Chapter 506: Chapter 261: Making Connections_2
As soon as Old Master Lian entered the room, he took his seat again in the chair he had used earlier, now much more relaxed than before. Lian Jizu also sat down, while Lian Shouren walked up to the head seat, cupping his hands in the air as if holding the chair that Sixth Master Shen had just vacated, glancing first at Lian Shouxin and then at Old Master Lian.
"This is the chair that Sixth Master Shen sat in, we should take it back home—this is extraordinary..." said Lian Shouren with animated eyebrows.
"Eldest uncle is right," Lian Manman immediately said with a smile. "This chair and this table, my dad and my mom said, from now on should be enshrined in this room."
"Yes, that is what we had planned," Lian Shouxin nodded in agreement.
Lian Shouren glanced at Lian Shouxin and then turned his head to look at Old Master Lian, as if he was hoping that Old Master Lian would say something.
"Old Fourth knows what he’s doing; let him take care of it," declared Old Master Lian.
Seeing Old Master Lian say this, although Lian Shouren seemed somewhat disgruntled, he didn’t have much to say.
"Eldest brother, you sit, Old Fourth, you too," Old Master Lian gestured, asking his two sons to sit down in front of him.
Afterward, Old Master Lian spoke at length. He talked about the hardships of these years, his desire for Lian Shouren and Lian Shouxin to work together as brothers, and then about Lian Shouren’s upcoming exams and Lian Jizu’s Tongsheng test, urging Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu to study hard and not to let down his and the family’s expectations again.
It was finally when Wu Lang and Xiao Qi returned from school, with Xiao Qi’s stomach growling, that Old Master Lian remembered it was time for lunch.
Coming out of the room, Old Master Lian had Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu return home first, as he still had matters to discuss with Lian Shouxin.
"...These days, I’ve been pondering over this. Your elder brother can only tread the path of academics in this lifetime," Old Master Lian sighed deeply, speaking earnestly to Lian Shouxin. "Our whole family has been supporting him all these years, thankfully he has this foundation, for not just anyone who wishes to become a Scholar can succeed. Should the opportunity arise, we all must give him a push."
Lian Shouxin listened silently.
"This is for your elder brother’s good, as well as for the good of our whole family," Old Master Lian continued, "If he makes it, he can lift our whole family. With him leading the way, the future studies and exams for Wu Lang and Xiao Qi will be much easier."
Lian Shouxin looked at Wu Lang and Xiao Qi walking toward the snack vendor, turned his head back, wanting to say something to Old Master Lian, but he only opened his mouth without making a sound.
"All of you are my own flesh and blood. Both the palm and the back of my hand are flesh. I’m not favoring anyone; all this is for your own good. A family must be united, supporting each other—only then can we all have good days. Only then can your mother and I rest assured..."
Lian Manman pretended to lock the door behind her, listening in on everything Old Master Lian said. She understood Old Master Lian’s logic. Since a lot had already been invested on Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu, it made more economic sense to continue the investment, rather than starting anew with another child or grandchild. If Lian Shouren was not cut out for farming, then as his father, he would have to help Lian Shouren find another way in academics and also have his sons work together towards this goal.
When Lian Manman entered the snack shop, Lady Zhang and Lian Zhizhi were nearly done preparing the meal.
Lian Zhizhi had fed the pigs, chickens, and ducks at the old house and, without waiting for Lian Manman to bring her food, she came over by herself. Seeing everyone gathered at the new shop, discussing something she didn’t understand, she went ahead to the shop to start cooking.
"Manman, what happened?" Wu Lang asked Lian Manman.
Lian Manman then told Wu Lang and Xiao Qi about Sixth Master Shen and Shen Qian’s visit.
"Why did Jizu come back? Didn’t he go to school?" Lian Manman asked Wu Lang and Xiao Qi.
"He did, we saw him when brother and I went to the private school," Xiao Qi answered.
"Then who fetched him? Didn’t they fetch you two?" Lian Manman asked further.
"Don’t know, nobody came for us," Wu Lang replied.
After a while, Lian Shouxin also returned and the family gathered around the table to start their meal.
"Mother, it looked like my grandfather and eldest uncle were pretty happy... what did they talk about afterward?" Lian Manman asked Lady Zhang as they ate. Could it be that Old Master Lian asked Sixth Master Shen for something, and then Sixth Master Shen agreed?
"They didn’t say much. Sixth Master Shen just inquired about the crops in the field, asked how old your grandfather is, and where his original home was," Lady Zhang glanced at Lian Shouxin before saying, "This is the first time I’ve heard that the children’s Great Grandfather moved from Prefecture City?"
"I seem to remember Old Master mentioned it once when I was a child; I don’t remember it now," Lian Shouxin said, scooping up some rice.
"... Our family really has relatives with the Shen Family?" Lady Zhang said doubtfully.
"Mother, what’s going on? What relatives?" Lian Manman was startled.
"I’m also confused about that..."
Lady Zhang glanced again at Lian Shouxin before revealing to Lian Manman that the Old Master had mentioned his ancestry and claimed to be from Prefecture City. Then Sixth Master Shen had asked an old family retainer with him if he recognized anyone from the Lian Family of Prefecture City.
The old retainer recalled that there was indeed a Lian Family in Prefecture City that had close ties with the Shen Mansion but seemed to have moved away and lost touch over time. The old retainer also inquired about the names of Old Master Lian’s parents and the year they moved to Thirty Mile Camp. Unfortunately, Old Master Lian was too young when his parents passed away, and he couldn’t remember many details. But he did recall his father mentioning that their family used to be of noble standing.
Later, the old retainer said that perhaps it was very possible that Old Master Lian’s father was a descendant from that very Lian Family.
"No, that can’t be," Lian Manman was dumbfounded.
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Here’s the first update, seeking your support. (To be continued... If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote and support on Qidian.)
