The yangge troupe entered the village, and over at the stage, a group of perforrs dressed for a show started flipping and tumbling around, accompanied by the rhythm of drums and gongs, making the scene exceptionally lively with cheers erupting now and then. This was to warm up the crowd, and this kind of bustling prelude was particularly favored by the audience.
Since the yangge had left, and it would take so ti before the show on the stage would start, Lian Manman and the others gradually returned to the house in the backyard to sit.
The yangge troupe ca into the village and soon stopped at the entrance of the old house. With a burst of intense drumbeats, the perforrs in the troupe showcased their best skills with exceptional flair.
The gate of the old house slowly opened then, and two little heads poked out — one was Liulang, and the other was Lian Yaya; these two children were sent to open the door.
After all, kids were fond of such lively scenes. Liulang and Lian Yeye opened the door and forgot to go back; they stood by the door, dumbfounded, watching the yangge outside.
Inside the courtyard of the old house, it was quiet.
Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou didn’t co out, and not only did they stay in, but they also kept other family mbers inside the house. However, such excitent, it was impossible not to watch. Lian Shouyi, Lady He, and even Lady Chiang with Da Niuniu peeked outside from the windows or doors.
"Go to the cabinet and get so money," Old Master Lian said to Lady Zhou while sitting on the heated brick bed, listening to the noise outside.
"What for?" Lady Zhou was puzzled.
"They’re performing right at our door, we should give them so reward money. Hurry and get the money to give to Jizu to take out." Old Master Lian insisted. After all, having worked as a shopkeeper outside, Old Master Lian believed a tip was necessary for such occasions to maintain propriety.
"We need to reward them?" Lady Zhou sat cross-legged, clearly not planning to get off to open the cabinet. "Old Fourth’s Family invited them, they should be paying, why should we give any reward money?"
The money in the cabinet had been spent quite a bit on Lian Shouren’s matchmaking matter, and now they needed to arrange a match for Si Lang, having already paid the matchmaker once; likely more expenses were coming, so Lady Zhou was unwilling to bring out the money.
Moreover, in Lady Zhou’s heart, this was what Lian Shouxin’s family honored them with, and there was no reason for her to spend more.
"That’s a different matter. No matter how much Old Fourth’s Family gave, it doesn’t replace this. If you don’t believe it, wait and see, they’ll head over to Scholar Wang’s Family’s door too, and by then, the Wang Family will surely tip them." Old Master Lian said, "Hurry up, they’ll leave soon, and it’ll look bad if we’re empty-handed."
"How can we be compared to Scholar Wang’s Family, you still think you’re so wealthy landowner!" Lady Zhou sneered, "We didn’t invite them, whoever invites them should pay. It’s just noisy, and I find it annoying."
It was evident that Lady Zhou refused to get the money.
"You..." Old Master Lian furrowed his brows in frustration, looking at Lady Zhou.
"What about ?" Lady Zhou didn’t wait for Old Master Lian to scold her before she grabbed the topic, "Which word did I say wrong? You want money, go find your filial son. With all that gold and silver, give as much tip money as you like."
Saying this, Lady Zhou turned her face away, ignoring Old Master Lian.
"Grandpa, the yangge perforrs outside have moved on." Lian Jizu remarked at this mont.
"Sigh..." Old Master Lian sighed, "Not knowing how to handle things, you’ve made us lose face completely."
"If you think I’ve made you lose face, then divorce !" Lady Zhou turned around abruptly, speaking fiercely at Old Master Lian, "You think you still have face. If you had face, Old Fourth invited you to the feast, you wouldn’t go, invited you to the show, you wouldn’t go either. I don’t go because I’m not interested in that stuff. You like it, why don’t you go? And you say I lose face, between the two of us, who’s really losing face!"
Old Master Lian was so choked by Lady Zhou’s words that he almost had a fit.
"You spendthrift..." Once Old Master Lian cald a bit, he imdiately started scolding Lady Zhou.
Seeing the old couple about to argue again, Lian Jizu, Lady Chiang, and the others quickly ca over to diate, and it took quite an effort to separate the two.
"Old Fourth and the others, they’ll bring us food and dishes later, right?" Lian Shouyi said, resting his chin on his hand.
"All you know is eating. If they bring it, it’s for us old ones. Not for you lot. Useless thing." Lady Zhou scolded dominantly.
Lian Shouyi chuckled twice, not uttering a word in retort.
Every ti the Shouxin Family was about to send over als and dishes, Lady Zhou’s authority in the old house was at its peak. During these tis, whatever Lady Zhou said or scolded would be t without rebuttal, and whoever Lady Zhou instructed to do sothing, no one dared refuse.
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