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Wang Manman followed behind Daohua, enthusiastically observing their new home.

Daohua Pavilion was spacious, with three main rooms facing north, one open and two dark, and wing rooms on both sides. To the west, there were three wing rooms, a row of rear seats to the south, and a flower trellis corridor to the east, beside which was a small cultivated flower bed.

Daohua was interested in looking around the courtyard, and as expected, she would live here for the next three years or even longer. Hearing Wang Manman’s words, she pondered for a moment, “Father is now the Prefectural Governor, so after Mother finishes her busy work, our family should indeed hire a group of servants.”

Wang Manman: “By then, will more people be added to serve the miss?” Daohua shookher head, “I don’t know, it depends on Mother’s arrangements.” Privately, she had calculated the Yan Family’s income and expenses, and they couldn’t afford too many servants at the moment. If Madam Li were to hire more, she would prioritize those who often went out to socialize.

“Alright, let’s not talk about this for now, let’s think about how to arrange the courtyard instead.”

In the following period, the Yan Family was busy.

Yan Zhigao was busy with the handover at the Prefectural Governor’s Office and getting to know the officials in Xingzhou; Madam Li was occupied with arranging the household affairs, not daring to be negligent for fear of embarrassing her husband.

The others were busy arranging the courtyard and tidying up the household.

Half a month later, Yan Zhigao got a general handle on the personnel and affairs at the Prefectural Governor’s Office, and the other members of the Yan Family gradually adapted to life in Xingzhou.

During this time, Daohua also reorganized her courtyard, with the main rooms serving as guest reception and resting areas, the western wing rooms set up as a study and sewing room, and the rear rows reserved for maid’s quarters.

She also planted some things in the eastern flower trellis. Initially , she wanted to plant vegetables and fruits, but with a reminder from Madam Lt, she changed to flowers and greenery instead.

She had forgotten that noble daughters in ancient times also needed to socialize. If other officials’ daughters visited and saw a courtyard full of vegetables, they might not say anything to her face, but they would surely laugh behind her back.

Not only could her courtyard not grow vegetables, but even the old lady’s yard was not allowed.

For this, the old lady was so angry that she erupted, but in order not to smear her son’s face, she still suppressed her desire to work.

“Grandmother, don’t be angry. When I buy an estate, we can go there to plant,” Daohua consoled the old lady.

Upon hearing this, the old lady found the idea feasible and immediately called Madam Li to arrange that when viewing estates, she must help Daohua buy a small one.

Thus the matter of Daohua buying an estate was settled.

“Miss!”

Wang Manman, holding a flower pot in one hand, hurriedly ran into the courtyard from outside.

Daohua took the flower pot, “What’s wrong, you look in such a hurry?”

Wang Manman, eager to speak, “Miss, you should go to the main courtyard and see, the master has gone over there.”

Daohua was puzzled, “isn’t it normal for my father to go to the main courtyard? What, is there some trouble at Shuangxin Courtyard again?

Wang Manman immediately nodded, “I heard Sister Ping Xiao from the main courtyard say, Miss Yan Yishuang also wants her own separate courtyard. Aunt Lin has asked the master for permission, and since he went to the main courtyard today, it’s probably to discuss this matter.”

Hearing this, Daohua didn’t show much urgency, “Let them talk. Family matters are always managed by Mother, and even if Father has a soft spot for Shuangxin Courtyard, he still has to consider her views.”

Madam Li had always been fair and just in managing household affairs, and even Sun Family, known for being calculating and competitive, couldn’t deny her fairness over the years.

It is true that the courtyards in the backyard of the Prefectural Governor’s Office were more numerous than those at the County Governor’s Office, but there weren’t so many that every child of the Yan Family could have one to themselves.

Madam Li dared to let Daohua live in a separate courtyard; there was a reason

for that.

Daohua was the eldest granddaughter of the Yan Family; her father was the pillar of the family, her mother the household manager, and she lived in her own courtyard. Even if someone in the Yan Family felt uneasy about this, they wouldn’t show it.

But why should Yan Yishuang be allowed to live in her own courtyard? On what basis?

