Chapter 427: Chapter 221 Old Madam Shen’s Request_1
There was only one Lian family in Thirty Mile Camp, and judging by the voice of the inquirer, it was a very young girl. Everyone was quite perplexed, not knowing who it could be.
Lian Manman came out of the shop and indeed, standing outside the door was a little maid, who looked about her age, dressed quite neatly. Behind the girl, not far away, stood a beautiful carriage with the character "Song" embroidered on the curtain.
"Ah, Miss Manman! What a coincidence! Don’t you recognize me? I am a maid serving Old Madam Shen in the Song Family of the County City, and my name is Xiao Hong. Miss Manman, the last time you visited the county city, I was in service at Old Madam Shen’s side," said the young maid, delighted to see Lian Manman come out, quickly giving her regards, "Steward Aunt Sun was instructed by Old Madam Shen to come here to pay respects to our Third Lady’s maternal family."
Lian Manman looked Xiao Hong up and down; she vaguely remembered that in the Song Family, there was indeed a maid like her around Old Madam Shen. The girl’s attire was certainly that of the Song Family’s, and the carriage too, along with the coachman who seemed somewhat familiar. It looked like Butler Song Fu from the Song Family had driven this carriage the first time he came to Thirty Mile Camp.
"You don’t know the way? Wait for me to inform my mother, and I’ll lead you there," said Lian Manman, then turned and called out to Lian Yeye, "Yeye, quickly go home and inform our grandfather and grandmother that Steward Aunt Sun from Old Madam Shen of the County City Song Family has come."
Lian Yeye acknowledged and ran towards the village.
Lian Manman turned and went back into the house, where Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang had already heard her and Xiao Hong talking from inside the shop.
"Why is the Song Family sending people over now?" Lady Zhang and Lian Shouxin exchanged glances, "Manman, you go ahead and take them back first. Your father and I will return shortly."
"Okay," Lian Manman replied, then went out of the shop again to find Xiao Hong.
"Follow me, please." Lian Manman had Xiao Hong sit in the carriage, and she led the way in front. Xiao Hong then invited Manman to also get into the carriage.
"Miss Manman, please take a seat in the carriage. Just tell us the way to go," said Aunt Sun, sticking her head out from inside the carriage to Lian Manman.
After thinking for a moment, Lian Manman told the coachman the way, then followed Xiao Hong into the carriage.
The carriage was spacious, and the three of them sitting inside were not crowded. Lian Manman first offered her regards to Aunt Sun.
"Aunt, you must have had a tedious journey. How is Old Madam Shen’s health?"
"Thank you for your concern, Miss. Old Madam Shen is in good spirits, she often speaks fondly of you at home. She mentioned that she would like to invite you to stay in the county city for a few more days for leisure," Aunt Sun replied, her plump figure and a face that, even without smiling, seemed naturally jovial.
Lian Manman gave a smile, taking this as common courtesy rather than literally believing that Old Madam Shen had actually invited her to play in the county city.
"Old Madam Shen is too polite. My Sister Huahua is well, I hope?" Lian Manman asked again.
"Our Third Lady is also fine," Aunt Sun continued, pausing slightly, "it’s just that she is pregnant and often feels a bit uncomfortable, missing her parents-in-law who can’t be present in the county city, unable to move around easily... I heard that lately your mother-in-law was not very well?"
"My aunt’s health?" Lian Manman couldn’t help being startled by this.
Lady Gu had been slaving away under Lady Zhou these past days, and had become quite thin, even falling ill once or twice, though they did not consult a doctor, with Lady Zhou "healing" her instead.
Had Sister Huahua learned about Lady Gu’s grievances? But how did Sister Huahua find out? Ever since Old Master Lian had brought back Lian Shouren and his family to the village, he had kept them confined, and aside from the day Erlang married and they went to the town for a banquet, they were generally not allowed to leave the Lian Family compound. There had been no communication between the Lian Family and the Song Family.
"...My aunt living in the Upper Room and us in the side rooms have separated households, we don’t eat together usually. My aunt is uncomfortable? How come I wasn’t aware of it? Maybe something happened, and I just didn’t notice," Lian Manman replied evasively.
Aunt Sun chuckled twice.
"Perhaps I heard wrong then... Third Lady misses her mother-in-law, she wants to invite her mother-in-law to stay in the county city for a while, hehe."
As she said this, the carriage had arrived at the Lian Family’s gate.
Lady Chiang came out to welcome Aunt Sun and Xiao Hong inside. Lian Manman followed them and entered the Upper Room as well.
In the Upper Room East Room, Old Master Lian, Lady Zhou, Lian Xiuxiu, Lian Shouren, and Lian Jizu were all present, with only Lady Gu missing. After some pleasantries, Aunt Sun simply said she was there to pay respects to Old Master Lian, Lady Zhou, and the Lian Shouxin couple on behalf of Old Madam Shen, and then took out the gifts she brought—it turned out she had also brought generous presents.
"Why isn’t our mother here?" After a while, Aunt Sun asked.
"She’s not feeling very well and is resting in the West Wing Room," Lady Zhou replied.
"...What is her illness, is it serious? Our Third Lady misses her mother greatly; she can neither eat nor sleep well. Old Madam Shen instructed us to discuss with you, asking if it might be possible for our mother to stay in the county city for a few days to accompany our Third Lady," Aunt Sun said.
"It’s not any severe illness..." Lady Zhou hesitated, glancing at Old Master Lian, "You tell Huahua that her mother is all right, to not worry and to take good care of herself, to bear children and bring honor to the Song Family."
