Chapter 226: Asking for a Gift

 Chapter 226: Asking for a Gift 

As soon as Yan Wenkai heard that Daohua had spent so much time preparing a gift for her own birthday, he immediately became interested. "Where is it? Big Sister, let me see it!"

Daohua was not pleased. "Didn't you just say it was nothing special? I'll change it as soon as I get home."

Yan Wenkai quickly grabbed her arm and shook it. "No, no, I was just kidding! Please, Big Sister, show me the pouch you embroidered for me."

He said, making a pitiful face.

"Our family, Eldest Brother and Fifth Brother have pouches embroidered by their third sisters, Second Brother has one from his second sister, and Third Brother carries the one you made for him before. Though it was a bit ugly, at least it was made by you. But me—I'm the only one in the family who has a pouch bought from outside."

Seeing his pitiful look, Daohua hesitated. "But tomorrow is your birthday. I’ll give it to you then."

Yan Wenkai interrupted her, "It doesn't matter if it's today or tomorrow, I want to see it now!" He started shaking her arm again. 

Xiao Yeyang, who had been silently watching, didn’t say anything. He was also a bit curious. To be honest, he had known Yan Wenkai for a long time, but he had never seen Daohua's embroidery work.

Daohua finally pulled her arm away. "Fine, stop shaking me. I'll ask Man'er to get it."

When Man'er got the signal, she immediately turned and left.

In a short while, Man'er returned with a male-style moon-white pouch.

"Let me see!" Yan Wenkai eagerly grabbed the pouch and started examining it. "Hey, what kind of animal is this?"

Xiao Yeyang also leaned forward to take a look, and upon seeing the adorable panda on the pouch, he immediately laughed. "That's a giant panda, but it does look a bit like you."

Daohua was slightly surprised. "You know about pandas?" 

Xiao Yeyang shrugged. "I saw it in the Sichuan county annals. But how about you? Did you read about it in a storybook?"

Daohua gave him a look of approval. "Of course, I read it in a travelogue."

Xiao Yeyang teased, "You sure read a lot of storybooks."

Daohua retorted immediately, "Not as much as you! You read so much that you even study local county annals."

At this point, with Man'er's help, the pouch was flipped to the other side, revealing a majestic tiger embroidered on it.

"This one is good! This one’s temperament is more like mine!"

Daohua and Xiao Yeyang both looked over, paused for a moment, and then simultaneously shook their heads. "The panda (or giant panda) suits you better."

They both chuckled at the same time.

Yan Wenkai, however, was dissatisfied and muttered, "What are you two saying? I clearly look more like a mountain tiger. Forget it, I won’t argue with you. I’ll go ask Eldest Brother and Third Brother."

With that, he dashed off.

Just as he ran out of the pavilion, he quickly turned around and came back, taking both pots of ink chrysanthemums with him.

Daohua laughed and shook her head. When she turned around, she found Xiao Yeyang staring at her as if he had something to say, but hesitating. She asked in confusion, "What’s wrong?"

Xiao Yeyang finally spoke, "You put a lot of thought into your Fourth Brother's birthday gift."

Daohua responded naturally, "He is my Fourth Brother."

Xiao Yeyang seemed to want to say more but stopped.

Daohua frowned and asked, "What’s going on? Just speak up!"

Hearing this, Xiao Yeyang turned his head, no longer looking at her.

It was Defu, who couldn’t stand it anymore, who quietly said, "Miss Yan, you haven’t given our master any gifts on his birthday yet."

Daohua froze for a moment, then stared at Xiao Yeyang, speechless. "You never told me when your birthday was!"

Xiao Yeyang, hearing this, finally spoke up. "It’s on the first day of June."

Daohua: "I understand now. Next year, I'll definitely prepare a gift for you. Children's Day, that's easy to remember."

Xiao Yeyang's expression finally relaxed, and he asked curiously, "What kind of gift will you prepare for me?"

Daohua smiled mysteriously. "You'll know when the time comes."

Xiao Yeyang: "You can't just go outside and buy me some ink, paper, and a brush set to get rid of me. At least, it can’t be worse than Wenkai’s."

He knew it would be difficult to ask for embroidery, but secretly, he wished he could receive a double-sided pouch made by Daohua herself.

Daohua laughed, "Don't worry, I promise you won’t be disappointed."

Seeing her so confident, Xiao Yeyang couldn’t help but feel a little excited.

The day of Yan Wenkai’s birthday was bustling at the Yan household. Local officials had heard about the event and brought their children along.

After a busy two days, sending Xiao Yeyang and the others off, Madam Li and Daohua finally sighed in relief.

Madam Li, while drinking tea, said, "Thank goodness you helped me, daughter, or I’d be exhausted."

There was always a lot to do around the New Year, and they had originally planned a small family meal for Wenkai’s birthday. Who would’ve thought that so many people would come unexpectedly, and many things hadn't been prepared in advance, so they had to hurry to buy them.

Daohua smiled. "I was just helping Mother out with some errands. You’re the one who’s really amazing."

Madam Li thought for a moment and said, "Once we finish reviewing the accounts from the estate and the shop, everything will settle down. Then we can relax and prepare for the New Year."

After a bit more conversation, the mother and daughter parted ways, and Daohua returned to her own courtyard.

"Man'er, go call Sixth Brother for me."

Daohua took out the land deed Xiao Yeyang had given her. The over three thousand acres were located outside Xingzhou. She needed to see what could be planted there.

Soon, Qin Xiao Liu arrived. "Miss, you called for me?"

Daohua handed him the written address. "Sixth Brother, go check out this place. See what the land is like and the surrounding environment."

Qin Xiao Liu didn’t ask any questions. He took the note and left.

The next day, he returned with the news.

"Miss, the land you asked about is all excellent dry land. The soil is fertile and it’s close to a water source."

Daohua listened attentively. After hearing his report, she didn’t say much, and a few days later, while out gathering red dates, she personally visited the site.

After her visit, she told Qin Xiao Liu, "Sixth Brother, I want to plant medicinal herbs there next year. For now, help me see if you can hire any herb farmers."

"Also, help me gather the seeds for various medicinal herbs. Once you’ve collected them, bring them to me. If we run out of money during the process, just ask Man'er for it."

Qin Xiao Liu nodded, committing everything Daohua had said to memory.

"Miss, weren’t you growing medicinal herbs at the estate in Danlin Village before? Why are you planting more now, and so many?"

After Qin Xiao Liu left, Man'er finally spoke up.

Daohua fell silent for a moment. "Now that we have food, we have to make sure we’re prepared in case of illness."

(End of Chapter)