First watch, asking for pink votes.
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Originally, the relocation of Lian Shouli’s family of three to their new ho was supposed to be a joyful occasion for everyone to celebrate. However, it ended up like this. Lady Zhou left, but those who stayed behind couldn’t feel at ease or happy.
In fact, there was not even soone to smooth things over.
"Old Three," Old Master Lian sighed and summoned Lian Shouli to his side. After Lady Zhou left, Lian Shouli had been helped up by Lian Shouxin. "This incident today, sigh! I didn’t expect it, it shouldn’t have been like this."
"Your mother’s temper, everyone has known it for years. She... she’s your real mother, she couldn’t possibly an any harm to you. She just has a bad temper and a sharp tongue, but honestly, she doesn’t an any harm. If only..."
At this point, Old Master Lian paused, his eyes unwittingly drifting to Lian Yeye.
If, when Lady Zhou lost her temper, soone humored her, soothed her, and didn’t fight back or talk back, everything would go according to her wishes. Then the situation wouldn’t have escalated. Lady Zhou is just like that, go along with her, and everything’s fine. But if you crossed her, things would inevitably beco uncontrollable, just like they did this ti.
Old Master Lian thought like this, but ultimately didn’t say it out loud.
In the past, both Lian Shouli’s side and Lian Shouxin’s side tolerated and conford to Lady Zhou. But now, naturally, Lian Shouxin’s side has long since changed, and even Lian Shouli’s side seems to be changing, starting with Lian Yeye. Going back to the way things were before seems impossible now.
"What happened today was your mother’s fault. She’s getting on in years, and life hasn’t been easy for her, so she’s often restless, and her temper is the sa at ho!" Old Master Lian shifted his gaze away from Lian Yeye as he spoke. "Old Three, don’t take it to heart, just let it go and move on."
"Today you moved into a new house, and I’m happy for you that you could build such a big place. Live well from here on, and if you do well, I’ll be relieved."
Having said this, Old Master Lian stood up. He intended to stay for the al, to cover up the recent incident, and to nd relations with Lian Shouli. But seeing Lian Shouli looking dazed and making no effort to set the table, even he found it hard to stay seated.
Besides, even though he admitted in his heart that Lady Zhou shouldn’t have acted up towards Lian Shouli on such an occasion, he also couldn’t help but bla Lian Shouli, Lian Yeye, and Lady Zhao a little. And truthfully, he also harbored so resentnt towards Lian Shouxin’s family.
Lady Zhou is their mother, they should be well aware of her natural disposition. Isn’t it best to just go along a little, and coax her a bit? Isn’t that how they’ve managed up to now, and wasn’t it fine? As the saying goes, it takes two to tango. If any of these sons and grandsons had a bit of understanding, the situation wouldn’t have escalated to this point!
By the ti Old Master Lian stood up, Lian Shouli finally ca to his senses.
"Dad, why are you leaving, haven’t eaten yet?" Lian Shouli said to Old Master Lian.
"Ah... I won’t eat." Old Master Lian waved a hand dismissively at Lian Shouli, "We didn’t co for a al, just to show our faces and congratulate you. We’ve done that, so now we’ll head back."
With that, Old Master Lian started walking out.
"Dad, the food’s about ready, why not stay to eat?" Lian Shouli quickly moved to block Old Master Lian.
Lian Shouxin and the others also ca over, trying to persuade Old Master Lian not to leave.
Old Master Lian hesitated for a mont, glancing at Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, and the others behind him, but eventually shook his head. His heart was feeling quite troubled, and staying for the al might make him sick.
"No, it’s okay." Old Master Lian forced a smile on his face, "Old Fourth, we’re leaving, but you all stay. Talk it over with your third brother, don’t let him take today’s incident to heart. It’s a great occasion, everyone should be happy."
In the end, Old Master Lian really didn’t stay for the al. He left the way he arrived, along with Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, Erlang, Si Lang, and Liulang.
Lian Manman’s family, however, did stay behind. But since Lian Shouli and Lady Zhao were both in a bad mood, they just had a al before heading back to their ho.
Once back ho, the family gathered in the Upper Room of the backyard. Xiao Xi served tea, and the family sat around drinking tea and chatting.
"Sigh, what a thing today turned into!" Lady Zhang sighed before she spoke.
"Isn’t that right? It was supposed to be a good thing, sigh." Lian Shouxin sighed as well.
Lian Manman calmly sipped her tea, thinking to herself, Lady Zhou is really sothing. If you don’t go along with her, she can ss things up so no one feels at ease. But even if you do go along with her, it never ends. Basically, with soone like her around, you can forget about having a peaceful life.
"Later, it seed like Old Master wanted to stay for the al, so why did he change his mind and leave?" Lady Zhang asked Lian Shouxin.
