Chapter 418: Chapter 394: Ti Flies_1
As soon as Daohua entered the Chuihua Gate, Yan Wenqi and the other four found it hard to take their eyes off her.
They saw Daohua, dressed in a sky-blue and green plum embroidered cross-collared vest, a white embroidered waistband, and an off-white round-neck soft long skirt, walking slowly towards them.
With a smile on her face like blossoming flowers, and graceful gestures, she exuded the elegance and deanor of a distinguished family.
“I heard there were guests as soon as I ca back, let see, who are the guests? I wonder if they still rember ?”
Before she got close to the Water Pavilion, Daohua called out to Yan Wenqi and his companions with a smile.
Among the five, Yan Wenyi was most familiar with Daohua. As soon as she finished speaking, he smiled and stepped forward: “Of course we rember you, but I wonder if you still rember us?”
Daohua quickly replied: “I could forget anyone but you, Brother Wenyi.” Saying this, she approached Yan Wenyi, surveyed him all around, and laughed: “Brother Wenyi, you’ve done well, becoming more handso as the years pass.”
Yan Wenyi scratched the back of his head, feeling embarrassed: “I can’t compare to Sister Yiyi, you’ve grown even more graceful. I hardly dare recognize you.”
Hearing this, Daohua burst into laughter: “Since when did you beco so eloquent, Brother Wenyi?”
Yan Wenyi grinned widely, noticing that Daohua still joked with him just like when they were young, without any sense of estrangent. This comforted him greatly.
If Daohua had been as prim and proper, speaking and behaving formally like Yan Yihuan and the other two, he would have felt extrely awkward.
“Brother Wenge, Brother Wenqi.”
Daohua greeted Yan Wenge and Yan Wenqi with a smile as they approached and then turned her gaze to Yan Yunxi and Yan Yunyan, who were walking at the back: “Yunxi, Yunyan.”
As everyone got closer, she asked: “It’s been a long ti, how is everyone doing?”
Yan Wenqi replied with a smile: “All is well, how have you been these years?”
Daohua: “I’ve been fine.” She then walked toward the silent Yan Yunxi and Yan Yunyan, “Why aren’t you speaking? Do you not recognize ?”
Yan Yunyan imdiately greeted with a smile: “Yiyi.”
Yan Yunxi followed suit: “Yiyi.” Her expression was slightly unnatural; their relationship back at ho wasn’t very good.
Daohua, smiling, took their hands: “You’ve finally co. You must stay for a while this ti. Grandmother has been missing the people from ho for a long ti. We have a lot to talk about.”
“Ahem!”
Suddenly, a cough ca from behind. Daohua turned around and saw her eldest brother, imdiately beaming with a smile: “Big brother.” Saying this, she placed her hands on her waist and gave Yan Wenxiu a formal curtsey: “Congratulations on your success in the imperial examinations.”
Yan Wenxiu waved off the complint with a laugh: “That’s an overstatent. It was just the provincial exam. By the way, did you congratulate Brother Wenge and Brother Wenqi?”
Daohua paused, “Huh?”
Yan Wenxiu smiled and said: “This provincial exam, besides , Brother Wenge and Brother Wenqi also passed.”
Daohua’s face lit up with joy: “Really?!” Turning to face Yan Wenge and Yan Wenqi, she said, “I am remiss for not knowing such joyous news and truly deserve to be blad. I hope you, brothers, won’t be angry with .” After speaking, she curtseyed to the two of them.
Yan Wenqi hurriedly said: “Sister Yiyi, please don’t say that, you just ca back.”
Daohua stood up, smiling: “Thank you for not holding it against .” Then she tilted her head towards Yan Wenyi, “Brother Wenyi, when will you pass the exam?”
Yan Wenyi scratched his head, smiling sheepishly: “Sister Yiyi, please don’t make fun of .”
Yan Wenge comnted with a smile: “He, being sixteen this year, still can’t sit still. If not for grandfather controlling him, who knows how wild he’d be.”
Upon hearing this, Daohua imdiately asked: “Is Uncle Zhishi doing well?”
Yan Wenge nodded with a smile: “Grandfather is still quite vigorous, it’s just that his eyesight is failing. Reading and such, we have to do it for him.”
Yan Wenxiu: “We all shouldn’t stand here, let’s go talk in Grandmother’s room.”
So, everyone headed towards the Yan family matriarch’s courtyard.
On the way, Daohua walked alongside brothers Yan Wenge and Yan Wenyi, asking in detail about Uncle Zhishi’s condition.
