Chapter 94: Give and Take
Daohua followed the Yan family to see Xiao Yeyang and Dong Yuanxuan off. They didn't turn around and go back until they could no longer see the carriages and horses.
"Uncle Yan, Aunt Yan, I've been out for a day and a night, and it's time for me to go home. I'm really sorry for disturbing you by coming to your house this time. Next time, it's my nephew's turn to invite you all to my house as guests. I hope you will do me the honor."
Zhou Chengye smiled and bowed to Yan Zhigao and Madam Li. Last night, in order to get close to Xiao Yeyang and Dong Yuanxuan, he shamelessly stayed at the Yan family. You know, his home is in Xingzhou City, and it was his first time to come into contact with the Yan family. It was neither moral nor logical for him to stay in someone else's house.
Yan Zhigao smiled and stopped: "Mr. Zhou, you are too polite. We are all very happy that you can come to our house. You are welcome to come anytime." Zhou Chengye called him Uncle Yan out of courtesy, but he could not respond without knowing his identity.
The Dong family has produced a prime minister, and now the second master of the Zhou family is already a third-rank minister of the Ministry of Personnel. How dare he be the uncle of the young master of the Zhou family?
"Then I will have to bother you more in the future." Zhou Chengye didn't care about Yan Zhigao's address. He was just calling him politely. Then, he looked at Yan Wenxiu.
"I admire Brother Yan's knowledge very much. We should communicate more in the future."
Yan Wenxiu also wanted to make friends with Zhou Chengye, who didn't have the airs of a young man from an aristocratic family. He immediately said with a smile, "Then if I don't understand something in the future, I'll have to ask Brother Zhou for advice."
Zhou Chengye smiled and said, "I don't dare to ask for advice, just exchange ideas." After that, he looked at Daohua and said, "Sister Yan, my Jingwan often mentions you. If you have time, go and visit her."
Daohua didn't expect Zhou Chengye to talk to her. She was a little surprised, but she still quickly agreed with a smile: "I will." As for what he said about Zhou Jingwan often mentioning her, just listen to it and don't take it seriously.
Afterwards, Zhou Chengye clasped his fists to the others, then mounted the horse pulled by the servant and rode away.
Seeing that everyone had left, Daohua wanted to help Madam Li go back to the backyard to rest. In order to receive Xiao Yeyang well, she saw that Madam Li's eyes were blue, which showed that she had not rested well.
At this time, Yan Wenkai jumped over, pulled Daohua and asked, "Big sister, what did you say when you were whispering to the little prince?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Yan Zhigao and others looked over, and Yan Wenxiu became even more nervous.
When Wangyue Academy was mentioned before, he really had no idea about it. But later, his second brother pulled him aside and said that maybe the young prince could get a place in the academy, and he was tempted.
In addition, the eldest sister pulled the little prince aside and whispered to him, and he couldn't help but start to look forward to it.
It has been two years since he passed the imperial examination. Although he has been studying diligently during these years, he feels that his knowledge and vision are too shallow.
As the eldest son and grandson of the Yan family, he knew the responsibilities on his shoulders when he was very young. Over the years, as he grew older, he clearly knew the weakness of the Yan family's foundation, and he also witnessed the difficulties his father had faced in officialdom during this period.
All of this made him eager to improve himself. A person without real ability could not shoulder the responsibility of revitalizing the family.
But in the state school, what he could learn and the people he could meet were really limited.
Wangyue Academy ranks among the best in Daxia. Both its faculty and students are among the best in Daxia. If he can study in such an atmosphere, he will gain a lot not only in knowledge but also in connections.
Daohua took in everyone's expressions. Thinking that Xiao Yeyang hadn't said anything before, she didn't want to give others false hope, so she said, "He didn't say anything, just some goodbye words."
When the others heard this, they couldn't help but feel disappointed.
Madam Li glanced at Daohua. She knew her daughter was very sensible, so she glared at her youngest son, "What are you still standing there for? Go to class."
Yan Wenkai was just curious and asked casually, but when he didn't get any answers, he lost interest and ran away with Yan Wentao.
Yan Zhigao looked at the others and said, "Everyone, go and do your own thing. It's time for me to go to the government office."
Xingzhou Wharf.
Xiao Yeyang and Dong Yuanxuan boarded the boat.
"Bring the wooden box here."
Defu carefully placed the inconspicuous wooden box in his hand on the table in front of Xiao Yeyang's seat, and then after Xiao Yeyang waved his hand, he bowed and retreated.
"I wonder what gift the eldest daughter of the Yan family gave to the young prince? Open it and take a look." Dong Yuanxuan said with a smile.
