"He said, ’What’s not honest here? It’s Yin Suo, that girl, who wasn’t honest first, and then Chao Silang asking for this and that. Besides, these aren’t outsiders, it’s just our own family’s affairs. Among our own family, why bother about what’s honest or not? If we really cared about that, how co my older brother wanted to sell Manman for money back then? How did you two elders and my older brother manage to marry Xiuxiu to an old coffin worm?’" Lian Yeye simply stood up, mimicking Lian Shouyi’s deanor and tone, gesticulating as he spoke.
"Pfft..." Lian Manman couldn’t help but burst into laughter, but she quickly stopped. Such matters seed inappropriate to laugh at, yet what Lian Shouyi said was just too...
"What did Grandpa say? He didn’t get too upset, did he?" Lian Manman asked Lian Yeye.
"Grandpa was furious, he was out of breath for a good while and couldn’t even speak." Lian Yeye replied.
In such circumstances, it was quite a feat for Old Master Lian not to faint from anger.
"Did Grandma say anything?" Lian Manman asked again.
"Not much, just a few curses." Lian Yeye answered.
"What happened afterward?" Lian Manman asked.
"Grandpa realized he couldn’t suppress them and, likely out of profound anger, said to Yaya’s father that if they continued spreading rumors, Si Lang would no longer be allowed to work in town. He said their family should just stay at ho and go nowhere, or else they’d split up and leave empty-handed. He also ntioned that if Fourth Uncle found out about this, he’d definitely have to intervene sohow..."
After threats and suppression, Old Master Lian also tried to appease Lian Shouyi, Lady He, and Si Lang.
"...he said he’d find a matchmaker imdiately to arrange a marriage for Si Lang. He even asked Grandma to open the cabinet and took out a piece of silver, then took Yaya’s father and Si Lang to Matchmaker Zhao’s house in town, but they didn’t et her since she was attending a banquet. They’ll probably have to try again today."
The threats and suppression weren’t enough, and in the end, Old Master Lian had to bring out the silver. By taking concrete action to arrange a marriage for Si Lang, he managed to suppress Lian Shouyi and his cohort, who promised to stop spreading rumors.
"It’s not like there wasn’t money; there was a fuss over it before. If they had brought out the money sooner to arrange a marriage for Si Lang, none of this would have happened." Lian Manman said.
"Would Grandpa and Grandma spend money on anyone else? They only spend on Jizu’s family." Lian Yeye snorted coldly, saying, "Spending money on Si Lang is out of necessity. Fourth Uncle didn’t go, my father went, but he has no money either."
Just then, Lady Zhang and Lady Zhao walked over, hearing Lian Yeye and Lian Manman talking, and sighed.
"Think about the days when we lived at the old house, what kind of days were those?" Lady Zhang said to Lady Zhao, "Now looking at it, apart from the main family, they have nothing to worry about. Their grandfather and grandmother are there for them. anwhile, for the rest of us, the second master knows how to cry, knows how to make a fuss; they never seem to suffer a loss. But us, we’re too honest."
"What can we do? I’ll never learn their ways in this lifeti." Lady Zhao sighed and said.
"I can’t learn either, I don’t know what’s wrong, but I just can’t bring myself to do it." Lady Zhang also sighed.
"It’s not that I can’t bring myself to do it," Lady Zhao said, "I just don’t know how to do it. It’s not just about arguing with people; even hearing others argue makes my heart pound, and I can’t even speak. Back at the old house, it was like living on tenterhooks every day. It’s finally better now."
The two sisters-in-law reminisced, lanting their inability to cry or make a scene, and accepted their fate.
"It’s a good thing we separated, no matter how the days go, at least we have peace." Lady Zhang and Lady Zhao both said.
Now, Lian Manman’s family and Lian Yeye’s family, rich or poor, share one common trait: the family gets along harmoniously. They might not have never argued, but they’ve certainly never had a real fight.
Later that evening, when Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang returned from a banquet, Lady Zhang ntioned that the old family was planning to arrange a marriage for Si Lang.
"It’s about ti." Lian Shouxin was quite pleased to hear this news.
"If Old Master hadn’t squandered that money he had, it would almost be enough to arrange a marriage for Si Lang. It might not be a grand affair, but for a simple wedding, neither side should demand too much dowry or bride-price. That’s how tenant farrs do it." Lady Zhang said.
"Isn’t that the truth? But who could make Old Master listen?" Lian Shouxin said leisurely while drinking tea to sober up, "The money’s been wasted, and now it’s too late to say anything. However, when I calculated for them, I figured Old Master and the old lady should have about ten taels of silver left, and with the money from selling pigs during the New Year, plus selling so grain or sothing, they should be able to marry Si Lang to a decent farmstead family girl."
But after arranging a marriage for Si Lang, life at the old house would beco a bit tight, and Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou wouldn’t have any silver money left.
"Has Grandpa been delaying arranging a marriage for Si Lang because he doesn’t want to spend the money?" Wu Lang said while drinking tea, "Could it be that he wants to keep a bit for himself..."
"Since we cover everything for the old couple, what would they keep money for?" Lian Shouxin said, "Probably planning to set aside a bit for the main family."
The whole Lian Manman family knew that in Old Master Lian’s eyes, Lian Shouren was pitiful indeed.
As for Old Master Lian’s bias, the whole family could only sigh.
"Dear," Lian Shouxin, after a mont of silence, discussed with Lady Zhang, "If Si Lang gets married, we, now that we’re better off, could we, could we..."
"You an, give money to arrange a marriage for Si Lang?" Lady Zhang asked.
"I..." Lian Shouxin looked at the children sitting nearby, "That’s what I was thinking,... let’s discuss it as a family."
**
There’s only one update today due to so matters, will see if more updates can be done tomorrow. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndation votes, monthly votes, your support is my greatest motivation.)
User Comments
0 comments from readers