"I know the hardship of this business better than anyone," Old Master Lian declared, "In this big family of ours, if we can’t help you, we should at least not cause you more trouble."
Having said this, Old Master Lian waved his hand to Lian Shouren.
"Go back to your room and study, I still have to discuss so other matters with Old Fourth." Old Master Lian said this because he saw that Lian Shouren was uncomfortable and knew that the upcoming topics would not benefit from his presence, thus he wished to send Lian Shouren away.
Lian Shouren couldn’t have been more eager to leave, so he hurried out.
"Your eldest brother..." Old Master Lian waited until Lian Shouren had left, then carefully chose his words, "he’s been cooped up at ho these days, getting frustrated and irritable. The way he spoke just now, he didn’t consider you an outsider, so he spoke without thinking. You brothers grew up together, your big brother ans no harm, he’s not a malicious person. Old Fourth, don’t take his words to heart; it’s normal for family mbers to quarrel every now and then. Speak your mind, let bygones be bygones."
Lian Manman knew that Old Master Lian was just smoothing things over and making excuses for Lian Shouren.
"Ah..." Under Old Master Lian’s expectant gaze, Lian Shouxin could only let out a sigh. He found it too hard to agree with Old Master Lian this ti.
Lady Zhang, Lian Manman, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi exchanged glances but chose to remain silent.
"Old Fourth, you have a lot of land to tend to this year and just you and your wife are the strong laborers in your family. How do you plan to manage?" Old Master Lian asked Lian Shouxin.
"Wu Lang and Xiao Qi have their school break; they can handle so of the work. Zhizhi and Manman too. We tenant farrs don’t have a choice; our children must work the land. It’s just about enduring a hard ten days to half a month. Look, this year, I also acquired oxen and ploughs, and that should be equivalent to several more strong laborers. I believe we can manage it," Lian Shouxin explained. "We’ve got several good children!" remarked Old Master Lian, touched.
"Dad, you’ve tenanted thirty mu and we still have our own twenty-four mu. Are we capable of cultivating them all?" Lian Shouxin asked Old Master Lian.
"We can manage. If there’s one thing our family doesn’t lack, it’s strong labor. There’s , your second brother and second sister-in-law, your third brother and third sister-in-law, Erlang, Sanlang, and even Si Lang, Liulang, and Yeye can lend a hand..." Old Master Lian hesitated for a mont, as if he’d made a great decision, "Your big brother... let him work the fields this year too."
After a few more words, Lian Shouxin stood up, ntioning that they had to start planting the next day and needed to prepare; he then left the Upper Room with Lady Zhang and her son.
Once back in his own house, Lian Shouxin was sowhat downcast.
"What’s the matter, husband?" asked Lady Zhang.
"We have ploughs now, and I was planning to partner with Old Master in tilling the land. But our house is short on labor, while the Upper Room has plenty. I fear others might accuse of taking advantage, and Old Master didn’t ntion cooperating on the farming," said Lian Shouxin, troubled.
Despite everyone’s efforts to foster a harmonious atmosphere after the issues Lian Shouren had caused, had there beco a lingering resentnt between them?
"We managed to till the land even without ploughs before," said Lady Zhang, "You’re worried because you think it’s unfair for us to use the ploughs while Old Master relies solely on manpower, right? Let’s just wait and see when the ti cos."
"Dad, why are you overthinking it?" Lian Manman reproached, "If Grandpa had to farm by himself, we’d have to till his land before even considering our own. Now, Grandpa has a bunch of laborers with him, tilling the land for a family of over twenty people. That’s not difficult; we should take care of ourselves first, and if we have extra capacity, then we can think about helping others."
"Yes, Manman is right; I’m overthinking again!" Lian Shouxin smacked his forehead and laughed.
...
Inside the Upper Room, Old Master Lian smoked one pipe after another, filling the room with smoke. Even Lady Zhou and Lian Xiuxiu, who were accustod to it, couldn’t take it anymore and began coughing incessantly.
"Xiuxiu, go lift the door curtain," Lady Zhou finally couldn’t resist, instructing Lian Xiuxiu to open the door and lift the curtain to let out the smoke.
"Look at you, sitting there and smoking. If you have sothing to say, why not just say it? Do you think you can smoke out a solution?" Lady Zhou chided Old Master Lian with a glare.
"Manman sure knows how to talk; the kids in Old Fourth’s family are all grown up!" Old Master Lian blurted out, out of the blue.
"Old Fourth can’t hold his own, so he keeps relying on his wife and kids. I wanted to speak up just now, but why did you stop ?" As a lifelong spouse, Lady Zhou knew what was on Old Master Lian’s mind and spoke with a hint of grievance.
"If you had said a couple more words just now, it would have surely led to a fight. Has our family ever had an easy day of peace?" Old Master Lian tapped the bowl of his pipe, "Besides, there are too many faults in the eldest’s words. If Old Fourth hadn’t kept quiet, the eldest wouldn’t have stood a chance."
"What’s all this talk about picking faults? If he can pick on the eldest, can he also pick on us, his parents?" Lady Zhou huffed coldly.
"Old Fourth has separated from the family, and if he does it willingly, it will be a harmonious matter that will have people from ten miles around giving us the thumbs up. I’ve nudged Old Fourth a few tis about it, and it seems he’s unwilling. We can’t force him. The most we can do, as parents, is to subtly hint at it. If Old Fourth isn’t willing, then let’s drop the subject," Old Master Lian sighed deeply.
...
After dinner, as Lian Manman was checking the soaked peanut seeds, she heard a ruckus coming from the direction of the Upper Room.
"What’s happening now?" Lady Zhang, setting aside the half-finished shoe sole she was sewing, asked.
"Sister-in-law Xiu E is arguing with Grandpa and Grandma," Xiao Qi ran in from outside, "She said they’re being unfair!"
×××...×××
(Second demand for votes. To be continued... If you enjoy this work, welco to visit qidian to vote with recomndations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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