Chapter 744: Chapter 666, Not Afraid of Choking_1 Chapter 744: Chapter 666, Not Afraid of Choking_1 After returning to Ningn Prefecture, Daohua received news that Madam Jiang and her daughter were returning to Beijing.
She was quite happy about this.
Through the incident of the military grain loss, the audacity and madness of the Jiang Family beca apparent.
They dared to steal even though they clearly knew the grain was ant for the Northern Frontier, showing no regard for the national interest at all; it was truly lawless.
Madam Yan had recovered after so ti, and Daohua planned to return to Taohua Village in the next few days. She instructed Wang Manman to pack their belongings while she herself went to see Madam Li in the main courtyard to discuss the matter.
Upon arriving at the main courtyard, seeing Madam Li’s furrowed brows, Daohua asked with a smile, “Mother, what are you worried about?”
Seeing that it was Daohua, Madam Li asked her to sit down before speaking, “Your second sister-in-law just ca over and told they plan to start their journey back to their hotown on the first day of September.”
Daohua raised an eyebrow, “I thought they would drag it out a bit longer before leaving.” She smiled and added, “It’s wise to go back at this ti. Autumn is ending and the weather is neither cold nor hot; traveling won’t be too harsh, and once they’re back in their hotown, they can say they’re checking on this year’s harvest and find a reason to stay on from there. That way, they save face both inside and out.”
Madam Li nodded, “The timing must have been set by your second sister-in-law.”
Daohua showed agreent, “Uncle and Aunt don’t want to go back to their hotown at all; they would delay as long as possible. Since your second brother has always been studying and doesn’t know much about worldly affairs, it must be the second sister-in-law’s decision.”
As she spoke, she looked at Madam Li.
“Did second sister-in-law say sothing that troubled you, Mother?”
Madam Li, “It’s not your second sister-in-law, it’s your second aunt. She said they could return to their hotown, but Yihuan and Yile must stay.”
Daohua imdiately understood Madam Li’s concern. If Yan Yihuan and Yan Yile stayed behind, Madam Li would be responsible for their future marriage affairs.
If it were the third branch of the family, Madam Li might not hesitate, but with the second branch having the experience of arranging Yan Wenjie’s marriage, Madam Li truly did not want to handle their affairs, as it was too easy to attract bla.
The Sun Family already had Zhu Qiyun, who was good enough, yet they were still dissatisfied, and just these past few days had been complaining to Madam Li that she was a jinx, alleging that their branch was separated out after she married into the family.
Madam Li didn’t know what to say after hearing this.
Daohua, “If Mother is reluctant, just say it outright.”
Madam Li sighed, “I could ignore your uncle and aunt’s opinions, but I always have to consider your grandmother’s feelings. Sending your uncle’s family back to their hotown is already hard enough on the old Madam; if I disagree to keep Yihuan and Yile here, the old Madam will probably bla too.”
Daohua thought for a mont, “Mother, let talk to Grandmother. I’ll suggest that Yihuan and Yile go with Uncle and Aunt to stay in their hotown for a while, to see how other families’ daughters live.”
“Over the years, Yihuan has managed on her own, but Yile has always taken for granted everything our main branch has provided. Not only does she lack gratitude, but she even harbors complaints against us.”
“It’ll be good for them to experience life back in their hotown and temper their characters. Later, when it’s ti for their marriage discussions, we can bring them back.”
Madam Li thought it over and then nodded in agreent.
As a daughter-in-law, there were so things she couldn’t say, but her daughter wouldn’t have the sa problems, and the old Madam would be more accepting of her daughter’s words.
Daohua added after so thought, “Mother, considering Uncle and Aunt’s character, we can’t just send the second branch back to the hotown and be done with it. We need soone to keep an eye on them to prevent them from causing more trouble.”
Madam Li, “Your father and I have discussed this matter. We will send soone from the main branch to go with your uncle’s family. Before they leave, your father will instruct Wenjie, and I will also take the opportunity to speak to Qiyun, so they keep a close watch on your uncle and aunt.”
Daohua nodded, then thought about Uncle’s concubine and her child; she hesitated for a mont but eventually didn’t ask. Whatever the family decided to do with them, it was of no concern to her.
…
After sorting out the family affairs, Daohua returned to Taohua Village.
Upon her return, she imdiately started on the autumn harvest and asked Yan Shouhou to bring her this year’s harvest accounts to examine.
Daohua calculated the amount of grain in her hands; if she were to donate to the Imperial Court, the quantity certainly couldn’t be too small, as too little would hardly attract anyone’s notice.
“1 million stones of grain should earn the Yan Family a good reputation, right?”
However, she didn’t have that much grain on hand at the mont, and of course, it was not the best ti to donate grain.
