Ye Hongchang said, “First Uncle knows you enjoy reading and writing. Only after your father went to the Capital did I realize that even as merchants, we must be well-read to properly interact with scholars and literati. Your habit is commendable. These four treasures of the study aren’t worth much, just a small token of First Uncle’s appreciation.”

Ye Yaming had been a knowledgeable person in modern times, and since coming to the Great Jin Dynasty, she had gained an understanding of this era’s four treasures of the study through her regular reading and calligraphy practice.

The set of four treasures that Ye Hongchang was giving would be worth at least two to three hundred taels of silver.

At this moment, two more maids stepped forward with boxes containing a set of gold-inlaid jade jewelry and a set of pure gold ornaments.

Madam Tao said, “These are my gifts of gratitude.”

Ye Yaming spoke with a serious expression, “First Uncle, First Aunt, I cannot accept any of these. Yaqing is my sister, and I would naturally help her in any situation. The bond between us sisters cannot be measured by gold or silver. If I were to accept your gifts of gratitude today, what would that make me?”

Old Lady Ye, who had been sitting nearby, spoke up, “Yaming, your First Uncle and First Aunt are simply expressing their parental love. Think about it—their daughter encountered a scoundrel, nearly lost half her life falling into the lake, could have lost her virtue after being rescued, might have been forced to marry a man with evil intentions, and could have brought trouble upon our entire Ye family. This chain of disasters was prevented because of you. If they didn’t thank you or show some appreciation, how could they call themselves parents or face others?”

“I know you’re a good child who does good deeds without seeking reward, but you must also consider your First Uncle and First Aunt’s position, mustn’t you? They can only be at peace if you accept these gifts. If you feel uncomfortable accepting them, you can simply look after your Second Sister more in the future.”

“Your Grandfather, your Grandmother, your First Uncle, and your First Aunt will all pass on before you and your Second Sister. You two still have long lives ahead. No matter what kind of family your First Aunt finds for Qing’er, no one can predict how her future life will unfold. You are clever and capable. With you looking after her, your First Uncle and First Aunt would feel more at ease.”

In truth, Madam Tao was genuinely grateful to Ye Yaming and had offered these gifts with sincerity.

However, she also felt that Ye Yaming, as a junior and as Ye Yaqing’s younger sister, shouldn’t by rights accept so many gifts. After some back and forth, it would be most proper for Ye Yaming to accept one set of the four treasures from Ye Hongchang and one set of jewelry from herself.

According to her upbringing and her understanding formed over many years as the Ye family’s eldest daughter-in-law, this was the proper etiquette that young ladies should follow.

If the Old Master and Old Lady persuaded Ye Yaming to accept all the gifts, she would feel that the elders were showing excessive favoritism, leaving a rift in her heart.

Now, hearing Old Lady Ye’s explanation, her thinking immediately changed. She became worried that Ye Yaming might refuse the gifts and be unwilling to look after her foolish daughter.

She said, “Yaming, your Grandmother is right. You don’t know this, but I always thought your Second Sister was quite good in every way. But after this incident, I realized she’s truly foolish beyond measure. With a child this naive, I’m genuinely concerned. Only if you accept First Uncle and First Aunt’s gifts of gratitude can we feel reassured.”

Ye Yaming had no desire to accept these things from Ye Hongchang and Madam Tao.

Whether in modern times or this ancient era with its strict tea policies, tea profits were substantial. Tea could be a common commodity sold to ordinary people, or a luxury item crafted into high-end products for the imperial family and nobility.

In ancient times, without carbonated beverages, where there were many gaps to fill in tea production, the tea business had enormous potential. For Ye Yaming, making money was truly a simple matter.

She stepped forward, took the set of four treasures into her hands, passed it to Lu’e, and smiled, “If I refuse everything, First Uncle and First Aunt won’t feel at ease. So I’ll accept this set of four treasures, but please take back everything else.”

Seeing Madam Tao about to speak, she raised her hand in a stopping gesture: “We are family, and isn’t mutual help expected among family members? If I encounter difficulties in the future and need to ask First Uncle and First Aunt for help, would I need to offer thousands of taels of silver before you would help me?”

“No, no, no, how could that be?” Ye Hongchang denied repeatedly.

“There you have it,” Ye Yaming said. “So there’s no need for such formality between us. Too much courtesy creates distance.”

Ye Chongming, who had been silent until now, spoke up, “Hongchang, Yaming makes a good point. Take all those things back.”

In the past, his words and actions had always prioritized his eldest son and the first branch of the family. His eldest son was his heir, and the first branch represented the continuation of the Ye family’s main line.

But somehow, without realizing it, he had gradually begun to side with Ye Yaming, considering matters from her perspective. This was especially true now, when Ye Yaming and the first branch stood on opposite sides, requiring him to show some preference.

Yet Ye Chongming himself had not even recognized this shift.

He simply felt that if Ye Yaming accepted the gifts from the first branch, then in the future, Ye Jiaxing, Ye Yaqing, and even Ye Hongchang and his wife would seek Ye Yaming’s help whenever they encountered problems.

Perhaps at this moment, their gratitude was genuine. But as time passed and that gratitude faded, today’s generous gifts would weigh heavily on their minds, making them feel entitled to Ye Yaming’s help in the future. When the time came for the Ye family to divide their properties, they might even use these gifts as leverage.

With him there, with the Ye family’s tea leaves and teaware business, and with the estate that Ye Yaming had just purchased, she would never lack for money in her lifetime. Why should she accept the burden of obligation to the first branch for the sake of a few thousand taels of silver?

It must be said that Ye Chongming and Ye Yaming were thinking in perfect synchrony at this moment.

Once Ye Chongming had spoken, Ye Hongchang felt disappointed but didn’t dwell on it.

Madam Tao was even more delighted at having shown goodwill in front of her parents-in-law and Ye Yaming while saving a substantial sum of money. She was immediately pleased.

Ye Yaming changed the subject and asked Ye Hongchang, “First Uncle, have you discovered the truth about Yang Chuzhi? What exactly happened?”

“Alas,” speaking of this matter, Ye Hongchang felt another wave of fear, “Yang Chuzhi’s real name is actually Yang An, with Chuzhi being his courtesy name. He is the son of Yang Zhongsheng, a servant of the Yang family. However, shortly after Yang An was born, Yang Zhongsheng saved Yang Hong’s life and was freed, regaining his commoner status, which is why Yang An could study and take the imperial examinations.”

Upon hearing this, Ye Yaming frowned, “So when he told Second Sister that his family owned several hundred mu of land and several shops, that was a lie?”

“We haven’t verified that yet, but it’s likely false,” said Ye Hongchang. “A servant who was freed would have started with very little. No matter how clever or capable, it would be impossible to earn that much money in just over ten years.”