Chapter 99, Calling this question
Daohua didn't know what her second uncle Yan Zhiyuan and Aunt Lin said to her stepfather. At breakfast the next day, her stepfather seemed to be hesitant to say something to her, but she just ignored him.
After harvesting the watermelons today, my second uncle will return to the provincial capital.
The first day of August is her birthday. Several of her cousins prepared gifts for her, and she had to prepare gifts in return.
In addition to bringing each person a bamboo tube of jasmine tea, some of the flowers planted in the flowerbed in the yard had already bloomed, so she transplanted them into pots and gave each person a pot.
"Second uncle, you must come to see me more often in the future."
That afternoon, after the watermelons were loaded into the truck, Li Xingnian rushed back to the provincial government.
At the provincial government, Li Xingchang had already contacted the buyer, and he had to deliver the watermelons back as soon as possible.
Li Xingnian smiled and nodded: "Okay, Second Uncle will definitely come to see the rice flowers more often in the future."
Daohua smiled and said, "Next time you come, bring your cousins with you. I'll take them to play at my farm."
Li Xingnian agreed: "Okay, your cousins are tired of staying at home, so let them come over to visit next time."
Madam Li took over the conversation: "Second brother, be careful on the road."
Li Xingnian: "Don't worry, we'll reach the city soon by water."
After bidding farewell to Old Lady Yan, Li Xingnian left. Yan Zhigao also put aside his work in the yamen and came out to see him off.
Looking at the carriages and horses going away, Mrs. Li felt a little reluctant, but also a little relieved.
After marrying into the Yan family for so many years, her parents' family always sent her gifts in large and small packages to support her. This time, she can also give something in return.
Although it was just a cart of food produced in the fields, whether it was grapes or vegetables, even the noble little prince thought they tasted good, so it was considered presentable.
"Mom, if you miss my uncle and the others, we can just go to the capital to see them."
"There are so many things to deal with at home, where would I find the time?"
"Yes, yes. Time is like that. If you squeeze it in, you can still find it."
Mrs. Li: “…” My daughter’s words sound strange. What do you mean?
Songheyuan.
Daohua happily kept track of the accounts on the farm.
She wholesaled the watermelons directly to her second uncle at 80% off the market price in Xingzhou City. As for what price he sold them at the provincial government, she had no control over it.
"Grandma, I earned more than 500 taels of silver from the watermelons on my farm. Do you think that's enough to buy a shop in Xingzhou City?" Daohua suddenly asked.
Old Lady Yan glanced at her and asked, "Why did you buy the shop?"
Rice Flower: "Selling things. I have a lot of flowers planted in my yard. After a while, I plan to transplant some of the beautiful ones into pots and sell them as potted plants."
"Don't scholars and intellectuals like to gather together to enjoy flowers? It's already mid-July, so whether it's Mid-Autumn Festival in August or Double Ninth Festival in September, it's a good time to get together."
"I've planted a lot of chrysanthemums, they'll definitely sell well when the time comes."
"Um"
"We planted too few watermelons this year, and they were planted too late. Next year, we must plant them earlier. Then, the harvest will surely be better than this year's. By then, I'll buy a farm specifically for growing flowers."
"Oh, by the way, once the herbs and fruit trees are ready to be harvested and sold, I'll have to buy another farm specifically for growing herbs."
Seeing her granddaughter happily looking forward to her future life, Old Mrs. Yan felt happy and cheerful all over.
She likes to see the rice flowers' eyes shining and emitting infinite vitality. Seeing her like this, she always feels that life is becoming more and more hopeful and there is nothing that cannot be overcome.
"Oh, yes, there are also grapes. Once I make wine, I'll have another source of income."
"Wait a minute, I'll have Mom help me run the shop." Daohua sorted out the accounts and looked at Old Lady Yan with a smile. "Grandma, when I prepared grapes for my second uncle earlier, I had someone send a few extra. I'm going to learn how to make wine now. Do you want to watch over me?"
Old Mrs. Yan stood up quickly and said, "Go, of course!" She had been sitting idle all day and her body was getting rusty.
In the evening, when everyone came to Songheyuan for dinner, Daohua had already sealed a small jar of grapes according to the practice in her previous life.
Before the food came, everyone sat in the old lady's room and chatted.
During this period, Yan Wenjie looked at his parents from time to time, hoping that they would tell his uncle about going to Wangyue Academy to study as soon as possible.
My brothers are leaving the day after tomorrow. If you don’t tell me now, it will be too late.
Yan Zhiyuan did not move. He was sure that Aunt Lin would not let it go, so it was better for her to take the lead.