The provinces had only recently collected grain for the Northern Frontier, which now had no shortage of it; donating grain now wouldn’t have much of an effect.
Daohua looked at Yan Shouhou, “Have the second season’s potatoes been planted?”
Yan Shouhou nodded, “They have been planted. Although the yield from the mountainous fields reclaid on the barren hills isn’t as high as on flat land, the output is still quite good, at about 10 stones per mu. Once the land becos more fertile over ti, the yield will increase further.”
Daohua: “I’ve heard many people want to buy potato seeds?”
Yan Shouhou nodded again: “The master has already started to promote the planting of potatoes, and the common people, seeing the high yield of potatoes, all want to plant them.”
Daohua: “If soone cos to the manor to buy potato seeds, tell them to exchange them for grain, wheat or daozi are fine. Go back and calculate it, see how the exchange should work, and rember to price it according to the market rate.”
Yan Shouhou nodded: “This servant understands.”
He was also getting to understand the young lady’s temperant; she never profited from selling grain seeds to the common people, and the high-yield seeds produced by the manor were always sold at the price of ordinary seeds.
Naturally, he would not dare to play any tricks in this matter.
…
On the first day of the ninth month, the second branch of the Yan Family set off for their old ho, and Daohua also ca to see them off. It was only when everyone reached the city gates that they stopped.
Watching the carriage of the second branch disappear into the distance, the people from the main branch and the third branch looked sowhat conflicted.
Yan Zhigao had affairs to attend to in his office, so he had already left first.
On the way back to the city, Madam Li saw Han Xinran curiously looking around outside the carriage and, with a smile, said to Daohua: “Your sister-in-law hasn’t had the chance to properly tour Ningn Prefecture yet. You should accompany her around later.”
Daohua smiled: “Sure.”
Afterward, Daohua took Han Xinran out to stroll the streets.
“Ningn Prefecture may not be as bustling and lively as Beijing, but it has its own unique charm.”
“Different places have different cultures, naturally, it’s not the sa everywhere.”
When it was almost noon, Daohua pulled Han Xinran into a restaurant: “This place does great shrimp and crab. It’s my favorite, and sister-in-law should definitely give it a try later.”
Han Xinran smiled: “Yes, I also love eating crab very much.”
When the two were heading to their private room, they unexpectedly ran into Madam Guo and Guo Xueming, who had also co to dine at the restaurant.
Upon seeing Daohua, Madam Guo imdiately said: “It turns out to be Madam Yan and Miss Yan. A chance eting is better than a planned one, why don’t we all dine together?”
Daohua wasn’t very keen on the idea, but Madam Guo had already extended the invitation, and since she was Xiao Yeyang’s aunt by marriage, it wouldn’t be good for her to refuse directly: “Then I will gratefully accept.”
After arriving at the private room, Daohua noticed that Madam Guo was looking at her strangely, with a hint of scrutiny and a touch of contempt, which made her very uncomfortable.
Guo Xueming was also sizing up Daohua. Since returning from the provincial capital, his mother had made in-depth inquiries about the interactions between his cousin and the Yan Family over the years. Although nothing specific was found out, he learned from Chen Jiarou that his cousin had a very close relationship with Yan Yiyi.
Feeling that the atmosphere was a bit off, Han Xinran took the initiative to invite everyone to start eating as the dishes were served: “Madam Guo, let’s eat. After walking around all morning, I’m starving.”
Madam Guo picked up her chopsticks indifferently.
Everyone began to eat.
During the al, Han Xinran might have been unaccustod to the local flavors and choked a bit, coughing imdiately.
Daohua handed her water, and after drinking several sips, Han Xinran finally felt better.
Seeing Han Xinran’s face flush from choking, Madam Guo spoke up: “It seems that Madam Yan is not suited for this crab. If it doesn’t agree with you, there’s no need to force yourself, to avoid choking again later.”
With that, she gave Daohua a smile.
“People need to be self-aware and know what’s suitable for themselves and what’s not. If one stubbornly reaches for things that don’t belong to them, they’re bound to fall.”
“Just like Madam Yan here, eating food that doesn’t suit her, and winding up choking – that’s just a light consequence. If it’s serious, there might even be allergic reactions that can endanger one’s life.”
“Miss Yan, wouldn’t you agree?”
Daohua looked at Madam Guo and then at Guo Xueming, thought of sothing, and smiled lightly: “Whether sothing suits oneself or not, one has to eat it to find out.”
Madam Guo’s face darkened: “Aren’t you afraid of getting choked to death?”
Daohua laughed: “It won’t be that careless. When I taste delicious food, I am usually very careful and won’t get choked or gagged.” With that, she put down her chopsticks, “Madam Guo, we have had our fill, so we’ll take our leave now.”
Han Xinran quickly stood up, curtseyed to Madam Guo, and then left with Daohua.
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