Chapter 383: Chapter 198: The Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law Conflict_2
Lian Manman sneered inwardly. Lady Gu, what kind of person was she? If she had actually prepared gifts for Lady Zhou and the others, she would have brought them out to curry favor long ago. That day, they had been in a hurry, and so had been the handling of their affairs; there had been no time left for Lady Gu, who was totally unprepared, to consider and prepare thoroughly. These clothes must have been brought by Lian Shouren and Lady Gu for their own use, with Lady Gu picking a few out on the spur of the moment to ingratiate herself with Lady Zhou.
Given Lady Gu’s shrewdness, she should have done this earlier. The fact that she was doing it now only when left with no choice showed just how reluctant she was to part with these garments.
Lian Manman might not understand much, but she could tell that these garments, whether in terms of material, craftsmanship, or style, were all quite valuable.
The clothes were very new, but by the looks of the creases, they must have been stored in a chest for some time. There was also a faint but pleasant scent that wasn’t typically used by Lady Gu.
At least in one respect Lady Gu hadn’t lied: most of these were likely gifts from Old Madam Shen.
As for the dresses given to her that fit her body, they would also fit Lian Duoduo. Judging by Lian Duoduo’s demeanor, they must belong to Lian Duoduo, and Lady Gu was trying to do her a favor to please her.
"Auntie, looking at Duoduo’s expression, she seems like she wants to eat me alive. I dare not accept these clothes," Lian Manman said with a laugh.
"Duoduo doesn’t understand manners. Manman, you shouldn’t stoop to her level. These clothes will be perfect for wearing during the New Year," Lady Gu said, glaring fiercely at Lian Duoduo before turning to smile at Lian Manman.
"I don’t want them. Let Duoduo keep them for herself," Lian Manman said, laughing as she dodged the offer.
"Bring them all here," Lady Zhou ordered.
Lian Xiuxiu took the clothes from Lady Gu’s hands and placed them beside Lady Zhou.
"What is all this? You think you can decide who gets what?" Lady Zhou pointed at Lady Gu. "What here belongs to you? The three or four tattered items you brought when you married in, I remember them all. You dare to have the gall to assign this and that as though it is yours, even though you also belong to the Old Lian Family. If you want to divide anything, take your own worthless self and leave. You can take the junk you brought with you when you got married. But nothing else, not even a blade of grass."
The smile froze on Lady Gu’s face.
Lian Manman turned away, conscious that it was wise to keep a low profile and endure, but Lady Gu, who was accustomed to being in charge, had unwittingly committed one of Lady Zhou’s taboos: only Lady Zhou had the right to distribute the Lian Family’s possessions.
"Mother, I didn’t say these things were mine. Mother, these... it’s for you to decide how to distribute them," Lady Gu said, swallowing her grievances and demonstrating her shrewd sense of timing.
Lady Zhou snorted. She had been waiting for just such a concession. Thus, she unceremoniously went over, turned several of Lady Gu’s chests upside down, and aside from leaving a few items of underwear that were only slightly worn, she took everything else, including women’s skirts and even shoes and stockings, back to her own room.
Lian Manman also acted as a porter.
There were clothes but no silver coins, not even a bit of jewelry. Could it really be as Lady Gu had said, all sold to pool together money? Lady Zhou certainly didn’t believe it.
Lady Zhou straightened her back and gave Lady Gu a fierce look.
Lady Gu’s eyes reddened, but she didn’t dare make a sound.
Lady Gu’s gaze then fell upon the other two chests that hadn’t been opened. She suspected that these weren’t really the chests of Lady Chiang and Lian Jizu.
"Xiuxiu," Lady Zhou called for Lian Xiuxiu, "bring me that set of indigo clothes, and have her change out of what she’s wearing."
Lian Xiuxiu complied and left. Shortly, she returned with a set of old coarse cloth clothes—the sort frequently worn by older women from the tenant farmer’s households.
"Jizu, Jizu’s wife," Lady Zhou softened her expression and beckoned Lian Jizu and Lady Chiang to join her, "This room hasn’t been lived in for days, and Niuniu can’t withstand the cold. The two of you take Niuniu and come live with me in the eastern room."
Even with suspicions that Lady Chiang had helped Lady Gu hide things, Lady Zhou’s attitude toward her remained one of affection.
Lady Gu was no easy opponent, but Lady Zhou was no less cunning.
Lian Jizu and Lady Chiang exchanged glances, finding it difficult to refuse or accept.
"Let it be, your grandfather also said you should move over," Lady Zhou added.
"Alright, we’ll bring Niuniu over tonight," Lian Jizu responded.
Lady Zhou nodded, very satisfied, and walked to the door, but then stopped and turned back to look at Lady Gu.
"Aren’t you going to change and start cooking? What are you waiting for, me to serve you hand and foot?" Lady Zhou scolded.
Lady Gu agreed repeatedly.
Lady Gu put on the old clothes Lady Zhou had worn to cook, losing all her previous luster and seeming to age ten years. Lady Chiang also came out to help, not waiting for Lady Zhou’s instruction before changing into a plain cloth jacket and skirt.
Lady Gu was kept busy by Lady Zhou’s bidding, spinning around frantically while Lady Zhou continued to berate her, and Lady Gu didn’t dare to talk back.
Lian Manman couldn’t bear to watch any longer, and she hurried back to the snack shop with Wu Lang and Xiao Qi.
Toward midday, when all the customers had dispersed, Lady Zhang and Lady Zhao were cooking, while Lian Yeye was helping stoke the fire under the stove.
Lian Manman recounted how Lady Zhou had treated Lady Gu.
"Sister Manman, you all went to the county town yesterday. Later, Grandmother ran to the main gate, scolding Aunt, blaming her for all the bad ideas," Lian Yeye said.
"Your father’s illness scared Grandmother badly. She now utterly despises your Aunt," Lady Zhang added.
"My mother should have an easier life from now on," Lian Yeye said.
Lian Manman’s gaze swept across the faces of those present, thinking to herself that it seemed everyone felt the same lack of sympathy for Lady Gu as she did.
"Grandmother is tough, but Aunt is not someone to mess with like the third aunt or my mother. Aunt is someone not to be provoked," Lian Manman mused.
"Your Aunt may be scheming, but her status is clear. She is a daughter-in-law, and Grandmother is the mother-in-law," Lady Zhang disagreed with Lian Manman’s view, "Besides, hasn’t she been caught short by Grandmother this time? She won’t be able to turn things around now."
"We’ll see," Lian Manman said. Who knew what might happen in the future?
***...***
First update, begging for pink, back to 11 again, 555. (To be continued. If you like this work, please feel free to head over to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly votes, your support is my greatest motivation.)
