Huaxi Chronicle

The next day.

Yan Family East Garden, South Court.

As soon as the two of Yan Cong'an came to the dining hall, they saw a person running into the room.

The person who came was not as happy as in the past, his small face was full of weeping, and the pear blossoms were crying with rain.

"Third Sister, Third Sister, please help me." Yan Congle begged while hugging Yan Cong'an's arm, tears rolling down from the corners of his eyes unstoppably.

Yan Congle has always been cheerful and optimistic. Except when she was a child, it was the first time Yan Cong'an saw her cry so sadly. She hurriedly asked, "Don't cry, Xiaole. I'll help you. Tell me first. Say, what happened?"

"I, my daddy, daddy wants to marry me to my sister-in-law, sister-in-law's elder brother, as my continuation wife." Yan Congle cried out of breath, and spoke intermittently.

"Your sister-in-law's eldest brother? Is he the eldest son of the Wang family from the brocade cloth shop?" Yan Cong'an asked in surprise.

Yan Congle's sister-in-law is the concubine of the second room of the brocade cloth factory in Huaxi County, and the Wang family's eldest son Yan Congle said is the legitimate son of Wang's family.

The brocade cloth shop is the largest cloth shop in Huaxi County, and the family's financial resources and property are comparable to those of the Yan family.But according to Yan Cong'an's knowledge, Wang Dalang married a wife and had children more than ten years ago, and now he should be in his thirties, while Yan Congle is only 16 years old.

Yan Hongyuan married the daughter of Wang's second wife, and now Yan Guangyi married Yan Congle to Wang Dalang as his continuation wife.Yan Guangyi's desire to sell his daughter for glory and to win over the Wang family could not be more obvious.

"Third Sister, I don't want to marry Wang Dalang as my continuation wife. Wang Dalang's son is two years older than me. How can I be his stepmother?" At this point, Yan Congle Fang started to cry again. Falling down, "Third sister, third sister, help me, I don't want to be a stepmother."

This matter is really difficult.Marriage matters have always been the orders of parents and the words of matchmakers since ancient times.Yan Congle's parents are still alive, so Yan Guangyi is naturally in charge of her marriage, and it's never Yan Cong'an's turn to intervene.

However, Yan Congle didn't reach the end of the year until the end of the year, so there was still time and room for repayment.

"Don't worry, I'll think of a way for you." Yan Cong'an took out an embroidered handkerchief and wiped away her tears, then asked, "How did you know about this? Aunt Su has also agreed?"

"This is what my father told my aunt last night. He planned to marry me into the Wang family after I was old. My aunt and my aunt also felt that Wang Dalang was too old, and that Wang Dalang remarried the year before last. In less than a year, the man became ill and died of illness."

"My aunt said that she had two wives who died in a row, and she thought his life was too hard, too hard. She also didn't want me to marry Wang Dalang." Speaking of Aunt Su, Yan Congle cried even more sadly: "My aunt and daddy had a big fight I tried a lot, but Father insisted on marrying me to Wang Dalang, and he, he even beat Auntie."

Yan Congle only held onto Yan Cong'an's arm tightly, and said in a dazed way: "Third sister, third sister, tell me what I should do now."

Yan Cong'an took him into his arms, and comforted him: "Don't worry, you won't be married until next year, and now your father can't make a marriage arrangement for you immediately. There is still half a year in between, I will find a way for you , I will definitely not let you marry Wang Dalang."

With Yan Cong'an's promise, Yan Congle finally calmed down a little, slowly stopped crying, and said: "Sister, even if I won't marry Wang Dalang this time, next time Father will marry me to someone else." people I don't know."

Yan Congle thought for a while, wiped away the tears from his face, and said seriously: "Third Sister, I don't want to be like this all the time, don't let my father manipulate me, don't marry casually, I want to be able to make decisions for myself in the future."

Making decisions for oneself is easy to say, but not easy to do.Even for Yan Cong'an's own marriage with Xun Feibai at that time, she had planned for a long time before it had a good result.

Yan Congle wants to make decisions for himself, but there is a way, but this method is too desperate, and Aunt Su must agree to it.

"Even the third sister can't do it?" Yan Congle panicked when he saw Yan Cong'an was silent.

