Chapter 434: Chapter 225: Old Master Lian’s Conditions_2
Lian Shouxin stood up and ushered Zhao Wencai toward the door.
"Brother Zhao, Sister-in-law Zhao, let me see you out. Just follow the main road ahead... haha, I’m sure you both know the way."
The Zhao family of four had no choice but to leave and board their carriage, heading for the Lian Family Old Mansion. They had not obtained what they came for at Lian Shouxin’s, and instead now owed him a favor for the "reminder." Moreover, after talking with Lian Shouxin, the imposing manner they had barely mustered upon arrival had completely dissipated.
"Making a scene, look at you making a scene. Didn’t you say you had a surefire plan? Where’s that now? You clinging to Erlang doesn’t do a damn thing; he doesn’t bother with affairs when eating. Now, your father and I have to humbly go and offer our apologies to others," Zhao Wencai scolded Zhao Xiue on the way back to the village, his face stern.
"The child’s had enough hardship, and here you are taking your anger out on her. If you were a bit more capable, our child wouldn’t have ended up in this situation," Lady Wu defended her daughter.
"Who told you to be so groveling? If you hadn’t pushed me, would I willingly have come back? Let’s just go home now. I bet they’ll come begging me to return," Zhao Xiue stubbornly insisted.
"My dear lady, what did we say when we were coming here?" Zhao Xiue’s sister-in-law said with a smile, trying to pacify her, "Just be a little patient, and later you’ll be able to hold your head high, enjoy the good life, and within a hundred miles, they’ll see what you’re made of."
Zhao Xiue fell silent.
Zhao Wencai heaved a sigh of relief inside and flicked the horsewhip, urging the carriage to go a little faster.
...
In the early-morning teahouse, a family was busy cleaning up.
"The Zhao family really came knocking on our door. If we had known this would happen today, why did it have to come to this?" Lady Zhang said.
"They sure don’t think so," Lian Manman replied.
"I see it now; she wants to come in step by step and subdue the whole family. She doesn’t seem to realize that as a granddaughter-in-law, it’s just not possible," she added.
"If she had encountered someone meek and easy to bully, she might have succeeded. She wouldn’t know unless she tried," Lian Manman chuckled.
"Manman, did you just mention Duoduo..." Lady Zhang asked.
"I just said it casually," Lian Manman immediately interjected. At this moment, she hadn’t yet realized that by mentioning Lian Duoduo, she had somehow made Zhao Xiue despise Lady Chiang even more.
"I don’t know how the Old Master’s going to resolve this now," Lady Zhang commented.
"Dad is someone who plans ahead. When he sent Erlang and the others to the mountains to work, it wasn’t just about making a bit of money," Lian Shouxin said as he walked over.
"Let’s finish up here and go back to the house as well," Lian Manman suggested.
"Such a good believer in hope!" Lady Zhang laughed.
Despite her words, the family locked up the shop and headed for the Old Mansion.
By the time they reached the Old Mansion and entered the Upper Room, Zhao Xiue was about to kowtow to Old Master Lian, Lady Zhou, Lian Shouyi, and Lady He, and they missed the scene of Zhao Wencai and his wife apologizing profusely to Old Master Lian.
"Help her up first," Old Master Lian initially refused to accept Zhao Xiue’s kowtows, asking Lian Xiuxiu to help Zhao Xiue stand.
"Uncle Lian, this matter’s not as grave as beheading. Xiue knows she was wrong, and we, her parents, have also offered our apologies. Uncle Lian, you are known far and wide for your virtue..." Zhao Wencai started to say, thinking Old Master Lian was still unwilling to take Zhao Xiue back, and hurriedly spoke.
"We don’t need to rush the kowtows; there are some things that need to be discussed first," Old Master Lian said calmly.
"Alright, Uncle, whatever you want to talk about, just say it," Zhao Wencai replied, having no choice but to listen. He knew Old Master Lian was going to set conditions, but at this stage, he had to acquiesce.
"Erlang is currently busy working up in the mountains; it’s tiring work, and going back and forth to the town is not convenient. I plan to sell the town house and have Erlang move back home. If you agree, Xiue can stay, and from today on, she will live in the village. If you disagree, we won’t force you. You can return home, and from then on, men marry and women wed, with no further contact," explained Old Master Lian, speaking very straightforwardly.
The forthright words of Old Master Lian caused the faces of Zhao Wencai, Zhao Xiue, and the others to change drastically.
"Uncle Lian, when we agreed to Xiue’s marriage, it was understood that she and her husband would live in the town," Lady Wu interjected anxiously.
"I haven’t lost my wits yet. Initially, there was a disagreement about the betrothal gifts for a few days, but there was no issue with a house. That townhouse was only discussed because Erlang’s father told me it was too crowded in the village, so Erlang would live there after getting married," Old Master Lian retorted.
"If Erlang hadn’t agreed to give the house to Xiue and himself, we wouldn’t have agreed to the marriage. Erlang, what did you tell me at the time?" Zhao Wencai asked Lian Shouyi.
Lian Shouyi, who was initially working up in the mountains, was sent for by Old Master Lian to come back during lunch-time.
"That townhouse belongs to our family, and it’s a sizable house. How could we just let Erlang and his wife live there?" Lian Shouyi replied slickly, but his next sentence was harsh. "What was agreed upon then is one thing; now you’re the ones begging to send your daughter back. Are you still talking about what was agreed upon?"
Having said that, Lian Shouyi even let out a couple of sly chuckles.
Old Master Lian had at least left Zhao Wencai some dignity in the way he spoke, but Lian Shouyi had shown no such courtesy, deliberately hitting where it hurt most.
Even with his experience, Zhao Wencai couldn’t help but flush with embarrassment.
...******......
Here’s one more update, hoping for your likes. I’ll strive for a second update in the evening.
(The previous Chapter has been slightly modified; the plot remains unchanged, only the timeline has been adjusted.) (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote with your recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
