All Hail Cousin Brother

157 Cousin, The Sandalwood Fan Is Really Beautiful

Zhou Linghuai took the box and smiled. “Alright, I’ll listen to you, Cousin.” He changed the topic. “Coincidentally, I have something to give to you too.”

He handed over the box on his lap.

The box was made of paulownia wood, which was naturally textured and carved with an old branch of spring apricots, which looked simple and elegant.

Yu Youyao stroked the apricot flower and recalled that she had accidentally seen through her cousin’s tracks at the Precious Peace Temple. At first, she was really afraid, but when her cousin smiled, the panic and fear in her heart instantly dissipated.

She thought that even if she exposed her cousin’s secret, he wouldn’t hurt her. From now on, if she treated him well, he wouldn’t hurt her either.

She said to her cousin, “I love apricot flowers…”

Her cousin had kept it in mind.

“Did Cousin make this box himself? It’s so beautiful!” Yu Youyao smiled and held the box lovingly, not opening it for a moment.

Zhou Linghuai also smiled. “Open it and see if you like it.”

“Of course, Cousin’s gifts are the best. I definitely like them.” Yu Youyao was overjoyed. She carefully opened the box and saw the sandalwood fan in it. “Cousin, is this fan also made of wood? Cousin even knows how to make sandalwood fans. Cousin is really amazing.”

Zhou Linghuai nodded. “Last year, there were fans in the capital from time to time, but small sandalwood fans were very popular. This year, it’s about the same. There’s extra wood, so I made you a fan.”

There were apricot branches carved on the fan bones. There were only a few strokes, but they were extremely charming.

Yu Youyao unfolded the fan bit by bit. Immediately, the old branches on the fan were slanted, and the branches were filled with red, pink, and white apricots. It looked beautiful and charming.

Yu Youyao flipped to the other side. It was a Chinese parasol branch. Yellow and green flowers grew on the branches. They were beautiful and elegant.

There was artwork on both sides, and the colors were bright and lifelike.

At first glance, it looked alive.

Yu Youyao had never seen such an exquisite fan before. She was surprised and delighted. “Cousin, I’ve never seen such an exquisite fan before. It’s too beautiful. I can’t bear to hold it in my hand, afraid that I’ll break it.”

Zhou Linghuai chuckled. “If it’s broken, I’ll make more for you.”

Yu Youyao pouted. “It must be very difficult to make such a fan. I can’t let Cousin spend so much effort on this. Besides, Cousin still has to make a zither for me.”

He had spent a lot of effort on this folding fan. Zhou Linghuai smiled and did not say anything.

The next day, Yu Youyao received news that the Xie family’s merchant ship had entered the capital. This time, she was accompanied by her third cousin, Xie Jingliu, whom she had never met before.

The Xie Residence had set up a residence in the capital and was currently settling down there. Third Cousin sent a servant to the Yu Residence and officially visited three days later.

This news shocked the entire Yu Residence.

Old Madam Yu even personally met the servant sent by the Xie family.

Quanzhou was a little far from the capital, and the Xie family was a big family. Her grandfather had come to the capital to visit her a few times in the past, but later on, it was always the stewards of the Xie family who came to the Yu Residence.

All these years, Yu Youyao had been in close contact with the Xie family.

Apart from sending her a lot of things when the Xie family’s merchant ship entered the capital every quarter, they also often exchanged letters. Therefore, Yu Youyao had a deep relationship with the Xie family.

In the past, the Xie Residence should have arrived earlier. However, this time, seeing that April was in sight but there was no news from the Xie Residence, Yu Youyao was still muttering to herself.

It was obvious that this person could not withstand being nagged.

Yang Shuwan had recovered long ago, but Yu Youyao had also been praised by Master, so she couldn’t interfere for a moment. She didn’t have a chance to get back the household manager key that she had handed over.

When she heard that the someone from the Xie Residence was going to visit, Yang Shuwan couldn’t sit still anymore and hurriedly went to An Shou Hall.

As she walked, she saw that the entire residence was bustling with activity. Even the old maids were more diligent than usual. However, she was furious inside.

They were really giving face to a dirty scumbag.

After all, the Yu Residence had been a scholarly family for generations and was even an official. When the people from the Xie Residence entered the Yu Residence, they would also be inferior. How could they fawn over them like this?

They really did not have the bearing of a scholarly clan.

Xie Roujia had already been dead for so many years. Even if they were in-laws in the past, their relationship should have faded by now. Otherwise, how could she, as a second wife, handle it?

The old woman stared at the Xie family’s wealth and did not even care about her face.

The person who had returned from the Xie Residence was the master. Yu Youyao was in An Shou Hall, discussing with Old Madam Yu about how to arrange a banquet that the Xie Residence would be holding.

Then, she heard Qing Xiu report, “The doctor is here.”

Old Madam Yu turned to look at her granddaughter. “As her stepmother, it’s true that she hasn’t been recuperating well for a few days and has only just recovered a little. However, she’s already jumping up and down. In the first few days, she came to me and said that she wanted to create the rules and show filial piety to me. How could I not know that it was fake? She just wants to get the household manager’s key back from me.”

Yu Youyao’s pink lips curled up slightly, but she did not say anything.

There were some things that could only be said by her grandmother. As a junior, she could not interfere with her elders.

Old Madam Yu also knew this. “Her illness can be serious or not, but it’s also something that will last for a lifetime. How can I agree to it? If she gets sick in the future, it’ll be my fault and it’ll become a mistake for her to show respect to me.” As she spoke, she couldn’t help but sigh. “This person doesn’t know how to take care of herself when she’s young. When she gets old, she’ll really suffer.”

Her problem would be resolved after careful recuperation.

However, someone just couldn’t be at peace and ended up torturing herself.

Yu Youyao smiled calmly. “Mother is just worried about the family.”

Old Madam Yu did not deny it. She turned around and instructed Qing Xiu, “Please let her come in!”

Qing Xiu agreed and left the inner room.

Immediately after, Yang Shuwan entered the house. She was wearing a bright red peony dress. Her face was also covered in makeup, making her look radiant. She had lost a lot of weight, but she looked more delicate.

After greeting Old Madam Yu, Yang Shuwan looked at Yu Youyao.

Yu Youyao stood up and called out, “Mother.”

Yang Shuwan tightened her grip on her handkerchief, but she smiled and said in a gentle voice, “Yao Yao, you’re here too. It’s been hard on you recently.”

Yu Youyao lowered her head. “Mother, it’s not that hard.”

Yang Shuwan held her hand. “You have to go to school every day and learn the rules from Nanny Xu. It’s also because my health isn’t good enough that you have to help manage the household at such a young age. I’ve been very anxious these past few days. I’m afraid that it will affect your studies and it’ll become my sin.”

Yu Youyao shook her head and said nothing.

Yang Shuwan’s words were to attract attention. The main point was still to come.