Chapter 352: Chapter 183: Cruel Move_1
It was in the second watch of the night, a plea for aid in pink.
****...*****
"That, that’s not Third Brother!" Lian Shouxin looked carefully and also revealed a surprised expression.
While they were speaking, the carriage had already passed by them, and after traveling another ten yards along the main road, it turned into the village street and headed into the village.
After a while, Lian Shouli finally caught up with them.
"Old Fourth..." Lian Shouli stopped, panting heavily. He was still dressed in the same clothes he had left home in; his face was flushed from running, sweat had soaked his hair, and he seemed to be radiating heat.
"Third Brother, let’s talk inside the house," Lian Shouxin had many urgent questions for Lian Shouli, but he still hurried to get Lian Shouli indoors. It was cold outside, and Lian Shouli, having sweated profusely and suddenly ceased his vigorous exercise, was susceptible to catching a cold.
Everyone entered the inner room together, and both Lady Zhang and Lady Zhao were surprised to see Lian Shouli.
"Third Brother, what happened? Why did you just get back? Where’s Second Brother? Did Big Brother come back, and was the money retrieved?" As soon as Lian Shouli sat down on the edge of the heated brick bed, Lian Shouxin couldn’t help but blurt out a series of questions.
Lian Shouli was gasping for air; it was warm inside the room, and more sweat appeared on his face.
"I..."
"Drink a bowl of hot soup and catch your breath," Lady Zhang busied herself saying.
It was only when Lian Shouli opened his mouth that Lian Manman noticed the blisters around his mouth and inside it, making her unconsciously grimace.
"My goodness, what happened to your mouth, Third Uncle?" Lady Zhang also saw it and immediately frowned, "Don’t drink anything hot for now. Let the soup cool down before you drink it."
Lady Zhao brought in a bowl of hot soup, but upon hearing Lady Zhang’s words, she set it aside.
"Yeye’s father, what happened to you?"
"The hot soup is just right; I’ll drink it while it’s hot." Lian Shouli, seemingly very thirsty, took the bowl of soup, held it with both hands, and gulped down a large bowl of hot soup until it was empty. After finishing the soup, he let out a long breath.
"Yeye’s father, why did you just come back? Father has gotten anxious sick," Lady Zhao said, "You don’t know, we’ve all been worried sick, thinking something happened to you."
"I wanted to come back too, the very day I left, I wanted to return," Lian Shouli said with a pained expression.
"Third Brother, what happened?" Lian Shouxin asked.
"Let Third Uncle speak slowly; don’t you see, he’s also suffering from internal heat," Lady Zhang, looking at the blisters on Lian Shouli’s mouth, said sympathetically.
Lian Shouli was not adept at words, and it was under the barrage of everyone’s comments and questions that he managed to roughly explain the situation.
They had left before dawn that day and arrived at the county town at noon. First, they went to Lian Lanlan’s house, delivering the steamed buns and frozen tofu.
"Big Sister invited us to have lunch," Lian Shouli said, "After we told Big Sister everything, the meal was finished, and she found someone to show the way, leading us to Big Brother. Big Brother wasn’t living at Big Sister’s house anymore; they had found another place, quite a distance from Big Sister’s."
The person leading the way brought Lian Shouli and Lian Shouyi to the place and left.
"Second Brother and I went up to knock on the door; it took a long time before someone opened it. We didn’t recognize who it was, he asked us who we were looking for, and we said we wanted to see Big Brother, Lian Shouren. After a long time, the man finally told me and Second Brother that the whole family of Big Brother and Big Sister-in-law was not at home. He said we should come back another day." Lian Shouli’s face became slightly downcast as he spoke.
Lian Manman could tell from their expressions that the cold reception and neglect Lian Shouli and Lian Shouyi likely encountered at Lian Shouren’s doorstep must have been more than just these. Lian Shouli, an honest and kind man, was reluctant to speak of the grievances he suffered.
"Later, it was Second Brother who told him that we were Big Brother’s own siblings, and only then did he let us wait at the door," Lian Shouli continued.
Lian Shouli and Lian Shouyi squatted at the main entrance, getting increasingly thirsty and hungry, penniless. Lian Shouyi then wanted to enter the house to wait, saying that since Lian Shouren had hired a gatekeeper, there must be other servants inside who could let them rest and have something to eat. The gatekeeper was arrogant and ignored them, which led to a quarrel between Lian Shouyi and the gatekeeper.
Just as Lian Shouli didn’t know what to do, Lian Shouren and Lady Gu finally returned in their carriage, and only then were Lian Shouli and Lian Shouyi able to enter the house.
"Second Brother and I told Big Brother about father’s message," Lian Shouyi said, "Big Brother mentioned he was also anxious; these days he’s been leaving early and returning late, trying to figure out a way to raise money."
