"Xinde Hall?" Old Madam Shen laughed, looking around.
"Miss Manman, you’ve really hit the nail on the head," Xiao Chan said with a side smile, "The owner of Xinde Hall is our own Song Family."
Being considerate of Old Madam Shen’s feelings and having the capacity to speak her mind, it appeared that the maid Xiao Chan held so status in Old Madam Shen’s presence.
"...If you’re ever free, just co by. I never expected that the na of our Xinde Hall would spread to such a distant countryside," Old Madam Shen said with a smile.
"Madam, it’s not just Xinde Hall; many of the Song Family’s ti-honored brands are very famous even in Prefecture City," Xiao Chan said with a smile.
Old Madam Shen smiled without saying a word, clearly pleased with Xiao Chan’s comnts.
"Third Grandmother’s aunt has really never been to Xinde Hall?" Xiao Chan said in a low voice, chuckling as if speaking to herself.
"Mother, you’re busy. I’ll take my cousin to my room for a chat, so we won’t disturb you," Lian Huahua stood up and said.
"No disturbance," said Old Madam Shen, "I’m quite free. Listening to their stories about the countryside’s novelties is very interesting."
Lian Huahua’s expression stiffened at once.
"Never mind that. You sisters must have a lot of intimate things to discuss. Go ahead, don’t mind ." Old Madam Shen said, smiling faintly, yet her tone took another turn without giving Lian Huahua a glance.
"Mother, I didn’t an it that way," Lian Huahua hurriedly said, "I..."
"Silly child, I was just joking. Go ahead," Old Madam Shen said.
"Please rest for a while, mother, we’ll co and chat with you later," Lian Huahua said with a smile too, coming over to call Lian Manman to follow her.
"Sister Huahua, I still have so things I want to talk to Old Madam Shen about," Lian Manman did not stand up.
"Manman, I’ll accompany you later... We haven’t seen each other for so many days, I’ve missed you. Do you still rember what we talked about the day before I left?" Lian Huahua moved closer to Lian Manman, her eyes showing a hint of panic and pleading.
"How could I forget that?" Lian Manman could not help but scoff.
That day she had gone with Lian Yeye to seek justice from Lian Huahua, and had ultimately told Lian Huahua that since they were all mbers of the Lian Family, they should support each other rather than sabotage one another. At that ti, Lian Huahua had seemingly agreed with those words. But what had Lian Huahua actually done? Not only had she sabotaged her own family, but Lian Huahua clearly wanted to drive them to their deaths.
It was laughable that, upon finding herself at a disadvantage once again, Lian Huahua rembered those words.
Lian Huahua ca to take Lian Manman’s hand.
Lian Manman resolutely shook off Lian Huahua’s hand, yet still stood up from her chair.
Lian Huahua imdiately breathed a sigh of relief.
Old Madam Shen got up to return to the inner house, arranging for Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi to be taken to a neighboring room to continue enjoying tea and refreshnts, while Lian Manman followed Lian Huahua to the inner house.
Lian Huahua lived in a separate courtyard. Once inside the house, she dismissed the attendants and then turned to look at Lian Manman.
With no one else present, even Lian Huahua couldn’t be bothered to pretend to smile anymore, her face darkening.
Lian Manman laughed, as though still wrapped in silk and jewels, adorned with beaded headdresses, the Lian Huahua before her was still the very sa one from the old country house.
"Manman, why did you bring up Xinde Hall just now?" Lian Huahua sized up Lian Manman, as if trying to find the answer on her face. "What have Grandmother and Aunt been discussing at ho?"
"Sister Huahua, about Xinde Hall, I was just speaking offhand," Lian Manman said, as she turned to sit on an embroidered stool. "You should know why we’re here, Sister Huahua."
Lian Huahua also turned to sit on the bed, her beautiful eyes narrowing.
Lian Manman had no patience for beating around the bush with Lian Huahua.
"Sister Huahua, the high-interest loans you borrowed previously were ant to be repaid when due," Lian Manman said, "Don’t tell you can’t pay now, I won’t believe it. You can pay but you’re unwilling to, only offering a few hundred taels of silver, expecting the family to sell property to pay off your debt."
"I..." Lian Huahua tried to defend herself.
"Sister Huahua, Father has been so angry that he coughed up blood; we don’t even know if he will make it," Lian Manman interrupted her, "Are you happy now, Sister Huahua? Isn’t it because you held a grudge when you were asked to sign your na on the IOU? Why don’t you think about who caused this trouble? If Father truly was ruthless, he wouldn’t have covered for you and would’ve explained everything to the Song Family. Would you be where you are today?"
"Is he doing this for ," retorted Lian Huahua angrily, "isn’t it just so the Lian Family can have an official amongst them?"
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