Lian Manman did not like the way Song Hailong looked at her, and she did not feel close enough to call him Brother Hailong. There were only two n she would call that without any blood relation, one was Wang Youheng, and the other was Wu Jiaxing.
"Styles differ in different places, Brother-in-law of the Song family, please co into my house," said Lian Manman as she lifted the curtain to the Upper Room.
"How can we let our little sister Manman do such things? Have both your hands broken?" Although Song Hailong stood motionless, still smiling and talking to Lian Manman, he turned his head and scolded the servant behind him.
"Brother-in-law of the Song family, as guests, this is simply etiquette on my part as a host," Lian Manman explained.
At that mont, Lian Shouren, Lian Jizu, and Lian Shouyi, who had just finished getting ready, ca out of the house.
"Oh, Hailong, you’re here!" Lian Shouren said with a face full of smiles as he ca forward, "Why didn’t you send a ssage ahead of ti? I could have had your brother Jizu go to et you."
Song Hailong could no longer linger to talk with Lian Manman and followed Lian Shouren into the house.
Lian Manman stood at the entrance for a while, listening to the sound of cordial greetings inside. After a while, Zhao Xiue, Lian Yaya, and Lady Chiang, holding Niuniu and accompanied by Lian Duo, ca out from the eastern room. With Song Hailong’s arrival, these younger female relatives, after having greeted him, still needed to withdraw.
Lady Chiang ca out of the eastern room, put down Niuniu, and busied herself brushing pots and boiling water. Zhao Xiue walked out of the house leisurely, stopped by the window of the eastern room, and, without avoiding Lian Manman, stood listening to the conversation inside.
Lian Manman wanted to listen too, but she had returned to feed the chickens and pigs; this task was originally Lian Zhizhi’s, but she couldn’t drop her needlework, so Manman had co back first.
Whatever it was, she would find out sooner or later.
Thinking so, Lian Manman went about her chores.
Zhao Xiue stood outside the eastern room’s window, her expression changing unpredictably. When Lian Manman finished her chores and was about to head back, she heard a burst of laughter coming from the Upper Room.
The laughter included Old Master Lian’s, Lian Shouren’s, Lian Jizu’s, and Lian Shouyi’s.
What could make all these n laugh so heartily?
Lian Manman entered the West Wing Room; Zhao Xiue followed her in shortly after.
"Sister-in-law Xiu E, co in, have a seat," Lian Manman hurriedly invited.
Zhao Xiue made herself comfortable, plopping down on the edge of the kang bed without ceremony.
"Manman, guess why Song Hailong is here?" asked Zhao Xiue.
"How would I know? Sister-in-law Xiu E, what’s he here for?" Lian Manman knew that if Zhao Xiue was asking her this, she must know the answer, so she played along with her question.
"Our eldest uncle is going to strike it rich," Zhao Xiue said, her tone complex, with a hint of sourness she couldn’t hide.
"What do you an by that?" Lian Manman asked.
"...Song Hailong said he donated a Jiansheng title for our eldest uncle; he ca here this ti to bring the Jiansheng license and official docunts," Zhao Xiue explained.
"Oh?" Lian Manman was surprised; had the Song family really donated a Jiansheng title for Lian Shouren? To her knowledge, if the Song family could get the Shen family’s help and was willing to spend the money, arranging a Jiansheng title wouldn’t be a problem. However, the procedures for donating a Jiansheng were not few, and it would take considerable ti to complete the necessary paperwork back and forth.
If the Song family was using money for this matter or had already received so confirmation, they wouldn’t fail to notify Lian Shouren. Yet Lian Shouren had never ntioned it; the only ti it ca up was in conversation before Lian Hua’er got married, saying that the Song family had promised to donate a Jiansheng position for him.
Now, Song Hailong had directly delivered the license and docunts, which was quite abrupt.
Perhaps this was just the Song family’s way of doing things, wanting to give Lian Shouren a surprise?
"...He also said that they’ve already submitted our eldest uncle’s na, he’s in the queue, and he’ll have an official position soon," Zhao Xiue continued.
Not only had they donated a Jiansheng title, but also it seed that the matters concerning an official position for him were taking shape. No wonder they were all laughing like that earlier; Lian Manman suddenly understood.
"...Having money in the chest, yet still forcing the family to contribute money, that’s why they made such a fuss about dividing the family property. Did they receive word early on that they were going to prosper, set a trap for us on purpose, goading us into arguing with them, tearing faces apart, so they could shake us off and enjoy officialdom without us?" Zhao Xiue mused, her eyes spinning as she spoke to herself.
Lian Manman didn’t say a word. She carefully reflected on the past few days, recalling the behavior of Lian Shouren, Lady Gu, Lady Chiang, Lian Jizu, and the others, and felt that Zhao Xiue’s speculation was improbable. Setting aside Lady Gu and Lady Chiang, Lian Shouren and his son Lian Jizu were not the sort of people who could hide their feelings. Especially for such a face-gaining joyous event, they would find it impossible to conceal it even if they wanted to.
Yet, as everyone was at each other’s throats, fighting over the division of the family property, Lian Shouren suddenly beca a Jiansheng and would beco an official soon—it was almost as if fate was playing a joke on the Lian family, wasn’t it?
Regardless, this should be a cody, right?
"...She really has hit the jackpot, thinking she can suppress ? No way!" Zhao Xiue seed to be lost in her own thoughts, speaking fiercely.
***...**
Here’s the second update, seeking your pink support.
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Ruoyan’s completed farm-life novel recomndation:
Title: "Rebirth: When Flowers Bloom and the Moon is Full" (Complete with extras) (Direct link below, click to go directly)
Description: Transported into the body of a woman falsely accused of infidelity and abandoned as a wife, with a little bun in tow, she embarks on a sweet life with a cost-effective man. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to co to Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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