Chapter 18 - Yan Family's Old Residence
Actually, Butler Wan didn't really respect Yan Jinyu as much as he seemed to. It was only because he saw that Yin Jiujin valued Yan Jinyu and he wanted to leave a good impression on Yan Jinyu when it wouldn't affect his own interests.
If Yan Qingyu, Fu Ya, and Yan Jinyun were here, he would definitely not treat Yan Jinyu this way.
After all, he was the butler of the Yan Family, and he still had to rely on people with authority in the Yan Family to survive. No matter how much Yin Jiujin valued Yan Jinyu, he still had no say in the Yan Family.
Yan Jinyu could tell what the butler was thinking with one look, but she was too lazy to expose him.
She simply felt that this feeling of relying on someone else's power was very refreshing.
All these years, the reason why others feared her and treated her differently was because of her. Unlike now, the Yan Family's butler and servants' attitude towards her had completely changed because of Yin Jiujin.
"I won't be looking at the flowers in the courtyard. Butler Wan, please lead the way. I want to go to the old residence to take a look. Also, find someone to send this to my room." It didn't matter in the past, but now that her fiance was willing to spend so much effort to nourish her hands and since she had nothing to do recently, there was no harm in following his instructions.
"The old residence?"
The Yan Family's old residence was actually just behind the Yan Family's mansion area. This mansion area had been expanded by the Yan Family in the early years.
As for the Yan Family's old residence, the buildings were more simple and unadorned. Old Master Yan and Old Madam Yan used to live there when they were still alive.
The Yan Family's ancestral hall was also at the old residence.
Yan Jinyu wanted to offer incense to the two elders, so she naturally had to make a trip to the old residence.
But judging from Butler Wan's expression, he didn't seem to be very willing to bring her over.
Butler Wan was afraid that Yan Qingyu and Fu Ya would be unhappy if they heard about this.
Seeing that he was frowning and hesitating, Yan Jinyu narrowed her eyes and chuckled softly. "Why? Is Butler Wan unwilling to lead the way? Or does Butler Wan think that I don't have the right to step into the Yan Family's old residence?"
Butler Wan actually felt a chill down his spine when he was stared at by her smiling eyes, and a few drops of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. "Of… of course not! It's, it's been a long time since anyone went to the old residence. I was too shocked to react when I suddenly heard that Missy wanted to go over."
"If you're not, then lead the way."
"Pardon me for asking, but why are you going to the old residence? There aren't many people there and it's not lively."
Yan Jinyu looked at him and smiled. "What else can I do at the old residence after I return to the Yan Family 16 years later? Naturally, I'm going to meet the deceased ancestors of the Yan Family."
Butler Wan shuddered again.
For a moment, he could not understand why her words sounded so strange even when there's nothing wrong with them.
What was even stranger was that she was clearly a country bumpkin who had grown up in a small place and had not seen much of the world. Why did she not show any signs of cowardice? She did not seem to be uncomfortable with her current state either.
Yesterday, he overheard her conversation with her parents, saying that she still had memories from the time when she was two years old. Perhaps that was why she was able to adapt to this new environment so quickly?
As he thought about it, Butler Wan looked at Yan Jinyu again. However, the moment he met her smiling eyes, his gaze immediately moved away.
"Missy, please follow me." He instructed the servant standing at the side. "Zhao Ling, send Missy's things back to her room."
Zhao Ling was the housekeeper who brought Yan Jinyu to the small villa at the back yesterday. She was already a little afraid of Yan Jinyu. After she saw Cheng Lin, Yan Qingyu, and the others' attitude towards Yan Jinyu, she was the one who was the most respectful towards her in the Yan Family.
Upon hearing the butler's instructions, she took a quick glance at Yan Jinyu and hurriedly replied, "Yes, I'll send them over now."
***
It took more than 20 minutes to walk from the Yan Family's main building to the old residence.
At the entrance of the old residence, Butler Wan stopped. "Eldest Missy, we're here." Other than people who came to clean regularly, there was usually only an old butler guarding the place. There wasn't much human presence, so it looked a little eerie.
Butler Wan did not want to go in.
"Given my status, I'm not allowed to enter the old residence without permission. I can only send Eldest Missy here."
"Okay, you may go back now. You don't have to wait here."
Hearing this, Butler Wan was speechless. Wait here? The only reason he would lead the way for her was because Master Nine's attitude towards her was a little different. Did she really think that she was the Yan Family's legitimate eldest daughter?
Wait here? She really dared to ask!
"Please help yourself then, Missy."
Yan Jinyu no longer cared about Butler Wan, who left angrily. She looked up at the vermillion door in front of her.
Although her room was in the main building in the early years, she had actually spent more time in the old residence.
Among the twins, Yan Jinyun's body was weaker than hers, and she was more likable than her. Her parents liked Yan Jinyun much more than her. Grandmother probably saw their biases, so she tried her best by bringing her to the old residence so she could take care of her.
To her, the significance of the old residence was far greater than the main building in front.
She raised her hand and pushed open the vermillion gate. An elegant courtyard greeted her eyes.
Although the Yan family was the number one family in North City, the old residence was not luxurious and looked similar to an ordinary courtyard house. However, the decorations inside were all the best.
Probably due to the good weather, some old items were brought out to bask in the sun on the stone slab in the courtyard. An old man was sitting on a low stool at the side and wiping one of the items.
The old man looked to be between 70 to 80 years old.
Hearing the commotion, he raised his eyes and looked over. When he saw Yan Jinyu walking in, his slightly cloudy eyes suddenly lit up. Amidst his shock, there was also joy, "M-madam?"
Then, he shook his head and denied, "No, you're not Madam. Even if Madam is still alive, she's no longer looked this young. Who are you?"
Yan Jinyu had just returned to the Yan family home last night, and very few people would go over to the old residence. Therefore, this old man obviously didn't know that she had returned to the Yan Family.
"Yan Jinyu," Yan Jinyu said calmly and continued walking in.
The old man was shocked by her again and almost dropped the old item in his hand. Fortunately, he reacted quickly and caught the item.
He put it down and stood up with trembling hands, "Y-you're Miss Yu?"
Yan Jinyu's eyes moved slightly, but it was only for a moment. It was as if the different emotions in her eyes were just an illusion. She nodded slightly, "Grandpa Xin, it's me." Her tone sounded a little distant.
Yan Xin. The older generation all had servants who grew up within the family. Yan Xin grew up with Yan Jinyu's grandfather in the Yan Family so it was normal for him to have the surname Yan.
"Y-y-you're back?" The seventy-six-year-old man shed tears just like that, "Miss Yu, you're finally back. Master and Madam… Master and Madam couldn't wait for you to return…"
As he spoke, he walked towards Yan Jinyu, "Let's not talk about this anymore. It's good that you're back now! Old Master and Madam can be at ease now that they know about this. The sun is shining outside.. Miss Yu, please enter the house first."