In front of outsiders, he always pays attention to the rules, but in private, he and Xiao Yeyang get along very casually.
Xiao Yeyang does have a bad temper and is very picky, but he is still a very nice person. At least, he never beats or kills the people below him.
Xiao Yeyang glanced at Dong Yuanxuan, wanting to give him a cold shoulder, but he was also very curious about what gift Daohua would give him. After thinking about it, he reached out and opened the wooden box.
"Wow, there are three cans of tea, little prince, you must give me one can."
Dong Yuanxuan immediately asked for it.
Maybe it was because they left in such a hurry that the Yan family didn't have time to prepare. In any case, he didn't receive any gifts.
Well, it’s not that he got nothing. He still got a share of the vegetables and watermelons in the last truck.
Xiao Yeyang took the bamboo tube, opened it, and saw that it was indeed filled with jasmine tea. He immediately said in disgust, "This Daohua, she has ruined all the good things. Is this bamboo tube used to store tea?"
Although his tone was filled with disgust, the corners of his mouth were always curled up.
Dong Yuanxuan saw through it but didn't say anything. He also found the jasmine tea good. Seeing that Xiao Yeyang had no intention of giving it to him, he said, "Young Prince, there are three tubes of tea. You can't drink that much. Give me one tube."
Xiao Yeyang quickly covered the bamboo tube: "No, this little bit of tea is not enough for me to give to others." Uncle, teacher, these people are much more important than Dong Yuanxuan.
Dong Yuanxuan curled his lips when he saw him put the tea away, but he was sensible enough not to ask for it. Xiao Yeyang was usually very generous, and if he didn't give it to him, it meant he really didn't want to give it to him.
"What's wrapped in that cloth?"
Xiao Yeyang was also curious, so he opened the wrapping cloth, and then a freshly unearthed ginseng appeared in their sight.
Looking at the ginseng with a little soil still on its roots, Xiao Yeyang was speechless.
Dong Yuanxuan's mouth twitched. This eldest daughter of the Yan family had a truly unique gift-giving style. Good things also needed good packaging. "This ginseng looks like it's a hundred years old, right?"
The hundred-year-old ginseng was just wrapped in a piece of coarse cloth and given away!
Xiao Yeyang picked up the ginseng that had not been processed yet and nodded: "Even if it's not enough, it's not much different. How can this Daohua give me a ginseng?"
Dong Yuanxuan smiled and said, "Didn't Miss Yan say it was a thank you gift for you?"
Xiao Yeyang put down the ginseng, looked at the jasmine tea in the bamboo tube, then looked at the ginseng wrapped in cloth, and sighed helplessly. Daohua had to give him a gift, but he had to do some secondary processing on it.
"What's that porcelain bottle? Could it contain some medicine?"
Dong Yuanxuan looked at the last three small porcelain bottles in the wooden box.
Xiao Yeyang picked up the porcelain bottle, opened the lid and smelled it, then quickly put the bottle away without waiting for Dong Yuanxuan to say anything.
This is the medicine that Daohua used to save Zhao Ergou. It is better than the wound medicine used in the army in stopping bleeding and reducing inflammation.
Three gifts, this is the most valuable!
Whether it is tea or ginseng, as long as he says a word, someone will deliver it immediately, but this high-quality medicine that can save lives is priceless.
Dong Yuanxuan looked at Xiao Yeyang and was very curious: "What good stuff is that? Can't you show it to me?"
Xiao Yeyang ignored him and said, "Please make some arrangements. Didn't Daohua say she would treat me to some hot pot? Let's see when we can come back."
Dong Yuanxuan thought for a moment and said, "Then I guess I'll have to wait until around the Mid-Autumn Festival. The teachers won't be happy if I ask for leave too frequently."
Xiao Yeyang's face fell. When Uncle Rui Wang left, he had specifically told the academy to treat him as an ordinary student. They should be beaten and scolded when necessary, and he should not be too presumptuous.
If he makes too much trouble, he will be sent back to Beijing.
At the same time, behind the passenger ship, Defu personally watched the guards deliver the vegetables and watermelons sent by the Yan family to the warehouse.
One guard murmured, "Other families send gifts of gold and silver, but the Xingzhou governor sent a cart of vegetables and fruits."
“Bang!”
Defu heard this, walked over, and slapped the guard on the forehead: "What do you know? The vegetables in Yan Zhizhou's house are much more delicious than those bought outside."
Last night, the eldest daughter of the Yan family specially left some food for him and Zhao Ergou.
That smell is so fragrant.
"Handle this watermelon carefully and don't drop it. The little prince loves it."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
