Chapter 85: Chapter 84 Aunt Wants a Gift

The couple spoke in front of their children, and both their words and the children’s responses were heard by Tang Shunyan, who had made up his mind that he would definitely send the wet nurse back home during the Spring Festival.

After a satisfying meal, Tang Shunyan chatted again with Daya and the others.

Tang Shunyan read to them the Thousand Character Classic and the Three Character Classic.

Daya, along with her sisters, all told Tang Shunyan stories they had heard from their father, except for Ye Shiqi, who couldn’t speak and just watched silently.

They also knew stories from picture books, which, along with listening to and telling stories, made up the sole entertainment for these rural girls.

Of course, aside from stories, the girls also learned needlework. But these girls had another skill – carving, which they learned from their father.

Tang Shunyan heard them say carving was difficult and they were not good at it; only the youngest sister produced the best carvings, which she gave to him.

Tang Shunyan was pleased and decided to keep those gifts as a collection to show his brothers and boast about the presents he had received.

He wanted to show off the gifts to his brothers and take pride in them.

“Young Master, we should head back now, or it will be dark before we arrive, which might be dangerous,”

the housekeeper came into the room to pick up the young Master and arranged for the maids and the guards to prepare for departure.

“Elder sister, sisters, I will come again,” Tang Shunyan felt exceedingly happy on this day, as happy as he hadn’t been for a long time, even happier than at the estate.

Daya picked up the youngest sister, as now what they couldn’t bear the most was leaving their mother, not Tang Shunyan.

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“Ye Shiqi, your name is very nicely sound. I must find equally beautiful names for your elder sisters,” Tang Shunyan promised Ye Shiqi.

At that moment, Ye Shiqi was in her elder sister’s arms, wondering why this little brat always remembered to give her elder sisters names.

Who cared about him now? Their mother was about to leave; they all hated him, didn’t they? It was he who had taken their mother away.

Ye Shiqi rolled her eyes at Tang Shunyan from her elder sister’s embrace; that little brat was really something.

Mrs. Li waved goodbye to the children, tears in her eyes, as she prepared to leave; she had arrived with a large bundle, and until now, she had forgotten to give it to the children, leaving with empty hands.

“Mother, Mother, don’t go…” Daya, holding the littlest sister, the other four sisters huddled around their mother, clutching her legs and arms, begging her not to leave.

The children’s cries filled the courtyard. Ye Shiqi sighed in her heart, as her mother hadn’t given her any milk since her return, and she was only a few months old.

Whimpering, a nursing mother is a good mother, but a nursing mother didn’t give her any milk, alas…

“Mrs. Li, hurry up and get on the carriage; it’s waiting just for you. Stop dawdling…” Xiu Zhi yelled.

Mrs. Li turned to look at the carriage and saw that everyone indeed had already boarded.

She was to accompany the young Master on one of the two carriages. She gently pulled away from the children’s hands, and as they reached for her again, she told them,

“You all stay good at home, take good care of the littlest sister. Mother will come back soon, and next time, I’ll bring you something delicious.”

Daya, holding her sisters, stood together watching their mother get into the carriage, watching the carriage leave the yard; they ran a few steps behind, crying and calling out.

“Mother, you must come back next time; come back soon.”

“Ah, come back, all of you, don’t chase after it,”

Mrs. Li cradled the young Master in the carriage and leaned out from the carriage window, tears sliding down her face.

“Elder sister, younger sister, I will come again next time, and I will bring you gifts.”

Tang Shunyan also shouted and waved his hand.

In another carriage, Xiu Zhi and the Maid Mei Zhi watched this scene, which resembled a life-and-death parting; they pouted, their minds filled with thoughts of the young Master protecting Mrs. Li and her child, scolding them in front of a large crowd in this poor family’s home.

“She’s not dead, why the fuss?”

Jufeng ignored them; their vision was too limited. Mrs. Li might not have other abilities now, but she had her husband, her daughters, and one day, the young Master would grow up and be even more capable of protecting them.

Mrs. Pan, an experienced old woman, knew that Mrs. Li was the young Master’s wet nurse and that once he grew up, he would surely treat Mrs. Li’s family even better.

This family might look poor now, but it seemed they had the ability to get rich–running a business might even be better than serving in a wealthy family’s home.

The housekeeper rode on his horse, his gaze vigilant, guarding the Young Master’s carriage.

His mind raced, thinking of all he had seen and heard; he would definitely have to discuss these events with the Eldest Young Master and the Old Master.

In the courtyard, as all the carriages and visitors had gone, Ye Shuzhen and Ye Shuzhi started to move. Their first thought was to go to their mother’s room to check the gifts, looking for the presents.

Mrs. Lai had anticipated her daughters’ intentions; once the guests had left, she locked the door, having secured all the gifts in chests.

“Mom, they’ve brought so many gifts; surely they can spare some for us?” Ye Shuzhen was thinking of the fabrics that could be used to make beautiful clothes to show off during the Spring Festival within their social circle.

“Mom, can I have those fabrics that can be used for dowries? I don’t have enough for mine.”

Ye Shuzhi, of course, had the same thoughts as her sister, dreaming of being a beautiful bride with more quilts and clothes.

“No way, you two, really, those are all mine.” Mrs. Lai blocked the door to her room; how could she relinquish what she had already pocketed?

“Mom, Dad, big brother, we had visitors, didn’t we? Where are the guests?”

Ye Shuying had been angry with her family lately and hadn’t paid attention to her parents’ home for several days. It was during a walk after a meal with her son.

She had heard others talking about the multitude of visitors at her parents’ home, bringing many gifts, and enjoying fine food and drink in the courtyard.

Ye Shuying, holding her son, insisted on taking a share of the bounty at her parents’ place.

“The guests are gone!” Mrs. Lai saw her eldest daughter arriving; she hadn’t seen her eldest grandson in a while and wanted to hold him, but then she remembered that her daughter must have come for a share of the gifts. Her initially warm expression became wary.

“Big sister, didn’t you say you weren’t dealing with us? What are you doing here now?” Ye Shuzhen rolled her eyes at Ye Shuying.

“Heh, we’re all family, how could I ignore you? That was just something I said in anger. Weren’t there guests? They must have brought a lot of gifts, mom, give me some.”

Ye Shuying, faced with the choice between gifts and pride, chose the former.

“You don’t get a share of the gifts, but your nephew can have some candy; there’s candy and snacks in your big brother’s room.”

Mrs. Lai quickly diverted her daughters’ and eldest daughter’s attention to her son’s room.

Hong Jizheng pacified his daughters, telling them not to cry and heard the voice of his youngest sister; his brows furrowed. After hearing his mother’s words, he glanced at his children.