But Lady Zhou refused to listen.
Perhaps Lady Chiang knew she couldn’t persuade Lady Zhou, as she quickly ca out of the Upper Room with Lian Jizu, hurrying over. Lian Yaya and Da Niuniu closely followed behind them.
As they approached, Lian Jizu and Lady Chiang hurried to greet Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang.
"Fourth Uncle, Fourth Aunt,... knowing you were coming, we were just about to co out and greet you when you entered the courtyard..." Lian Jizu and Lady Chiang apologized while explaining their lack of courtesy.
Lian Yaya and Da Niuniu also stepped forward to greet them. The aunt and niece had both grown taller and their outfits were about seventy to eighty percent new, looking freshly changed, with their hair newly combed.
anwhile, in the Upper Room, Lady Zhou’s loud and rhythmic scolding continued unabated. Lian Shouren hadn’t co out to greet them, and Lian Manman thought he must have been so afraid of the scolding that he didn’t dare to open his mouth.
"...Why are you squinting your eyes," Lian Manman family had reached the door of the Upper Room, and Lady Zhou’s scolding grew clearer, "You look down on , if you have the ability you can kick out, then this family will be all yours. You should see yourself for what you are, you think you’re living carefree and in a bright big house, you think it’s all yours? You are living my life, do you know..."
Lian Manman had heard Lian Yeye and others talk about how Lady Zhou scolded Lian Shouren many tis. But this was her first ti hearing the live version herself.
What Lian Yeye and the others had said was not exaggerated at all; Lady Zhou’s scolding of other sons and daughters-in-law was very harsh, and when it ca to Lian Shouren, she left no room or face for him. It was targeted scolding, stripping Lian Shouren of dignity in front of his children and grandchildren.
How vicious, ruthless, yet how foolish.
However, Lady Zhou never considered her actions foolish; on the contrary, she regarded them as a skill, one of her best ans of controlling and manipulating her family.
But what must be the state of mind of those who are tortured by such ans every day?
Lian Manman then looked at Lian Jizu, Lady Chiang.
Lian Jizu and Lady Chiang’s faces were already flushed as they moved their gazes aside. Lian Yaya and Da Niuniu, however, didn’t show much expression, only lowering their heads.
Everyone knew the sha, yet the younger ones couldn’t yet deeply understand the implications within Lady Zhou’s scolding, like Lian Jizu and Lady Chiang did.
Then looking at Lian Shouxin, his face was dark, and his brows furrowed.
"What is it now?" Lady Zhang slowed her steps into the house, asking Lady Chiang in a lowered voice.
"There’s nothing significant, it seems... my mother asked Niuniu’s grandfather to bring the chamber pot inside, Niuniu’s father said it’s just past noon, and it’s still daylight..., my mother got angry, saying Niuniu’s grandfather was disobedient, and has been scolding ever since. We tried to persuade her, but to no avail. Just now, both Niuniu’s father and I kneeled in front of my mother,... yet she kept on scolding..." Lady Chiang explained to Lady Zhang in a low voice, her face red.
As for Lian Shouren, and Lian Jizu, Lady Chiang had addressed Lady Zhou about Lian Shouxin family coming over, and how a chamber pot in the room would be inappropriate, but Lady Zhou didn’t care, and had even said a few harsh words that hurt Lian Shouxin, Lady Zhang. Lady Chiang didn’t dare to ntion a word of these.
"Ah... is it not still early in the day? Why a chamber pot at this ti? Is this an everyday thing or just today?" Lady Zhang felt puzzled by Lady Zhou’s behavior and asked Lady Chiang again.
"It’s not just today," Lady Chiang slightly lowered her head, her eyes darting about, skillfully changing the topic without a trace, "so days it happens, if no visitors co, she dictates everything... my mother wasn’t like this before, but in the past six months, she’s gotten stronger day by day. Sotis, she suddenly says things, babbling, we can’t understand."
"Oh dear..." Lady Zhang sighed, her mind already wandering in a particular direction.
Lian Jizu closely followed Lian Shouxin, and courteously held the curtain aside for him. Lian Shouxin, Lady Zhang, Wu Lang, Lian Manman, and Xiao Qi all entered the Upper Room East Room one after another.
The East Room was as tidy and neat as always. Lady Zhou sat cross-legged on the kang, steadily occupying the sa spot.
Lian Shouren stood by the side of the kang, head bowed, his face pale from Lady Zhou’s scolding, not daring to make a sound.
Lady Zhou sat there, pointing her finger at Lian Shouren, her spittle flying as she scolded.
"Mother..." Lian Shouxin called out as he stepped into the room.
Lady Zhou seed to realize for the first ti that Lian Shouxin had arrived, stopping her scolding of Lian Shouren, slowly turning her head to look at Lian Shouxin.
"Ah... Old Fourth is here?" She finally stopped scolding, trying hard to put a gentle expression on her face, and without Lian Shouxin having to say a word, Lady Zhou showed Lian Shouxin considerable face.
"Mother, have you been well lately?" Lady Zhang also stepped forward to greet Lady Zhou alongside Lian Shouxin.
"Ah..." Lady Zhou glanced at Lady Zhang, slowly uttering an "ah" as a response to her greeting and inquiry.
Wu Lang, Lian Manman, and Xiao Qi also stepped forward afterward to greet Lady Zhou, with the young girl presenting the box of pastries they had brought.
"Sit, everyone, sit."
Lady Zhou’s expression softened considerably. She took a small mat from behind her pillow, spread it on the kang, and pointed to Lian Manman for her to sit. anwhile, Lian Jizu and Lady Chiang arranged a few chairs with cushions for Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and a few others.
...
The first Chapter has been sent, more will be added later, seeking support. (To be continued. If you like this work, welco to vote for it on Qidian (qidian), monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read on m.qidian.)
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