For the person Lian Shouli, Lian Shouxin naturally has brotherly affection. As for Lady Zhang, Lian Manman and the others, they feel sympathy towards Lian Shouli. Plus, with Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye, the mother and daughter, the whole family is extrely tolerant of Lian Shouli.
Moreover, Lian Shouli is just running errands for the old house, saying so words; truly, if you say he does things to harm them, it wouldn’t be. On one hand, this "wouldn’t" ans Lian Shouli wouldn’t do that, on the other hand, it is because Lian Manman has this confidence that Lian Shouli simply cannot harm them.
And Lian Shouli often goes to the old house, openly and secretly requesting Lian Shouxin to be filial to Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou, which is actually quite amusing. Lian Manman interprets it as Lian Shouli’s spiritual demand.
Pitiful, laughable, and pathetic.
It’s better to simply not bother with him.
"Dad, you really don’t need to take it to heart. Just like that day, soone even said that we should let the few people at the old house go to the banquet, but you didn’t listen, right? What my third uncle says is just like that." Lian Manman advised Lian Shouxin.
"In this world, no matter who it is, doing whatever, it’s impossible to make everyone satisfied. Even immortals can’t do it. Dad, I’ll tell you a story..."
Lian Manman told Lian Shouxin a story.
It was about a father and son driving a donkey to the market; the father, feeling sorry for his son, let him ride the donkey while he led it on foot. Then, they encountered so people who said it wasn’t right, that it was disrespectful to let the father walk and the son ride. The father and son listened and switched places, with the father riding the donkey and the son walking.
Then, they encountered another person who said it was cruel for the father to ride while letting his son walk, that he wasn’t taking care of his son. The father and son listened again, and both decided to ride the donkey together.
And again, they t people who said both of them riding the donkey would tire it out, asking if they wanted to exhaust the donkey.
The father and son heard this, hurriedly got off the donkey, and decided that maybe neither of them should ride it, they would both walk. They thought, surely no one would say anything now.
Later, they t yet another person who found it strange, thinking the father and son were silly, having a donkey but choosing to walk instead.
The father and son, caught in the conversation of others, found themselves unable to do right no matter what. In the end, the two of them decided it was best to carry the donkey instead.
After Lian Manman finished the story, Xiao Qi couldn’t help but burst into laughter, and Wu Lang also laughed quietly after glancing around.
"Are there really people that silly?" Lady Zhang laughed as well.
Lian Manman laughed too, saying certainly no one would really carry a donkey around, yet people often do similarly foolish things.
"Sigh." Lian Shouxin also laughed, but with a bitter smile.
Though it was a bitter smile, Lian Manman’s story tily helped Lian Shouxin and made him feel enlightened.
"This is a good story," Lian Shouxin said. "It’s really the truth. In life, while you have to take advice, listening to everything without your own judgnt won’t work either."
"Too many cooks spoil the broth, just like that," Lady Zhang said. "Whatever we do, as long as we can stand scrutiny and be true to our conscience, that’s enough."
"Exactly, we don’t need to listen to unnecessary chatter. If we do, we’d end up like those who carry the donkey, making our lives a joke. People would laugh at us for being big fools," Lian Manman said.
"Among ourselves, I think my third uncle just finds sothing to do, trying to gain favor at the old house," Wu Lang said. "Even though he moved out after dividing the family, we still help him often. He’s never at ease, always hoping for so good words and praise from the old house to feel secure. It’s a ntal affliction, hard to cure unless..."
Unless Lady Zhao imdiately gives him a son.
Everyone knew about Lian Shouli’s ntal burden, and their tolerance towards him was because of it.
"He just says things like that to look good at the old house, appearing more filial than he is. Dad, haven’t you noticed? He only dares to say these things to you, but never to my brother or us. Dad, if you act like you don’t hear him next ti, or say sothing stern, then I bet he’ll quiet down," Lian Manman laughed and said.
"Forget it, we’ll see," Lian Shouxin shook his head, sighed, and bitterly smiled.
"Dad, does that make you feel better?" Xiao Qi asked Lian Shouxin with wide, curious eyes.
"Dad’s not feeling bad," Lian Shouxin smiled. This ti, the smile carried no hint of distress. "With you all around, what could trouble or upset ?"
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