"Really shaless." Xiao Qi said.
At this mont, Lian Manman heard voices from outside, and the car behind still hadn’t caught up.
"What’s going on?" Lian Manman lifted the curtain a bit and looked back.
Lian Shouxin’s carriage had stopped in the middle of the road. Lian Shouxin had also gotten off the carriage, and Si Lang wasn’t on the mule but was standing in front of Big Sun. Because they were a bit far and Si Lang had his back to Lian Manman, she couldn’t tell what he was saying to Big Sun, but she saw Big Sun shaking his head.
Then, she saw Wu Lang, who had been riding behind the convoy, catch up from behind on a mule.
"What’s happening?" Lady Zhang and Xiao Qi also poked their heads out and asked.
"... It’s Fourth Uncle from the old house, he wants to ride the girl’s horse. Brother Sun wouldn’t let him, but he insisted on riding it." One of the attendants ran up from behind and reported.
Lian Manman raised an eyebrow.
"Sister, don’t worry, our brother went over there, he definitely won’t let him ride it." Xiao Qi said, "Our dad won’t agree either."
Sure enough, they saw Wu Lang go over and say sothing to Si Lang, who still didn’t move. Finally, Lian Shouxin went over, said sothing to Si Lang, and dragged him back to the carriage.
Only then did the few carriages slowly start moving again.
Xiao Hetao, Xiao Qi’s clever little servant, quickly ran to the front to follow alongside Lian Manman’s carriage and recounted the recent events to the ladies inside.
"... Said he found it stuffy in the carriage and wanted to ride a mule like Uncle. The master agreed. He got off the carriage and after looking around, he chose the girl’s horse.... Uncle told him to choose another one, even offering to give up his own if he wanted it, but he still wasn’t happy. Finally, the master got off and told him to sit in the carriage, saying it was more stable inside and that if anything happened, it would be hard to explain when they got back. He insisted on bringing him back to the carriage."
Xiao Hetao, being smart and articulate, quickly and vividly recounted the whole incident.
"He’s got a good eye, knows what’s good." Lian Manman squinted and smiled.
"Just like his mother, never has any weight." Lady Zhang said.
"Mom, I really can’t stand him. Neither can my brother." Xiao Qi said.
"Just endure this journey, when we get to the village, he’ll go back to his own house." Lady Zhang comforted Xiao Qi, pulling him close.
Fortunately, aside from this interruption, nothing else happened on the way. When they arrived at Thirty Mile Camp, Lian Shouxin let Si Lang off on the main road, while the family turned off towards their ho.
The day was still early, so the family did so quick washing up and sat together in the east room of the backyard to chat.
"What was with Si Lang earlier?" Lady Zhang asked Lian Shouxin.
"... That kid..., he’s a bit lacking in sense..." Lian Shouxin said vaguely, the expression on his face a bit dark.
The term "lacking in sense" is a colloquial expression used by tenant farrs, aning soone is not right in the head. In Lian Manman’s past life, the term used would typically be "ntally challenged."
"Dad, he’s not lacking in sense." Wu Lang laughed.
The whole family looked at Lian Shouxin.
"Alas," Lian Shouxin sighed, "he’s not completely foolish, but he’s not very bright either. He’s not truly clever and smart."
"That doesn’t an he’s foolish." Lian Manman said, "If you say Liulang is foolish, many would believe it. But if you said Si Lang is foolish, who in the village would believe it? Dad, we’re at ho, there’s nothing we can’t say. It’s just about his character, he’s superficial and has no depth."
"Exactly." Lady Zhang nodded in agreent with Lian Manman’s words.
"It’s just..., sigh." Lian Shouxin sighed again, "I’ve been talking to him all the way in the carriage, not sure if he listened. We know what he’s like within our family. Once he’s settled down and a bit older, he might beco more stable."
Both Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang hoped Si Lang would improve after getting married. This notion was not unique to them; it’s a common belief and saying among the people.
For instance, if a family has a child with behavioral issues, the family often says they will improve after marriage. Matchmakers, when discussing a match where so faults of a potential groom can’t be hidden from the bride’s family, often coax the bride’s family by saying that once married, with a wife to keep him in check, the man’s bad habits will change.
Many people say this, and many believe it.
However, Lian Manman was sowhat skeptical of this thinking. Admittedly, such transformations are not nonexistent, but they are certainly not absolute. Marriage is not a panacea capable of reforming every wayward soul.
In plain terms, such talk is deceiving and self-deception.
"Dad, what’s up with you today," Lian Manman felt Lian Shouxin’s attitude was odd. Though Lian Shouxin tended to be sowhat biased towards his nephews, this was usually in public matters. Now they were at ho, and he’d never been so partial to Si Lang before. "Why are you speaking up for him?"
"I’m not siding with him." Lian Shouxin quickly said, "He’s about to have a marriage proposal."
"Make sure to remind the family that when talking, they should be mindful of what to say, especially if anyone cos to inquire about Si Lang. Everyone must know what to say and what not to say." Lian Shouxin instructed Lady Zhang.
"Don’t worry, even if soone inquires, they won’t co to us. And any gossip won’t spread from us." Lady Zhang said.
"I know, I’m just reminding them." Lian Shouxin awkwardly replied.
"Alright, I got it." Lady Zhang nodded.
...
Second watch, asking for pink votes, aiming for the top ten. (To be continued. If you like this work, welco to vote for recomndation, monthly tickets on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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