Chapter 14

“Your daughter-in-law pays respects to you, Mother. You must have had a hard journey!”

After helping Yan Zhigao to his feet, Li Family’s Madam hastily let go of Daohua and, with a ‘thump’, knelt down in front of the Yan Family’s Old Madam, the sound of her kneeling no quieter than the one Yan Zhigao made.

Daohua’s eyebrows twitched hard at the sound.

“Good, good, good, these past years have been easier because you’ve been by Zhigao’s side, taking care of household matters, considering everything, you’ve worked hard.” The Yan Family’s Old Madam grabbed Li Family Madam’s hand and quickly helped her up.

She was very satisfied with the eldest daughter-in-law.

Gentle and quiet, dignified and graceful, most importantly, she was empathetic and magnanimous.

Despite being a merchant’s daughter, she managed household affairs tightly and in order, leaving the Old Madam with nothing to complain about.

The approval of the Yan Family’s Old Madam deeply moved Li Family’s Madam, her recently restrained tears spilling out again as she choked, “Mother, this is all that your daughter-in-law should do.”

The Yan Family’s Old Madam still meant to say more, but on the side, another woman knelt down.

“Mother, your second son’s wife pays her respects!”

Without letting go of the hand of Li Family’s Madam, the Yan Family’s Old Madam looked towards the kneeling woman and smiled, “Ah, the second son’s wife, rise, no need to kneel.”

Seeing that the Yan Family’s Old Madam didn’t personally help her up like she did with the Li Family’s Madam, a flash of dissatisfaction crossed Sun Family’s Madam’s eyes, but she quickly replaced it with a smile, got up by herself, and beckoned to a few youths huddled together not far away, “Wenjie, Yihuan, Yile, what are you standing there for? Hurry over and greet your grandmother.”

Yan Zhigao, standing aside, shook his head and said, “There’s no rush, Mother has traveled a long way and must be tired. Let’s let her wash, rest a bit in the backyard, and then it won’t be late to see the grandchildren.”

Sun Family’s Madam’s expression paused for a moment before she smiled, “That’s me not thinking things through. It’s just that Wenjie and the others talk about wanting to see Grandmother every day. I got excited and crossed the line; yes, she should wash and rest first.”

Yan Family’s Old Madam waved her hands with a smile, “This old woman isn’t that tired, but Wentao is, I was carried all the way here by him.” After speaking, she looked around and indeed spotted Wu Family’s Madam in the corner.

“Third son’s wife, what are you standing over there for? Won’t you come over and see your son?” This Wu Family’s Madam, though virtuous enough, was a bit too honest. She had arrived as well and hadn’t come to greet her.

Look at the second son’s wife, how articulate and tactful she is.

With a shy smile, Wu Family’s Madam approached, “Mother, wasn’t I thinking that you haven’t seen big brother and sister-in-law for such a long time? I wanted you to talk more.”

The Yan Family’s Old Madam retorted without a good temper: “Because they want to talk to me, you don’t?”

Wu Family’s Madam shook her hands repeatedly, “No, that’s not it.”

Seeing the somewhat bewildered third aunt, Daohua, who had been standing in the background, walked over with a resigned smile. Not caring whether her presence was desired, she took Wu Family’s Madam’s arm, “Third Aunt, Grandmother is just joking with you, right?”

Upon hearing what Daohua said, Wu Family’s Madam immediately relaxed, looking fondly at Daohua. Seeing dirt on her face, she quickly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe it for her, expressing her heartache, “Poor Daohua, it must have been a hard journey, hasn’t it?”

Daohua: “…” She turned her head to look at Yan Wentao, sighing inwardly: Poor third brother, standing right there, yet ignored by his own mother. How heartbreaking must it be?

In fact, at that moment, Yan Wentao was grinning foolishly.

If Mother liked Daohua, he liked her too. It was only right to be good to her.

It was then that Yan Zhigao finally turned his gaze to his eldest daughter.

Uh… like a little beggar girl.

She was 9 years old and had grown quite tall. As for the rest, it was still not apparent.

Li Family’s Madam was also looking at Daohua, but her attention was more on the arm Daohua had wrapped around Wu Family’s Madam. Seeing them so close, she felt a twinge of sourness.

Her daughter was somewhat distant to her!

Seeing Wu Family’s Madam close with Daohua, the Yan Family’s Old Madam was very happy, yet she eyed Daohua sternly, “You girl, with your own mother right there, still cling to someone else as you did back in Yan Family village, snatching away your third brother’s mother. You better give her back in good time.”

