Chapter 393: Chapter 203 Lian Manman’s Advice_2
Lian Manman nodded. It was possible, highly possible.
"I think Old Master Lian must have thought of this," Lady Zhang recalled, then said, "No wonder he mentioned there was no rush to hire a chef, and that we should wait for his return from the town to discuss it."
"If they really call off the engagement over this, Old Zhao’s family will be embarrassed," Lian Shouxin said indignantly, "Who doesn’t know what they’re thinking."
"I heard that girl initially wanted to marry into the county town. When she couldn’t find a match, she started looking around the countryside," Lady Zhang said.
"From the look of her, she doesn’t seem like she can farm or do work," Wu Lang chimed in. Originally, when Lady He brought Erlang to see Zhao Xiue, Lian Manman, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi happened to encounter her and got a good look at Zhao Xiue.
"Oh my, my son knows how to pick a wife," Lady Zhang turned her head, looked at Wu Lang, and laughed heartily.
Lian Shouxin also joined in the laughter.
Lian Manman, Lian Zhizhi, and Xiao Qi saw Wu Lang’s face turn red all of a sudden, and they couldn’t help but start laughing too.
Wu Lang turned away; he wanted to get away from these people. He regretted saying what he had just said.
After laughing for a while, they changed the subject from Erlang and Zhao Xiue, because, after all, tomorrow the engagement might be called off.
"Manman," Lady Zhang suddenly remembered something and asked Lian Manman, "In the Upper Room, when you hadn’t eaten, what did the Jizu’s wife pull you aside for? I saw she kept looking at you; she must have something in mind, right?"
"Mother, you noticed?" Lian Manman feigned helplessness, "She wanted me to plead with granny on behalf of Great Aunt."
"Did you say anything to your granny?" Lady Zhang asked.
"What was there to say, can’t we have a peaceful day for once?" Lian Manman made a face.
"Your Great Aunt... she looks quite pitiful these days," Lady Zhang thought for a moment and said, "Look at her face, all chapped. Soon, she’s going to get frostbite on her hands too."
Lian Manman immediately felt alarm bells going off in her heart when she sensed Lady Zhang’s tone of sympathy towards Lady Gu.
"Mother, you’re not considering pleading for Great Aunt, are you?"
"What? Manman, what did you say?"
Lady Zhang, lost in thought, hadn’t heard Lian Manman clearly.
"Mother, you mustn’t be foolish, we haven’t had a peaceful day in a long time," Lian Manman grabbed Lady Zhang’s hand, pretending to cry.
Lady Zhang was amused and laughed.
"Mother, you’re so obedient, yet granny always picks on you. Mother, do you know why?" Lian Manman quickly added in earnest.
The topic made Lady Zhang depressed, and she didn’t utter a sound.
"Mother, if you didn’t always stand up for Third Aunt and help her out, granny would definitely treat you differently," Lian Manman simply stated the answer herself.
"I know," Lady Zhang said softly, "but I can’t bear to see it. I’ve never gone against your granny."
Lady Zhang was right, she was merely taking some of the heat off Lady Zhou and onto herself, which was intended for Lady Zhao. But this also hindered Lady Zhou’s handling of Lady Zhao, making Lady Zhou seem unreasonable and harsh toward her daughter-in-law. Lady Zhou might even think that Lady Zhang wanted to collude with Lady Zhao to gang up against her, the mother-in-law.
"Mom, my grandma wouldn’t think that way. She must think you are opposing her," said Lian Manman.
Lady Zhang fell silent again.
"Mom, I know you’re soft-hearted, but Aunt Gu is not the same kind of person as Aunt Zhou," Lian Manman said.
Lady Zhao is an honest person; even if she can’t repay Lady Zhang, she will remember Lady Zhang’s kindness. Lady Zhao and Lady Zhang have lived across the door from one another for many years, eating from the same pot, and have developed a bond.
But Lady Gu is different.
Lady Gu is very astute and selfish, with no real affection for Lady Zhang or the other sisters-in-law.
For example, if there’s a pit that must have someone in it and Lady Gu falls in and can’t get out, then the most likely thing Lady Gu would do if someone tried to help her is to pull that person into the pit and climb out by stepping on them.
Lian Manman did not want Lady Zhang to become that person.
Yet Lady Zhang was too diligent and too soft-hearted, and she had a far too forgiving memory of others’ wrongs.
"Mom, you must not speak for Aunt Gu or help her with her work," Lian Manman said to Lady Zhang, bringing up Lady Zhao to persuade her. "Mom, you should see it by now. My grandma’s temperament—it’s like she needs to torment someone. If you help Aunt Gu, then it will be Aunt Zhou’s turn to be unlucky again. Mom, you wouldn’t bear to see Aunt Zhou in trouble, right?"
Lian Manman’s big eyes twinkled as she looked at Lady Zhang.
"Our households are separated now; I’m too busy with the shop’s chores every day to bother helping your Aunt Gu," Lady Zhang thought deeply for a while before saying, "Manman, your mother is not confused. Helping your Aunt Zhou—I know she’s an honest person who has never done anything bad. Your Aunt Gu is different; your mother understands that clearly."
"Mom, if you think that way, I’m relieved," said Lian Manman. She had worried that Lady Gu might exploit Lady Zhang’s sympathy, but knowing that Lady Zhang saw things so clearly, she no longer needed to worry.
...
The next day, after breakfast, Old Master Lian took Lian Shouyi into town, and they didn’t return until nearly midday.
"Take the beans over to Old Fourth’s family, have Old Fourth’s wife start sprouting them quickly," Old Master Lian began assigning tasks the moment he returned, "Erlang, after lunch, you should head to West Village, and settle on the date with Chef He..."
"Yes," Erlang happily agreed, unable to hide the smile on his face.
Old Master Lian’s conversation with the Zhao family had resulted in sticking to the original marriage arrangement for Erlang and Zhao Xiue. The Zhao family had given up their demand for a banquet at a restaurant in town. However...
"Let’s just hold the banquet at home in town, it’s only a few steps away from the village anyway."
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Here’s one more update for you, seeking your likes.
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I recommend Ruoyan’s completed book "Most Charming," a fantasy version of My Barbaric Girlfriend with less than five hundred thousand words, of moderate length. The direct link is below; click to go straight there.
Book number:2184407 (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at qidian.com with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
