Chapter 46: Chapter 39, Praise that Costs Nothing 2
Translator: 549690339 &—
“The old lady said, ‘The eldest girl just hasn’t had her epiphany with needlework yet. Once she does, she’ll absolutely be able to embroider anything she wants to,1”
Hearing this, Yan Zhigao even felt a bit embarrassed and couldn’t resist covering his forehead with his hand.
Seeing this, Granny Sun thought Yan Zhigao didn’t believe her, so she immediately sought to prove her point. “Master, the eldest girl has been skillful with her hands since she was young. You’ve tasted the food she’s made; not to boast, but her cooking skills surpass even the best cook in the kitchen.”
Yan Zhigao actually agreed with that point. “True, Daohua is great at cooking, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she’ll excel at needlework, does it?”
Granny Sun immediately retorted, “How can someone skillful with their hands not be good at needlework? The old lady also said that the eldest girl is just starting with her needlework and hasn’t found the right approach yet. Once she does, she’ll definitely embroider beautifully.”
Since Granny Sun was close to the old lady, Yan Zhigao didn’t want to argue with her, so he reluctantly nodded in agreement, then quickly changed the subject. “Why haven’t mom and Daohua returned yet?”
Granny Sun replied, “They might have walked a bit further.”
Usually, whenever they had time, Daohua and Old Mistress Yan would not only stroll in the backyard of the County Governor’s Office, but sometimes they would also wander the streets.
Yan Zhigao felt guilty for not noticing his mother’s feelings, and afterward, he stayed in Songhe Courtyard, wanting to spend quality time with the old lady. After sitting for a full hour, he finally saw his mother and Daohua return with smiling faces, each carrying a potted plant.
“Mom, where did you two go?”
Yan Zhigao quickly got up to greet them, taking the potted plant from Old Mistress Yan’s hands, then supported the old lady into the house.
Old Mistress Yan was delighted, “Daohua and I walked around the streets and bought back two potted plants.”
Upon hearing this, Yan Zhigao paused, glanced at his cheerful eldest daughter, then looked at his mother, her face flushed with happiness, and ultimately didn’t voice his thoughts about them going out less in the future.
“Mom, remember to take more people with you when you go out in the future.” Never mind, both mom and the eldest daughter had lived freely back at home, and it was understandable that they were unaccustomed to the rule that the women of a major household couldn’t go out at will. They would take it slow.
Old Mistress Yan waved her hand dismissively, “We didn’t go far, just wandered around the County Governor’s Office.”
Daohua, who had been a little anxious at heart, glanced at her foster father and saw that he didn’t object to their outings, so she smiled and said, “Grandmother, Father is showing concern for us.”
Old Mistress Yan immediately smiled, “Alright, we’ll take more people with us next time.” Then she gestured to Yan Zhigao, “Zhigao, come and see. Daohua and I had such good luck today. As soon as we went out, we encountered someone selling red plum bonsais. We bought them for just ten silver pieces.” Yan Zhigao glanced at the bonsai, which didn’t even have a single flower bud, and thought to mention that the red plums in the bonsai were difficult to sustain and they might have been swindled, but seeing his mother so happy, he finally said, “Since when did mother learn to appreciate bonsai?”
To him, spending ten silver pieces on two bonsais wasn’t something his thrifty mother would do.
Old Mistress Yan shot her eldest son a look, “Does one need to learn to appreciate beautiful things?”
Back at home, Daohua loved to fuss around with plants and flowers in the courtyard. Old Mistress Yan had been forced to appreciate them, and truth be told, after being accustomed to vibrant flowers and greenery, she found the pervasive whiteness of the north quite uncomfortable at times.
Yan Zhigao, “Uh…”
He found himself at a loss for words.
Old Mistress Yan couldn’t be bothered to deal with him further and turned to Daohua, “Take good care of these two bonsais. Perhaps by the New Year, we will be able to enjoy the sight of red plums.”
Daohua patted her chest confidently, “Grandmother, just leave it to me.” Looking at the two of them so eager, Yan Zhigao really wanted to dampen their spirits.
Where did his mother and eldest daughter get the confidence that they could keep these two red plums alive?
The red plums were notoriously fussy.
One winter, he had a spat with Aunt Lin, and in an effort to cheer her up, he spent a hundred silver pieces on a cold plum bonsai to brighten her day. Unfortunately, the cold plum died in less than a month.
Just then, Granny Sun came in, “Eldest girl, it’s almost noon. Shouldn’t you start cooking the Laba porridge?”
Daohua slapped her forehead, “I almost forgot about that. Have the red beans and lotus seeds been soaked?”
Granny Sun confirmed, “They’ve been soaked. Manman was personally overseeing it.”
Daohua looked towards Old Mistress Yan, “Grandmother, I’m heading to the kitchen.”
Old Mistress Yan quickly held her back, “Your hands…”
That’s when Yan Zhigao noticed his eldest daughter’s fingers were wrapped in white cloths.
“It’s nothing!” Daohua removed the wrapping to reveal her densely pricked fingers, Grandmother, look, the swelling has gone down.”
Old Mistress Yan was still concerned, “Don’t touch water. Just tell the people in the kitchen what to do.”
“I understand!”
After Daohua left, Yan Zhigao couldn’t help but ask, “Daohua’s needlework…” Old Mistress Yan glanced at him, “My Daohua has skillful hands; needlework is naturally not a problem for her. But as for that Master Qin, I don’t think her needlework is all that great. She has Daohua embroider sachets all day until her hands are swollen. Is she bullying or teaching her?”
I don’t care, if Daohua’s needlework doesn’t improve, you need to find another mentor for her.”
Yan Zhigao wanted to say a few words, but upon meeting his mother’s stern gaze, he immediately backed down.
At the same time, he also felt that Master Qin was wrong.
How could she continue to have his eldest daughter embroider sachets with her hands in that state?
Old Mistress Yan scoffed, “Although the mentors in the house are here to teach several young ladies, Daohua is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Yan Family. Don’t forget that. If she doesn’t learn anything, I don’t see a point in keeping that mentor,”
Yan Zhigao replied, “Mother, how could I forget that?”
Old Mistress Yan said indifferently, “Who knows if you’ve come down with amnesia? Enough of this, go do what you have to do.”
Yan Zhigao felt like his mother was dismissing him, “Mother, let your son stay and keep you company today.”
Old Mistress Yan saw right through him, “You just want to eat the Laba porridge Daohua makes, don’t you?”
Yan Zhigao was speechless…. He was Daohua’s father, could she really fail to honor him with the porridge she made?