Chapter 459: Chapter 238 Zhao Xiue’s Ru Yi Calculation_2
The whole family could tell there was more to what Lian Manman was saying.
"Yesterday, I was afraid I had guessed wrong, so I didn’t say anything," Lian Manman raised her head, "Dad, Mom, think about it, wasn’t Second Uncle acting especially strange yesterday?"
"Indeed, when people from the Zhao Family came, your Second Uncle and Zhao Xiue’s brother whispered something to each other, and after that, we didn’t hear him speak again," Lady Zhang said.
"That’s right. When the Zhao Family people came to take stuff away, if it were any other time, Second Brother would be the first to stop them, not letting them take anything. But yesterday, Second Brother didn’t stop them at all. Later, he even asked me and Third Brother to step aside," Lian Shouxin added, "But after that, he didn’t admit it and even complained about you and Third Brother."
Lian Manman nodded.
"Are you saying that before Zhao Xiue wanted to separate from the family, your Second Uncle had already tipped off the Old Zhao Family?" Lian Shouxin said, "But if Erlang separates on his own and even takes the house in town, what will Third Brother, Fourth Brother, and Liulang do in the future? Your Second Uncle didn’t get any advantage out of this."
Lian Manman nodded again; indeed, Zhao Xiue had taken all the advantages.
"Dad, you know what Second Uncle’s temper is like, how he goes about things; this isn’t the first or second time," Lian Manman hinted without spelling it out.
"Let’s see what your Second Uncle has to say when he gets back; then we’ll know what’s going on," Lady Zhang said.
After sitting for a while, Wu Lang and Xiao Qi went back to school, and Lian Manman’s family returned to the old house.
As soon as they entered through the main gate, they saw Lian Shouyi, furious, stomping out of the Upper Room.
"I’ll find them, these bastards, not a single good one among them. I raised him to this age, got him a wife, and I haven’t enjoyed a day of bliss before they think of leaving us and separating the family. The Old Zhao Family thinks they can have their way; if they want to separate, those two bastards can leave without a thing, expecting nothing from us. I have many sons, countless grandchildren..."
While cursing, Lian Shouyi walked out and, upon seeing Lian Shouxin, stopped in his tracks.
"Old Fourth, look at what you’ve done," Lian Shouyi pointed at Lian Shouxin, dissatisfied.
"Second Brother, what have I done to offend you this time?" Lian Shouxin asked, puzzled.
"Wasn’t it you yesterday who let the Zhao family go, letting them carry away Erlang’s wife’s trunks? If we had held onto her trunks, she wouldn’t have dared to mention separating from the family," Lian Shouyi stated confidently.
Lian Shouxin had felt something was off yesterday, and after hearing Lian Manman’s analysis, he was already convinced that Lian Shouyi had deliberately arranged things that way. Yesterday, Shouyi had made him and Lian Shouli take the blame, and today he was even trying to turn the tables; even with Lian Shouxin’s good temper, he was now angered.
"Second Brother, how dare you say that. Wasn’t it you who gestured to me and Third Brother to let them go yesterday? Afterwards, not only did you not admit it, but blamed me and Third Brother instead; you made yourself out to be the good person. Second Brother, we are brothers, I don’t want to expose your faults, you forced my hand... Tell me, when Zhao Fugui came, why didn’t you both go inside? What did you talk about behind closed doors? Everyone knows about you, allowing entry but not exit. If those trunks had been carried out of your house at any other time, you would’ve made a fuss, so why didn’t you say anything yesterday and just stood behind Dad, watching the fun?"
"You..." Lian Shouyi was rendered speechless by Lian Shouxin’s coherent retort. He was surprised that Lian Shouxin, who was usually not articulate, could say so much.
"Old Fourth, don’t be so suspicious without reason," Lian Shouyi looked towards the Upper Room a bit guiltily, and his manner of speaking to Lian Shouxin lost the arrogant edge it had before, "Am I a fool? Would I willingly let Erlang and the rest separate like that? It’s nonsense! Yesterday... I was just thinking like our mother, in the heat of the moment. Thinking of how Erlang’s wife is carrying our Lian Family’s child, she couldn’t possibly grow wings and fly away; no matter how much trouble she stirs up, she’ll have to come back,... Whatever was taken out, will have to be brought back in the same way."
"Second Brother, as long as you know what you’re doing," Lian Shouxin responded to Lian Shouyi helplessly.
"I’m going to town to settle accounts with that old scoundrel Zhao Wencai!" Lian Shouyi said, and hurriedly left the house.
Upon reaching the center of the courtyard, the voice of Old Master Lian could be heard coming from the Upper Room.
"Has Old Fourth come back?"
"Ah, Father, I’ve returned." Lian Shouxin knew this meant that Old Master Lian was summoning him to the Upper Room. Lian Shouxin turned his head, looking at Lady Zhang, hoping she would join him.
In light of what had happened, Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou were sure to be upset. As their son and daughter-in-law, Lian Shouxin wanted to go and comfort Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou with Lady Zhang by his side.
After a moment’s thought, Lady Zhang still shook her head, refusing.
"I’d better not go over right now. His mother would definitely get angrier if she saw me," Lady Zhang whispered.
The day after Zhao Fugui and his company had left, Lady Zhou sat in the room scolding everyone until lamp lighting time. Starting with Zhao Xiu E, almost no one in the large household was spared. Lady Zhou also berated Lady Gu, Lady Zhang, and Lady Zhao for not attacking Zhao Fugui’s Wife. In the end, she cursed them for their lack of heart, accusing them of turning their elbows out (a Chinese idiom for favoring outsiders over family).
Lady Zhang, Lady Zhao, along with Lian Manman, Lian Yeye, and Lian Zhizhi returned to the West Wing Room, leaving Lian Shouxin to go to the Upper Room alone.
It wasn’t until a good while later that Lian Shouxin finally came back from the Upper Room.
"What did my grandfather and grandmother say?" Lian Manman asked immediately.
"What else could they say? They don’t agree with Erlang and the others splitting the family," Lian Shouxin replied.
"The old lady was furious, saying she wants to divorce Erlang’s wife and have Erlang find another," Lian Shouxin said to Lady Zhang.
"What about the child?" Lady Zhang asked.
"Once Erlang’s wife has given birth to the child, they’ll go and demand the child," Lian Shouxin said.
"Then what did his grandfather say?"
"His grandfather didn’t agree; he said since Erlang’s wife is carrying a child for the Lian Family, as long as there’s a glimmer of hope, he still wants Erlang to be with her... splitting the family is out of the question," Lian Shouxin said, "His grandfather’s intention is for Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law to make trouble with the Old Zhao family."
Letting the Zhao Family move the dowry out, Lian Shouyi had already lost his advantage, and it was uncertain who would win or lose once the quarrel began.
"Did you mention the chicken coop incident to his grandfather?" Lady Zhang paused for a moment before asking again.
**...***
The ranking has been overtaken, 555, here’s a second update, asking for pink tickets.
In the book review section, some readers asked about the pink tickets. On the female-oriented websites, the monthly ticket is called the pink ticket. Pink ticket is a nickname for the monthly ticket. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)
