Chapter 146: Good Times Are Ahead

 Chapter 146: Good Times Are Ahead

“What did you say? The fourth daughter-in-law's elder brother was promoted to Prefect Magistrate of Xingzhou at the beginning of this year?” Old Madam Yang asked in shock.  

The housekeeper nodded. “Yes, the stewardess from the Yan family told the Fourth Madam herself.”

Second Madam Yang muttered, “Such a big thing, and the Yan family didn’t even inform us?”

Upon hearing this, the eldest Madam Yang's expression changed as she recalled the letter from March, when her daughter had accidentally fallen into the water. A sudden jolt ran through her heart.

Old Madam Yang was also puzzled. The Yan family had always treated the fourth daughter-in-law well; such an event would surely have been communicated. Her gaze shifted to her eldest daughter-in-law, whose face had subtly changed, and everything became clear in her mind.

This useless troublemaker!

The housekeeper thought for a moment and then asked, “Madam, should we prepare a room for the visitors from the Yan family? I observed that the Zhou family’s servants treated Miss Fang very courteously, so their relationship must be good.”

"When the Fourth Madam sent the guests away, the Zhou family’s servant even mentioned their return schedule, saying they would go back together."

Old Madam Yang thought for a moment. “Go ahead and prepare. This is the first time the Yan family has sent someone since we’ve been in the capital. We must not lose our manners.”

“These are grape wines, personally brewed by the eldest young lady. I’ve had the honor of tasting it once, and it’s truly delicious. The Fourth Madam may keep it for herself or give it to others, as she sees fit.”

The two large jars of wine could be poured into smaller jars and shared.

“These are sweet rice wine also brewed by the eldest young lady. It’s perfect for making sweet soups in the winter; very nourishing.”

“These vegetables were grown by Old Madam Yan in the warm room. She was worried that the northern cold would make it hard for the Fourth Madam to get fresh vegetables, so she sent a whole cart. Unfortunately, many of them were spoiled on the way.”

“These pots of red plum and winter chrysanthemums were raised by Old Madam Yan and the eldest young lady. They were brought for the Fourth Madam, the young master, and young miss to enjoy.”

Next came other clothing and items prepared by Madam Li, with Miss Fang explaining everything carefully. Then, she looked around the room and cautiously took out a jewelry box.

When the box was opened, even the usually composed Yang Xiujuan couldn’t help but be dazzled.

Inside the box were four flowers—plum, orchid, chrysanthemum, and peach—each made of pearls in different colors, so lifelike and exquisite.

“This is a gift from the eldest young lady for the young miss.” 

Yan Siyu was taken aback. “This is too precious. This should be kept by the eldest young lady herself.”

Miss Fang smiled. “The eldest young lady has plenty more.” She then took out a complete set of fine ink, paper, and brush. “This is for the young master.”

Finally, Miss Fang handed a long box to Yan Siyu. “This is a gift from Old Madam Yan, but I don’t know what it is.”

Yan Siyu touched the box, and upon opening it, she was stunned to find a hundred-year-old ginseng.

Tears immediately welled up in her eyes.

Her mother... still remembered the difficulties she faced after childbirth and had sent this ginseng from so far away to help her recover!

“Miss, don’t worry, good times are ahead! Perhaps one day, the Yan family will come to the capital,” Miss Fang suddenly said.

Hearing this, both Yan Siyu and Yang Xiujuan turned to look at Miss Fang.

Yan Siyu’s tone became urgent. “Is that true? Sister Fang, you’re not joking with me, are you?”

Miss Fang nodded firmly. “Of course not. Our eldest master has been a scholar for several years, and now he’s studying at Wangyue Academy. The imperial examination is within reach.”

“Even the third and fourth masters are practicing martial arts at Wangyue Academy. Their bodies are as strong as calves, preparing to take the military exams.”

“Our Yan family will only get better. Although my master’s current position is just a fifth-rank Prefect Magistrate, he is an honest and upright official, still young. Who can say he won’t rise further?”

“Miss, listen to me. If the Yang family or your husband ever makes things difficult for you, don’t bear it. Madam said that the Yan family can support you now.”

Hearing these words, Yang Xiujuan became equally excited. If her maternal family really came to the capital, then her mother and they would have a strong support.

Afterward, Yan Siyu chatted with Miss Fang for a while, and only when someone from Old Madam Yang’s side came to say the room was ready did they allow the guests to leave and rest.

Once they were alone, Yan Siyu noticed that the box containing the ginseng also held several hundred-tael silver notes. She was overwhelmed with emotion and immediately collapsed on the table, sobbing.

That evening, the entire Yang family learned of the Yan family’s visit and the promotion of Yan Zhigao to Prefect Magistrate of Xingzhou earlier that year.

Lord Yang spoke, "Fourth brother, go ask Fourth Sister-in-law how we should return the New Year gifts. Discuss it with her and draft a list to give to your eldest sister-in-law."

Now a fifth-rank official, Yang Boyi nodded.

He hadn’t expected that his classmate would rise up so quickly, and now his official position was directly equal to his own.

When Yang Boyi returned to the main courtyard of the fourth household, Yan Siyu was distributing the New Year gifts to the other rooms, with Yang Xiujuan helping.

Seeing his wife’s swollen eyes, Yang Boyi’s gaze flickered for a moment. After a brief silence, he smiled and entered the room. “What are you doing?”

Upon seeing her husband, Yan Siyu’s smile immediately faded a little. She softly replied, “I’m preparing to send the New Year gifts from Big Brother and Big Sister-in-law to each household.”

Yang Boyi glanced around the room, his expression slightly surprised.

The Yan family’s New Year gifts were indeed quite generous.

Not to mention the pots of flourishing red plums and winter chrysanthemums, even the jar of wine that Yan Siyu and their daughter were sorting was already filling the room with a strong aroma. Everything was extraordinary.

“It seems that Brother’s family really has prospered, even managing to send grape wine.” He had only heard of it, but had never tasted it.

Yan Siyu glanced at Yang Boyi. “These were made by my family.”

Yang Boyi was truly surprised. “Your Yan family has this skill?”

Yan Siyu replied, “I haven’t been in contact with them for a long time, so I’m not sure.”

Yang Boyi’s expression changed slightly, then he smiled and said, “It’s my fault for being too busy and neglecting to keep in touch with your mother. I will write more often to Big Brother in the future.”

That evening, Yan Siyu sent the gifts to each of the rooms.

Each received a small jar of grape wine, a small jar of sweet rice wine, and two baskets of vegetables.

As for the potted plants, aside from sending a pot of red plum to Old Madam Yang, she kept two pots for herself and gave the rest to her son and daughter to decorate their rooms.

These past years, she had truly neglected her son and daughter. With the gifts from her family, she didn’t want to send them to the other three rooms; she wanted to use them all for her children.

During dinner, the other rooms all expressed their gratitude.

This time, the Yan family’s New Year gifts were quite impressive. Although the quantity was a little small, everything was something rare and not available for purchase in the market.

“Eh, Fifth Sister, is that flower in your hair made of pearls?” The third young miss from the first room immediately noticed the pearl hairpin in Yang Xiujuan’s hair.

Yang Xiujuan smiled and touched her hair, modestly nodding. “This was a gift from my cousin. Do you think it looks good, Third Sister?” She deliberately wore it to show off.

In the past, every year during the New Year, the other three rooms would subtly criticize her mother and her for being poor. This year, she wanted to show them that she also had a maternal family with means.

(End of this chapter)