Chapter 505, Cut off
In the main courtyard, Madam Li saw Daohua coming back and asked with a surprised smile, "Why haven't you gone to rest yet?"
Daohua: "Mom, cousin Hongrui will be enrolled at Wangyue Academy after the new year, right?"
Mrs. Li: "Why do you think of asking this?"
Daohua: “Just asking.”
Madam Li glanced at her daughter. "Your father meant that Hongrui's academic performance was quite solid, but he wasn't very good at dealing with people. It just so happened that your eldest brother was working with Master Xiao, so he suggested that he follow along and observe, so that he could broaden his horizons."
Daohua frowned and said, "Mom, let's let my cousin go to the academy early. Although father means well, the Yang family may not appreciate it. Let's not delay his studies."
Mrs. Li was a little surprised at her daughter's dislike for Hongrui. She knew that her daughter often asked Xiuyun to do things for the old lady's sake, even though she didn't like Xiuyun's sentimental nature.
Now that Hongrui has caused his daughter to run directly to her, he must have done something that makes her very unhappy.
Mrs. Li was just about to say something when Yan Zhigao came back.
Daohua stood up, saluted Yan Zhigao, and then said, "Father, Mother, I won't disturb you from resting. I'll go back first."
Yan Zhigao nodded, and after she left, he asked Madam Li, "What did that girl come here for?"
Madam Li helped Yan Zhigao change his clothes while smiling and said, "Nothing, just talk about visiting Master Gu tomorrow."
When Yan Zhigao heard this, he didn't ask any more questions.
While he was washing up, Madam Li called Pingtong over and said, "Go and find out what happened to Daohua and Hongrui today."
Pingtong nodded and quickly retreated.
When Madam Li was helping Yan Zhigao down, Pingtong came back.
Madam Li helped Yan Zhigao cover himself with the quilt and met Ping Tong in the outer room: "Tell me."
Pingtong immediately told the story of Yang Hongrui blocking the rice flowers.
Upon hearing this, Madam Li's face darkened. Upon learning that Yang Hongrui still wanted to pull her daughter away, she angrily slapped the table. The noise was so loud that even Yan Zhigao in the inner room was startled: "What's wrong?"
Mrs. Li calmed down and said, "It's okay. I accidentally bumped into the table."
Ping Tong also looked dissatisfied: "How come this young cousin has no self-awareness at all? With the Yang family's situation, he actually wants to get involved with our eldest daughter."
Madam Li raised her hand to stop Ping Tong: "Don't mention this matter again. His Yang family may not have family education, but my Yiyi still has a reputation to uphold."
Ping Tong nodded: "Don't worry, Madam, the servants who know about this have already informed you, and it won't damage your reputation."
Mrs. Li drank a cup of tea and only went into the inner room after her mood had completely calmed down.
Yan Zhigao was leaning against the bedside reading a book. When he saw Madam Li come in, he moved closer to the bed and asked, "What happened just now?"
Madam Li smiled and lay down on the bed: "Nothing, just a few servants made a mistake and I'm a little angry."
Yan Zhigao smiled and said, "It's New Year's Day, why bother getting angry with the servants? You've been really hard-working lately. Let the housekeeper handle some small matters, and you can relax a bit."
Mrs. Li nodded: "I know."
Afterwards, Mrs. Li casually chatted with Yan Zhigao about other things, and the conversation turned to the Yang family.
"Master, after the Lantern Festival, let's have Hongrui enroll at Wangyue Academy. I know you want him to learn some skills from Master Xiao, but the Yang family has put in a lot of effort to get a place for him to study at Wangyue Academy. Although we have good intentions in keeping Hongrui at home, the Yang family may not see it that way. They might even think we have ulterior motives."
Yan Zhigao glanced at Madam Li. He knew his wife wouldn't bring up this for no reason. Thinking of the commotion outside, he said, "Well, the academy is also a small society. I can learn how to behave in society here."
He felt sorry for his only sister, but he had no good feelings towards the Yang family. Hongrui grew up in the Yang family and had some of the Yang family's habits, which made him a little unhappy.
