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From then on, Daohua’s reputation as someone not to be messed with was firmly etched in the minds of everyone in the Yan Family.

She was a tough character who dared to slap even the head of a household in the face!

“Mother, was the brocade originally called Fuguang Brocade?”

Seeing her daughter’s joyful expression as she caressed the brocade, Madam Li felt some of her frustration fade, “Mother did not expect that the fabric your uncle sent was Fuguang Brocade.”

Daohua looked up, “Is Fuguang Brocade very expensive?”

Madam Li nodded, “Expensive is one aspect, the main thing is it’s hard to get hold of. This kind of fabric is usually only supplied to officials and nobility; common folks can hardly come into contact with it.”

Daohua was a bit moved, “My uncle is really good to me.”

Merchants, although wealthy, were unable to obtain many things in the strict social hierarchy of ancient times.

She did not know how much effort her uncle, whom she had never met, had gone through to obtain these rolls of Fuguang Brocade. Fortunately, they were recovered, otherwise, she really would have failed to reciprocate her uncle’s deep affection.

Madam Li stroked Daohua’s head, her eyes shimmering with love and tenderness.

Her daughter standing up for her had truly made her feel comforted.

However, thinking of her husband’s unpleasant expression before he left, she decided to say, “In the future, be a bit nicer to your father when you speak.” “Hmph!”

Daohua snorted coldly, “I was already very restrained today. If it were up to my temperament, I could have said even harsher words.”

She had a significant flaw, which was that she could not tolerate any dissent in her eyes. If someone upset her, she was neither willing nor inclined to hold her tongue.

After the incident with the brocade, her stepfather, in her view, had gone from being somewhat biased to a complete scoundrel. To be able to interact with him calmly was already her greatest tolerance.

“You child, why are you getting more and more worked up as you speak?” Madam Li tapped Daohua’s forehead.

“Mother-” Daohua hooked her arm around Madam Li’s, “You’re just too good, always considering father in everything you do. But what about him? He takes your efforts for granted and doesn’t appreciate them at all.”

She wanted to say that a scoundrel was not worth missing, but afraid of hurting Madam Li, she moved her lips, then swallowed her words back.

Madam Li sighed, “Your father… In the end, the blame lies on Mother herself. I come from a merchant family, and marrying your father was definitely aiming high. You are still young, not aware of how much people value status and identity.”

“Especially someone like your father, a scholar, who generally holds prejudice against merchants. Before marrying your father, Mother was actually prepared to be disregarded.”

“Nevertheless, Mother is fortunate. Although your father favors Madam Lin a bit, he still respects me and is able to be impartial in major matters.”

“Back in my childhood, I had some sisters whose circumstances became difficult. Their husbands squandered their dowries while favoring concubines over wives, and some have been tormented to death.”

“See, compared to others, isn’t Mother much happier? As long as you and your two brothers are well, Mother doesn’t mind anything else.”

Daohua stared at Madam Li, not missing the fleeting melancholy in her eyes, and feeling a sourness in her heart. After a moment of silence, she embraced the woman who was forcing a smile.

Which woman wouldn’t want her husband’s affection? But there’s so much helplessness in reality that forces them to choose endurance and compromise. “If father despises merchants so much, why did he marry you? Since he married you, he should be responsible for you.”

Madam Li patted her daughter’s back, “Your father is not irresponsible. After marrying your father, he has still taken good care of your uncle and others. Having a brother-in-law who is a County Magistrate can save a lot of trouble.” “Marriage is about the union of a man and a woman. So far, Mother’s marriage to your father, whether for the Yan Family or for the Li Family, has been beneficial.”

Daohua looked up, “But what about you?”

Madam Li smiled, “You and your two brothers are the best gifts your father has given me.”

Seeing no trace of resentment on Madam Li’s face, Daohua felt her heart swell, unsure of what to say, and buried her head back into her embrace.

Her mother keeps her father, her two brothers, and her at the very top of her heart, always thoughtful and considerate, but never looking after herself.

Seeing the look of pity on her daughter’s face, Madam Li felt a warm feeling inside. She now deeply understood the saying, ‘A daughter is a mother’s little cotton-padded jacket’.

Isn’t that the epitome of closeness?

Knowing her struggles, standing up for her…

Madam Li affectionately patted Daohua’s back, but soon, the smile faded from her face, worried again as she thought of her daughter’s stubborn and fiery temperament.

People often favor quiet and gentle girls. With a character like her daughter’s, she truly feared she might suffer in the future.

If the Li Family were stronger, it would be fine for the daughter to be feisty, as it would be seen as candidness. But if her husband could not be promoted and remained a County Magistrate, her daughter’s temperament might be criticized as overbearing.

Her husband did well in settling the refugees this time; she wondered if he could move up next year?

Even if he couldn’t, being laterally transferred to a somewhat wealthier county would also be good, so she could find ways to save up more for her three children.