The elderly man not only enlightened her, teaching her to read and write, but also imparted much wisdom and knowledge, for which she held great respect in her heart.
Yan Yunxi and Yan Yunyan walked at the back of the group, both occasionally glancing at Daohua.
“When I saw Yan Yihuan and her two companions yesterday, I thought that was all there was to the daughters of wealthy families. But today, after seeing Yiyi, I realized they don’t quite asure up.”
Yan Yunxi had a complex expression. As a child, she didn’t know better and always liked to compare herself with Daohua, but now, she couldn’t even muster that thought.
It simply wasn’t possible; the gap was too vast.
It wasn’t just the difference in attire but also the dignity and grace that ca with their status and position.
Yan Yunyan fell silent for a mont before saying, “Yiyi… after all, is the legitimate eldest daughter of Great Uncle Yan’s family, naturally not soone Yihuan and the others can compare with.”
Yan Yunxi nodded and took a closer look at Daohua’s attire, whispering, “Yiyi’s outfit is so much nicer than what Yihuan and her group were wearing. Did you see the jade Five Blessings Long Tassel Gongtai tied around her waist? The way it sways when she moves is just so pretty. When I get back, I’ll have to make one just like it.”
Yan Yunyan looked up and saw the gongtai intermittently visible beneath the sheer skirt – it truly was beautiful.
Before long, the group arrived at Songhe Courtyard.
Daohua paid her respects to Old Madam Yan, then took Yan Yunxi and Yan Yunyan to sit down by the old lady’s side, and they all started talking about the situation back ho over the years.
Because Daohua was there, Yan Wenqi and the other boys were much more at ease. Even if they accidentally said sothing inappropriate, she would skillfully interject, and when the conversation stalled, she quickly steered it towards topics they were familiar with.
The whole room was filled with happiness.
“By the way, Brother Wenqi, has the Clan Leader’s rheumatism gotten any better?”
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Yan corrected her with a smile, “Your Clan Leader Grandfather passed on the position to your Uncle Zhishi the year before last. Rember not to get it wrong again in the future.”
Daohua looked surprised, then nodded with a smile, “I will definitely not make the sa mistake again.”
Yan Wenqi sighed, “It’s the sa as always. Sotis when it rains or snows, he can’t even sleep because of the pain.”
Old Madam Yan imdiately said, “Daohua has prepared so dicated wine for , and I felt rather good after using it. I’ll send so with you to take back for your grandfather when you all leave.”
Yan Wenqi imdiately stood up to thank her, “Thank you, Great Grandmother.”
Whenever Grandfather fell ill, their whole family would be beside themselves with worry, yet they were helpless. The doctors in the county town all tried but to no avail.
Great Grandmother is the mother of the Magistrate, so the dicated wine she uses must be excellent, and it will likely help Grandfather. With that, he could only gratefully accept.
Old Madam Yan quickly dismissed it with a wave of her hand, “We are all family, no need for thanks.”
Because Old Madam Yan needed her midday rest, the visitors soon dispersed after a while.
Once everyone had left, Daohua sat down beside the old lady and asked curiously, “Everything seed fine; what made Brother Wenqi and them think to visit us?”
Old Madam Yan smiled, “After your father was promoted to Magistrate, the clan has long wanted to co for a visit. This ti your eldest brother returned to the old ho for the imperial examination, Wenqi and the others took the opportunity to co with him under the pretense of celebrating my birthday.”
Daohua nodded, “Then they’re going to stay for quite a while.” Her grandmother’s birthday wasn’t until November.
Old Madam Yan said, “They ca so early, probably because the Clan Leader and your Third Great Uncle wished for your father to offer so guidance to Wenqi and Wenge.”
Daohua said, “Then they might be disappointed. Father is so busy, he probably won’t have ti to guide them.”
Old Madam Yan replied, “Even if he doesn’t have ti to instruct them, it’s still beneficial for them to observe your eldest brother and learn from him.”
Daohua agreed, “That is true.”
She continued, “To beco an official, it’s not enough to only be scholarly. One must also be capable of handling practical affairs, all requiring experience and practice.”
“Well, Grandmother, go ahead and take your nap. I should also go freshen up.”
After leaving the old lady’s courtyard, Daohua exhaled deeply, and seeing Yan Wenqi and the others brought back mories of her childhood in the Yan family village. A sense of ti fleeting welled up within her. In the blink of an eye, she and her childhood friends had all grown up.
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