Chapter 252 – The Decline of the Yan Family
As they neared the village, Yan Xiaosi didn’t want to continue discussing this issue with her. She cut straight to the point, “Third Sister, you forgot, in the War King’s eyes, I’m still a man. It’s impossible for the War King to have feelings for me.”
Seeing Yan Xiaosi dressed as a man, Yan Shuyun felt slightly more at ease. “But I still feel the War King’s concern for you is a bit excessive.”
“That’s because I once saved his life. He’s repaying the kindness, that’s why he’s so considerate of me.”
Aside from this reason, Yan Xiaosi really couldn’t think of any other explanation for why Long Yu was so attentive to her.
Yan Shuyun also felt this was likely the reason and stopped dwelling on it.
Having concluded that topic, Yan Xiaosi glanced at her and casually asked, “Third Sister, what do you think of Young Master Liu from the Xu Family Fur Store?”
The sudden mention of Liu Xu caused Yan Shuyun’s delicate face to redden. “Young Master Liu is amiable and quite a good person.”
“Then Third Sister, do you like Young Master Liu?”
Being asked so bluntly, Yan Shuyun’s face flushed even more. “Xiaosi, you rascal, what nonsense are you spouting?”
Yan Xiaosi laughed lightly. “Third Sister, I also think Young Master Liu has a good character and is not bad looking. His family background is pretty good too.”
He had no parents, only an older sister, and Liu Ke seemed to have a good temperament as well. If Third Sister married into that family, she definitely wouldn’t suffer any mistreatment.
Yan Shuyun’s expression turned slightly dejected. “You said it yourself. Young Master Liu has a good family background, good looks, and good character. How could such an outstanding person take notice of me?”
“My Third Sister is also outstanding. Beautiful, good-natured, and skilled at embroidery. A perfect match for Young Master Liu.”
“You rascal, if you keep talking nonsense, I’m going to hit you.” Yan Shuyun raised her fist, pretending to threaten her.
Knowing Shuyun wouldn’t really hit her, Yan Xiaosi didn’t dodge or avoid it. She continued, “Third Sister, I can see you blushing. Don’t keep your feelings for Young Master Liu bottled up inside. What if one day, the Liu family sends a matchmaker to propose to you?”
Would such a day really come? Yan Shuyun felt a sense of longing.
Entering the village, they saw a few women sitting under the big tree at the entrance. Yan Xiaosi didn’t say another word and just tugged on Yan Shuyun’s sleeve as they walked towards the Tian family home.
“Wenfeng’s Mother, weren’t those two who just passed by the children from the Third House of the Yan family?”
“Indeed they were. The one wearing blue robes was Yan Xiaosi and the one in the floral dress was Yan Shuyun.”
“Tsk tsk, Yan Xiaosi looks like a completely different person after changing clothes. I almost didn’t recognize the kid.”
“I heard Yan Shuyun is working as an embroiderer at the Xu Family Fur Store now, earning several silver taels a month.”
The Yan family’s estate had just burned to the ground and now the whole family was crammed into a temporarily erected shack, with all the servants and workers scattered.
Never having suffered such hardship before, Ms. Li was already feeling extremely vexed. Now hearing these women enviously discuss Yan Xiaosi and Yan Shuyun, she suddenly felt a rush of anger surging from her chest to her head.
“No matter how good Yan Xiaosi looks, that child is still a jinx. You ladies, don’t go thinking of marrying your daughters off just because of a pretty face. As for Yan Shuyun, she’s just an embroiderer at the Xu Family Fur Store, what’s so impressive about that?”
If the Yan family estate hadn’t burned down and Yan Bozhang wasn’t locked up in the county jail, no one would have dared refute Ms. Li’s words.
Unfortunately, times had changed. Ms. Li had bullied too many in the past, so someone immediately retorted mockingly, “Being an embroiderer may not be impressive, but it’s still better than having a daughter who shamelessly dallies with men.”
They were clearly insulting Yan Shujing.
Ms. Li instantly glared fiercely at the woman who mocked her. “…You, say that again.”
The woman puffed out her chest and put her hands on her hips. “Say it again? I’ll say it as many times as you want. Everyone knows what kind of goods your own daughter is, are you still afraid of people talking?”
“You damned woman, see if I don’t rip your mouth to shreds!” Ms. Li was about to lunge at the woman when Ms. Hu from the Second House of the family walked over with a gloomy expression.
Ms. Hu grabbed Ms. Li’s arm. “Elder Sister-in-law, you’re so clever, leaving me to tend to Mother alone while you’re out here gossiping with others.”
With the family servants all gone, the task of caring for Old Mrs. Yan naturally fell on Ms. Li and Ms. Hu.
Ms. Li was already in a foul mood from being pulled by Ms. Hu, so she reached out to grab her in return.
Thus, in front of outsiders, the two sisters-in-law quickly began fighting, hairpins and jewelry ornaments scattering on the ground as their hair came loose.
The other village women watched in shock.
“Didn’t they say the Yan family are all educated and have good breeding?”
“What a joke. They’re even more crude than us!”
Old Master Yan waited at home for his two daughters-in-law to return and help wash Old Madam Yan. After a long wait with no sign of them, he hobbled to the village entrance on his cane, just in time to see Ms. Li and Ms. Hu exchanging blows and curses.
Seeing his daughters-in-law disheveled and fighting shamelessly, Old Master Yan felt a rush of anger surging from his chest, nearly causing him to spit up blood.
“You damned disgraces, stop this at once!” Old Master Yan roared.
Ms. Li and Ms. Hu were so startled by his shout that they immediately ceased fighting, both anxiously looking over at Old Master Yan.
“What sins have the Yan family committed to have let you two disgraces marry into our home?” Old Master Yan angrily scolded, pounding his cane on the ground.
Ms. Li and Ms. Hu turned deathly pale with fright.
“Hurry back and tend to your mother-in-law. Otherwise, I’ll have my eldest and second sons divorce you!” he threatened.
Only then did Ms. Li and Ms. Hu hastily pick up their scattered hairpins and jewelry from the ground and slink away.
Both of them were so rattled that they forgot to help Old Master Yan back. He turned and hobbled back on his own, his hunched figure looking frail and unsteady.
Not far from the village entrance’s big tree, Yan Xiaosi and Yan Shuyun clearly witnessed this whole scene.
Yan Shuyun sighed, “I can’t believe the Yan family has fallen to this state.”
Yan Xiaosi replied, “What goes around comes around. This is the retribution they deserve. Third Sister, don’t look anymore. Let’s go back.”
From the moment Yan Wenfeng set fire to the mountain cave, the Yan family should have known a day like this would come. Yan Xiaosi had originally planned to prevent Yan Wenfeng from participating in the county examination and find a way to expose Ms. Li’s adultery to cripple the Yan family. But she had never figured out how that fire that destroyed the Yan estate started and refused to believe it was an accident.
“Xiaosi, Shuyun, you’re finally back!”
Tian Dazhuang hadn’t gone to the cornfield shack yet and had been waiting in the courtyard for Yan Xiaosi. Seeing Yan Xiaosi and Yan Shuyun enter the yard, he stood up to greet them, glancing around without catching sight of Long Yu. The corners of his mouth curved into a smile.
Yan Xiaosi noticed him looking around and asked, “Brother Dazhuang, what are you looking for?”
“Nothing. Xiaosi, that War King didn’t give you a hard time, did he? Oh, those new clothes you bought suit you quite well.”
