Ye Yaming said: “We sold the Dragon Well tea recipe for several hundred thousand taels, of which I took ten thousand taels, and six-tenths of the remaining money is still ours. I have several more tea recipes, and when they’re all sold, we’ll have several hundred thousand taels in private money, not to mention the six-tenths share of our vast family property. Giving ten thousand taels to the first branch is nothing.”
Madam Yin’s greatest virtue was that she could listen to reason.
Although she felt pained about the money, she took Ye Yaming’s words to heart. Besides, what use would it be not to accept it? Ye Yaming had already given away the shops, could they possibly ask for them back? Wouldn’t that make them the laughingstock of the first branch? How could Ye Yaming, as the future family head, establish herself in the Ye family then?
She pulled at the corners of her mouth, forcing a stiff smile: “That’s… that’s fine.”
To prevent her tone from sounding too harsh, she added: “You and Qing’er have been close since you were young. For her wedding, if you have money, give whatever you want.”
Ye Yaming stepped forward to hold Madam Yin’s arm, saying sincerely: “Mother, don’t worry. In the future, I’ll take care of you and Father, and you won’t lack money to spend. I won’t neglect my sister either. When Maternal Grandfather and Maternal Grandmother celebrate their birthdays, I’ll send them gifts too.”
“However, Grandfather is a scholar who values integrity. If I send him something too valuable, I’m afraid he wouldn’t accept it. I’ve already asked someone to buy an excellent set of scholar’s treasures and several calligraphy pieces and paintings in the capital. When Maternal Grandfather celebrates his birthday, I’ll give them to him, and he’ll surely like them.”
Hearing this, Madam Yin felt immediately delighted.
Ye Yaming was so generous with her cousin’s wedding gifts, so the birthday gift for her maternal grandfather would certainly be expensive as well. These scholars’ treasures could be passed down as family heirlooms. As a scholar, Yin De’an wouldn’t feel uncomfortable accepting such gifts.
Thinking this way, she felt more at peace.
Ye Yaming was so generous to others, she certainly wouldn’t neglect them and her sister in the future. That was enough.
The next day was Ye Yaqing’s wedding day. Ye Yaming, as her sister, woke up early to accompany her as she got dressed, watching as she put on her bridal veil and was led away by Xie Guizhou holding a red silk ribbon.
This was Ye Yaming’s first time seeing Xie Guizhou.
Xie Guizhou wasn’t very tall, only about 1.72 meters in height. However, his appearance was quite refined, looking like a gentle, cultured scholar.
Although Ye Yaqing was covered with a bridal veil, Xie Guizhou’s gaze toward her still carried affection and tenderness.
Seeing this scene, Ye Yaming felt reassured.
In this life, Ye Yaqing had found a good man. She should live better than in her previous life, right?
The Ye family was marrying off a daughter, so the wedding banquet wasn’t held here, but relatives and friends who knew the Ye family was marrying off a daughter came specifically to give wedding gifts, and the Ye family naturally had to entertain them with a meal.
Previously, these matters didn’t require the attention of unmarried young ladies like Ye Yaming; at most, they would help their fathers entertain the young female guests.
But since Ye Yaming was the next family head, Ye Chongming kept her by his side and introduced her to the relatives.
Ye Chongming was from the main lineage with three brothers, but the youngest brother had passed away in his youth, and the second brother had died of illness at fifty, though his wife and descendants were still around.
Those being introduced by Ye Chongming were relatives from the collateral branches of the Ye family.
Whether it was Second Old Master Ye’s family or those collateral branches, their financial situations were far inferior to the Ye family’s.
Now, hearing that Ye Chongming had changed the successor of the family head from his eldest son to his second branch’s granddaughter, everyone was greatly surprised. However, given the Ye family’s wealth and that it was their family business, naturally, no one would say anything in front of Ye Chongming and Ye Yaming, only smiling and exchanging pleasantries.
Among them, one who was called “Fifth Grand Uncle” by Ye Chongming, now over seventy years old and the highest-ranking and oldest person present, relied on his age to say: “Chongming, have you become confused? Since when does the world let a granddaughter inherit instead of the eldest son and grandson?”
He turned to instruct his grandson: “Go call Hongchang here.”
Ye Hongchang was entertaining his wife’s eldest brother next door, and upon hearing that the Fifth Grand Uncle had called, he hurried over.
“Hongchang, have you been wronged in your family? Your Fifth Grand Uncle is here.” The Fifth Grand Uncle then pointed at Tao Liyang, who had entered with Ye Hongchang, and said, “Your wife’s brother is also here. If you’ve been wronged, your Fifth Grand Uncle will stand up for you.”
Everyone present was a man of some status. Seeing the Fifth Grand Uncle making trouble, they all watched Ye Chongming and Ye Yaming like spectators at a show.
They had thought that Ye Yaming, being a young girl, would surely shed tears when spoken to like this by the Fifth Grand Uncle. Unexpectedly, Ye Yaming remained calm, even having the leisure to look up at Ye Hongchang, seemingly quite interested in his response.
Ye Hongchang was a bit confused.
“Wronged? No.” He quickly denied it, “I haven’t been wronged at all.”
“Still saying no. You’ve had the position of family head taken away, and you still say you haven’t been wronged.” The Fifth Grand Uncle wore an expression of exasperation.
If Ye Hongchang had felt uncomfortable and awkward when he first gave up the position of family head, after so much time had passed, with the Ye family under Ye Yaming’s leadership buying vast tea mountains in Huizhou and Minzhou, and earning substantial profits from Dragon Well tea and its recipe, he had long since been convinced of her abilities.
“In our family, the position of family head goes to the most virtuous and capable. Yaming’s position as family head was not seized by her, nor was it because my father became senile; I willingly yielded it to her.”
Ye Hongchang pointed at Ye Yaming: “This niece of mine…”
Ye Yaming listened as Ye Hongchang went on and on, lavishing her with extravagant praise, and couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. When the Fifth Grand Uncle had accused her of seizing Ye Hongchang’s position as family head, she hadn’t blushed, but now, with Ye Hongchang’s words, her face grew hot.
Ye Chongming seemed unable to listen any longer, and as soon as Ye Hongchang paused, he quickly spoke up: “That’s enough.”
He looked at the Fifth Grand Uncle: “Fifth Grand Uncle, I know you care about the younger generation. But Fifth Grand Uncle, you’re over seventy and not senile yet, so how could I, barely over sixty, dare to be confused? I let my granddaughter become the family head successor naturally because she’s outstanding and can make the Ye family even more prosperous.”
Those present had also learned from Ye Hongchang’s lengthy speech that Dragon Well tea was created by Ye Yaming; not only that, but osmanthus tea and jasmine tea were also her creations. She had personally gone to Huizhou and Minzhou to buy tea mountains and establish new tea gardens.
Regardless, this was a family matter of Ye Chongming’s branch and had nothing to do with them. Moreover, after hearing Ye Hongchang’s speech, everyone felt that if their granddaughters were this impressive and could bring such glory to the family, they might also establish their granddaughters as family heads.
The Fifth Grand Uncle’s grandson quickly smiled and said: “My grandfather has had some wine and likes to talk nonsense when drunk. I’ll help the old man to the guest quarters to rest. Please continue your conversations, everyone.”
The Fifth Grand Uncle had intended to stand up for Ye Hongchang, but was publicly embarrassed by Ye Hongchang’s words, and felt quite humiliated. Seeing his grandson give him a way out, he pretended to be drunk and obediently allowed his grandson to help him leave.