Yan Cong'an sighed and said, "There is a useful method, but the price is higher."

Yan Congle raised his eyebrows when he heard the words: "It's good if there is a way. I just want to make decisions for myself, and don't marry others casually. Third sister, please tell me what can be done?"

"If you set up a female household, you can decide the marriage by yourself."

"Set up a female household? Third sister wants me to set up my own family? But how can Father agree to my establishment of a female household?"

According to the laws of Liang State, men and empresses of Guan must go to the government office to establish a separate household before they can marry a wife. Similarly, women and empresses of Ji can also establish female households.Only those who have established households can marry wives/husbands or recruit new ones, and they also have the right to inherit the family property. Otherwise, both men and women can only marry and not marry wives/husbands.

Another law stipulates that if a woman/man who has not reached the level of the hairpin/crown wants to be independent, if the parents are still alive, they must obtain the consent of their parents.

After establishing their own family, they are independent new households, and all taxes must be borne by themselves.For women, generally only those who want to take part in the imperial examination to enter the world, or only those whose daughters have no males will establish female households in order to preserve their family property.

Yan Congle knew her father and wanted to use her to get ahead, so how could he agree to her to set up a female household.

"I'm not asking you to directly establish a female household, but if you follow my method, you will eventually have to establish a female household. Maybe you have to leave the Yan family. From now on, you will no longer be the young lady of the Yan family .”

Yan Cong'an paused for a moment, and then said: "After you set up a female household, you can only marry a wife or recruit a son-in-law. And you are not good at reading, so you can't go all the way in an official career. Then you have to go out to work like others to support your family, and you can't do it. Let’s go back to the leisurely and carefree days of the past, when you can stretch out your clothes and eat while you open your mouth.”

Yan Congle didn't know how to react after hearing this, and asked in a daze, "Get out of the Yan family?"

"If you want to make decisions for yourself, you have to break away from the Yan family. Otherwise, even if it's not your father, Ah Weng will still interfere in your marriage. You will never be able to make decisions for yourself." Yan Cong'an patiently explained road.

After listening to her explanation, Yan Congle lowered his eyes and remained silent.

Seeing this, Yan Cong'an knew that she was deep in thought, so he didn't bother her, turned around and said to Yuzhu who was beside her, "Go get a basin of clean water and let Wu Niangzi wash up again."

When Yuzhu fetched water, Yan Cong'an patted Yan Congle's shoulder and said, "Wash up again first, you can think about what I told you before making a decision."

When Yan Congle heard this, he obediently went to wash with Yuzhu.When she came back again, Yan Cong'an said to her: "I came so early today, I probably haven't eaten breakfast yet, let's sit down and eat first."

Yan Congle nodded and said, "Third Sister, I've made up my mind."

Yan Cong'an took her hand, patted it and said, "Dinner first, we'll talk after breakfast."

After the three of them had breakfast, Yan Cong'an saw that Yan Congle was hesitant to speak, so he led her to the study.

"Since you've made up your mind, tell me what you want to do."

Yan Congle took a deep breath and said, "Sister San, I want to make decisions for myself. Sister San, tell me what to do next."

Yan Cong'an poured her a cup of tea and said, "There are two ways. The first one is a little simpler, but it requires Aunt Su's consent. The second one is not as secure as the first one, but as long as you If you want to do it yourself, you can do it.”

Yan Congle held the teacup tightly with both hands, made up his mind and said, "Third Sister, tell me."

"The first way is to let Aunt Su reconcile with your father. Now that you are not ready yet, after he and Auntie reconcile, you can move out of Yan's house with Aunt Su. As long as Aunt Su agrees, you can directly Go to the government to become a female householder." Yan Cong'an explained.

"Then what about the second method?"

"If Aunt Su doesn't agree to reconcile with your father, then we can only use the second method. We try to delay as long as possible. After you are old enough, you can go to the government to set up a female household without your father's consent. But if you do this, you will definitely disobey your father's ideas, and may cause him to break the father-daughter relationship with you. And Aunt Su is caught in the middle, so it's definitely not easy to do."

These two methods will actually cause Yan Congle to break the relationship with the Yan family in the end. The difference is that the first method is that she and Aunt Su leave the Yan family together, and the second method is that she leaves the Yan family alone, but after that, Aunt Su's life without her daughter will not be easy.

