Ye Yaming said, "Our Dragon Well Tea formula alone sold for several hundred thousand taels. I took a hundred thousand, and we still own sixty percent of the remaining hundreds of thousands. I have several more tea formulas on hand that will be sold together later. Just our private savings alone amount to hundreds of thousands taels, not to mention we hold sixty percent of the massive family fortune. Giving ten thousand taels to the eldest branch is nothing."
Yin Shi's greatest virtue was her willingness to listen to reason.
Though she felt the sting of the silver, she took Ye Yaming's words to heart. Besides, what use was resisting? The shop had already been given away—could they demand it back? Wouldn't that make the eldest branch laugh at them? How could Ye Yaming, the successor family head, maintain her standing in Ye Jia otherwise?
She forced a stiff smile, twitching the corner of her mouth. "W-well, that's fine."
To soften her tone, she added, "You and Qing'er have been close since childhood. Since you have the means now, give her whatever you like for her wedding."
Ye Yaming stepped forward and linked arms with Yin Shi, speaking sincerely, "Mother, don't worry. From now on, I'll take care of you and Father—you'll never lack silver. I won't mistreat my younger sister either. When Grandfather and Grandmother celebrate their birthdays, I'll send them gifts too."
"But Grandfather is a scholar who values integrity most. If I give him overly expensive gifts, he might refuse them. I've already asked someone to purchase an exquisite set of scholar's treasures and several calligraphy scrolls from the capital. He'll surely appreciate them for his birthday."
Yin Shi's heart swelled with delight upon hearing this.
If Ye Yaming could be so generous with her cousin's dowry, the birthday gifts for her grandfather would undoubtedly be lavish. Such scholar's treasures could be passed down as heirlooms. As a scholar, Yin De'an would accept such gifts without discomfort.
This thought restored her equilibrium.
If Ye Yaming showed such generosity to outsiders, she would certainly treat her own parents and sister well. That was enough.
The next day was Ye Yaqing's wedding. As her sister, Ye Yaming rose early to accompany her through hair styling and makeup, watching as the red veil was placed over her head before Xie Guizhou led her away holding a red silk ribbon.
This was Ye Yaming's first time seeing Xie Guizhou.
He wasn't particularly tall—about 1.72 meters—but possessed refined features that gave him the demeanor of a cultured scholar.
Though veiled, Ye Yaqing could still sense the affection and tenderness in Xie Guizhou's gaze as he looked at her.
Seeing this, Ye Yaming felt relieved.
In this lifetime, Ye Yaqing had found a good man. Surely she would fare better than in her previous life?
Since Ye Jia was marrying off a daughter, the wedding banquet wasn't held there, but relatives and friends who knew about the wedding came specifically to add to the dowry. Ye Jia naturally hosted them for a meal.
Previously, unmarried young ladies like Ye Yaming wouldn't have been involved in such matters—at most they might help their fathers entertain young female guests.
But as the next family head, Ye Chongming kept her by his side, introducing her to relatives.
Ye Chongming belonged to the main lineage with two brothers, though the youngest died before adulthood and the second brother passed away at fifty from illness—his wife and descendants remained.
The relatives Ye Chongming introduced were from Ye family's collateral branches.
Whether referring to Second Old Master Ye's household or these collateral relatives, their financial circumstances paled in comparison to Ye Jia's.At this moment, everyone was astonished to hear that Ye Chongming had changed the successor family head from his eldest son to his second son's granddaughter. However, given the Ye family's wealth and status, and considering it was their private matter, no one voiced any objections in front of Ye Chongming and Ye Yaming, merely exchanging a few pleasantries with smiles.
Among them was an elder addressed by Ye Chongming as "Fifth Granduncle," who, at over seventy years old, was the most senior and eldest present. Leaning on his seniority, he remarked, "Chongming, have you lost your senses? Since when does the world bypass the eldest son and grandson to let a granddaughter inherit the family business?"
He turned and instructed his own grandson, "Go fetch Hongchang."
Ye Hongchang was in the next room entertaining his brother-in-law when he heard Fifth Granduncle summoning him and hurried over.
"Hongchang, have you been wronged in the family? Fifth Granduncle is here for you," the elder said, then pointed at Tao Liyang, who had entered with Ye Hongchang. "Your brother-in-law is here too. If you've been mistreated, Fifth Granduncle will stand up for you."
The seated men, all of some standing, watched Ye Chongming and Ye Yaming with amusement as Fifth Granduncle made his challenge.
They had expected Ye Yaming, a young girl, to shed tears under such criticism, but to their surprise, she remained calm and even lifted her eyes to observe Ye Hongchang with interest, as if eager to hear his response.
Ye Hongchang was momentarily bewildered.
"Wronged? No," he quickly denied. "I haven't been wronged at all."
"Not wronged? Your position as family head was taken from you, and you say you're not wronged?" Fifth Granduncle wore an expression of exasperation, as if disappointed by his lack of ambition.
If Ye Hongchang had felt some discomfort and awkwardness when he first relinquished the family head position, after this long period of adjustment—and with the Ye family, under Ye Yaming's leadership, purchasing vast tea mountains in Huizhou and Minzhou, and profiting immensely from Dragon Well Tea and tea formulas—he had long since been wholeheartedly convinced of her capabilities.
"In our family, the most virtuous and capable person takes the helm. Ming'er didn't seize the family head position from me, nor did my father act foolishly. I voluntarily stepped aside for someone more deserving."
Ye Hongchang pointed at Ye Yaming, "My niece here..."
As Ye Hongchang launched into an endless stream of effusive praise for her—what felt like ten thousand words of flattery—Ye Yaming couldn't help but feel a wave of embarrassment. She hadn't blushed when Fifth Granduncle implied she had usurped Ye Hongchang's position, but now, under Ye Hongchang's lavish compliments, her cheeks grew warm.
Ye Chongming seemed to have heard enough as well. As soon as Ye Hongchang paused for breath, he cut in, "That's enough."
He turned to Fifth Granduncle, "Fifth Granduncle, I know you care for the younger generation. But if you, at over seventy, haven't lost your clarity, how could I, barely past sixty, be foolish? I appointed my granddaughter as the successor family head precisely because she is exceptional and can lead the Ye family to greater prosperity."
From Ye Hongchang's lengthy tribute, those present had learned that Dragon Well Tea was developed by Ye Yaming; not only that, but Osmanthus Tea and Jasmine Tea were also her creations. She had personally traveled to Huizhou and Minzhou to purchase tea mountains and establish new tea gardens.
Regardless, this was the internal affair of Ye Chongming's branch of the family, which had little to do with them. Moreover, after hearing Ye Hongchang's account, many thought that if their own granddaughters were so capable and could bring such honor and prosperity to the family, they might very well consider appointing them as family heads too.Fifth Granduncle's grandson quickly smiled and said, "My grandfather tends to speak nonsense after drinking a little wine. I'll help the old man rest in the guest courtyard. Please continue your conversation at ease, at ease."
Fifth Granduncle had originally intended to stand up for Ye Hongchang, but was publicly contradicted by Ye Hongchang's words, leaving him utterly embarrassed. Seeing that his grandson had given him a way to save face, he pretended to be drunk and obediently allowed his grandson to support him as they left.
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