He saw how his wife treated his sister. Now she asked Hongrui to go to the academy early. Although she did not tell him the reason, based on his understanding of his wife, he believed that Hongrui must have done something wrong. She did not say it out of consideration for the old lady and her sister's face.
"I'll talk to Mom about this in a couple of days."
Upon hearing this, Madam Li immediately smiled and said, "I will listen to Master. Master, go and talk to me. Mother will definitely not disagree."
Yan Zhigao put down the book and said, "Okay, go to sleep. I stayed up all night last night and I'm sleepy."
Looking at the person beside her, Mrs. Li smiled. Her husband now knew how to understand her.
The next morning, Daohua ate bird's nest porridge in her own courtyard. She first went to Songhe Courtyard to pay her respects to the old lady, then went to the main courtyard to say hello to Madam Li Yan Zhigao, and then left with her maid and old woman.
When the Yan family came down to the old lady's place to have breakfast, Daohua had already left the city gate and headed straight for the dock.
The second day of the Lunar New Year was supposed to be the day for daughters-in-law to return to their parents' homes, but Mrs. Li, Mrs. Sun, and Mrs. Wu's parents' homes were far away. After breakfast, everyone surrounded the old lady and went to the pavilion in front of the hanging flower gate.
Mrs. Li invited a troupe of opera singers early in the morning to perform at Yan's house today.
Yan Zhigao walked in front with Yan Zhiyuan, Yan Zhiqiang and the younger generations of the family.
"I've invited a few colleagues over. You'll all meet them later. They're all Jinshi graduates, very knowledgeable and talented. If you have any questions, you can ask them for advice."
Yan Zhigao said to Yan Wenxiu and others.
Yan Wenxiu nodded: "Son, I understand."
Looking at the large number of descendants in the family, the outstanding eldest son, the second son and the nephew who are now officials, Yan Zhigao feels very pleased. The Yan family started from him and has risen.
Yan Zhigao was in high spirits all the way to the waterside pavilion. However, on the way, he saw Hongrui and Wenkai arguing with each other, and Wenkai looked impatient, which made him feel a little upset.
Yan Zhigao slowed down, preparing to say a few words to them when the two got closer, but when they got closer, he heard Hongrui asking Wenkai about his eldest daughter, and his face suddenly became a little embarrassed.
Thinking about how angry my wife was last night, I suddenly understood something.
This boy is so bold that he even dares to covet his daughter!
"Hongrui!"
When Yang Hongrui heard Yan Zhigao calling him, he immediately trotted forward and said, "Uncle, are you looking for me?"
Yan Zhigao said calmly, "After the Lantern Festival, you can report to Wangyue Academy."
Hearing this, Yang Hongrui's face changed. Before he could say anything, Yan Siyu, who was walking with the old lady, asked, "Brother, why? Didn't you say that Hongrui should study with Wen Xiu and Master Xiao for a while?"
Yan Zhigao said calmly, "I was inconsiderate before. Master Xiao is very busy with official duties and cannot lead so many people. It is the same for studying in the academy."
How can it be the same?!
Yan Siyu looked anxious. In the academy, she could only learn knowledge from books, but it was different following Master Xiao. She would learn how to handle government affairs and how to deal with officials. This opportunity was much rarer than studying in the academy.
Seeing that her elder brother had made up his mind and would not change it, Yan Siyu had no choice but to look at her mother for help.
Old Mrs. Yan glanced at her son, then looked at her eldest daughter-in-law who was silent, and patted Yan Siyu's hand: "Just listen to your eldest brother. He knows more about work outside than we do." After saying that, she smiled and changed the subject.
Seeing this, Yan Siyu knew that the situation was hopeless. She glanced at her dejected son beside her and frowned tightly.
Why would such a good brother suddenly change his mind?
While waiting for the show to begin, Yan Siyu pulled Yang Hongrui aside and asked, "Did you do something to irritate your uncle?"
Yang Hongrui looked bewildered: "No!"
Yan Siyu sighed and said, "You should be more careful in your actions in the future. Don't bring your Yang family's ways to the Yan family. Your uncle won't like them."
Yang Hongrui was silent for a moment, thinking about what happened last night. Could it be that cousin Yi Yi went to complain to his uncle?
Doesn't she like herself that much?
(End of this chapter)
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