"Yes, indeed, fourth brother, this matter concerns Huahua’s lifeti, she is your own niece..." Lian Shouren said this and cast a glance at Lady Zhang, who was sitting on the Kang, imdiately feeling sowhat guilty, and found himself unable to continue.
"Uncle Four, you’re a generous man, please save Huahua." Lian Jizu implored.
Lian Manman watched from the side and thought to herself that Lian Jizu and Lady Chiang, this husband and wife, were indeed two clever people.
Lian Shouxin felt a pang of softness toward Lian Jizu and, rembering Lian Manman’s earlier instructions, he spoke up.
"... We don’t have any special relationship with them, and if we go empty-handed again, how will they see us? I won’t have the face for it."
Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu exchanged glances, and Lian Jizu went to the Upper Room to discuss with Lady Gu. Shortly after, Lian Jizu returned with a bundle of silver in his arms.
"This is all we have at the mont..."
"We still need to buy dicine at the pharmacy later, will this be enough money?" Lian Manman saw that there seed to be about sixty taels of silver, and remarked.
"Exactly..." Lian Jizu went out again, and shortly after, he ca back, not with silver, but with two glittering gold bangles, and a gold hairpin. "These are two pieces of jewelry my mother and Yue E put together, pawned for now. If it’s not enough, we’ll find another way."
It seed that Lady Gu had quite the savings, which she never revealed ordinarily, only now that there was no other option did she bring them out.
The betrothal gifts ready, they didn’t delay any longer and headed for the town. Upon entering the town, Lian Jizu went to the pawnshop to pawn the jewelry, preparing to buy lamb and wine. anwhile, Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouren, with the properly sealed betrothal gifts, went to Imperial Doctor Shi’s house.
"We should stop by Jisheng Hall first, to ask Young Doctor Wang to join us on this visit." Lian Shouren suggested.
It appeared that Lian Shouren wasn’t confused; he knew that their ability to invite Imperial Doctor Shi last ti was largely thanks to Wang Youheng’s efforts.
"Let’s go to Imperial Doctor Shi’s place first." Lian Shouxin rembered Lian Manman’s instructions, and suggested.
"Without Young Doctor Wang, this..." Lian Shouren looked at Lian Shouxin.
"Imperial Doctor Shi is an elder and cares deeply about these formalities. If we go to Jisheng Hall first, Imperial Doctor Shi might take offense. Let’s go to Imperial Doctor Shi’s house first... How about this, father and uncle go ahead with the gifts, and I’ll take Xiao Qi to Jisheng Hall, to ask Brother Youheng to head over and et father and uncle... After all, uncle is still Brother Youheng’s senior, and if Brother Youheng knows uncle has arrived, he will hurry over, and that way everyone will save face," Lian Manman suggested.
Lian Shouren felt that Lian Manman’s words made sense, especially the latter part, which particularly resonated with him.
"Then let’s do that."
Lian Manman again whispered into Lian Shouxin’s ear, insisting that no matter whether Imperial Doctor Shi was in or would see them, there would always be soone to open the door, and that the betrothal gifts and money must be left behind.
"Isn’t that obvious? That’s proper etiquette." Lian Shouxin remarked.
Seeing Lian Shouxin respond this way, Lian Manman felt relieved and, taking Xiao Qi with her, headed towards Jisheng Hall.
Just as they reached the entrance of Jisheng Hall, Shopkeeper Wang happened to walk out from the store and saw Lian Manman.
"Third Miss Lian." Shopkeeper Wang greeted with a smile, but Lian Manman could tell sothing was amiss; his smile was too professional, completely lacking the warmth he used to show her.
"Shopkeeper Wang, I’m here to see Brother Youheng," Lian Manman said.
"The Young Owner has gone back to the county and has not returned yet. Does Third Miss have an urgent matter? Otherwise, perhaps it would be better to co back in a few days," Shopkeeper Wang said.