Considering her mother was a concubine?

Main courtyard.

After entering the room, Yan Zhigao drank two cups of tea in succession. It wasn’t so much that he was thirsty, but that the tea from Madam’s quarters, provided by the eldest daughter, was simply a common jasmine tea that tasted better than the expensive tea leaves bought from outside.

Nowadays in the various courtyards of the Yan Family, only the old lady and Madam could often enjoy the gifts from the eldest daughter.

It wasn’t clear if the eldest daughter did this intentionally, but every time the gifts weren’t plentiful; anyway, if he wanted to enjoy them, he needed to visit the main courtyard often or go to the old lady’s place.

After Yan Zhigao finished his tea, Madam Li had Ping Tong bring up some date paste cakes, smiling as she spoke, “Master, please try these. The old lady wanted something sweet these days, and Daohua whipped up this treat.

Yan Zhigao looked at the pastries on the plate. He didn’t like sweet things, yet the fragrance of the date from the pastries was irresistible. He couldn’t help but pick up a piece to taste. After chewing for a while, he picked up another piece, nodding as he ate, “It tastes good.”

Madam Li smiled, “Then, Master should eat more. By the way, is there anything you came here for?”

Yan Zhigao, “Nothing much, I just wanted to ask about the unused courtyards in the back. If they’re empty, we could give one to Yishuang; she’s already eight years old and should have her own courtyard.”

Madam Li’s smile remained unchanged, “I was actually thinking of discussing the matter of the empty courtyards with you, Master. When we first moved in, everyone was busy, so I allocated the courtyards as we did at the County Governor’s Office.”

“Now that Master has brought up the empty courtyards, I would like to share my thoughts.”

Yan Zhigao nodded, reaching for another date paste cake.

Madam Li glanced at the rapidly diminishing date paste cakes,”… The few young ones in the family have grown up, and it’s time they moved out from their parents’ courtyards. Wenxiu definitely goes without saying, as the eldest son and grandson, he certainly requires his own courtyard.”

Yan Zhigao nodded in agreement.

Madam Li continued, “And as for Daohua, being the Yan Family’s eldest granddaughter, it’s reasonable to assign her a courtyard.”

Yan Zhigao nodded again. It was customary for large families to give preferential treatment to the eldest son and daughter; although the Yan Family wasn’t a large family, he, Yan Zhigao, also harbored the aspiration to revive the family’s fortunes, and this was a tradition they could adopt.

Seeing that he had no objections, Madam Li’s expression relaxed a bit, “Thereafter, it’s Wenjie, Wentao, Wenkai, Wenbin, as well as Yihuan, Yishuang, Yile. Wen Hui is still young and definitely needs to stay with the third brother and his family. Thus, the empty courtyards are to be shared by these seven.” “With four courtyards remaining and one reserved for a teacher’s quarters to instruct the young ladies in their studies and etiquette, that leaves only three courtyards for allocation.” Having said this, Madam Li looked at Yan Zhigao with a smile, “What are your thoughts on this, Master?”

Yan Zhigao fell silent.

Previously, Aunt Lin had mentioned to him that since Daohua had her own courtyard, Yishuang should have one too, and he thought there was no problem. But now, hearing Madam Li’s words, he felt he had oversimplified things.

If they gave Yishuang her own courtyard, what about the other children? Moreover, Wenkai was a legitimate son.

Yan Zhigao instinctively reached for another date paste cake, only to discover the plate was empty!

Withdrawing his hand in embarrassment, Yan Zhigao looked at Madam Li, “What do you think, Madam?”

Madam Li didn’t hesitate to voice her thoughts, “According to my earlier plans, Wenjie and Wenbin have always been close; they can share a courtyard. Wentao and Wenkai get along well; they can live in one together.”

“The last courtyard is for Yihuan, Yishuang, and Yile. After all, they have grown up together and study together. Their characters and temperaments are well known; they should be able to get along amiably.”

Yan Zhigao pondered for a while and found no grounds for objection; in the end, he nodded, “Let’s allocate them this way.”