Shang Baorong thanked while insisting on going ho for dinner.
"...Sister-in-law said that we’re not outsiders, and we live close. We can have a al together anyti, it doesn’t have to be this one."
Seeing Shang Baorong’s insistence, everyone did not force her to stay.
"Baorong is such a filial girl to her mother." Everyone said.
After sending Shang Baorong out, they did not imdiately have dinner but first inquired with Lian Yeye about what they were most concerned about, what was happening at the old house.
"Wasn’t it said that they didn’t invite Baorong’s father to diate? What’s going on?" Lady Zhang asked first.
"...When I went there, he was already there. I secretly asked my father, and he said my grandpa didn’t invite him. He ca on his own, happened to be there, so he stayed and helped diate." Lian Yeye said.
"Today they were going to settle things at the old house, he must have known." Lian Manman said.
Shang Huaide obviously knew sothing was happening at the old house today, and even though Old Master Lian didn’t invite him, he still "happened" to show up. Clearly, Shang Huaide did it on purpose.
"But I’ve never heard that he’s a reckless person." Lady Wu Wang said.
"Reckless" is a local saying implying soone who doesn’t know when to advance or retreat, lacking discretion.
The issues with Si Lang and Yin Suo weren’t honorable matters. Inviting Wu Yuchang as a diator showed imnse trust in him. Not inviting Shang Huaide ant not wanting him involved.
Yet, Shang Huaide insisted on getting involved.
If he’s not reckless, then what is he?
Nobody said a word. Lian Manman felt that Old Master Lian was surely quite frustrated today.
"So what happened with the matter?" Lady Zhang asked Lian Yeye again.
Lian Yeye frowned and recounted everything she saw and heard at the old house. Although diators were invited, the atmosphere was far from friendly. The factions of Lian Shouyi and Lian Lanlan each had their argunts and quarreled from morning till noon.
Lian Lanlan firmly denied spreading rumors that sabotaged Si Lang’s marriage proposal. She declared that when Si Lang proposed, the old house hadn’t inford her, and being in the city, she knew nothing about it, much less could have sabotaged it.
Lian Shouyi’s side had anticipated Lian Lanlan’s defense. Spreading rumors and gossip is inherently difficult to pin down.
Si Lang brought up again how Lian Lanlan had spread rumors in the city, tarnishing his reputation. With this precedent, it was natural for people to suspect Lian Lanlan. Si Lang even said, "Who else but you?" unequivocally identifying Lian Lanlan as the main culprit.
The incident of Lian Lanlan tarnishing Si Lang’s reputation in the city had been witnessed by Lian Shouxin, making it hard to deny. Lian Lanlan didn’t deny it, but she also didn’t admit it. Instead, she imdiately cried and brought up Si Lang tarnishing Yin Suo’s reputation.
Lian Shouyi’s side demanded compensation for Si Lang from Lian Lanlan, and Lian Lanlan demanded compensation for Yin Suo from Lian Shouyi.
The two sides were thus at an impasse, neither willing to concede despite Wu Yuchang and Shang Huaide’s persistent diation.
"Needle tip to wheat awn, neither side is willing to only gain advantage and not suffer losses." Lady Zhang listened to Lian Yeye’s account and sighed, "This truly is hard on the diators."
"So they didn’t co to any conclusion in the end?" Lian Manman asked.
"I don’t know if you could call what happened a result." Lian Yeye said.
The diators’ efforts were ineffective, and finally, Old Master Lian proposed a solution. Old Master Lian’s so-called solution was that both Lian Shouyi and Lian Lanlan’s sides had their faults, which should cancel each other out, ending the matter there. In the future, both sides must behave as before, without harboring grievances or bringing up the issue again.
"I guessed it would be like this." Lian Manman said. This resolution was typical of Old Master Lian’s style.
"Will the Second Master and Auntie be happy with this?" Lady Zhao asked.
"Yin Suo’s parents didn’t say much. Yaya’s parents and Si Lang wouldn’t agree to anything, and started arguing again, saying until Yin Suo’s parents agreed to compensate Si Lang, they shouldn’t think about leaving." Lian Yeye explained, "Then my granny wouldn’t have it, and told Si Lang’s family to leave."
Lady Zhou forcefully intervened, clearly setting conditions. If Lian Shouyi’s family didn’t agree to drop the matter and continued harassing Lian Lanlan, they would be driven out of the house. Not just to split the family, but to be kicked out with nothing.
With Lady Zhou’s stand, Lian Shouyi’s side was naturally discontented but significantly subdued. Old Master Lian imdiately seized the opportunity.
Old Master Lian spoke less directly than Lady Zhou, but made his aning clear. If Lian Shouyi and Si Lang didn’t agree to his decision, they would imdiately separate from the family. He hinted that if the family divided now, Lian Shouyi’s share would be minimal—just the east wing they lived in and a few acres of land, nothing else. Old Master Lian even implied that because of Lian Shouyi and Si Lang’s disobedience, Si Lang didn’t need to go work in the shop in the future.
"Wow, that’s... quite severe." Lady Zhang was speechless for a mont.
"Yesterday my grandpa already hinted at this." Lian Manman told Lady Zhang. Yesterday, with only family present, Old Master Lian said this, perhaps Lian Shouyi’s family held onto a shred of hope. But today, stating it before diators made it definitive; Old Master Lian was resolute in carrying it out.
No matter how stubbornly Lian Shouyi, Lady He, and Si Lang could argue, in the end, they had to compromise, though certainly they would harbor even more resentnt.
"So Si Lang’s family agreed, right?" Lady Zhao asked.
"They didn’t say they disagreed. Si Lang just turned and left, while Yaya’s father knelt there, kowtowing to my grandpa and grandma, wailing that his own son and grandson couldn’t compare to a daughter..." Lian Yeye said.
"This grudge, it’s really blown up big this ti!" Lady Zhang sighed. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.)
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