"Dad, Mom, Old Fourth must have lost his mind. Just listen to what he’s saying. If this gets out, how could I continue to serve as an official?" Lian Shouren did not directly address Lian Shouxin’s words, but talked about his official duties instead.
Lian Manman couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. Lian Shouren was trying to get Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou to cover for him.
Old Master Lian held a hand-rolled cigarette in his hand, puffing away with crackling sounds. Ever since the last ti he hit Lian Shouren and broke his cigarette holder, he had switched to smoking hand-rolled cigarettes with paper.
"Old Fourth has co across so nonsense outside; no one would believe what he says," Lady Zhou imdiately backed up her eldest son.
"Mother, whether you believe it or not isn’t important; what matters is whether others believe it," Lian Manman calmly said, "My parents have looked into the matter thoroughly before daring to co ho and speak of it. It doesn’t matter if my elder uncle doesn’t admit it; tomorrow my dad and mom will go find Yang Chengfeng, the Old Liu Family of Liu Family Village, and then to Qingfeng County to see Sun Lianren’s House. We must clarify this matter, so as not to wrongly accuse my elder uncle, right?"
"You little wench, you sure have grown bold!" Lady Zhou was left speechless by Lian Manman’s retort.
"Shouxin," Old Master Lian took several heavy drags of his cigarette, his face completely shrouded in thick smoke, "your elder brother would never do such a thing, you’re brothers after all. Don’t let a few words from outsiders damage the bond between you. Eldest, there are also areas where you have been lacking..."
As he spoke, Old Master coughed harshly twice.
Lady Gu exchanged a glance with Lian Shouren. She imdiately stood up, walked over, and tried to have Lady Zhang and Lian Manman sit down with her.
"Old Fourth’s wife, we are one family. Everyone knows the Lian Family has always been known for filial piety and brotherly respect. I know the household has relied on your care. We’ve all been getting along these past years, and soon, we will all be living the good life. Our Manman is also doing well; let’s not let soone else’s words damage our harmony," Lady Gu’s face nearly blood with a smile, "Manman, look, these are all things your elder aunt bought for you from the county. Elder aunt has the final say; from now on, whatever clothes or jewelry Sister Huahua has, you can pick for yourself. Once your elder uncle becos an official, elder aunt will take you with her, treating you like her own daughter. When the ti cos to find you a suitable match, you’ll marry into an official’s family, guaranteed to be better than Sister Huahua’s marriage."
Lady Gu spoke at length, but seeing Lian Manman remained unmoved, she picked out two of the shiniest pieces of fabric and shoved them into Lian Manman’s hands.
Lian Xiuxiu snorted coldly, about to speak out, but was pinched at the waist by Lian Huahua and barely managed to hold back.
"Take these two pieces of fabric for now, Manman, and make so nice clothes. There is more on this bed, feel free to choose whichever you want," Lady Gu smiled.
Lian Manman sneered inwardly. Lady Gu was trying to buy her silence because she saw the matter could no longer be concealed.
"I wouldn’t dare accept elder aunt’s things. Who knows, if I take sothing from elder aunt today, I might have to pay with my life tomorrow," Lian Manman said, as she knocked the fabric from Lady Gu’s hands onto the ground.
Lady Gu’s face went through several changes.
"Look at this child, she used to have such a good temper; how has she beco so rude now?"
"So I was picked on because I had a good temper. You also must have thought my parents were honest and easy to ride over, right?" Lian Manman said with no effort to be polite.
"How can you speak that way to your elder aunt? Have you no sense of respect?" Lady Zhou said.
"Sister-in-law, look at how you’ve spoiled Manman, she even dares to lay her hands on her elder aunt, why didn’t you give her a good slap?" Lian Xiu said. The two pieces of fabric Lady Gu had offered to Lian Manman were the ones she had her eye on. Instead of being angry at Lady Gu, she was upset at Lian Manman for taking what she wanted.
"Mother... they’re going to hit ," Lian Manman said as several people charged towards her, imdiately leaning into Lady Zhang’s embrace.
Lady Zhang imdiately hugged Lian Manman tighter.
"There’s nothing wrong with what Manman did. We dare not accept the belongings of the eldest sister-in-law. I am good-natured; I’ve been married into the Lian Family for many years, and I have never quarreled with anyone. I’ve suffered financial losses, endured hardships, and even faced scolding, all without complaint. My children have suffered alongside . I have tolerated the intolerable. My nature is gentle, and my daughter’s is as well, but we’re not cheap; my daughter’s life cannot be bought with money or material things," Lady Zhang said.
Lady Gu felt humiliated by Lian Manman and Lady Zhang, and she beca irritated.
"Fourth son’s wife, I’m going to say sothing unpleasant; country girls are worthless—ones who get thrown away at birth, sold when they grow up. I don’t know how many there are. Think carefully, good tis are just around the corner. Don’t ss things up now. If you suffer for it later, don’t bla us for not helping you," Lady Gu said with a smile that did not reach her eyes, in a voice only audible to Lady Zhang and Lian Manman.
At this mont, not only did Lady Gu show no remorse or guilt, but she also continued to speak hurtfully and mixed her words with threats and temptations.
Lian Manman tried to break away from Lady Zhang.
Lady Zhang was shaking with anger and highly strung, refusing to let go of Lian Manman, fearing that if she let go, she might lose her daughter.
"Mother, let go of . What is she saying? With a human face but inhuman nature, I’d rather risk my life than not slap her," whispered Lian Manman to Lady Zhang.
Lady Zhang looked down at her daughter’s small stature and tiny palms.
"Manman, don’t hit her. Watch your mother take care of this," Lady Zhang said through clenched teeth, pushing Lian Manman behind her and moving closer to Lady Gu.
"Fourth son’s wife, what are you going to do?" Lady Gu asked, her complexion changing as she felt a tremor of fear inside.
Lady Zhang raised her hand and slapped Lady Gu’s face.
Lady Gu was stunned; she never expected Lady Zhang would hit her.
Lady Zhang was also stunned. Lady Gu’s words had infuriated her beyond asure, but her habit of being docile had left her unsure of how to fight back. It was Lian Manman’s words that had reminded her. Looking at her hand, she realized this was the first ti she had hit soone. She actually knew so techniques, but she hadn’t used much force with this slap.
So this thod, which she usually thought a virtuous woman should not employ, turned out to be so gratifying, so exhilarating.
"You, you dare hit ? I am a scholar’s wife; I am your elder sister-in-law!" exclaid Lady Gu, pointing at Lady Zhang.
"It’s you I am hitting, to prevent you from harming my daughter again. You have the face of a human but the heart of a beast, worse than a viperous witch," Lady Zhang said, raising her hand and delivering another slap to Lady Gu’s face.
************
Recomnded reading for those interested in a soon-to-be completed fantasy novel: a story about a small white snake and a small black dragon that has been described by readers as a fantastical version of "My Savage Girlfriend."
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