Second watch of the night, requesting a shade of pink.
***...**
Unlike the people from Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi’s branches, Lian Shouli from the Third Branch and Lady Zhao simply sat in Lian Manman’s family’s place, quietly waiting until Lian Xiuxiu ca to deliver a ssage.
"Third brother, father and mother ask for you to co over," said Lian Xiuxiu with a stern face, her mouth corners drooping down as if soone owed her rice but had repaid her with chaff, "Old Fourth, you too, father asks for you as well."
After Lian Xiuxiu finished speaking, she didn’t even glance at Lian Shouxin and imdiately turned to leave.
Lian Shouli stood up first, and Lian Yeye, holding onto Lady Zhao, also rose. Lian Xiuxiu’s ssage had not included Lady Zhao, but the division of the family concerned everyone in the household.
"My mother and I will go too," Lian Yeye said.
"Right, you should go," agreed Lian Manman, "when it’s ti to speak up, you’ve got to speak up."
"Yes," Lian Yeye nodded.
"Old Fourth, let’s go together," Lian Shouli called out to Lian Shouxin.
"My child’s mother, shall I go then?" Lian Shouxin stood up as well.
"They’ve called you, just go and have a look," Lady Zhang sighed softly. Although they had split from the main family and were looking after their own affairs, the Upper Room didn’t treat them as outsiders; whenever sothing happened, they always made sure to involve Lian Shouxin.
"We’ve already split off, so however they divide things up, it has nothing to do with us. Just go and listen, don’t say anything," Lady Zhang was holding a broom and said she would sweep Lian Shouxin’s clothes. As Lian Shouxin approached, she whispered instructions in his ear, "It’s their own squabble, let them fight it out. Your grandfather, your grandmother can keep them in check, and we are the least, it’s not appropriate for us to say anything."
"I understand," Lian Shouxin nodded in agreent.
"Mother, aren’t you going to listen?" Lian Manman asked.
"," Lady Zhang glanced at Lian Shouxin, reluctant to see Lady Zhou’s face, "what would I go for, it’s not our concern. It’s ti for dinner, when do you think you can be back?"
"Who knows with this matter," Lian Shouxin shook his head, "you ladies go ahead and start without , just save so food for ."
"Mother, I’ll also go listen in, if it’s ti for the al, just call ," said Lian Manman as she walked out following Lian Shouxin.
"This child, always so keen," Lady Zhang shook her head helplessly as she watched Lian Manman bouncing out the door.
The term ’keen’ generally refers to sobody with a particularly strong curiosity, soone who wants to know everything that is happening.
In fact, Lian Manman was not rely being keen; the Upper Room’s redivision was ostensibly none of their business, but practically speaking, it was hard to say, so she was very concerned.
Everyone headed to the Upper Room East Room, and within a short ti, the room was filled with people.
"What are all you children here for?" Lady Zhou, seeing Lian Manman, Lian Yeye, and a few others, glared and said, "All of you out, get out, go back to whatever you were doing?... Not leaving, eh? Well, in that case, let’s not talk about this matter today."
Thus, Lian Manman, Si Lang, Liulang, and Lian Yeye were driven out.
Lady Zhou still felt there were too many people.
"Keep just one person per room and the rest go back," Lady Zhou added. What she ant was that she only wanted the four sons – Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, Lian Shouli, and Lian Shouxin – to stay, the others were to leave.
After Lady Zhou finished speaking, however, no one moved for quite so ti.
"What’s this? Before the house is even divided, you take my words for nothing?" Lady Zhou said angrily.
Lady Chiang stood up first, followed by Lady Gu, who also got up; the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law left one after the other. Lady Zhao glanced at Lady Gu who had walked out and then at Lady He who still sat unmoving, hesitated for a mont, and then stood up. Under Lady Zhou’s glaring gaze, she too walked out of the room with trepidation.
Lady Zhou snorted, her piercing gaze landing on Lady He and Zhao Xiue.
"Mother, our branch has many male mbers," Lian Shouyi said with a grin.
"The wife of Erlang is carrying another one in her belly," Lady He chid in.
"You’re carrying another one in your belly too?" Lady Zhou asked.
"Mother, all these grandsons of Old Lian Family, they all ca out of my own body... I’m here to look after Erlang’s wife," Lady He explained.
Those who stayed aside from the sons were grown grandsons. Zhao Xiue was pregnant with the Lian Family’s great-grandson, and Lady He had borne the most male grandchildren for the Lian Family.
From outside the East Room window, Lian Manman listened to the voices inside and thought that the people from the Second Branch had co up with quite the clever excuse.
Lady Zhou wanted to speak again, but Old Master Lian stopped her with a gesture.
"Let’s leave it at that and talk about the important matters," Old Master Lian said.
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