Chapter 372: Chapter 193: Undermining the Enemy’s Foundations_1
At the second watch, she asked for help in a delicate situation.
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"Sister Huahua, you sought out this marriage yourself, it was you who painstakingly wished to marry into this family," Lian Manman said as she saw Lian Huahua about to complain and play for sympathy, growing impatient. She was sympathetic, quite indeed, but she didn’t want to waste it on someone like Lian Huahua. "Regarding today’s trip to the city, our master has spoken, whatever the outcome, it will be up to me. If you find it too hard, you can come back with me to Thirty Mile Camp."
Lian Huahua was indeed not speaking her heart’s truth, she just wanted to let Lian Manman know that obtaining this money wasn’t easy for her either. Things hadn’t gone as she had planned, and she had to take out the private savings that Song Hailong kept with her, and also draw several months’ allowance in advance from the steward, to finally gather enough money.
Of course, if she had planned earlier, she could have collected this sum of money bit by bit without having to feel so tense about it now.
But to be honest, one thousand taels of silver was not a small amount even in the Song Family. If it were anyone else who hadn’t been married into the family for long, without seeking help from Old Madam Shen, they would have definitely not been able to gather such a sum.
She wanted to explain all this to Lian Manman properly, but unfortunately, Lian Manman’s response made her swallow all these words back down.
Lian Manman counted the silver and put it, along with the deed, into the wooden chest.
"Manman, hurry back and repay the money. Whatever is left over is yours," Lian Huahua said, having taken to heart what Lian Manman had said earlier. The longer she delayed paying back the debt, the more interest would accumulate, several hundred taels’ worth. She had already scraped together all the money she could, and couldn’t come up with anything more.
"Sister Huahua, I won’t purposely delay this matter, but if I can’t make it back in time, then that can’t be helped. You should have thought about repaying the money sooner," Lian Manman said coolly.
"Manman, why are you speaking so harshly today?" Lian Huahua said, frowning as her feelings were blocked by Lian Manman’s words on several occasions.
"Sister Huahua, if you were in my shoes, your words wouldn’t just be harsh," Lian Manman replied.
Lian Huahua was at a loss for words.
Lian Manman stood up, ready to leave.
"Manman, I’m pregnant," Lian Huahua suddenly said.
"Oh," Lian Manman responded indifferently, as if what she had heard was as mundane as "I have eaten."
Lian Huahua felt even more uncomfortable now. Perhaps she shouldn’t have mentioned her pregnancy to Lian Manman, who was only ten years old and couldn’t understand these matters.
"Sister Huahua," Lian Manman stopped at the door, suddenly turned her head, and asked Lian Huahua, "Did Uncle and Auntie buy a house in the county town?"
"That house wasn’t bought by them, where would they get the money from," Lian Huahua quickly replied, "it’s a vacant property of the Song Family, lent to them for lodging... those servants also belong to the Song Family."
"Oh, I see now," Lian Manman nodded, "Sister Huahua, don’t bother seeing me off, just send someone to escort me out."
Lian Manman was holding all her private savings; she would only feel at ease after seeing Lian Manman off.
Supported by two maids, Lian Huahua escorted Lian Manman out. Just as they left Huahua’s courtyard, they encountered a group of flamboyantly-dressed women.
"It’s the first wife and the second wife," one of the maids supporting Lian Huahua whispered.
Lian Huahua’s lips curled downwards, but she quickly put on a smiling face.
"Oh my, why is the third wife out and about? The third wife is a person of high status now. You all must be careful, if the third wife suffers any mishap, watch out for your skins!" exclaimed the tall woman in a light-yellow jacket, who was the second wife of the Song Family.
"Who is this young girl, such a lovely face," said the woman of medium height, slightly plump, dressed in a light blue jacket, who was the first wife of the Song Family.
"This is my... cousin from the countryside," Lian Huahua replied, "Elder sister, second sister, she’s in a rush to go home. I’ll escort her out first and come back to talk to you."
Lian Huahua’s demeanor clearly indicated she didn’t want Lian Manman to have much interaction with the Song Family’s first and second wives. But these two were unusually enthusiastic and blocked the way, making it difficult to pass.
"So she’s a cousin, I thought she was a direct niece," the second wife laughed and said, "Oh my, what’s this she’s carrying, it looks rather heavy. It’s not our Song Family’s way to let a guest carry things. Xiao Yan, won’t you come and give a hand?"
A young maid then came over with a cheerful smile, offering to carry the chest for Lian Manman.
Lian Huahua’s face showed embarrassment. Once she had married into the Song Family, Song Hailong and Old Madam Shen had treated her very well. She was lucky, too, as she soon became pregnant, which was a significant matter. Old Madam Shen had not only gifted her many valuables and clothes but had also assigned a dedicated kitchen to take care of Lian Huahua’s diet.
