Chapter 484: Chapter 251 Responsibility Allocation_2
Lady Zhou, in a fit of frustration, originally intended to say that if it were Old Fourth’s wife, Lady Zhang, she definitely wouldn’t be able to do this. However, upon further consideration, she realized that Lady Zhang’s clamoring for a division of the household had driven her own son away from her, which ultimately was not a good thing. If she were to voice this thought, she would be giving face to Lady Zhang and slapping her own face, so after opening her mouth, she swallowed the last sentence back down.
"Each and every one with a wolf’s heart and a dog’s lungs, lost their conscience, wishing that we old folks would drop dead right away..." Lady Zhou, distressed at not having a good daughter-in-law, now found her home stripped bare and sat down on the kang, bursting into tears.
This made Lian Shouli, who had been about to enter, stop in his tracks outside the door, standing there stunned for a moment before dragging his head back to the West Wing Room.
Lian Manman’s family, along with Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye, who had just returned from the shop, saw Lian Shouli go out and return like this, and guessed that Lian Shouli still didn’t have the courage to speak to Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou about separating the household.
"...If I bring up separation at this time, I don’t know what Dad would say, but Mom would definitely seek death," Lian Shouli held his head and said, "After we get through this rough patch, I’ll, I’ll find another opportunity..."
Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye both hung their heads in silent sadness.
Lian Manman let out a sigh.
After seeing off Lian Shouli and his small family of three, only Lian Manman’s family was left in the room.
"Dad, let’s talk about what happened today," Lian Manman said to Lian Shouxin.
"Manman, I know what you want to say. Dad understands, but when your grandpa and grandma face trouble, how can I pretend I don’t know?" Lian Shouxin said, "You all tell me, if your mom and I run into trouble in the future, will you be able to ignore us?"
Lian Zhizhi, Lian Manman, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi sat in a row, looking at each other.
"Dad, you were the first to rush back today, and my Second Uncle hid away. If none of us could come up with the money to pay off the debt, do you realize what could have happened?" Lian Manman asked.
Lian Shouxin’s gaze shifted evasively, failing to answer the question.
"I only realized the danger after Manman told me," Lady Zhang couldn’t help but say, "I was inexperienced too; how could I be so foolish at the time? When you came back, I just let you. If you had been caught by the government officer, what would our family do? The Yamen isn’t a nice place. Good people go in there and come out skinless."
Indeed, under those circumstances, the most likely to be taken away in Lian Shouyi’s stead was Lian Shouxin.
"You would leave us women at home, could you be at peace?...Who could we rely on, who would sincerely take care of us?" Lady Zhang complained.
"Didn’t I think of that too?" Lian Shouxin sighed.
His rush to return wasn’t to replace Lian Shouyi. He was worried about Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou.
"Even if I can’t be much help, just being by their side would bring peace of mind to the Old Master and the Old Lady, wouldn’t it!" Lian Shouxin explained.
"Dad, none of us is saying you shouldn’t look after Grandpa and Grandma, but it depends on the situation," Lian Manman thought for a moment and then said, "Even if we divide the household, if we are to provide for Grandpa and Grandma’s food and clothing, Mom and we all agree. It’s right to take care of Grandpa and Grandma’s needs, but we can’t take care of this whole large family; we don’t have the obligation, nor can we manage it."
"Manman is right," Wu Lang spoke seriously, "Dad, we are discussing amongst ourselves, I won’t mince words. If my Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle were decent, that would be another matter. How do we treat Third Uncle’s family? It really does depend on the person and the situation."
"We’ve only just started to live a better life, and it’s because we worked hard for it. I can’t bear to let the kids experience that hardship again. You really must be more careful in the future and stay out of the fray. Good things don’t come to you, but when trouble comes, you’re the first one they blame. Think about it, what are you doing this for?" Lady Zhang advised Lian Shouxin.
Lian Shouxin was left speechless by the mother and children.
"I know you have filial piety, and neither me nor the children are bad people. What Manman said is right; in the future, let’s be clearer about our responsibilities. If their grandpa and grandma truly run into some trouble on their own, then we have nothing to say. But for other matters, we stay out of it!" Lady Zhang added.
All the children nodded, agreeing with Lady Zhang’s view.
Everyone was looking at Lian Shouxin, waiting for him to take a stance.
"You’ve said everything that needs to be said, what else can I say? Let it be so," Lian Shouxin nodded. He had wanted to help Old Master Lian and his brothers, but time and time again, his heart had grown weary. The words of Lady Zhang and the children had opened his eyes.
...
"Hasn’t my Second Uncle’s family come back yet? Are they planning not to return at all?" Looking at the eerily quiet East Wing Room, Lady Zhang said.
"They’ll definitely come back for dinner," Lian Shouxin replied morosely.
"I wonder if Sister-in-law Xiu E will be able to return?" Lian Zhizhi said.
Apart from Liulang, who was too young and wasn’t told to hide, Lian Shouyi, Lady He, Erlang, Sanlang, and Si Lang all took off to hide. With no money on them, who would take them in? He Laoliu? The Zhao Family? It was unthinkable.
As for Zhao Xiue, having lost a significant sum of money and her house in town, she certainly wouldn’t let the matter rest. What would she do, move to her parents’ house or return to live at the Lian Family Old Mansion?
Just as Lian Shouxin expected, when the first wisp of smoke rose from the Thirty Mile Camp in the evening, Lian Shouyi, along with Erlang, Sanlang, and Si Lang, trudged back to the village looking dejected. Then, Lady He, emerging from who knows where, joined the procession, and under the gaze of the villagers, this family entered the Lian Family’s gates.
"You good-for-nothing, you still have the face to come back!" What greeted Lian Shouyi was a broom in Lady Zhou’s hand.
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Here’s one update, begging for your favor.
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I recommend Ruoyan’s completed book: "The Brocade Screen Chronicles," a light house fight farmland tale about the intrigues and grudges within a large family compound.
Book ID: 1771214
Below is a direct link; click to go straight there. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets, your support is my biggest motivation.)
