Chapter 441: Chapter 229 Property Dispute_2
As February’s spring breeze sharp as scissors, by mid-February, the wind no longer sliced at one’s face, yet it was still a great distance from the gentle willow breeze that graces one’s cheeks without a chill.
Wu Lang and Xiao Qi were about to attend the private school in the town.
The town’s private school was funded by the gentry and wealthy merchants of several villages in the town and had been established for several decades. Over these decades, the school had produced several Scholars, but not a single Graduate. Thirty Mile Camp’s Scholar Wang Family had also invested in the private school, yet their children had hired Xixi for private tutoring at home instead of attending the school.
For Wu Lang and Xiao Qi to study, the private school was their only option. A school that had produced Scholars seemed appropriate for them for now.
Lian Jizu also had to attend the private school to read.
Old Master Lian called Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi together to the Upper Room. With three grandsons going off to study, Old Master Lian couldn’t help but give them a heartfelt exhortation. It was nothing more than advising them to study diligently, to strive to bring honor to their ancestors, and to support each other while away.
"Jizu, since you’re the eldest and have lived in the town for a few years, you must take care of Wu Lang and Xiao Qi," Old Master Lian told Lian Jizu.
Lian Jizu nodded in agreement.
Lian Manman had followed Wu Lang and Xiao Qi over and was sitting with Xiao Qi. Wu Lang and Xiao Qi could go to school, but she could not, which made Lian Manman feel quite unhappy, although she was powerless to change it. After all, everyone in these ten or eight villages knew each other, and if she tried to disguise herself as a boy like Zhu Yingtai, she would be exposed immediately.
"That is Lian Manman from the Lian Family, the third daughter." She could already envision what a tragic scene it would be.
The town was only two or three miles away from Thirty Mile Camp, and Wu Lang and Xiao Qi planned to commute.
"There’s a lot of work at home. Xiao Qi and I can still help with chores in the morning and evening. It also saves us having lunch in the town and spending money," Wu Lang said. Though young, perhaps because he was the eldest son of the Fourth Household, he seemed more sensible than his peers.
However, Lian Jizu planned to stay in the town.
"Grandfather, Wu Lang and Xiao Qi are just beginning their studies, they only need to learn a few pages of text a day. It’s different for me," Lian Jizu spoke up, "I’m about to take exams soon, my coursework is heavy. Grandfather, I plan to live in the town so I can review more often, morning and evening."
"If Jizu is to attempt the Scholar examination, he should indeed have a quiet place to study," Lian Shouren interjected.
Staying in the town would definitely include eating there, in addition to the annual tuition fees for the private school, which amounted to a considerable sum of money. Lian Manman calculated in her heart.
"Jizu, where do you plan to stay? Does the private school provide accommodation?" Old Master Lian asked after taking a puff from his dry tobacco pipe.
"Grandfather, that house in the town that hasn’t been sold yet, I can stay there for now," Lian Jizu suggested, "Whenever it’s sold, I’ll move out."
Old Master Lian seemed to be deep in thought and did not immediately respond.
"... Living in the town, if I have to eat all three meals outside, that would cost quite a bit of money. Otherwise, let Niuniu’s mother come with me. She can cook, take care of me, and I can focus on my studies," Lian Jizu added.
Only Lian Shouren and his son Lian Jizu from the main household had come to the Upper Room; Lady Gu and Lady Chiang stayed in the western room and did not come over.
Under normal circumstances, Old Master Lian would have readily agreed. But today, unexpectedly, Old Master Lian still did not express his opinion.
"Father, I think this would work," Lian Shouren spoke, "Jizu has been studying for several years and is just short of the final polish, and a Scholar title is well within his grasp. For the next year or so, we should let him concentrate on his studies without worrying about anything else. Let Jizu’s wife bear some hardship... With the town house sitting empty, before it’s sold, let them stay there with Niuniu, saving money on rent. It’s safer and cheaper to cook their own meals than eat out."
As soon as Lian Shouren finished speaking, Zhao Xiue and Lady He lifted the door curtain and walked in.
"I just came in and heard Uncle talking, Grandfather, are we not planning to sell the townhouse anymore?" Zhao Xiue entered and sat down on the edge of the kang (a traditional Chinese heated bed) with Lady He and began to ask.
Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu quickly exchanged glances.
Lian Manman sensitively detected a whiff of gunpowder spreading in the air.
"Sell it? Of course, we’re selling it," Old Master Lian said.
"Before it’s sold, it’s empty anyway. I might as well live there for a while, which can also save the family some money," Lian Jizu reasoned.
"When Erlang and Xiue moved in, Grandfather, you were worried it might interfere with selling the house," Lady He remarked.
Old Master Lian tapped his tobacco pipe. The reason he hadn’t immediately agreed to Lian Jizu’s request was precisely because of this concern. Erlang’s circumstances had changed since marrying Zhao Xiue, and as the head of the family, every decision he made had to consider even more factors.
The townhouse was a sensitive issue.
He had intended to agree to Lian Jizu’s suggestion. However, if Lian Jizu and Lady Chiang were allowed to live in the townhouse, the second household would not be peaceful, and it was hard to say what troubles might arise.
Old Master Lian was troubled.
Meanwhile, Zhao Xiue and Lady He were full of vigor; it was Si Lang in the outer room who had overheard Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu’s conversation and told them about it. Zhao Xiue couldn’t sit still any longer, thinking that the main household was trying to take advantage of the opportunity to occupy the townhouse. She discussed it with Lady He, and they immediately went to the Upper Room.
Now, they were waiting for Old Master Lian to speak, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were unusually in agreement that no matter what, they couldn’t allow the main household to take over the house.
In her heart, Zhao Xiue had another thought; she believed this was Lady Chiang’s ploy to move into the townhouse. Who wouldn’t want to move to the town? If the Lian Family wouldn’t let her go, then she wouldn’t let Lady Chiang go either.
Lian Manman was also somewhat expectant; she wondered what Old Master Lian would ultimately decide.
***......*****
This afternoon, I got pissed off by the delivery guy’s lies and irresponsibility, damn it all.
Thank you, everyone. Today’s support has been very strong. Here’s the third update, continuing to ask for your support. Let’s keep the momentum going! (To be continued... If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
