At the second watch, longing for the pink of dawn.
***......***
"Mother, what are you doing?" Lian Shouxin held his forehead. Having such a mother, who constantly burdened him with the heavy accusations of being unfilial or disowning his own mother, he felt truly helpless.
"Ma, just say what you need straight out, with listening, it’s just perfect." Lian Manman completely ignored Lady Zhou’s words about recognizing or not recognizing one’s mother, and simply said, "Ma, you and my father together manage the household, our ho, is also managed by my dad and mom together. My dad takes care of external affairs, and my mom manages the household, just like Grandpa and you. Whatever you’re going to say must pertain to dostic matters and should be discussed with my mom. I’m here, and whatever you say, I can help pass the ssage along."
Lian Manman’s words were carefully asured so as not to give Lady Zhou any grounds to criticize Lian Shouxin as being incapable of running the household, and no matter what Lady Zhou said next, Lian Shouxin and Lian Manman had room to maneuver.
She chose to do this, also considering Lian Shouxin’s feelings. Lian Shouxin was sentintal, and if he fell out with Lady Zhou, no matter the outco, he would never feel at ease, and it would be detrintal to everyone. Indeed, a straightforward confrontation may seem decisive, but given the era and Lian Shouxin’s personality, it wasn’t practical; even if it were carried out, in the eyes of public opinion, both sides would be hurt.
The stance had to be firm, but a quarrel with Lady Zhou was definitely to be avoided.
Lady Zhou, upon hearing Lian Manman’s words, was so angry that her face turned red. However, she knew that there was no sending Lian Manman away today. She began to feel increasingly restless. She had already clearly noticed that Lian Shouxin was drifting further away from her grasp, especially after the incident with the farming and dining, where she was so angry, cried so hard, and argued heatedly with Old Master Lian, and yet Lian Shouxin remained indifferent. He hadn’t called for Lady Zhang to scold her as she had expected, nor had he co to plead with her.
Many things were piling up; she needed to secure Lian Xiuxiu’s happiness, and she was eager to confirm that this son was still within her control.
Although it wasn’t as per the plan, the things she needed to say, she would say nonetheless.
"Old Fourth, I’m only speaking to you." Lady Zhou stared at Lian Shouxin, "Do you care about Xiuxiu’s matter or not?"
"Mother, there’s so much to Xiuxiu’s matters, how can you ask if I care or not?" Lian Shouxin started sweating under Lady Zhou’s intense stare, "You have to tell what it is for to know how to deal with it."
"Old Fourth, though you’ve been split off, you’ve also received property and land. I gave birth to you, raised you from diapers, got you married, and now you’ve got children; you have everything now. I’m not asking for anything from you, but you, as her brother, can’t neglect Xiuxiu’s matters... Speaking of which, her marriage prospects, you and your wife must have considered what dowry to prepare for Zhizhi, right?"
"Mother, have I not said that Zhizhi’s engagent is settled first and her marriage will have to wait? We haven’t thought about the dowry yet," Lian Shouxin said. Although Lady Zhang had also talked to him about giving Lian Zhizhi a more substantial dowry when the ti ca, they hadn’t discussed the specific items or the amount. This would depend on their financial situation at that ti. "Mother, after you and father divided the property and land for us, we didn’t go out empty-handed, struggling in hunger and cold – for that... my heart..."
"Ma, you just talk about dividing the house and property for us, but was it a lot? Was it only our family that got so? All these years, did my dad and mom not contribute anything to the household, to be cast out with nothing? Why don’t you talk about what circumstances led to our separation?" Manman said, "You feared my mother would die, feared we’d drag you down, that’s why you split us off!"
Lian Shouxin, being good-natured, refused to ntion the bleakness they experienced when they were first separated, but Lian Manman couldn’t avoid speaking of it. Looking at Lady Zhou and Lian Xiuxiu, she wondered if by not ntioning it, they would only rember the small amount of property that had been divided to them and completely forget everything else. Why was it that they refused to bring up the painful events so easily, and yet the instigator could speak so unashadly.
Lian Xiuxiu quickly averted her gaze, unwilling to et Manman’s eyes. Lady Zhou’s body also vibrated sharply from the impact.
"Old Fourth, you listen, just listen to what your daughter is saying..." With tears in her eyes, Lady Zhou shook as she pointed at Lian Manman, questioning Lian Shouxin. Her expression and tone seed as if she were the one who had suffered greatly.
The words of Lian Manman also stirred up the aches deeply buried in Lian Shouxin’s heart. He raised his hand to cradle his head.
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