The reason why Yan Cong'an thought of such a method was because she thought of the account books in her hands.One day, Yan Guangyi will be investigated and prosecuted for selling illegal salt, and Aunt Su and Yan Congle, as his family members, will only end up being used as official slaves.Therefore, Yan Cong'an also hoped that Yan Congle would sever ties with Yan Guangyi as soon as possible, so as not to be implicated by him in the future.

"There is no rush for this matter. You go back and discuss it carefully with Aunt Su before making a decision. In addition, you also need to consider how you will live if you leave the Yan family."

Nuanxiang Pavilion.

After Yan Congle had left for less than a quarter of an hour, Steward Li, who was next to Mrs. Yan, came over and said that Mrs. Yan had something to talk to her about.

Yan Cong'an has been away from home for more than a month, so he really should visit Mrs. Yan today.She followed Li Guanshi to the North Garden, and before she reached the door of Deshou Hall, she heard old master Yan's angry reprimand.

"White lime is used to dehumidify the tea stored in the warehouse. This year's rain is abundant, so we need to change these frequently. You can't even take care of such a simple thing. How can you let me trust you with the entire tea plantation?"

"Spring tea is unsalable due to untimely picking, and now autumn tea is damp and moldy due to improper storage. Have you carefully read the account books of this year's tea house, three thousand seven hundred and fifty-five pennies, a total of three thousand seven hundred and fifty-five Guanqian. Just because of your incompetence, the teahouse lost three thousand seven hundred and five guanqian."

Because of the distance, Yan Cong'an couldn't hear the voices of other people in the room.

I only heard the old man Yan scolded again: "Don't try to excuse yourself and shirk responsibility. The old manager resigned? It's thanks to you that you can say it. If he resigns alone, your tea house can't continue to operate? This is our Yan. My family's tea house is still someone else's tea house. If you hadn't neglected your duties, how could there be such a mistake."

After a bang, there was the sound of crackling porcelain breaking.

"One or two can't do anything. They are either worthless or prodigal. Sooner or later, the Yan family will be ruined in your hands." At this point, the old man Yan couldn't help coughing twice, "Go back to your family!" Xiyuan, don't stand in the way here again."

As soon as Yan Cong'an walked to the door, he saw a person walking out of the hall quickly. This person was Yan Guangyi from the fourth room.

He lowered his head slightly, and his face was gloomy. After seeing Yan Cong'an, his face became even more gloomy.He opened his mouth to speak, but when he saw Li Guanshi behind her, he kept his mouth shut.He just took a deep look at her and went straight out of the North Garden.

The warning in Yan Guangyi's eyes was too straightforward, Yan Cong'an thought that if Manager Li hadn't been there, he would have confronted her directly, and maybe even threatened her.

When Yan Cong'an walked into the door of Deshou Hall, from the corner of his eye, he saw that the old man Yan was looking angry, and he was slamming the account book in his hand on the table.

Boom, boom, boom.

Li Guanshi knocked on the door and said, "Ah Lang, the third lady is here."

"Let her in."

"Ah Weng." Yan Cong'an bowed and saluted after entering the door.

Seeing her, Mrs. Yan calmed down a little, and waved her to come to the table: "Cong'an is here. Come quickly, and sit here with Ah Weng."

After she sat down, Old Master Yan asked bluntly: "You were outside the door just now, did you hear me scolding your fourth uncle?"

Yan Cong'an nodded slightly, and said softly, "I heard a little bit."

Old Mrs. Yan said with emotion: "I have four sons and two daughters, only your father can take on the important task, but God is jealous of talents."

"Ah Weng." Yan Cong'an didn't know how to answer, so he just called out to Mrs. Yan softly.

"You and Fei Bai have been married for some time, what are your plans for the future?" Old Master Yan suddenly changed the subject and asked.

"Fei Bai wants to become an official, and is going to take part in next year's autumn. After the new year, I will go to the capital with her to take the exam." Yan Cong'an replied.

When Mrs. Yan heard what she said, he couldn't help but confirm again: "You want to go to the capital with her?"

Yan Cong'an saw what Old Master Yan meant by calling him today, but he still pretended not to know and said, "That's the plan."