Shopkeeper Wang was clearly brushing her off. Lian Manman couldn’t figure out why his attitude towards her had suddenly changed.
"I have no pressing matters, I just ca to town to buy so things, and thought to check on Brother Youheng." Lian Manman replied, "Since Brother Youheng hasn’t returned, I’ll go do my shopping."
"Alright, alright, Third Miss Lian, take your ti," Shopkeeper Wang seed to breathe a sigh of relief.
Lian Manman left the entrance of Jisheng Hall and walked straight to the corner of the street, glanced back to see no one at the entrance of Jisheng Hall and Shopkeeper Wang had returned to the store, she then took Xiao Qi and hurried into an alley nearby.
"Big sis, what are we doing?" Xiao Qi asked, puzzled.
"Shopkeeper Wang seems a bit odd," Lian Manman said, tiltiing her head, "he seems like he doesn’t want us to et Brother Youheng."
"Why? We haven’t offended him," Xiao Qi said.
"I can’t figure out why either," Lian Manman replied, "but just because he won’t let us et, are we really just going to accept that? I rember there’s a small side gate in the backyard of Jisheng Hall."
Lian Manman looked around.
"Second Sister, that gate is on the east side, and we’ve co to the west side now," Xiao Qi said.
"Oh, right, I rember that," Lian Manman coughed dryly. Although her body was only ten years old, she was a person who had lived two lifetis, and she felt a bit embarrassed to let anyone know that her sense of direction was worse than a six or seven-year-old child. "I deliberately walked this way to avoid arousing Shopkeeper Wang’s suspicions."
"Second Sister is so smart," Xiao Qi, completely unaware of Lian Manman’s inner turmoil, said, "Second Sister, let’s go forward. If we take that alley, we should be able to get around."
Xiao Qi pointed to a small alley not far ahead.
Lian Manman nodded.
The siblings held hands and entered the alley, walked a distance, and indeed circled around to the eastern side of Jisheng Hall’s backyard, where they saw the small side gate.
The small gate was slightly ajar.
"Second Sister, should we knock?" Xiao Qi asked in a low voice. It had to be said, Xiao Qi was truly a clever child.
"We’ll just go in," Lian Manman said.
Lian Manman took Xiao Qi’s hand and gently pushed the door open and went inside. After discerning the direction, they headed straight for the room where Wang Youheng usually entertained them.
"Third Miss Lian," Shopkeeper Wang ca out of the back door of the Jisheng Hall shop and caught sight of Lian Manman, imdiately calling out to her.
Having been discovered, Lian Manman had to stop.
"I already told you, the Young Owner is not here. Third Miss Lian, what are you trying to do?" Shopkeeper Wang looked sowhat angry.
"I just wanted to see Brother Youheng," Lian Manman said.
"Brother Youheng, Brother Youheng..." Xiao Qi called out loudly.
Xiao Qi called out several tis, but Wang Youheng did not appear, leading Lian Manman to think that Wang Youheng truly hadn’t returned.
Shopkeeper Wang’s nose was almost crooked with anger.
"What are you two trying to do?"
"Is that Manman?" Wang Youheng’s voice ca from inside the room, "Shopkeeper Wang, let Manman co in."
*****
pink votes for an additional update.
Ruoyan has actually updated 12,000 words today, seriously overextending herself, begging for encouragent.
Due to severe physical overextension and the dire situation on the pink vote rankings, starting from 140 pink votes, the rate will change to one additional Chapter for every 15 votes. Everyone should continue to support Ruoyan; Ruoyan has done a lot of extra updates this month, each update being substantial, relying on updates to ask for pink votes is hard for our pink vote fans.
The next extra update will be at 155 votes, then 170 votes, 185 votes. Rest assured when casting your votes, Ruoyan won’t go back on her word.
Hope that tomorrow Ruoyan will have a chance for two, three, four more updates. (To be continued. If you like this work, welco to vote for it on Qidian (qidian), whether it be with a recomndation ticket or a monthly vote. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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