"It's because I didn't explain it clearly, and I still burdened my brothers and sisters with this trip..." Yan Huaiwen looked at his younger brother with clear disapproval in his eyes.
My sister-in-law is so old, and it's cold and the roads are hard to walk, so how can I bother her to come here?
"Are my brothers and sisters feeling unwell?" he asked warmly.
"It's okay, brother, I'm just impatient." Li Xuemei paused, not going to beat around the bush, and asked bluntly: "I wonder which family asked about our eldest daughter's marriage. What did brother mean when he said he didn't formally mention it?"
Yan Huaiwen scanned around.
When the younger siblings arrived at the government office, they went straight to where he and Heng'er lived. In this small room, everyone except Da Ya and the Yan family were present.
Everyone looked at him intently, waiting for a definite answer.
Yan Huaiwen said slowly: "He is the eldest man of Gu Fengcheng. He has three sons and one daughter in his family... The eldest son is married, and the second son is about the same age as the third son and is not yet married. He seems to be interested in marrying my family, but... he is a brother.
Unintentionally, if his family officially mentions it, he plans to refuse it."
The son of Mr. Gu Fengcheng?
Li Xuemei and Yan Laoer looked at each other.
Yan Xiangheng couldn't help but ask: "Dad, how did the eldest man think of getting married to our family? They have never met the eldest sister... Did the Gufeng city guards who came to our village last time tell him?"
The eldest sister is so good-looking, there's no guarantee that she won't be seen talking about her.
Yan Laoer felt that what his eldest nephew asked was not right.
"Brother, does Mr. Gu Feng think highly of your future and want to marry our family?"
Yan Xiangheng was stunned for a moment, shut his mouth obediently, and frowned in thought.
Yan Huaiwen lowered his eyes and acquiesced.
Li Xuemei wanted to know the reason why Yan Huaiwen was unwilling, so that she could have an idea in the future.
"Is there something wrong with the old man's family, or is it that the elder brother of the two children didn't take his fancy?"
"Your Excellency, he has three sons and one daughter, one legitimate son and three concubines... Except for the eldest son, who is the legitimate son of the main wife, the rest are all concubines, all of whom have different mothers..." Yan Huaiwen frowned and said lightly: "The temperament of the first son is not suitable for this.
People, it’s better to be clear and simple.”
Li Xuemei suddenly realized that this was the case.
Yan Yu was speechless.
Four children and four mothers are quite chaotic. If the eldest sister gets married, she will be like a little white rabbit entering a pack of wolves and being devoured by others...
Yan Laoer nodded repeatedly: "We, the eldest, can't deal with such a family. We are born as a direct descendant. It is said that we are heroes regardless of our background. But when we, my daughter, find a family, it is better to keep it simple."
Yan Huaiwen hummed, "No rush, let's take another look, there are at least two or three years left. If we don't find the right one, there's no harm in pushing it back a little further."
Li Xuemei did a mental calculation and found out that in two or three years her eldest daughter would be 16 or 17 years old. She could still push it back. This shows that her eldest brother really cares about his daughter.
This attitude is very comfortable.
Yan Laoer said: "That's right, we won't marry anyone who is not suitable for us. This is a major event in a girl's life, and we can't just settle for it."
Li Xuemei looked at Yan Yu, and Yan Yu took out the account book.
"Uncle, this is our family's account book. The money to build the house has been settled with Master Lu."
Li Xuemei also took advantage of the situation and said: "Brother, I keep the money here, and I will bring it with me when I come back."
Yan Huaiwen's expression remained unchanged and he tapped his fingers lightly on the account book.
At this time, he already understood that the reason why his sister-in-law and Xiaoer came over today was not just about Da Ya's marriage.
Judging from the account books, the family has a balance, and the charcoal business is doing well in the cold weather.
Yan Yu: "Uncle, when I went to Guiyuan before, I heard that someone wanted to sell two wooden boats. I thought I would wait until next spring to have a look. If they didn't sell them and the price was right, our family would
Buy it. If my uncle goes to Beijing to take an exam in the future, we can take our own boat by water, which is very convenient."
Yan Huaiwen: It turns out it fell here.
"Buy a boat? Do you have enough money at home?" he asked softly.
"That's enough!" Yan Yu said hurriedly: "The charcoal can still be sold for a few months. After dad and Mr. Xue finish discussing it, we can share one of the cattle and sheep that we brought back..."
Yan Laoer then said: "You won't be idle after buying the boat. Going upstream and downstream to buy and sell goods will also be an income, and there will be next year's harvest in the fields... Big brother, you and Heng'er can go to college and take the exams, there is no need to worry about money."
Yan Huaiwen laughed.
How should I explain to my family that the situation in the court will change in the next few years, and if I am not careful, I will be plunged into abyss.
He has already gone through it once and faced many obstacles.
There is a safer way in this life. He doesn't want to be too radical and put his family in danger, so he wants to avoid this subject...
"Brother, it's not because of the money that I want to wait for the official position. I really want to have more experience..." Yan Huaiwen said after considering: "I just feel that I am not sure about this subject. Instead of rushing to take the exam, it is better to wait for another three years...
"
He paused and then said: "I haven't thought about this matter yet. I haven't passed the exam yet, so it's too early to mention it now."
"Brother, there is one more thing." Li Xuemei softly told her about the agreement between Yan Yu and Lady Doufu to do business in Fucheng. "... When our family opens a shop, she will provide the recipe, and she will be given dividends within ten years, also on a monthly basis.
Give us the starting salary, and after ten years, the recipe will be ours."
Yan Huaiwen immediately said: "The shop is owned by the waiter, and she is responsible for the capital management. It cannot be confused with the family accounts."
He looked at Yan Yu gently: "Xiaoer, are you confident?"
Yan Yu bit her lip and said, "Uncle, I can do it well!"
Yan Huaiwen nodded approvingly.
He warned: "You must be more attentive to the entrance business, don't rush for success, and put stability first."
…
When Mr. Tian heard that Mrs. Yan Er was coming, he was startled and hurriedly asked Yan Lao Er to find out what was going on.
Yan Huaiwen ordered Yan Xiangheng to take Li Xuemei to the residence of Yan Laoer in Houya to rest.
He took Yan Yu to his ward.
"I originally wanted to give it to you early in the morning, but I forgot about it after I went to Beirong. Let me take a look, do you like it?"
Yan Huaiwen handed over a brown seal.
Made of half stone and half jade, it is small and delicate, just enough to be wrapped by Yan Yu's fist.
The engraving on it is also very simple, with the four characters of Yan Yu's small seal neatly printed.
There is also a small inscription on the side.
Yan Yu recognized the handwriting of his uncle.
"Did my uncle carve it for me?" she asked happily.
Yan Huaiwen smiled and nodded.
"Xiaoer's birthday is on the tenth day of October. As my uncle remembers, your father is on the fifteenth day of the lunar month, which is a few days later than you."
Yan Yu was even more surprised, this was a birthday gift!
"Dad, too?"
"Yes, I'll give it to him later."
"Uncle, I like it so much!" Yan Yu looked over and over and tried to cover his hand.
The faint white traces dispersed little by little.
No matter how you look at it, it is beautiful.
Yan Huaiwen smiled softly and said: "When signing a contract, you can also use the seal."
Yan Yu suddenly said: "Uncle, I looked through dad's old books and there are methods for dyeing cloth. Wait for me to try it. If it works, I can make a new robe for uncle."
