Chapter 518: Chapter 267 Seeking a Visit_2
Zhao Wencai sighed deeply after saying a cartload of words, yet Lian Shouxin seemed to have hardly spoken a complete sentence.
"Old Fourth Brother, I want you to weigh in on this matter," Zhao Wencai insisted that Lian Shouxin take a stand.
"Brother Zhao," Lady Zhang took over at this point, "There’s no need to ask our head of the household. You know we’ve been living separately from the family for not just a day or two. Each household eats its own food, looks after its own affairs. Whatever issues his second uncle’s family has, they can’t discuss it with us. Our head of the household, this man here, he’s just too honest. His second uncle’s family is the elder, ours the younger; there’s simply no place for our head of the household to speak."
"Right," Lian Shouxin immediately nodded, adding a bit more water to Zhao Wencai’s cup, "Brother Zhao, please have some water."
Lian Manman also felt that Lady Zhang’s words were well put. It wasn’t that Lady Zhang and Lian Shouxin lacked compassion, but everything had to be considered on a case-by-case basis. If it were her, she might not even listen to Zhao Wencai’s words, having already sent him packing.
Those words, there’s no need to tell us. You should speak where it is appropriate.
Zhao Wencai cleared his throat, not having received the expected reaction from Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang, but he wasn’t discouraged. The crux of what he had to say was still to come.
"... Everyone in these ten miles and eight villages says the Lian Family is nothing if not respectable, which is why we were willing to marry our daughter into your family... Now, with Xiu E pregnant, she’s being looked after all day by her mother and sister-in-law. It’s not that we can’t support our daughter, but this is not the main issue." Zhao Wencai glanced at Lian Shouxin, finally getting to the heart of the matter. "The child in Xiu E’s womb, that’s the Lian Family’s flesh and blood, the first great-grandchild of the Lian Family. If it were born in our Zhao Family, let alone Erlang, even Uncle Lian would lose face when going out, wouldn’t he? Not to mention Old Fourth Brother, you’re the child’s paternal granduncle by blood. Both Store Manager and Shopkeeper, prominent figures, would also not look too good going out, right?"
"Brother Zhao, I heard that Erlang went to fetch his wife twice, and she didn’t want to come back with him. Erlang said he was driven out," Lian Shouxin said slowly.
Xiu E went to the county town hoping to extort valuables, but returned to the town, fruitless. Lian Shouyi said Xiu E had no other choice but to come back of her own accord. Old Master Lian being a decent man, felt that one should leave some lee-way in such times, so he sent Erlang to fetch her. However, not only did he fail to bring her back, but he was also driven out and chased, drenched with verbal abuse by Xiu E, her mother, and sister-in-law.
The Zhao Family didn’t just curse Erlang; they vehemently cursed almost all members of the Lian Family, including Old Master Lian, Lady Zhou, Lian Shouren, and Lian Shouyi. In the Zhao Family’s mouths, all of them became "old pigs and dogs."
After such incidents, the gossip naturally reached the ears of the Lian Family members, who also became angry.
The Lian Family, valuing filial piety and decency, believed that even if the elders were at fault, it wasn’t for the younger generation to criticize. The younger members must always be respectful, obedient, and endure grievances without complaint; the kind-hearted and lenient elders would naturally dote on them even more. In this way, a family could achieve fatherly kindness and filial piety, brotherly friendship and brotherly respect, and harmonious happiness. They had been exceptionally lenient with Xiu E, but she showed no gratitude, had no regard for her reputation. The Lian Family had done all they could in righteousness and had nothing more to say.
Since then, Old Master Lian said he would no longer involve himself with Erlang and Xiu E’s affairs. Naturally, Lian Shouyi and Lady He would not talk about bringing Xiu E back.
"Old Fourth Brother, everyone has a temper. Besides, with the previous matters, your Lian Family couldn’t justify its actions. Old Fourth Brother, you also have a daughter; if she encountered such..."
Lian Manman’s expression changed at once, turning to look at Zhao Wencai.
"Brother Zhao, let’s stick to the matter at hand. Why bring up my daughter?" Lian Shouxin was getting unhappy.
Lady Zhang was unhappy too, comparing her Zhizhi and Manman with Xiu E was a jab to her heart. How could Xiu E compare to her daughters in character?
"Husband, perhaps it’s time you change tasks and haul manure to the fields," Lady Zhang said to Lian Shouxin.
It was an implied instruction to expel the guest.
With Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang speaking, Lian Manman was glad to have some leisure, finishing ironing the last sleeve of the clothing. She set the iron aside carefully, and folded the garment.
For a piece of silk jacket that had been washed and ironed, they could earn three or four coins.
"No, no, it’s not what I meant." Zhao Wencai had no choice but to swallow his pride and keep a smile on his face, "Old Fourth Brother, think not of others, but don’t you have to consider Erlang as well? I’m so old, what else could I be concerned about if not for my children..."
His words softened Lian Shouxin’s heart again.
"Brother Zhao, tell me what you’re planning, just say it directly," said Lian Shouxin.
"What else can I plan for..." Zhao Wencai drooped his head, "... the promissory note signed by He Laoliu, saying that when the money is recovered, it should all go to our Xiu E. I wouldn’t believe anyone else’s words. But if Old Fourth Brother, you’re willing to act as a guarantor in this matter, Erlang will now go to fetch Xiu E, and she would come back with him straightaway. They’re still husband and wife, and in a few months, Uncle Lian could be holding his great-grandchild."
Clearly at a disadvantage, he was begging the Lian Family to take Xiu E back, yet he still wanted to bind Lian Shouxin by having him act as a guarantor.
With Lian Shouxin as a guarantor, Xiu E would not suffer any losses. But what about Lian Shouxin?
If Lian Shouxin did not act as a guarantor, there was still a chance that Lian Shouyi could recover the money from He Laoliu. But should Lian Shouxin agree to guarantee, hoping to recover the money from He Laoliu would become a mere wishful thinking. In the end, Lian Shouxin would be the one to pay.
No wonder Zhao Wencai was willing to gift them two packages of pastries and was being so servile; it turned out he was harboring such hopes.
This is preposterous!
"Uncle Zhao, let me pour you some water," Lian Manman offered, bringing over a kettle of boiling hot water, her voice sweet and smiling.
"Good, good... Ow..."
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