Outside the gate of the Li Mansion, firecrackers were exploding with a crackling sound.
There was a constant stream of guests coming to celebrate the birthday, and the servants who greeted them at the door were all beaming with joy.
As you step into the gate of the Li Mansion, you will see a long red brocade extending all the way to the front lobby. Various flowers are placed on both sides, which is a beautiful sight. What attracts the guests most is the two pots of red corals about one person tall at the door. These are rare and good things. There are also white porcelain inlaid hook flower pots for growing flowers, which are densely packed in two rows. How much do these cost!
As you walk further in, you can hear the faint sounds of stringed instruments and pleasant singing.
At the entrance to the front yard, there are several exquisite screens, with bonsai decorated with pearls on both sides. In the middle of the yard, there is a rockery made of longevity peaches, and under the rockery there are piles of gold ingots.
What a luxurious and magnificent scene.
The Li Mansion was full of singing and dancing today. Not only did they invite the best dancers and musicians from the Jiaofang, they also invited the largest opera troupe in Yangzhou City.
This birthday banquet almost blinded the eyes of those who came to celebrate the birthday. Knowing that it was Lin Yixuan's arrangement, everyone praised him highly and praised Madam Li for being so blessed and her grandson's wife for being so filial!
Only Ma Yulian forced herself to smile, she hated Lin Yixuan in her heart. In her mind, she had already taken Lin Yixuan's dowry for herself. Even if it was for the old lady's birthday, she felt uncomfortable. Seeing the luxurious decorations everywhere, she felt more pain than cutting flesh. It was a waste. However, as long as she thought about being able to adopt Li Yaonan and quickly drive these two little beasts out of the house, she felt relieved again. She just hoped that this birthday party would be over quickly. She couldn't wait to kick these two annoying guys out of the house.
Wait until they leave the house penniless and then see how she will deal with them.
Li Yaonan is not a member of the Li family, so she doesn't need to worry about her reputation. She must avenge Zong'er.
Anyway, Li Yaonan is not in the Li Mansion. If something happens, whether he dies or becomes disabled, who can blame her
There was a lively birthday celebration in the hall, and after the congratulations, it was soon the turn of the younger generations to present gifts to the old lady.
Since Li Yaozu was not around, Li Yaonan was the eldest grandson. The couple came forward together, holding two bound scriptures in their hands, knelt down and kowtowed three times, saying in unison: "I wish the old lady good fortune as vast as the East Sea and a long life as great as the Southern Mountains."
The old lady was a little dumbfounded. What was this? Did he want to send her away with just two scriptures? She remembered that Lin Yixuan had a lot of good things. She had been coveting that jade screen that would have hundreds of descendants for a long time.
Li Yaonan lowered his eyes humbly and spoke eloquently: "My grandson has been thinking hard and I always feel that it is not right to give some vulgar things to the old lady on her birthday. Only by doing it myself can I show my sincerity. My husband and I fasted for ten days to copy these two scriptures, and then offered them to the Buddha for three days. I hope the old lady will not despise them."
The old lady smiled stiffly. Outsiders all praised Li Yaonan for his filial piety and sincerity, but what else could she say? She only secretly made up her mind to adopt these two people out as soon as possible. Really, they just knew how to make things difficult for her all day long and even made her unhappy on her birthday.
The old lady called out indifferently.
Li Yaonan and Lin Yixuan returned to their seats. If you look closely, you will find that Lin Yixuan is frowning. At the beginning, Li Yaonan agreed to prepare a gift, so he didn't take it to heart. In addition, he has been very busy these days. He never thought that Li Yaonan would be so stingy. What a damn handwritten scripture, what a damn ten-day fast. Li Yaonan can't live without meat.
With these two noble birthday gifts in front, the valuable items that Li Yaozu had taken great pains to have sent from the capital seemed inferior. This time, the two of them had earned enough fame, and Li Yaonan closed the door and secretly rejoiced.
Then, the Li family members and guests came to celebrate the birthday, and the party lasted until midnight.
This was the first time that Ma Yulian arranged for a member of the Li family to stay in the guest room.
The head of the Li family was also there. Originally, he only wanted to let his son go to celebrate the old lady's birthday, but considering that Li Yaonan was adopted, he decided to come in person.
That night, Li Taian secretly found the clan leader. He expressed his pity for his son in his words, but he could not bear to refuse the clan members' request. He only asked if he could find someone else to adopt his son. At least there would be an elder in front of him, and it would save face for everyone. To be honest, Li Taian still felt a little uncomfortable giving his son to a dead person, as he was living well now.
Li Jingxiang refused righteously. Is Fourth Uncle a person who can be easily provoked? Li Yaonan has been agreed. Fourth Uncle is looking forward to it. If the Li family does not agree, it will be fine. But if they agree and give their son to someone else, who will be responsible if Fourth Uncle really hangs himself
Li Taian returned home in disappointment. After hesitating for a whole night, he could not resist Ma Yulian's persuasion and finally agreed. Anyway, he had no feelings for his son Li Yaonan and his previous considerations were just for the sake of face. Since the clan members insisted and the old lady and Ma Yulian agreed, he had no objection.
That's how it was decided.
The old lady's birthday party was lively for three days, and the guests left reluctantly.
On the fourth day, Ma Yulian could not wait any longer and put the issue of adoption on the agenda.
On that day, Li Taian held a banquet at home and invited all the Li family members who came to celebrate his birthday. He announced on the spot that he would adopt his son to Li Taicheng, the eldest son of the sixth branch of the family.
