Chapter 2

“You still know how to come back, huh!”

The moment Daohua stepped through the main gate, her forehead was thwacked with a big bump.

“Ouch, Third Brother, save me! Grandma doesn’t love Daohua anymore.”

A crisp and pleasant young girl’s voice rang out in the courtyard.

Then, there was a big commotion in the courtyard.

“You crazy girl, if you don’t get a beating for three days, you just have to tear off the roof tiles. Aren’t you afraid of getting sunburned under such a big sun, running outside every day? Is there gold in the paddy fields, or is it silver that’s so attractive to you?”

“There’s gold! Grandma, don’t you think those golden paddy grains look just like gold?”

“Bullshit gold, people’s daughters would rather spend all day covered up indoors, but you, on the other hand, can’t feel comfortable unless you tan yourself to a crisp, right?”

“Grandma, that’s a misunderstanding, Daohua doesn’t want to turn into charcoal at all. I run outside because I know I won’t get dark, who told me to inherit Grandma’s naturally beautiful skin.”

“Don’t give me that glib talk, even the best skin shouldn’t be abused like that.”

In the courtyard, a little girl in green darted around like a freed rabbit, followed by an energetic, well-coiffed old lady briskly chasing after her.

“Yan Daohua, stop right there.”

“No way, Grandma, stop first.”

“I refuse to believe this old lady can’t catch you today.”

“…Grandma, I was wrong. I won’t go out at noon anymore.”

“There’s no ‘anymore’ for you.”

“Don’t be like that~”

Watching the young and the old, faces not red, breath not quickened, chasing each other, everyone under the eaves was full of admiration.

“Mother’s health seems to be getting better with each passing year.” Yan Zhiqiang, the third child of the Yan Family, grinned as he watched the playful chase between the two in the courtyard.

His wife, Mrs. Wu, smiled with pursed lips: “Isn’t that the truth? As long as Daohua is around, Mother doesn’t have a moment of idle time, and once she starts moving about, her spirits naturally improve.”

Yan Wentao watched his parents, who were too pleased with the excitement, in silence: “Dad, Mom, please advise them. The sun is so intense, be careful of heatstroke.”

Hearing this, Yan Zhiqiang immediately brushed off the smile on his face and quickly stepped into the courtyard, grabbed Daohua, who had red, flushed cheeks, and turned back to the old lady: “Mother, I’ve caught Daohua for you. Let’s go inside and properly discipline her.”

Seeing the bulging muscles on Third Uncle’s arm, muscles that couldn’t even be concealed by his clothes, Daohua sagaciously refrained from struggling and looked pitifully towards the old lady, who was coming over with somewhat heavy breathing.

“Why are you using so much strength? She’s just a girl. How can she withstand you hauling her up like that?”

Seeing her eldest granddaughter being hoisted by her third son, the old lady was immediately displeased, gave him a stern look, and swiftly took the girl into her own hands.

Yan Zhiqiang sheepishly touched his nose, a look of helplessness on his face.

He knew this would be the outcome. In the entire family, it was Mother who cherished Daohua the most. She could punish people herself, but if someone else dared to lay a finger on Daohua, she would immediately become upset.

“`

“Come, follow me inside.”

Old Madam Yan glared at her eldest granddaughter and took her hand, heading towards the hall.

Daohua stopped making a fuss and snuggled up affectionately to the old lady, “Grandmother, I won’t dare to do it again in the future.”

Old Madam Yan snorted coldly, “Even if you dared, you won’t have the chance anymore. Your parents have sent a letter, they will guide you personally from now on, let’s see how wild you can be?”

Upon hearing this, the smile on Daohua’s face instantly fell, “Grandmother, can we not go? Just stay in Yan Village, I think it’s quite nice here.”

Old Madam Yan tapped her granddaughter’s forehead, a touch of tough love in her voice, “You, some people wish they had the chance to live in the county town and can’t, yet you’re the odd one out who doesn’t want to go when given the opportunity.”

Daohua pouted her lips, “The county town isn’t as free as the village.”

Knowing the nature of her grandchild, Old Madam Yan didn’t try to persuade her and pulled her in front of a basin, lovingly rolling up a towel to wipe her face, “You were born quite decent looking, not showing dirt easily, otherwise, how could you marry off when you grow up after being so wild every day?”

At the mention of marrying off, Daohua shuddered, looking pitifully at the old lady, “Grandmother, what marrying off, I’m still little!” In ancient times, making a living wasn’t easy, and at such a young age she already had to think about getting married in the future.

Seeing her granddaughter’s exaggerated reaction, Old Madam Yan chuckled, “Little? You’re already nine years old this year, it’s time you start learning some rules. In the past, your mother sent letters wanting to take you back, and you used this old lady as an excuse to get out of it. This time, your parents want to take both of us back, what excuse will you have now?”

“What the heck!” Daohua shook Old Madam Yan’s arm, indignantly saying, “I didn’t use you as an excuse, granddaughter just couldn’t bear to leave grandmother.”

“Stop shaking, you’ll make this old lady dizzy,” Old Madam Yan pulled her granddaughter to sit down.

Daohua looked at Old Madam Yan and confirmed again, “Grandmother, do we really have to leave, is it absolutely necessary?”

Old Madam Yan nodded affirmatively, “It’s absolutely necessary. You, I really don’t know what’s going on inside that head of yours. If you grow up in the village, you’ll just be a village girl, but if you go to the county town, you’ll be a lady of the official’s family. Think about it yourself.”

Daohua knew that this time she had no choice but to leave, so she didn’t persist on the matter, instead asking, “What about uncle and aunt?”

Old Madam Yan replied, “They will go too. Your father said in the letter that he might be reappointed again, and your mother has bought some land there. Your uncle and his family will help take care of it when they go.”

Daohua propped her chin with both hands, puzzled, “Why hasn’t father been promoted yet? He has been the County Magistrate for three terms already!” It seems his capabilities are somewhat lacking!

Old Madam Yan glanced sideways at her granddaughter, her face also darkening, apparently worried about her eldest son, she sighed, “Your father comes from a humble background, with little foundation; he has no one to support him in his official career, do you think promotions are that easy to come by?”

Daohua didn’t know how to respond to this.

Even though she had lived an extra lifetime, she truly hadn’t dealt with the officialdom before.

Seeing the old lady’s mood dip, she quickly changed the subject, “What about everything here at home?”

Old Madam Yan immediately shifted her attention, “I’ve already thought it through. We’ll lease our land here to those families in the clan who are struggling to make ends meet. As for the house, Zhixin from the fifth branch broke his leg saving someone last year and has had trouble finding work to support his family, so we’ll let them move in to help watch over the house.”

Seeing that Old Madam Yan had everything planned out, Daohua completely gave up hope, “When are we leaving?”

“After the autumn harvest!” Seeing her granddaughter’s reluctant expression, Old Madam Yan rubbed her head, “You don’t know how fortunate you are to be born into such luck, to go see your father who is the County Magistrate, and yet you’re so reluctant.”

“I’m not reluctant,”

Daohua murmured, simply unsure of how to get along with them.

When she transmigrated into this life, her parents in this world were even younger than her previous life’s self!