Chapter 1377

"Changing how you address me is fine for later," the old madam said. Although she was a bit disappointed that her chosen third daughter-in-law wouldn't call her 'Mom' right away, she understood the young girl was shy. She knew Zhu Yanyi would change her title once they were engaged. Still, she felt a little guilty. "Yanyi, let me ask you something."

"What is it?" Zhu Yanyi saw the serious look on the old madam’s face and became serious too, wondering what she would ask.

"You won't dump my fourth son later, will you?" The worried look in the old madam’s eyes almost made Zhu Yanyi faint.

She thought it would be a big question, but it was this. However, she could see the old madam was truly worried. She glanced at Yan Aohan, who giggled. "Mom, don't worry. This daughter-in-law of yours isn't going anywhere."

"I'm not asking you. Go away." The old madam remained unconvinced.

Zhu Yanyi smiled, acting natural and unreserved. "Auntie, rest assured. I have no plans to dump her. Although she is a tiny bit older than me, good men are rare now. She happens to be one of them. Her flaws don't hide her virtues, so I’ll reluctantly choose her."

"Really not dumping her?" The old madam’s eyes lit up. She ignored the teasing tone in Zhu Yanyi’s words.

"Not dumping her. Even if a knife were at my neck, I wouldn't." Zhu Yanyi said, half-jokingly. "It’s hard to find someone you truly recognize in life. I finally found her. Why would I dump her if I chose her in a hurry?"

"Good." The old madam was happy. She took off a bracelet from her wrist and slipped it onto Zhu Yanyi’s hand. "This bracelet has been with me all along. Now it’s yours."

"This is too precious." Zhu Yanyi hesitated to accept it. From the old madam’s tone, this bracelet had always been with her. That meant the wives of the eldest and second sons didn’t have it. It felt improper to take it.

"Take it. I gave your eldest sister-in-law a jade hairpin. I gave your second sister-in-law a jade necklace. Now this bracelet is for you. They are all made from the same material and have the same value. I wouldn't favor one over the others."

The old madam saw Zhu Yanyi’s hesitation and understood her concerns, so she explained clearly beforehand.

Since the old madam said so, Zhu Yanyi stopped refusing and let the bracelet slide onto her wrist.

Zhu Yanyi pointed to the items she had brought. "Uncle, Auntie, my parents asked me to bring these. They are local specialties from home. Nothing expensive, just for novelty."

Zhu Yanyi unpacked the items one by one. Besides fruits and vegetables, she took those out first. The fruits and vegetables from the Azure Sovereign Qingdi were popular everywhere, and they were popular in the Yan family too.

After asking Yan Aohan to take the fruits and vegetables to the kitchen, Zhu Yanyi took out some precious medicinal herbs. "These are specially prepared for Uncle Yan, Auntie, and my brothers, sisters-in-law, and sisters."

She took them out one by one, introducing each item.

"This ginseng is five hundred years old. It’s perfect for Uncle and Auntie to keep for emergencies." It was hard to find even fifty-year-old ginseng now. Zhu Yanyi brought out five-hundred-year-old ginseng. If she hadn’t feared scaring people, she would have brought ten-thousand-year-old ginseng.

"These three ginsengs are three hundred years old. One for each of the eldest brother, second brother, and third sister’s families. You don’t need to eat them often. Just keep them in case of an emergency. It’s always good to have them." Zhu Yanyi smiled as she distributed the items.

"I won’t be polite then," Yan Zhaoxia said with a grin. "If I tell people my sister-in-law is a little divine doctor, everyone will be so envious."

Zhu Yanyi took out four bottles. "These are four bottles of beauty and youth-preserving medicine. One each for Auntie, eldest sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, and third sister."

She then took out four bottles of wine. "These four bottles are medicinal wine I made myself. For Uncle, eldest brother, second brother, and brother-in-law. Drink just a small cup with every meal. Don’t drink too much. When you finish, I’ll have Aohan bring you more."

"Great. Let’s drink this at lunch today." The old master grabbed a bottle first.

Yan Hongyi and Hua Yaohui also took bottles without hesitation. One bottle remained.

The old master thought for a moment. "How about I take it? Since the eldest son was late, not punishing him is already lenient. This one is gone."

"Dad, are you embarrassed to say that in front of everyone?" The eldest son, Yan Huajun, entered with his wife, Lan Man, and their two children. He just heard his father trying to keep the gift meant for him.

Yan Aohan said to Zhu Yanyi, "This is the eldest brother, Yan Huajun. You’ve met him. Just call him Big Brother. That is Big Sister-in-law, Lan Man. Behind them are their children. Yan Raoyue is the eldest daughter, sixteen years old. The youngest son, Yan Xidong, is fourteen."

Zhu Yanyi smiled and greeted them. "Hello, Big Brother and Big Sister-in-law."

"I like this sister-in-law," Lan Man said generously. "But it’s a pity for her, matching with Old Four, this old ox."

"Fourth Uncle, when did you become an old ox?" Yan Xidong asked with a grin.

"Do you want me to hit you with my horns?" Yan Aohan looked at Yan Xidong.

"No." Yan Xidong laughed loudly.

Zhu Yanyi took out four small bottles and handed them to Yan Raoyue, Yan Xidong, Yan Xinan, and Yan Xixi. "Open them and look. This is Spirit Spring water I brought. Every morning, mix one drop into a glass of warm water. Drinking it strengthens your body’s mechanisms and helps your intelligence. This bottle lasts one month. When it’s empty, I’ll have Fourth Uncle bring you more."

"Thank you, Little Fourth Aunt," the four children said together.

They knew their Little Fourth Aunt was a little divine doctor. Things made by a divine doctor were always good.

The old master said, "Hide yours well. Don’t let others take them."

"It’s okay if they are lost," Zhu Yanyi said with a faint smile. "These bottles were specially made for me. When I handed them to you, I fused your aura with the bottles. So, except for me, only you can open them. If you don’t believe it, others can try. They won’t be able to open them."

"Such a clever mechanism?" Yan Zhaoxia didn’t believe it. She took the bottle from Yan Raoyue and tried to open it, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t.

"Really can’t open it? How is this done?" Yan Zhaoxia looked full of disbelief. It was just a very ordinary bottle.

Zhu Yanyi smiled. "Actually, it’s simple. I coated the mouth of each bottle with a layer of medicine. When the first person opens the lid, the medicine merges with that person’s body."