Li Taicheng said that he was the eldest son, but in fact he had no parents, no brothers, and only two uncles, one of whom passed away two years ago. His fourth uncle was now sixty years old and was outside the five degrees of mourning of the Li family. It was natural for them to have no contact with each other in the future.
The choice of this adopted person was a good one. Li Yaonan had already heard from Li Youxin that Li Taicheng's family was indeed miserable, with both his parents and himself dead. If Li Taian could work well and adopt him out, he might even gain a good reputation. However, Li Yaonan guessed that he didn't have the brains to do so.
Li Taian spoke in a sanctimonious manner, but Li Yaonan just sneered in his heart, feeling sorry for the mother of this body, Zhang, for marrying such a husband.
Even though I knew this would happen today, I still had to pretend.
Li Yaonan gathered his thoughts, looking at Li Taian in disbelief, crying bitterly and kneeling on the ground, his face full of grief: "Father, don't you want your son anymore?"
"Ahem!" Li Taian frowned and scolded, "Nonsense, adopting you out doesn't mean I don't want you anymore. I'm still your father, it's just that the Sixth House is really pitiful. Now that I'm adopting you out, it's also the will of the clan. For the sake of the clan, don't make a fuss anymore."
How shameless! Li Yaonan was full of contempt, but he burst into tears, unable to control his grief. After being adopted, he became someone else's son, and Li Taian still wanted to be his father. How shameless!
Ma Yulian breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Li Yaonan looking like a lost dog, she felt so happy.
Li Yaozong gloated and glared at Li Yaonan with mockery, asking him to attack him. Without the protection of the Li family, how could he be so arrogant
Second Uncle had guessed about this matter a long time ago, and when he saw Li Yaonan crying as if it was real, he felt extremely regretful. If he had known that Li Yaonan was going to be adopted, he should have forced Xin to get the answer. Li Yaonan was a talented person, with a quick mind. It was a pity that he got the adopted son, seeing how the play was performed. In fact, his family also needed a son.
No matter how regretful the second uncle was or how happy Ma Yulian was, the adoption was decided.
The next morning, Li Taian urged the Li clan members to go back and open the ancestral hall.
Li Yaonan did not linger for long. Under Ma Yulian's eager gaze, he loaded two large carts with gifts and moved out the remaining things in Jinglan Courtyard. In front of the old family members, Ma Yulian was angry but she could do nothing.
What's more, the two cars of gifts were actually not that much. After being adopted, he had to recognize his relatives, and there were so many relatives in his hometown. In the eyes of outsiders, Li Yaonan looked desolate and left the Li Mansion sadly.
Before leaving, he also instructed the servants of Jinglan Courtyard that if he and Lin Yixuan left and Ma Yulian could not accommodate them, they should go directly to the new house, clean it up, and wait to welcome them back.
Of course, the so-called servants of Jinglan Courtyard do not include Nanny Li and others.
Amber and Yuzhu had mixed feelings. They had originally thought that they would become the Second Young Master's concubines, but when the new Lady came in, she asked them to copy Buddhist scriptures. They were glad that they did not become the Second Young Master's concubines, otherwise they would have been kicked out by now. At the same time, they were at a loss. The master was gone and the Old Lady would not want them anymore. What should they do then
Nanny Li cried and wailed. It was true that she couldn't bear to leave Li Yaonan. Without the Second Young Master as her master, the Madam would definitely not use her. What would she do in the future? The Second Young Master was rich and stupid. She didn't know how much benefit he had gotten from her over the years. Nanny Li cried so miserably. She was really sad!
But these have nothing to do with Li Yaonan. He never cares about what his servants are thinking. Even if he knows, he will only say one word, "It's what you deserve!" The servant who betrayed his master deserves such an end!
Yangzhou and Suzhou are not far away. It only takes three days to get there by horse carriage, and only one and a half days by water.
This time they took the water route.
After leaving the miserable place of Li Mansion, Li Yaonan felt relaxed both physically and mentally, as if he had returned to his previous life. He was still the elegant and unrestrained second-generation rich man.
Sitting on the big ship heading to Suzhou, Li Yaonan was in a good mood admiring the scenery on both sides of the river, drinking and singing with his clansmen from time to time. In such a short journey, he had established a very good relationship with his clansmen. Seeing this, Lin Yixuan couldn't help but praise him, saying that Li Yaonan was indeed quite skilled in communication.
In addition, the relationship between Li Yaonan and Lin Yixuan has gradually become closer. Although they have not spent a long time together, they have been in the same boat and discussed countermeasures together in the Li Mansion. He truly regards Lin Yixuan as a buddy.
He likes to talk to Lin Yixuan when he has something to say.
If I have good things, I also like to give them to Lin Yixuan to share.
Faced with Li Yaonan's frequent kindness, Lin Yixuan did not feel honored. He had a gloomy face the whole way and was so upset that he wanted to bite Li Yaonan twice.
Since ancient times, there have been many beautiful women in the south of the Yangtze River, and the banks of the Yangzhou River are surrounded by beautiful women.
Li Yaonan's eyes were shining, and he meant to share good things with his buddies. Li Yaonan pulled Lin Yixuan and sat on the bow of the boat to look at the beauties and even commented on them.
Lin Yixuan was so angry! He felt that he was not feeling well. After spending some time with Li Yaonan, he knew that the beautiful maid in Li Yaonan's room was not a concubine. But he never thought that the maid in the house was fine, but the woman outside came. Li Yaonan looked so eager just after leaving the Li Mansion. What would happen in the future...