"Speaking frankly, we shouldn’t refuse a request made by your Old Madam Shen," Old Master Lian coughed, picking up the thread of conversation, "We farmstead families observe decorum too. A married daughter follows her husband’s family; now that Huahua is married into the Song Family, she is the Song Family’s daughter-in-law and should follow the rules of a daughter-in-law. The Song Family will not lack people to serve her. There was never a case where a daughter, once married, still keeps her mother by her side for a lifetime. This request is improper."
"You go back and tell your Old Madam Shen, Huahua is now a person of the Song Family, and should abide by whatever rules there are. Whatever Huahua does wrong, just say so, whatever punishment is due, just execute; our Lian Family will not object," Old Master Lian instructed Aunt Sun in the end.
"The Great Grandfather makes sense, but if I go back now, it won’t be easy to explain," Aunt Sun said, feeling troubled.
"Dad, why don’t we let mom go to the county city to check on Huahua? She can come back after taking a look," Lian Shouren suggested.
Old Master Lian tapped his tobacco pipe and glanced at Lian Shouren.
Lian Shouren immediately lowered his head.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became a bit rigid.
"That..." Aunt Sun looked at Lian Shouren and then at Old Master Lian.
"Just do as I say," Old Master Lian said.
This time, Lian Shouren didn’t dare to say another word.
"Well then, there’s nothing I can do. I’ll go back and relay the Old Master’s words exactly," Aunt Sun resigned herself to say, then asked, "...may I see my in-law’s wife?"
Lady Zhou thought for a moment, then had Lian Xiuxiu call for Lady Gu to come and chat with Aunt Sun. Lady Gu followed Lian Xiuxiu over, and several times she tried to speak to Aunt Sun alone, but Lady Zhou kept interrupting, so they could only exchange some perfunctory family talk. Lady Zhou also called Lady Chiang, Lady Zhao, and Lady He to help with cooking, intending to keep Aunt Sun for a meal.
Lian Manman came out of the east room holding a wooden box, which contained several silk flowers given especially to her and Lian Zhizhi by Old Madam Shen.
The reason Aunt Sun came to Thirty Mile Camp was to have Lady Gu go to the city to take care of Lian Huahua. Aunt Sun said it was Old Madam Shen’s instruction, but clearly Lian Huahua played a key role in this matter. Unfortunately, it was flatly rejected by Old Master Lian.
However, there was something odd about the situation. The coachman should have known the way to the Lian Family’s home, yet it was Xiao Hong who asked for directions, and coincidentally, found her. Lian Manman remembered that during her trip to the county city last time, there was talk of her family opening a breakfast shop.
Riding in such a grand carriage, the visitors from the county city. When they asked for directions and encountered someone from the Lian Family, naturally, they would send someone ahead to inform the household. This would also be the case if a fellow villager spotted them; they would give the Lian Family advance notice. Wasn’t that exactly what Lian Manman did when she sent Lian Yeye back to relay the message? By the time Aunt Sun arrived at the Lian Household, Lady Zhou made Lady Gu "indisposed."
In fact, Old Madam Shen must be aware of what’s happening in the Lian Family. She probably didn’t wish for Lady Gu to genuinely go and stay with the Song Family in the county city.
Furthermore, Aunt Sun spoke on the carriage ride over, mentioning that Lady Gu felt ill over the New Year, something that was not broached in front of Lady Zhou or Old Master Lian. Why was that?
Aunt Sun wanted to tell her that someone was sending messages to Huahua in the county city. She told her in advance because once inside the Lian Household, there would be no chance to speak of it.
Old Madam Shen, who is implicitly in charge of the Song Family, had many ways to refuse Lian Huahua. Yet, she chose to go to such lengths, showing the importance she placed on Lian Huahua’s unborn child. It also reflected her method of handling affairs: patient and far-sighted.
It appears that Lian Huahua is far from being a match for Old Madam Shen.
Hopefully, Lian Huahua will cause less trouble and seek blessings on her own accord. That’s what Lian Manman was thinking as she stepped out of the Upper Room, only to stop dead in her tracks.
Another carriage had stopped at the gate, and Lady Zhang along with Zhao Xiue stepped down from it. Then, the carriage turned around and left.
Why had Zhao Xiue come, and moreover, with Lady Zhang?
By now, Zhao Xiue was cheerfully linking arms with Lady Zhang as they walked through the gate. Zhao Xiue’s face was smiling, but Lady Zhang beside her seemed somewhat uncomfortable.
In a flash, Lian Manman guessed what was happening.
"Mom, I was just looking for you about something, hurry over!" Lian Manman walked up to meet her, not sparing Zhao Xiue a glance, and pulled Lady Zhang into the West Wing Room.
Once inside the West Wing Room, Lady Zhang immediately shut the door and let out a sigh.
"Manman, you’re quick-witted," Lady Zhang said.
In the courtyard, Zhao Xiue, left by herself after Lady Zhang was pulled away by Lian Manman, stood dazed for a moment, then adjusted her facial expression and casually proceeded toward the Upper Room.
"Mom, why has Zhao Xiue come back?" Inside the West Wing Room, Lian Manman asked Lady Zhang.
"You’re asking me? How should I know?" said Lady Zhang, speaking with some frustration about what had just transpired.
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First update, seeking pink support. (To be continued. If you like this work, please feel free to cast your recommendation votes and monthly votes at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)