Daohua pouted, “Grandmother, isn’t your favoritism a bit too obvious?”

The Yan Family’s Old Madam chuckled a few times and then turned to Yan Zhigao and Li Family’s Madam, “I’ve brought this girl to you, now you must manage her well in the future.” Disapproval was written on her face, yet her tone could hardly hide her doting.

Yan Zhigao and Li Family’s Madam smiled and repeatedly agreed.

The mother cherished her eldest daughter, and they were also happy in their hearts.

“Mom, let’s go in!”

“Alright!”

Madam Yan was supported by the Yan Zhigao couple as she entered the back courtyard of the County Governor’s Office.

As they passed through the main gate of the County Governor’s Office and saw Aunt Lin with her two children, Yan Zhigao wanted to introduce them to Madam Yan, but she didn’t even glance their way and walked straight past.

Daohua, who was a step behind, caught this situation with the corner of her eye and her lips curved slightly.

Upon entering the back courtyard of the County Governor’s Office, Madam Li, while supporting Madam Yan, turned to look at Daohua, “Daohua, the mistress has ordered a maid to take you to the main compound to wash up. After you’ve freshened up, you can come to Madam Yan’s courtyard.”

Logically speaking, as the mother, she should be by her daughter’s side at all times, especially when she has just arrived. However, since the mother-in-law has also just arrived, she must attend to her personally, or else it would be neglecting her duty as a daughter-in-law.

Madam Yan had intended to ask the eldest daughter-in-law to take care of her granddaughter, but after seeing the second and third daughters-in-law following behind, she thought better of it and did not speak up.

This was not Yan Family Village, and one couldn’t act as whimsically as before. Some things, even if you didn’t like them, you had to endure.

Daohua didn’t see it as a big deal. Soon she saw a maid about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a pretty face and twin buns in her hair, smiling as she approached her. She bent her knee in a curtsy, “Ping Tong sees the big miss!”

Daohua straightened her chest and nodded calmly, “Mmm.”

Having been in ancient times for nine years, it was the first time someone had paid her a formal courtesy. Though she didn’t show it outwardly, she felt a bit nervous inside.

She was well aware that this was the ancient era, where people placed great importance on etiquette and propriety. She certainly didn’t want to become a laughing stock by making a faux pas upon her arrival.

Ping Tong stood up, and even though Daohua’s scent was quite pungent at the moment, her expression did not change as she smiled, “Big miss, let this servant take you to the main compound.”

Daohua looked toward Madam Yan and the others, “Grandmother, father, mother, second aunt, third aunt, Daohua will go and freshen up first and return later to pay respects to the elders.”

Madam Yan nodded with a smile and waved her hand to signal that she could leave.

Seeing how appropriately Daohua had conducted herself, Yan Wentao and Madam Li exchanged a silent look and sighed a breath of relief in unison.

They felt a sense of guilt toward their eldest daughter.

Raised in the countryside, she had not been finely schooled in rules and etiquette. With many people in the County Governor’s Office, it was inevitable there would be some gossips; they did not want their eldest daughter to become the subject of others’ conversations.

Once Daohua had left, Yan Wentao was also led away by a manservant, while the rest of those present accompanied Madam Yan to Songhe Courtyard, which was prepared for her.

Madam Li, “Mother, this is the courtyard the master specially prepared for you. Try living here first; if you’re not comfortable, we can change it.”

Madam Yan shook her head, “There’s no need to go to such expense. I’m just an old woman; where can’t I live? There’s no need for all this changing.”

Yan Zhigao chuckled, “Mother has worked hard for most of her life; your son also wants to fulfill his filial duties.”

Madam Yan, “If you are all doing well, that is already fulfilling your filial duty. By the way, be careful with how you treat Daohua. If I find out you’ve wronged her, I won’t stand for it.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Li’s smile immediately grew wider.

Sun Family, smiling, chimed in, “Mother, Daohua is the eldest brother and sister-in-law’s daughter, who would dare to wrong her?”

Madam Yan, “That’s good to hear.” Saying this, she glanced at her eldest son, her eyes conveying a warning.

Yan Zhigao felt inexplicably scrutinized, though he too cherished his eldest daughter.

Watching from the side, Sun Family was somewhat surprised by Madam Yan’s doting on Daohua and feigned jealousy, “Mother really loves Daohua. Two out of three sentences are about her.”

Madam Yan matter-of-factly, “Daohua is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Yan Family; naturally, I should dote on her more!”

In their first meeting, Madam Yan did not hide her favoritism for Daohua.

In response, the Yan Family members all had their calculations.