"Mom, you’re saying..." Lian Shouxin was a bit helpless, "am I here any less..."
"What, are you talking back to now? I’m your mother, can’t I say sothing to you?" Lady Zhou’s tone imdiately rose, speaking to Lian Shouxin with so severity.
"If you have sothing to say, say it nicely. The kids co here so often, do they co to see you any less? If there’s sothing to say, say it nicely." Old Master Lian interjected at this ti.
Lady Zhou turned her head to glance at Old Master Lian, seeming to really heed his words. After a pause, her tone actually softened.
"That place in the mountains, did the Shen Family from Prefecture City have visitors recently?" Lady Zhou asked.
Lian Manman felt a stir inside. Lady Zhou always had a firm grip on household matters but rarely asked about outside matters. Usually, such topics were Old Master Lian’s area of concern. What had happened today to make Lady Zhou suddenly interested in the Shen Family visitors?
Lian Manman quickly gave Lian Shouxin a look, signaling him to be particularly cautious.
"Yes." Lian Shouxin answered honestly.
"You all have a good relationship with the Shen Family, and their coming and going, the Old Wang Family, that’s a Graduate Master’s family, they’re no match for you, right?" Lady Zhou continued to ask.
"... It’s just the kids. Wu Lang and the Ninth Master of the Shen Family were in the sa exam cycle, and both beca scholars. Now there’s a good teacher invited by the Shen Family in the mountains, and Xiao Qi studies under him alongside the Ninth Master." Lian Shouxin replied cautiously.
This was the standard answer agreed upon by Lian Manman’s family concerning anything related to the Shen Family.
"Isn’t there also a young lady from the Shen Family who keeps asking Manman to accompany her every day?" Whether Lady Zhou understood Lian Shouxin’s words or not, she just continued asking.
"Ah..." Lian Shouxin didn’t answer imdiately, instead looking at Lian Manman.
"...I’ve been there a few tis..." Lian Manman replied ambiguously.
Lady Zhou sat cross-legged on the heated brick bed, with her hands folded on her legs, starting to regulate her breathing.
Lian Manman then understood that Lady Zhou’s issue was indeed with her. Connecting it with the scolding when she first entered, Lian Manman had already guessed eight or nine-tenths of the reason Lady Zhou specifically called Lian Shouxin here.
In fact, when the suggestion was made to accompany Lian Shouxin, she had already vaguely guessed a bit.
"...You brought your sister, Yeye, and..." Lady Zhou raised an eyelid to glance at Zhang Caiyun, "You also brought Wu Jiayu, didn’t you? The sa sisters, which is far and which is near, don’t you know? That Duoduo, I won’t speak of her, but as for Yaya, with all these good opportunities, it costs you nothing, but you just left Yaya out!"
Indeed, it was an outburst over this matter.
However, since when did Lady Zhou start protecting Lian Yaya? Lian Manman couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. If Lady Zhou was truly standing up for Lian Yaya, she might have a slightly improved opinion of Lady Zhou. But clearly, Lady Zhou’s outburst was rely using Lian Yaya as a pretext.
"...I did think of bringing Yaya along," Lian Manman replied calmly, "but you all always say Yaya has to take care of Er Niuniu and can’t get away. Going up the mountain is just for fun. As Grandma said, actual work shouldn’t be delayed."
"How can’t she get away? Aren’t there usually other things?" Lady He anxiously interjected, not even caring about Lady Zhou, and said with a smile to Lian Manman, "Manman, if you want to take Yaya out, it’s fine no matter what you do. As for Er Niuniu, well, don’t I still have ?"
Usually idle, Lady He would leave Er Niuniu for Lian Yaya to take care of, yet now she said such things.
"With Second Aunt’s words, that’s easy. Next ti we go out to play, I’ll call Yaya." Lian Manman smiled as she said.
"Good, that’s great." Lady He smiled so widely that her mouth couldn’t close, and even Lian Shouyi next to her looked pleased.
Lian Manman and her family had t Shen Jin, and each had received a generous gift of thanks. Naturally, Lian Manman’s family wouldn’t publicly announce this, but people quickly found out anyway.
"Manman, you have to keep your word. If there’s sothing good, at least rember a share for your Sister Yaya. We, we’ll all appreciate your kindness. In the future, when your Sister Yaya achieves great things, she won’t forget your kindness either." Lady He said with a grin.
"Yes, yes, to say that blood ties are close, you sisters are the closest. Manman, your Sister Yaya talks about you every day, saying how good you are." Lian Shouyi spoke up boldly.
"Yes, yes, Yaya, hurry up, co accompany your Sister Manman, where did you go?" Lady He called out as she stood up and went outside, pulling Lian Yeye into the room.
"Go, go, talk with your Sister Manman." Lady He took Er Niuniu from Lian Yaya’s arms, then pushed Lian Yaya toward Lian Manman.
Lian Yaya, rarely the center of such attention, was suddenly at a loss, and Er Niuniu, being uncomfortably held by Lady He, burst into tears.
Lian Shouyi and Lady He’s commotion interrupted the topic Lady Zhou was about to use as a pivot, and Lian Manman’s side was so readily agreeable that Lady Zhou couldn’t continue her outburst.
Lady Zhou sat on the heated brick bed, her face turning a mix of blue and purple out of frustration.
"Look at you, shaless and lowly, such shallow eyes! Why don’t you go lick the soles of their shoes!" Lady Zhou scolded, pointing at Lady He and Lian Shouyi.
Lian Manman saw that Lady Zhou’s anger had turned towards Lian Shouyi and Lady He, and she imdiately signaled to Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang. After all, Lady Zhou had already said what she wanted, and she had given a satisfactory answer, hadn’t she?
If they didn’t leave now, when would they?
*******
Here is the second update, seeking support with pink, genuine subscriptions, and recomndation votes.
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Recomnded book by Ruoyan: "The Brocade Screen Chronicles" light house fight farmland tale, about everyday family affairs and grudges within a large household.
Book ID: 1771214
There’s a direct link below, click to access directly. (To be continued. If you like this work, welco to Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndations and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)
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