"I think..." Lian Shouxin glanced around. The room was, of course, filled with only family mbers. "Old Master probably wanted to smooth things over, but... his third son didn’t really insist on him staying. If he had set the table for dinner or sothing, Old Master might have stayed."
"It wasn’t our place, especially after what Second Master said earlier. I didn’t dare to presumptively set the table for fear he’d take offense. ...I’ll tell you, I think his third son seed to have sothing on his mind."
As for what was on Lian Shouli’s mind, Lian Shouxin didn’t continue, and the family didn’t pursue the topic further.
"Yeye was really sothing today," Lady Zhang remarked, clicking her tongue. "At her age, most people couldn’t do what she did. After today, even the old lady is shaken."
"She had no choice," Lian Manman replied.
"That’s true," Lady Zhang nodded, then continued, "It’s strange though, looking at her third uncle and aunt, Yeye really doesn’t resemble either of them... Earlier, even Han Zhong’s wife told , didn’t Yeye threaten the old lady with a kitchen knife? Her third aunt was so scared in the outer room that she collapsed, oh..."
"Collapsed" is a local vernacular used by the tenants at Thirty Mile Camp to describe soone being so terrified they can’t stand and fall to the ground.
"To drive soone to such desperation, you really don’t see that often," Lian Manman said.
While the Lian Manman family discussed the desperate act towards Lian Shouli, at the sa ti, the elders in the old house were talking about the sa matter.
Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, and even Lady He, who hadn’t gone there, were all complaining. Lian Jizu, Erlang, and Liulang remained mostly silent, while Si Lang occasionally chid in.
"Alright, enough, enough, stop talking about it," Old Master Lian seed irritated as he waved his hand at them, "Everyone return to your rooms. Let’s end this matter here, and no one ntion it again."
After Old Master Lian sent Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, and others away, he turned to look at Lady Zhou.
Lady Zhou sat cross-legged on the bed, with a big blue handkerchief in hand, crying her heart out.
"Heartless, vicious, may lightning strike you, worse than an animal..." Lady Zhou cursed in between her sobs.
"Stop crying," Old Master Lian told Lady Zhou, "Today, you also had a part. Before you left, I told you it was a happy occasion. If there’s anything you’re unhappy about, talk about it later."
"What did I say? I’m his mother, I just asked him what’s wrong? Was that wrong?" Lady Zhou wiped her nose and imdiately glared at Old Master Lian. "If it weren’t for that brat Yeye, there wouldn’t be any trouble today."
"That little rascal, who knows who she takes after, lacking any virtue, she was born. May lightning strike her, may she..."
"Enough, enough, what are you saying?" Old Master Lian sharply stopped Lady Zhou’s vicious curses.
"And you’re still pretending to be a good person?" Perhaps tired from crying, Lady Zhou finally stopped. She looked at Old Master Lian mockingly, "Those couple of families all hate from the bottom of their hearts. You still think you’re a good person in their eyes? No matter how good you are, didn’t you also get driven back without even a sip of water?"
"You, you’re always saying unnecessary things. Ah..." Old Master Lian sighed again and simply closed his eyes, ignoring Lady Zhou.
In the past, he would definitely have scolded Lady Zhou more, but now the situation was different. Since his stroke, though Lady Zhou spoke harshly, she had taken ticulous care of him. His recovery was due in part to Lian Shouxin’s willingness to spend on good dicine, and also thanks to Lady Zhou’s care.
Tending to soone’s needs, even as spouses, is an act of love.
Because of this, after he recovered, Old Master Lian wasn’t as firm with Lady Zhou as before. For instance, at Lian Shouli’s house, he didn’t forcefully stop Lady Zhou, and later allowed her to curse him. And now, he let Lady Zhou mock him without retorting.
It was not only because he knew that if he retorted, Lady Zhou would quarrel with him endlessly, but also because he was grateful to Lady Zhou and beca more lenient with her.
With his eyes closed, Old Master Lian seed genuinely impervious to Lady Zhou’s scolding.
Earlier, no matter how Lian Shouren and the others spoke or how Lady Zhou cried and made a fuss, he tried to calm things without blaming Lian Shouli. This was to prevent matters from worsening.
So thoughts, even with Lady Zhou alone, Old Master Lian didn’t voice. Reflecting on Lian Shouli’s behavior after Lady Zhou left, Old Master Lian felt bitterly disappointed.
"Not a single one who brings peace of mind," Old Master Lian mumbled, "Every one of them is inconsiderate, stubborn. It was never like this before the family split. The division brought misfortune. We shouldn’t have split in the first place, then now..."
......
Just as the Lian Manman family finished a cup of tea, Lian Shouli, Lady Zhao, and Lian Yeye arrived.
"Old Fourth, I’ve got sothing I need to discuss with you."
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Here’s the first update; more coming later. Please vote for your monthly ticket. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, visit Qidian (qidian) to vote and support the author. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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