Chapter 344: Chapter 179: Two Accounting Offices_1
The second watch, calling for the rosy dawn.
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"Five Wen Money?" Lady Zhou scoffed disdainfully, seemingly annoyed by the meager amount, yet ultimately she just pursed her lips and said no more. Even she knew very well that five wen was not at all a trifling sum. Moreover, Lady Zhao didn’t need to work all day at the shop, and she would also be provided meals there.
Old Master Lian looked at Lady Zhou with some reproach. He was quite familiar with the personalities of Lian Shouxin and his wife Lady Zhang; if they decided to do this, they surely wouldn’t shortchange Lady Zhao. There would definitely be a decent monthly wage. Lady Zhou’s tactless remark about money, afraid that Lian Shouxin would not pay, nearly spoiled the harmonious atmosphere.
Since things had come to this, Old Master Lian could only sigh inwardly. If he scolded Lady Zhou now, it would seem somewhat insincere.
"If Third Auntie wants to go, that’s fine. There’s indeed no shortage of work to do in the shop. We’ll be counting on Third Auntie," said Lady Zhang as she laid out the work schedule, "...after dinner in the evening, she must start work, and can return home when the work is finished. The next day, she starts at the third watch and works until midday. We’ll provide two meals, one in the morning and one at midday."
These arrangements could have been discussed privately with Lady Zhao. Lady Zhang made it clear in front of everyone, exaggerating slightly, to prevent Lady Zhou from finding excuses to hinder Lady Zhao’s work later on.
"Then it’s settled. Everyone’s idle in the winter, with Mother and Xiuxiu, and the wife of Old Second at home, let the wife of Old Third devote herself to help you," Old Master Lian declared with a wave of his hand, quite decisively.
Lady Zhou had wanted to insist that though Lady Zhao could work at the shop, she must not neglect the household chores. But with Old Master Lian’s statement, she could no longer object, which left her looking rather displeased.
If only she hadn’t been stubborn with Lady Zhang earlier and agreed to let Old Three go over.
Lady Zhou regretted it somewhat, but since she had personally agreed to let Lady Zhao go, she couldn’t bring herself to lose face by going back on her word now.
"Father, we’ll head back first. I also need to discuss the shop work with Third Sister-in-law," said Lady Zhang.
"Go ahead, be busy with your work," Old Master Lian nodded.
Lian Shouyi and Lady He were heading out but were stopped by Old Master Lian.
"Old Second, stay back," Old Master Lian said sternly.
Lian Manman came out from the Upper Room, lagging a few steps behind, and when unnoticed, she slipped beneath the window. There, she overheard Old Master Lian reprimanding Lian Shouyi in a low voice.
"...Do you still have any sense of identity? You’ve disgraced the Lian Family’s name. Listen to me, if anyone else goes nosing around Old Fourth’s shop, they won’t be allowed back into the Lian Family’s door. My Lian Family won’t have such shameless people..."
After hearing just a little, Lian Manman left. Old Master Lian might not be perfect, but fundamentally, he was a decent man.
...
In the West Wing Room, the households of Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli were extremely happy.
Lady Zhao was overjoyed to be able to help at the breakfast shop earlier than expected, scarcely believing it was true.
"I was also sweating bullets, afraid that his grandma wouldn’t agree," Lady Zhang laughed, "but Sister Manman taught us the right approach."
"Manman is clever, always. Yeye always says she wants to learn from Sister Manman," Lady Zhao said, her cheerfulness making her more talkative.
"What’s the big deal? We all know my grandma’s temper. If you want to go west, she’ll definitely make you go east. If we want things to go smoothly, we’ve got to do the opposite. It’s a simple trick," Lian Manman said.
"It’s not simple; we would never have thought of it," replied Lian Shouli.
Lian Manman smiled to herself, thinking that it was because they were too honest and unwilling to plot.
...
Why is it so cold? Lian Manman complained to herself, rubbing her hands together inside the thick sleeves, breathing out a mist that formed a small patch of white fog. If you looked closely, you could see tiny ice crystals.
This is what they mean by ’breathing turns to ice,’ thought Lian Manman.
Lian Manman was walking slowly on the road from the old residence to the breakfast shop. There was no helping it; the road was covered with thick snow. Stepping down, she could hear the crunching sound, and her little legs were nearly buried in snow. The sun hung in the sky, radiating a dim light, its warmth barely perceptible.
Snow had been falling since midday yesterday, large flakes like goose feathers. It snowed all day and night before it finally cleared. The road was covered in snow, with only a few sparse footprints visible. Lian Manman carefully trod in those footprints, but sometimes she still had to step into deep snow.
