Miss Yan has always been a person of her word. She will definitely do what she said."
Xiao Yeyang frowned: "Aunt Li is a strict one, I'm afraid she won't let her out."
Defu didn't know how to respond.
Not to mention that today is New Year's Eve, even on ordinary days, ladies from wealthy families are not allowed to go out often. Although Miss Yan goes out more often than others, she has to report to Madam Li every time, so he can't say for sure.
At this moment, the doorman trotted in and said, "Master, there's someone named Qin Xiaoliu here. He said he's here on the orders of Third Master Yan and Fourth Master Yan to bring you some food."
Defu's expression lit up with joy, even more excited than Xiao Yeyang, and he asked first, "Where are the people?"
Doorman: "Still standing at the door."
Defu: "Hurry up and get someone over here." Then he looked at Xiao Yeyang and said, "Master, I will go over and bring the person over myself."
Xiao Yeyang nodded expressionlessly.
Defu looked at the smile in his master's eyes, and the smile on his face grew wider, and he quickly left the yard.
Soon, he brought Qin Xiaoliu over.
"I pay my respects to the young prince. Happy New Year to the young prince."
Xiao Yeyang raised his hand to let Qin Xiaoliu get up and looked at the food box in his hand.
Qin Xiaoliu quickly said, "This is made by my daughter herself. As soon as it's done, she asked me to bring it to you."
Defu took the food box, touched it with his hand, and said with a smile: "Master, it's still hot."
Xiao Yeyang's mouth curled up: "Well, I will eat it."
Qin Xiaoliu laughed again and said, "My daughter also said that after lunch, she will come to play with you with the Third Master and the Fourth Master."
Hearing this, Xiao Yeyang looked up at the sky, unable to suppress the smile on his face. After a while, he covered his mouth with his fist and said, "I understand." As he spoke, he glanced at Defu.
Defu immediately took out a silver ingot from his pocket and handed it to Qin Xiaoliu: "This is a reward from the master."
Qin Xiaoliu quickly expressed his gratitude: "Thank you for the reward, young prince."
Xiao Yeyang nodded, turned around and went into the house: "Defu, I'll give it a go."
"yes!"
Defu put the lunch box on the table, then took Qin Xiaoliu out. When he came back, he saw that his master had already placed the food in the lunch box and started eating.
"The food cooked by Miss Yan is so delicious that you can smell it from far away."
Xiao Yeyang glanced at him with a smile on his face: "Are you born in the Year of the Dog?"
Defu laughed out loud.
Xiao Yeyang: "Okay, today's meal in the kitchen, except for the black chicken soup, all the rest is for you. Go and eat. I don't need you here anymore."
Defu immediately thanked him in a loud voice: "Thank you for the reward, Master. We are so lucky today."
Yan Mansion.
Everyone in the Yan family sat at the table. Since Yan Siyu, her mother and son were present this year, the old lady was particularly happy and the smile on her face never faded.
Looking at her children gathered around her and the table full of delicious food, Mrs. Yan's eyes became moist.
She never dreamed that she would have such a day.
The family is prosperous with many children and grandchildren.
Daohua noticed the old lady's strange behavior and immediately picked up the wine pot and poured her a glass of wine: "Grandma, your granddaughter wishes you a happy new year and may you live younger and younger."
Old Lady Yan smiled and raised her cup to drink: "Seeing how sensible and well-behaved you are, I have to live two more years. I'll drink this cup."
As soon as Daohua started drinking, the younger generations in the family came over one after another to toast.
Yan Zhigao and Madam Li watched with a smile, but did not stop them. The old lady and the children were drinking fruit wine, which was not intoxicating.
The meal took a long time. Daohua didn't eat much because she was worried. When lunch was over, she would look at Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao from time to time.
Yan Wentao noticed Daohua's gaze and pulled Yan Wenkai, and Yan Wenkai pulled Yan Wenxiu.
Yan Wenxiu immediately smiled and said, "Big sister, didn't you say before that you wanted to read the rare book about farming in my study? I found it yesterday. Go and have a look."
Old Mrs. Yan laughed and said, "Why are you reading books on New Year's Day?"
Daohua stood up and said, "Grandma, I want to read it. I've been thinking about that book for a long time." Then she looked at Yan Wenxiu and said, "Brother, where did you put it? I want it right now."
Yan Wenxiu: "Wentao and Wenkai know, let them go with you."
Daohua smiled and said, "Okay, we'll be back soon."
Watching the three people leave, Old Mrs. Yan smiled and shook her head, then continued talking to her son and daughter.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
