Chapter 51, Wife and Concubine
"Wenhui, what's wrong with you?"
Yan Zhigao came to Shuangxinyuan as usual. After entering the yard, he found that his concubine did not greet him at the door as usual. He walked into the room quietly. As soon as he entered, he saw his concubine sitting in a trance and not moving.
"The master is coming!"
When Aunt Lin saw Yan Zhigao, she immediately put away her worried expression and greeted him with a smile.
Yan Zhigao took her hand and asked with concern: "What are you thinking about? How come you didn't notice me coming?"
Aunt Lin shook her head and said bitterly, "I'm not thinking about anything. Even if I did, it would just be random thoughts."
Yan Zhigao asked again: "What happened?"
Aunt Lin seemed to be hesitant to speak.
Yan Zhigao sighed and patted Aunt Lin's hand: "I know you've been wronged recently. I will talk to Mother. You are so well-educated and well-mannered. Once she understands your good qualities, she will naturally accept you."
"As for Daohua, she's been spoiled beyond belief by her mother. I'll teach her a lesson in the future. However, she's still young, so don't take anything unpleasant she says to heart."
Hearing this, Aunt Lin's eyes immediately turned red: "I am just a concubine. No matter whether they are old ladies or young ladies, no matter how they treat me, I will endure it, and I should endure it."
"But Yishuang and Wenbin are the flesh and blood of the Yan family. They shouldn't be implicated by me."
Yan Zhigao heard the hidden meaning in Aunt Lin's words and comforted her, "Didn't I tell you that our family doesn't have the rules of the wealthy families regarding legitimate and illegitimate children? In my heart, Wenbin and Yishuang are the same as Wenxiu and the others, and I won't let them down."
Aunt Lin was touched: "Wenhui knows that the master loves his son deeply and knows that the master will treat everyone equally. But that's not what I'm worried about."
Yan Zhigao was puzzled: "Then what are you worried about?"
Aunt Lin looked at Yan Zhigao, and then, as if mustering up her courage, she spoke: "The eldest lady seems to dislike Wenbin and Yishuang very much."
Yan Zhigao frowned: "What did Daohua do again?"
Aunt Lin said hurriedly, "It's nothing. Today, Wenbin and Yishuang took some cakes sent by my brother to Zheguiyuan and invited several young ladies and young masters from the family to discuss poetry. The eldest daughter also went, but when she heard that the cakes were brought by Yishuang and the others, she threw them away."
Upon hearing this, Yan Zhigao's face immediately showed anger.
Aunt Lin looked at his expression and said cautiously, "After that, the eldest girl left Zheguiyuan and went to the old lady's place. She then invited all the girls and young masters in the family to eat wine lees, but Yishuang and Wenbin were not invited."
At this point, Aunt Lin's tone became a little anxious: "I'm not thinking about the eldest lady's things, but Yishuang and Wenbin both treat the eldest lady as their sister. She is now obviously treating her differently. I'm afraid it will affect the relationship between them in the future."
Yan Zhigao stood up and said angrily, "I'm going to the main courtyard now. You can take Yishuang and Wenbin to dinner later."
Seeing Yan Zhigao leave angrily, Aunt Lin showed a triumphant smile on her face.
Yan Yiyi, you made me lose face in front of the Yan family. You will never have an easy time this New Year!
"sister!"
Just then, Master Lin walked in.
Aunt Lin was surprised: "Little brother, why are you here?"
Master Lin: "How can I not come and take a look if you are bullied?" The county government office is not very big. Although the front yard and the back yard are separated, you can always find out something about what happened.
Aunt Lin thought to herself, "She's just a little girl. Don't worry, your sister can handle her."
Master Lin shook his head. "Although the eldest daughter of the Yan family is young, she is extremely intelligent, and her appearance and demeanor are very outstanding. Sister, you must not be careless. Besides, she has the Bodhisattva, Old Madam Yan, behind her."
Aunt Lin sneered, "What's so good about being smart? With such a wild temper, it's hard to please others. You don't know, that day she not only made sarcastic remarks about me, but also made some indirect accusations against the master. The master's face turned red with anger. If this happens a few more times, I guarantee that she will completely lose the master's heart."
"A daughter who is not valued by the master, even if she is protected by the old lady, what kind of waves can she make?"
Master Lin knew that his sister was furious this time. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Sister, if you really want the young lady to completely lose the master's heart, what you are doing now is not enough."
"As long as you stay at home, any family matter can be easily resolved. Only if the eldest girl offends someone outside, the adults will punish her severely to protect her reputation."
Aunt Lin's eyes lit up: "Do you have any ideas?"
Master Lin: "I'll take care of this matter. Sister, don't do anything, or the old lady will be dissatisfied with you again."
