Lian Zhizhi nodded.
"Manman makes sense. After hearing what my elder uncle said, I felt uncomfortable, but couldn’t articulate why. Now that Manman has explained it, I understand. It’s exactly that," said Lian Zhizhi.
"The Song Family is wealthy and noble. Although your elder uncle is a Scholar, he’s just that—a Scholar. He still relies on them to repay the money and to help him secure an official position. In front of people from the Song Family, he can’t stand up straight, and he can’t talk too much. This Butler Song Fu seems quite influential in the Song Family," Lady Zhang murmured.
"If elder uncle has to flatter people, that’s his business. We rely on our own hands to work for our food, and we don’t need to bend over backwards to please anyone," Lian Manman said.
"Elder uncle has no reason to treat us like we are his servants or maids," added Lian Zhizhi.
"Right, that’s exactly it," Lian Manman agreed.
Seeing her children so steadfast made Lady Zhang happy.
"Zhizhi, Manman, you two haven’t softened your spines just because the Song Family is rich. This pleases your mother," Lady Zhang said, "But still, in front of others, keep so face for your elder uncle."
"Mom, when others are trampling on our faces, why should we save face for them?" Lian Manman disagreed.
"You can’t write two Lian characters with a single stroke. Although we’ve separated from the main household, we’re still mbers of the Lian Family. By bringing up your elder uncle’s faults, you let people know our family is not harmonious, which reflects poorly on us," Lady Zhang said sternly.
Lian Manman sat on the edge of the Kang bed, while Lian Zhizhi and Xiao Qi also joined her atop the Kang.
"Mom, what you’re saying makes a lot of sense. Sister, Xiao Qi, from now on, we must rember, even if we have our own opinions, we can’t show them in front of others," Lian Manman said. In fact, both Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang had always done well in this regard; they consistently supported their children in front of outsiders.
Lian Zhizhi and Xiao Qi both nodded in agreent.
"When my brother cos back, I’ll let him know too," Xiao Qi said.
Lian Manman nodded in agreent.
"But Mom, elder uncle’s case is different," Lian Manman turned back to Lady Zhang. "He was the first to speak out, and from what he said, it was clear he didn’t see and sister as his nieces, as family, but as less than him, as servants. If I said nothing, it would an that I agreed with him, and if others saw that, who would respect us? If we have to endure this just to maintain peace in the family, then we don’t want that peace." If you have to be a pushover for the family to get along, then that harmony is aningless.
Lian Zhizhi and Xiao Qi both nodded emphatically.
The reason Lian Manman always patiently reasoned with Lady Zhang, trying to persuade her, was only one part of it. Another important reason was to teach this to Lian Zhizhi and the children. If they were constantly exposed to subservient thoughts, they would naturally beco pushovers. Lian Manman wanted to tell them the correct way to think in situations.
Now, it seed that although the transformation of the biggest pushover still required effort, there would no longer be any little pushovers.
"Mom, I’ve already saved face for elder uncle by not directly refuting him," Lian Manman added. If she had vigorously refuted Lian Shouxin earlier, she could have utterly disgraced him. Of course, her "blunt talk" turned out to be unexpectedly effective.
Lady Zhang was left speechless by Lian Manman’s argunt.
"Manman, what your elder uncle did was immoral," Lady Zhang finally said after a pause. "However, regarding Huahua’s marriage, we should help if we can. Manman, I know they’ve wronged you, and you hate them. Mother’s heart also harbors hatred, and I don’t like them either. However, it’s in the past, and your grandfather has already punished them. We’re not eating from the sa pot anymore, but we’re still mbers of the Lian Family. If we can let go, let go. We’re family, and shouldn’t truly beco enemies."
Lady Zhang spoke sincerely and with heartfelt emotion.
"Mom, regarding Huahua’s marriage, I won’t go out of my way to help, nor will I deliberately sabotage it," Lian Manman said.
She genuinely did not want to ruin Lian Huahua’s marriage, nor had she planned on actively facilitating it.
Lian Manman had thought through Lian Huahua’s marriage carefully.
If Lian Huahua’s marriage fell through, what would the outco be? First, the betrothal gifts would have to be returned to the Song Family. Could that fake jade really pass muster? Even if it could, there was still the usury to repay. Could they sell Lian Huahua to repay the usury? The result would still fall on the shoulders of everyone in the Lian Family. What could the Lian Family use to repay the high-interest loans? They would have to sell their house, their land, and even exchange their lives for money in the salt mines. This would be a disaster for the entire family.
Even if they had separated from the main household, they could not completely avoid disaster. Usurers are not reasonable. First of all, could they live peacefully in this house? Would the land allotted to them actually end up in their hands? Could they simply ignore others and watch as Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou were reduced to begging for a living, selling themselves into slavery?
They had only just separated, and their own foundation was not yet stable. Even if she had just given a dose of harsh reality to Lian Huahua, it was only to a certain extent. But this mindset could not be known to Lian Huahua’s family, lest they think they had so advantage. For years, the main branch of the family had been comfortably supported, counting on Old Master Lian’s pulse, secure and fearless. Lian Manman certainly could not repeat the sa mistake; it was an issue of both attitude and strategy.
"Manman, if you can think this way, your mother is relieved," Lady Zhang said and was reassured by Lian Manman’s statent that she would not sabotage the marriage.
In the West Room of the Upper Room, Lady Gu was speaking with Lian Huahua.
"Manman actually said such things, no wonder you gave her that embroidered flower and the bracelet that cost nearly two taels of silver. My good girl, what you did was right," Lady Gu said.
"Mother, I can’t stand it," Lian Huahua said through clenched teeth.
**********
Regarding update tis, Ruoyan has been busy with so matters these days and will gradually adjust to fix a consistent update ti. I apologize for any inconvenience this might cause to you. (To be continued. If you like this work, please feel free to co to Qidian (qidian) to cast your recomndation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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