Chapter 341: Chapter 177: Initiative_2
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The family tidied up the shop and then locked the doors and windows before heading back to the old family estate.
Upon entering the Lian’s household, they first returned to the West Wing Room, where Lian Shouli, Lady Zhao, and Lian Yeye were all present.
"Sister Manman, be careful," Lian Yeye hurriedly reported to Lian Manman, "Second Aunt has been speaking ill of you—looks like Grandma is taking it to heart."
"Mm, I’m aware," Lian Manman nodded.
Lian Shouxin consulted with Lian Shouli and Lady Zhao for a while, and after Lady Zhao nodded, Lian Manman’s family headed to the Upper Room.
It wasn’t even midday yet, and sunlight filtered through the paper-covered windows into the room. Old Master Lian sat at the head of the kang bed, leaning against a luggage bundle with his eyes closed, dozing off. Lady Zhou, with a bunch of cotton thread in hand, and Lian Xiuxiu, holding a spool, were winding the thread together.
Upon hearing footsteps, Lady Zhou looked up, saw that it was Lian Shouxin’s family, and scoffed coldly, letting her eyelids droop as though she didn’t see them.
"Mother," Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang hurried to greet Lady Zhou.
Lady Zhou scoffed again, eyelids still drooping.
"Oh dear, the wealthy merchant returns," Lian Xiuxiu said with a sneer.
"Father’s asleep?" Lian Shouxin asked with a smile and then sat down on the edge of the kang bed.
Lady Zhang and Lian Manman also took their seats along the edge of the bed in turn.
Old Master Lian opened his eyes, saw it was Lian Shouxin and the others, and sat up straight.
"You’re back?" Old Master asked, "How’s business?"
"Not bad," Lian Shouxin replied.
"How could it be otherwise? People have long been jealous," Lady Zhou sneered, "You’ve got your own place now, right? No need for this house, then. Best move out quickly—don’t want to keep upsetting our dear old mother and straining her eyes!"
Criticizing herself and Old Master Lian as "old mother" with "strained eyes" was Lady Zhou’s usual way of describing the two of them, implying they were old, unattractive, and unwelcome. Lian Manman had heard another elderly lady in the village use the same expression, but she never knew how to write those words. It seemed to be an ancient local dialect that didn’t correspond with any characters in her vocabulary.
Lian Shouxin’s face immediately darkened.
Lian Manman couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of her mouth. Lady Zhou always spoke with such insinuation; it was impossible to have a calm and friendly conversation with her. This was precisely why Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang were so honest and sincere. Had they been more confrontational, an argument would have broken out the moment they opened their mouths.
"What nonsense are you spouting now?" Old Master Lian scolded Lady Zhou, his face stern, "The kids are working from dawn till dusk—do you know how hard it is? If you’ve got nothing good to say, why bring up this nonsense?"
Old Master Lian rarely scolded anyone like this; he must have been truly upset at Lady Zhou’s remark about driving away the family of his fourth son. Usually, as their mother, she could get away with scolding her sons and daughters-in-law, but such a statement was unacceptable. He had to be harsh with Lady Zhou; otherwise, if Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang were to take her words to heart, he’d be failing his son and daughter-in-law.
Taking something "to heart" was another local expression, meaning to be deeply affected by someone’s words.
Lady Zhou’s face instantly turned red with embarrassment when Old Master Lian scolded her. She abruptly threw the cotton thread she was holding onto the kang bed.
"You stubborn old curmudgeon, I slave away to feed and clothe you, and you repay me with insults when there’s nothing wrong..." Lady Zhou ranted at Old Master Lian.
True to form, she would not be wronged; and soon it seemed a quarrel was about to ensue between her and Old Master Lian. Dealing with Lady Zhou always meant one couldn’t predict how events would unfold. If things were left to progress in this way, their purpose for coming would be delayed.
"Father, what Grandma said wasn’t mean," Lian Manman quickly said with a smile, "Dad’s been busy at the shop these days. Grandma just misses him, wanting him to spend more time with her, that’s all."
Damn, that was the fakest thing she’d ever said in two lifetimes, so fake it made her want to vomit.
"I miss him? I miss no one less than him; let him die out there, never to return..." Lady Zhou retorted, her anger subsiding as she picked up the thread once more and resumed winding it with Lian Xiuxiu.
Lady Zhou dropped the matter, and Old Master Lian didn’t retort, thus the dispute came to an end. The cost was Lian Shouxin’s feelings, though Lian Manman’s intervention also played a role.
Goodness, Lian Manman nearly dropped to the floor. So Lady Zhou liked this approach—such high demands, as if she thought she was the Empress Dowager herself. Too bad Lian Manman wasn’t a royal descendant, ill-equipped to serve her. This one time would be the only time; another would lead her to vomit until she was weak.
"Father, business has been decent these past few days," Lian Shouxin finally managed to steer the conversation back on track, "It’s just tiring... Outsiders see us making money and turn green with envy, blind to the hardships we endure."
"Has someone caused trouble for you?" Old Master Lian asked warily, "Who is it? If it’s not convenient for you to deal with, I will. At dinner the other day, with Lizheng there, we made everything clear. Which no-good troublemaker was it?"
"Father, no, no one is causing trouble," Lian Shouxin quickly replied.
Xiao Qi sat next to Lian Shouxin, shifted in his seat, and cast a few glances toward the East Wing Room.
Sitting right under Old Master Lian’s observant gaze, Old Master naturally noticed this.
"Xiuxiu, go and call Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, and all your nephews over," Old Master Lian ordered.
"Father, I wanted to discuss something with you. Everyone says the business is profitable. If my second brother and sister-in-law are willing, they could give it a try for a couple of days," Lian Shouxin suggested.
Old Master Lian started puffing his dry tobacco again without giving an immediate response.
By then, Lian Xiuxiu had already led Lian Shouyi, Lady He, Si Lang, and Liulang inside.
"Father, what do you need us for?" Lian Shouyi asked casually. Then, seemingly just noticing Lian Shouxin’s presence, he exclaimed, "Ah, Old Fourth’s back! Do you still recognize your brother and sister-in-law? Here are your two nephews; call him Uncle Fourth!"
"Sit down and behave yourself!" Old Master Lian frowned, chiding Lian Shouyi with the stem of his tobacco pipe.
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