Yu Yan's actions were exactly what Yao Nian wanted. He wanted less contact with Yu Yan so that others wouldn't mention him when they gossiped about Yu Yan during mealtimes and affect his reputation.
When Yu Yan didn't have enough money to contact her family, Yao Nian immediately took the initiative to give her 1.5 yuan, but when he gave it to her, he deliberately said that he only had 2 yuan and that his family had yet to send him money.
Firstly, he could curry favor with Yu Yan and tell her that he had given her all the money he had. Secondly, he hinted to Yu Yan that he didn't have extra money to buy rice for her, so it was useless to look for him.
It wasn't until Yu Yan's money and packages were sent over that everyone found out that Yu Yan's parents were fine that Yao Nian slowly began to take the initiative to look for Yu Yan like before.
