The Humble Family’s Daughter Has A Spatial Pocket!
Chapter 724 - 652, Closing the Gap_1

Chapter 724: Chapter 652, Closing the Gap_1

On the thirtieth of March, Daohua knew that Xiao Yeyang had to leave. She rose early and personally cooked a bowl of longevity noodles for him: "Eat quickly, I’m afraid you will have to spend your birthday on the Northern Frontier this year."

Xiao Yeyang smiled and began eating with chopsticks.

After breakfast, Xiao Yeyang went to bid farewell to Gu Jian, who gave him some potent poisons he had concocted. Gu Jian offered some advice, and then he waved for Daohua to escort Xiao Yeyang away.

"I won’t take the people from the new residence with me. If anything happens, go find Deshou. He can contact the Jinling Guard in Zhongzhou."

Xiao Yeyang led Daohua down the mountain, carefully instructing her and giving her the token that signified his authority as an Investigator.

He didn’t know how long he would be on the Northern Frontier and he was truly afraid that, in his absence, someone might bully Daohua.

Daohua examined the token and asked, "If you give the token to me, how will you manage? Don’t you need to prove your identity to others?"

Xiao Yeyang chuckled, "Does my identity still need to be proven with a token?"

Seeing that he didn’t mind, Daohua no longer refused and put the token in her purse.

Soon, they arrived at the ferry crossing.

Xiao Yeyang held onto Daohua: "It’s a hardship to ask you to take care of Uncle over there."

Daohua gave him a sidelong glance: "He is my master."

Thinking that they would be separated for several months or even longer, Xiao Yeyang felt an overwhelming sense of reluctance. He reached out to hug Daohua tightly, burying his head in the nape of her neck and staying silent for a while before murmuring, "Wait for my return!"

Daohua’s heart was also laden with emotion as she let him embrace her: "When you get to the Northern Frontier, you must be careful."

Xiao Yeyang took a deep breath, let go of Daohua, and boarded the boat without looking back. Only when the boat started moving did he turn to look towards the figure on the shore.

Daohua silently watched the boat drift away. Only when it vanished and was no longer visible did she turn away wearily and return to Taohua Temple.

Youthful lovers dread partings the most. Gu Jian had been ready to console his disciple, but to his surprise, when his disciple returned, she asked Wang Manman to bring over a stack of account books.

Daohua began reviewing the spring plowing conditions of the various estates and, seeing her master standing at the doorway staring straight at her, she looked up in confusion and asked, "Master, is something the matter?"

Gu Jian glanced at his disciple’s expression and realized he had worried needlessly. He huffed, "Nothing." Then, turning on his heel, he went back to tending the medicine field in the backyard.

Worried that Gu Jian might sink back into his grief, Daohua quickly said, "Master, once I’ve finished dealing with the spring plowing, you should give me some guidance on my whip technique."

Gu Jian glanced at her and uttered a noncommittal ’hmm’.

Having work to do kept Daohua from dwelling on her thoughts. After reviewing the spring plowing situation of some estates, she asked Wang Manman to call over Yan Shouhou.

"Is the land cleared out from the two barren mountains we bought before the year’s end?"

Yan Shouhou nodded, "It’s been cleared, but the cultivated land is poor and barren. The yield of anything planted there might not be very high."

Daohua was not overly concerned: "That depends on what is planted."

Upon hearing this, Yan Shouhou seemed to have an epiphany, his eyes lighting up: "Miss, are you thinking of planting potatoes on the mountain land?"

Daohua smiled and nodded, "The potato seeds are already ready on my side. Hurry and gather the short-term workers. Make sure that potatoes are planted on both mountain tops before mid-April."

Yan Shouhou quickly nodded, "I will get right on it."

Once everyone had left, Daohua put down the account books and became lost in thought as she looked at the peach blossoms in the courtyard.

Although her grandmother-in-law had decided on her engagement to Xiao Yeyang, this did not mean that everything would go smoothly.

In this age where social status was of critical importance, the Yan Family had shallow roots. Her marriage to a prince’s son was seen as marrying above her station. Xiao Yeyang might not care, but in the eyes of others, she would definitely be considered unworthy of him.

Gossip can overwhelm any individual, and as for me, I seek a marriage of equals, not one mired in condescension or disparity.

There is a genuine gap in social standing between Xiao Yeyang and me, but what I can do now is to try my best to narrow this gap.

In this era, a woman’s status is pegged to her family and male relatives.

As for the Yan Family—I hold no illusions. But my own family...

Although my eldest brother is already a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, there’s still a wait before he can hold office in the Imperial Court.

Currently, my best hope lies in my adoptive father.

In recent years, his accomplishments in office have been commendable, and he’s gained the people’s affection with high-yield grain varieties. However, the fame he’s earned is only regional, around Zhongzhou, just one among the many fourth-rank officials in Daxia, without any particularly outstanding features.

Moreover, climbing the ranks takes time. Even if he completes his term as Magistrate of Ningmen Prefecture with distinction and receives a post in Beijing, at most he might rise one rank to become a Capital Official of the third rank.

This family background is still inadequate for the son of a Prince.

If official rank cannot be elevated swiftly and it takes time to amass cultural depth, then what’s within my power is to raise the Yan Family’s standing.

Lately, I’ve heard much from Xiao Yeyang about the situation on the Northern Frontier—how the Eighth Prince is conspiring and has captured border cities—a clear sign of a protracted standoff with the Imperial Court.

The conflict in the Northern Frontier won’t subside quickly.

Warfare consumes vast resources, and at such a time, what better way to improve one’s standing and become widely known than by donating grain?

With this thought, Daohua rose and descended the mountain, circling the estate. Over the years, she had accumulated many seeds, all now planted—this year, the harvest would surely be plentiful.

In the days that followed, Daohua took over Xiao Yeyang’s place, enduring her master’s intense training. Though she wasn’t as hard-pressed as Xiao Yeyang had been, she still faced the whip daily.

Gu Jian used controlled force, leaving no marks on Daohua’s body with the whip, but the pain penetrated deep into her bones.

In the blink of an eye, May arrived.

After the fifteenth of May, the Yan Residence began putting up festive decorations.

No other reason—May twentieth was the joyous wedding day of Yan Wenxiu, the eldest son and grandson of the Yan Family.

Old Madam Yan said to Madam Lee, "Are the guests from the Han Family settled in properly?"

Madam Lee smiled, "Mother, rest assured, everything is well arranged. In a few more days, you will meet your granddaughter-in-law."

Old Madam Yan nodded contentedly, then with a relieved expression said, "The date Wenxiu and Second Miss Han have picked for the wedding is truly auspicious, barely after the mourning period for Sister Gu."

Yan Zhigao and Madam Lee agreed wholeheartedly.

Other families might not be aware of Old Madam Gu’s status, so not observing the mourning period might be excusable, but if our family, who knew, were to disregard it, His Majesty would certainly be displeased.

Yan Zhigao laughed, "Our eldest brings home a blessed bride indeed."

Madam Lee nodded with a smile.

Old Madam Yan inquired, "When will that girl Daohua return?"

Madam Lee missed her daughter deeply, having not seen her for over three months due to the mourning for Old Madam Gu and caring for Old Master Gu. She replied, "She should be back today."

Old Madam Yan also longed to see her granddaughter and sighed, "Although Daohua and Yeyang’s engagement hasn’t been announced, they have exchanged vows. She’s practically someone else’s bride now."

Madam Lee sighed in agreement. Indeed, who could say otherwise?

The thought of her daughter belonging to another family weighed uncomfortably on her mind.