Aunt Lin sighed and rubbed her forehead: "I don't know how to please the old lady?"
Master Lin smiled and said, "Sister, you still have me. Everything depends on human effort. The old lady will like you. Over the years, haven't the front and back yards of the county government all been vying to praise you?"
Aunt Lin also laughed, then snorted coldly: "Ever since the eldest girl came, I haven't had a smooth life. I really hope that this trouble can be solved next year."
"Yes."
Main courtyard.
Yan Zhigao came over angrily. As soon as he entered the room, he saw Madam Li checking the account book. There was an indescribable look of fatigue between her brows. When she saw him, she was surprised.
"Why did you think of coming here, Master?"
Yan Zhigao glanced at the thick account book on the table, and a rare sense of guilt welled up in his heart.
He was tired working in the county government office, but his wife was also tired doing the housework.
Forget it, for the sake of his wife, he will not bother with his eldest daughter for the time being.
He knew in his heart that his wife was very reluctant to leave their eldest daughter in their hometown, but out of filial piety and to free up her hands to take care of the backyard for him, she agreed with tears in her eyes.
He is also responsible for his eldest daughter's current personality.
Now that the eldest daughter has just returned to my wife, she is inevitably spoiled a little. It will probably take a long time to correct her temper.
Yan Zhigao sat down with a stern face: "Why, I can't come back?"
Madam Li put down the account book in her hand and said with a smile, "The Yan family's property belongs to the master. The master can go wherever he wants." As she spoke, she glanced at the sky outside and found that it was already getting dark.
"It's already evening. Time flies when you're settling accounts." He put away the account book and looked at Yan Zhigao, "Master, are you having dinner in the main courtyard tonight?"
Yan Zhigao nodded expressionlessly.
Mrs. Li smiled, her tone seemed a little lighter: "Then I will ask someone to serve the food right away."
During the meal, there were only Yan Zhigao and Madam Li.
Yan Zhigao: "Where are Wen Xiu and the others?"
Madam Li: "The old lady told us to eat in her courtyard."
A quarter of an hour ago, Old Lady Yan knew that her eldest son had returned to the main courtyard on his own initiative. She was worried that her grandchildren would disturb the couple who had just reconciled, so she just kept them there.
Yan Zhigao nodded. "Now that Wenxiu and the others don't have classes, it's time to spend more time with Mom. Oh, and Daohua said they gave everyone some distiller's grains today?"
Madam Li glanced at Yan Zhigao, her expression dimming slightly as she shook her head, saying, "No, there wasn't much rice flower left. They said they were saving it for the New Year. But today, the old lady was happy to see her grandchildren coming to pay their respects, so she gave them a bowl."
Originally, the old lady didn't plan to give drinks to all her grandchildren, but just as Yan Wenxiu brought the bowls, Yan Wenjie and others arrived. She didn't want to be too partial, so she could only scoop a bowl for everyone.
As for Yan Yishuang and Yan Wenbin not being able to drink, it was because Old Madam Yan had clearly shown her dislike for Aunt Lin. The two of them felt sorry for their own mother and didn't go to Songheyuan very often, so they didn't get to drink.
Yan Zhigao looked surprised, obviously not expecting his mother to be involved in this matter.
Seeing him like this, Mrs. Li's expression became even paler.
She said, why would the master, who had never been submissive to her, come to the main courtyard on his own initiative at this time? It turned out that he was just listening to rumors.
Madam Li felt a chill in her heart and said calmly, "I heard that the wine lees taste very good. Unfortunately, as a mother, I couldn't even get a bowl to drink. After all, I haven't raised it by my side since I was little, so I don't have a deep affection for it."
Hearing this, Ping Xiao, who was standing by the table serving, quickly glanced into the inner room. At this moment, a small white porcelain jar was placed there.
The jar is filled with mouth-watering lees.
The lady's words were full of hidden meaning, and the last sentence was a satire on the master!
Sure enough, Yan Zhigao's expression became somewhat unnatural.
Even Ping Xiao, a girl, could understand it, so he, the person involved, understood it even more clearly. In order to hide his embarrassment, he could only lower his head and eat.
Madam Li: "Master, the New Year is coming soon. I have to hurry and finish reading the account book. You can go to Shuangxin Courtyard tonight. Aunt Lin is a concubine, so it's time for her to play her role as a servant."
“Bang!”
The sound of chopsticks falling to the ground was heard.
Yan Zhigao stared at his docile wife in amazement, as if he couldn't believe she would say such a thing.
The role of serving others? !!!
Madam, you treat Wenhui like a pet in your family.
Mrs. Li ate her meal calmly without even returning any glances.
(End of this chapter)
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