Sun had been watching Yan Zhiyuan's expression, and seeing that he didn't say anything, she had to suppress her impatience.
"Mom, please sit for a while. I'll go see if the food is ready."
Mrs. Li went to the dining room. Not long after she left, Aunt Lin suddenly came over with Yan Wenbin and Yan Yishuang.
Seeing Aunt Lin, a hint of displeasure flashed in Old Lady Yan's eyes. She glanced at Yan Zhigao, who looked a little uncomfortable, and said lightly, "What are you doing here?"
Aunt Lin had a gentle smile on her face: "It has been a long time since I have been able to pay my respects to the old lady, so I came here specially to pay my respects."
As soon as these words were spoken, Daohua frowned immediately, glanced at her adoptive father who seemed to have noticed nothing, and then looked at the others who were silent.
The eldest brother Yan Wenxiu looked a little unhappy. He moved his lips as if he wanted to say something, but after looking at his adoptive father, he swallowed the words back. From his frown, it could be seen that he was suppressing his emotions.
As for the fourth brother Yan Wenkai, he was whispering with the third brother Yan Wentao and didn't hear what Aunt Lin said at all.
The people from the second house might have heard something, but none of them wanted to speak.
The people in the third house have been staying in the countryside all year round and have no idea about the etiquette of addressing wives and concubines.
Daohua breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, her mother was not in the house, otherwise she would have been sad.
"Fifth brother, third sister, there is something I don't understand and I would like to ask you for advice." Ever since she learned the rules from Master Shen, she knew that in ancient times, even if the elders made mistakes, the younger generations could not point them out to their faces, otherwise it would be disrespectful and unfilial.
She can't tell her cheap father, but as the eldest sister, her younger brothers and sisters should tell her.
Yan Wenbin and Yan Yishuang were not expecting Daohua to suddenly talk to them and were stunned for a moment.
Yan Yishuang glanced at Yan Zhigao. Thinking that her father was here, her elder sister didn't dare to do anything. She smiled and said, "Speak, elder sister."
Daohua looked up at Aunt Lin and asked with a smile, "My brothers and sisters have gone to more school than I have. I'd like to ask, can a concubine call herself a daughter-in-law?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Yan Yishuang and Yan Wenbin's expressions changed, and the expressions of the other people in the room also fluctuated, especially Yan Zhigao, who had not noticed Lin's address just now.
Aunt Lin's face changed drastically, and she looked frightened. She knelt down with a thud: "Miss, it's my fault. I was too nervous just now and said the wrong thing."
Daohua's expression remained unchanged. She looked at Yan Wenbin and said calmly, "Fifth Brother made the mistake when he addressed Aunt Lin before. Now, Aunt Lin herself has made a mistake. Isn't it said that Aunt Lin comes from a family of scholars? How come her manners are worse than someone like me who grew up in the countryside?"
The issue of address may not be a big deal in modern times, but in ancient times, it represented status to a certain extent. Aunt Lin called herself daughter-in-law in front of her grandmother. Was she trying to replace Madam Li?
Hearing this, Yan Zhigao's face became very embarrassed. Although the eldest daughter didn't say this to him, the complaint in her words was obvious.
At this time, he was also wondering if he had been too indulgent towards Lin.
Calling herself daughter-in-law in front of her mother, is this what a concubine should do?
Old Madam Yan was stunned for a moment, but she quickly reacted and flew into a rage: "Ms. Lin, do you think I, an old woman, know nothing and can be fooled at will?"
Seeing the old lady was angry, Aunt Lin immediately began to kowtow, begging for mercy: "Old lady, please calm down. I will never dare to do that again."
Seeing Aunt Lin like this, Yan Wenbin and Yan Yishuang also knelt down to help plead.
Seeing them like this, Yan Zhigao was a little angry and a little distressed. After thinking about it, he couldn't help but said to the old lady: "Mom, don't be angry. I will talk to Lin in a good way later."
Old Madam Yan glared at him fiercely and said, "You are the prefect now. The rules of the family can no longer be as lax as before. The rules that should be established must be established. Don't change them every day or for each person."
Yan Zhigao: "Mother is right, I will pay attention to it."
Old Lady Yan waved her hand and said, "Alright, let her go. Looking at her like this, someone who doesn't know her would think she is a bad person."
When Aunt Lin heard this, she immediately said, "Old Madam, I know I was wrong. Please don't be angry, because it will make me sick. It's not worth it." After saying that, she immediately looked at Daohua and said, "Miss, don't be angry either. I was wrong. I will go and apologize to Madam later."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