Thinking about Wenxiu’s generation growing up, yet the Yan Family had little to their name, she felt extremely anxious.

Betrothal gifts, dowries, money is needed everywhere!

Although the issue with the brocade had been resolved, the atmosphere in the County Governor’s Office’s backyard remained somewhat strange.

For instance, after that incident, Yan Zhigao had stayed in Shuangxin Courtyard. After being scolded by old Madam Yan several times, he reluctantly agreed to return to the main courtyard to rest.

As he got better, however, Madam Li still hadn’t extended a figurative ladder for him to step down.

Several times he had walked to the entrance of the main courtyard, only to turn back to Shuangxin Courtyard in the end.

With the Lunar New Year approaching, Madam Li was busy preparing things for the celebration, as well as handling the income accounts of the dowry shops and fields for the year, too busy to care for anything else.

Daohua was aware of the situation, but it had not occurred to her to remind Madam Li.

In her view, her stepfather had been spoiled. Previously, every time something happened, it was Madam Li who would capitulate first. This time, the incident with the brocade happened because of him, yet even so, he was unwilling to lower his head to his wife, who was busied with various affairs.

Furthermore, now that her mother was busy to the point of not touching the ground, if her stepfather returned to the main courtyard, her mother would have to spend time serving him, and then she would truly have no time to rest. Since that was the case, so be it!

And Shuangxin Courtyard was indeed unprecedentedly peaceful.

After being taunted so openly and subtly by Daohua in front of so many people, even Aunt Lin with her thick skin could not face others for a short while.

As for the second branch of the family, they were all sly and naturally wouldn’t cause any ruckus at this time.

And the third branch had never been the type to meddle in affairs.

Soon, the twentieth of the twelfth lunar month arrived.

On this day, the county school began its holiday, and Yan Wenxiu, Yan Wenjie, Yan Wenkai, and Yan Wenbin were free from class, bringing some life back to the backyard of the County Governor’s Office.

“Big sister, what are you and Wentao up to now?”

Yan Wentao had gone to the main courtyard and, not finding Daohua there, he went straight to the third branch and found Daohua in the yard, making a snowman with Yan Wentao.

Daohua turned around, and upon seeing him, her smile immediately spread across her face, “Fourth brother, come here, you’re strong, help me shovel the snow.”

Yan Wenkai: “So I’m just hired muscle, eh?” Though he was reluctant to admit it, his actions were sincere, picking up a shovel nearby and joining the two in building the snowman.

Daohua laughed, “Fourth brother, we’re practicing here, and once we get good at it, let’s build one for grandmother too.”

Yan Wenkai nodded, “Sure, I’m up for it. By the way, how are your potted plants? Did they survive?”

Daohua: “Who am I? The little expert in farming, of course they survived.”

Yan Wenxiu and Yan Wenkai both laughed, seeing her proud demeanor.

Yan Wenkai: “After the New Year, father is going to the provincial city to report his political achievements. If your potted plants are presentable, you could have father bring them to our eldest uncle’s house.”

Upon hearing this, Daohua’s eyes lit up, “Really?”

Yan Wenkai nodded, his expression becoming a bit solemn, “The County Magistrate is examined every three years, who knows whether father will be promoted this time?”

After the New Year, he would be thirteen, and already privy to many matters; he was aware that his father’s potential promotion was related to their family’s future development. Recently, his eldest brother had mentioned this frequently.

Daohua and Yan Wentao exchanged glances.

They had no say in this matter, and silence was the best option.

Before long, with the cooperation of the three, a snowman took shape.

In the middle of the process, as Yan Wentao went to find eyes and a nose for the snowman, Yan Wenkai nudged Daohua.

Confused, Daohua asked, “What is it?”

Yan Wenkai looked around before speaking, “When we go back, you should apologize to eldest brother.”

Daohua turned her head away, “Why should I?”

Yan Wenkai rubbed his head in frustration, “Do you plan to not speak with eldest brother for the rest of your life?”

Daohua: “Then why doesn’t he apologize to me?”

Yan Wenkai tapped Daohua’s head, “You’re the little sister, he’s the big brother, when has a big brother ever apologized to his little sister?”

Daohua didn’t like to hear that, “Who’s wrong should apologize, it has nothing to do with age.”

Yan Wenkai widened his eyes, “Why do you have so many wrong ideas?”

Daohua’s gaze was unfriendly, “Does fourth brother think these are wrong ideas? So are you preparing to bully me someday and then wait for me to apologize to you?”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Yan Wenkai immediately denied, then quickly changed the subject, “The New Year is almost here, if you keep this up with eldest brother, mother won’t be happy when she sees it.”

Indeed, upon hearing this, Daohua’s expression softened slightly.

Yan Wenkai was pleased inside, indeed, invoking mother was effective.

For mother, big sister would even dare to confront father, and she would certainly reconcile with eldest brother for mother’s happiness..