Madam Yan nodded: âGo quickly and come back soon.â
Daohua agreed with a smile, then slipped out, taking Yan Wenkai and Yan
Wentao with her.
It was not until they had left Songhe Courtyard that Daohua, smiling, looked at Yan Wenkai and gave him a thumbs-up: âFourth Brother, you were really cool when you hit Yan Wenjie just now.â She didnât even want to call him âSecond
Brotherâ anymore.
Yan Wenkai immediately puffed up with pride, tilting his head back: âRight? Big Sister, let me tell you, your Fourth Brother is awesome. Donât worry, if anyone dares to bully you in the future, Iâll beat them up.â
Yan Wentao took over the conversation: âI can help too.
Daohua, with a beaming smile, felt her mood lift imperceptibly as she looked at her two brothers: âCome on, Iâll make something delicious for you guys.â
Hearing this, Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentaoâs eyes lit up.
In the main courtyard.
Wang Manman had already boiled a pot of water on the stove, alongside two plates of round, white tangyuan, one large and one small, and a jar of fermented wine lees.
Seeing Daohua return with the two Yan brothers, Wang Manman immediately asked with a smile: âMiss, can we start cooking the tangyuan now?â
Daohua nodded: âStart with the large plate.â
Wang Manman: âGot it.â
Daohua took Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao back to her room: âFourth Brother, are your injuries okay?â
Yan Wenkai dismissed it with a wave of his hand: âItâs nothing. Yan Wenjie may be bigger than me, but when it comes to fisticuffs, five of him would not be a match for your Fourth Brother.â After speaking, he shifted his gaze outside.
-Big Sister, can I have a bowl of just the fermented wine lees to drink?â Daohua shook her head: âNo, we need to stay sober for the New Yearâs Eve vigil tonight. How about having tangyuan later?â
Yan Wenkai, feeling downcast, nodded: âAlright then, but I have to say, I want
two big bowls of tangyuan.â
âOkay!â
Daohua laughed: âTonight, you and Third Brother just eat as much as you
want.â
Suddenly, Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao were overjoyed, then hungrily watched the tangyuan cooking in the pot.
After the first batch was cooked, they were about to scoop some up when
Daohua stopped them: âThis batch isnât for you.
Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao looked at each other, puzzled, then watched as
Wang Manman divided the tangyuan into bowls.
Daohua personally cooked the smaller plate of tangyuan afterwards.
When the tangyuan were ready, Wang Manman began to fill the bowls again.
Daohua: âMake sure you donât mix them up.â
Wang Manman smiled: âMiss, donât worry, Iâll personally serve them on the table, there wonât be any mistakes.â
As Daohua helped out, Yan Wenkai sneakily ate a tangyuan from the earlier batch.
âNo problem, right?â
Yan Wenkai scratched his head and then quickly ate one of the newly cooked tangyuan, his eyes suddenly widening.
The two plates of tangyuan, though identical in appearance, were vastly different in taste.
He now understood what Big Sister was up to.
After counting the five bowls of tangyuan from the later batch, Yan Wenkai thought to himself, Big Sister really was estranged from Father, not even giving him a single bowl of tangyuan.
Yan Wenkai thought it over and felt this wasnât quite right.
Although Father had struck Big Sister, he was still their dad. As their children, could they really become estranged from their own father over a slap?
âBig Sisâ¦â
Before he had the chance to speak, Wang Manman left with the tangyuan.
Daohua, turning her head and seeing that Yan Wenkai hadnât eaten, was surprised: âFourth Brother, donât you like the taste of the tangyuan?
Yan Wenkai shook his head: âNo, thatâs not it.â
Daohua: âThen eat up fast!â With that, she picked up her own bowl and started eating.
Yan Wentao, seeing Yan Wenkai scratching and fidgeting, whispered: âYou have to let Daohua vent the frustration in her heart after all, and besides, it was Uncle who was in the wrong this time.â
Hearing this, Yan Wenkai could only nod, stopping himself from discussing the matter further and focused on eating.
In Songhe Courtyard.
Everyone was chatting while snacking.
âOld Madam, Madam, the eldest miss sent me to bring tangyuan for everyone,â Wang Manman announced.
Upon hearing this, Madam Yanâs face brightened: âWeâve been waiting for her tangyuan. Quick, bring it here and let this old woman taste it to see if Daohuaâs cooking skills have improved?â
Wang Manman discreetly distributed the tangyuan.
âHmm-â
âNot bad, Daohuaâs skills seem to have improved from last year.â
Madam Yan looked satisfied, but Yan Zhigao and the people from the Wu Family were somewhat puzzled.
Honestly speaking, they were a bit disappointed with tonightâs tangyuan, which were too ordinary compared to Daohuaâs previous cooking.
Seeing that Madam Li and three members from the Sun Family all seemed to agree, the others felt it odd.
There was no need to praise Daohua so excessively. These were just regular tangyuan, yet they claimed to taste extraordinary flavors in them.
Madam Li caught Sun Familyâs gaze on her and asked: âWhatâs the matter, do the tangyuan not suit your taste, sister-in-law?
Sun Family immediately shook her head.
Madam Li turned away and once again savored her daughterâs tangyuan earnestly.
Delicious!
Seeing Madam Li enjoying herself, as did Wu Family, Sun Family marveled. Only today did she realize that her two sisters-in-law were as talented in acting as Old Madam Yan.
Yan Zhigao and Yan Zhiyuan shared the same thought, of course, their surprise directed at Yan Zhiqiang.
Who would have thought that the usually honest and simple Uncle, for the sake of pleasing their mother, could exhibit such superb acting skills.. Impressive, truly impressive!