"You should have heard what you said just now. Dalang's family is a dude, Erlang is dull, and Shiro is just as incompetent. A Weng has no one to use now. I don't know who will pass this family business on. "Old Master Yan said bluntly, "I don't know if Cong Enke has the heart to help Ah Weng solve his problems."

Yan Cong'an seemed flattered when he heard the words, but his heart was filled with disgust.When she first returned to Huaxi County, Mrs. Yan was thinking of marrying her out and using her to cling to a wealthy family.Now that he has no one to use, he wants to leave her at home to take charge of the family business.

She suppressed the displeasure in her heart, and refused: "Ah Weng looks at Cong An well, Cong An is weak and lacks energy. Even if he wants to help A Weng solve his problems, I am afraid that he has more than enough energy. I don’t know anything about running a tea house, and it’s even more difficult to take on the heavy responsibility.”

Mrs. Yan didn't know that Yan Cong'an's body had recovered. He only heard her mention that she was weak, so he thought she was still in good health.He remembered Yan Cong'an's appearance when he left Yan's house three years ago, and his body was really not suitable for being the head of the family.

He sighed deeply: "Could it be that the Yan family really has no successors?"

Yan Cong'an followed his words and said, "Don't worry, Ah Weng, if uncle and elder brothers are unreliable, why don't Ah Weng take a look at the remaining siblings."

She paused for a moment, seeing that Old Master Yan didn't look displeased, and then said: "Hong Wen and Cong Le are still young, if Ah Weng is willing to train them, you can take them by your side and teach them, and they will surely become talents."

Her proposal like this coincides with the plan in the mind of Old Master Yan.After he saw through that none of the people in his family had great talents, he began to train the juniors in the family to take over.Except for Yan Cong'an, the other two children are too young.

He originally thought that Yan Cong'an would take over the affairs of the family first, and when the two children grew up, he would choose the most suitable one from the three of them to be the head of the family.Now it seems that Yan Cong'an has no intention of being in charge.He also couldn't force it, so he had to find another way to concentrate on training those two juniors.

Although Yan Cong'an gave Yan Congle an idea, she was not sure that Aunt Su would reconcile with Yan Guangyi.

Although she has a lot of contacts with Yan Congle, she doesn't know much about Aunt Su. She only knows that Aunt Su is from a farming family, but she looks delicate and weak, with a gentle and pleasant temperament.I don't know that such a weak woman will be so determined to reconcile with her husband for the sake of her daughter.

Unexpectedly, Yan Congle left the East Garden for less than three days, and Aunt Su went to the government to make peace with Yan Guangyi as soon as she got off the sick bed.

When Yan Cong'an heard the news, Yan Congle and Aunt Su packed up their packages and prepared to leave Yan's residence.

Outside the gate of the Yan family, in front of the carriage.

Yan Cong'an took Yan Congle's hand and asked, "Why are you in such a hurry, can you find a good place to live?"

"Aniang has an ancestral house in Dahe Village. The house has been vacant since my grandfather left. My Aniang and I are going back to the village."

It has been seven or eight years since Yan Congle's grandfather passed away, the house in the family has not been repaired, it must have been dilapidated, how can people live in it.

Yan Cong'an thought about it, and comforted him: "You two haven't been back to Dahe Village for many years, so going back like this may be very inconvenient. Besides, the house has not been lived in for a long time, so I think it needs to be cleaned up. If you don't I went to Lanxi Villa with your aunt to live for a while, and it happened that you also thought about how to make a living in the future."

"This, this..." Hearing Yan Cong'an say this at first, Yan Congle didn't know how to respond, "I'll ask Aunt." After speaking, she turned around.

Yan Cong'an held her back and said: "Don't ask your mother, now that you have set up a female household, you must learn to make decisions about everything in the family. In the current situation of the two of you, it is most appropriate to live in the villa. "

"Ada, send their mother and daughter to Lanxi Villa." Yan Cong'an ordered the guards behind him.

Yan Congle held Yan Cong'an's hand, her eyes were flushed, "Third Sister..."

Yan Cong'an took out an embroidered handkerchief, helped her wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and comforted her: "From now on, you will be an adult, so you can't cry so much."

Yan Congle nodded vigorously: "I see, Third Sister."