Chapter 351: Chapter 182 Debt_2
Lian Shouli and Lian Shouyi finally walked out under the watchful gazes of the crowd.
Thirty Mile Camp is forty-five kilometers from Jinyang County Town, going via the official road. Transportation was not developed at that time, but it wasn’t impossible to hire rickshaws. However, that was something wealthy people did, tenant farmers typically chose to walk. Like Lian Shouli and Lian Shouyi, they would carry two sacks of items all the way to the county town.
This road, the Lian brothers had to travel at least once a year to deliver pastries and frozen tofu to their eldest sister in the city.
On their way to the shop, Lady Zhang and Lady Zhao walked ahead, while Lian Zhizhi, Lian Manman, and Lian Yeye followed behind. Xiao Qi, being young, had been allowed to sleep an additional half a Chinese hour and would help later when the breakfast shop opened and customers arrived.
"I wonder if Yeye’s father can come back today," Lady Zhao whispered.
"That’s hard to say," said Lady Zhang, "In previous years, there wouldn’t be any problems and he would be back by dinner. But this year is uncertain."
Lian Manman and the others were also discussing it behind them.
"Can Sister Huahua manage to repay the money?" Lian Zhizhi asked with some concern.
"Hard to say," Lian Manman uttered just two words.
Lian Zhizhi and Lian Yeye both turned their heads to look at Lian Manman.
"She wouldn’t go back on her word, would she? Then who would have to pay the money?" Lian Zhizhi furrowed her brow.
"It shouldn’t come down to us," said Lian Manman.
"If she does go back on her word, I’ll have it out with her," said Lian Yeye. Lian Manman’s family had separated and could disconnect themselves from the situation. However, for Lian Yeye’s family, it was different; if something truly happened, it would be the honest Lian Shouli and Lady Zhao who would suffer first.
"Yeye, with that fighting spirit, you shouldn’t worry. Just you watch, Lian Huahua wouldn’t dare not to repay the money," Lian Manman said.
...
By the afternoon, snowflakes began to drift from the sky, and they fell heavier as time passed.
Lian Shouli and Lian Shouyi did not return.
After dinner, the Lian Manman family went back to the shop, and upon exiting the West Wing Room, they saw Old Master Lian standing at the doorway, letting the snow land on his head and shoulders.
"Old Fourth, why have your second and third brothers not yet come back?" Old Master Lian asked upon seeing Lian Shouxin.
"Dad, isn’t it snowing? Surely my eldest sister has asked them to stay overnight and they’ll be back tomorrow," Lian Shouxin replied.
"Yes, that makes sense," said Old Master Lian.
"Dad, it’s cold outside, go inside," Lian Shouxin said.
"Yes," Old Master Lian verbally agreed but stood still.
"Dad, let me help you inside," Lian Shuxin hurried over, supporting one of Old Master Lian’s arms and helped him into the house.
There was something strange about Old Master Lian’s appearance. Lian Manman thought uneasily.
The next day, the snow stopped, but Lian Shouyi and Lian Shouli didn’t come back, and Old Jin came for dinner again, this time bringing a jug of wine.
On the third day, the weather was clear and there was still no sign of Lian Shouyi and Lian Shouli. Old Jin came for lunch and didn’t leave; he stayed and had dinner before leaving leisurely.
It was already the third day of the twelfth lunar month.
Cold sores formed around Old Master Lian’s mouth, and several ulcers developed inside. He could no longer eat pastries or millet rice; he could only have a little bit of very thin rice porridge. Within two days, his cheeks had lost all their fat, making his cheekbones stick out sharply, with his eye sockets sinking.
Lady Zhou was somewhat flustered. She took out the treasured japonica rice she had been reluctant to eat, and cooked it into porridge for each meal for Old Master Lian.
"Old Fourth, go have a look in the county tomorrow and see what’s going on. If they don’t come back, your father will have to be ’thrown out’!" Lady Zhou’s tone lacked her usual dominance. ’Throwing out’ was local slang meaning someone had passed away and needed to be buried.
Lady Zhou hadn’t experienced much adversity in her life and even in tough times, all she had needed was to stay at home, with Old Master Lian always there to protect her.
Old Master Lian had always been robust, seemingly never even suffering from a minor stomach upset. Seeing his condition now scared Lady Zhou. With the other sons not around and only Old Fourth at home, she had to rely on him.
"Alright, I’ll take a look tomorrow," Lian Shuxin clenched his teeth and agreed.
"With my grandfather like this, and my uncles not at home, if my father goes to the county, what do we do if something happens at home?" Lian Manman disagreed.
"When adults are speaking, you children should keep out of it," Lady Zhou snapped, but she didn’t erupt in anger as she usually would. She hesitated; Lian Manman was right—if Lian Shouxin left and something happened, who could she rely on?
"If this won’t work, and that won’t work, what do you suggest we do?" Lady Zhou said irritatedly.
"Why not let me go? No matter what, I’ll return the same day," Lian Shouxin said after glancing at Old Master Lian, who was lying there sleeping heavily, and then at Lady Zhou with her red-rimmed eyes.
"Dad, you know what second and third uncles are like, they haven’t returned yet. If you go, can you guarantee you’ll be back?" Lian Manman said.
Even though Lian Shouyi wasn’t reliable, the conscientious Lian Shouli surely wanted to return home with thoughts of the family in his mind. Yet, he hadn’t returned, and it was unclear what had happened in the county town that had detained him. Lian Shouxin was similarly sincere, and even if he went to the county town, it was doubtful he could change anything.
"Dad, let Brother Erlang take a trip there," Lian Manman suggested softly to Lian Shouxin.
Lian Shouxin’s eyes immediately lit up; how had he not thought of it? Erlang was the most suitable candidate.
...
Early on the fourth day, Erlang set off.
Lian Shouxin worked in the shop, but his eyes occasionally drifted to the official road.
Around midday, a horse-drawn carriage approached from the official road towards Thirty Mile Camp, and Lian Shouxin shifted his gaze away.
As the carriage drew near, it was a covered carriage with the curtains drawn and it was impossible to see who was inside.
Someone was running behind the carriage.
"Dad, look quickly," Lian Manman called out.
****
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