During the fourth watch of the night, a request for pink rouge.
***...*****
Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi exchanged a knowing look. The town was so close to Thirty Mile Camp, and when they had separated from the Lian Family, they had set up a pickled vegetable workshop and opened a breakfast shop—how could their separation be unknown to others?
And the Zhao Family, who had a marriage arrangent with the Lian Family, should have been even more attentive to the Lian Family’s affairs. They ran a sundries shop, bustling with people coming and going, and were well-inford. Yet they acted unaware of the separation until they "just heard Lian Yaya ntion it"? Clearly, Zhao Xiue was lying.
Zhao Xiue appeared to make casual conversation, but what was she really trying to find out?
"Sister-in-law Xiu E, you care too little about us!" Lian Manman joked with a sowhat exaggerated tone, "We’ve been separated for several months now."
Following that, Lian Manman refused to say more, only urging Zhao Xiue to eat.
"I will definitely pay more attention in the future," Zhao Xiue said as she sized up Lian Manman, catching a glimpse of the needle and thread basket on the kang bed, and laughed, "When I was at ho, I just did so needlework in the house. I hardly ever went out, and the family was so busy with business, they had no ti to discuss outside matters with ."
"Coming here, I’m completely in the dark about everything, and it’s frightening. I also don’t dare to talk to others. Before I left, my mother warned . She said your uncle and aunt are good people, and so are the two younger sisters, beautiful and good-hearted. Seeing you both warms my heart... It’s just inquiring; I didn’t an anything else."
Back at ho, she had thoroughly gathered information about the Lian Family. However, after all, rumors abound, and the specifics were best known by the Lian Family themselves.
But as a new bride, there were so things she couldn’t openly ask about. She thought of probing the younger children of the Lian Family: Lian Duo didn’t care to interact much, and she seed to know little about the old estate; Lian Yeye was aloof and wasn’t talkative. As for Lian Yaya, she would say whatever was asked, but her answers lacked clarity.
Zhao Xiue had set her sights on Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi. At first glance, the sisters seed amiable, but upon speaking with them, she found they were the hardest to deceive.
"Look at you, Sister-in-law Xiu E, making it sound like we accused you of having an ulterior motive. Besides, we don’t understand what else you could an," Lian Manman replied cheerfully and deftly, as if reciting a tongue twister.
"We’re just making idle talk, Sister-in-law Xiu E. You’ll co to know all the household matters as ti goes by," Lian Zhizhi said, smiling.
"Zhizhi, Manman, when you separated, what did you divide? Did your grandfather and grandmother agree to the separation?" Zhao Xiue thought for a mont but couldn’t help asking, avoiding the latter part of her question.
"All you see around here, didn’t Brother Erlang tell you?" Lian Manman said, dodging Zhao Xiue’s second question.
Zhao Xiue didn’t press further on that topic, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then asked, "When I went to the western room earlier, I saw Duoduo. Does Huahua, who married into the city, send word often? You’ll see her during the New Year, won’t you?"
"That... we really don’t know." Lian Manman shook her head, "Sister-in-law Xiu E, the carriage you rode in is very pretty. Is it rented?"
"That’s my family’s carriage," Zhao Xiue said with a smile.
"Oh." Lian Manman uttered, realizing the Zhao Family must be quite wealthy.
"Your uncle and aunt, didn’t they all move to the county town? Are they coming ho for the New Year, or do they plan to stay for good?" Zhao Xiue asked again.
"I haven’t heard anyone from the Upper Room ntion it," Lian Manman thought to herself how Zhao Xiue had too many questions. "Sister-in-law Xiu E, we live in the sa yard, but we are separated; the matters of our uncle and aunt don’t concern us much."
It was true after all. Seeing she couldn’t glean much, Zhao Xiue switched to expressing interest in Lian Zhizhi’s needlework.
"Xiu E, have you co up here?" Just then, Lady He walked in from outside, greeted Zhao Xiue with a smile, "Co, follow to the Upper Room. It’s ti to cook."
It was ti to cook, not to eat.
In tenant farr households, taking a bride was for producing offspring and doing chores. A newly entered bride was pampered for only a mont before she was expected to cook and tend the fire.
Watching Lady He’s joyful deanor, Lian Manman wondered if she was so happy because with a daughter-in-law, she wouldn’t have to cook anymore.
Zhao Xiue hesitated visibly, but still got off the kang and followed Lady He.
A bride’s first ti cooking was precisely when the mother-in-law assessed her skills. Curious, Lian Manman waited until Lady He and Zhao Xiue had left, then after a short while, she made her way to the Upper Room.
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